It is a proud moment for any player to make their debut, especially after coming through a club's Academy, but for Joe Whitworth the moment was particularly special.
A Crystal Palace supporter all his life and a former ball boy at Selhurst Park, the 19-year-old goalkeeper started for his boyhood club against arch-rivals Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday.
19 years, 15 days.
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) March 15, 2023
Joe Whitworth 🌟#CPFC | #BHACRY pic.twitter.com/26Tjrptkok
At 19 years and 15 days old, he is Palace’s youngest goalkeeper to play in the Premier League, and the seventh-youngest in the competition’s history.
Youngest keepers' debut age in PL history
| Player | Club | Date | Age at debut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neil Finn | WHU | 01/01/96 | 17y 3d |
| Richard Wright | IPS | 06/05/95 | 17y 182d |
| Scott Carson | LEE | 31/01/04 | 18y 150d |
| Stephen Bywater | WHU | 12/02/00 | 18y 250d |
| Ben Alnwick | SUN | 05/11/05 | 18y 308d |
| Paul Robinson | LEE | 25/10/98 | 19y 10d |
| Joe Whitworth | CRY | 15/03/23 | 19y 15d |
| John Ruddy | EVE | 11/02/06 | 19y 110d |
| Espen Baardsen | TOT | 03/05/97 | 19y 147d |
| Chris Kirkland | COV | 14/10/00 | 19y 165d |
Although Palace lost 1-0, Whitworth produced excellent second-half saves to deny Pervis Estupinan and Alexis Mac Allister to keep his side in the match.
“It was massive for me, being a Palace fan and playing for the senior team," he told Palace's official website. "It was massive for my family. It’s a really proud moment.
“I’ve supported Palace my whole life. My whole family are Palace fans. I started at Palace around Under-13s at the club, worked my way up and got here today.
“I had my family watching in the away end. I’m sure my brother was loving it!"
Whitworth came through the Palace Academy, playing in the Under-18 Premier League at the age of 16 and then making himself the Palace Premier League 2 team's No 1 last season.
See: All you need to know about Whitworth
Manager Patrick Vieira only told Whitworth on Wednesday morning that he would be making the step up to the big time later in the day, with Vicente Guaita and Sam Johnstone both out injured.
“He looked really calm, really composed, and he made a lot of good decisions” Vieira told the club website. "For a first [senior] game there were a lot of positives. I’m disappointed for him because we couldn’t give him the win, but the future looks really good for him.”
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It remains to be seen whether Guaita will recover from his injury before this Sunday's trip to league leaders Arsenal, so Whitworth could very well be in the line-up again.
“He’s played in a derby, and then he goes to the Emirates!,” said former Palace star Clinton Morrison. "He’s going to have a lot of work to do. But it’s a great experience.
“As a young man, when you dream of becoming a professional, these are the games you want to play in, so go and enjoy it.”