Crystal Palace fans united to urge club to resolve Holmesdale Fanatics dispute

Crystal Palace fans have joined together to urge the club to find a resolution with the Holmesdale Fanatics that has seen atmosphere at Selhrust Park decline rapidly.

A website set up by the HF and backed by all of the Eagles’ largest fan groups is calling on Palace to sort out a dispute which has seen the vocal group disperse after 13 years of presence in the corner of the ground.

The Fanatics – a proclaimed European-style ultras group of nearly 200 members – has been a leading force in making the Eagles’ widely recognised for their passionate support and impressive displays at the Holmesdale Road end of the ground.

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But at the start of the 2018/19 season they were nowhere to be seen at Selhurst, having disbanded in protest at the club promising to move them from their corner in Block B to the more central Block E behind the goal.

Two unmistakably quiet home games against Liverpool and Southampton into the season and now groups outside of the HF are urging Palace to meet the group and find a way to bring them back.

The website reads: “We are a coalition of Palace supporter groups who have come together to show our firm and collective backing behind the proposals to implement a central singing section in the Lower Holmesdale. We ask you to read and join the campaign to act now to save our atmosphere and take it to the next level.

“Our atmosphere and unity is our lifeblood and we believe this is vital for the future of our club. Our groups are made up of supporters of different ages and walks of life and we feel that now is the time to introduce this exciting change to push the club forward.

“Even for those that don’t wish to be part of the section directly – we hope you are proud to back something we fully believe is for the benefit and progress of this great club.”

Some of the HF’s old seats in the corner of the ground have been sold off to other fans while Palace claim some regulars in Block E had refused to even consider moving when news of the HF’s desires were leaked.

A petition demanding the return of the HF to Selhurst has already garnered over 5,000 signatures from Palace fans desperate for a return to the good old days that saw Selhurst regularly voted the best atmosphere in the Premier League.

The HF statement continued: “At Wembley we all saw the world class support we are capable of with the right set up. We fully back this exciting vision of creating something truly memorable at Selhurst – something for Palace fans to be a part of for generations to come.

“Please read the statement below and wherever you sit at Selhurst, add your name, stand and block then click ‘send’ to back this brilliant vision. We can then show the board that we will not sit back and let our support fade away. Now or never, before we lose the atmosphere forever.”

Palace are yet to respond publicly to the website.