The Weird & Wacky World of Footballer's Pre-Match Rituals

When it comes to pre-match rituals and superstitions, footballers are in a class of their own. Whatever it is, however weird or wacky it may seem, footballers will do anything if it makes them believe they will play better. Goalkeepers in particular seem to have a penchant for peculiar pre-match rituals. Here are just some of the more unusual footballing pre-match rituals I have discovered:

Malvin Kamara:

Former Huddersfield striker Kamara recently revealed that he would watch 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory' before every match. He claimed it helped to "calms his nerves, bring him luck and maintain his goalscoring form."
After netting a less than impressive three goals in 45 appearances for 'The Terriers,' the player was released in 2009 and now plays his football for non-league AFC Guiseley. Maybe it's time to retire that ritual Malvin?

Sergio Goycochea
:

The Argentina goalkeeper literally used to take the pee. He had the unusual habit of urinating on the pitch before facing a penalty. Apparently he relieved himself once before a penalty and saved it, and so continued the tradition for the remainder of his career. "It was my lucky charm and I went before every shoot out," he said. "I was very subtle, nobody complained."

John Terry:

The Chelsea captain has revealed that he has "about 50 superstitions," which include listening to the same Usher CD, using the same urinal at Stamford Bridge and taking the same seat on the Chelsea team bus. He also claims to have used the same shinpads throughout his career before he misplaced them after a Champions League tie with Barcelona in 2005. "Those shin-pads had got me to where I was in the game," Terry revealed. He now wears a ‘lucky pair’ that were teammate Frank Lampard’s.
No mention, though, of the superstitious use of team-mates' birds before a big game!

David James:

As befits a goalkeeper, England's David James has a couple of odd pre-match 'must dos'. Portsmouth's resident artist and philosopher has admitted to not speaking to anyone before kick-off, as well as waiting for the urinals to empty of players before he enters and spits on the wall. Classy!

Shay Given:

The Ireland and Manchester City keeper insists on keeping a vial of 'Holy Water' at the back of the goal for every game he plays for club or country. With Ireland, he’s following in a tradition of superstitious keepers, as predecessor Packie Bonner used to carry a piece of clay from Gartan in County Donegal in his glove bag wherever he went.

Steve Phillips:

The former Bristol Rovers keeper cannot change his water bottle.

He reveals: "When I walk into the dressing-room the first water bottle I pick up I have to keep with me for the rest of the day."

"It doesn't matter how dirty or battered it gets, I can't use another one or else it's bad luck."

"And not only that, but once it's empty our kitman Roger Harding - and only him - has to refill it from a new bottle."

"Roger is the only other person allowed to touch my bottle. I don't let anyone else anywhere near it." Wacko!

Neil Warnock:

The outspoken QPR manager is no stranger to irksome behaviour, and it seems as though his penchant for the irritating extends to his personal life. If his side are in the midst of a winning run, the former Crystal Palace and Sheffield United manager will stop at every traffic light on his journey home, even if the lights are green.

Kolo Toure:

The Ivorian defender has to be the last player out on the pitch. This superstition lead to a booking at the start of the second half in a Champions League clash with Roma - for taking too long to return to the field of play, following the half-time interval.

Gary Lineker:

Back in his playing days, former England marksman Gary Lineker consciously avoided shooting at goal during the pre-match warm-up, so as to ensure that he didn’t ‘waste’ his good shots before games.

Bobby Moore:

In a superstition mirrored by many of today’s superstars, England’s World Cup-winning captain would insist on being the last member of the team to put on his shorts prior to kick-off. It is thought that Moore’s West Ham United team-mate Martin Peters would often wait for Moore to put on his shorts before he put on his own, only to see Moore subsequently remove his own shorts and put them back on again.

Congratulations to Crystal Palace's Nathianiel Clyne - Named The FourFourTwo 'Young Player of the Year'

On the 14th March, Crystal Palace's Nathaniel Clyne was named FourFourTwo 'Young Player of the Year ' at the 2010 Football League Awards gala dinner, held at the Grosvenor House, Park Lane in London.

The 18-year-old defender is ranked 17th in FourFourTwo’s Top 50 Football League Players list, making him the highest ranked representative aged 21 or under, and as a result, the ' Young Player of the Year ' for the Coca-Cola Football League, beating Nottingham Forest's Paul Anderson and Southampton's Adam Lallana to the title.

