Mr Khan's Programme Notes

It’s a great day for a lunchtime match at Craven Cottage, especially from our view at the top of the table and enjoying an excellent run of form. I’m like everyone else, marvelling at the guidance of Marco Silva, the epic goal-scoring pace of Aleksandar Mitrović and seeing everyone in the squad chipping in with whatever is needed to keep us on track to achieve promotion. Even in defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup match two weeks ago, we did ourselves proud. By responding with two clean sheets in wins against Millwall and Hull City, we’re hitting the final third of our season in stride as we welcome Huddersfield Town and their supporters for today’s nationally televised match.

I wish everything about this season was joyous, but three weeks ago today it all came to a solemn pause as one of our most loyal supporters, Paul Parish, fell ill in his seat in the Hammersmith End during the first half of the Blackpool match and passed away several hours later at a local hospital. I was proud of our players, staff and fans for doing all they could for Paul, and the visiting supporters from Blackpool were first class in showing their respect for the situation. At the time, I was thinking that if we had received good news from the hospital, it would have unquestionably been the best result of our season. I know I wasn’t alone in that sentiment, and we are all heartbroken that our hopes were not answered.

That sense of togetherness is a hallmark of the Fulham Family and the inspiration behind today’s inaugural Celebration Day to celebrate and pay homage to our lost family members and friends who loved Fulham Football Club. From what I’ve learned about Paul Parish, this new tradition is one he would have proudly supported.

I want to thank our staff, Club Director David Daly and the Fulham Supporters Trust for making Celebration Day a reality after numerous delays caused by the global pandemic. Today, finally, we will honour Fulham supporters, players and staff who have passed on in recent years. Tony Fisher, Keith Evemy, Paul Smithers and now Paul Parish are among the more well-known members of the Fulham Family who will be paid tribute today, but the day will be for remembrance of all who lived their lives with a passion for Fulham. I hope the occasion will bring peace and pride to the families of our fallen supporters, for whom we will play today.

These are my first programme notes of 2022, which means the transfer window has passed. With the team clicking on all fronts, our goal was to complement the squad only if something made perfect sense. That’s why I am pleased to formally welcome Neco Williams to Fulham Football Club on loan from Liverpool. Neco has already earned Marco’s respect with three starts at right back and has impressed in each outing despite still getting accustomed to his new teammates. It’s good to have you here, Neco!

We also loaned out a number of players and I speak for everyone at Fulham in wishing Cyrus Christie, Steven Sessegnon, Marlon Fossey, Sylvester Jasper, Jean-Pierre Tiehi, Terry Ablade, Taye Ashby-Hammond, Thorsteinn Antonsson and Connor McAvoy all the best for the remainder of the season. I want to particularly commend Taye Ashby-Hammond, our goalkeeper on loan at non-league side Boreham Wood, for helping them defeat Bournemouth in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup. That’s the magic of the FA Cup and the quality of player we produce at the Fulham Academy.

I did not forget about Denis Odoi, who has been a fantastic player and servant for Fulham since his arrival five and a half years ago. Denis has answered every call while representing Fulham. No matter the position, no matter the occasion, Denis has been there for us. Nowhere is that truer than his decisive goal against Derby County in the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Semi-Final, Second Leg. That’s a highlight all of us will cherish for a lifetime, not only for its brilliance but also its importance. If not for that goal, who knows if we advance to Wembley for what is still my greatest moment as your Chairman. Denis was centre stage for that match as well, as you know. He fought for Fulham, and his celebration with the Great White Wall of Fulham supporters at Wembley was legendary.

I have to say I always enjoyed a conversation with Denis at Motspur Park. He is a thoughtful and gracious man, and his love for the Club and the game of football was real. Denis Odoi leaves as a great friend of all, and I thank him for his service to FFC.

Finally, one last piece on the transfer window. We did receive a lot of interest in Fabio Carvalho, but he wasn’t going anywhere in the last window. We are targeting promotion and Fabio is very much part of that plan and we can all see that he too is committed to that aim, regardless of what his future might look like after this season is over.

On the international front, I was extremely pleased to watch here in the U.S. as Antonee Robinson scored the solitary United States goal in a 1-0 victory over El Salvador in a FIFA World Cup Qualifier. The U.S. is inching closer to qualifying for Qatar and Antonee is a major reason why, starting all three matches at left-back in the recent World Cup qualifying window. Antonee is the latest in a distinguished line of U.S. internationals who play their club football for Fulham, and to hear Fulham mentioned so prominently – and so often – during the match telecasts and in media coverage in the U.S. is something that gives me immense pride. If you haven’t seen Antonee’s goal, it’s worth a search!

I would like to congratulate Marco for winning the EFL Championship Manager of the Month and Harry Wilson for being voted as the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Player of the Month, both honours coming for January. When I consider that neither Marco nor Harry were with us last year, it makes me feel even better about the long-term path we’re pledged to following for promotion and beyond. And what more can be said about Mitro, whose winning goal last weekend at Hull City equalled the record for most goals scored in the Championship. He has 16 matches to score the historic 32^nd goal, and it would be wonderful to have it come today given the special occasion of Celebration Day.

And finally, on the subject of honours, we are well represented among the nominees for the London Football Awards, with Marco up for Manager of the Year, Mitro, Harry and Neeskens for EFL Player of the Year and Fabio for Men’s Young Player of the Year. I expect a solid night for Fulham when the awards are presented on 3 March.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for your loyalty to Fulham Football Club. Let’s all take a moment today to remember those who wore the Fulham badge on and within their hearts, and then let’s get three points to keep our momentum going.  

Come on, Fulham!

Shahid Khan

Chairman