Hyp hyp Holloway! Palace in a trance as boss calls in hypnotherapist ahead of big Premier League kick-off

After eight years away from the Premier League, Crystal Palace shouldn’t need much motivation ahead of their season opener with Tottenham on Sunday week.
But manager Ian Holloway – taking no chances – has had his players hypnotised before the big match to ensure they’re psychologically sharp.
Former world boxing champ Glenn Catley, now a qualified hypnotherapist, has been visiting the club regularly since the players returned for pre-season training last month.

Hyphyp Holloway: Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway has called in hypnotherapist and former boxing champ Glenn Catley (below) to ensure his side are psychologically ready for their return to the Premier League.

Hyp hyp Holloway: Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway has called in hypnotherapist and former boxing champ Glenn Catley (below) to ensure his side are psychologically ready for their return to the Premier League
Hyp hyp hooray: Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway has called in hypnotherapist and former boxing champ Glenn Catley (below) to ensure his side are psychologically ready for their

 return to the Premier League
Catley, 41, held the WBC super-middleweight title 13 years ago, bumped into old friend Holloway while out walking the dog and was given the responsibility of preparing Palace for their first season back in the top flight.
He told The Independent: ‘I underwent hypnotherapy for 10 years in my boxing career. When I retired eight years ago, I took a course in clinical psychotherapy, hypnosis and sports psychology in Bristol.
‘Two months ago I was out walking the dog and bumped into Ian, a good friend from way back in the west country where we both live.

Entranced: The Palace squad have been undergoing the hypnotherapy sessions since returning to pre-season training last month
Entranced: The Palace squad have been undergoing the hypnotherapy sessions since

returning to pre-season training last month
‘After talking to him about what I did, he invited me to meet with his players. He told me they have all the talent but psychologically they were letting a few demons creep in.’
Catley added: ‘Now I see them for a few days every week, including the first team squad. We work on a one-to-one basis and part of the therapy is to hypnotise them, putting them in a trance.
‘I think it helps to eliminate many psychological problems.’