Only once before since their formation in 1905 have the Eagles finished higher than 10th in the top flight of English football.

That was in 1990-91 under the guidance of Steve Coppell, and the following season they finished in 10th - their second highest ever finish.

That position was repeated on Sunday as the boys in red and blue sealed a top half Premier League finish thanks to a 1-0 victory over Swansea at Selhurst Park combined with losses for Everton and West Ham.

Guided by manager Alan Pardew - Marouane Chamakh’s 57th minute strike was enough for the three points - and co-owner Steve Browett was in a joyous mood, not least as he confirmed each position in the Premier League is worth “£1.25m a place, so we went up two places today."

“I just had a drink with Alan and said congratulations,” said Browett immediately after the game.

“He’s done a brilliant job - in our 110-year history, it’s our second highest league finish.

“To do better than last season’s 11th place was a tall order and it was looking impossible about Christmas time, so to do that is absolutely fantastic.”

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Pardew proved to be the signing of the season for the Eagles, with his move from Newcastle to SE25 surprising many observers but Browett was in no doubt what a perfect fit he was for the Eagles.

“He’s so Palace,” said Browett. “He’s a manager who wants to be our manager, and he’s very experienced.

“He’s got the perfect thing; he’s got the love for the club and a really experienced Premier League manager so it’s a great combination.”

Browett, also chairman of Farr Vintners, a leading wholesaler of fine wines, has spent the last few weeks reminiscing at a number of events surrounding the club and their journey to the 1990 FA Cup Final against Manchester United.

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Those events have included a number of reunions, one of which, Browett himself donated vintage wines from 1990 too, and many fans of the Eagles will see a lot in common with that era of the club, not least as Pardew himself was a key member of the playing staff.

“There are a lot of similarities between this team and that team in the early 1990s,” said Browett.

“That team (in the 1990s) was put together by Steve Coppell with a lot of free transfers, players from the youth team and players from the reserve teams at other clubs.

“You look at the team now; Glenn Murray was a free transfer, Damien Delaney was a free transfer, Yannick Bolasie was from Bristol City’s reserves - there are a lot of players who have really blossomed at Palace.

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“They were decent players but they’ve been brought together here and like the 1991-92 team they’ve been the underdogs and have really got fantastic results.

“Ever since we bought the club we have been expected to do a lot worse than we actually have done so we are very proud of that.”

Many results and performances will stick in the memories of Eagles fans from the past season, but for Browett himself, two games are top of the list.

“The Man City win at home was a fantastic win because they are a team full of superstars and to beat them was brilliant,” he said.

“Also, to score six goals in a season in the league against Liverpool – and beat them home and away – is incredible.

“Anfield was fantastic because the atmosphere there was great for Gerrard (in his last home game) and our team played brilliantly I thought.

“I loved both of those.”

Read part two tomorrow...