‘Best fans in the world’ – Heartwarming meaning of Crystal Palace tifo that inspired heroes to FA Cup triumph revealed

CRYSTAL PALACE were inspired to FA Cup glory by an incredible tifo with a heartwarming meaning. The Eagles made history on Saturday as they lifted their first-ever trophy with a 1-0 win over Manchester City. Crystal Palace were inspired to FA Cup glory by a heartwarming tifo Shutterstock EditorialThe Eagles beat Man City 1-0 to lift their first ever trophy[/caption] The tifo was inspired by fan Mark Wealleans, who died from cancer in 2017 AP:Associated PressIn the tifo, Wealleans was celebrating Darren Ambrose’s strike against Man Utd in 2011[/caption] Ebere Eze’s 16th minute strike was enough to seal glory at Wembley. While Dean Henderson avoided a red card for handball before saving a penalty moments later. The game even ended with a clash between Henderson and City boss Pep Guardiola, who was left fuming at full-time, But there was a major inspiration behind the Eagles’ brilliant victory in north west London. Before kick-off, a stunning tifo was unveiled by Palace fans bearing the message: “Wembley will shake… and it will be beautiful.” Alongside was an image of a Palace fan celebrating with two children. And during the match, the club explained the heartwarming reason behind the tifo. Posting a tweet, which also showed the original picture it was based on, Palace explained all with a caption declaring: “Best fans in the world.” BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS They said: “After Darren Ambrose’s 40 yard screamer against Manchester United in 2011, the cameras panned to the away end and, amidst 3,000 supporters jumping for joy, found an adrenalised red-and-blue clad supporter, Mark Wealleans, screaming with passion while holding up two young Palace lads who — then nine and six-years-old — responded by bursting into tears. “Tragically, Mark Wealleans, a proud south London and Season Ticket holder, lost his life in February 2017, aged just 49, five months after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. READ MORE ON PALACE’S INCREDIBLE FA CUP TRIUMPH Furious Pep Guardiola and Dean Henderson clash on pitch after Crystal Palace’s FA Cup triumph Dean Henderson reveals what he and Pep Guardiola said to each other in heated FA Cup final row Man City and Crystal Palace staff in furious touchline bust-up as they are forced apart in FA Cup final Dean Henderson saves penalty 10 minutes after he controversially escapes red card for FA Cup final moment of madness Ebere Eze scored the only goal of the game after 16 minutes Dean Henderson then avoided a red card for handball The ace was clearly outside his box when he stopped Erling Haaland from going through Henderson then saved Omar Marmoush’s penalty 10 minutes later “His two kids are in the crowd today continuing the Palace supporting tradition.” Fans responded with delight to the emotional tribute. One said: “Another reason why every other football fan is delighted for Palace.” Another declared: “Wow what an honour and gesture, thank you.” One noted: “Love that, amazing, congrats Palace.” Another added: “Nah this is class, RIP.” Crystal Palace ratings CRYSTAL PALACE secured their first ever trophy with a famous FA Cup final victory over Manchester City. The Eagles went into the match as underdogs but managed to nullify the former Treble winners with a spectacular defensive display. And at the heart of it was goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who could have been sent off for handling the ball outside the box before making the most of his reprieve. The goalkeeper went on to save a penalty from Omar Marmoush before producing a string of saves to keep Pep Guardiola’s men out. Here’s how SunSport’s Dan King rated the Crystal Palace players on the most famous day in the club’s history. Pep Guardiola clashed with Henderson at full time The City boss was left fuming at the result Guardiola still gave it large as Henderson hugged Oliver Glasner Pep waved a finger at Henderson as he walked off The tifo certainly seemed to do the trick for Palace. Oliver Glasner’s men put in a monstrous defensive effort to keep City at bay, with goalkeeper Henderson putting in several big saves. But the stopper was lucky to be on the pitch after handling the ball outside his own half. He was only saved from a red card thanks to a controversial VAR check after swatting the ball away from a goal-bound Erling Haaland. And the decision proved to be pivotal as Henderson went on to save a penalty from Omar Marmoush just 10 minutes later. Pep Guardiola was left raging at full-time as he clashed with Henderson, who dedicated Palace’s incredible win to his late father. And it was the goalie who had the last laugh as he joined teammates for a trophy lift they and Palace’s

May 18, 2025 - 00:02
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‘Best fans in the world’ – Heartwarming meaning of Crystal Palace tifo that inspired heroes to FA Cup triumph revealed

CRYSTAL PALACE were inspired to FA Cup glory by an incredible tifo with a heartwarming meaning.

