Crystal Palace FC
Crystal Palace Football Club was formed in 1905 at the venue of the glass Palace, which stood at the top of Sydenham Hill, the current location of The National Sports Centre.
The club performed creditably in the Southern League at their original home but perhaps their finest early performances were to be seen in F.A. Cup ties where they established a surprising reputation for such a new club.
The first World War saw them being required to leave their Sydenham Hill home and, after playing briefly at Herne Hill, they moved to the Nest in 1918 which was situated opposite the present day Selhurst Station. It was whilst Palace were playing there that they were admitted to the Football League and they immediately won promotion as the first champions of Division Three in 1921.
The club then moved to their present home, Selhurst Park, in time for the 1924/25 season but was relegated after a defeat at the hands of Oldham in the last game of the campaign.
Despite finishing as runners up three times, Palace remained in the Third Division South until 1958 when they became part of the newly formed national Division Four.
In 1961 Palace were promoted to Division Three, followed three years later with progress to Division Two and then, after beating Fulham, promotion to the First Division in 1969.
Disappointment was to follow four seasons later as The Eagles slipped back into the 2nd Division followed by a further demise to the 3rd Division.
However, the team did almost become the first 3rd Division club to reach the F.A. Cup final, losing to Southampton 2-0 in the semi-final, a cup run which included victories at mighty Chelsea, Leeds United and Sunderland.
In 1977 Palace regained a place in the 2nd Division under the guidance of Terry Venables followed by promotion once more in 1979 to Division One. Unfortunately, after two seasons, Palace were relegated.
In 1981 Ron Noades took over at the helm of the club amidst mounting debts and dwindling local support. Following his appointment of Steve Coppell as Manager in 1984 the following seven years witnessed the re-establishment of Crystal Palace F.C. as one of the major League clubs. Working closely together Ron and Steve gradually built up their playing staff whilst at the same time putting Palace on a sound financial footing, for several seasons they improved their 2nd division rating and in 1989 were triumphant over Blackburn Rovers at Selhurst Park in the final play-off match to regain a place in the 1st Division.
The following season was to bring about some high and low points of Palace history. A 9-0 defeat against Liverpool (noooooooooo!!) at Anfield was the low whilst the high was when, against all odds, Palace beat Liverpool in an F A Cup semi-final at Villa Park 4-3. They then went on to meet Manchester United in that season's final at Wembley Stadium and were minutes from winning, the game will always be remembered for Ian Wright's two goals after a long absence from the first team after twice suffering a broken leg. The replay was somewhat of an anti-climax but the season had certainly put Palace back on the footballing map.
1990-91 was to be the most successful season to date for Crystal Palace Football Club, not only finishing third in the top flight, but Coppell also took his team back to Wembley. This time they left as winners, beating Everton to take the ZDS Cup.
The next campaign was not to be so happy as they lost John Salako for the majority of the season with a cruciate knee injury, but they achieved the league double over Liverpool and finished in the top half of the table.
At the end of season 1992-93, Palace were relegated at Arsenal on the final day of the season with former hero Ian Wright scoring for the Gunners. This proved to be the last match as manager for Steve Coppell and his assistant Alan Smith as the new boss in the Selhurst manager’s hot seat replaced him.
The club bounced straight back to the top flight as First Division champions and they were back in the Premiership, sealing the title at Middlesbrough on the penultimate Sunday of the season.
Progress could not though be maintained and the Selhurst club was relegated in 1995 and this saw the end of Alan Smith's reign as Manager. Ron Noades then changed the management with a continental style being employed as Ray Lewington and Peter Nicholas took over the coaching responsibilities and Steve Coppell returned as Technical Director of Football.
In January 1996 a further change on the management was made as Dave Bassett was named as the new manager and in his first season led the Eagles to a play-off final at Wembley. They lost with the last kick of the match against Leicester and with it a place in the Premiership.
Twelve months later it was the turn of Crystal Palace to win a play-off final in the last minute as they defeated Sheffield United 1-0. It was once again Steve Coppell at the helm as Dave Bassett had departed to take over as General Manager at Nottingham Forest during the 1996-97 season. Palace had once again regained their place in The FA Premier League.
That season of course saw relegation and to follow that there was a take-over by new Chairman Mark Goldberg. In June Terry Venables was appointed Head Coach and made a return to Selhurst Park after being Manager in the late seventies.
The clubs ambitions under the new reign were not to be fulfilled and the season ended with the club in financial problems and the business in the hands of administrators. The football management was once again changed during the early days of January ’99 and Steve Coppell was back in the Managers hotseat.
With the introduction of many youngsters due to the enforced sales of a number of players, the team did the club proud and finished in fourteenth position with any fears of relegation dispelled.
