Roy Hodgson and Steve Parish have welcomed Crystal Palace fans back to Selhurst Park with an emotional message of thanks and appreciation for the Premier League clash against Spurs.
The clash against Jose Mourinho's table-topping side marks the first occasion since March that Palace fans have been able to see their team in action in person, with a lucky group of 2,000 supporters in place for the match.
Hodgson admitted that the relatively low number of fans in place was unlikely to have too big of an impact on the result, but stated that the satisfaction of having supporters back in place had little to do with the on-field events.
"The highly anticipated return of supporters has been long awaited and I will look out to the 2,000 spectators in the stands this afternoon with great pleasure," Hodgson wrote in his programme notes.
"We are well aware that less than 10% of a relatively low capacity stadium is unlikely to have a major impact on the atmosphere or playing conditions, but then our satisfaction with your return does not relate to enhancing our on-field fortunes.
"Instead it is due to the pleasure that watching football in person can deliver to a long-excluded fan.
"Football has certainly provided relief and a focus for many of us during these difficult recent months, but nothing can replace the feeling of being back in the stands, watching a game unfold directly in front of you and, with luck, enjoying a well earned result.
"The feeling of actual preparation on an event can only be experienced when you are physically present."
Palace chairman Parish thanked supporters for their commitment to the club, and stated that their return will hopefully mark the starting point on a road back to normality.
"Welcome back, finally, to each and every one of you here with us at Selhurst Park today," Parish wrote.
"I’d like to thank you for your patience and especially your commitment to the club during these unprecedented recent months.
"Today is a big day for everyone associated with the club, as we are reunited with 2,000 supporters – playing in front of our fans for the first time since March.
"Of course it’s nowhere near the scale we want to be at, but it’s a start – and it is a situation I hope will accelerate in the new year as the vaccine is rolled out and we hopefully return to a more normal existence."
