Crystal Palace to create major singing section at Selhurst Park in bid to restore raucous reputation

Crystal Palace will create a major new singing section at Selhurst Park from the start of next season, as the club seeks to restore its reputation for generating one of the best atmospheres in the Premier League.

The decision will see the Holmesdale Fanatics, a 200-strong group of ‘ultras’ credited with instigating Selhurst’s renowned noise, move from block B of the Holmesdale Stand to the more central block E behind the goal where they plan to swell and become a unique part of the English football landscape.

The Palace board began talks with leading members of the Fanatics last season, but the proposals were dropped when existing season-ticket holders in block E voiced their concerns over being displaced from long-held seats, many of whom have sat in the same spot for two decades or more.

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The Fanatics subsequently disbanded ahead of this season, having “outgrown” their original space, and have been notably absent from Selhurst in the opening months of the campaign. The drop in noise has drawn comment from both Palace players and their opposition, with the Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy describing the stadium as “less intimidating” and “a lot quieter without [the Fanatics] there”, following Saints’ 2-0 win in south London at the start of September.

The change in atmosphere has caused concern among Palace fans, and several supporters’ groups came together behind a joint-statement last week “to show our firm and collective backing behind proposals to implement a central singing section in the Lower Holmesdale”. Messages of solidarity with the Fanatics have also been seen at Paris Saint-Germain and as far away as Greek club Panionios.

The chairman Steve Parish has taken a personal interest in finding a solution and is keen to restore the noise levels at the ground, while also acknowledging the commercial benefit of preserving Palace’s reputation as a club with passionate supporters and a raucous atmosphere. And the club have now confirmed that they have reached a resolution, and that plans will go ahead at the start of the 2019-20 season.

It is not yet known how many fans would have to move from their usual seats to accommodate the new singing section, although the club insist they will look after long-term supporters who will be forced to move as a result and will be in contact with those supporters affected.

In a statement, Palace said: “Much has been said and written in recent weeks about the prospect of an enhanced and expanded “singing section” in the Lower Holmesdale Stand, to further build upon the reputation that our fans inside Selhurst Park have created as one of, if not, the best atmospheres in the Premier League.

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“Recognising this will cause some initial disruption but weighing up all the views and opinions there appears to be overwhelming support from the supporter base for this to become a reality.

“We are therefore committed to facilitating a larger and dedicated “singing section” next season, where our most vocal fans will thrive and act as a catalyst to make the Holmesdale Stand into an even greater wall of noise and supportive force behind the team. It’s unavoidable that this will result in some of our most valued, longstanding season ticket holders being displaced, we have worked hard to keep this to a relatively small amount and we will of course work hard to make the best alternatives available to them.

“Please do not call the box office at this time. We will be contacting all supporters within the next few weeks who will be directly affected and discussing this with them individually.”