And I'll quote Phil Croughan's earlier post as to why - which was doubly touching coming from a Liverpool fan last night.
"Its' hard not to like Fulham; small tight ground; good fans; great footballing team and a very likeable and talented manager who's been around for years and is now getting some overdue plaudits. Also have a soft spot for danny murphy who we should never have sold. They've come a long way from when I saw them play Wolves at the cottage in the late 80s in the old third division!"
We scattered my Dad's ashes at the Cottage around that time, and when we moved back to Tooting Nigel Sayer came down for the weekend and wanted to see a game so Tim Deacon and I took him to Fulham - they were in the bottom tier, about 90th in the League - only had 3000 paying fans - and it cost £6 to sit smack in the middle of the Stevenage Road stand.
I had a very strange sense of my father throughout the game, and started going by myself thereafter and believe the karmic synergy of a middle-aged bloke communing with his dead dad was how come Fulham began their irresistible Field of Dreams march to the Premiership. Plus Al Fayed chipped in a few quid.
When Fulham moved out of the Cottage with grand plans of a new stadium and moved temporarily to Loftus Road I went for half the season but it was a different church and and not the same, and then we moved up here and Fulham became an old friend we remember fondly, visit occasionally, and follow from afar. Much like an overseas facebook friend. Much like my childhood relationship with my Dad.
So, it was a sentimental night.
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About Me
- Gary
- In my twenties I was a failed poet. In my thirties I wrote a book on gambling which was very nearly published. In my forties I wrote a small book about moving from London to Shropshire, which remains unpublished. Into my fifties and the quest continues...
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