Thursday, 3rd August 2017
Selhurst Park, London
The noise was a physical thing. It wasn't just sound; it was a vibration that travelled through the soles of my feet, up my spine, and settled deep in my chest.
This was Selhurst Park, but it was Selhurst Park transformed. The old, familiar ground, with its tight angles and its slightly worn-around-the-edges charm, was breathing with a different kind of life tonight. It was breathing European air.
The Holmesdale Fanatics, the beating heart of this club's support, had outdone themselves. A colossal banner cascaded down the stand, a sea of red and blue depicting an eagle soaring over a map of Europe.
The words, stark and proud, were painted in huge white letters: "EUROPEAN NIGHTS ARE RED AND BLUE."
