Crystal Palace have a history of Valentine’s Day success. Though it’s a rare matchday, the Eagles have delivered several standout performances on February 14.
1976 – TAYLOR DISMANTLES CHELSEA
Crystal Palace, a Division Three side, faced off against Chelsea’s stars—Peter Bonetti, Ray Wilkins, and Ron Harris—in the FA Cup Fifth Round. Despite being clear underdogs, Palace had Peter Taylor, who stole the show with two goals and an assist.
Nicky Chatterton opened the scoring after Taylor’s thunderous shot hit the bar, setting him up for a six-yard tap-in. Taylor then blasted one home from 20 yards before sealing the win with a stunning free-kick.
Chelsea leveled the game at 2-2 before Palace earned a free-kick just outside the box. With Taylor’s incredible form that day, Dave Swindlehurst dummied a shot, leaving Taylor to slot it home. The win sent Palace into their first-ever Cup semi-final.
Taylor recalled tricking Chelsea with the free-kick setup: “They expected Swindlehurst to hit it, so I told him to run over it.” Big Mal Allison’s cheeky three-finger salute to Chelsea fans, predicting the score, remains legendary.
2004 – JOHNSON SCORES THREE IN VALENTINE’S ROUT
Andrew Johnson was unstoppable as Stoke City arrived at Selhurst Park in 2004. He struck within five minutes, and Stoke’s John Eustace equalized a minute later, setting the tone for a goal-packed match.
🎩🎩🎩#OnThisDay in 2004 we witnessed nine goals at Selhurst Park 🤯#CPFC pic.twitter.com/HvlOwHmP2c
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) February 14, 2023
Palace and Stoke—two promotion-chasing sides—were in top form. Johnson’s hat-trick highlighted his dominance, bringing him to 18 goals in just 16 games. He went on to become the league’s top scorer with 28 goals.
The next season, Johnson scored 21 Premier League goals, finishing second only to Arsenal’s Thierry Henry.
2010 – AMBROSE’S 35-YARD STUNNER
Darren Ambrose produced magic on Valentine’s Day 2010, taking a 35-yard free-kick against Premier League Aston Villa. Facing Brad Friedel and with Palace in administration, few expected him to take the shot—let alone score.
Ambrose’s stunning goal briefly put Palace ahead, but Stiliyan Petrov equalized late. Villa won the replay, but Ambrose’s goal remains an iconic moment in a turbulent season that ended with Palace’s dramatic survival.
AND HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!
Three former Palace players share Valentine’s Day birthdays: Derek Possee (1973/74), fan-favorite Saša Ćurčić (1998-1999), and former captain Scott Dann, who turns 38 today.
Happy birthday to all three!
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