The 2025/26 season has been incredible for all Crystal Palace teams, as the club truly looks like it has entered into a new era.
As the tifo displayed against Rayo Vallencano in the Conference league final reflected, only 16 years ago Palace were faced with potential extinction after entering administration.
Now at all levels the Eagles are soaring high, with a European trophy brought home to South London, a second top flight to come for the Women’s team, and an academy that continues to grow.
With the post-season celebrations and a time of reflection, it is clear Palace have entered the new era promised by Steve Parish, despite the various barriers that have come their way.
“European Giants” and Victory at Last
Palace’s celebrations have been led by the extreme success of the mens team under Oliver Glasner. Bringing home the FA Cup last season, finally, marked a true beginning of this new era.
The season began building on this, doing what was thought to be impossible, by winning the Community Shield against Liverpool in August. Before this Palace had not won a competitive match through penalties since the 2003/04 season.
Despite the unfortunate early exit to this season’s FA Cup, Palace once again reached the quarter-finals of the Carabo Cup, beating Millwall on penalties to get there. The end of the season also marks the 13th consecutive 10-15 place finish in the Premier League for the Eagles.
But of course the stand out of the season was the European success, with Palace winning the Conference League trophy on their first season in Europe, with a fairy tale ending to Glasner’s time in South London. With a second European tour scheduled Adam Wharton even named Palace as “European giants.”
Palace Women’s Best Season Yet?
Palace women finished the season with arguably their best season yet. Despite not winning the Championship, as they did in 2023/24, they won promotion on the last day of the season and are set to play their second season in the top flight.
The Eagles also performed well in the League Cup, marking a growth of strength and depth within the squad. They narrowly missed out on progressing further than the quarter-finals after facing Arsenal.
Entering back into the WSL reflects a long growth from the difficulties of the 2018 season where the women’s players were asked to finance their place within the team.
A new challenge of trying to consolidate themselves in the top-flight awaits, but the growth in the last ten years has been incredible.
The Future Looks Bright in the Academy
This season saw more academy players make their senior debuts in both the Premier League and Conference League. In the 2-2 draw with KuPs in December Joel Drakes-Thomas, Dean Benamarr, George King and Kayden Rodney made the starting lineup in a rotated team.
The U18 team also made history winning the Premier League cup against Manchester United at Selhurst Park following a dramatic win on penalties. The team also made it to the semi-final of the FA Youth Cup, for the first time in nearly thirty years, but narrowly missed out following defeat to Manchester United.
