Fulhamish
Before we begin, let me assure you that the story which follows is a real one, so as you read on, what might seem unrealistic, is actually the true story of Fulham Football Club.
Fulham were established on the 12th of December 1898, a great day in the history of English football.Throughout their years, Fulham have been involved in many great occassions and below are a select few.
The FA Cup Final
In 1975 Fulham reached their first and to this date only FA Cup Final. Having got to the final beating 5 teams away from home, and setting a record number of matches to reach the final (taking 7 matches to beat Hull and Notts Forest in rounds 3 and 4!), they narrowly lost out to West Ham despite playing well. However, the fact that FFC, a team mid-table in division 2 had reached the final and played so well is testament to the spirit of the players. The streets of Fulham were painted black and white (literally), the team of that day are still considered greats.
The amazing past few years
Despite the success of 1975, FFC faltered and this is how the epic story has unfolded...it was February 1996, Fulham had just drawn 1-1 with Rochdale and were 91st in the football league.With no funds and a ground under threat, it seemed like the end, but little did we know, that the great Mickey Adams arrival was to be just the beginning.
Ending the season in 17th and just avoiding relegation, Fulham were unbelievably promoted the next season, when Rod McAree struck the ball into the the back of the Carlisle net. It was also then that the legend himself, Mohamed Al Fayed stepped in and became a saviour to the club. In the Wrexham programme on the opening day of 1997/98 season, he wrote ''We can all dream about the Premiership'', and how right he was. Later that season Kevin Keegan and Ray Wilkins were installed and the team narrowly missed out in the play off's against Grimsby. But just a season later, Fulham dominated division 2 and won promotion for the second time in 3 years.
Although not setting the world alight in their first division 1 term,, many good players joined the club and their talent was clear in 2000/2001...that amazing season. There is not much that can be said about the season as a whole apart from the fact that Fulham absolutely blew away the rest of the league beating Watford 5-0 along the way. However, the end was superb. Graeme Souness claimed that his Blackburn Rovers were the ''best team'' in the division before the two top teams clashed at Ewood Park. And he looked to have been right when his team took the lead and Rufus Brevett was sent off. However, class shone through, and it was to be an unforgetable night as Louis Saha levelled, and as the clock ticked away into injury time, Fulham's home grown talent, a man that had seen the team through thick and thin, from the dark ages popped up to strike the ball into the net and put Blackburn into the shadow. If only Souness could admit it...we were the better side.
And to top things off, against Sheffield Wednesday, needing only a draw, and undeservedly 1-0 down, it seemed as if the champagne would be put on ice and the title would be won away from home...but as injury time crept into its dying seconds, Barry Hayles, limped his way along to find that man, Sean Davis who struck the ball towards the Hammy end net and past the Wednesday keeper. Unbelievable! Finally, Fulham were Champions! Al Fayed's five year dream of reaching the Premiership was fulfilled and in the most dramatic way possible. What a story, but that is just Fulhamish! |
