Crystal Palace’s first European campaign has brought the club closer to supporters across the continent, with CPFC Polska preparing to welcome the Eagles for their UEFA Conference League fixture against Dynamo Kyiv in Lublin.
The match has been moved to the Lublin Arena because of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and around 30 to 40 members of the Polish supporters’ club are expected to attend. For CPFC Polska founder Michał Backiel, the occasion represents a major moment for a community established in 2013 in Białystok, north-eastern Poland.
The group has since arranged meetings across Poland and made numerous journeys to England for Palace matches. Its community includes several dozen active members, while many Polish Palace supporters living in London also attend games regularly. For this fixture, members will be spread across different areas of the stadium, including the away section, while others are expected to meet English supporters in central Lublin.
Backiel said the club’s appearance in Poland was a source of considerable pride, despite the disappointment that Palace had not been drawn against a Polish side. Members support clubs including Jagiellonia Białystok, Lech Poznań, Raków Częstochowa and Legia Warsaw, and he still hopes Palace could face his hometown club in a later round.
The CPFC Polska founder also reflected on Palace’s FA Cup final at Wembley, describing it as a defining occasion in the club’s history and a day when the team’s character was clear. He believes the current squad is among the strongest Palace sides of the modern era, pointing to the collective level of performance after the departures of Wilfried Zaha, Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze.
Backiel reserved particular praise for Oliver Glasner, whom he considers the best manager to have worked at Palace. With Glasner having previously won the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt, he believes the Eagles can compete for further silverware. As the club begins its European journey in Lublin, CPFC Polska’s members will be hoping to celebrate a Palace victory together afterwards.
