Crystal Palace’s remarkable first campaign in European competition reaches its climax in Wednesday’s UEFA Conference League Final, with the German Eagles preparing to experience the occasion on home soil. Five members of the Duisburg-based group will travel to Leipzig, while the rest will watch the match together in Germany.
The supporters’ connection with Palace began in 2013, when Chris visited Selhurst Park during a study trip to London. His first match was the Championship fixture against Leeds United on 9 March, and the atmosphere in south London immediately made a lasting impression. Croydon’s working-class character and the intensity inside the stadium reminded him of home in western Germany.
Chris and his father soon began making regular journeys to Selhurst Park, often bringing friends with them. The German Eagles were officially formed in 2018 by six supporters from around Duisburg. The group has since grown to nine members, each following different German clubs domestically but sharing a commitment to the red and blue of Palace.
Their experiences have reinforced that bond. Chris recalls attending the 2016 FA Cup Final at Wembley and eventually securing a ticket for his father from another Palace supporter at face value. For him, the gesture captured the sense of community he associates with the club and its supporters.
The group has followed Oliver Glasner’s side through a European journey that has included away trips and knockout victories, with the final whistle against Shakhtar Donetsk in Kraków standing out as a defining moment. Palace supporters celebrated in the city after the win, and the German Eagles now have the chance to welcome fellow fans for the biggest match in the club’s continental history.
Chris believes the current team combines the collective spirit that has long characterised Palace with a higher level of performance. His prediction for the final is a 3-1 victory for Glasner’s side, which would complete an extraordinary debut season on the European stage.
