We are pleased to announce that a Crystal Palace XI have been confirmed as our opponents for the Jeff Hughes Benefit Year testimonial on Saturday 3rd August at 3pm, at Inver Park.
The fixture will act as the headline event as part of the ongoing Jeff Hughes Benefit Year, which was launched following Hughes’ retirement from professional football as a league champion at the end of the 2022/23 season.
Ticket news surrounding the game will follow in due course, with all profits from these sales on the day going directly to Jeff Hughes. You can sign up for our waiting list for ticket sales by clicking here.
Retiring at Inver Park as a club legend in 2023, Hughes also spent part of his storied career in England with Crystal Palace, signing at Selhurst Park at the beginning of the 2007/08 season.
Whilst at The Eagles, Hughes played in the EFL Championship under former England manager Peter Taylor and later Neil Warnock, making ten league appearances in a side which would go on to finish fifth overall and compete in the play-offs for promotion to the Premier League.
Looking ahead to the game, Hughes commented:
“I am delighted that we are going to be able to bring a club which has the stature of Crystal Palace across to Inver Park in August for my testimonial game and have no doubt that it will be a fantastic day for myself and my family, but also the supporters too.
“I will never take for granted how lucky I was to have played for some great clubs throughout my career, and representing Palace in the Championship was the highest level I managed to play at during my time in England.
“For that reason, they have always held a special place in my heart and I know from my time at the club just how big it is and how much their supporters live and breathe their football.
“My benefit year has been a huge success so far, and I would like to thank everyone for their continued hard work to make it happen. I would also like to thank everyone involved with Crystal Palace, in particular Chairman Steve Parish, for accepting our proposal and bringing the team across, and to our supporters for their continued backing following my retirement.”