Past winners of the award include Fabian Delph, Michael Kightly and Gareth Bale.

Nathaniel, a product of the highly acclaimed Crystal Palace youth academy follows in the footsteps of team-mate Sean Scannell, who won the ' The Championship's Apprentice of the Year ' at the same event in 2009.

The Stockwell born full-back made his first-team debut for Crystal Palace on the 18th October 2008 against Barnsley aged 17, and was named ' Crystal Palace Young Player of the Year ' in 2009.

He has continued to play at the top of his game and has been a 'shinning light' for The Eagles, despite what has been a much publicised and difficult season for the South London side.

The quiet, well rounded teenager said of his award:
"It is very pleasing as there are a lot of young players out there playing first-team football. I’m very happy."

The England U19 international, paid tribute to former manager Neil Warnock – now at QPR following Palace's move into administration – for handing him the opportunity to perform on the big stage.
"He gave me my first-team debut and I owe a lot for that opportunity. He gave me a lot of confidence to perform out on the field."


The full interview with Nathaniel Clyne, can be found in the April issue of FourFourTwo magazine.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reaction from Palace fan's on the unofficial Crystal Palace supporters website Holmesdale.net -


Quality youngster and potential England right back. Congratulations Nat and well deserved - 'Lewisham Eagle'

Richly deserved, well done Nathan - 'we_hate_jon_fortune'

Another great talent that will be nicked from us next season! - 'Palace Passion'

Fantastic player. Not only is he great for his age, he's a very good right-back in general. Glad to see he's getting credit where credit's due! - 'Mr Fenandes'

Thoroughly well deserved Nathaniel.
You are a wonderful role model for all aspiring young footballers out there.
Every Palace fan should be very proud to have such a talented, level-headed individual such as yourself at the Club.
Onwards & upwards - the cream always rises to the top! - 'prideofsouthlondon'

Well-deserved. Would go to the World Cup if there was any justice. Better than Wes Brown! - 'Mr 110%'

The New Management Team At Crystal Palace Football Club

New Palace manager Paul Hart with his assistant Dougie Freedman

Since Crystal Palace F.C went into administration on the 26th January 2010, there had been much speculation but no real concrete substantiation on the movement or otherwise of manager Neil Warnock.

However on Tuesday it was announced Neil was leaving the Club, to become Queens Park Rangers' fifth managerial appointment of the 2009/10 season. Along with Neil the backroom staff of Keith Curle and Mick Jones also left to join him in palatial West London.

I would like to say that I personally was a fan of Mr. Warnock, or to be more accurate I grew to become a fan, because I have to admit I was somewhat apprehensive when this gregarious, brash, Yorkshire born and bred, larger than life character was initially appointed two and a half years ago.

Some of the unsubstantiated comments allegedly made by Neil on his departure left a somewhat sour taste in mine and many other Palace supporters mouths. How true those comments were I am none to sure, as much as I am as to why he decided to leave in the first place.

Swapping one London club in a perilous financial position and potentially relegation bound for another in an equally precarious position on the field, albeit with an affluent but seemingly self-destructible and unpredictable boardroom, with just 14 games of the season to go, I simply fail to understand!
The truth may never be known outside of those immediately implicated.

However during Neil's tenure I was also impressed with the work of Neil's assistant Keith Curle, (the ex Manchester City and England International player).

Without trying to stick my oar in, I went to watch the Ivory Coast play South Korea (two of the World Cup qualifiers) in an international friendly at Loftus Road on Wednesday afternoon, and unsurprisingly bumped into Keith as he arrived at his 'new home.'

Out of interest I asked Keith if he had been offered the position of manager at Palace after Neil decided to leave, to which he replied 'no.'
I then put it to him that if he had been offered the managerial role at Palace would he in fact have taken it. His somewhat muted, low-key reply was ' yes.'

Now I have to say my heart sank at that moment, because in my eyes he would have been an ideal replacement for Neil for several reasons. The obvious ones being that he already knew the set-up at Palace, the players - their abilities and mind set, he had the experience of working with Neil, was well respected at the Club by the players and supporters alike, and therefore was in my humble opinion the best person to fill the void left by Neil's departure, and to take the Club forward.

