1990–91 Crystal Palace F.C. season

During the 1990–91 English football season, Crystal Palace F.C. competed in the Football League First Division.

Crystal Palace
1990–91 season
ChairmanRon Noades
ManagerSteve Coppell
StadiumSelhurst Park
First Division3rd
FA CupThird round
League CupFourth round
Full Members' CupWinners
Player of the YearGeoff Thomas
Top goalscorerLeague: Wright (15)
All: Wright (25)
Highest home attendance28,880 vs Southampton
(9 Mar 1991, First Division)
Lowest home attendance5,209 vs Bristol Rovers
(18 Dec 1990, Full Members' Cup)
Average home league attendance19,660

Season summary

In their second consecutive season in the First Division, Crystal Palace finished an astonishing third, their highest ever league placing, although, due to Liverpool's ban from European competition being lifted, Palace did not qualify for the UEFA Cup. Palace also won their first ever cup during the season, albeit the less significant Full Members' Cup.

In the League Cup, Palace broke their record for a cup victory with an 8–0 over Southend United, in the second round first leg, with strikers Mark Bright and Ian Wright both scoring hat-tricks. The two claimed the match ball; it was given away at a charity auction.[1]

At the end of the season, captain Geoff Thomas was named the Supporters' Player of the Year. Thomas was rewarded for his good form with a call-up to the England squad for a European Championship qualifying game against Turkey in May.

Bukta remained Palace's kit manufacturers, and introduced a new home kit for the season. English airline Virgin Atlantic remained the kit sponsors.[2]

Final league table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1Arsenal (C)38241317418+5683[a]Qualification for the European Cup first round
2Liverpool3823787740+3776Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
3Crystal Palace3820995041+969
4Leeds United38197126547+1864
5Manchester City381711106453+1162
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions
Notes:
Results summary
OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
3820995041 +96911622617 +99372424 0

Source: Statto

Results by round
Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
GroundAHHAHAAHAHAHAAHAHAHHAAHAHAAHHAAHHHHAAH
ResultDWWWDDWDDWLDWWWLWWWWLWLWDLLWWWLLDWDLWW
Position84424544444444343333333333333333333333
Source: Statto.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Results

Crystal Palace's score comes first[3]

Legend

WinDrawLoss

Football League First Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
25 August 1990Luton TownA1–19,583Young
28 August 1990ChelseaH2–127,101Gray, Wright
1 September 1990Sheffield UnitedH1–016,831Thompson
8 September 1990Norwich CityA3–015,306Barber, Wright, Salako
15 September 1990Nottingham ForestH2–220,545Shaw, Thomas
22 September 1990Tottenham HotspurA1–134,859Thomas
29 September 1990Derby CountyA2–015,202Wright, Bright
6 October 1990Leeds UnitedH1–121,676Thomas
20 October 1990EvertonA0–024,504
27 October 1990WimbledonH4–317,220Bright, Gray, Humphrey, Thomas
3 November 1990Manchester UnitedA0–245,724
10 November 1990ArsenalH0–028,181
17 November 1990Queens Park RangersA2–114,360Wright (2)
24 November 1990SouthamptonA3–215,851Wright (2), Bright
1 December 1990Coventry CityH2–117,052Bright, Gray
8 December 1990ChelseaA1–221,558Thorn
16 December 1990Luton TownH1–015,579Bright
22 December 1990Manchester CityA2–025,321Pointon (own goal), Wright
16 December 1990SunderlandH2–115,560Salako, Bright
30 December 1990LiverpoolH1–026,280Bright
1 January 1991Aston VillaA0–225,523
12 January 1991Sheffield UnitedA1–017,139Bright
19 January 1991Norwich CityH1–317,201Bright
2 February 1991Nottingham ForestA1–017,045Young
16 February 1991Queens Park RangersH0–016,006
23 February 1991ArsenalA0–442,512
2 March 1991Coventry CityA1–310,891Wright
9 March 1991SouthamptonH2–114,439Thomas (2)
16 March 1991Derby CountyH2–114,752Gray, Wright
23 March 1991Leeds UnitedA2–128,556Wright, Salako
30 March 1991SunderlandA1–219,704Pardew
1 April 1991Manchester CityH1–318,001Salako
13 April 1991Aston VillaH0–018,331
17 April 1991Tottenham HotspurH1–026,285Young
20 April 1991EvertonH0–016,439
23 April 1991LiverpoolA0–336,767
4 May 1991WimbledonA3–010,002Wright (3)
11 May 1991Manchester UnitedH3–025,301Wright, Salako (2)

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R36 January 1991Nottingham ForestH0–015,396
R3R21 January 1991Nottingham ForestA2–2 (a.e.t.)23,301Wright, Salako
R3R228 January 1991Nottingham ForestA0–322,164

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R2 1st Leg25 September 1990Southend UnitedH8–05,666Bright (3), Wright (3), Thompson, Hodges
R2 2nd Leg9 October 1990Southend UnitedA2–1 (won 10–1 on agg)5,199Young, Salako
R330 October 1990Leyton OrientH0–012,958
R3R7 November 1990Leyton OrientA1–010,158Bright
R427 November 1990SouthamptonA0–213,765

Full Members' Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
SR218 December 1990Bristol RoversH2–15,209Salako, Gray
SQF18 February 1991Brighton & Hove AlbionA2–0 (a.e.t.)9,633Bright, Wright
SSF26 February 1991Luton TownH3–17,170McGoldrick, Wright (2)
SF 1st Leg5 March 1991Norwich CityA1–17,554Thomas
SF 2nd Leg19 March 1991Norwich CityH2–0 (won 3–1 on agg)13,857Bright, Wright
F7 April 1991EvertonN4–1 (a.e.t.)52,460Thomas 67', Wright 101', 115', Salako 113'

Squad

[4]Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos. NationPlayer
MF  ENGAndy Gray
MF  ENGRicky Newman
MF  ENGSimon Osborn
MF  ENGAlan Pardew
MF  ENGSimon Rodger
MF  ENGJohn Salako
MF  ENGGeoff Thomas (captain)
MF  WALGlyn Hodges
MF  IRLEddie McGoldrick
FW  ENGMark Bright
FW  ENGStan Collymore
FW  ENGJamie Moralee
FW  ENGGarry Thompson
FW  ENGIan Wright
FW  ENGDavid Whyte

Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Transfers

In

DatePosNameFromFee
2 July 1990MFSimon RodgerBognor Regis Town£1,000
16 July 1990MFGlyn HodgesWatford£410,000
15 August 1990DFEric YoungWimbledon£850,000
16 August 1990DFJohn HumphreyCharlton Athletic£400,000
24 October 1990DFTony WitterGrays Athletic£10,000
4 January 1991FWStan CollymoreStafford Rangers£100,000
20 March 1991DFPaul BodinSwindon Town£550,000

Out

DatePosNameToFee
27 July 1990DFJohn PembertonSheffield United£300,000
6 August 1990DFAdam LockeSouthend UnitedFree transfer
30 August 1990DFChris PowellSouthend UnitedFree transfer
30 November 1990DFAlex DyerCharlton Athletic£100,000
17 January 1991MFGlyn HodgesSheffield United£450,000
Transfers in: £2,321,000
Transfers out: £850,000
Total spending: £1,471,000

References