Travel disruption, aim to arrive early: Your Palace vs Shakhtar matchgoers' guide

Information

7 May 2026

Just 90 minutes to decide it all: Selhurst Park will host its first-ever UEFA Conference League semi-final match tonight (20:00 BST kick-off), as Palace take on Shakhtar Donetsk for a place in a European Final.

If you're going to the game, please check this guide – which will be kept up-to-date with the latest matchday information – before travelling.

Travel advice

To those using rail services for the match tonight, please note that there is major disruption to services in some parts of the South of England until the end of the day.

Please carefully check station information screens and listen to announcements before you board.

Supporters are, as always, advised to check the latest information via TfL before they depart for the ground, and leave plenty of time for your journey.

Enhanced searches

Enhanced searches will be in operation at turnstiles on Thursday evening.

All ticket holders are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy the pre-match atmosphere, and ensure quick access into the Stadium.

Bring Your Scarf

Fans in attendance on Thursday may wish to take part in the below supporter-led display.

Before travelling

All ticket holders are kindly reminded to please download your match tickets to your iOS, Google or Android ticket wallet before travelling to ensure smooth access to the stadium. You can find out how to do so here.

Before arriving, please ensure that the pass in your phone wallet is for this fixture (Crystal Palace v Shakhtar Donetsk).

To download your new pass via the Official Palace App, please follow the steps below:

Open the Crystal Palace app and login using the account registered to your ticket.
Click the ‘MORE’ button on the bottom right.
Click ‘TICKETS’.
Click ‘ACCESS FAN WALLET’.
Click on your ticket to this game.
Click ‘Add to Apple Wallet’ or ‘Add to Google Pay’.
Follow the on-screen instructions.

Once your ticket is stored in your mobile device's digital wallet, you will not need internet access for it to work at the turnstiles, but your device will need to be switched on.

Entering the stadium: New turnstiles

Turnstiles open at 18:00 BST ahead of the 20:00 kick-off.

Supporters in certain parts of the ground might notice a new kind of turnstile in operation at their usual entrance to Selhurst Park.

These new turnstiles have a screen with the below instructions:

As per the above diagram, should your ticket be in your digital ticket wallet, you can simply tap your mobile device at the top of the screen before entering.

Alternatively, if you have a barcode on your ticket, you can show this to the camera at the bottom of the screen to scan your ticket and enter.

These new readers are designed to make supporters' entrance to the ground quicker and smoother.

Mobile phone chargers are available at the Information Centre on a matchday, should you need to use them to access your ticket.

Keep up-to-date on WhatsApp

Make sure you follow the Crystal Palace WhatsApp Channel, our dedicated matchday service for our fans to receive important updates.

To follow Palace on WhatsApp Channels, simply click the link here on a device which has WhatsApp installed.

The Channel will serve as the home of matchday information, ensuring match-going supporters are kept as up-to-date as possible, as well as being sent the latest matchday content, including press conferences, team news and results. Find out more here.

Parking

Supporters planning to drive should note that no parking will be available in the Sainsbury’s car park ahead of Thursday evening’s match.

Fans should also be aware that Sainsbury's store will close at 17:00 BST.

Palace for All

Supporters are reminded that antisocial behaviour of any kind – which includes inappropriate or offensive chanting – is strictly prohibited at Selhurst Park.

Please be mindful of your fellow fans at all times, particularly younger supporters among us, and help us to generate a positive atmosphere to accompany this historic occasion for South London.

A safe and respectful matchday environment for all is vital for protecting the game we love. Thank you for your continued support.

Bumper Edition programme

Our last matchday programme of the 25/26 Conference League campaign is a particularly special one.

With a limited print run of just 5,000 copies available from vendors around the ground on Thursday, our 100-page Bumper Edition Semi-Final programme includes a whole host of special features to mark the occasion.

These include:

Sir Gareth Southgate: an exclusive feature-length interview with the former Palace Academy graduate, who would later become the most successful England manager of modern times;
Additional feature interviews with current Eagles Jean-Philippe Mateta and Dean Henderson, and 05/06 Player of the Year Emmerson Boyce;
A special UEFA Conference League foil, embossed cover, depicting the trophy;
A match-by-match recap of every step in Palace’s Conference League journey to date – from the play-off round in Norway in August, right the way through to last week’s trip to Krakow;
A comprehensive guide to our semi-final opponents, Ukrainian title challengers Shakhtar Donetsk, with guest columns on the Miners’ incredible story, challenges faced, and tactical set-ups;
A huge variety of other special Europe-focused features, including coverage of Selhurst Park’s big-match history, a 'handy' Palace phrasebook, a bumper continental quiz – and much, much more!
Plus, this edition has your regular favourites, including Chairman Steve Parish and Manager Oliver Glasner's latest pre-match notes!

Simply put: it’s the ultimate piece of memorabilia, for the ultimate Selhurst Park matchday!

To read the full Sir Gareth Southgate feature, and all of the above, get your special 100-page edition programme from vendors around the ground – and the Selhurst Park club shop – for just £4.

Fanzone entertainment

Don’t have time to make it home before the game? Supporters are encouraged to make their way to the ground early, and enjoy live entertainment and great offers in our Fanzone – ideal for a pre-match get together!

