The club legends & stars you'll see in action at Palace Aid

Foundation

21 May 2024

Palace Aid is back this weekend, with another superb line-up for the charity fixture at Selhurst Park having now been confirmed – and with that, a number of Crystal Palace heroes returning to action in SE25.

The game – which kicks-off at 13:00 BST on Saturday, 25th May – will see two fantastic squads of celebrity fans and ex-players vie for the coveted Palace Aid trophy.

The fixture will raise money to help end youth violence in south London, with profits divided between violence reduction charity Power The Fight and Palace for Life Foundation.

An Adult ticket costs £8, and the Junior entry (U16) is £4. All profits will be split evenly between Power The Fight and Palace for Life. Buy a ticket here.

Fans will watch the match from the views of Selhurst Park’s Main Stand. On the same day, Selhurst Park will also host the 2024 Crystal Palace Beer Festival. Beer Festival ticket holders will be able to watch the game, but we encourage them also to purchase Palace Aid tickets to support the fixture's good causes.

Which former Palace stars are taking to the pitch? Read on below to find out!

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Andrew Johnson

Position: Forward
Palace career: 2002-2006, 2014-2015
Appearances: 161
Goals: 85

Seeking revenge for last year's defeat as captain, one of the two sides will once again be led by legendary former striker – and England international and part-time imaginary burger-eater – Andrew Johnson!

The forward’s clever running and predatory finishing saw him bag 32 times in the 2003/04 season as Palace gained promotion from the Championship, before a further 22 goals in his debut Premier League campaign led to the first of eight caps for the Three Lions.

A two-time Player of the Season, Johnson is a Palace ambassador and a fervent supporter of the Palace for Life Foundation, having taken part in a number of Marathon March events down the years.

When Andrew Johnson is involved, expect entertainment – as those

Wayne Routledge

Position: Winger
Palace career: 2001-2005
Appearances: 123
Goals: 10

Sidcup-born, Thornton Heath-raised, Palace Aid marks something of a homecoming for the former teenage wing wizard, who grew up around the corner from Selhurst Park and, over the course of four seasons, went on to dazzle there.

Graduating from the Academy at the same time as fellow Palace Aid participant Gary Borrowdale, Routledge debut for Palace at the age of 16 and helped the Eagles attain promotion alongside Johnson in 03/04, before playing every game in their ultimately unsuccessful survival bid in 04/05.

Only retired now for a year-and-a-half, watch out for the former No. 7’s close control, great technique and dazzling solo runs.

Gary Borrowdale

Position: Defender
Palace career: 2002-2007
Appearances: 114
Goals: 0

A Palace debutant at the age of just 17 in December 2002, left-back Borrowdale grew into a first-team berth in south London and, by the age of just 21, had already made 100 appearances in the red and blue.

Named Young Player of the Season in 06/07, former England youth international Borrowdale went on to star for Coventry City and Queens Park Rangers, among other clubs.

Anton Ferdinand et. al!

Okay, okay, so he never played for Palace – but Anton Ferdinand was certainly one of east London's finest, and is a welcome guest star in this year's match, along with a few other household names including former Luton Town favourite Stuart Douglas, and MK Dons and Huddersfield midfielder Malvin Kamara.

There's even a player called 'Luis Garcia' – but it's not that one!

Doc Brown, Mo Gilligan, The Traitors and more!

Where else to start other than Ben Bailey Smith (a.k.a. Doc Brown) a rapper, comedian and actor who does just about everything… including, for the second time following last year's victory, captaining a side at Selhurst Park.

Also providing big laughs – and potentially big skills – will be south London comedian Mo Gilligan, a triple BAFTA winner who is one of the UK's biggest comedy stars. He also co-hosts The Big Narstie Show on Channel 4, and has been a judge on The Masked Singer UK since the second series in 2020.

It wouldn’t be a charity game if there weren’t a few laughs along the way, and with comedians Simon Brodkin, Elliot Steel, Chloe Petts and Babatunde Aléshé all lacing up their boots, expect entertainment aplenty.

Players better watch their backs, with Paul, Harry, Diane, Ross, and Jasmine from this year’s BBC smash-hit The Traitors all taking part.

There are more stars from your screens as well: Big John GK (of Soccer AM fame), Tyrique Hyde and Luke Trotman (both stars of Love Island); social media legends Ashley Inkz and Antoine Dixon-Bellot; and more are also set to play.

Check out the full squad lists below!

What happened last year?

Johnson will be looking to avenge last year’s heavy defeat against Brown’s domineering side, who won out in a 6-2 thriller.

Watch the best moments from the big game below!

Why donate?

Comedian, Creative and Palace for Life Patron, Doc Brown, said: “Anyone who knows me will be aware that I was a youth worker for nearly 10 years and have continued to support young people in any way I can since. Supporting Palace for Life has become as second nature as supporting Palace itself.”

The Foundation's initiatives aim to assist at-risk young people with steering away from paths leading to criminality, and Power The Fight is dedicated to educating young people and aiding young people impacted by violence.

The stats:

In the rolling months to 31 March 2023, the total number of knife crime incidents in Croydon DOUBLED to 1,120 compared to the previous year’s total of 543
In 2022 and 2023, the number of race hate crimes averaged 863 per month, more than the average of the previous year
22% increase in Met Police recorded offences involving a knife or sharp instrument in London in the last year (up to September 2023)

Profits from ticket sales and donations will go directly towards ending youth violence in south London. Funds will be divided between Power The Fight, a charity dedicated to aiding young people impacted by violence, and Palace for Life’s initiatives aimed at assisting at-risk young people with steering away from paths leading to criminality.

If you can’t make the game but would still like to donate, please head here.

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