The stylish and charismatic man in the dugout – the one and only Malcolm Allison – hit the ground running, guiding Palace to victory over Chelsea in their first London derby success in the First Division – after 34 unsuccessful attempts.
Crucial in the performance was a young prospect named Jim Cannon, making the first of a record 660 appearances for the club – and scoring Palace’s second with a header from a Don Rogers cross.
Allison’s tenure was off to a memorable start – and the rollercoaster didn’t stop there.
“When Malcolm Allison came to the club, I've never seen such excitement,” legendary club photographer Hy Money remembers. “I said: ‘Can I come and take a photo of you with your fedora in your office rather than on the pitch?
“‘Would you mind putting your hat on?’ He said: ‘Fine’. I said: ‘Would you mind lighting up a cigar?’ He said: ‘Fine’.
“I said: ‘Could you put your feet up on the desk?’ I just thought it would be such a good photo!”