Palace legend David Hopkin on the goal that took Eagles into the Premier League in 1997
Iconic midfielder David Hopkin has given his first interview in almost two decades about his ‘looking to curl one’ 1997 play-off winner against Sheffield United.
Marking the 23rd anniversary since promoting Crystal Palace to the Premier League, he has told the official Palace website he might not have come to Selhurst Park had Ruud Gullit not been signed by Chelsea.
That paved the way for his move across the Thames – and a two-year stint which is etched into the memory of Eagles fans from that era.
As the commentary said: “In the last minute of the final, Crystal Palace’s captain, Crystal Palace’s Player of the Year, one of the outstanding players in the Football League, has put his signature on the afternoon with a truly magnificent goal.”
Simon Rodger’s cross from a short Andy Roberts corner was headed out by Sheffield United defender Carl Tiler. Hopkin trapped with his left foot and the ball squirted nicely onto his right. He looked up and went for glory – and curled it into the top corner, leaving keeper Simon Tracey stranded.
“Walking up the tunnel to play Sheffield United, you’re looking across at experienced players and they looked nervous,” he told cpfc.co.uk.
“It’s injury time. Andy Roberts and Simon Rodger take a short corner. The ball’s been played in, I’m at the edge of the box and it’s gone past me. I’m running to get the ball, I’m turning and as soon as I’ve turned I know I’m going to hit it. Gareth Taylor came at me – six-foot, three inches – and when he came, I just thought I’d bend it around him.
“As soon as I hit it, it was like slow motion into the top corner. This is probably the first interview I’ve done about it, because I don’t do interviews regarding this… I probably didn’t realise how good a goal it was at the time. To do all those things you have to do, to get the shot away, makes it much better looking back now.
“You’re hitting a ball from 25 yards and a standing start. It was fantastic, and a fantastic day. I was delighted, absolutely delighted we scored… I knew as soon as we scored that we’d won it.
“The goal was more of a relief from the year before and I felt that the club deserved it. We deserved it maybe the year before, too… I was delighted for the fans, I was delighted my wife, family and close friends were there and it was a fantastic day – afterwards was just wonderful.”
But Hopkin’s memorable promotion-securing stunner may never have ended up in the Palace annals, if it weren’t for the arrival of a certain Ruud Gullit on English shores…
Hopkin recalls his conversation with Chelsea manager Glenn Hoddle before switching to the Eagles: “I was on holiday in Cornwall with my wife and two kids when my agent, Phil Morrison, called me and said that Chelsea had been in contact with him and they’d agreed a fee of £800,000 with Palace for me to move there.
“It was a strange one because I felt at the time I was starting to get in at Chelsea, in the team more often and playing more games. Then Glenn Hoddle phoned me and said: ‘Look, we’re signing Ruud Gullit. We need the money. There are no other young players at the club who we can get a signing-on fee from for his wages. I think it’ll be a fantastic move for you, you’ll go there and play regular football. It’s a step back towards playing in the Premier League.’”
“He was right. As soon as I met Ron Noades and Steve Coppell, it sold the club to me. I remember watching the [1990] FA Cup final and seeing Steve on the touchline and then I was meeting him. He had a fantastic aura about him and so did Ron Noades… I had nothing but admiration for them: how calm they were, how professional they were.
“Within about an hour, I’d signed a deal and moved to Palace.”
Hopkin also paid tribute to the club for his two stints there, stressing in particular his admiration for Palace’s staff.
“Ray [Lewington] was just fantastic. He made me the player I was. His coaching sessions were miles ahead of his time, even when I look back now. The small details he’d tell you that made you a better player and just the confidence he gave every young player. I knew even then he was going to have longevity in his career.
“I met him last year when I was [managing] at Bradford City and we trained at Palace’s Training Ground. I met up with Ray and Roy [Hodgson] and Dougie Freedman, so it was great to see him again. He’s an absolute gem of a man and he’s a person I hold in the highest of regards.
“I look back with fondness and I look back with pride at what I achieved with a fantastic football club, a fantastic football club which has kept its identity… My wife loved the club, she loved coming to every game, the kids loved going to every game and there was always a family feel.
“I don’t think we ever played in a game – even if we lost, which was very rare – and got booed off the pitch. The fans deserve great credit. I’d like to thank the Crystal Palace fans who helped me through a great time.
“These are the things people can never take away from you. The staff – there are still a few working there behind the scenes. [press officer] Terry Byfield, [chief executive] Phil Alexander – just incredible.
“And [scout] John Griffin, who recently passed away. I want to give him a mention because John was so vital with the way Palace were. I sent his grandson a message saying he was always in the training ground on a Monday morning and he was a massive part of the success at Palace. He was the one who went and brought me along to sign so it’s sad to see his passing.”
Hopkin joined Leeds in 1997 and later Bradford before a one-season return to Palace in 2002-03. He returned to hometown club Greenock Morton in 2003 and retired because of a persistent ankle injury, but went on to manage at Livingston – whom he steered to successive promotions into the Scottish top flight – and Bradford. He is now in the hotseat at Greenock.
For more from Hopkin, including the story of his departure for Leeds United and admiration for ‘Old Grandad’ Ray Houghton, head over to cpfc.co.uk
Everyone at the South London Press thanks you for your continued support.
Former Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has encouraged everyone in the country who can afford to do so to buy a newspaper, and told the Downing Street press briefing:
“A FREE COUNTRY NEEDS A FREE PRESS, AND THE NEWSPAPERS OF OUR COUNTRY ARE UNDER SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL PRESSURE”
If you can afford to do so, we would be so grateful if you can make a donation which will allow us to continue to bring stories to you, both in print and online. Or please make cheques payable to “MSI Media Limited” and send by post to South London Press, Unit 112, 160 Bromley Road, Catford, London SE6 2NZ
