Parish urges Crystal Palace fans not to overstep the mark against rivals Brighton

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish is looking forward to renewing hostilities with rivals Brighton & Hove Albion next term but is warning fans not to take things too far when derby day comes around.

Despite the geographical distance between south-east London and Sussex, the Eagles and the Seagulls share a heated rivalry and supporters of both teams will be eagerly anticipating their meeting in the Premier League next term following Brighton’s promotion.

Parish’s appetite has also been suitably whetted but he is keen for spectators not to overstep the mark when Palace and Brighton play for the first time since the 2013 Championship play-offs.

“It’s great to have a big rivalry in the league, and congratulations to them,” said the Selhurst Park chairman.

(Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)

“I’m actually going to an event with (Brighton manager) Chris Hughton this week and I’ll be congratulating him because he’s a very, very nice man.

“He’s done a fantastic job there, and that rivalry – if you don’t have a club that doesn’t like you, then I don’t think you’re a proper football team really.

“I am looking forward to playing them but obviously, it is a bit of a circus with all the things which go on around it, with the police and security.

“I just hope the fans take it in good heart. A rivalry is a great thing to have but when it spills over into something else, that’s not what anybody wants to see.

“As long as we can all enjoy it and take it for what it is – it’s not life and death – then I’ll enjoy it.”