larsmartin
New member
- Sep 23, 2011
- 20
Just in case no-one has posted/seen this yet ...
(double-page spread in the print version)
Eagles must take a leaf out of arch rivals' book
Friday, September 23, 2011
Croydon Advertiser
AS a life-long Crystal Palace fan he'll probably say it through clenched teeth, but Eagles co-chairman Steve Parish admits to being mightily impressed with the progress Brighton have made over the past few seasons.
When the two meet next Tuesday he'll still be watching the game through his red and blue spectacles of course, yet in a quiet moment Parish is prepared to confess there is a lot to admire about his club's biggest and most bitter rivals these days.
Going into this weekend's round of matches the Seagulls sit third in the nPower Championship table, play their home games in a packed and shiny new stadium and are managed by one of the hottest young coaches in English football.
Not bad for that little club from down the A23.
"You look at Brighton and you can see all the upsides for them of having that new stadium," explained Parish. "They are playing to full houses pretty much every week and there is a real feelgood factor around the club.
"I think historically they couldn't have counted on that level of support but the new ground has allowed them to flourish.
"They also have produced a quality team and I don't think anyone doubts that they are a really good side. I think they have been prudent financially but have invested where they feel it can benefit the team.
"You watch them play and they have a real togetherness and it is players working hard for each other and the shirt that you want to see as a fan."
From a Palace perspective that is about as high praise as it gets for Brighton, although it is easy to see what has impressed Parish as he continues to work towards the revival of his side as a force in English football.
The impact of the new stadium is especially of interest to the Eagles board as they have made it clear they see their long-term future away from Selhurst Park.
In January the club revealed plans for a new £40million stadium on the site of the National Sports Centre in Bromley. Realising that dream remains, of course, a long way away although no further than Brighton's when they started playing games at the Withdean Stadium in 1999.
What has especially impressed Parish is the way Albion's rise on the pitch has coincided with the club's progress off it, and the businessman sees the two aspects of developing the football club as equally important as Palace attempt to grow into a club that can seriously expect to challenge for a place in the Premier League again.
"It can be hard to move things forward as quickly as we would like but we have made a lot of improvements," he added. "We want to make the whole match day experience better for our supporters and that includes everything from the way the team is playing to the food we sell.
"That's why we've had things like the food forum as it shows we are genuine about wanting this club to improve. We have some huge matches coming up over the next few weeks, Brighton away followed by West Ham at home.
"Games like these are why you get involved in football in the first place. We are very lucky this season to have so many derby games as it helps generate interest."
Certainly Palace have been attracting attention for the right reasons this season, and the general consensus among supporters is the future of the club is looking as brighter today than at any point over the last five years.
"We still have lots of work to do," he added. "We have to make sure we don't think it is all done because we have won a few games. We want to keep winning and have to be hard on ourselves.
"We've blown our last two league games and lost matches that we should have got something out of. A lack of experience cost us but we shouldn't just accept that and think that it's fine that we've lost.
"We're not in a delusional world and we know how much still needs to be done. In reality we are not there at all, although I think we are now going in the right direction. Everyone at the club is aware that we are not yet the finished article and there are going to be a few tough days along the way. But I'm enthused by the way the team are playing and I think the additions we brought in over the summer have had a good effect on us and made us stronger.
"I said in the summer I thought we would do better this season and so far our results have backed that up. The players have shown what we can do already this season and we have some very good youngsters coming through."
Young players and of course a young manager. In the same way Gus Poyet turned Brighton's fortunes around (they were in the League One relegation zone when he arrived in November 2009), Palace have improved greatly since Dougie Freedman was handed the reins at Selhurst Park.
"Dougie is a winner," enthused Parish. "You look what he has achieved at Palace in the really big pressure games. He practically kicked my door in for the job and he's shown that passion every day since he took over.
"When we started out we said that we wanted a young manager but like a lot of things in life you discover that it isn't always as easy once you are doing it.
"The best thing about him is that he has a connection to this club, wants it to do well and understands what it means.
"He is trying to build a legacy and isn't just using us a stepping stone or for a leg up in his career.
"We'd like him to stay at this football club for a long time. This isn't a five minute project and we are all hopeful we can build something here.
"To do that we have to keep winning games and generate more interest in the club. There is no point banging on about a new stadium if we don't have a team that is capable of winning games."
