Dougie Freedman admitted he found last night’s testimonial an emotional experience as he thanked fans, players and managers from his decade at Crystal Palace.

The 34-year-old was joined on the pitch at half time of the goalless draw against Fulham by 28 former team mates and ex-managers, as well as the chairman who first bought him to Selhurst Park, Ron Noades.

The biggest cheers of the night went to Andy Johnson and Aki Riihilahti, who flew over from Finland especially, while Wayne Routledge, who was at the ground but didn’t venture on to the pitch, and Noades were booed.

About 7,000 fans turned up to see what looks increasingly like Freedman’s last game in a Palace shirt, and he was thankful for the support.

He said: “I really enjoyed it. I was a little bit emotional at the end but I was always going to expect that.

“When you get the turn out from the fans, ex-players and ex-mangers taking their time and effort travelling from all over, that really hits a note with you and that’s made me quite emotional that.”

Freedman rarely got into the action during the match and said he found it hard to concentrate on the football.

“I couldn’t really focus on the match and I do, that’s part of my game,” he said.

“But with the fans and the families and things like that, it was very difficult to concentrate on the match, I don’t really know what kind of match it was.

“It’s strange because the fans were singing my name during the match and it’s very difficult to have a wave and a smile then.

“I’ve got a good relationship and a very good bond with the fans. It goes beyond just singing a name, it goes beyond just turning up tonight.

“I’m very lucky to have been supported by these fans as much as I have been over the ten years. Over a long period of time they’ve shown a lot of faith in me.”

Freedman also admitted to being uneasy at the ‘Palace legend’ tag that is so closely linked with his name now.

“When somebody says that to me I go into my shell a little bit because I never set out to be that,” he said, “I set out to enjoy myself and try and entertain the fans.

“I just have that bond with the fans, they liked the way I played and that’s what stuck with them.

“Legend? I don’t really look at it that way. I tried to do my best. Legend’s a little bit too strong for me, I find it quite uneasy.”