However a new management team is in place and Neil Warnock is in the library listed under the ' history' section, and I look forward on a positive note to the arrival of our three new amigos in the shape of Paul Hart, his assistant, ex-Palace hero Dougie Freedman, and first team coach John Pemberton, also a former Crystal Palace player.

The new men in charge:

The Manager:
Paul Hart

Born on 4th May 1953 in Golborne, Lancashire, Paul Hart began his playing career in 1970 at Stockport County. In 1978 he made a £300,000 move to Leeds United as a replacement for Gordon McQueen, and spent another five years at Elland Road where he made 191 appearances.

He went on to play for a number of other clubs namely Nottingham Forest, Sheffield Wednesay, Birmingham and finally Notts County.

After announcing his retirement Paul was appointed manager of Chesterfield. He spent three years with the Spireites, which included an unsuccessful run to the play-offs, before a fall out with the Chairman led to his depature in 1991.

He then moved into youth coaching and was offered the role as head of Leeds United's Academy.
His young side won the FA Youth Cup in 1993 and 1997, while many of his young players went on to establish themselves in the Leeds side that reached the Champions League semi finals in 2001.

He then moved to Nottingham Forest to take charge of their Academy, but was promoted in 2001 to first team manager upon the departure of David Platt.
Hart was forced to take control of a club that had spiralled into crippling debt under Platt, and he had to accept losing a series of key players to balance the books.
Nonetheless Hart still managed to stablise the team and actually led them to the First Division play-off semi-finals in 2003.

He was offered the vacant managerial position at League One side Barnsley, before his departure by mutual consent.

A short spell in charge of Rushden & Diamonds followed in 2006, but it proved to be another short stay and he returned to youth team management at Portsmouth in 2007.

Two years later Pompey's first team manager, Tony Adams was removed from his post and Hart was offered the position as caretaker manager until the end of the 2008/09 season.
It was made permanent in July 2009, but he couldn't replicate the success he had the previous campaign and after a difficult start to the new season he left the club.

It led to a surprise move to QPR in December in a move that turned out to be another bizarre turn of events in the South West London club's managerial merry-go-round, because after less than month in charge he left Loftus Road.

On 2nd March 2010 Hart was appointed manager of Crystal Palace.

Assistant Manager:
Dougie Freedman

Born 25th May 1974 in Glasgow, Dougie Freedman began his career with top flight Queens Park Rangers in 1992, but never made their first team. Instead, he moved to Third Division Barnet on a free transfer in July 1994. He made his league debut in August 1994 and quickly became the club's leading player as he struck 24 goals in his debut season. A bright start to the following season convinced Crystal Palace to bid £800,000 to take him to Selhurst Park in September 1995.

Freedman instantly showed he could continue his goalscoring antics at the higher level when he netted 20 times in the 1995–96 season.

The following season saw a less prolific 11 goals scored by the Scotsman, but it was enough to help the club to the promotion play-offs. He then scored crucial goals in the 89th and 90th minutes of their semi-final tie with Wolves after coming off the bench with just 17 minutes left. Palace went on to win promotion in the Wembley final, beating Sheffield United 1–0.

In October 1997, Freedman moved ironically to Wolves on a loan spell and was signed permanently after impressing at the Molineux club. However, his spell with the club would only last until the end of the 1997–98 season, before Freedman was sold to Nottingham Forest for £950,000 in August 1998.

Nottingham Forest offered Freedman his first full season in the top flight in 1998–99, but Forest were relegated. He remained with the club for a further full season before rejoining Crystal Palace again in October 2000, this time for £600,000.

Freedman joined the club during a relegation threatened campaign, but one which ended with perhaps his most famous goal for the club. Relegation to the third tier loomed in Palace's final game of the season at Stockport County. With three minutes left and the score 0-0, Freedman dramatically pounced to score probably the most vital goal in the Club's history, and one which secured Palace's survival in the division.

The following campaign saw him bag 21 goals in all competitions, his best seasonal tally for the club. This also earned him a call-up to the Scottish national team, to add to his earlier Under 21 caps.

