The iconic sash returns to Selhurst Park, honoring the legendary 1976/77 campaign that ignited a fierce rivalry and preempted a golden era of South London football.
Crystal Palace’s new home kit was launched today, and it has gone down tremendously amongst the fanbase.
A number of teasing images were posted from across South London by eagle eyed fans, the posters featuring a simple white image with a red and blue sash. In the top corner, the words “50 years” and an older edition of the club’s crest which was used during the 1976/77 season, fifty years ago and the debut of the sash which has come to adorn numerous Palace kits throughout the years.
X (formerly Twitter) user and Palace fan Nick Philpot shared this image which he first spotted on Friday afternoon.
A leaked image of a folded shirt had made the rounds on social media, a shirt which appeared to sport a similar sash to the one depicted in the recent images.
The ‘evil sash’ returns
The significance of the sash and the callback to 1976/77 is not solely due to the fifty year anniversary, but also what happened in that season.
Palace were under the guidance of Terry Venables that season, and won promotion to Football League Second Division in the same campaign that the rivalry with Brighton caught life.
After a number of dull years, Venables built an exciting, youthful side which finished 3rd in the Third Division, grasping the final promotion place. Palace’s home form in that season was truly remarkable, losing just one game at Selhurst Park all season.
Whilst promotion was a sweet reward for Venables’ football, it was the off-pitch antics which would alter the future of the club forever.
Palace had faced Brighton five times in that single campaign, winning twice and drawing three times.
An FA Cup second round replay at Stamford Bridge on December 6th saw the birth of one of football’s most misunderstood rivalries, when Palace beat Brighton 1-0 thanks in part to a disallowed penalty. Tension after the full time whistle saw then Brighton manager Alan Mullery gesture towards the Palace faithful, as a hot coffee rained down upon him, and from there on fans of both sides have been raised to hate one another.
It was a Palace squad packed full of talent, with teenager Terry Fenwick breaking through alongside club legend Jim Cannon, as former Arsenal man George Graham starred in midfield.
One of the most historic and pivotal campaigns in Palace history, and now fifty years on, Pierre Sage will be hoping he can lead his new side to greater heights as his players don the famous sash once more.
