How Speroni’s testimonial match sparked a charity reunion 10 years on

It started back in 2015, when Palace and Dundee fans came to Selhurst Park for Julian Speroni’s testimonial match. What began as a celebration of a club legend sparked an unexpected connection between two sets of supporters, one that’s been brought back to life a decade on.

“I’d already been living up here for about 20 years,” says Richard Peter-Tennant, the organiser and a Palace fan originally from Croydon. “I moved to North Devon and then up to Scotland. But I’ve always been a Palace fan.”

Richard’s Palace connection began in the late 1970s, when he was about seven years old. “I was watching a game with my uncle, I think Chelsea were playing, and I said, ‘They look a good side.’ He turned to me and said, ‘Nope, you’re Palace!’ So that was that. My grandfather was Palace, my uncle passed it on to me, and now I’ve passed it down to my son.”

The idea of a fans’ charity match had been around ever since that 2015 testimonial, when Richard first thought of bringing together both sets of fans to raise money for Palace for Life and the Fairfield Community Hub, a Dundee-based organisation that runs community programmes and a food larder for local residents.

“I started to make friends with Dundee fans who’d been to the match,” he says. “And I also knew a few Palace fans who live up here. We talked about doing something down in South London, but then COVID hit and everything went on the back burner.”

Fast forward to 2024, with the tenth anniversary of the testimonial coming up, the idea came back to Richard. “I thought, why not do it up here in Dundee?” Richard put the feelers out on Facebook. Loads of people on social media were getting excited. I’ve got friends up here, they knew people who could help us find a pitch and it just grew from there really.”

With help from Jim Sorrie, Project Manager at Fairfield Community Hub (and a massive Dundee fan himself), the plan took shape. The match took place on Saturday 7 June 2025 at Dundee North End FC.

“It ended up being 11-a-side, 90 minutes, with a proper referee. We had about 20 players on each side in the end. Everyone got at least 30 to 45 minutes depending on fitness. Palace ended up winning 10–6, so I’ve got a 100% record as a manager, even though I stayed on the sidelines!”

The day raised £1,470, split evenly between Fairfield Community Hub and Palace for Life.“I’ve done the Marathon March for Palace for Life before, and I’ve seen what they do. I remember seeing JP helping out in the kitchen on Match of the Day recently. That stuck with me. And what I love is that we’re helping people both here in Dundee and back home in Croydon.”

Bobby Webbe, Palace for Life’s Fundraising Manager, said:
“It’s brilliant to see that the close ties formed between Crystal Palace and Dundee fans after Julian Speroni’s testimonial have led to the communities around both clubs benefiting a decade later. Thank you to everyone involved in organising the match, the players, and everyone who donated to support!”

When nearly 1,500 Dundee fans travelled to Selhurst Park back in 2015, it felt only right that Palace fans returned the gesture. “A father and son came up from East Grinstead with their family and made a weekend of it. A mate of mine came from Gravesend. And there are some Palace fans already living up here who got involved too.”

Richard has set up his own separate charity programme in Scotland, too. He also founded Walk and Talk Scotland, a mental health initiative that encourages open conversations through walking and football. The group has been running for six years and has even been recognised in Parliament through an Early Day Motion.

The match was a success and the response was overwhelmingly positive. So, would he do it again?

“I don’t know. I’d have to think about it,” he says with a smile. But the bond between Palace and Dundee fans, which was first forged in tribute to a beloved goalkeeper, clearly isn’t going anywhere.

Do you want to fundraise for Palace for Life? Email fundraising@palaceforlife.org