The Fanzone opens at 17:00 BST, so get down early and soak up the atmosphere ahead of kick-off.

Supporters will enjoy music, skills competitions, interactive quizzes, great giveaways, and live performances.

Meanwhile, our Fanzone Club Shop will be stocking our new European range, perfect for the big evening – check it out!

Fanzone meal deals

Make the most of our Early Bird offers in the Fanzone, available until 45 minutes before kick-off:

Soft Drink Early Bird: Burger or Cumberland Hot Dog with Soft Drink priced at £6.50.
Early Bird: Burger or Cumberland Hot Dog with Beer priced at £8.

There is something for everyone with our Meal Deal offerings in the Fanzone:

Meal Deal: Burger, Pringles, Soft Drink priced at £9.50.
Fanzone Kids Combo: Burger, Pringles and Water / Oasis at £7.50
What's more, we also have a South London staple exclusive to the Fanzone: our NEW Jerk Chicken Burgers – marinated and BBQ'd in house by our Caribbean chefs, topped with our own jerk mayo and pink slaw – can be purchased for just £8.50.

Perfect for families looking to fuel up before kick-off!

Updated Menus elsewhere

Inside Selhurst Park, you can also enjoy a refreshed menu across many of our food and drinks concourses – perfect for pre-match dinner plans.

For this game, make sure you warm up for the big night with our beef chilli cheese fries with sour cream, jalapenos and crispy onions – priced at £8.50!

They’ll be exclusively available in the Upper & Lower Holmesdale, and the Eagles’ Nest outlet in the Main Stand.

Alternatively, we're also offering a Pukka Pie, Mash & Gravy deal at £8.00 – available in the Arthur Wait concourse, Glaziers Lounge and Stanley Stephenson Lounge.

Other stands around Selhurst also offer a range of Early Bird offers (available up to 45 minutes before kick-off) and great-value Meal Deals, which may vary by location - so be sure to check out the menus in your concourse!

Please note that Selhurst Park is a cashless stadium. Selhurst Park’s food and drink concourses are cashless – so bring your payment card. Apple Pay and Google Pay are accepted.

New shop in the Holmesdale

Our new matchday-only Club Shop, inside the Holmesdale Road Stand, will also be open on Thursday.

Situated in the Holmesdale Road Stand Upper, the new Shop will stock a curated selection of CPFC products, including current and Retro kits; new clothing from our 2 for £30 range, European Range and Art Of products; as well as accessories and more.

There’s something for everyone, with items suitable for all age ranges across a variety of price points, ensuring you have a wide range of memorabilia to take home from matchday: from a 2025/26 full kit of your choice, to a souvenir keyring.

The Shop will be open from 18:00 BST, and will close 15 minutes after full-time (expected to be around 22:15).

It can be found in the Holmesdale Road Stand Upper, as per the map below.

Bag policy

Supporters are permitted to bring bags into Selhurst Park, provided that they are small enough to fit safely beneath your seat.

Larger bags will need to be dropped off at the dedicated bag drop facility located in the main car park, at the information point. This facility will be managed by the Crystal Palace staff and is free of charge.

Please note that supporters will be required to remove all lids from bottles of 500ml or less before entering Selhurst Park. Bottles over 500ml are not permitted.

Pre-match light show

Supporters are advised to arrive early to enjoy the full pre-match experience.

Before the entrance of the two teams, at around 19:50-19:55 BST, there will be a light show containing flashing images, lights and entertainment.

Supporters will receive notice prior to the light show commencing. Any supporters who suffer from light sensitivity should head to the concourses if affected.

Conduct

Crystal Palace would like to remind supporters that acts of discrimination, including inappropriate chanting, violence and entering the field of play, are criminal offences – which can result in criminal convictions and banning orders.

As a club, we are clear that everyone is welcome at Palace. We will not tolerate racial or homophobic chants or discriminating comments towards a particular individual, or group of individuals, at Selhurst Park.

If you witness any such behaviour, please report it to the club by emailing customer.service@cpfc.co.uk and inclusion@cpfc.co.uk with details.

For the safety of all supporters:

It is illegal to use flares, flash bangs and other pyrotechnics at the stadium.
Strong measures remain in place to tackle antisocial and criminal behaviours within the ground, including throwing objects, drug use and discriminatory behaviour.
You must keep off the Selhurst Park pitch at all times. Perpetrators may be prosecuted. Recent pitch invasions have resulted in football bans (both domestically and abroad); police prosecution; and criminal records, which can impact employment, education and international travel.
Supporters are also reminded that smoking and the use of e-cigarettes is prohibited inside Selhurst Park.
Please respect our staff at all times. Abuse of staff will not be tolerated.

From fans, to stewards and players, we all have a role to play in keeping each other safe on matchdays – so please be mindful of your fellow fans.

Information Centre & Club Shop

Our Information Centre will be open from 17:00, with staff on hand to advise and assist supporters with queries.

The Selhurst Park club shop is open from 09:00, with our brand new European range – plus more appareil to accompany our Conference League adventure!

Browse European Range

Match Details

Crystal Palace v Shakhtar Donetsk

Thursday, 7th May
20:00 BST
UEFA Conference League semi-final, second leg
Selhurst Park
Live audio commentary on Palace TV+

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