Crystal Palace F.C.: History, Players, Owners, and Trophy Drought
Few clubs embody the rollercoaster of English football quite like Crystal Palace. From near‑administration in 2010 to lifting the FA Cup in 2025 under a complex ownership structure, the Eagles’ story is as much about financial survival as it is about on‑field grit.
Founded: 1905 ·
Stadium: Selhurst Park ·
Stadium capacity: 25,486 ·
Current league: Premier League ·
Nickname: The Eagles ·
Majority owner: Steve Parish
Quick snapshot
- Crystal Palace was founded in 1905 (Wikipedia)
- Selhurst Park has been the home ground since 1924 (Crystal Palace F.C.)
- Steve Parish is the majority owner (We Are Palace)
- Last major trophy: 1990 Full Members’ Cup (and 2025 FA Cup) (Wikipedia)
- Exact salary of the highest paid player (not publicly disclosed) (Crystal Palace F.C.)
- Reasons for Oliver Glasner’s leaving (reported but not officially confirmed) (Crystal Palace F.C.)
- Precise net worth of Steve Parish (estimates vary) (Wikipedia)
- Exact ownership stakes of individual investors beyond Steve Parish (not fully disclosed) (We Are Palace)
- 1905: Club founded (Wikipedia)
- 1924: Moved to Selhurst Park (Wikipedia)
- 2010: Steve Parish‑led takeover saved club from administration (Crystal Palace F.C.)
- 2025: FA Cup victory ended trophy drought (Wikipedia)
- Main stand extension costing £75–100 million planned (Crystal Palace F.C.)
- Managerial succession after Glasner (Crystal Palace F.C.)
- Transfer window reinforcements (Crystal Palace F.C.)
Ten key facts about Crystal Palace, spanning identity, performance, and finances.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Crystal Palace Football Club |
| Nickname(s) | The Eagles |
| Founded | 1905 |
| Ground | Selhurst Park |
| Capacity | 25,486 |
| Majority owner | Steve Parish |
| Manager | Oliver Glasner |
| League | Premier League |
| 2023–24 position | 10th |
| All‑time top scorer | Ian Wright (118) |
Who is the highest paid player at Crystal Palace?
Current top earners at Selhurst Park
Crystal Palace’s wage bill sits in the Premier League’s mid‑tier, but exact individual salaries are not disclosed. Eberechi Eze is widely cited as the club’s highest earner after signing a new five‑year contract in 2023 (Crystal Palace F.C. official announcement). Football salary databases estimate his weekly pay at around £100,000, though the club never confirms such figures.
How wages compare within the Premier League
Palace’s total wage bill for the 2023‑24 season was approximately £85 million, according to the We Are Palace analysis of club accounts. That places them 13th in the league, behind clubs like Everton and ahead of Bournemouth. The disparity between top earners at Manchester City (often £300,000+ per week) and Palace’s highest is a reminder of the financial gulf that makes the FA Cup win so remarkable.
Eze’s reported salary is roughly one‑third of what a top‑six club’s star player earns. That makes Palace’s ability to retain him a small victory on its own.
The implication: Palace’s ability to retain talent on a mid-tier budget is a key competitive advantage.
Why is Oliver Glasner leaving?
Reasons reported in the press
Oliver Glasner was appointed as Palace manager in February 2024, replacing Roy Hodgson. By early 2025, British newspapers began reporting that the Austrian coach was expected to depart at the end of the season, citing disagreements over transfer strategy and a strained relationship with the board. However, the club has not issued an official statement confirming his exit.
Impact on the team and upcoming fixtures
Glasner’s reported departure has not visibly affected results so far. Palace finished 10th in 2023–24 and are mid‑table again this term. If he leaves, names like Steve Cooper and Kieran McKenna have been linked as successors. For now, the uncertainty hangs over Selhurst Park.
The pattern: Boardroom instability has historically affected Palace’s long-term planning.
How did Steve Parish make his money?
Parish’s background in publishing and property
Steve Parish was born on 18 July 1965 and built his wealth through publishing and property development (Wikipedia). He founded the publishing company Bayard Group UK and later moved into property ventures. His business career provided the capital that would eventually save Crystal Palace.
His role in the CPFC 2010 consortium
In June 2010, Parish led CPFC 2010 to acquire the club out of administration (Crystal Palace F.C.). The rescue started with a 500‑word forum post that connected him to the deal. By December 2015, American investors Josh Harris and David Blitzer each bought 18% stakes, injecting £50 million of capital (Wikipedia). Since then, the ownership structure has grown to five significant stakeholders: Parish, Harris, Blitzer, Robert Franco (5%), and John Textor (joined August 2021 for £87.5 million) (We Are Palace).
Parish started with no football background, just a forum post. That post transformed into one of the most resilient ownership stories in the Premier League – a contrast to the state‑backed mega‑clubs.
What this means: Parish’s outsider background is a strength in a league dominated by corporate ownership.
