From then to now: Core member of 2010's survival squad hails Palace's progress

Club

1 Jun 2025

It seems incredible to think, given the last few weeks we've all enjoyed, that 15 years ago, Crystal Palace F.C. stood on the brink of oblivion – with forward Calvin Andrew one of a number of playing staff left in the lurch.

Luton-born Andrew had joined Palace in the summer of 2008 as a 21-year-old from his local club, and went on to play seven times for the Eagles in the 2008/09 league season, scoring once.

Andrew was a more regular member of the matchday squad the following season, making 27 Championship appearances and scoring an important goal in a win over Preston towards the season's dramatic end.

Andrew experienced first-hand the turbulance of the 2009/10 campaign which culminated with a vital 2-2 draw against Sheffield Wednesday in ‘Survival Sunday’ – a game in which Andrew played the first hour – and, just a few weeks later, the battle to save the club which reached a successful conclusion, on this day 15 years ago (1st June, 2010).

It was fitting, therefore, that Andrew was also there at Wembley, two weeks ago, in a media capacity with BBC Radio Manchester, to witness the club's greatest triumph.

It was beneath the arch that the pundit spoke to Andrew McSteen about the growth of the club from an uncertain 'then', to a glorious 'now'...

What’s the feeling now, Calvin?

A feeling of jubilation, a fantastic feeling. I know what it means to so many people.

It’s a club that's near and dear to my heart. To see the progression of the club over the last 10 years or so, growing and becoming more comfortable in the Premier League, to then pushing on to this, to being able to bring a trophy home to the fans, to the people of South London... it means everything.

It's a fantastic occasion. I'm glad to be part of it. I'm glad to be here to witness this, because this could be the beginning of a real dynasty for Crystal Palace.

What will a trophy do for this club?

It's important to have some silverware for the team, to be competing on a national level and to be able to go out and be in Europe. It allows Palace to keep hold of some fantastic players and to be able to attract some really good players.

This is a real big stepping stone, a real big milestone for Crystal Palace to move and continue to grow and become a better and bigger football club. It’s everything it deserves. It's everything that everyone wants from the South London perspective.

For me as a former player, and a supporter of the team as well, this is a joyous occasion.

What did you make of the Final?

The gameplan worked to perfection from Oliver Glasner.

Knowing how Man City play, the only way to nullify their possession-based game is to play a bit of a deep block, but still allow Crystal Palace to have that sharp edge, that counter-attacking, forward-thinking piece of advantage that they had there.

It worked to perfection. Ebere Eze’s goal was a blueprint of that. They'll have worked on it all week; being able to play that up back and through into Jean-Philippe Mateta, look after it, come back and play through.

We still kept an attacking prowess about us. Man City had a lot of the ball, but to no avail were they going to create anything because of how well those boys defended today.

Daniel Muñoz provided the assist – what do you think of him as a player?

Fantastic. Let's be honest, the right side of the pitch belongs to him when he plays. He owns it, forward and back. He's somebody that doesn't shy away from trying to get forward into attacking positions.

He supports Mateta when the ball goes in there, and more importantly than not, he puts the ball in the box.

I would have loved to play with him, a player that makes the big difference going forward and back.

Are you still closely connected with the club?

As with any club that you've been at for four years, I made real bonds at Crystal Palace. Nathaniel Clyne’s a player in and around the squad, somebody that I get on with really well, and he played in the same team as me.

I know a lot of the staff there as well: Paddy McCarthy, Terry Byfield. Friendly faces, people I recognise and know, and spoke to before the game as well.

I'm really good friends with Wilfried Zaha. I know he would have loved the Final as much as any other. I spoke to him just before it about the game and how much it means to the fans, and the place; it's where he's from as well.

It means a lot to an awful lot of former players of Crystal Palace. But anybody that's been there for a period of time, there's a family-orientated feel about Palace. You're embedded in the history of it, and it's something which continues to run through my veins, even to this day.

You're here at Wembley for BBC Radio Manchester – what else are you up to?

I've jumped on social media and have been posting on Instagram over the last year or so. I wasn’t on it through my playing career. I'm very new to social media, so you have to forgive me as people are messaging me all the time!

I'm working now in the media realm, doing a bit of work for BBC Radio Manchester, covering a lot of games. I host my own EFL football show on a Saturday in Manchester, where I talk about the development of the English Football League all the way through from the Championship down to League Two. That's my main coverage.

I also do a little bit of acting on the side! You might see me on the silver screen at some stage, if I can push into that – but no IMDB page yet. Hopefully I will have one sooner or later!

A lot of is the media stuff about football. It's a game I know and love. I've known it for the majority of my career, but had a lot of injuries that kept me back. It's the intellectual part of understanding the game and being able to present it in a palatable way for listeners and fans alike.

With continued thanks to Andrew McSteen.

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