Iain Dowie once branded Clinton Morrison ‘Mr Crystal Palace’. Viewers or listeners who take in any of his work on the likes of Sky Sports or BBC 5 Live may agree.
In the 1999-2000 season, Morrison was one of the youngsters that Crystal Palace successfully pinned their hopes of First Division survival on, battling financial problems.
He would play the same role a season later, before helping them reach the Championship play-offs upon his return in 2005-06. They were, though, unsuccessful.
Palace would have the odd flirt with the top flight in Morrison’s time. Between 1998-99 and 2012-13, though, they would spend just one season in the Premier League. The thought of a trophy simply a pipe dream.
This weekend, they will again contest the FA Cup final. ‘This one feels massive,’ Morrison exclusively tells Mail Sport from his sofa, speaking on behalf of freebets.com, 48 hours out from one of the biggest days in his club’s history.
Palace will take on a Manchester City side who are faltering. Lose on Saturday, and they will finish the season tropyless after winning the Treble just two years ago. But that’s not Palace’s problem – they are there to write their own story.
Clinton Morrison has given his views on Crystal Palace’s bid to win the FA Cup for the first time
Palace will contest the final of the competition at Wembley – against Man City – on Sunday
Oliver Glasner has turned the side’s fortunes around since taking over as manager last year
‘Everyone’s talking about the final,’ Morrison says. ‘The Palace fans will out-sing any supporters in the country.
‘They were unbelievable at the semi-final. I was there, and to see that kind of atmosphere, especially at Wembley, was brilliant. The fans have been incredible at Selhurst all season, but that day was something special. Hopefully they can bring home the trophy.’
A win on Saturday wouldn’t just represent the club’s first-ever FA Cup victory or a first trophy since 1994, which was when they won the second division – the Championship as it’s now known – but it would give the Eagles the opportunity to play in European competition for the first time in 26 years.
‘Imagine that – Palace in Europe,’ Morrison challenges. ‘It would be a dream for the fans. Travelling across Europe to watch their team would be unreal.
‘Honestly, it would be one of the biggest highlights in the club’s history, right up there with anything I experienced as a player.
‘I spoke to the chairman after the semi-final and he said, “I’m glad you were there to see that”. I told him, “One more to go”. He agreed and said, “Let’s do it against Man City”. That’s the focus now.
‘For fans who remember the tough times – the years in the Championship, the fights to stay up, the multiple administrations – this would be incredible. The chairman deserves a lot of credit for putting the club in such a strong position. There are some top players now, and beating Manchester City, arguably the best side around, would be phenomenal.
‘City have made Wembley their second home, but if Palace can pull it off, south London will take over the city. It would be a landmark achievement and open the door to Europe.’
Morrison tells Mail Sport that ‘the Palace fans will out-sing any supporters in the country’
Glasner was backed by Palace officials after losing Michael Olise in the summer and a slow start to this season
Eberechi Eze is now his talisman – he scored a brace at the weekend and a fine goal in the semi-final win over Aston Villa
England international Eze ‘can be a complete attacking midfielder,’ Morrison tells Mail Sport
The person to thank? Oliver Glasner.
‘Glasner has been fantastic,’ Morrison adds. ‘Earlier in the season people questioned him – Palace were struggling and the start was slow. But the chairman knew his quality and backed him. He lost Michael Olise in the summer, which was a massive blow, and replacing someone like that isn’t easy, but Glasner’s turned things around.
‘He’s a very detailed manager. On the training pitch, every player knows their role. He demands hard work – train how you play. That’s why this group is thriving under him. He’s getting the very best out of them.’
But if Glasner is the man at the wheel, Eberechi Eze has his foot on the accelerator. Palace’s No 10 is now a fully-fledged England international and the team’s anchor, netting a brace against Tottenham last weekend in their last match before the final.
Since joining from QPR in the summer of 2020, he has gone from strength to strength. ‘He can be a complete attacking midfielder,’ Morrison argues. High praise.
‘After a slow start due to injury, he’s been phenomenal in the second half of the season,’ he adds. ‘He’s a joy to watch – someone I would pay money to watch. He makes the game look easy, effortless, smooth.
‘He’s scoring goals and providing assists. I know him personally – he’s humble, driven, and always looking to improve. That goal in the semi-final – what a moment. This final could be his stage.’
So, on Saturday, Morrison will be at Wembley, first working in lounges at Wembley before his commentary gig. He’ll take a break from Soccer Saturday punditry to do so, but will be back for the final day of the season – and ready to brag to his co-hosts if Place win gold.
Morrison also claimed he will boast of his side winning a trophy to his Soccer Saturday colleagues – if they are successful
Palace are now a far cry from their relegation battles and financial issues from when Morrison was at the club
Palace are in good form, but must get past Manchester City – a side used to the big occasion
‘I don’t care if the others are happy for me or not,’ he jokes. ‘I’ll be in the studio on the last show of the season saying, “Did anyone see that FA Cup final? Palace in Europe sounds nice, doesn’t it?”
‘But I won’t get too ahead of myself. Let’s get the win first. If we do, though, I’ll be celebrating. No doubt about it.
‘It’s great fun. I work with amazing people – from producers, to presenters, to pundits. They let me be myself on Soccer Saturday.
‘I give my opinions. People may not always agree, but that’s my job. We have laughs, good banter, and it’s all real. What you see on TV is who I am. I’ll never change.’
In just a few hours, Palace will step out onto the Wembley turf once again, dreaming once again. Around 35,000 of their fans will be inside the stadium, with tens of thousands more doing their best to take over the capital.
It’ll be work for Morrison on the day. An appearance and then commentary. But, when all is said and done, he’s a fan. We all are. It’s what football is about. And maybe, just maybe, he and thousands more will have the best days of their Palace-supporting lives this weekend.
