In between the intense sessions of a mid-season training camp in Marbella, Joel Ward and Justin Devenny took a moment to unwind on the golf course.
Home to many a golf course, Marbella was the destination for Oliver Glasner’s side last week, allowing the players to get away, spend time together and ramp up preparations towards the final stretch of a promising 2024/25 season.
Part of that saw players bond over a round of golf, with experienced defender Ward and young midfielder Devenny teeing off and talking all things Palace.
Watch the video in the player below!
“I've actually really enjoyed it,” Devenny said of his breakthrough season, having made his senior debut when starting in the Premier League against Fulham in November, and since playing 18 times for the club. “I think you can tell as well, no matter who comes in, it's easy.
“Everyone just wants the best for me, and you can see that. I think you can tell, whether it's me, whether it's anyone else. Everyone’s always happy and they always want the best [for you]. And we’re obviously a competitive group as well. You can just maximise everything and get the most out of everything.
“I could see it when I was playing in Scotland. Back then, I'm looking at the Premier League, it was distant – big names, big characters, you don't know what that's going to be like. Coming in, everyone's so nice and so genuine and so helpful. That just makes life a lot easier.”
Ward recalled his own experience of settling at Palace, some 13 years ago: “We just had a good, solid group.
“And actually, throughout the whole time I've been at Palace, the spine of the team has always been solid individuals – just good characters and honest guys, who want to achieve as much as they can achieve wearing the shirt.”
Devenny agreed: “That's what I find, especially with how we celebrate goals! Everyone's always there. I remember my first goal, I couldn't believe I'd seen [Will] Hughesy there, doing a knee slide. I couldn't believe it!”
Ward laughed: “The thing you've got to remember is, regardless of age or how many games you've played or how long your career's been or whatever, everyone remembers those moments, especially when you're first coming through.
“Hughesy there, he'd remember when he was coming through – 16, 17, 18 at Derby – and breaking into the first team. When there are those moments, everyone remembers those. So when you score that goal, everyone's just buzzing for you.
“We all want the best for you. We want you to go on and do what you want to do and achieve all the things that you want to achieve.”
Both players also described the feeling of playing in front of the Palace supporters, with Devenny noting: “It’s such a good community with the fans, because you always have their support, they’re always in their numbers, and it gives you confidence when you step onto a pitch just knowing that you’ve got 25,000 people behind you.
“That’s how I describe it – it’s like a family kind of atmosphere from everyone in the club: staff, fans, and especially players.”
Ward concurred: “I think we're very fortunate how committed they are to the club and how they back you and follow you and support you through thick and thin.”
Watch Ward and Devenny’s full conversation – and round of golf – in the Palace TV feature above!