Victory at the Amex Stadium next Tuesday would not be a bad place to start.
(double-page spread in the print version)
Eagles must take a leaf out of arch rivals' book
Friday, September 23, 2011
Croydon Advertiser
AS a life-long Crystal Palace fan he'll probably say it through clenched teeth, but Eagles co-chairman Steve Parish admits to being mightily impressed with the progress Brighton have made over the past few seasons.
When the two meet next Tuesday he'll still be watching the game through his red and blue spectacles of course, yet in a quiet moment Parish is prepared to confess there is a lot to admire about his club's biggest and most bitter rivals these days.
Going into this weekend's round of matches the Seagulls sit third in the nPower Championship table, play their home games in a packed and shiny new stadium and are managed by one of the hottest young coaches in English football.
Not bad for that little club from down the A23.
"You look at Brighton and you can see all the upsides for them of having that new stadium," explained Parish. "They are playing to full houses pretty much every week and there is a real feelgood factor around the club.
"I think historically they couldn't have counted on that level of support but the new ground has allowed them to flourish.
"They also have produced a quality team and I don't think anyone doubts that they are a really good side. I think they have been prudent financially but have invested where they feel it can benefit the team.
"You watch them play and they have a real togetherness and it is players working hard for each other and the shirt that you want to see as a fan."
From a Palace perspective that is about as high praise as it gets for Brighton, although it is easy to see what has impressed Parish as he continues to work towards the revival of his side as a force in English football.
The impact of the new stadium is especially of interest to the Eagles board as they have made it clear they see their long-term future away from Selhurst Park.
In January the club revealed plans for a new £40million stadium on the site of the National Sports Centre in Bromley. Realising that dream remains, of course, a long way away although no further than Brighton's when they started playing games at the Withdean Stadium in 1999.
What has especially impressed Parish is the way Albion's rise on the pitch has coincided with the club's progress off it, and the businessman sees the two aspects of developing the football club as equally important as Palace attempt to grow into a club that can seriously expect to challenge for a place in the Premier League again.
"It can be hard to move things forward as quickly as we would like but we have made a lot of improvements," he added. "We want to make the whole match day experience better for our supporters and that includes everything from the way the team is playing to the food we sell.
"That's why we've had things like the food forum as it shows we are genuine about wanting this club to improve. We have some huge matches coming up over the next few weeks, Brighton away followed by West Ham at home.
"Games like these are why you get involved in football in the first place. We are very lucky this season to have so many derby games as it helps generate interest."
Certainly Palace have been attracting attention for the right reasons this season, and the general consensus among supporters is the future of the club is looking as brighter today than at any point over the last five years.
"We still have lots of work to do," he added. "We have to make sure we don't think it is all done because we have won a few games. We want to keep winning and have to be hard on ourselves.
"We've blown our last two league games and lost matches that we should have got something out of. A lack of experience cost us but we shouldn't just accept that and think that it's fine that we've lost.
"We're not in a delusional world and we know how much still needs to be done. In reality we are not there at all, although I think we are now going in the right direction. Everyone at the club is aware that we are not yet the finished article and there are going to be a few tough days along the way. But I'm enthused by the way the team are playing and I think the additions we brought in over the summer have had a good effect on us and made us stronger.
"I said in the summer I thought we would do better this season and so far our results have backed that up. The players have shown what we can do already this season and we have some very good youngsters coming through."
Young players and of course a young manager. In the same way Gus Poyet turned Brighton's fortunes around (they were in the League One relegation zone when he arrived in November 2009), Palace have improved greatly since Dougie Freedman was handed the reins at Selhurst Park.
"Dougie is a winner," enthused Parish. "You look what he has achieved at Palace in the really big pressure games. He practically kicked my door in for the job and he's shown that passion every day since he took over.
"When we started out we said that we wanted a young manager but like a lot of things in life you discover that it isn't always as easy once you are doing it.
"The best thing about him is that he has a connection to this club, wants it to do well and understands what it means.
"He is trying to build a legacy and isn't just using us a stepping stone or for a leg up in his career.
"We'd like him to stay at this football club for a long time. This isn't a five minute project and we are all hopeful we can build something here.
"To do that we have to keep winning games and generate more interest in the club. There is no point banging on about a new stadium if we don't have a team that is capable of winning games."
Victory at the Amex Stadium next Tuesday would not be a bad place to start.
