Selhurst Park comes alive as fans, players and partners mark historic win
Crystal Palace’s historic FA Cup victory was met with raucous celebration on Monday as thousands of jubilant fans lined the streets around Selhurst Park for a triumphant victory parade. Supporters, many dressed in red and blue, waved flags and cheered as the team travelled through Whitehorse Lane on an open-top bus, proudly displaying the long-awaited trophy.
The celebration, jointly coordinated by Crystal Palace Football Club, Croydon Council, the Metropolitan Police, London Ambulance Service, and London Fire Brigade, was hailed as a model of community collaboration. Every detail – from traffic diversions and crowd management to public safety – was carefully planned to ensure the event ran smoothly.
Croydon Council played a key role in delivering the day’s success, with teams from community safety, highways, parking, and events working together. Road closures were carefully implemented and obstructing vehicles swiftly removed to make way for the parade route. The result was an electrifying atmosphere that brought fans together in unity and celebration.
Following the festivities, the council’s waste contractor Veolia launched a monumental clean-up operation, removing a staggering 3.5 tonnes of litter – the weight of roughly 550 FA Cups. Their work ensured that Whitehorse Lane and surrounding streets were spotless before and after the celebrations, preserving the pride and cleanliness of the local area.
Executive Mayor of Croydon, Jason Perry, expressed his delight at the scale and spirit of the celebration:
“It was amazing seeing the FA Cup being paraded in Croydon – a sight many of us Crystal Palace fans never thought would happen. Events like this require a lot of planning, with many people behind the scenes working long hours to make sure it was such a memorable day. Thank you to all the Council officers, Veolia, emergency services and all other partners who helped make this dream come true.”
The victory parade was more than just a sporting celebration; it was a demonstration of Croydon’s community spirit and the pride shared by residents in Crystal Palace’s remarkable achievement. With confetti in the air, chants echoing down the street, and smiles all around, the day left fans feeling – as the club’s anthem goes – “glad all over”.
