Selhurst Park to welcome new American Bald Eagle this weekend
As part of our celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the opening of Selhurst Park, which falls later this month, Crystal Palace are delighted to reveal that an American Bald Eagle will return to the stadium on matchdays.
Building on our partnership with the Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation, we are delighted to welcome ‘Phoenix’ – a young American Bald Eagle – to the club.
Four months old, Phoenix has been preparing to take on the role as the club’s official live mascot since her birth.
Costs for her upbringing, training and upkeep have been covered by the club, in support of the not-for-profit Wildlife Foundation.
Phoenix’s first official matchday is now set to be this Saturday (24th August) against West Ham United. She will be present in the Fanzone from 12:30 BST, with supporters able to take pictures with – and of – her before the game.
The eagle is our first official live mascot since Kayla, also cared for by Eagle Heights, who sadly passed away in the summer of 2020. Over a decade’s service, Kayla became a fan favourite for her pre-match flights around Selhurst Park.
While Phoenix is still young and in the early stages of acclimatising to the role – she is not yet able to fly on matchdays – it is hoped she will be comfortable enough to be present at the ground throughout this season and, eventually, make those iconic flights.
Speaking to Palace TV, Samantha Leonard, Director of Eagle Heights, explained: “We have got a wonderful history with Crystal Palace.
“Unfortunately, we lost Kayla, who was the previous mascot, in 2020, but following this, we have been trying to find a way of keeping our partnership going, and this year we finally did it: Phoenix.
“I have been guilty of making her watch lots of Palace matches, which she seems to love! We’ve had them on in the room while she’s been at home, and then as soon as she’s steady on the glove, her flying training will start.
“Hopefully she will be a natural at it. It’s going to take a lot of training, a lot of time – but we’ll get there, and it will be brilliant.”
Phoenix’s name harks back to the origins of Crystal Palace’s association with the nickname ‘the Eagles’, which was adopted by the club in summer 1973.
Then-manager Malcolm Allison, seeking to transform the identity of the club, changed not only our kit colours, but our nickname from ‘the Glaziers’ to ‘the Eagles’.
Legend has it that Allison wanted to inspire his side to rise like a phoenix from the ashes of the old Crystal Palace – a symbol which inspired the club’s further evolution.
In July 1973, the Croydon Advertiser reported: “Breaking with tradition, the badge is to show a bird of prey perched on a football. It symbolises aggression and forward-thinking.”
The nature of this bird was quickly clarified, as The Mirror reported four days later: “ALLISON’S EAGLES WILL FLY HIGH.”
As well as Kayla’s appearances at Selhurst Park, in recent years, the club has, in recent years, partnered with the American Eagle Foundation.
That relationship has seen the famous 34-year old American Bald Eagle ‘Challenger’ – and later his understudy, ‘Mr Lincoln’ – representing the club at pre-season tour events, and at Premier League fan meetings in Orlando and Nashville.
Based in Kent, Eagle Heights is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to environmental conservation through inspiration and education.
Operating for almost three decades, the Wildlife Foundation is home to many birds of prey and mammals, offering daily flying displays which are geared towards all ages.
In 2010, Kayla – originally born in Canada – became the club’s official live mascot after settling at Eagle Heights.
Over the course of 10 years, Kayla became a much-cherished part of the Crystal Palace matchday experience, with supporters enjoying meet-and-greet opportunities before every match, and her regular flights between the goals whilst the players warmed up.
While Phoenix is still adapting to her new role, it is hoped that – in time, and with regular practice and patience at matchdays this season – she will become a similarly loved figure at the club’s iconic home.
To find out more about the Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation, please click here.
Eagle Heights is a non-profit organisation relying solely on public generosity. Click here to support their work through donating.
