Plenty of Man City supporters heading to Crystal Palace on Friday night will know Selhurst Park well. For anyone making the trip for the first time, though, it is one of the Premier League’s more distinctive away days.
What follows isn’t intended for the City fans who have spent years travelling around the country and could probably find the away turnstiles with their eyes closed.
But if Selhurst Park is a new ground for you, there are a few things worth knowing.
Palace have played there since 1924 and, rather than sitting on a large modern development, the stadium is tucked among the streets of south London.
That is part of its appeal.
There may also be something strangely familiar about the place for fans of Ted Lasso.
Selhurst Park doubled as Nelson Road, the fictional home of AFC Richmond, during the television series. So even if Friday is your first visit, you may feel as though you’ve seen parts of the ground before.
Where will the Man City fans be?…
Visiting supporters are housed in the corner of the Arthur Wait Stand, next to the Whitehorse Lane end.
It means City fans are positioned along the side of the pitch rather than behind one of the goals.
Selhurst is compact by Premier League standards and can feel particularly tight when full, which helps keep much of the noise inside the ground.
Where does the Palace noise come from?…
The Holmesdale Road Stand is the one to look toward.
Situated behind the far goal from the City fans, it traditionally houses some of Palace’s most vocal support and is a major reason Selhurst Park has developed its reputation for atmosphere.
A Friday night game under the lights should provide a decent introduction for anyone experiencing it for the first time.
City supporters will be some way away but should have plenty to compete with.
Which station should City fans use?…
Three railway stations are within walking distance:
- Norwood Junction
- Selhurst
- Thornton Heath
Palace advise that the ground is around a 10 to 15-minute walk from each.
Norwood Junction is useful for supporters coming through London Bridge, while trains from London Victoria run directly to Selhurst.
There is also one easy mistake for a first-time visitor to make.
Don’t head for Crystal Palace station.
Despite sharing the club’s name, it is around two miles from Selhurst Park and Palace themselves advise supporters not to use it when travelling to the ground.
What about driving?…
Public transport is likely to be the easier option.
There is no general supporter parking at Selhurst Park and several residential streets around the stadium are subject to restrictions or permit-only access.
Roads immediately surrounding the ground are also closed before and after matches.
Anyone determined to drive should allow plenty of time and check the restrictions before travelling.
Anything else worth knowing?…
Selhurst Park is cashless, with card, Apple Pay and Google Pay accepted inside.
Turnstiles open two hours before kick-off.
Palace’s bag policy allows bags no larger than A4 into the stadium, subject to security checks. A free bag-drop facility is also available for anything unsuitable for taking inside.
And allow enough time for the walk from the station.
One of the charms of Selhurst is that there isn’t a huge plaza announcing that you’ve arrived at a Premier League stadium. You approach through residential streets before the ground emerges among the houses.
For experienced City travellers, none of that will be unusual.
For somebody heading to Selhurst Park for the first time, it should make for a proper old-school away trip.
Friday night. Under the lights. One of the Premier League’s noisier grounds.
Enjoy.
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