Farewell Nathaniel Clyne: One of Crystal Palace’s own

Adorning a large double billboard located on Streatham High Road were striking images of two Crystal Palace players in action. Specifically two academy players.

“Born in South London,” the poster boasted.

On one, the forward Sean Scannell was controlling an aerial ball. On the other, team-mate Nathaniel Clyne was holding off a Norwich City player. “South London and Proud” read the smaller taglines underneath the images.

That was back in 2011. Both Scannell and Clyne had long since established themselves in the Palace first team after emerging through the academy. But it is Clyne, 15 years on, whose legacy endures most of all.

He will not return to Palace next season following the expiry of his latest contract, ending a second stint at his boyhood club which had extended for six seasons. Clyne, now 35, is well past his peak, but he made an invaluable contribution since returning ‘home’ in 2020, the full-back even covering as a right-sided centre-back in a three at times.

But it was really his performances in that first spell for which he will be most fondly remembered, after making his debut as a 17-year-old in a 3-0 win over Barnsley in 2008. He was awarded the player of the match that night. He went on to make 29 appearances in all competitions in that first campaign as a teenager.

Clyne may not be the most expressive player, on or off the pitch. He is arguably rather understated — other than in one social media post, long since deleted, which reminded Millwall of their status and went down in Palace folklore — but that has not prevented him from being appreciated by supporters.

There was acknowledgement from elsewhere, too. His list of honours at the club extended to being named young player of the season in 2008-09 and again in 2009-10, then Palace’s player of the season in 2010-11. The Football League made him their young player of the year in 2010, and he was also in the PFA’s team of the year for 2011-12 — his last campaign in that first stint in south London.

He might have left during the club’s administration in 2010 when Wolverhampton Wanderers were keen to sign him for a cut-price fee, but he instead opted to remain. That alone was reason to be grateful given he had established himself as a regular in the side and brought a more dynamic style of play at full-back.

This was Palace’s time of most pressing need and he was determined to help out.

His career did progress away from Selhurst Park. There was a move to Southampton in July 2012 following the expiry of his contract but, given he was 21, Palace secured compensation for his services.

That ended up totalling around £5million ($6.7m) after his £12.5m move to Liverpool three years later triggered add-ons — not bad for Palace, considering their precarious financial position at the time when he emerged from the academy.

It was a source of pride that he had broken into the England age-group teams while still with Palace. When he stepped up into the senior setup, making his full debut in a European Championship qualifier against Slovenia in November 2014, as a Southampton player, it was still a proud moment for the club who had developed him. A Palace academy graduate had once again made their England bow, representing on the greatest stage. He earned 14 caps over the ensuing two years.

His return in 2020 was a surprise, but that relationship with the club and Dougie Freedman, his former manager and then sporting director, no doubt played a role. It filled a gap at first, but in the end it did more than that; it plugged many gaps over many years.

Even with his advancing years, he stepped up time and again when called upon. Denied Daniel Munoz through injury for a 2-1 win over Fulham in the Premier League in December, Clyne was called upon to start by manager Oliver Glasner despite having barely featured in the first few months of the season.

“The man of the match for me is Nathaniel Clyne,” Glasner said after the game. “He didn’t play for months now. Performing like this with no real team training, always training in a group of eight, then showing this performance, is huge credit to him. It shows what a great player he is and what a great person he is.”

It typified Clyne’s professionalism and dedication. Despite back problems and an ACL injury suffered at Liverpool, he has enjoyed longevity at the top level.

Even if minutes became increasingly infrequent as seasons passed, Clyne has made an indelible mark at Palace with more than 250 appearances across two spells.

He is ‘one of their own’, and there must be immense pride at the achievement of someone who graduated from the youth team and made it all the way to the top, then returned again to offer much-needed cover at full-back.

After 254 appearances in all competitions, the time is probably right to move on, particularly with new manager Pierre Sage arriving. But Clyne’s commitment, combined with his experience, will no doubt have made a significant impact over the past few seasons.

It is a fond farewell and he will leave with the thanks of all those with whom he worked.

And, most of all, the appreciation of the supporters.