Fan power is key, says new boy Joel (From This Is Local London)

Crystal Palace summer signing Joel Ward is raring to go

4:10pm Wednesday 8th August 2012 in Crystal Palace FC By Tim Ashton

Crystal Palace’s summer signing Joel Ward has called on fans to recreate the Olympic spirit inside Selhurst Park and push the Eagles to silverware success.

The versatile defender joined from Portsmouth in May for £400,000 and has become a central figure in the build up to the Eagles’ Championship campaign.

Palace’s final pre-season games take them to Swindon Town tonight and Reading on Saturday.

Ward said: “We cannot do it without the fans. People underestimate the effect of good support, but you saw it in the Olympics that when you have supporters behind you it gives you that extra boost to get across the finishing line.

“If we can recreate that Olympic spirit at Selhurst Park we can push forward and hopefully deliver success. And with the excellent fans Palace have anything is possible.”

Palace start the competitive season on Tuesday night with a long trip to Exeter City in the first round of the Capital One Cup.

Ward said: “Exeter is a great opportunity for us to get the ball rolling, get off to a good start and get some momentum behind us. We have a good team spirit and we’re all working from the same page so we have a really good chance of moving forward.”