Pre-season preview: Meet Crawley

Match previews

25 Jul 2025

Crystal Palace are back in action on Friday (19:30 BST) with the Eagles heading down to Sussex to face Crawley Town – find out all you need to know about our latest opponents below!

The visit to Broadfield Stadium has become a regular fixture over recent summers – and with away tickets now sold out for the match, Palace TV+ remains the best way to watch our build-up to the 25/26 season.

With Palace TV+, you'll also be able to watch Palace take on four matches in Austria – against FSV Mainz 05 (2 x 60-minute games) and FC Augsburg (2 x 90-minute games) – as we ramp up to the new campaign.

Factfile

Manager: Scott Lindsey
Position in 2024/25: 21st (relegated) in EFL League One
Nickname: Red Devils
Ground: Broadfield Stadium
Founded: 1896 (129 years ago)

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What’s the story?

Promoted after nine years in the fourth tier of English football, Crawley Town's stay in League One proved to be brief.

Even with some marquee signings, 2024/25 proved to be a struggle for the Red Devils, despite winning their first two games and temporarily sitting third in the league.

Getting through four different managers and embroiled in a relegation battle for much of the campaign, moments to savour were few and far between.

Despite a late flourish of form, drawing at runaway champions Birmingham City, before winning their final three games, Crawley were relegated in 21st place.

Pre-season Match Highlights: Crawley Town 3-6 Crystal Palace

However, with Scott Lindsey reappointed towards the back end of last season following Rob Elliot's departure and subsequently improving form, hopes are high ahead of the new campaign.

Seven new summer signings have bolstered the squad, with USA youth international Kyle Scott and Kabongo Tshimanga adding quality.

While Friday will only be Palace's second official pre-season fixture, the Reds have spent the last three weeks playing games.

Starting with a 3-1 defeat to Scottish side Hearts in Murcia, they have since picked up wins over Three Bridges, East Grinstead Town and Dagenham & Redbridge, but were beaten 1-0 by Portsmouth in a rearranged friendly.

Friday night's match will be Town's last pre-season outing before the real thing gets underway – they travel to Grimsby next week for the opening fixture of the season.

Boot in both camps

Defender Claude Davis spent two years at Selhurst Park, after initially joining on-loan from Derby County back in 2009.

The Jamaican was released after making 59 appearances in South London, but remained in English football by signing for Crawley, at the time in League Two.

His impact was immediate. Davis led the Reds to a 13-game unbeaten run streak, with Crawley eventually finishing third and winning promotion.

Davis was also Crawley's first ever international player, captaining Jamaica against New Zealand in 2012.

Record against Palace

Although Crawley have been regular opponents for us in pre-season over recent years, the two teams have only met once competitively.

Back in 2011/12, Palace were drawn at home to Town in the second round of the League Cup.

Two quickfire goals from Wilfried Zaha not long after half-time decided the tie, setting Palace off on a cup run to the semi-finals.

Match details

Crawley v Crystal Palace

Friday, 25th July
19:30 BST
Broadfield Stadium
Live on Palace TV+

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