Memory Lane: Palace's previous Wembley visits

Club

23 Apr 2025

Crystal Palace’s first ever visit to Wembley took place in 1988 - 65 years after the national stadium first opened in 1923. After that long awaited debut, the Eagles have managed to return on plenty of occasions.

In all, Palace have walked down Wembley Way 11 times to date, with the 2024/25 FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa set to be our 12th visit to the iconic venue.

Considering the stadium was demolished and rebuilt between 2001 and 2007, Palace have actually made it something of a regular pilgrimage.

Here, we take a trip down memory lane and revisit the previous Wembley trips.

1988 - Football League Centenary Tournament

To mark the centenary of the foundation of the Football League in 1888, a series of events were organised.

This included the Football League Centenary Tournament - also given a catchy alias of the Mercantile Credit Football Festival. Initially set up as a six-a-side competition, it was changed to 11 a-side, featuring 16 teams from the top four divisions.

Palace were defeated in the first round, losing out to Sheffield Wednesday after a - slightly inevitable - penalty shootout. You can read more about our first visit here.

1990 - FA Cup final

For many Palace fans inside the old stadium that day, this was their first ever visit to the old Wembley. Ultimately, the FA Cup final against Manchester United might not have gone our way, for sheer drama alone, few match-ups will ever surpass the initial tie.

The game remains etched in Crystal Palace history. Goals from Gary O’Reilly and two from Ian Wright saw the Eagles draw 3-3, after a pulsating 120 minutes - but in truth that description barely scratches the surface on a remarkable final.

Unfortunately the replay wasn't to be. However, if you were at Wembley on May 12, 1990, it'll live long in the memory.

1990 - FA Cup final replay

Five days later Palace were back at the home of football for a rematch with United. A much cagier affair would take place, perhaps understandably, with a fatigued Palace side perhaps finding it one game too far.

A sensational cup run, ultimately didn't bring home silverware, as Lee Martin’s second-half finish proved to be the only goal of the game.

1991 - ZDS Cup final

Silverware would arrive on Palace's fourth visit to the Twin Towers, after triumphing in the Full Members' Cup final, with a 4-1 win against Everton after extra-time.

The tournament aimed to provide an extra competition for clubs in the top two divisions, due to the ongoing European ban for English clubs. Everton were a top side, who had suffered from the ban after winning the league in 1987.

But they were no match for an in-form Palace team who also finished third that season. Geoff Thomas gave Palace the lead and although Everton were able to force extra-time, the Eagles would not be denied.

Three further extra-time goals, two from Ian Wright and one from John Salako completed the perfect day.

1996 - First Division play-off final

Palace's first ever one-off play-off final at Wembley came in 1996, but sadly did not provide a happy ending. After finishing third in the regular table, before seeing off Charlton Athletic in the semi-finals, Leicester City were all that stood between Palace and a return to the Premier League.

It was not to be. Level at 1-1 after 90 minutes, the final went to extra-time. Just as penalties loomed large, Steve Claridge hit a stunning half-volley to break Palace hearts.

Thankfully, the Eagles would be back down Wembley Way only a year later for redemption...

1997 - First Division play-off final

Having lost out in dramatic fashion in 1996, the '97 final was to end very differently for Steve Coppell's team, against Sheffield United. The match itself was rather uneventful and cagey and also looked destined for extra-time until a moment of magic from David Hopkin in the 90th minute.

To this day, the Scottish midfielder's winning goal remains one of the most iconic moments in the club's long and proud history.

It was promotion in the best way possible - a last-gasp winner, in the play-offs, at Wembley.

THE FULL 90 MINUTES! Crystal Palace vs Sheffield United | First Division Play-off Final 1997

2013 - Championship play-off final

With Wembley undergoing a complete rebuild at the start of the 21st century, Palace had to wait 16 years before our next visit. The 2003/04 Division One play-off win took place at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium and by the time the Eagles were back at the national stadium, the Arch had replaced the old Twin Towers as a major footballing landmark.

Six years after the re-opening, Palace were back, with Watford our opponents in the Championship play-off final. Palace came into this game after defying the odds to beat Brighton & Hove Albion on their own turf in a dramatic semi-final, which followed a barren run of one win in 10 games as the season drew to a close.

Watford were the favourites, but a resilient display from the Eagles, including great goalkeeping from Julian Speroni, dragged the clash into extra-time. Then, just when it seemed penalties would be needed, semi-final hero Wilfried Zaha won a spot-kick just before the interval.

Substitute - and former Watford forward - Kevin Phillips took on the responsibility and duly dispatched it into the roof of the net. It would prove to be the winner, as well as one of the most important goals in club history.

2016 - FA Cup semi-final

Palace's most recent FA Cup final four victory, hopefully only until Sunday! Watford were once again the opponents, with both sides now in the top-flight. Yannick Bolasie got Palace off to a flying start, heading home Damien Delaney’s flick-on in the sixth-minute.

Watford pulled one back in the second-half through captain Troy Deeney, but the Eagles persevered. On the hour mark, Pape Souaré whipped in a cross to find Connor Wickham - the Eagles' striker losing his marker and planting a header firmly in the back of the net to secure a 2-1 win and a place in the FA Cup final.

Cue bedlam right across the Palace half of Wembley.

2016 - FA Cup final

One month later and Alan Pardew's side were back under the Arch for our second FA Cup final appearance. As they were in 1990, once again Manchester United would provide the opposition.

And once again the Eagles would put up a real fight, opening the scoring. Jason Puncheon slammed home a stunning effort following Joel Ward's pass in the 77th minute.

That kickstarted a quickfire emotional roller-coaster. Juan Mata levelled just four minutes later to put United back in the contest. Just as it had in 1990, the final would go to extra-time.

Five minutes into the second period, Jesse Lingard drove a stunning effort into the top corner of the Palace goal to hand United the trophy. Even in defeat, the Palace support was loud, proud - and a credit to the football club.

2017 - Tottenham away (Premier League)

We'll let you decide whether this - or the 1988 Football League Centenary Cup wins the award of 'oddest Wembley trip.'

From 2017 to 2019, for the majority of two seasons, Spurs played their home fixtures at Wembley, during the demolition of the old White Hart Lane and construction of the adjacent Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

So, on November 5th, Palace headed to Wembley with the unusual feel of being the away team. A largely below-par game was settled by one moment of quality - as Son Heung-min's curler on the hour mark won the points.

It would prove something of a unique experience. Tottenham moved into their new surroundings with just four home games remaining of the following season, the first of which happened to be against Palace. Spurs would run out 2-0 winners, in their first 'post-Wembley' home fixture.

2022 - FA Cup semi-final

Our most recent visit to the Wembley Arch came three years ago, as a Palace side managed by Patrick Viera once again reached the last four of the FA Cup.

With Everton impressively brushed aside in the quarter-final, hopes were high the Eagles could produce another Wembley performance for the ages.

In the end Chelsea proved too strong on the day, the then-reigning European Champions going through after a hard-fought 2-0 win.

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