Footballers have a short career when you think about it. Elite players, who’ve been driven toward a goal their entire lives retire and then…what? Gone are the days when they’d buy a local pub and serve out their days as the landlord; Premiership stars of today have the bankroll to buy pub chains outright. As a result, footballers turn up in some unlikely places in their post-playing careers.

Former Palace midfielder Mathieu Flamini founded a biochemical company in 2008, manufacturing an acid that he hopes could one day replace many oil-based products. If his hand pays off, his net worth could be in the billions. Other wagers are more in line with playing careers. Every team has a card school on the coach, and several players have taken it more seriously after the boots have been swapped for dress shoes. Many athletes play poker during and after their careers. Swimmer Michael Phelps and ex-NBA star Paul Pierce have both appeared at the World Series Of Poker Finals in Vegas, whilst Manchester United’s Ronaldo is a poker ambassador, and he hasn’t even finished playing yet.

Let’s have a look at some Eagles who fancy themselves as (card) sharks.

Jimmy Kébé

The Malian winger struggled to establish himself at Selhurst Park after his cult hero status at Reading. Signed by Ian Holloway in August 2013, he made only six appearances before Holloway resigned, was replaced by Tony Pulis, and dropped in the pecking order below Yannick Bolasie.

If he couldn’t fire crosses for Marouane Chamakh though, he’s done well in his old teammate’s home country- Kébé is now a pro poker player and achieved his biggest win of nearly $100,000 (£87,000) in a World Series Of Poker event in Marrakech in 2019.

Tomas Brolin

If one was inclined to be a bit mean, they could say that Brolin’s Palace career meant he wasn’t swapping the green pitch for the blue felt; more the treatment table (and the dinner table) for the card table. An unlucky 13 games yielded no goals in the red and blue, and Brolin played only two more games after leaving Palace in 1998; for his brother Hakan’s Hudiksvall ABK in the Swedish fourth tier – once as a goalie!

After finishing up as Attilio Lombardo’s assistant, Brolin signed an ambassadorial deal with a poker firm and ended up involved in the game for around a decade. He competed regularly on the European Poker Tour and cashed in 38th out of an 800-strong field in the 2008 Grand Final in Monaco.

Anthony Gardner

Nottingham’s been a lucky town for the big centre-half. In 2011 Dougie Freedman – formerly of Forest – made him an integral part of the side, and he was shortlisted for POTY, only losing out to defensive partner Jonathan Parr. He also scored the biggest win of his poker career there, triumphing over pros like Ben Vinson to take the £20,200 top prize.

Despite an impressive campaign on loan to the Eagles in 2010/11, leading to a permanent move the next season, Gardner decided to move on to Sheffield Wednesday for 2012/13. That side – containing full internationals like Chris Kirkland, Liam Palmer, and Chris Maguire (as well as Jay Bothroyd on loan for six months and a young Ross Barkley for two) – perhaps underachieved, only securing Championship status on the final day.

Meanwhile, we all know what Palace managed that season – and if not, it’s documented in When Eagles Dare. Maybe Anthony called his own bluff.

Clinton Morrison

102 goals for Crystal Palace and nine for Ireland tells you everything you need to know about Clinton being an ace in the hole. He made his debut against Wednesday, coming on for Neil Shipperley in the 82nd minute and netting the injury-time winner in the final game of the doomed 1997/98 Premier League campaign.

He kept a similarly cool head this January when sports site Sporf challenged him and Gabby Agbonlahor to test their poker faces against each other with spicy forfeits on the menu. No spoilers here – but if you cast your mind back to this summer’s preseason friendlies with Montpellier and Ipswich Town, you might be able to work out the scoreline. Does he have a future in poker? There might be some copyright issues if he tries to launch with Clinton Cards…

Glad All Over by The Dave Clark Five is sung at every Crystal Palace home game. It’s even more synonymous with the club than the Crystal Palace cheerleaders. But why have Palace fans sung this song for years?

Well, the reason dates back to February 1968 when The Dave Clark Five, the band behind the song, first performed it at Selhurst Park. From then on it’s become Crystal Palace’s anthem, even if it isn’t a football-related chant.

The 1990 Crystal Palace team even did a cover of Glad All Over when they reached the final of the FA Cup. Keep reading until the end if you want to see an old video of the team performing it on TV, you won’t be disappointed!

