The Crystals Are Feeling Glad All Over
By Gavin Glicksman
The Sun
If you think being a cheerleader simply involves shaking your pompoms, you better think again.
Bronia Gosling, captain of the The Crystals dance group, is keen to set the record straight and prove there’s more to her squad than just good looks.
In fact, Bronia admits that supporting Crystal Palace and winning over the initially sceptical Selhurst Park faithful has required a lot more than just some fancy footwork.
The 27-year-old told SunSport: “People shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, especially because we do work really hard.
“We don’t just dance on the pitch and then that’s it, we put in the effort behind the scenes.
“We’re getting more support now from the fans and have definitely turned the corner in that respect.
“There’s always going to be people that don’t like you, because obviously a lot of fans there go just for the football and that’s all they think they should see.
“But we’re there to enhance the match-day atmosphere and it’s really good for the kids too.
“We want to give them a positive outlook and show it’s not a bad thing to be out on the pitch dancing just because you’ve got a little outfit on!
“I want someone to look at us and say, ‘I want to be like The Crystals because they’re really good dancers’, rather than simply seeing us as pretty girls on the pitch.
“We work really hard and are definitely winning people round.”
While most Eagles fans are happy to see The Crystals supporting their club, some blamed the girls for last season’s slump in form.
But Bronia insists her dance troupe are far from a distraction for Dougie Freedman’s Championship side.
She added: “Everyone’s got their own opinion, but I don’t think we put the players off at all — we don’t go anywhere near them.
“They’re there to their job and we’re there to do ours. They’re professional, we’re professional, and we’re there simply there to entertain the crowd and give the atmosphere at Selhurst a boost.
“They weren’t saying nice stuff about about us last season, but it did boost our profile. No press is bad press and all that!”
With an appearance on Soccer AM already under their belt, it’s fair to say The Crystals’ reputation is growing by the day.
And Bronia is keen to ensure the girls stay in the headlines for all the right reasons — even it means unleashing an Alex Ferguson-style kick up the backside from time to time.
The professional dancer said: “I’m normally doing something for The Crystals every day, whether it be choreographing a new routine, sorting out the girls for events, organising routines or checking up on everyone. I’m a bit like the mother hen really!
“I wouldn’t say I’m the Fergie of The Crystals though — I’m just checking the girls are OK rather than cracking the whip.
“But with that said, I would give them the hairdryer treatment if need be! All of the girls are very professional though and know they’re at the match to work hard and put on a good show.
“A few things have changed since I’ve become captain in respect of the girls know that if they don’t put the effort in, they won’t dance on the pitch.
“It’s boosted everyone and made them work harder because they don’t want to end up not dancing.”
On the pitch, Crystal Palace’s fortunes remain mixed.
But having struggled for so long with financial problems, the Londoners are on a stable footing and came close to booking a place in the Carling Cup final last month.
Penalty shootout heartache saw the Eagles dumped out in the semi-finals by Cardiff — and left Bronia and Co thinking about what could have been.
She added: “We were hoping to dance at Wembley, the wheels were definitely in motion.
“Whether it would have happened or not we’ll never know, but it would have been amazing.”
As for the rest of the season, like most Palace fans, Bronia will be happy to see Freedman’s men consolidate their position as a stable Championship side.
The Crystals skipper said: “We started the season really well and shot out of the starting blocks.
“There’s been a slow period but considering the financial problems the club previously had, we’re doing really well.
“We’ve got a chance of finishing in mid-table, if not a bit higher, and I think we just need a bit of luck to go our way really.
“Dougie’s doing a brilliant job as manager. Everyone was thinking we’d get slaughtered at West Ham the other week but we held them to a goalless draw.
“Considering the Hammers have been doing so well, coming away from there with a point was brilliant.”
When it comes to the supporters she entertains at every home match, Bronia cannot speak highly enough of their dedication.
She added: “We’ve got great fans and we definitely wouldn’t be where we are without them.
“We get slumps where attendances drop off, but we’ve got a pretty big fanbase.
“With the recession, football’s obviously become a luxury for people, but we know how much the fans support the club — win or lose.”
