Indeed, only nine players in Palace’s storied history have ever scored 100 or more goals for the club: Simpson (165), Smith (124), Ian Wright (118), Mark Bright and Clinton Morrison (both 113), Dougie Freedman (108), George Clarke (106) and, for Palace Women, Gemma Bryan (104).

But it is Scottish striker Simpson – born on this day (13th November, 1904) 121 years ago – who holds the club record, notching 165 goals in 195 appearances in just six years between 1929 and 1935, an eye-catching ratio of 0.85 goals per game.

What’s more, Simpson not only holds the record total in a single season (46 goals in 1930/31), but also for most goals in a single game: six against Exeter City, a feat achieved in October 1930.

The record haul arrived a mere two years into the Leith-born forward’s career w

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