Bromley Council has denied claims that it blocked Crystal Palace Football Club (CPFC) from hosting part of Monday’s FA Cup trophy parade in Crystal Palace Park.
The council has stated that the club itself “did not feel able to proceed in the time available” with its parade ideas and “given concerns raised by a range of organisations” CPFC withdrew its proposals yesterday.
However, MyLondon understands that it has always been the football club’s strong preference to feature the park as part of the parade due to its historic link to both the club and the FA Cup.
The club felt that the bar was set too high by the relevant authorities for it to deliver a workable proposal in time for the bank holiday, and that they hadn’t received the support they’d hoped for from the public bodies either.
MyLondon also understands that some authorities believed that Monday’s parade could draw crowds of 100,000 fans, a number the club felt was an over-estimation.
Guardian football writer Ed Aarons posted on X this morning (May 23) saying he understood there had been “some issues” raised by Bromley Council over the inclusion of Crystal Palace Park in the parade.
Palace fans were quick to criticise the council on social media and the club’s announcement that the open top bus parade would last only 45 minutes, and only travel along three roads before entering Selhurst Park.
However, Bromley Council has denied that it had any issues with the parade travelling through the borough and Crystal Palace Park and has said it is “actively supporting” the football club’s celebrations.
The council stated that it put forward the suggestion of a route that began from Crystal Palace’s training ground in Beckenham, to Crystal Palace Park before ending at Selhurst Park stadium in Thornton heath.
‘We did not block celebrations’
A Bromley Council spokesperson said: “We are delighted with the news that Crystal Palace Football Club won the FA Cup. We engaged positively with the club and did not block celebrations in the borough.
“We have been actively supporting the idea of CPFC celebrating this momentous occasion locally with fans. We put forward suggestions of a parade from the training ground in Beckenham to Crystal Palace Park then on to Selhurst Park.
“However, a range of other ideas were put forward by the CPFC and we facilitated careful consideration by partners, including the police, the Crystal Palace Park Trust, Croydon Council and TfL.
“We recognise CPFC did not feel able to proceed in the time available with their ideas, given concerns raised by a range of organisations, and the club withdrew their proposals yesterday.
“It goes without saying that Bromley Council stands ready to support the club in celebrating their historic achievement in any manner of their choosing, including the parade, were this the CPFC’s preference. Discussions however mainly centred around Crystal Palace Park, which it should be understood, the council does not own and therefore cannot give permission for events to be held there.”
Crystal Palace Park is currently managed by the Crystal Palace Park Trust which has been approached for comment.
The historic park hosted the FA Cup Final from 1895 to 1914, as well as CPFC’s first matches from their formation in 1905 until the club had to relocate following the outbreak of the First World War.
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