December 13 2005

Hy on Palace

Jamesey pays homage to a sports photographer of true genius whose lens has captured so much Palace history in the past 35 years

I always thought 'We All Follow the Palace' (Eagle Eye Publications) was the definitive and best-by-a-mile book on CPFC. Until last Saturday (Dec 3), that is.

The most striking aspect of ''We All Follow' is the front cover, a stunning picture of the crowd at the glorious night on May 11, 1979, when 52,000 people watched Palace beat Burnley 2-0 and step into the old First Division.

The photograph was taken by Hy Money who had already been chronicling Palace with her camera for quite a few years.

Hy had always been a fanatical photographer but only when, unwillingly, she took her children to a Palace v Liverpool match that football, and Palace in particular, cast its spell on her.

She was captrivated.

'Hy On Palace', which I bought before the Millwall game, is absolutely unique, nearly 400 pages of superb monochrome and colour photographs on the subject of Palace.

I remember seeing Hy quite often on the edge of the pitch in the 70s and rather fancying the "bird" with the cameras.

Photography was very much a man's world then, and sports photography even more so so.

If I even attempted to review the astonishing range of pictures in the book - action, portraits, crowds, humour - I would be rambling on for

far too long and irritating the editor, no doubt,

But I have to mention the shot of Mark Bright, Alex Dyer and Ian Wright, stark bollock naked in the showers, grinning like maniacs and modestly shielding their masculinity with clasped hands.

And in case younger members think the pictures are all ancient history, the book comes right up to the present era, with wonderful pictures of Jordan, Dowie, Aki, and loads more.

Despite my best efforts, I could not find myself pictured in the book - black shoulder-length hair, big moustache and sideburns, 70s style.

Hy kindly signed the book 'To Jamesey from Hy Money xx' and it will take pride of place on my bookshelves for the foreseeble future.

Beg, borrow or steal, to get it or, even better, persuade someone to give it to you as a Christmas gift.

*To order your copy of the book please email Don at don@eagles100.org

The softback is £19.90

The limited edition hardback £27.00

Postage UK P&P £5.50

Europe £8.95

Rest of the world air mail £15.95.

Cheques in sterling made out to Crystal Palace fans' Centenary Publishing and sent to

PO Box 2005

London SE25 5EN.