News and Features

Staying Up

Mon, 12 May 2008 15:53:37 GMT

Portsmouth 0 – 1 Fulham

“The team had the determination and fulfilled
their promise to me” - Mohamed Al Fayed

The fans were singing, the sun was shining, emotions were high and Fulham ground out the result that will ensure we play in the Premier League next season!

Danny Murphy celebrates his all important goal.

We needed to win and it was a difficult game but the team had the determination and fulfilled their promise to me. Fantastic!

I must immediately pay tribute to Roy Hodgson who I brought to the club in December and who said from the first day that we will stay up. The strength of character, experience and commitment he brought to the club was important and he has proven to be the right man for the job.

I congratulate and thank all of the fans too. To hear them singing, to feel their devotion is a real pleasure for me and they have had their own part to play in recent weeks by keeping the faith and showing their loyalty which in turn influences the players on the pitch.

I bought Fulham eleven years ago and my passion for the Club and my desire to succeed is as strong as ever and we have laid the foundations for a club consistently competing in the top flight.

We look ahead to our eighth consecutive season in the Premier League and the resources to bounce back and avoid a relegation battle next season are available. Together we will be a stronger force than ever to achieve our ambitions.

Come on you Whites!

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Fulham take it to the wire

Thu, 08 May 2008 16:27:31 GMT

In a tough season Fulham have given themselves a Premiership lifeline thanks to some incredible fighting spirit over the last few weeks.

Vital and deserved recent victories over Manchester City and Birmingham City have seen us jump out of the dreaded bottom three for the first time since Christmas, and for this I thank not only the managerial talents of Roy Hodgson but the effort and determination of a wonderful bunch of players. The staff around them and of course our amazing ‘black and white army’ deserve full credit too.

Last Saturday’s 2-0 win over Birmingham City was our last home game of the season. The team performed exceptionally, the atmosphere was truly incredible due in no small way to the phenomenal support at Craven Cottage.

Nevland, McBride and Bullard celebrate Fulham's second goal (photos courtesy of PA Photos)

I was interviewed by Sky Sports after the game; watch the video.

However, we’re not safe yet. We need to summon every ounce of courage, confidence and commitment for our trip to Portsmouth on Sunday. We have the belief to win and I have no doubt that our travelling fans will offer their support one hundred percent. Of course I’ll see the players before the game to give them a Viagra each…that will keep us up in every way!

Come on you whites!

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verdict reaction

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:12:57 GMT

The Verdict - Mohamed Al Fayed statement

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:25:21 GMT

It's been a long fight to uncover the truth about the deaths of my son Dodi and Diana,

Princess of Wales. I'm not the only person who says they were murdered. Diana

predicted she would be murdered and how it would happen.

So I am disappointed. The verdicts will come as a blow to the many millions of people

around the world who supported my struggle. I thank them.

For 10 years I have endured two police investigations. The French and the Scotland

Yard inquiries were wrong. These inquests prove it. They said it was an accident and

their findings are now dismissed. The jury have found that it wasn't just the paparazzi

who caused the crash, but unidentified following vehicles. Who they are and what they

were doing in Paris is still a mystery.

I thank Michael Mansfield and my legal team. Michael explored the evidence with great

skill and sensitivity. He believes in his heart it was not an accident, and I'll always be

grateful to him.

These inquests were required by law, and the coroner decided their cost, scope and the

witnesses called. They were not a waste of time or money. They have established many

new relevant facts that were being withheld from the public.

Contrary to Lord Stevens' report, there's now clear evidence that Diana and Dodi's

relationship was serious. It's also clear that Dodi and I were blameless in planning the

fatal last journey.

I thank the jury. I had to fight long and hard for there to be a jury of ordinary men and

women, with hearings in public, and they've done their very best in difficult

circumstances.

They didn't hear from all the witnesses. It's shocking to me that French police, senior

officials, paparazzi and pathologists refused to give evidence.

I've always believed that Prince Philip and the Queen hold valuable evidence that only

they know. They were not even questioned, but they should have been. No one should be

above the law.

Senior British police officers sat on a crucial note by Diana's lawyer, the Mishcon note,

and then lied about their reasons for doing so.

The MI6 witnesses told us very little. I still believe they really know what really happened.

Instead, I've had to sit for six months and listen to the coroner's accusations against me

and all those witnesses who said it wasn't a simple accident. I feel as though my

character and belief - that I'm entitled to have as a father - have been on trial.

Diana and Dodi were taken away at the prime of their life, when they were at their

happiest. They looked forward to a future together, and I'll always mourn their loss, to

me and to the world.

