TCPAs - The After Party
Crystal Palace fans Ben and Matt Watts reflect on a historic 2025-26 season that culminated in winning a European trophy — a dream realized 13 years after their 2013 promotion. The podcast, recorded at the after party of the TCPAs, captures the emotional weight of a season that defied expectations, from the Community Shield opener at Wembley to the final in Leipzig. What makes this victory especially poignant is the personal journey: Matt’s new fatherhood, the family legacy of fandom, and the bittersweet reality that manager Oliver Glasner is departing after transforming the club. The hosts reveal how their podcast has evolved alongside the team — from a kitchen-table project to a global show heard in 90 countries — and how they’ve grown sustainably by joining the Sports Social Network and accepting listener support via Buy Me a Coffee. Amid the celebration, they acknowledge the challenges of balancing family life, work, and fandom, especially with young children and late-night matches. As the World Cup looms, they admit to being emotionally drained but promise a summer of nostalgic retrospectives and newsy updates ahead of the next European campaign. The episode is less about tactics or stats and more about legacy: how a club once mocked for survival now stands as a European contender, how a podcast born in obscurity now reaches millions, and how a generation of fans may one day be called 'glory hunters' on the playground. The real takeaway?
Crystal Palace won their first European trophy in 2026, 13 years after their 2013 promotion — a moment that felt impossible at the time.
The podcast’s global reach grew to 90 countries by 2025, proving that grassroots fan content can scale with authenticity and consistency.
Matt Watts’ new fatherhood reshaped his football experience — he missed many away games but found deeper meaning in being present for his son’s milestones.
Oliver Glasner’s departure marks the end of a transformative era; his tactical genius turned a team of individual talents into a cohesive European force.
The hosts emphasize that fan culture thrives not just in stadiums, but in shared digital spaces — 10,000 fans watching the final on screens in South London felt like a matchday.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Welcome to the After Party
Ben and Matt kick off the episode at the TCPAs after-party, reflecting on the season’s awards and setting the tone for a nostalgic, emotional retrospective.
From Fantasy to Reality: The 2026 Dream Season
“If you'd said to us then, if you'd said to us when we were on Wembley Way leaving the stadium that in 2026, 13 years later, Palace will still be in the Premier League. You will have won an FA Cup and a Community Shield. And then 13 years later to the day you're going to win a European trophy, we would have said absolutely no chance. What have you been smoking? Can I have some?”
The Journey of Growth: From Naive to Confident
“We had to beat Lanaka. They were like an old foe that we needed to see the back of. It was like Batman against one of his old rivals. We finally got rid of the Riddler and now we can move on to taking on some of the better teams...”
Family, Fatherhood, and the Cost of Passion
“I was in Leipzig with my dad. I go to lots of games with my dad and that TIFO that the Fanatics did, the departures board and they had the young lad on his dad's shoulders. I was under that TIFO with my dad. I couldn't see what it said... but for me to be at that game with my dad and then to come home the day after to see my son, my 11-month-old son. That really did kind of hit quite hard for me.”
The Podcast as a Living Archive
The hosts reflect on how their podcast has grown from a kitchen-table idea into a global platform, now part of the Sports Social Network and supported by listeners.
“If you'd said to us then, if you'd said to us when we were on Wembley Way leaving the stadium that in 2026, 13 years later, Palace will still be in the Premier League. You will have won an FA Cup and a Community Shield. And then 13 years later to the day you're going to win a European trophy, we would have said absolutely no chance. What have you been smoking? Can I have some?”
“For my money, you are still the best host of a Crystal Palace podcast. Yes, I'm biased but I do honestly believe that and also you are the person who stays up late and does the editing.”
“We need a little bit of time away from it but we will have a couple of newsy pods over the summer and also I'm sure we'll do a couple of episodes of the Team Cool Palace originals, our nostalgic looks back at times gone by.”
Hosts
Crystal Palace
other
Matt Watts
person
Ben Watts
person
Oliver Glasner
person
World Cup 2026
other
Selhurst Park
place
Sports Social Podcast Network
organization
Wembley
place
2013 promotion
other
Buy Me a Coffee
other
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