Looking at our most read stories of 2017, it appears to have been a year packed with tragedy, devastation and sadness.
We know there has been some good news and happier occasions during the past 12 months, but these items have been overshadowed by bleaker events based on what you, our readers, have been clicking on the most.
Here is a month by month rundown of what stories have attracted the most interest on Croydon Guardian’s website.
January:
NBA star Luol Deng reveals his dream is to buy Crystal Palace. Photo: USA Today
1. NBA star Luol Deng reveals his dream is to buy Crystal Palace football club
When you have as much money as some NBA players make, you can afford to splash a bit of cash every now and then.
So when Croydon's own Luol Deng entertained the idea of one day buying his boyhood club, it had fans talking.
Only one problem, he'll have to become a billionaire first.
2. Sutton and Croydon's best and worst-performing schools revealed in Department for Education figures
3. UPDATE: Knife-wielding burglary suspect in stand-off with police on roof arrested
4. 10-year-old boy missing from Croydon
5. Police hunt six men following serious assault in The Pear Tree pub, Purley
February:
School warns about gangs after 14-year-old stabbed in the neck following fight
1. St Andrew's CE School warns about gangs after 14-year-old stabbed in the neck following fight in Croydon town centre
When a 14-year-old boy was sent into a life-threatening situation after being stabbed in the neck, it shook the community.
While thankfully surviving, a school near Croydon town centre decided to do something to try and stop similar things from happening in the future.
2. Man hit by bus in major crash in Purley in critical condition
4. Croydon school named one of the world's best and among top 34 in the country
March:
Thornton Heath rapper Stormzy makes history as debut album first grime record to reach number 1
1: Croydon murder investigation: Man arrested as murder victim named locally
Sabrina Mullings was murdered outside her home in Upper Norwood, right in front of her daughter.
This left many wondering how on earth this sought of thing could have happened.
2. UPDATE: A23 Purley Way re-opened after lorry spillage causes TWO crashes
3. Thornton Heath rapper Stormzy makes history as debut album Gang Signs & Prayer first grime record to reach number 1
4. Update: Teenager stabbed outside Croydon College attended by England manager Gareth Southgate
5. Murder investigation launched after woman stabbed to death in Upper Norwood
April:
Hayley Barnes says her four-year-old daughter Scarlett has suffered two years of health problems due to salmonella contracted after eating at Babylon Inn in Croydon
1. South Norwood girl, 4, suffering 'tragic consequences' of salmonella two years after eating at revolting Babylon Inn buffet restaurant in North End, Croydon
Two years after eating at a Croydon restaurant a mother decided to take legal action because her young daughter was allegedly still suffering the effects of salmonella.
The restaurant, the Babylon Inn, had been in some trouble in 2015 when rats, mice and cockroaches were all found by food hygiene inspectors.
2. Police release images of three wanted over horrific Addington asylum seeker attack
3. Thornton Heath to undergo £2.78m re-development as part of 'Croydon's regeneration story'
4. How well do you know Croydon? Have a go at our tricky picture quiz
5. Six arrested after gang's 'frenzied attack' on teenage asylum seeker near Croydon
May:
This retro-gaming arcade just opened in Croydon
1. Man stabbed at East Croydon Station in broad daylight
A 22-year-old was stabbed in the middle of the day right outside East Croydon Station. This attack sent social media into a frenzy.
2. A woman in her 40s was raped in Southbridge Lane, Croydon, in daylight attack
3. Tesco in Brighton Road, South Croydon, shuts while construction work is carried out
4. The Heart of Gaming store has brought a community feel to Croydon town centre
June:
Huge fire breaks out in car storage unit near Purley Way. Credit: Colin Barber
1. Frank de Boer emerges as new favourite for Crystal Palace job
Well this certainly is funny looking back at how de Boer's tenure at Crystal Palace.
But in June people were eagerly reading how the Dutchman could (and would) become the next manager of Crystal Palace.
