Crystal Palace’s star player, Wilfried Zaha, is on the brink of purchasing AFC Croydon Athletic, a local football club. Alongside rapper Stormzy and former Palace official Danny Young, the trio plans to take over, operate and develop the club, which plays in the Combined Counties League Premier South Division, the fifth tier of the English football pyramid.
The consortium members are excited to develop a community asset in their childhood hometown borough, a place that gave them their opportunities. This purchase comes after Zaha and his brother Carin bought Espoir Club D’Abengourou in Ivory Coast last year.
Zaha, who has been a crucial figure in Crystal Palace’s past few seasons, seems to have an eye for expansion and hopes to restore the glory days of his local club, which gained popularity in the 20th century and saw famous players such as Harry Kane and Liam Brady play in their youth.
This acquisition is expected to be a great boost for the community and has garnered attention from both the footballing and non-footballing world. It is not often we see footballers investing in clubs, but Zaha, who has strong ties to the Croydon community, sees this as an opportunity to give back.
With this purchase, Zaha and his associates plan to take the entire community on an exciting journey with them and tap into the huge potential that AFC Croydon Athletic has to offer. Their aim is to develop the club beyond its current status and elevate it to greater heights.
This acquisition is expected to create excitement in Crystal Palace’s fan base, and hopefully, we can see enough progress to see some of AFC Croydon Athletic’s renewed success on the pitch. With a new ownership group, this club could have a bright future ahead of them.
In conclusion, the purchase of AFC Croydon Athletic could mark a new beginning for the club, as local hero Wilfried Zaha, rapper Stormzy, and former Palace official Danny Young take over the reins and give back to their childhood borough. It is a great example of how football can unite communities and create opportunities for the young and aspiring footballers.