Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew rolls back the years in Julian Speroni’s testimonial match at Selhurst Park

Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew played in Julian Speroni’s testimonial
Former Newcastle manager guided Eagles to 10th place league finish
Speroni signed for the Premier League club from Dundee in 2004
The goalkeeper has made over 350 appearances for the south London club
Club legend John Salako and familiar faces such as Clinton Morrison and Aki Riihilahti were also on show
The Eagles beat Speroni’s former team Dundee 4-3 at Selhurst Park

Published:
22:02 GMT, 26 May 2015

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Updated:
08:14 GMT, 27 May 2015

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Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew rolled back the years on Tuesday evening as he played in Julian Speroni’s testimonial match at Selhurst Park.

The Eagles boss guided the club to a surprise top ten finish in the Premier League this season after returning to the south London club in January.

Pardew, who spent four years at the club during his playing days, donned the red and blue kit once again in the match against Speroni’s former team Dundee.

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew rolled back the years at Selhurst Park on Tuesday evening

Pardew celebrates a winning goal against Liverpool in the 1990 FA Cup semi-final

SPERONI TESTIMONIAL TEAMS

Crystal Palace: Speroni (Price 71); Ramage (Ashton 46), Hangeland (Butterfield 46), Delaney (Lawrence 46), Ward (Morgan 46, Barrionuev 80); Zaha (Fendley 46, E. Speroni 80), McArthur (Boateng 46, Borsalino 72), Bannan (Riihilahti 46), Bolasie (Gray 46, Salako 60); Lee (Kaikai 46, Pardew 60), Gayle (Morrison 46, Pedercini 75).

Dundee: Gourlay (Speroni 76), Irvine (Colquhorn 46, Adam 75), McGinn (Caballero 46), McPake, McAllister (J. Black 60, Nemsadze 75), Stewart (Carranza 53, J. Black 83), Tankulic (Sara 53) Gadzhalov (Konrad 46), Adam (A. Black 46), Carreiro (Ketsbaia 53), Wighton (Caballero 53).

Pardew scored the winner for Palace against Liverpool in the 1990 FA Cup semi-final and has described it as ‘one of the best moments of his career’.

The former Newcastle manager was given an opportunity to experience the Selhurst Park turf once again when he came on as a substitute in the 60th minute.

Past and present Palace players took part in the testimonial match to celebrate goalkeeper Speroni’s 11 years at the club.

The shot-stopper’s career at Selhurst Park got off to the worst start after giving away a penalty against Everton on his home debut in 2004.

But Speroni has become a club legend after making over 350 appearances and helping the club retain their Premier League status for another season.

Pardew, who took charge of the club in January, was playing in Julian Speroni’s testimonial match

Pardew came on as a substitute in the 60th minute and was up against Stoke City midfielder Charlie Adam

Sportsmail’s Neil Ashton (left) played in the second half of the match at Selhurst Park

Goalkeeper Speroni has made over 350 appearances for the Eagles since his arrival at the club in 2004

Dundee’s Luka Tankulic (left) battles for possession of the ball with Palace’s James McArthur

Eagles midfielder Barry Bannan (left) does his best to win the ball back against Speroni’s former team

Getting battered by the media tonight, head down and back to my family now. Still love the Holmesdale Fanatics tho.

— Neil Ashton (@neilashton_) May 26, 2015

Pardew’s former team-mate John Salako also made an appearance in the match and he was joined by familiar Palace faces Clinton Morrison, Aki Riihilahti and Danny Butterfield.

Sportsmail’s very own Neil Ashton also made a cameo appearance at Selhurst Park and came up against a Dundee team which included Charlie Adam and Temuri Ketsbaia.

The Eagles won 4-3 thanks to first-half goals from Yannick Bolasie, Lee Chung-yong and a double from striker Dwight Gayle.