-Credit:Keogh/Getty Images
Crystal Palace are facing rivals Millwall in the FA Cup south London derby tomorrow (Saturday, March 1), but organisers have warned fans of a pub ban and a closure of a train station due to safety concerns. Kick-off is at 12.15pm tomorrow afternoon at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park for the fifth-round cup clash.
Both teams have issued a set of rules ahead of the game safety advice to separate the fans. The most pressing of these rules to be in effect is the fact that Thornton Heath train station – the closest to Selhurst Park – will be closed two hours prior to the 12.15pm kick-off at 10.15am and two hours after the final whistle. Turnstiles will open at the away end from the same time, 10.15am.
Selhurst and Norwood Junction stations are expected to be open as usual.
READ MORE: Mum stabbed to death with ‘shocking’ large zombie knife in front of young daughter, court hears
READ MORE: ‘Like Hackney Wick before it got nice’ – The 2 ‘eyesore’ Croydon sites left overgrown by Lidl
Thornton Heath station will be closed two hours before kick-off and two hours after the end of the match -Credit:Matthew Lloyd/Bloomberg via Getty Images
No away pubs
There will also be no away pubs available in Thornton Heath, Millwall report. Croydon Council implements a no-drinking policy in the surrounding areas of Selhurst Park. This policy has been in place since 2024 and is in place for every Crystal Palace home fixture – anyone found drinking locally will be asked to leave the local area.
No big bags
Crystal Palace’s bag policy only allows bags under the size of an A4 sheet of paper. Only those carrying a medical exemption certificate will be allowed for reasons of carrying medical equipment. Crystal Palace do not have bag storage facilities, and anybody attempting to enter with bags larger than A4 will be turned away.
Police search at the gates
There will be tighter and more security intense searches at the turnstiles, including the presence of police officers and detection dogs. This will likely cause there to be queueing, so Millwall has advised supporters to arrive early to avoid delays in entering the stadium.
Away fans held after match
Millwall away fans will be temporarily held outside the turnstiles after the end of the match -Credit:Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Millwall away fans will be temporarily held outside the turnstiles after the end of the match to allow the home fans to exit the grounds before them. While the home fans disperse from the local area, there will be regular updates issued over the tannoy.
No away fans in the home end
Crystal Palace warned that any away supporters found in the home end will instantly be kicked out, and the supporters responsible for giving or reselling their tickets will automatically have their accounts blocked and be barred from returning to Selhurst Park.
No flags or bottle tops
No flags will be permitted unless they are fire-certified, and evidence of this will be checked upon entry. All bottle tops will be removed prior to entry – only in extreme medical circumstances will this not apply.
Everything else you need to know
Crystal Palace said their supporters in the Whitehorse Lane stand should also be aware that exit E7 will be closed at full-time. Fans in the affected area of the stadium will instead be able to exit via Gate X/Y.
Alcohol will also be served on site at the away end. Crystal Palace look like the favourites ahead of the match with 3/10 odds on Bet365 versus 11/1 odds for Millwall.
Get the top stories from across London directly to your inbox. Sign up for MyLondon’s The 12 HERE to get the biggest stories every day
