Information for Brighton Match
CRYSTAL PALACE v BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION – 14 APRIL 2018
On 14 March 2018 a meeting was held at Selhurst Park to discuss arrangements for the Brighton v Palace match on 14 April 2018, kick off 3pm. Representatives attended from the Sussex and Metropolitan police, Brighton and Crystal Palace clubs, and supporters groups from both clubs.
Ticketing
Palace season ticket holders and paid up members can book up to 2 tickets. Supporters wishing to book online must have a minimum of 220 loyalty points, those with less must book over the phone or in person.
Palace season ticket and ticket holders unable to attend the match and wishing to reallocate/resell their tickets should contact the the Palace box office. Any misuse of season tickets, the membership scheme or resale of tickets is likely to be followed up and risks being considered as touting and illegal.
The away ticket allocation of 2000 is sold out. Tickets will have the purchaser’s name and ground entry will depend on supporting ID or BHAFC season ticket.
Supporters with Disabilities –
There are areas for disabled supporters in the Holmesdale and Arthur Wait stands which include accessible catering and toilet facilities. Match commentaries are also available for the visually impaired.
For information and support for supporters with disabilities view the Palace website https://www.cpfc.co.uk/tickets/supporters-with-disabilities/ or contact the dedicated Disabled Liaison Officer Pam Groves on 0208 768 6080.
Pre-Match/Travel
Selhurst Park will be open from 1.30pm as normal for home supporters and 1.00pm for away supporters to enable the ticket and security checks.
All supporters are encouraged to arrive in good time for the match to ensure entry in time for kick off.
Brighton anticipate bringing 9 coaches to the match, which are expected to be parked in Whitehorse Lane, up from Park Road. This may affect traffic along Whitehorse Lane causing some delays.
There is limited available parking immediate to Selhurst Park. There is multi-storey paid parking in central Croydon, although Saturdays attract shoppers.
Selhurst, Thornton Heath and Norwood Junctions rail stations are within 10-15 minutes walk of Selhurst Park, and a number of buses run close to the ground eg 468, 50, 157, and 75.
Travel news/updates of relevance will be notified 48 hours before the match to coach companies and communicated over social media channels including the Palace and Brighton club websites.
Supporters should be aware there may be touts and unauthorised scarf sellers operating near the ground. (Unauthorised scarf sellers are not permitted on Crystal Palace and Sainsbury’s land.)
Pubs
Pubs near Selhurst Park have decreased, so most are viewed as for home supporters.
Checks are to be made with pub licensees about accepting away supporters. These are more likely to be around Croydon than in the immediate vicinity of Selhurst Park.
The police will decide on the match day whether away supporters should be escorted to the ground from any areas or pubs.
Stewarding and Policing
The match will be stewarded by Palace stewards, and 10 Brighton stewards will accompany the Brighton supporters.
Within the ground half of block V and half of block U in the Arthur Wait stand will be kept empty to form a stewarded sterile line between away and home areas.
Police from the London area will be on duty around the ground and are only expected to intervene within the ground if required to do so.
Police support will include the use of sniffer dogs and horses outside the ground. Other dogs will be kept in their van and only deployed if the situation requires.
Post Match/Travel
The Selhurst Park stadium is anticipated to clear within a short time as usual.
Palace supporters however will have restrictions on leaving the stadium:- Whitehorse Lane end supporters will be required to exit via Sainsbury’s Gates X and Y. There will be no exit available through Gate A.
Palace supporters exiting from the Arthur Wait and Holmesdale stands by Park Road will be required to turn right from the exit. There will be no wall, other than a possible police cordon.
Brighton supporters will be held back within the stadium for around 15 minutes post match with catering facilities available to them. After this Brighton supporters, other than those travelling by train, will be able to exit, turning left, to board their coaches or to take other road transport. Supporters will be kept advised and loud hailers deployed to convey information/directions.
Talks are taking place with Southern Rail about providing a train post-match from Norwood Junction rail station for 1000 Brighton supporters – to call at Three Bridges, Haywards Heath and Brighton. The train time is likely to be 5.57pm from a designated platform. Brighton supporters would be escorted to the Norwood Junction station.
It is not anticipated that the designated train should affect supporters of both clubs wishing to travel from Norwood Junction station to other destinations.
Supporters with disabilities that may have difficulties due to proposed post-match plans should contact the Disabled Liaison Officer Pam Groves on 0208 768 6080
Further Information
Any further information for arrangements related to the Palace v Brighton match should become available on the Palace (https://www.cpfc.co.uk) and Brighton (https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com) websites and through their social media channels.
Supporters are advised to check prior to the match for any updated information.
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