Paul Cleal remembers life as a Palace ball boy in vivid detail. He remembers the changing hut between the Main Stand and Whitehorse Lane. He remembers the green tracksuits, wooden stalls and pre-match tea. He remembers the “unbelievable excitement” of running to the centre circle before taking up positions at the edge of the pitch.
Cleal remembers fans approvingly throwing coins his way after tripping Grimsby Town goalkeeper Nigel Batch and, at quieter times, peanuts flying over as the crowd grew bored.
He remembers his Palace experiences as “always positive”, but also recalls having to escape from Millwall fans, being punched in the terraces and seeing National Front stalls on away days.