Profile
Place of birth: Croydon, Surrey
Age: 52
Location: I live in Eastbourne, East Sussex
Status: Married to Sandy. 2 Children, Victoria & Charlotte
Educated at: Stanley Technical School for Boys, South Norwood.
Past Employment: Civil Servant, Restaurant Manager, Bluecoat, Jewellery Shop Manager, Field Sales Manager, Hotel Sales Manager.
Current Employment: Sales Executive for Cadbury
Stanley Tech 1966
To follow are questions that I'm often asked relating to my association with Crystal Palace Football Club. Just click on the question and you'll be taken straight to the answer. If you get to the bottom, just click on 'Back to top' and that's where you'll be taken!
How long have you been doing the PA for Crystal Palace?
What was the first game you ever attended?
Who is your favourite current Palace player?
Who is your favourite Palace player of all time?
Who chooses the music that you play on match days?
Was it your idea to introduce the calling back of a players name when we score?
Have you ever made any mistakes or bloopers whilst doing the job?
Q: How long have you been doing the PA at Palace?
It will be 10 years in February 2006
I was the DJ at a Christmas part night at which the Sales and Marketing team from Palace attended. I got chatting to a few of them and they told me that the current PA guy was retiring from the role and would i be interested in applying? I sent a demo tape in and the rest is history as they say!
Q: Who did you take over from?
A terrific guy and superb broadcaster, John Henty. John was 'the voice of Selhurst Park' in those early days back in the 60's when I used to watch the Palace!. I can still remember all those years ago when I was 10 or 11 years old being behind the goal at the Holmesdale end banging on the advertising boards to 'Glad All Over' and listening to John and thinking, 'cor, I'd love to do what he's doing one day!!
Through and through! Always have been and always will be. There were occasions back in the mid 70's and 80's when because of work commitments I wasn't able to get to any games, but prior to that I used to travel home and away most weeks!
Q: What was the first game you ever attended?
It was the match at Selhurst Park back in the early 60's to commemorate the launch of the new floodlights. It was against Real Madrid who fielded some famous names that night!
Q: Who is your favourite current Palace player?
It has to be Dougie! Not for just for what he's contributed to the club over the years he's been with us, but I've met him on numerous occasions away from football and he really is a great guy. He'd always help me out if I ever needed an interview for an assignment, or a clip for a radio jingle, and, like a lot of other players, he really does care about the club and the fans.
Q: Who is your favourite player Palace of all time?
That's a hard one! There have been some outstanding players that I've seen over the years. Byrne, Woodruff, Rodgers, Lombardo! So many, but as a favourite, well, I'd have to say I used to love watching Mark Lazarus. His on field antics along with his contribution to a game were immense.
Q: Who chooses the music that you play on match days?
I choose the content from when the gates open on match days. I then play a selection of tracks selected by the club in the build up to kick off.. Check out the Match Day Playlist page for the full listing.
Q: Was it your idea to introduce the calling back of a players surname when we score?
No it wasn't. I visit the BBS website, which is the unofficial Crystal Palace FC fans forum and message board site quite frequently. A few years ago, a topic was posted suggesting that the club should adopt the idea that was being used in some of the continental matches. There were many people both for and against the idea, but I spoke with the club and suggested that we at least give it a go. That's how it all started and now it's part of the matchday experience when we score. So it was in fact the fans idea!
Q: Have you ever made any mistakes or bloopers whilst doing the job?
This question usually arises when I get talking to someone and my role at the club becomes a topic of conversation. As many of you who frequent Selhurst Park know, I have made 'one or two' cock ups over the years!
I've got goal scorers names wrong! On one occassion the tv monitor showed Dougie Freedman crossing a ball that, according to the commentator had scored with! They focused on DF's celebration, I announced the goal and for the 'call back' I said "DOUGIE..." and the crowd responded "POPOVIC"!!!
Then there was that time when we beat Brighton 5 - 0 at Selhurst Park. If my call had been correct it would have been 6!! We were 1 - 0 up in the first half when we scored a cracker of a goal at the Whitehorse end. I watched the monitor, saw the celebrations, made a judgement to play the music, ( I even RANG the TV studio for confirmation of the scorer!) and so on that basis announced the goal scorer. Little did I know that the 'goal' had been ruled offside and play had restarted!. DOH!!
I have been known to leave my microphone 'live' on occasions too!
