During the 1990–91 English football season, Crystal Palace F.C. competed in the Football League First Division.
Season summary In their second consecutive season in the First Division, Crystal Palace finished an astonishing third, their highest ever league placing, although, due to Liverpool's ban from European competition being lifted early, Palace did not qualify for the UEFA Cup. Palace also won their first ever cup during the season, albeit the less significant Full Members' Cup.
In the League Cup, Palace broke their record for a cup victory with an 8–0 over Southend United, in the second round first leg, with strikers Mark Bright and Ian Wright both scoring hat-tricks. The two claimed the match ball; it was given away at a charity auction.Top 10 hat-tricks - Crystal Palace FC Supporters' Website - The Holmesdale Online
At the end of the season, captain Geoff Thomas was named the Supporters' Player of the Year. Thomas was rewarded for his good form with a call-up to the England squad for a European Championship qualifying game against Turkey in May.
Bukta remained Palace's kit manufacturers, and introduced a new home kit for the season. English airline Virgin Atlantic remained the kit sponsors.Crystal Palace Historical Football Kits
Final league table
Results summary
Results by round
Results Crystal Palace's score comes first
Legend WinDrawLoss
Football League First Division DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 25 August 1990 Luton TownA1–19,583Young 28 August 1990 ChelseaH2–127,101Gray, Wright 1 September 1990 Sheffield UnitedH1–016,831Thompson 8 September 1990 Norwich CityA3–015,306Barber, Wright, Salako 15 September 1990 Nottingham ForestH2–220,545Shaw, Thomas 22 September 1990 Tottenham HotspurA1–134,859Thomas 29 September 1990 Derby CountyA2–015,202Wright, Bright 6 October 1990 Leeds UnitedH1–121,676Thomas 20 October 1990 EvertonA0–024,504 27 October 1990 WimbledonH4–317,220Bright, Gray, Humphrey, Thomas 3 November 1990 Manchester UnitedA0–245,724 10 November 1990 ArsenalH0–028,181 17 November 1990 Queens Park RangersA2–114,360Wright (2) 24 November 1990 SouthamptonA3–215,851Wright (2), Bright 1 December 1990 Coventry CityH2–117,052Bright, Gray 8 December 1990 ChelseaA1–221,558Thorn 16 December 1990 Luton TownH1–015,579Bright 22 December 1990 Manchester CityA2–025,321Pointon (own goal), Wright 16 December 1990 SunderlandH2–115,560Salako, Bright 30 December 1990 LiverpoolH1–026,280Bright 1 January 1991 Aston VillaA0–225,523 12 January 1991 Sheffield UnitedA1–017,139Bright 19 January 1991 Norwich CityH1–317,201Bright 2 February 1991 Nottingham ForestA1–017,045Young 16 February 1991 Queens Park RangersH0–016,006 23 February 1991 ArsenalA0–442,512 2 March 1991 Coventry CityA1–310,891Wright 9 March 1991 SouthamptonH2–114,439Thomas (2) 16 March 1991 Derby CountyH2–114,752Gray, Wright 23 March 1991 Leeds UnitedA2–128,556Wright, Salako 30 March 1991 SunderlandA1–219,704Pardew 1 April 1991 Manchester CityH1–318,001Salako 13 April 1991 Aston VillaH0–018,331 17 April 1991 Tottenham HotspurH1–026,285Young 20 April 1991 EvertonH0–016,439 23 April 1991 LiverpoolA0–336,767 4 May 1991 WimbledonA3–010,002Wright (3) 11 May 1991 Manchester UnitedH3–025,301Wright, Salako (2)
FA Cup
+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR36 January 1991 Nottingham ForestH0–015,396R3R21 January 1991 Nottingham ForestA2–2 23,301Wright, SalakoR3R228 January 1991 Nottingham ForestA0–322,164
League Cup
+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR2 1st Leg 25 September 1990 Southend UnitedH8–05,666Bright (3), Wright (3), Thompson, HodgesR2 2nd Leg 9 October 1990 Southend UnitedA2–1 (won 10–1 on agg)5,199Young, SalakoR330 October 1990 Leyton OrientH0–012,958R3R7 November 1990 Leyton OrientA1–010,158BrightR427 November 1990 SouthamptonA0–213,765
Full Members' Cup
+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersSR218 December 1990 Bristol RoversH2–15,209Salako, GraySQF18 February 1991 Brighton & Hove AlbionA2–0 9,633Bright, WrightSSF26 February 1991 Luton TownH3–17,170McGoldrick, Wright (2)SF 1st Leg 5 March 1991 Norwich CityA1–17,554ThomasSF 2nd Leg 19 March 1991 Norwich CityH2–0 (won 3–1 on agg)13,857Bright, WrightF7 April 1991 EvertonN4–1 52,460Thomas 67', Wright 101', 115', Salako 113'
Squad
Left club during season
Transfers
In DatePosNameFromFee2 July 1990MFSimon RodgerBognor Regis Town£1,00016 July 1990MFGlyn HodgesWatford£410,00015 August 1990DFEric YoungWimbledon£850,00016 August 1990DFJohn HumphreyCharlton Athletic£400,00024 October 1990DFTony WitterGrays Athletic£10,0004 January 1991FWStan CollymoreStafford Rangers£100,00020 March 1991DFPaul BodinSwindon Town£550,000
Out DatePosNameToFee27 July 1990DFJohn PembertonSheffield United£300,0006 August 1990DFAdam LockeSouthend UnitedFree transfer30 August 1990DFChris PowellSouthend UnitedFree transfer30 November 1990DFAlex DyerCharlton Athletic£100,00017 January 1991MFGlyn HodgesSheffield United£450,000
Transfers in: £2,321,000 Transfers out: £850,000 Total spending: £1,471,000
References