During the 1994–95 English football season, Crystal Palace competed in the FA Premier League.

Season summary Crystal Palace returned to the Premier League a year after leaving it, and, over the next few months, they would experience one of the most unusual seasons in their history. They were the division's lowest scoring team with just 34 goals, but reached the semi-finals of both cup competitions. They also finished fourth from bottom in the Premier League, which – due to the streamlining of the division to 20 clubs – cost them their top flight status. Manager Alan Smith was sacked just days afterwards, with Steve Coppell returning to the manager's seat two years after handing the reins over to his former assistant Smith.

The aftermath of Palace's relegation saw the sale of numerous players including Richard Shaw, John Salako, Chris Armstrong and Gareth Southgate. A barely recognisable Palace squad would kick off the Endsleigh League Division One campaign with one of the youngest-ever squads to be faced with a challenge for promotion to the Premier League.

Final league table

Results summary

Results by round

Results Crystal Palace's score comes first

Legend WinDrawLoss

FA Premier League DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 20 August 1994 LiverpoolH1–618,084Armstrong 24 August 1994 Norwich CityA0–019,015 27 August 1994 Aston VillaA1–123,305Southgate 30 August 1994 Leeds UnitedH1–213,654Gordon 10 September 1994 Manchester CityA1–119,971Dyer 17 September 1994 WimbledonH0–012,100 24 September 1994 ChelseaH0–116,030 1 October 1994 ArsenalA2–134,136Salako (2) 8 October 1994 West Ham UnitedA0–116,959 15 October 1994 Newcastle UnitedH0–117,760 22 October 1994 EvertonH1–014,505Preece 29 October 1994 Leicester CityA1–020,022Preece 2 November 1994 Coventry CityA4–110,732Preece (2), Salako, Newman 5 November 1994 Ipswich TownH3–013,349Newman, Armstrong, Salako 19 November 1994 Manchester UnitedA0–343,788 26 November 1994 SouthamptonH0–014,007 3 December 1994 Sheffield WednesdayA0–121,930 11 December 1994 LiverpoolA0–030,972 17 December 1994 Norwich CityH0–112,252 26 December 1994 Queens Park RangersH0–016,372 27 December 1994 Tottenham HotspurA0–027,730 31 December 1994 Blackburn RoversH0–114,232 2 January 1995 Nottingham ForestA0–121,326 14 January 1995 Leicester CityH2–012,707Newman, Ndah 21 January 1995 EvertonA1–323,733Coleman 25 January 1995 Manchester UnitedH1–118,224Southgate 4 February 1995 Ipswich TownA2–015,570Dowie, Gordon (pen) 11 February 1995 Coventry CityH0–211,871 25 February 1995 ArsenalH0–317,092 5 March 1995 ChelseaA0–014,130 14 March 1995 Sheffield WednesdayH2–110,422Armstrong, Dowie 18 March 1995 WimbledonA0–28,835 1 April 1995 Manchester CityH2–113,312Armstrong, Patterson 4 April 1995 Aston VillaH0–012,606 14 April 1995 Tottenham HotspurH1–118,149Armstrong 17 April 1995 Queens Park RangersA1–014,227Dowie 20 April 1995 Blackburn RoversA1–228,005Houghton 29 April 1995 Nottingham ForestH1–215,886Dowie 3 May 1995 SouthamptonA1–315,151Southgate 6 May 1995 West Ham UnitedH1–014,227Armstrong 9 May 1995 Leeds UnitedA1–330,942Armstrong 14 May 1995 Newcastle UnitedA2–335,626Armstrong, Houghton

FA Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR38 January 1995 Lincoln CityH5–16,541Coleman, Armstrong, Gordon (pen), Salako (2)R428 January 1995 Nottingham ForestA2–116,790Armstrong, DowieR518 February 1995 WatfordA0–013,814R5R1 March 1995 WatfordH1–010,321NdahQF11 March 1995 Wolverhampton WanderersH1–114,604DowieQFR22 March 1995 Wolverhampton WanderersA4–127,548Armstrong (2), Pitcher, DowieSF9 April 1995 Manchester UnitedN2–238,256Dowie, ArmstrongSFR12 April 1995 Manchester UnitedN0–217,987

League Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR2 1st Leg 20 September 1994 Lincoln CityA0–14,310R2 2nd Leg 4 October 1994 Lincoln CityH3–0 (won 3–1 on agg)6,870Gordon, Armstrong, DyerR325 October 1994 WimbledonA1–09,394ArmstrongR430 November 1994 Aston VillaH4–112,653Armstrong (2), Southgate (2)R511 January 1995 Manchester CityH4–016,668Pitcher, Salako, Preece, ArmstrongSF 1st Leg 15 February 1995 LiverpoolA0–125,480SF 2nd Leg 8 March 1995 LiverpoolH0–1 (lost 0–2 on agg)18,224

Players First-team squad Squad at end of season

Left club during season

Reserve squad

Transfers

In DatePosNameFromFee26 May 1994MFRay WilkinsQPRFree transfer23 June 1994FWAndy PreeceStockport County£350,0005 July 1994MFDarren PitcherCharlton Athletic£700,0009 August 1994GKRhys WilmotGrimsby Town£80,00013 January 1995FWIain DowieSouthampton£400,00010 February 1995MFBjörn EnqvistMalmö FFSigned23 March 1995MFRay HoughtonAston Villa£300,000

Out DatePosNameToFee4 July 1994GKAndy WoodmanExeter CityFree transfer5 July 1994MFStuart MasseyOxford UnitedFree transfer5 July 1994FWDavid WhyteCharlton Athletic£450,0005 July 1994MFPaul MortimerCharlton Athletic£200,00016 August 1994MFMark HawthorneSheffield UnitedFree transfer17 August 1994MFSimon OsbornReading£90,0005 October 1994DFAndy ThornWimbledonFree transfer17 November 1994MFRay WilkinsQPRFree transfer

Transfers in: £1,830,000 Transfers out: £740,000 Total spending: £1,090,000

Notes

References