Zaha makes the listplaceholder image
Zaha makes the list | AFP via Getty Images
Crystal Palace finally broke the 168-year trophy duck last season but who has played the most games for the Eagles?
Crystal Palace has a long and varied history having originally been founded in 1861 and with professional roots going back to 1905. They are one of England’s and the world’s oldest clubs.
Success hasn’t quite been an integral part of the club’s history though with several near misses accompanied by the joy of promotion from the lower leagues. They might not be major trophies, however, they are worth every penny to the thousands who turn up to support their team with the wait to win the FA Cup worth the 168-year wait. The Eagles’ first appearance in the FA Community Shield since 1988 serves as an opportunity to reminisce with the following players playing more games for the Selhurst Park outfit than any other.
Top five Crystal Palace appearance makers
Starting at the top, and by some considerable distance, Jim Cannon is Crystal Palace’s highest appearance maker with 660 games between 1971 and 1988 in an incredible display of loyalty. Without European games or long cup runs, to rack up so many games at a time when tackling from behind was allowed and showing your studs wasn’t frowned upon is an incredible feat.
In second, nearly 200 appearances behind is Terry Long on 480, who represented the club between 1955 and 1970. Again, at a time when 30 was seen as being close to retirement age and pitches could look like ploughed fields, it is a testament to the player’s robustness that he was able to play so many games.
A more familiar face sits in third place. Modern great Wilfried Zaha seemed to carry Palace on his shoulders on his own for the best part of a decade. Four spells, he even turned down a fifth spell, at the club saw 458 appearances during which he scored 90 goals and almost single handily kept the Eagles in the Premier League on numerous occasions. It’s just a shame that he wasn’t young enough to spend more time at his peak with the likes of Michael Olise or Eberechi Eze. Now that would have been fun to watch.
The Crystal Palace cult hero who is still at the club
Albert Harry is in fourth place with 440 appearances, spending his time between the first and second world wars at Palace and scoring 55 goals in the process. Known as “Bert”, the outside right or right-sided midfielder/winger as they would be today retired to become a publican, enjoying his days after football behind a bar.
With 405 appearances, cult hero Julian Speroni comes in at number five . Signed from Dundee in 2004, the Argentinian spent 15 years at Palace and was worth every penny of his £750,000 transfer fee.
A slow start to his career at the club saw him having to sit on the bench and play understudy on several occasions only to always fight his way back and earn his place between the sticks. Every manager seemed to try and replace him, but almost every manager ended up turning to him. Now working in the club’s academy, he remains a popular figure around the club and a true reflection of what it takes to be a Palace player.
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