- Joel Ward relives FA Cup triumph
- Previous Wembley visits
- Full quotes from former Palace captain
A year to the day since Crystal Palace’s FA Cup triumph, quotes from Joel Ward’s pre-game analysis yesterday have jogged fond memories in the heads of Palace fans. Ward captained the side to victory, alongside Marc Guéhi, who lifted his second consecutive FA Cup with Manchester City this weekend.
Whilst Ward didn’t feature in the final, he played a key leadership role behind the scenes and lifted the trophy with Guéhi.
After ten seasons in South London, the FA Cup win was a fitting end to Ward’s time at the club, and in Saturday’s pre-game build-up he reminisced on the memories of that famous day.
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Ward on FA Cup win
“It’s a bit surreal sitting here, having the arch in the background.” Ward began. “The memories are very fresh in the mind, it brings it all back – the emotion, excitement. It was a beautiful day and an incredible experience.”
“There was just that real humbleness, a quiet belief we could do the job. The gaffer had experience European football, and lifted a trophy. We were going in there already having made ourselves and our fans proud. You could go out there, express yourself and enjoy it.”
There was a sense of destiny in the Wembley air that day, and whilst Palace had quality on mass, it always felt like the fans were channeling the energy into those eleven men on the pitch. Ward credited his teammates’ quality in the cup run.
“It helps when you’ve got the quality through the dressing room that we did, with Ebs, Marc, and Adam. All of those players who were going on to achieve great things in the game, wherever they may have gone.”
Whilst the latter still plays in red and blue, both Eze and Guéhi have departed. A new wave of talent is making its mark in South London, and Palace will contest a European final, a byproduct of the FA Cup win last Summer.
Fond memories, frustrating memories
Palace have played at Wembley more times than any ‘non big-six’ side in the last decade. Ward’s first Wembley experience was in the play-offs, where Ward’s goal line clearance played a huge role in sending Palace to the Premier League and laying the foundations for the success.
The right-back, who has played for Swansea this season, spoke about his personal history with the famous stadium.
“For me the memories have been so sweet. Getting promoted in 2013 against Watford, and then getting to the FA Cup final in 2016 was incredible – and playing in the semi-finals.” Palace won in extra time that day through a Kevin Phillips penalty.
The next Wembley trip for Palace came just three years later in the 2016 FA Cup final, where Palace lost 2-1 to Manchester United.
“In 2016 I was so laser-focused, and there was that pressure with Palace being back in the FA Cup final for the first time since the 1990s. There was a lot riding on that. Last year I had a different role I was playing that season with the team… it was like we’ve done everything we can, we’ve been on a great run, the club is moving in the right way, the trajectory and the players we had, there was just that belief within the team.”
“”Then to be a part of it last year was special as well because I knew my time at the club was coming to an end. To have my son walk out as a mascot at Wembley as well was, I sat there on the bench holding it together.”
Ward played well over 200 games for Palace and bowing out with FA Cup victory was not only a fitting ending to his time, but a stark reminder of just how magic England’s oldest tournament is.
