Crystal Palace secured a David and Goliath-esque victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final at the weekend. The Premier League team is full of footballers who are open about their Christian faith, and meet regularly to pray together. Did faith play a part in the Eagles’ first ever major trophy win?
At the beginning of this season’s Premier League, a group of Crystal Palace players began gathering before games to pray. Would they have had any idea what might happen nine months later – and did their prayers even help fuel it?
When Crystal Palace beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final this weekend, it was like watching David triumph over Goliath. The victory gave the Eagles their first ever major trophy and, if you watched the match and the ensuing celebrations – or follow some of the players’ Instagram accounts - you may have spotted a theme: God.
Among the Crystal Palace footballers are several Christians who have never been shy in drawing attention to their faith – and Saturday was no exception.
The cross and the captain
Let’s start with club captain, Joel Ward. He’s been at Crystal Palace for 13 years and, fittingly, the FA Cup win marks the end of his time at the club. During the celebrations, he wore the words of Ephesians 3:20 on his wrist: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us”.
In a recently released video, the defender – who grew up on the grounds of a Bible college where his parents served on staff – said: “The cross equals love. It’s something that’s been ever present in my life from the moment I can remember. My faith is something that’s been a cornerstone for me, an anchor for me, and something to hold onto and cherish.”
Next is Eberechi Eze, whose goal secured Palace’s win. As he celebrated it with his trademark cross gesture, he could be seen saying: “Only God.” It was a message he reiterated is his BBC interview afterwards: “Thank God. Only God could do this,” he told reporters.
Eze has been a standout player this season, and the summer may see him make a big money move to another club, so it’s perhaps surprising to hear that not one, not two, but three clubs rejected him as a youngster, including Arsenal. But he persevered – and attributes that to his faith: “The fact I am in this position, I can only say God thank you,” he said.
“The one solid rock and foundation is Christ, and having that allows me to deal with whatever circumstance I’m in,” he told Christian Instagram account Ballers in God earlier this year.
Pre-match prayers
If Palace’s Christian community has a leader, it’s Maxence Lacroix, who initiated the pre-match prayer meetings that have marked Palace’s season.
Prior to the final, the defender said he was “the pastor of this team”, before sharing how the prayer group began. “We have done this since the first games when I joined. I think a lot of guys wanted it, but didn’t know how to do it. I said, ‘Let’s do it’, and now it’s normal.”
Maxence Lacroix talks about how his faith and football go hand in hand. 🤝⁰
— PFA (@PFA) November 12, 2024
🦅 @CPFC | #interfaithweek pic.twitter.com/9kpeRo4Vhy
On Saturday, he was pictured walking to the dressing room with his Bible. There’s another photo showing the players circling the trophy – with Lacroix on his knees praying.
The French defender has the words “Servant of the Lord” on his Instagram bio, and a section of his posts is allocated to “Faith”. Following Saturday’s win, he wrote: “Oh Lord! You’ve wrote the story of this big family. Thank you, Jesus. Glory and Honor is for You.”
Then there’s Marc Guéhi, who made headlines last year for writing: “Jesus loves you” on the rainbow pride captain’s armband he was asked to wear.
Guéhi’s father is a pastor. Growing up, he attended church and was guided by the family rule: “God first”. It was only when he began pursuing football as a career that he was allowed to play football on a Sunday. He’s since established himself as one of the Premier League’s most sought-after defenders and is also an England international – all while prioritising his faith.
“I still go to church on Sundays when I can and it’s played a big part in both my football and my life in general, with my morals, my values and who I put my trust in,” he told journalists.
Power at the Palace
The same could be said for Eddie Nketiah. After Saturday’s win, he took to his Instagram to say: “FA Cup champions! What a night. All glory to God.”
In one interview, he shared how he angered a former coach for turning up at games just five minutes before kick-off – because he had been at church first. He says that faith was an important part of his upbringing, with his parents helping him recognise that his football ability comes from God.
Among other Palace players with a Christian faith is Tyrick Mitchell, the left-back who also took to Instagram to give glory to God. “Praise God,” he said.
Did prayer play a part in Crytal Palace’s triumph? Perhaps. But what we do know is that prayer is powerful and, when believers gather in any environment, God is at work. So among the players and staff at the club, God is up to something. In truth, it’s probably reaches far deeper than what we saw last weekend.
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