Crystal Palace can lift the FA Cup for the first time in their history on Saturday.
The Eagles have the chance to right the wrongs of 1990 and 2016 – their two previous attempts at lifting the trophy both scuppered at the hands of Manchester United.
This time it’s Manchester City standing in their way as they aim to make history at Wembley against Pep Guardiola’s men.
But as excitement and anticipation builds around Selhurst Park, one former prominent name at the club has mixed feelings about the clash.
Simon Jordan was the club’s owner for ten years, having grown up 200 metres from the stadium and watching his father, Peter Jordan, play for the Eagles.
But the younger Jordan became disillusioned during a sour end to his his time at the club.
His ownership came to an end in 2010 after the club went into administration.
Asked if it would be a special day for him personally if Palace caused an upset at Wembley, Jordan told talkSPORT. “Yes and no.”
He continued: “Obviously I had ten years of owning the football club. I grew up with my father supporting them, his father supporting them.
“Living 200 metres from the ground, climbing into that stadium as a kid, then owning it because it was something I felt I wanted to do.
“But the end of my time at Palace wasn’t fun for me, I didn’t enjoy it.”
Jordan delved deeper into his feelings towards the club’s current ownership spearheaded by chairman Steve Parish.
Jordan and Parish have long had a tumultuous relationship, triggered by disagreements and criticisms about the management of the club, while Jordan has expressed reservations about Parish’s leadership style and business practices.
“The owners that are there now I don’t respect or appreciate. I respect their achievements because they’ve done wonderfully well,” Jordan conceded.
“They’ve done better than me, they’ve done better than Ron Noades who had it for 23 years and they’ve done better than Mark Goldberg who had it for 15 minutes.
“But it (being the owner) took away a lot of my feelings towards it”
If anything, Jordan wants to see Palace lift the cup for the club’s fans who have been starved of success over the years.
But brighter times appear to be in sight with Oliver Glasner in charge and Jordan wants nothing more than to see Palace fans in delirium at full time.
“I was always in love with the Palace fans and for them to win the FA Cup would be wonderful,” he added.
“They deserve it. They are a brilliant fanbase.
“When you see Palace fans at Selhurst Park you remark about the atmosphere.
“I’ve always liked the travelling fans and I’d be delighted for them.”
The FA Cup final between Man City and Crystal Palace will be live on talkSPORT on Saturday!
