A former Crystal Palace chairman who was a ‘Palace man through and through’ died at the weekend.

Peter Morley CBE, who for the last 12 years has been Crystal Palace’s club president, passed away in his sleep on Saturday night at the Princess Royal University Hospital in Bromley.

The 84-year-old was appointed chairman during the club's administration in the late nineties and in 2000 he accepted the role as club president.

Tributes have flooded in for Mr Morley, a true Palace fan, who was considered a tremendous ambassador for the club.

Palace have announced there will be a minute’s applause on Sunday before their game against Swansea and they are looking into making sure there is a memorial at Selhurst Park in memory of the former chairman.

Mr Morley was a personnel director at Tesco during his career and in 1994 was awarded a CBE for his services to vocational training.

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Peter Morley with former Palace player Simon Rodger

He has been involved with the club since the 1970s and was one of the founding members of the Vice Presidents Club. He became a director on the board in the mid 1990s when Ron Noades was chairman.

Fans have spoken of Mr Morley’s kind nature, generosity and passion for Palace as they took to internet forums and twitter to put their tributes forward.

Phil Alexander, chief executive of Crystal Palace who joined the club in the 1990s, said Mr Morley was a real gentleman who loved the club.

He said: “He always had time for anybody that wanted to speak to him. Since he was chairman he has been recognised by the owners – Simon Jordan and the current owners – as president of the club and rightly so.

“He will be missed dramatically around the place. He hasn’t been able to travel with us recently to games but he was certainly with us in spirit.

“He did a great job in communicating with the fans during administration. We have a lot of people ask after him at away games. People still ask for him at games even now so that shows the magnitude of the man.

Steve Parish, co-chairman of the club added: “I had the good fortune to know Peter before getting directly involved in the club, he was a Palace man through and through.

“He helped steer the club from administration in 2000, he has been an ever present in the boardroom and at events for many years, never failing to support wherever needed.

“He was always positive, travelling home and away often as the sole representative of the club . He will be sorely missed by all of us and I look forward to paying a great tribute to him at the Swansea game.”

Former Crystal Palace chairman Ron Noades also spoke highly of Mr Morley, saying no one ever had a bad word to say about him.

He said: “Peter and his wife Paula were the first people I met when I went to Palace who supported me all through my time at the club.

“It will be a sad loss to the club but he will be a tremendous loss for Paula as well, he was an advisor to Paula in everything she did.

“I couldn’t think of any couple that were more of value to Crystal Palace during my time at the club.”

He added: “Peter was intelligent, calm, rational and didn’t get emotional with decisions. He knew where the club was going long term. He was a great advisor to me, someone who’s opinion I could trust.”

Mark Bright, a striker at club from 1986 to 1992, tweeted on Sunday: “Sad to hear earlier today that Palace Club President Peter Morley CBE has passed away, condolences to his wife Paula & daughters Alex & Fran.”

Jim Piddock, actor and Palace fan said: “I saw a lot of Peter during the first administration period and he was both a gentleman and the true embodiment of a lifelong Palace fan.

“Happily, around this time last year, I saw a lot more of him again at a number of Palace games. He always greeted me with that familiar broad smile and warm handshake and wanted to know everything I was doing.

“He was a fixture at the club as long as I've supported Palace and he will be enormously missed.”

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