Manchester United v Manchester City, Liverpool v Everton, Tottenham v Arsenal, Southampton v Portsmouth.. the list of English football rivalries goes on, you get the drift. Usually, what makes a rivalry a proper rivalry is two clubs’ geographical proximity.
However, in the case of Crystal Palace v Brighton – two sides separated by almost 50 miles – there is an array of different factors all contributing to their hatred of each other. It is a rivalry that has only existed for roughly forty years, but an intense one nevertheless, and when the two teams meet at Selhurst Park this evening, we should be treated to a pretty decent game.
So, why exactly is there such a rivalry between these two clubs? Here’s three key facts about the tie..
Venables v Mullery
One of the main factors contributing to this unusual derby dates back to the late-70s, when Terry Venables took over at Palace and Alan Mullery took charge of Brighton prior to the 1976-77 season starting.
The two had been rivals from their playing days at Tottenham, where Mullery was made captain of a side that Venables was playing in by manager Bill Nicholson. Venables was vice-captain but felt as though he should have been skippering the side ahead of Mullery so there was always a slight resentment there, which just continued to build as time went on.
During the 76-77 campaign, Palace and Brighton played each other five times, including a controversial FA Cup first round replay played out at Stamford Bridge, where Palace beat Brighton 1-0. Seagulls midfielder Brian Horton was made to retake a penalty he initially scored, to which Eagles shot-stopper Paul Hammond saved the second time around, causing an uproar among the Brighton bench and fans.
Mullery was escorted off the pitch after the game, after he swore at the Palace fans and had coffee thrown over him by a spectator in the stands. It is alleged that Mullery entered the Palace dressing room after the match, threw a £5 note on the floor and said “Your team’s not worth that” to Venables – he was later charged £100 for bringing the game into disrepute.
| Monday – 8.00pm | Odds | Bets |
|---|---|---|
| Crystal Palace v Brighton Tip – 16/12/2019 | ||
| Under 2.5 goals Best Bet | 8/11 |  |
Odds correct as of 2019-12-16 11:44:55
Mullery swtiches allegiances
In a drastic change of events, three years later Mullery was appointed manager of Crystal Palace. Attendances at Selhurst Park declined massively and he left the club just two years later in 1984. During his time in south London, Mullery lost the two games he played against his former side.
A year after his departure in 1985, there were horrific scenes when Brighton’s Gerry Ryan broke his leg in three places following a hideously rash challenge from Palace’s Henry Houghton – further highlighting just how fierce this rivalry is. In 1989, there were five penalties awarded in 27 minutes due to ill-discipline, total madness.
| Monday – 8.00pm | Odds | Bets |
|---|---|---|
| Crystal Palace v Brighton Tip – 16/12/2019 | ||
| Exactly 40 booking points Best Bet | 4/1 |  |
Odds correct as of 2019-12-16 11:44:36
Glenn Murray
Glenn Murray is now hated by the majority of Crystal Palace supporters. The veteran front-man, who will be in Brighton’s squad for tonight’s trip to Croydon, has flittered between these two sides since joining the Seagulls 11 years ago. Having initially spent three seasons in east Sussex, Murray joined Palace in 2011 and scored against his previous employers during his first trip back to the AMEX.
He once again found the net against the Seagulls in 2012, in turn significantly denting the south coast side’s chances of reaching the Championship play-offs. The 36-year-old returned to Brighton back in 2016 and has since gone onto score 53 goals for the club; he’s likely to retire at the end of this season when his current contract comes to an end.
So there you have it, a short summary on why the M23 derby exists and why both sets of fans care so dearly about the fixture, as bizarre as it may seem from a neutral perspective. Tonight’s encounter should prove to be a cracker; hopefully no broken legs this time, though.
| Monday – 8.00pm | Odds | Bets |
|---|---|---|
| Crystal Palace v Brighton Tip – 16/12/2019 | ||
| Correct score: 1-1 Best Bet | 6/1 |  |
Odds correct as of 2019-12-16 11:38:59