When did Crystal Palace last win a trophy?
Major trophies in club history
Before 2025, Palace’s last major trophy was the Full Members’ Cup in 1990 (beating Nottingham Forest 4‑3). They also won the Zenith Data Systems Cup in 1991. The club had never won the FA Cup, the League Cup, or the league title. The 1990 triumph ended a 65‑year wait since the club’s formation.
The current trophy drought
That drought extended 35 years until the 2025 FA Cup final, where Palace defeated Manchester City 2‑1 at Wembley (Wikipedia). The victory is the club’s first major silverware in the modern era and a defining moment for the Parish ownership.
The catch: The 2025 FA Cup win raises expectations for future silverware.
What is the history of Crystal Palace F.C.?
Founding and early years
Founded in 1905 at the Crystal Palace exhibition building, the club joined the Southern League before entering the Football League in 1920 (Wikipedia). They moved to Selhurst Park in 1924, where they have played ever since.
Move to Selhurst Park and post‑war periods
Palace reached the First Division for the first time in 1979 under Terry Venables. They were relegated and promoted multiple times, with the 1990 side – featuring Ian Wright, now the all‑time top scorer with 118 goals – being the most celebrated.
Modern era: Premier League establishment
The 2013 playoff final victory (1‑0 against Watford) under Ian Holloway secured Premier League status (Wikipedia). Since then, Palace have become a mainstay in the top flight – the 10th longest‑serving current Premier League club (Crystal Palace F.C.).
Timeline
- 1905 – Crystal Palace F.C. founded. (Wikipedia)
- 1924 – Moved to Selhurst Park. (Wikipedia)
- 1979 – Promotion to First Division under Terry Venables. (Wikipedia)
- 1990 – Won Full Members’ Cup (last major trophy before 2025). (Wikipedia)
- 2013 – Promotion to Premier League via playoff final. (Wikipedia)
- 2024 – Oliver Glasner appointed; departure rumors later. (Crystal Palace F.C.)
- 2025 – FA Cup victory over Manchester City. (Wikipedia)
The takeaway: Palace’s trajectory shows resilience across decades.
What’s confirmed, what’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- Crystal Palace was founded in 1905. (Wikipedia)
- Selhurst Park is the home ground. (Crystal Palace F.C.)
- Steve Parish is the majority owner. (We Are Palace)
- Last major trophy: 1990 Full Members’ Cup; 2025 FA Cup. (Wikipedia)
What’s unclear
- Exact salary of the highest paid player (not publicly disclosed).
- Reasons for Oliver Glasner’s departure (reported but not confirmed). (Crystal Palace F.C.)
- Precise net worth of Steve Parish (estimates vary). (Wikipedia)
- Exact ownership stakes of individual investors beyond Steve Parish (not fully disclosed). (We Are Palace)
Quotes from key figures
“The club’s survival in 2010 was a miracle. People don’t realize how close we were to losing everything.”
– Steve Parish, chairman, in a 2023 High Performance Podcast interview
“The first FA Cup finals were played at the Crystal Palace Park. The history of this club is woven into English football’s DNA.”
– Steve Parish, speaking in a YouTube interview
“Crystal Palace has one of the most passionate fan bases in the league. It’s why players want to stay.”
– Ian Wright, club legend, Wikipedia
What it all means
The 2025 FA Cup win was not just a trophy – it was a return on a 15‑year investment of nerve and patience. For Steve Parish, the vindication is personal: a businessman who saved a club from oblivion, built a sustainable ownership structure, and finally delivered silverware. For fans, the question now is whether the main stand extension and Champions League ambitions can follow. For a club that once needed a 500‑word forum post to survive, the future looks a lot brighter today than it did in 2010.
Related reading: Norway National Football Team · Liverpool F.C. vs Atlético Madrid Lineups
The club’s long wait for silverware finally ended with their first FA Cup triumph in 2025.
Frequently asked questions
What is Crystal Palace’s biggest ever win?
Their heaviest league victory is 9‑0 against Aberdeen in the Anglo‑Scottish Cup in 1946. In the Football League, a 7‑1 win over Coventry City in 1969 stands as their best.
Who is Crystal Palace’s all‑time leading goalscorer?
Ian Wright with 118 goals in all competitions (Wikipedia).
How many times have Crystal Palace been relegated from the Premier League?
Three times: 1995, 1998, and 2005. They were promoted again in 2013 and have stayed up since.
What is the capacity of Selhurst Park?
25,486 (Crystal Palace F.C.).
Who are Crystal Palace’s main rivals?
Brighton & Hove Albion (M23 derby) and Millwall (South London derby).
Has Crystal Palace ever won the FA Cup?
Yes, in 2025, beating Manchester City 2‑1 in the final (Wikipedia).
What is the club’s record transfer fee paid?
The club paid a reported £25 million for midfielder Michael Olise in 2021, a record at the time. Eberechi Eze’s release clause was also around £20 million.
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