Crystal Palace 1990 FA Cup final team: Where are they now?

Twenty-six years on from almost ending Sir Alex Ferguson's reign of dominance before it had a chance to start, Crystal Palace are back to try and crush Manchester United's FA Cup hopes again.

That team, managed by Steve Coppell, were within touching distance of the trophy until an extra-time goal from Mark Hughes forced a thrilling 3-3 encounter to a replay. A strike from Lee Martin five days later saw United lift their first trophy of the Ferguson era.

On Saturday 21 May, they collide again and the Eagles will be led by the man who started in midfield for them all those years ago – Alan Pardew. But what about the rest of that Palace side?

Nigel Martyn

Martyn was forced to retire from the game in 2006 due to an ankle injury. The former Everton and Leeds United goalkeeper has dabbled in a bid of coaching with Bradford but mostly keeps himself busy turning out for his local cricket team, Old Modernians.

John Pemberton

After hanging up his boots in 1998, Pemberton began his coaching career at Nottingham Forest before returning to Palace in the 2009-10 season. He helped keep the Eagles stay in the Championship, and existence, by the skin of their teeth alongside Paul Hart and Dougie Freedman in his role as first-team coach. Now interim manager at Bristol City, the 51-year-old is open to taking on the gig permanently.

Richard Shaw

Having emerged from Palace's youth system himself in 1986, Shaw is back where it all started, helping the next generation break through at Selhurst Park as Under-16 head coach.

Andy Gray

With two stints under his belt as a player at Palace, Gray's post-playing career was marked by his brief role helping the Sierra Leone national team. The former midfielder hoped to convince the likes of Nigel Reo-Coker and Liam Rosenior into helping the country qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2008.

Gary O'Reilly

O'Reilly, the man who gave Palace the lead in that pulsating 3-3 thriller, has been dabbling in the world of sports broadcasting since hanging up his boots, appearing for both the BBC and Sky Sports.

Andy Thorn

Thorn endured a tough spell in management with spells at Coventry City and lasted just two months in charge of Kidderminster Harriers in 2014. Since last summer he has taken up a role in Tony Pulis' backroom team as West Brom, serving as a scout covering the north of England.

Phil Barber

After making over 200 appearances for Palace as a player, Barber finished his playing career playing for a couple of semi-pro clubs in the area and now lives in nearby Sanderstead, where he works as a gardener.

Geoff Thomas

The captain on Palace's big day, Thomas has had a remarkable life after football. After retiring in 2002, he was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia and given three months to live. He would recover, however, and later founded the Geoff Thomas Foundation. Last year he rode the entire Tour de France route in two days for Cure Leukaemia and could miss Saturday's game doing another bit for the charity that saved his life as he rides from London to Paris. You can read more about Thomas' life after football in his interview with IBTimes UK here.

Mark Bright

After retiring from the game in 1999, Bright became a pundit and commentator, but like so many of the club's former players, all roads lead back to SE25. Bright now works as a club ambassador having previously joined the academy set-up.

John Salako

Saloko spent nine years on Palace's books, earning himself five England caps on the way. Formally a familiar face on Soccer Saturday, Salako gave up his media work when he was unveiled as Pardew's first-team coach last summer.

Alan Pardew

Having led Palace to their best-ever Premier League finish of 10<sup>th last season, Pardew has done good by his former club in dugout. A first cup success on Saturday wouldn't be bad either.

Ian Wright (Substitute)

Wright wasn't even meant to play on that day at Wembley 26 years ago but came off the bench to score two wonderful goals that put his side within touching distance of the trophy. He would eventually get his hands on it with Arsenal eight years later. Now, Wright is seemingly everywhere you turn, providing punditry for BT Sport and BBC, usually looking fairly dapper in the process.

David Madden (Substitute)

Appearing in both games as a sub, Madden retired a year after the 1990 final. No longer involved in the game.

Steve Coppell

Coppell managed Palace on three more occasions after coming so close to success in 1990. It was his success at Reading that saw him rise to prominence 16 years later when the Royals were promoted to the Premier League, finishing just a point off European qualification in their first season back in the top flight.

His last role in football was as director of football with Portsmouth, one he left in 2014.