John Byford (JRGS 1959-66, right) meets up with Steve Kember (JRGS 1959-63)
As John reports: "The Crystal Palace
Football Club Player of the Year Dinner featured a Special
Achievement Award for the 1978/79 squad who won the old Second Division
(now the Championship) clinching the title in front of over 51,000
spectators, the largest ever crowd at Selhurst Park. Amongst that squad
was Steve Kember, who had returned to the club he had supported as a boy
after spells at top-flight clubs Chelsea and Leicester. Later he would
go on to manage Palace on three separate occasions.
"In all he appeared 291 times for Palace, scoring 38 goals,
including the winning goal that took Palace to the (old) First Division
in 1969; add the 247 appearances and 19 goals for Chelsea and Leicester
and that's a career total of over 530 appearances. He also won several
caps for the England Under-23 team.
"We caught up with a few reminiscences of John Ruskin GS, including
a word or two about Mr. Smith's longevity. Often to be seen at
Selhurst Park watching Palace home matches as Palace remains his club.
Steve is currently scouting for Premier League side Fulham, managed by
Roy Hodgson (JRGS 1958-65), another Ruskin old boy, and working
part time for Whitgift School."