Palace won it in 1977 and 1978 and became the third club in the competition's history to retain the trophy.

In the first year they gave Spurs a pummelling in the semi-finals, winning 8-0 on aggregate, and then gained a 0-0 draw in the first leg of the final against Everton at Goodison. Kenny Sansom (pictured), much later England's most-capped full-back, featured in an outstanding Palace defence.

The odds certainly favoured them in the return leg at Selhurst Park. But determined defensive play by Everton kept the skilful Palace forwards at bay in the first half and as the game wore on, the visitors threatened to steal a goal. In short the result could have gone either way.

Then Terry Fenwick unleashed a brilliant shot from the edge of the box with just six minutes left and it won the trophy for Palace.

Clubs in the following season's FA Youth Cup competition wouldn't have welcomed the news that eight of the Palace side would be eligible to play again.

Five of them were regular members of the first-team squad and the team made it through to the final once again, though they had needed three games to get past West Bromwich Albion in the semi-finals.

The customary two-legged final proved impossible to arrange for a variety of reasons, not least being the fact that three Palace players were in the England Youth squad travelling to Poland. Palace won the toss and the single-game final between them and Aston Villa was played at Highbury.

The more experienced Palace side soon slipped into their usual rhythm, playing controlled and accurate football. Peter Nicholas and Billy Gilbert were solid at the back and Vince Hilaire and Jerry Murphy looked smooth in midfield.

Villa managed to frustrate them until the 36th minute when Fenwick repeated his effort of the previous year's final, shooting home from all of 25 yards.