Promotions. Relegations. Scunthorpe at home. A decade of flashy mediocrity in the middle of the Premier League. But finally, after countless generations of "typical Palace", the plucky Eagles from South London won their first major trophy, and with it, broke through the Europe-shaped glass ceiling that had haunted the for so long.
Crystal Palace fans should be living their 120 (or 164) year-old dream. A red and blue summer of new arrivals and anticipation for the day the Europa League anthem reverberates around Selhurst Park for the first time.
In reality, however, that dream has been punctured by the unholy trinity of modern-day football: bankruptcy, billionaires, and bureaucracy.
This isn't the first time that Palace has been fucked by rules.
The title of this article may indicate a nuanced and informative explanation of the ridiculously convoluted situation Crystal Palace F.C. finds itself in - but I'm afraid I have no intention of dignifying UEFA's self-made clusterfuck with such time or effort.