Crawley vs Palace: A Familiar Summer Fixture With New Storylines
Crystal Palace are hitting the road again for another pre-season clash, this time making their now-customary trip down to Sussex to face Crawley Town. The match kicks off at 7:30 PM BST on Friday, July 25th, at the Broadfield Stadium — a venue that’s become a bit of a summer tradition for the Eagles. Though the away ticket section is already sold out, fans can still catch the action live on Palace TV+, which also covers the rest of the club’s pre-season journey, including upcoming games in Austria.
This game serves as a valuable warm-up for Palace, who are looking to find their rhythm ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign. Their pre-season began with a narrow 1-0 win over Millwall, thanks to a strike from academy talent Jesurun Rak-Sakyi. But despite the win, head coach Oliver Glasner will be keen to iron out some tactical issues — particularly in the attacking third — before the team faces tougher tests in Germany against Mainz and Augsburg.
Also Read:- Giants Launch Stunning Comeback to Crush Swans in Fiery Sydney Derby
- Green Card Holders Urged to Always Carry This Crucial Document
Crawley, on the other hand, are entering this match with a bit more match sharpness, having already played several friendlies over the last few weeks. Their form has been mixed — wins against Three Bridges, East Grinstead, and Dagenham & Redbridge were offset by losses to Portsmouth and Hearts. This fixture against Palace will be their final dress rehearsal before their league season kicks off against Grimsby.
The Red Devils, as Crawley are known, have had a tough time lately. Despite starting the 2024/25 League One season with two wins that saw them briefly climb to third place, things quickly unraveled. They went through four different managers during the campaign and eventually finished 21st — enough to send them back down to League Two. Still, with Scott Lindsey reappointed late last season and a few new signings, including American youth international Kyle Scott and striker Kabongo Tshimanga, there’s cautious optimism for a bounce-back year.
A fun historical footnote: Palace and Crawley have only met once in a competitive setting — that was in the League Cup back in the 2011/12 season, when two second-half goals from Wilfried Zaha secured a 2-0 win for Palace. Interestingly, Claude Davis, a former Palace defender, also made a name for himself at Crawley by leading them to a 13-game unbeaten run and their first-ever promotion from League Two.
So while it’s “just” a pre-season friendly on paper, the match brings storylines of redemption, preparation, and a little bit of shared history. Whether you're watching for squad shape-ups, standout youth performances, or just a solid Friday night of football, this one’s worth tuning in to.
Read More:
0 Comments