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‘One thing I love about this place is the culture': Joel Ward praises 'key' figure chairman Steve Parish for guiding the club through a 'transition period' under Patrick Vieira after a decade of building foundations

Throughout his life, Joel Ward has appreciated the importance of constants. The constant, unwavering belief in a higher power that formed the values of the man sitting in the media room at Crystal Palace’s training ground.

And the constant, familiar faces that have forged a steadfast culture at the heart of his ever-changing club.

He’s one of them. No player has been at Palace as long as Ward. He’s been there more than a decade. No one has felt the glory of promotion and stayed every step along the way. Even Wilfried Zaha joined Manchester United for a bit.