Croydon secure ground-share deal at the National Sports Stadium in Crystal Palace

CROYDON have secured a groundshare deal to play their games at the National Sports Centre in Crystal Palace.

 

The Southern Counties East Football League First Division club have been locked out of the Croydon Sports Arena due to Covid-19 restrictions and have moved to hire the 15,500 all-seater stadium.

“Croydon Football Club are delighted to announce that we have secured the National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace as our home ground for the current 2020-21 season,” said a club statement issued last night.

“The stadium is on the same site that hosted 20 FA Cup Finals between the years of 1895 and 1914.  It also hosted five international matches and was home to Crystal Palace in the early 1900’s.

“The current stadium was built in 1965 has hosted international athletics evens and live open-air concerts where world-famous artists have performed.

“We cannot wait to add to the history of the iconic stadium and details of our first home game will be made available in due course.”

Liam Giles’ side have yet played a home fixture this season but their home FA Vase tie against Sheppey United was switched to Glebe’s Foxbury Avenue ground in Chislehurst.

Ernie Batten’s side came away with a 2-1 win in the First Qualifying Round on Sunday 20 September.

Spectators should be warned that you are a very long way from the pitch at the National Sports Stadium and picking out footballers is difficult, especially underneath the floodlights.