Jase is the Palace ace
SAM’S SKIPPER SO PUNCHY
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JASON PUNCHEON has gone from bad boy to poster boy at Crystal Palace.
And Eagles chairman Steve Parish wants Puncheon and Wilfried Zaha to help build a new-look Palace with a south London core.
Both players grew up in deprived areas near Selhurst Park, started their careers in the club’s academy, and are starring for Palace again after moves away.
Since Sam Allardyce made Puncheon captain, Palace have taken a big step towards safety, with five wins in their last six games.
Croydon-born Puncheon admits he used to get up to no good as a kid. Now 30, he is inspiring a new generation of local children.
Speaking at the relaunch of the club’s charity, the Palace for Life Foundation, Parish said: “Look at Puncheon. The gaffer has made him captain and he has grown.
Crying
“He’s gone all serious now. The first thing he did when we signed him was buy a box for his family. I thought that was good. “And the Norwich game last year, when we really needed a win to stay up, how much that meant to him emotionally. He was crying. “People like Wilfried and Punch that are brought up round here, they’re from the same streets and the same backgrounds as the kids that they’re inspiring. “That’s why it’s important to get local kids. Every club wants that core.” The Palace for Life Foundation aims to get more kids off the streets of Croydon, one of the UK’s 10 most deprived boroughs. Parish also wants to see five or six more local boys make it all the way into the first team. He said: “That’s the dream. It does get harder. Sam’s desperately keen to try and get more people through – but it does get harder.” The Palace for Life Foundation has a mission to transform the lives of young south Londoners through sport, encouraging them to be more active, helping them become employable and intervening to help the most disadvantaged. For more info visit: www.facebook/palaceforlife/