Last weekend, I was luckily enough to receive some tickets to Chelsea vs Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge sitting with the Palace fans.

This was a difficult decision for me to take with Crystal Palace being one of my team’s biggest rivals, but with Charlton being away to Wolves, I took up the opportunity to watch Premier league football for the first time since a trip to St James’s Park 3 years previously.

Getting to Stamford bridge was no problem but the entering of the stadium for away fans was difficult. With Palace’s Holmesdale fanactics being fond of the odd pyrotechnic, the levels of security to enter the ground was extraordinary.

I had to pass through at least 8 rows of stewards that I had to show my ticket to before the sniffer dogs and a final search down before getting into the ground through their electronic turnstiles.

I was surprised by this level of security bearing in mind that the two clubs, although reasonably close in proximity, don’t go as far to say they’re rivals and I did wonder if it was a Chelsea tactic to frighten the away fan into being quiet in the ground as entry into the ground was far too intimidating and would frighten many children.

After a pre match pint in the concourse, only available if an FA competition, (poor visiting fans of Porto, Dynamo Kiev and Maccabi), we entered our seats towards the back of the upper tier in the shed end.

After a ticket fiasco behind us where 3 people had the same seat ticket, all picked up on the day from the box office, the game kicked off and oh my, Palace fans know how to support their team.

The support of their side was infectious, with my partner, at her first big football match, learning and joining in with the songs whilst I muttered the Charlton versions under my breath.

The entire away end never sat down and never stopped singing, a far cry from when I’ve been a visiting supporter following my club where there have been quiet times. I’m sure the performance on the pitch helped with Palace playing Chelsea off the pitch with Bolasie, Dann, Cabaye and Sako particularly impressing me with their range of passing, positioning and pace.

Chelsea looked really off the pace of the Premier League, especially Ivanovic and Fabregas, who both look like they’ve had a few too many burgers in the off season. Chelsea only improved with the introduction of Kenedy and Falcao, who showed the old him with a fantastic diving header and lots of good link up play when he was on the pitch.

The whole of Stamford Bridge gasped when Joel Ward headed in the winner with eight minutes left in front of the Palace fans who went mental, creating the away end to shake with the sheer noise.

Fans were falling over seats and into the rows in front, climbing the railings, showing an almighty amount of passion which even as a rival fan in with them was brilliant to see.

The singing continued all the way back to the tube station after the game with Chelsea fans taking it in good heart that they were beaten by the better side on the day.

All in all, this was a brilliant day out, my ears had taken a pounding from the sheer volume of the 2880 Palace fans. I don’t know if Chelsea sang as we never heard them, but Palace really do have the best fans in the country and that hurts for me to say.

The only problem for me: The girlfriend now supports Crystal Palace, let’s hope Charlton can quieten them down in the South London derby in 3 weeks time.