Steve Coppell experienced FA Cup heartache as Crystal Palace manager in the 1990 FA Cup final replay
Across the turf from him, Manchester United's victorious players leapt and cavorted in their joy at winning their first trophy in five years after a 1-0 victory in this FA Cup Final replay.
And then, from the stands, the song began to ring out from the United fans: "Stevie, Stevie Coppell, Stevie Coppell on the wing..."
At first he did not notice, head down, hunched inside his coat. But then Coppell heard, looked up, and waved back.
It was a poignant moment.
Coppell's Crystal Palace team had just been beaten in an FA Cup final replay that May night in 1990, by the side he had starred for as a winger for eight years.
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And Pardew, the leggy midfielder he snapped up for £7,500 from non-League Yeovil, who had been working as a glazier?.
"I'm very respectful of what Alan has achieved as manager," said Coppell. "But then he was managing a Sunday team while he was at Palace. He loved it.
"He only became a full time professional at 26. He had been out there in the world of work. He was a tremendous athlete, he held the bleep test record. But he was more than an athlete. He was a good footballer."
And as for the 2016 Palace managed by Pardew.
"They had an up and down season, but survived. They need to consolidate," said Coppell. "This Palace side can hurt teams. They have pace. They just have to believe."