Performing in front of thousands at Selhurst Park is every Palace fan’s dream but few would envisage when their time came it would involve pom-poms.

A team of eight daring supporters put their dignity on the line when they joined Eagles’ cheerleaders The Crystals for a half-time routine in aid of Sport Relief.

Decked out in fetching T-shirts and tutus, the eight, made up from official fan-groups and fanzine The Five Year Plan, entertained around 11,000 fans during half-time between Palace and Barnsley on Tuesday March 20.

Five Year Plan editor James Daly, 27, said the Crystallions, which alongside himself, included James Endeacott, Andy Street, Colin Gray, Michelle Pitts, Chris Windsor, Tor Webster and Les Jeal, took part in two gruelling three-hour training sessions to prepare themselves.

He said: “Just the warm-up alone was really tough. The girls are really fit, it is unbelievably hard work. We wanted to have fun, but we didn’t want it to be a joke.

"I think people were probably surprised we weren’t all that bad. Having said that, I don’t think I’ll be doing it again.”

The team has so far collected more than £3,600 for Sport Relief. Mr Daly, who lives in Balham, said: “It is things like this that make this club great, they were so supportive of what we were trying to do.

I went quite quiet before we went out, but Steve Parish came over and wished us luck and once we were out there I thought, hang on I know what I’m doing, this will be fine.”

You can still sponsor the dancers by visiting my.sportrelief.com/sponsor/dancewiththecrystals