Cheerio VicMo

"Players are frequently accused of being disloyal to their clubs but I wouldn't count myself among them. I owe a massive debt of gratitude to Palace. I'm a deeply religious boy and a day doesn't pass when I don't consider how fortunate I am." Victor Moses, January 2010

I can distinctly remember sitting in front of Newsround over 18 years ago, balling my eyes out at the news of Ian Wright's sudden departure to Arsenal. Whilst today's news that Victor Moses has finally left for the Premier League (at the time of writing it looks like Wigan Athletic is the likely destination) was depressingly inevitable, the sense of disappointment was all too familiar. As our most valuable asset by some distance, it was always a case of 'when, not 'if', especially once administration was confirmed. That said, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed by both the fee (rumoured to be 2.5 mill up front) and the club of choice. It's a great shame that Mr Wenger didn't decide to take the plunge, as I could have seen him slotting in perfectly at The Emirates - surely the only 'big' club that would have given him sufficient match time and room for development. I'd love to think that Vic's move had been tailored to the best interests of the player; the reality, I fear, is that Wigan were simply the club happiest to stump up the hard cash up front. Beggars - as it is often said - can't be choosers.

As a fan, a true bond between players and fans is always something to be cherished. As all Palace fans will be aware, VicMo's story is both tragic and inspiring in equal measure. Born in Kaduna, Nigeria in 1990, Victor was forced to leave his native land after both his parents were murdered during religious violence which erupted in the region. Arriving in the UK as an orphaned asylum seeker aged little over 11, his rise to the Palace first team by 16 - via Sunday League football and a private education paid for by the club - was genuine fairytale stuff. You always got the sense that his bond with Crystal Palace ran deep; something which the lump-in-throat-inducing picture above captures perfectly.

Notoriously shy off the field, Vic's actions on the pitch were anything but reserved. One of the most naturally gifted players I've had the pleasure of watching at Palace, he is that rarest of gems; a player who can change the course of a game in the blink of an eye. Blessed with explosive acceleration, great balance and a bagful of tricks to rival that of Ronaldo, he created a buzz whenever he got on the ball. His recent goalscoring exploits - including a superb brace at Reading, a Cruyff turn and shot at Plymouth and an eye poppingly brilliant bicycle kick against Barnsley - were clear proof that he was turning things up a notch; maturing into a top class finisher and a genuine team player. There can be no doubt that he frustrated as much as he amazed over the course of his 58 games in red and blue, but this was, if anything, testament to the huge weight of expectation placed on his young shoulders. Ever since news of his outrageous goal tally in Palace's youth teams (50 goals in a single season for the under 14s) filtered onto the terraces, fans expected to see the second coming of Wayne Rooney. Whilst that was always a tad on the optimistic side, we were lucky enough to witness some truly electrifying flashes of genius over the course of his all too short Palace career.

As much as I will take great pride in watching Vic blossom into the great player that he is surely destined to become, it is hard not to feel that this is yet another case of what could have been. If anyone deserves to make it at the top, it's Vic - a young man who has showed great maturity by carving out a successful career in professional football in the light of personal experiences too horrific for most to imagine. Good luck Victor - I for one will take great satisfaction from watching you dump all manner of overpaid Premiership fullbacks on their rear-end in the coming years. When Vic returns to Selhurst, he can expect the warmest of receptions from all four corners of the ground, a place which I hope he will always be able to call 'home'.

Thanks for the memories VicMo!

Dan