However the following season was less of a personal success. His fortunes were revived in 2003–04 though, as he re-established himself as a first choice regular under new manager Iain Dowie. A strong surge in the second-half of the season saw the club go from relegation contenders to the promotion play-offs. He was an unused substitute in the final though, which saw the club beat West Ham and win promotion to the top flight, the second time he had been promoted with the club.

However, life in the Premier League in 2004–05 saw Freedman often overlooked as the team employed only one striker in most games, with Andy Johnson being the preferred choice in this role.
He remained committed to the Palace cause of consolidating FA Premier League status by rejecting a loan bid from Leeds, and scored in their final game of the season, but could not prevent the club enduring Premier League relegation in 2005.

Back in the Championship the form of fellow strikers Johnson and Clinton Morrison limited his first-team opportunities, but he scored his 100th and 101st goals for Crystal Palace in a 3–2 win at rivals Brighton & Hove Albion on 20th November 2005. This made him only the seventh player in Palace history to have reached the century mark.

His coaching career began when he was appointed as the reserve team manager of Crystal Palace in November 2007. He was in this role alongside his playing duties for the club's first team.

Freedman joined League One club Leeds United on loan in early 2008, until the end of the season, where he made quite an impression. He helped them reach a play-off final at the age of 34.

After returning to Palace at the end of the season, Dougie was granted a testimonial match to reward him for ten years' service at the club over two spells.

In September 2008, Southend United announced the signing of Dougie Freedman on a two year contract. On 2nd March 2010 Freedman had his contract at Southend terminated by mutual consent and he returned to his former club Crystal Palace as the new assistant manager.

1st Team Coach:
John Pemberton

Born 18 November 1964 in Oldham, Lancashire John Pemberton started his career as a junior at Manchester United but was released in June 1983. He signed for Chadderton F.C, then Rochdale A.F.C before moving to Crewe Alexandra in 1985.

He initially came to prominence when he joined Crystal Palace in 1988, helping them win promotion to the First Division in 1989.
He appeared for Palace in the 1990 FA Cup Final against Manchester United at Wembley.

In 1990, Pemberton moved to Sheffield United. His most memorable moment game in 1993 when he scored the winning penalty in the shootout against Blackburn Rovers in the Quarter Final replay of the FA Cup. The following summer he was sold to Yorkshire rivals Leeds United.

Pemberton became something of a cult figure at Leeds owing to his determination and high work-rate. He appeared in a second Wembley final when he played for Leeds in the 1996 League Cup Final against Aston Villa, again, unfortunately for Pemberton his side was defeated.

He ended his career back at Crewe Alexandra with two appearances in the 1997–98 season.

Pemberton coached Nottingham Forest's reserve team to the Central League title in the 2007–08 season. In December 2008, following the dismissal of first-team manager Colin Calderwood, Pemberton was appointed as caretaker manager before Billy Davies was named as the new first-team boss. At the end of the 2008–09 season Davies re-organised his coaching staff, and Pemberton's contract was terminated by mutual consent after more than a decade as part of Forest's backroom team.

On 2nd March 2010 Pemberton was appointed first team coach at Crystal Palace.


May I take this opportunity to wish the new management team the best of luck for the remainder of the season.
As a Palace fan, on behalf of all Palace fans, can I ask that each of you give 100% in your efforts to keep 'The Eagles' in the Championship. In return you will have our whole hearted support in these difficult times.

Crystal Palace Football Club Go Into Administration - 26th January 2010. Which Club Will Be Next?

OFFICIAL CLUB STATEMENT:

Following a 5pm meeting at the club the following statement was released.

Brendan Guilfoyle, Chris White and John Russell of the P & A Partnership have today been appointed administrators of Crystal Palace Football Club.

The administrators have been appointed to rescue the club and reconstruct its finances and will be urgently seeking buyers.

Brendan Guilfoyle said: "This club has been in the spotlight for some months with creditors pressing for payments and players anxious about their wages.

"Our role now is to find a buyer quickly to provide certainty for the employees, players and fans for the future. We are hoping our appointment will be short-lived as we understand there are many interested buyers."

"Our role now is to find a buyer quickly to provide certainty for the employees, players and fans for the future. We are hoping our appointment will be short-lived as we understand there are many interested buyers," he added in the statement.

