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Selhurst Park
Crystal Palace v Leicester City
Saturday August 7th, 2010, 3pm
Championship League
By Andrew Willock 

(Leicester City fan)

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):

Well it was first game of the season & the first away match too, so I just couldn't miss, also It was a trip to London. I was eyeing this fixture since the fixtures was announced. This was my second match in London supporting Leicester last time was back in October 2009 what seen leicester play on of the games of the season at Queens Park Rangers Loftus Road. Also to mention that it was to be Paulo Sousa first game in charge of the foxes.
 
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Well living in Nuneaton it was straight through to London Euston on  a Virgin train. Quite cheap for £59 for the three of us that included the tube ticket. Of course we went early to see a bit of London, As passing on different tube service seen a lot of shirts a few Barnsley fans off to Loftus Road. Also seen a few Bournemouth fans but couldn't think where they were going. I also decided to visit the Chelsea club shop on Fulham Boardway. At half past one we headed to Victoria station awaiting the national rail local line to Norwood Junction took. It took around half an hour to get one.
 
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

Well it was 2:10pm since it was getting close to kick off time we decided to head straight to the ground. As a Leicester fan you know never to leave it till last going to an away game. I only recall seeing one pub on the way & that was opposite the station with a large amount of Palace fans hooting every time a Leicester fan went by. Palace fans seemed quite friendly, walking together with leicester fans, seemed no trouble. Surprised not to see many Police, although there were quite a lot of stewards outside the ground.
 
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

Few days before the game we went on Google map to see the outside of the Palace ground & the Arthur Wait stand. Strangley from that angle you can't see the stands as the ground descends downwards if you know what I mean. As we got in the short queue to enter the stewards were searching any bags. Once inside it seemed like a very old ground. We found our seats with no problem and the stewards seemed helpful. Surprisingly the seats were wooden. This was the first time I ever sat in a wooden seat in a football ground. The view wasn't too bad until the Leicester fans decided to stand for the whole game! It was quite cramped sitting down so it wasn't a surprise when people started standing. I'm sorry but the ground seemed really old, I wouldn't say it was rubbish but I've seen much better elsewhere.
 
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..

Well the atmosphere was on fire, with the Leicester faithful making a lot of noise from start to finish. Despite this Leicester were poor conceding three goals by the half time break. As the whistle blew there was a large sound of boo's coming from the away stand. Some already singing "Sousa Out!".

Second half was much better. The game got more exciting when King scored to make it 3-1. With 8 mins to go Campbell kicked the ball into an open net to make it 3-2. Could we get a draw? Well alas not and the game ended 3-2. At the end of the day it was good score & good come back & a great game.
 
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Left the ground in injury time as I just couldn't see Leicester getting another goal. Outside the ground there was no bad atompshere and the Palace fans looked relieved to have won. There was no sign of trouble what so ever.
 
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Great game, great day out, good result everyting was fine until on the way home where there was noisy group of people on train home so couldn't really have a sleep.


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