Footballers who have played league football for both PNE and Crystal Palace
M-Z
843) Jon Macken
PNE 174 apps; 63 goals
Eagles 25 apps; 2 goals
PNE debut 09/08/1997 v Gillingham (A) – Drawn 0-0
830) Bobby Mimms
PNE 27 apps; 0 goals
Eagles 1 app; 0 goals
PNE debut 07/08/1986 v Bristol City (A) – Lost 1-2
921) Carlo Nash
PNE 82 apps; 0 goals
Eagles 21 apps; 0 goals
PNE debut 02/04/2005 v Gillingham (H) – Drawn 1-1
781) Gavin Nebbeling
PNE 22 apps 4 goals
Eagles 151 apps; 8 goals
PNE debut 17/08/2003 v Burnley (H) – Lost 1-2
372) Edward Owens
PNE 19 apps; 7 goals
Eagles 167 apps; 0 goals
PNE debut 15/09/1930 v Tottenham (A) – Drawn 0-0
832) Darren Patterson
PNE 2 apps; 0 goals
Eagles 22 apps; 1 goal
PNE debut 12/10/1996 v Stockport (A) – Lost 0-1
944) Franck Songo’o
PNE 6 apps; 0 goals
Eagles 9 apps; 0 goals
PNE debut 10/03/2007 v Hull (A) – Lost 0-2
822) Paul Sparrow
PNE 20 apps; 0 goals – Eagles 1 app; 0 goals
PNE debut 09/03/1996 v Gillingham (A) – Drawn 1-1
665) Paul Wilkins
PNE 6 apps 2 goals
Eagles 13 apps; 3 goals
PNE debut 25/08/1994 v Doncaster (H) – Won 2-0
590) Gary Williams
PNE 112 apps; 2 goals
Eagles 10 apps; 0 goals
PNE debut 01/05/1972 v Swindon (H) – Drawn 2-2
Player Profile – Paul Wilkins
Paul Wilkins was born in Hackney on 20 March 1964. The striker started as an apprentice with Tottenham but didn’t make a first team appearance
Wilkins was signed by Steve Kember for Second Division Crystal Palace in January 1982.
Wilkins was a prolific scorer for the reserves but found his first team opportunities limited. The 1981/82 season saw him make 5 appearances, netting twice as Palace only escaped a second successive relegation on the penultimate game of the campaign. Under new manager Alan Mullary Wilkins just made one substitute appearances as Crystal Palace avoided relegation to football's third tier on the final match of 1982/83.
His last season with the Eagles was in the 1983/84 season when he scored once in 7 appearances as Palace survived relegation with two games to spare and that saw the end of manager as Mullary was dismissed and replaced by Dave Bassett in the Selhurst hotseat, Ron Noades' fourth manager in four years. But Bassett only last four days at the helm before returning to Wimbledon. Steve Coppell, at the age of 28, became the youngest manager in the league when he took over as new boss with former Palace star Ian Evans his assistant
But he didn’t play for the new manager as after 13 appearances with Palace, Wilkins joined Preston in June 1984 on a free transfer. He made his Lilywhite debut on the opening day of the season and scored in the 2-0 home victory over Doncaster on 25 August. His next goal came in the League Cup on 4 September in the 2-2 second leg draw with Tranmere, as PNE won 5-4 on aggregate.
His remaining two goals were scored as a substitute, scoring in a 3-0 win at Cambridge on 18 September and in the 3-3 draw at home to Division One side Norwich in the League Cup in front of over 13,500 supporters.
His sixth and last league appearance came in a 4-0 defeat at Lincoln on 6 October 1984. Manager Alan Kelly brought in former Everton and England Player David Johnson and promoted Nigel Greenwood from the reserves. But results didn’t improve and Brian Kidd took over in February 1985 and brought Gary Brazil from Sheffield United as PNE were relegated to the Fourth Division for the first time.
Wilkins departed and returned south to play for Walthamstow Avenue.