The Eagles made history on Saturday as they lifted their first-ever trophy with a 1-0 win over Manchester City.

Wembley Stadium crowd display: "Wembley will shake... and it will be beautiful."
Crystal Palace were inspired to FA Cup glory by a heartwarming tifo
Soccer players celebrating with the Emirates FA Cup trophy.
Shutterstock Editorial
The Eagles beat Man City 1-0 to lift their first ever trophy[/caption]
Crowd holding a large banner of a player at a soccer game; below, children and adults in the stands.
The tifo was inspired by fan Mark Wealleans, who died from cancer in 2017
Darren Ambrose of Crystal Palace celebrating a goal.
AP:Associated Press
In the tifo, Wealleans was celebrating Darren Ambrose’s strike against Man Utd in 2011[/caption]

Ebere Eze’s 16th minute strike was enough to seal glory at Wembley.

While Dean Henderson avoided a red card for handball before saving a penalty moments later.

The game even ended with a clash between Henderson and City boss Pep Guardiola, who was left fuming at full-time,

But there was a major inspiration behind the Eagles’ brilliant victory in north west London.

Before kick-off, a stunning tifo was unveiled by Palace fans bearing the message: “Wembley will shake… and it will be beautiful.”

Alongside was an image of a Palace fan celebrating with two children.

And during the match, the club explained the heartwarming reason behind the tifo.

Posting a tweet, which also showed the original picture it was based on, Palace explained all with a caption declaring: “Best fans in the world.”

BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS

They said: “After Darren Ambrose’s 40 yard screamer against Manchester United in 2011, the cameras panned to the away end and, amidst 3,000 supporters jumping for joy, found an adrenalised red-and-blue clad supporter, Mark Wealleans, screaming with passion while holding up two young Palace lads who — then nine and six-years-old — responded by bursting into tears.

“Tragically, Mark Wealleans, a proud south London and Season Ticket holder, lost his life in February 2017, aged just 49, five months after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.


READ MORE ON PALACE’S INCREDIBLE FA CUP TRIUMPH


Ebere Eze scored the only goal of the game after 16 minutes
Dean Henderson then avoided a red card for handball
The ace was clearly outside his box when he stopped Erling Haaland from going through
Henderson then saved Omar Marmoush’s penalty 10 minutes later

“His two kids are in the crowd today continuing the Palace supporting tradition.”

Fans responded with delight to the emotional tribute.

One said: “Another reason why every other football fan is delighted for Palace.”

Another declared: “Wow what an honour and gesture, thank you.”

One noted: “Love that, amazing, congrats Palace.”

Another added: “Nah this is class, RIP.”

Crystal Palace ratings

CRYSTAL PALACE secured their first ever trophy with a famous FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.

The Eagles went into the match as underdogs but managed to nullify the former Treble winners with a spectacular defensive display.

And at the heart of it was goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who could have been sent off for handling the ball outside the box before making the most of his reprieve.

The goalkeeper went on to save a penalty from Omar Marmoush before producing a string of saves to keep Pep Guardiola’s men out.

Here’s how SunSport’s Dan King rated the Crystal Palace players on the most famous day in the club’s history.

Pep Guardiola clashed with Henderson at full time
The City boss was left fuming at the result
Guardiola still gave it large as Henderson hugged Oliver Glasner
Pep waved a finger at Henderson as he walked off

The tifo certainly seemed to do the trick for Palace.

Oliver Glasner’s men put in a monstrous defensive effort to keep City at bay, with goalkeeper Henderson putting in several big saves.

But the stopper was lucky to be on the pitch after handling the ball outside his own half.

He was only saved from a red card thanks to a controversial VAR check after swatting the ball away from a goal-bound Erling Haaland.

And the decision proved to be pivotal as Henderson went on to save a penalty from Omar Marmoush just 10 minutes later.

Pep Guardiola was left raging at full-time as he clashed with Henderson, who dedicated Palace’s incredible win to his late father.

And it was the goalie who had the last laugh as he joined teammates for a trophy lift they and Palace’s fans will never forget.

Man City ratings

MANCHESTER CITY were stunned by Crystal Palace at Wembley, condemning Pep Guardiola to a first trophyless season in eight years.

Eberechi Eze netted the only goal of the game to leave the Eagles quite literally ‘Glad All over’.

And as much as City huffed and puffed they were unable to hit the back of the net, mainly thanks to the fine form of Dean Henderson.

The Palace goalkeeper could have been sent off for handling the ball outside the box, but made the most of seeing only a free kick given against him.

Here’s how SunSport’s Martin Blackburn rated the Manchester City stars on one of their more forgettable trips to Wembley.