Here are the full Glad All Over lyrics so you can sing along at home or the next time you’re at a home match.

Glad All Over Lyrics

You say that you love me (say you love me)
All of the time (All of the time)
You say that you need me (Say you need me)
You’ll always be mine (Always be mine)

I’m feelin’ glad all over
Yes, I’m glad all over
Baby, I’m glad all over
So glad you’re mine

I’ll make you happy (Make you happy)
You’ll never be blue (Never be blue)
You’ll have no sorrow (Have no sorrow)
‘Cause I’ll always be true (Always be true)

And I’m feelin’ glad all over
Yes, I’m glad all over
Baby, I’m glad all over
So glad you’re mine

Other girls may try to take me away (Take me away)
But you know, it’s by your side I will stay, I-I’ll stay
Our love will last, now (Our love will last)
‘Til the end of time (End of time)

Because this love, now (Because this love)
Is only yours and mine (Yours and mine)
And I’m feelin’ glad all over
Yes, I’m glad all over

Baby, I’m glad all over
So glad you’re mine
Other girls may try to take me away (Take me away)
But you know, it’s by your side I will stay. I-I’ll stay

Our love will last, now (Our love will last)
Til the end of time (End of time)
Because this love, now (Because this love)
Is only yours and mine (Yours and mine)

And I’m feelin’ glad all over
Yes, I’m glad all over
Baby, I’m a-glad all over
So glad you’re mine

I’m glad that you’re mine, now
So glad you’re mine
I’m so glad you’re mine, now
Whoa whoa whoa whoa, whoa whoa

Crystal Palace 1990 Squad Singing Glad All Over

If you want to see Alan Pardew, Mark Bright, and the rest of the Crystal Palace team singing Glad All Over on TV before the FA Cup final in 1990 then watch the video below. They’re 

Wilfried Zaha is a professional football player who plays for Crystal Palace in the English Premier League. He is currently engaged to his fiance, Paige Bannister. As far as we know, they’re not married yet as he only got down on one knee in February 2022.

The couple has one child together, a son named Saint Laurence Zaha. The Palace striker has another son, Leo Zaha, from his previous relationship, and the four live together in South London. Zaha is originally from the Ivory Coast, but he moved to England with his family at the age of four. He began his professional career with Crystal Palace in 2010 and has played for the club ever since. Zaha has also been capped by the Ivory Coast national team on multiple occasions.

Who is Paige Bannister?

Wilfried Zaha’s wife-to-be is Paige Bannister, a glamour model who used to date Aston Villa player Kortney Hause. Paige is a British model and Instagram influencer with over 35,000 followers.

She frequently supports her partner at Selhurst Park. Paige has also accompanied Wilfried on various trips, including a visit to his hometown in the Ivory Coast. The couple has one child together, Saint Laurence Zaha.

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A post shared by Wilfried Zaha (@wilfriedzaha)

Paige is sure to be a supportive and loving mother, just as she has been a supportive and loving partner. Thanks to Paige, Wilfried has everything he needs to succeed both on and off the pitch, and has definitely helped him mature.

Wilfried Zaha’s Wife’s Instagram

If you want to keep up to date with Paige Bannister’s Instragram profile then you can do so here. You’ll see lots of photos of Zaha and his boys as well as the model looking glam ready for nights out. She has over 35,000 followers on Instagram at the time of us writing this.

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A post shared by P🌸 (@paigemarieeex)

Who is Wilfried Zaha?

 is originally from the Ivory Coast, but he moved to England with his family at the age of four. He began his professional career with Crystal Palace in 2010 and has played for the club ever since. Zaha has also been capped by the Ivory Coast national team on multiple occasions.

Wilfried Zaha is a professional footballer who plays predominantly on the left wing for Premier League club Crystal Palace. He also plays for the Ivory Coast national team after switching from England back in 2017.

He began his career at Palace coming through the academy in South London and made his first-team debut in 2010. He helped the club win promotion to the Premier League in 2013 and was named the Championship Player of the Month in March 2013.

He has since made over 400 appearances for Palace and has been capped twice for England and 30 times for the Ivory Coast. Zaha is widely considered to be one of the best players in the Premier League and has attracted interest from several of the league’s top clubs. With less than year left on his contract, whether he’ll stay with the Eagles is yet to be seen.