Holmesdale Fanatics want resolution to dispute before Crystal Palace’s home game against Bournemouth

BY EDMUND BRACK
edmund@slpmedia.co.uk

Holmesdale Fanatics believe Crystal Palace and Croydon council are using “heavy-handed” rules to harm the atmosphere at Selhurst Park and are seeking a resolution before the next home game against Bournemouth on December 6.

At the start of the 3-2 Premier League defeat against Everton in SE25 before the international break, the supporters’ group held up a banner which read: “Croydon council, the shame of our borough. Stop wasting time on us. Sort out the real issue”.

The atmosphere at Selhurst Park, with the absence of the drum and the ultras section behind the goal, was noticeably subdued.

Some members of the group, which was formed in 2005, say they had to spend part of the first half trying to open up their storeroom where their materials are kept after it had been locked by the club. They returned in the second half, with manager Roy Hodgson reportedly seen gesturing towards the Holmesdale Stand at half-time, indicating he wanted the noise levels ramped up.

The HF released a statement on their X social media account which claimed they were blocked from entering storerooms and, therefore, unable to access drums, megaphones and flags before kick off.

Another contentious issue the HF have highlighted is that they have also been stopped from using the upper tier of the Holmesdale Road stand for displays for the first time in 18 years, which would have prevented previous tributes for the likes of Hodgson, Joel Ward, Jason Puncheon and Wilfried Zaha.

The group estimates that displays would be reduced, as a result, by up to 80 per cent should this continue to be enforced.

Holmesdale Fanatics told the South London Press: “The council and club are both complicit in targeting the Palace support with heavy-handed rules and actions that harm the positive atmosphere – meaning the whole club suffers.

“With the next home match three weeks away. The public pressure is on to reinstall the banner stands, for the club to allow direct access to storerooms and to remove the ridiculous ban on display banners from the upper tier.

“It’s high time the club and council started working for supporters instead of against them.”

The group have been prominent in the local community, spearheading an annual Christmas appeal and a mass foodbank collection for South Norwood Community Kitchen to help families impacted by the rising cost of living.

They have also been vocal on local issues within the South London area, recently protesting knife crime after the fatal stabbing of 15-year-old Elianne Andam in Croydon in October and they also unveiled banners of support after the Croydon tram crash in 2016.

Palace have worked closely with the HF in recent years, helping facilitate the group moving from Block B in the Holmesdale Road stand to Block E, with an estimated 400 season-ticket holders displaced so HF could stand behind the goal. A number of fans ended up staying in their seats and joining the signing section.

A club source told our paper that ensuring the safety of supporters at Selhurst Park is of paramount importance and that Palace were formally instructed, in writing, by Croydon council to remove the structure used by Holmesdale Fanatics to hang their banner as they did not believe it met health and safety standards.

The source added they are working constructively with the council and have suggested multiple alternatives in order to sort out the issues. Although they are yet to find an agreement which meets the council’s health and safety requirements, Palace are hopeful a resolution can be reached in the near future.

Croydon council were asked for comment but did not respond before our paper went to press.

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD