Pardew feels weight of history as Palace bid for FA Cup glory
Alan Pardew is well aware of Crystal Palace's need to end their 111-year wait for a major trophy.
On Saturday in the FA Cup final they face Manchester United at Wembley.
Pardew was a player when Palace last reached this stage, losing to United in 1990 in a replay when the first fixture finished 3-3 after extra-time.
Steve Coppell, Palace's manager at the time and a former United player, has been recruited to help Pardew scout his opposition before Saturday's fixture. He has also turned to Alan Smith, Coppell's assistant and successor, for advice.
"I feel the weight of the history of not winning something," said Pardew.
"We take one final which we lost into the game, so this group of players have an opportunity to put something permanent there - a first major trophy for Crystal Palace.
"One or two of these players will never play in a final again and this is an opportunity to get a winner's medal, which is so hard. Like the Leicester players, winning the FA Cup would mean the same for us.
"Steve Coppell was here; I've leant on him in a couple of bits. I've spoken to Alan Smith, looked at the history of 1990 and of the history since. It's a club with a certain DNA. It would be good for the club and for our history for us to win something.
"(There was a) great camaraderie in that (1990) group. I hope this group has that same ongoing history as we had. We're all very close friends, it bonded us. It made this club to a degree, that cup final.
"Friendships - I'd prefer those friendships to have carried through as winners. That's the message I'll give to my players."
Beyond Joe Ledley, whose fractured fibula could take him out of contention for Wales at Euro 2016, Pardew has a fully-fit squad from which to choose.
In a season when United have often appeared lethargic and hesitant, Palace's matchwinners - Yohan Cabaye, Wilfried Zaha and Yannick Bolasie - give them a fine chance.
"Man United are an athletic team who keep the ball very well," said Pardew.
"We will have to be patient. We'll be the side who have to fight that bit harder to win, but we have got areas of the pitch where we're slighly superior, and we have to make those areas count.
"The pressure is on them all the time. They're Man United: an historic club, the colour, the history, with names we haven't got. (Sir Alex) Ferguson, (George) Best, (Bobby) Charlton, (Eric) Cantona... They take a different history into the game.
"(We are) street football - players from different roots, from non-league and Paris St Germain. Put those ingredients together and it's quite an exciting blend and an exciting team.
"It's a special feeling for me and my family, but I've tried to distance ourselves from 1990 a bit. We do carry some staff who talk about it all the time.
"It's nothing to do with this era. There's no revenge of 'putting it right'. It's about this team getting to the cup final, and trying to win."