The
history of Palace and Man U is one of occasional path crossing in otherwise
separate existences. One a mighty Titan of the Premiership and Europe, the
other a gang of upstart wannabes led by an assortment of largely bonkers (now
broke/criminal/dead) Chairman. Of course Palace have Man U stories but largely
ones I suspect never registered on the Old Trafford Richter scale. I don’t think
much sleep was lost in Manchester about Les Sealey being allowed to step in for
Jim Leighton…. But the night 20 years ago when
Eric Cantona leapt into the Selhurst crowd to kick a Palace fan is one
of those moments that has earned its place in a wider folklore.
I
was in the Old Stand that night, a couple of blocks down from incident. What is
often forgotten was that Eric was having a spell of discipline problems at the
time. He had been recently sent off in another game and had a long track record
of rather unusual behaviour. Whether deliberate or not Richard Shaw, the Palace
defender was irritating the hell out of the mega star with his close marking. Cantona
was getting no change out of him and finally lost what cool he had. In front of
where we were sitting he kicked out at Shaw with a needless petulance. It was clear enough and an obvious red card.
For
the Palace crowd this was heady stuff. Probably the biggest name in English
football at the time, and certainly a massive threat to us was being sent off
for kicking one of ours. His short fuse was well known but seeing it played out
in front of us was incredible. Not quite being there for Kennedy’s assassination
but…. However it was nothing compared to what was about to follow as he stalked
towards the tunnel. It has always remained amazing to me that Cantona could
pick out what one fan was shouting amongst the wall of baying euphoric wrath
that followed him. But he claimed he did. What happened next is history.
Cantona was handed a long ban by the FA, though lightly punished in the criminal
courts. Man U didn't win with the title that year and Palace ended up being
relegated rather unluckily. It was to
prove a pretty disappointing year for both clubs.
They
met in the FA cup semis. Palace took it to a replay, but ultimately lost 2-0.
Some non Cantona related acrimony lead to Palace fans refusing to travel to Villa
Park for that replay. Man U lost out to Everton in the final (at a time when an
FA cup win still mattered).
This
Saturday's rather routine victory was Man U's 3rd post ‘Kung Fu Cantona’ league
visit to Selhurst Park. Occasionally the likes of Brighton will sing about
Cantona as a token of their anti Palace sentiment. Though on the previous Man U visits
there was the odd squawk about Cantona, but it all seemed much more vociferous
yesterday. Why? My guess is two reasons. The passing of time has allowed an act
to stupidity that potentially cost them the title to become part of loveable Eric's
myth. A post ban Cantona came back the following year and the record speaks for
itself. Like Beckham kicking out at Simeone subsequent success has washed away
the shame. But
I think there is another reason for today’s Man U fan to look back with nostalgia.
94/95 is a much happier time to live in than today. The Premiership was young,
and Fergie's legend was just being made. Foreign signings were something
exotic, and we were entering a brave new world. Man U were still recognisable
as a football club in the traditional sense. Though they were the biggest and
richest it wasn't yet all bankrolled by shadowy distant owners. English clubs,
recently allowed back into Europe were beginning to make their presence felt.
Now they are adrift from the automatic European places, they are being
financially and sportingly outgunned by the likes of Chelsea and Man City and
maybe for the first time the future looks genuinely uncertain. Empires fall.
Man u spent 20 years watching Liverpool sweep all before them. So a rousing chorus
of Cantona to the tune of the 12 days of Christmas is a reminder of better
times.
No comments:
Post a Comment