Several years ago, while we were in the Championship, our squad attended a Jacksonville Jaguars game at Wembley Stadium and a number of the players came to visit at half-time. I had a wonderful conversation with Kevin McDonald, but what I enjoyed most was watching him introduce himself and mix and engage with our guests, most total strangers, many from the U.S. Instantly, everyone became a Fulham supporter and their favourite player was Kevin McDonald.
Anyone who knows Kevin can appreciate that anecdote. He’s a very special person. I thought then how fortunate we are to have Kevin representing Fulham Football Club, and still do today. That’s why I wanted to begin these programme notes by asking everyone to continue supporting Kevin, who revealed recently that he is preparing to have a kidney transplant operation very soon.
As you know by now, Kevin felt it was important to share a candid assessment of his health, how he is currently feeling and details of the impending operation. Football is a sport we all dearly love and while Kevin’s passion hasn’t diminished – he continues to works with our Academy Under-23 and Under-18 sides this season while taking his coaching badges – sometimes there is a need for a pause, as Kevin has explained. We’ve enjoyed two promotions with Kevin, who has been a huge influence throughout our Club, on the pitch and away from the game. Let’s all wish Kevin McDonald and his family the very best for a successful operation and steady recovery.
I wish that I were welcoming you to Craven Cottage in person as we host Manchester City. Every home match here is a special occasion, particularly so under the lights on a Saturday night for a visit by one of the most accomplished clubs in all of football. But given our recent form highlighted by Sunday’s outstanding 1-0 victory at Liverpool, I know you would have given our team an exceptionally thunderous welcome and sustained energy throughout the evening. We all miss attending matches, and not being able to be at Craven Cottage to back our squad against the league leaders is disappointing, but our continued compliance and respect for everyone’s health is paying off. Let’s keep it up!
For all of our excellent work over the past several weeks, there is so much still to do, as our position in the table reminds us. Nevertheless, full credit to our head coach Scott Parker, his staff and every player on the squad for making it possible for Fulham Football Club to be in position to determine our fate when few, if anyone, imagined that possible only as recently as January. For instance, who thought it possible that we’d make two trips to Merseyside and return with six points and two clean sheets? Likely no one, other than Scott and the team.
And though it’s been a month since our historic 2-0 win at Goodison Park, this is my first opportunity to welcome back Josh Maja on loan to Fulham and thank him for the brace that will undoubtedly go down in FFC lore but also highlighted a strong run that started a match earlier with a scoreless draw against West Ham United and continued thereafter with three matches unbeaten. Josh was unlucky not to be awarded a third goal in a Fulham shirt against Tottenham Hotspur, but we were reminded of his striking ability in the box and hope there is more to come. Above all, as a club we emphatically responded to the disappointment of the Spurs result with a masterpiece at Anfield, where everyone expected Liverpool to finally end its home losing run at home. Everyone except us.
So, now we embark on what is essentially the final quarter of the Premier League season, with 10 matches remaining – five at home, five on the road. I am optimistic and confident that the journey ahead will be a rewarding one, but it will take everyone – including our supporters – to band together to make it happen. Let’s be positive and make it happen!
There is so much happening around Fulham Football Club, it’s impossible to address it all. I don’t want to miss the opportunity, however, to touch on our Fulham Academy.
You may recently have seen the news regarding the Club’s compensation claim over the former Academy protégé Harvey Elliott, which was decided in the Professional Football Compensation Committee last month. Harvey is an extraordinary talent who we hoped would continue his career at Fulham and be part of our long-term plans.
Unfortunately, that was not to be, and Harvey decided he wanted to sign for Liverpool. This was disappointing for us all, not least Huw Jennings and his Academy personnel responsible for nurturing his exceptional talent. What was crucial at this point, however, was that Fulham were compensated for the investment in training costs to develop the player, in line with legislation. I believe last month’s landmark award was fair compensation given all the factors involved in making such decisions, and we as a club are thankful to the PFCC for its unprecedented award.
The successful nurturing of Harvey’s talent comes as no surprise to me. At the end of last year, our Academy audit report showed that we were the most productive Academy in the whole of the Cat 1, EPL and EFL over the last three years. This metric is based on players either in your own team or playing in a top five league and success in this area has been a key goal since we established the Academy. So, while the raw talent of Harvey is undeniable, it is through the successful implementation of best practice in our Academy that allowed him to flourish, and for that I congratulate Huw and his team for their continued excellence in this important area of your club.
I am equally proud of the fact that Fulham was recently named the most ethical club in the Premier League by the FIFA Ethics and Regulations Watch organisation. This top ranking was awarded after the group’s audit of all Premier League clubs in critical areas such as diversity and inclusion, sponsorship, employment practices, finances, fan relations, social responsibility and much more. It bears repeating that the wonderful reputation that Fulham has earned and enjoyed for generations is what attracted me eight years ago to the opportunity to serve as your chairman. Thank you to everyone who is faithful to the high principles that have steered Fulham Football Club since 1879.
Finally, an update on the Riverside Stand, or Fulham Pier. As you’ve seen on television, good progress is being made. However, that pace will now begin to slow a bit – as expected – due to workers needing to adhere to additional COVID-19 distancing regulations as we transition into the fit-out phase of the project. We believe some seats will be available for next season, with that number being determined by what facilities have been completed as well as what temporary accommodations may be feasible to maximise capacity. The stand may appear complete from pitch side at the start of next season, but there will be considerable internal work still to be completed before we are fully open.
With that, we are estimating full completion in the summer of 2022. I’d highly encourage you to visit fulhamfc.com for the March Riverside Update, which provides a nice array of photos and a very interesting video that will take you inside the construction process. I hope you’ll conclude that whenever the official opening may occur, the wait will be more than worth it.
As always, thank you for your faith and support in Fulham Football Club. We play for you and are determined to make this unusual season one to celebrate.