The following season was once again played out in administration and continual speculation with regard to the possible new owners, but it was not until after Coppell’s team had secured their first division status in May that a new owner was confirmed.
In the July 2000, the administration period had finally finished and Simon Jordan completed his takeover of the club. After just a few weeks of Crystal Palace 2000 Ltd, Steve Coppell had left the club by mutual consent and former Manager Alan Smith was named as the new boss. The 2000-01 season started with supporters confidence and pride in the club regained and an exciting new era ahead.
There followed a disappointing season, and with Palace sitting third from bottom Alan Smith was relieved of his duties.
The season ended with coach Steve Kember installed as caretaker manager with one week left of the season. The club retained their place in the first division with a victory in the last game at Stockport County.
On May 29th 2001 the Chairman decided to make a formal appointment and announced that former Manchester United captain Steve "Traitorous Bastard" Bruce was appointed manager. Steve Kember was named as his assistant and Terry Bullivant as First Team coach.
Steve "I hope he burns in the firey depths of hell" Bruce guided the team to third place in the division but resigned from his post on October 31st following speculation linking him with the vacant job at Birmingham City. Simon Jordan refused his resignation and put Bruce on 'gardening leave'. On 30th November Trevor Francis was named first team manager. Twelve days later Steve Bruce was released to join Birmingham.
Source: www.cpfc.co.uk
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SS Lazio
The history of hundred-year-old Società Sportiva Lazio starts on a bench in Piazza della Libertà between Lungotevere and Viale delle Milizie. Luigi Bigiarelli and eight friends decide to found the Società Podistica Lazio. The colors they choose for it are inspired by white-pale blue of Greek flag as olimpic spirit symbol. They establish their first headquarters in Via Valadier and the first sport field in Piazza d’Armi (1902), close to the current Olimpico field. The first years of activity are all about taking part in running competitions and based on a sportive ideal that doesn’t have only a soccer accent. Later on, the registred office is moved from Via Valadier to Via Pompeo Magno,94 and again in 1906 in Casina del Parco of Daini, where finally begins Lazio soccer history.
In 1914 after moved again the registred office in the elegant Via Veneto street and in the time of first soccer champonship, arranged by the Federation on national extension, Lazio starts to play its own domestic matches on Rondinella field. At this moment, arrive the first important victories. The team is able, in a couple of situation, to be in a final game to win a title. It’s in these years for what concerne the Center-South area, that Lazio doesn’t have anybody good enough to beat it, and so the best and more organized teams from the North, being the only one making hard their life. The Biancocelesti take advantage in those matches of the warmth coming from their own fans getting together on the wood white and pale blue painted bleachers that surrounding Rondinella field on three sides.
At the end of the 1st World War, tired and hungry people were left behind. So, needs of cultivable fields lead Lazio to give up at own field: no more Rondinella. And a title of Moral Corporation is recognize to them because of its own good action. The new Lazio field is moved in the close National stadium, called today Flaminio Stadium. In 1953,there is the opening of the new Olimpico Stadium that doesn’t match with a very lucky time for the team.
In 1966 the headquarters is moved again, this time in Via Col di Lana, 8 in Prati area. That will be the headquarters of the only Biancoceleste Scudetto win by the team while Umberto Lenzini is the president. For more than twenty years the troubled history of Lazio goes trough the rooms of this building. For the different emotions and incredible moments that distinguish these years, it is considered by many people as the historical headquarters. From then on, it begin a meeting place for players, managers, journalist and supporters, so for Vannis’, the bar placed on a side of the entrance, where it was easy take a soda and run into Chinaglia and friends. In 1986 things are quite changed. Lazio nearly goes bankrupt. Only when Gianmarco Calleri take over the company, helped by Renato Bocchi, the team go back in Serie A. And one more time, the headquarters is moved. This time in Via Margutta, trying in this way to cut from a very difficult past. In 1989 Lazio is forced to play at Flaminio Stadium: the mondial soccer championships will be played in Italy and so the Olimpico has to be repaired.
When Sergio Cragnotti comes into the company, everything start to change, trying to bring it an upper organization level. The Lazio company merger into Cirio company and move, more than once, the headquarters. In 1992- Corso d’Italia,19; in 1995- Via Novaro, 32, and in 1998 finally in Formello where is built a many functional sporting center. It is used by the team for its training and retreat pre-games, and the company for the management area.
League and Cup Achievements
1973/74 - Serie A Italian Championship
1999/00 - Serie A Italian Championship
1957/58 - Italian Cup
1997/98 - Italian Cup
1999/00 - Italian Cup
1998 - Super Cup of League
2000 - Super Cup of League
1998/99 - Cup winners Cup
1999 - UEFA Super Cup
Source: www.sslazio.it
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