Palace are ninth in the table, having been on the fringes of the promotion playoff places most of the season as they attempt to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2005.

However, administration leads to an automatic 10-point penalty which would leave them battling to avoid relegation.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SKY SPORTS NEWS:

Crystal Palace have gone into administration and are facing an immediate 10-point deduction as a result.

The Football League is still to confirm the penalty as they are awaiting legal paperwork, but administrators have been appointed in a bid to rescue the Championship club.

The Selhurst Park outfit have been struggling financially for some time with chairman Simon Jordan actively seeking new investment.

Palace's players have seen their wages delayed this season, while the club have been forced to operate under a transfer embargo due to their plight.

The South London side have now been left with no option but to place the club into administration in the face of mounting debts.

Their 10-point deduction will see them plunge from ninth in the table and on the fringes of the play-off race to 20th, just four points above the drop zone.

Rescue.

A statement released to Sky Sports News read: "Brendan Guilfoyle, Chris White and John Russell of the P & A Partnership have today been appointed administrators of Crystal Palace Football Club.

"The administrators have been appointed to rescue the club and reconstruct its finances and will be urgently seeking buyers."

The administrators remain confident that they will soon be able to find a new buyer to save the ailing Eagles.

Guilfoyle said: "This club has been in the spotlight for some months with creditors pressing for payments and players anxious about their wages.

"Our role now is to find a buyer quickly to provide certainty for the employees, players and fans for the future.

"We are hoping our appointment will be short-lived as we understand there are many interested buyers."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THIS IS CROYDON TODAY.CO.UK - FROM A PALACE PLAYER'S PERSPECTIVE - MATT LAWRENCE

Palace defender Matt Lawrence says the Eagles playing staff will be "bitterly disappointed" at the news that the club have been placed into administration.

Most of the club's players and coaching staff were in the air on a flight to Newcastle for tomorrow night's clash with the Championship league leaders as the news broke.

Lawrence, who had got the train up to the North East, was waiting for his team mates at the hotel as he spoke with the Advertiser.

"I think they are on the way here now so I'm sure most will have heard the news, I'm sure the texts will have been flying around," he said. "I would imagine that some of the staff and possibly Shaun [Derry - Palace's captain] may have been told before they got on the flight, but I don't know for sure.

"It's just bitterly disappointing that all the hard work done by the players and the manager so far this season to get us where we are in the league has disappeared.

"We were two points off the play-offs but now we are just four points above the relegation zone. So obviously the focus has changed."

Lawrence, who was been a peripheral figure at Palace for the majority of the campaign, insists the team will simply have to roll up their sleeves and get on with their job - just as they have done all season.

"We're in a relegation scrap now and rather than tomorrow night's game being a six pointer in terms of the play-offs, the games with Peterborough and Scunthorpe in the next two weeks are the six-pointers.

"I think the lads have shown that during these hard times they have been focussed on the football and I'm sure they will keep on doing the same thing now. The games we have got remaining have just taken on even more significance."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BBC SPORT:

Championship side Crystal Palace have gone into administration, according to administrators P&A Partnership.
The Eagles twice failed to pay players this season and chairman Simon Jordan had been searching for new investors.

Clubs entering administration are automatically docked 10 points, which would see Palace drop from ninth place to two spots above the drop zone.
But the Football League has yet to receive formal confirmation from either the club or the administrators.

The Football League would need to see official documentation before applying the penalty.
"Our role is to find a buyer quickly to provide certainty for the future," said administrator Brendan Guilfoyle.

"This club has been in the spotlight with creditors pressing for payments and players anxious about wages.
"We are hoping our appointment will be short-lived as we understand there are many interested buyers."
Palace have reported debts of approximately £30m and are due in court on Wednesday to face a winding-up order from HM Revenue and Customs.

Despite their financial constraints - Warnock has at times not been able to name seven substitutes this season - Palace were lying two points off the play-offs ahead of Wednesday's trip to Newcastle.

Warnock will instead have a relegation fight on his hands, while the sale of his star players, such as teenage striker Victor Moses, now seems inevitable.
Jordan, who saved Palace from administration in 2000, last year announced his intention to sell the club.

The club has twice since been subject to a transfer embargo, with the Palace players first informed that Jordan had "cashflow" problems at the end of November.