A Croydon primary school has asked pupils to wear Crystal Palace football shirts to celebrate the South London and Proud team’s upcoming FA Cup final appearance. The school has said pupils and staff may wear the team’s kit or red and blue clothes, but no other football team shirts are permitted to be worn.
Minster Junior School, on Warrington Road near Waddon, said in a letter to parents on Tuesday, May 13, that it planned to celebrate the local team’s success in reaching the FA Cup final for the third time in their history against Manchester City on Saturday (May 17). The letter was written by one of the teachers at the school, Gareth Davies who describes himself as a ‘huge Crystal Palace fan’.
The letter reads that on Friday, May 16, pupils are being encouraged to either wear Crystal Palace football shirts or team colours to celebrate the success in the community, with a £1 contribution being requested to fund upcoming sporting events at the school.
Importantly the letter makes clear “no other football team shirts to be worn”. It added that pupil could alternatively wear their usual school uniform.
Mr Davies added: “Whether you support Crystal Palace or not, we want to send our best wishes of support to them for not only being our local team, but also helping the school for many years with providing football tournaments for us to enter.”
The school highlighted that pupils had represented the team in both girls’ and boys’ football at national finals. It also praised the Palace for Life Foundation, offering free weekly football courses to children in the community.
Crystal Palace have the chance to win their first ever FA Cup trophy at the final on Saturday, May 17, against Manchester City. The team saw a triumphant victory against Aston Villa in the semi-final, winning 3-0.
Manager Oliver Glasner has seen a successful season, with the Eagles being placed 12th on the table and having secured a memorable double over rivals Brighton and Hove Albion.
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