BILL WYMAN

The original Rolling Stones bassist on pretending to have toothache to go and watch Crystal Palace, and taking Ian Wright around London's clubs...

- Richard Purden

What was the first game you ever saw live?

It was Crystal Palace against Nottingham Forest for my 10th birthday in October 1946, and I've been a fan ever since. It was the first season after the Second World War and we were in the Third Division South at the time. My dad used to talk about the Scottish player, Peter Simpson, who still holds the [club] record for most goals scored in a season.

What was the post-war matchday experience like?

When Palace were away, I'd go and see the reserves. I'd walk from my home in Penge all the way there, carrying just sixpence. A couple of times, I went to see Charlton with some friends and it was then I saw 'The Bank of England' club, which was Sunderland and the great Len Shackleton in his long shorts. He had a trick where he'd run towards the wooden corner flag and hit the ball off it from about 10 feet. He struck it twice; I later found out that it was his party piece and he did it all the time. It was such a good era, featuring players like Shackleton, Stanley Matthews, Tom Finney and Nat Lofthouse - the Lion of Vienna - but Palace was my first love.

Who was your childhood hero and did you ever meet them?

I watched some fantastic players from behind the goals over the years. Terry Long played for 12 seasons and never had a bad game. I wrote to him before he died and learned some information about his spell at the club. To me, he was a very tough defender but one who always played and tackled well. There were also guys such as Johnny Byrne, and into the 1960s it would be players like Steve Kember and then Don Rogers, who was an amazing winger – he’d run the entire length of the field and score.

Which Palace players or managers have you met?