Dean Henderson has made a significant impact at Crystal Palace, achieving his eighth clean sheet during a recent match against Bournemouth. This clean sheet marks his fourth in just 18 appearances this Premier League season, showcasing his strong performance as the team’s goalkeeper.
Henderson’s achievement draws attention to the club’s history, particularly to Vicente Guaita, who holds the record for the most clean sheets in the club’s Premier League history. Guaita, who played for Crystal Palace between the 2018/19 and 2022/23 seasons, managed to keep the opposition scoreless 42 times in 149 games.
In a light-hearted reflection on the journey to success, Guaita shared that his motivation for maintaining clean sheets comes from a playful tradition started by teammate Andros Townsend. After his first clean sheet, Townsend promised that Guaita would have to bring doughnuts for the team every time he achieved this feat, turning clean sheet performances into a sweet celebration.
Rounding out the club’s top three goalkeepers in terms of clean sheets are Wayne Hennessey, who achieved 28 clean sheets from 2014/15 to 2017/18, and Nigel Martyn, who recorded 25 clean sheets during the team’s initial two seasons in the Premier League.
This rich history of goalkeeping success at Crystal Palace not only highlights the talent present within the club but also fosters a positive team spirit driven by tradition and camaraderie among players. The focus on teamwork and celebrating collective efforts serves as a beacon of hope for the team’s future as they continue to strive for excellence in the Premier League.