2. Missiles thrown at police after 200 gather on Thornton Heath Rec Croydon
3. Croydon drive-by shooting victim identified as Tinodiwanashe Makwanya by police
4. Huge fire breaks out in Croydon car storage unit near Purley Way and Beddington Lane Sutton
5. These are the 10 best restaurants to eat at in Croydon according to Tripadvisor
July:
Croydon residents can now get McDonald's delivered to their door
1. New Addington school Wolsey Junior Academy reportedly in lockdown after reports of 'a man with a machete'
When people spotted police cars and helicopters near Wolsey Junior Academy, they knew there was something wrong.
What escalated things was when there were reports of 'a man with a machete' which forced the school to go into lockdown until early in the evening.
3. A man has been found dead at Jurys Inn Hotel in Croydon
4. McDonald's is now delivering to Croydon residents
August:
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic wants to keep Adrian
1. Teenage boy Jermaine Goupall stabbed to death with a 'samurai sword' in Georgia Road Thornton Heath
Another tragedy struck Croydon in August when 15-year-old boy was killed with a samurai sword.
Jermaine Goupall is believed to have been chased across Green Lane and up Georgia Road with a pal by thugs armed with the martial arts weapon.
2. These are the 19 restaurants and takeaways in Croydon with food hygiene ratings of zero out of five
3. Crystal Palace's pursuit of West Ham goalkeeper takes new twist
4. Woman nearly gets car-jacked in Croydon after she narrowly avoids hitting teenager while driving
September:
Sam Boswell and his friends were left stranded at the Reading Festival after a limo company mixed up the times
1. 'Knifepoint robbery' in Thornton Heath caught on video
The moment two women were robbed in broad daylight by a pair of people riding motorbikes was captured on camera from an onlooker.
The video also showed a male witness, aged in his seventies, attempting to intervene, but was thrown to the ground by one of the suspects.
2. Thornton Heath limo company leaves group of friends stranded at Reading Festival
3. Crime stats show which parts of Croydon are the worst for anti-social behaviour
5. Roy Hodgson and Slavisa Jokanovic in contention to replace Crystal Palace boss Frank de Boer
October:
Harris Academy Purley
1. Allegations of ‘negligent’ treatment at South Croydon special needs school Red Gates School
A special needs school was put under the microscope when documents revealed a shocking string of allegations.
To make matters worse for the school, two parents also came forward with allegations of their own.
2. The best and worst secondary schools in Croydon for student progress
3. Croydon kids can now go to the movies for FREE
4. Food hygiene ratings in Croydon reveal worst 100 restaurants
November:
Gravel Hill crash
1. New Addington restaurant catches fire: As it happened
Heartache for a family as their restaurant went up in flames in November
Most of the ground floor, part of the first floor and all of the ducting from the ground to the first floor of the Peking Inn were destroyed in the fire.
2. Addington crash: Ferrari driver arrested after six-car crash in Croydon
3. Croydon teacher Andrew Corish who filmed up girls' skirts banned from teaching
4. Croydon police shut down Twitter user over missing child
5. Teenager murdered in Croydon named as Aren Mali
December:
People are up in arms about the parking situation at Aldi
1. Mass cancellations and delays after power failure in East Croydon affects all London Terminals
Could there be a more symbolic way to end the year than with train delays?
A power failure between East Croydon and Gatwick Airport left communters angry as trains faced delays of up to an hour earlier in the month.
2. Man dies after being hit by train at East Croydon station
3. The best primary schools in Croydon for KS2 results revealed
4. New Aldi could be coming as Coulsdon parking situation scrutinised
5. 'Fair amount' of blood as man hit by car in Caterham-on-the-Hill
So, we have had a lot of upsetting news during 2017. But we wish everybody out there a happier 2018.
Thank you to everyone who has visited our website during the year. We hope you’ve found it useful and informative. And, perhaps during those rare lighter moments, entertaining too. We live in hope that next year’s review will be dominated by more upbeat and positive news
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