I didn’t expect to be writing one of these columns with no football to talk about. It’s very odd times at the moment, but I just hope you are all keeping safe and isolating. I work for a football agency, so with no games to go to, no reports to write, it is a very strange time. It’s horrible not having any sport to watch, I don’t think we realise how much of it we absorb until it’s not there anymore. It’s not a pleasant situation but people’s health is the most important thing right now, so we just need to keep isolating until we’re told otherwise.
Of course people are speculating about what is going to happen now, but I think the vast majority want to see the season finished. A couple of directors of clubs fighting relegation from the Premier League have said that it should end now with no relegation and just Leeds and West Brom going up. Well, no! That’s very self-serving and doesn’t make any sense to me. For me, the season running its course is the only fair way of doing things. Even in the Premier League, Liverpool have effectively won it, but they haven’t actually won it. It’s the lower league and grassroots clubs that I feel sorry for. Bigger clubs can survive this, but I do worry for those who rely on gate receipts to survive. Games need to be played out, and I’m sure the authorities are constantly talking about the best way to do that. Of course the health of everyone comes first, but hopefully there will come a time when we can finish this season in a safe way.
With no Fulham matches to dissect, the media guys put something out on Twitter asking for your suggestions of things to talk about, so here we go…
Were you dancing to a particular tune after scoring that Blackburn goal?
No, nothing in particular. It was an off the cuff thing, really. I went to school with a lot of people who went on to be in So Solid Crew, so I was big into House and Garage music then. It wasn’t planned but I suppose you could call it a Garage dance! It’s definitely one that I’ve been asked to do in many a Fulham pub since.
Which goal felt better; Blackburn or Sheffield Wednesday?
It’s tough because they were both last minute. Sheff Weds, being at home and securing us the title, was obviously special, but Blackburn away was so big. I think the atmosphere at the Cottage, though, and what it meant, I’d have to go for Sheffield Wednesday. To do that in front of so many of our fans, and the way they celebrated, was just something else. It was a tense afternoon, we were losing and you could hear a pin drop, until I scored that goal. To score the goal that claimed the title was just great.
Talk us through your matchday routine when you attend Fulham games as a fan…
I normally go to the Golden Lion. Especially if it’s a summer’s day because they’ve got a terrific garden. I get off the train at Putney, walk down the high street to the Golden Lion, have a few in there and then head down to the ground. I’ll probably reappear in the pub sometime after the game. The thing I like about the Lion is you get a lot of the old school fans who you can talk about any era with.
What’s the best Fulham kit?
My favourite Fulham kit was the all black one. The main reason being that it was very slimming! The best home one, for me, was probably when we won the league in 2001.
Who in the current Fulham team would you like to have played with?
The captain, TC. He’s a good footballer, a big game player, and I think it would have suited me playing alongside him. I would try and spray a pass every now and again but, to be honest with you, a lot of the time I’d just try and find Lee Clark. Getting it and just giving a simple pass is not a problem for me, so I’d be happy to let TC have the limelight in that regard!
How will the players be approaching this period of not playing?
It’s a strange one. For footballers now I think it’s all about keeping on top of your training. A lot of them these days will have home gyms, so they’ll be doing a lot of weights, a lot of work on the bike. But it must be very frustrating for them, especially as we’re in the business end of the season. If this had happened when I was a player then I’d be climbing the walls right now. It’s not ideal but spending quality time with your family shouldn’t be the hardest thing in the world.
Any boxset recommendations?
I’ve just finished Vikings, which I really enjoyed. I watched a film the other day called The Banker which was very good. I’m a bit of a Harry Potter freak so I could watch those films all day long. I was contemplating watching all of Game of Thrones again, but I didn’t think I had the patience to do that. I’ve watched Sons of Anarchy about four times all the way through, the same with Prison Break. For me, the first series of Prison Break is the best and then it goes a bit downhill. It’s still watchable, but the first series is by far the best. But if anyone hasn’t watched Vikings then I would highly recommend it. It’s got a bit of a Game of Thrones vibe with fighting, and kings and queens, so if you like that sort of stuff then it’s a show for you.