A Crystal Palace fan’s emotional speech leaves talkSPORT presenters in tears after the FA Cup Final win on Saturday.
Steve, a lifelong Crystal Palace fan, shared an emotional story on talkSPORT about his deep connection to the club, starting in 1986 when his father, Nigel, introduced him to it.
He recounted key moments like the 1990 FA Cup final, where Palace were minutes from victory, and the 2016 final, which ended in heartbreak.
Tragically, 47 days after the 2016 loss, Nigel took his own life. Steve believes a win might have brought his father peace.
Steve attended the game with his wife, Katie, who has stage four lung cancer, and their daughters, creating a cherished memory.
The number seven, significant in his father’s life and Palace’s near-victories, appeared symbolically at the game. Steve expressed gratitude to the club and players, emphasising how Palace has been a constant in his life and now his daughters’.
Speaking from outside a hospital while Katie collected chemo tablets, Steve’s call was a courageous tribute to his family and the club’s profound impact. Jim White praised Steve’s bravery and sent love to Katie, affirming support for him and all fans.
Jim White: “Steve’s a big Palace fan. Good morning to you, Steve. What do you think? Is this going to lead to even bigger and better things?
Steve: “Oh, morning guys. Great show as always. I really hope so. Really, really hope so. I’ve got a bit of a backstory to kind of my Palace roller coaster life. Started in ’86, born in my dad was a Norbury boy. Took me along. I fell in love with him. 1990, I was there 3-3, 7 minutes from the end. Mark Hughes pops up. We queued on Sainsbury’s car park floor. We lived in Bournemouth at the time. We queued through the nights to get tickets for the replay. I missed it cuz I was on a school residential trip. 2016, I was there with my father. We sat in different areas because of a point system and I saw my dad’s face after that game. He didn’t talk the whole way home.
“47 days later, my father took his own life. And I know he would have been at peace if they’d won that cup, knowing what he was going to do.
“So Saturday, I was there with my wife and my two daughters. My wife was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in September and to be there with them and witness that club that I love with all my heart with my girls will live with me for the rest of my life.
“I can’t thank the club, the players Olly enough for what they did for us fans.
“Simon, I’ve read your book. I think it’s an amazing book. I recommend and I’m not paid for this by the way by Simon. Um I think it’s a great book. I read it alongside Neil Warnock’s book and it completely changed my views on what happened during that time. Um I understand where you’re coming from on a lot of things but you have that club in your heart like every Palace fan has that club in their heart and just fate played a factor.
“You know dad was born May the 7th. He died on July the 7th. We were 7 minutes from winning it in 1990. We were pretty much 7 minutes away from winning it in 2016. I was walking into the Bobby Moore entrance on Saturday and on the floor not in paint but in water was the name was the number seven, and dad was 70 then days ago…”
Jim White: “Would have been wow what would ad be saying this morning do you think Steve.”
Steve: “He loved Palace he loved Palace he he’d be hopefully he was there and he was he’s dancing in the skies but you know that club was his life absolute life and and and It’s it’s been my life since the age of eight and I’m 46 now and my two girls absolutely love it. My daughter who was 11 was in tears at 70 minutes because the emotion got too much to my wife was in tears. We were all everyone was in tears but yeah dad would have loved it and I was with a great bunch of people that you just makes forever. Palace makes forever.”
Jim White: “Steve, you’re a special man and that was a special call that did it. Required a lot of courage on your part.”
Steve: “I’m sat outside hospital at the moment while my wife is collecting her chemo tablets and I just I didn’t even cry at the final whistle. I didn’t even cry. I don’t know why I thought I was and I I’ve never rang talkSPORT and it takes me a lot of gaps to to do this and but I just I just had to I just had to call you guys and express how I feel.”
Jim White: “Well done, Steve. Steve, what was your dad’s first name?
Steve: “It was Nigel.”
Jim White: “Nigel. And your wife’s name?”
Steve: “Katie.”
Jim White: “Send our love to Katie this morning. And all good wishes to her from not just myself, Simon, and Martin. Everybody here at talkSPORT, Steve. We’re here for you, mate. We’re here for for people like you and every Palace fan and every fan of every club on a daily basis. But we’re here for you, particularly you today, Steve. It’s the stories. It’s the backstories, isn’t it, to a day like that and a result like that.”
This is how Twitter users reacted after the Crystal Palace fan’s emotional speech leaves talkSPORT presenters in tears after the FA Cup win…
@eyup_io: It’s proper heartwarming when football’s more than just a game, isn’t it? Cheers to the true fans who wear their hearts on their sleeves.
@Enrohd_1992: This is what football is about was so happy for Palace and their fans fantastic football club and hope they enjoy their parade on the 26th too
@Andrewn68: Blubbering wreck on the train listening to this this morning……. wow
@HookmeisterG: Set me off again this did!!! Emotional and heartbreaking!! The football community has him and his family in our thoughts! ❤️💙
@TrueCpfc: Someone get this man and his family and trip to the training ground #CPFC @CPFC @eastmamba @CEO4TAG
@srxx29crotch: This what football can do some hardships this palace fan went through and is going through now, but #CPFC lifting the cup gave him so much joy and escapism for a little bit. Good on ya Steve mate hope ur wife can keep fighting.I had the joy with Newcastle winning cup good on u mate
@liam_hedgecock: That’s why this great game means more ❤️
@DrDickoCPFC: Thought I was done with the tears… ❤️
@DavidMatthews6: This was a very heavy listen this morning.
@james_twinn: What it’s all about man. Well done the palace 🙌🏻
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