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Mr Al Fayed and Sport Relief

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:28:28 GMT

When Mohamed Al Fayed was asked to help out the girls’ team for a Sport Relief edition of The Apprentice, he was only too happy to help.

The Harrods Chairman met celebrities Louise Redknapp and Lisa Snowdon for some tough negotiation – who was going to win?

The girls left with a very generous donation from Mr Al Fayed! They then had the challenge of what stock to pick from the world-famous store that would raise the most amount of money at auction on the night.

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Mohamed Al Fayed Video Bank

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:06:41 GMT

From Ali G to creating a successful sale, find your Al Fayed favourite video at the video bank.

Making a Success of it

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 23:55:34 GMT

Following the launch of the Harrods Winter Sale 2007 where pop star Lily Allen was the star guest, Mr Al Fayed explained why the Harrods sale is always such a huge event in the retail calendar and considers what it takes to make a successful sale.

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Lily Allen opens the Harrods Winter Sale

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 16:32:55 GMT

There isn’t a sale like it in the world. The first day of the Harrods Sale is, quite simply, an internationally-renowned event. From the thousands who queue to snap up bargains - some even waiting in line from the night before - to the hundreds of photographers eager for a glimpse of the celebrity and in that all-important countdown to the opening, there is nothing quite like it in the retail calendar.

This year Mr Al Fayed was delighted to be accompanied by the beautiful and talented Lily Allen, who achieved worldwide fame with her number one hit Smile, from the triple-platinum selling album Alright, Still.

Lily arrived in Basil Street in a Harrods horse-drawn carriage to be greeted by the Chairman, before greeting fans and posing for a photocall.

Inside, the petite singer said how thrilled she was to be opening The Sale, adding jokingly: "Unfortunately I did come in earlier for a bit of a preview so there's not much left.”

Mr Al Fayed took Lily on a tour of different departments in the store including Fine Jewellery, Furniture and Homewares, and the Pet Department where she posed to hold Dylan, a Shih Tza dog.

The newly-pregnant star also found time to nip in to the Toy Department and was given a pink cuddly bear by the Chairman as a first gift for her baby.

Did you know…?

:: On average, the first day of the Harrods Sale sees the Men’s Department sell 6,000 pairs of socks, 2,000 ties and 1,500 shirts.
:: In 1988 a record 30 tons of cheese was sold during the sale, including 5,360 whole Brie cheeses.
:: In 2003 the January Sale saw 17-year old student, Anthony Duncan break the ‘record dash’ by one second as he claimed his plasma screen Television, reduced from £3,999to £100, in an astonishing 12 seconds. Ian Birch from Taunton had held the previous record after racing to the China Department in 13 seconds in 1988.

Sale Dates
Friday 28th December   9.00am – 9.00pm
New Year’s Eve   10.00am – 6.00pm
New Year’s Day   12 noon – 8.00pm
Monday-Saturday   10.00am – 8.00pm
Sunday   12.00pm – 6.00pm
Saturday 26th January 2008 (last day of Sale)   10.00am – 8.00pm

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An Eventful 2007

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 11:19:18 GMT

This year has been an eventful one. Not only did we win a drawn-out campaign to have the inquests into the deaths of my beloved son Dodi, and Diana, Princess of Wales held together, but we overturned the ruling of Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss who wanted to hear the evidence by herself without a jury of ordinary members of the public.

When three law-lords ruled against her decision, the Dame resigned as Coroner. This meant another one had to be appointed - the fourth since the tragedy in Paris.
Leaving aside the question of why the Dame was chosen in the first place, in the knowledge that only a decision reached by a jury would command public confidence, my concern was, and remains, that all the evidence and all the witnesses should be heard and given proper consideration. That includes witnesses who are members of the Royal Family. This matter is far too important for anyone to beg off because they have more important things to do, like cutting a ribbon, or planting a ceremonial tree.

At least the new Coroner, Lord Justice Scott Baker, did not attempt to exclude the press, as the Dame had done during the preliminary hearings. But he has yet to reveal whether Prince Charles and the Duke of Edinburgh should be called as witnesses. It is abundantly clear that they, and only they, possess crucial information that is vital to the judicial process. Likewise, the Queen knows secrets that must be divulged if we are to arrive at a verdict everyone can accept. Justice demands that a way be found for the Queen to impart the knowledge that only she has. On 2nd October 2007 the inquests began. This was the day I had been waiting for 10 years. During the past decade there have been countless legal battles. Fortunately, most of them have been won. Perhaps, after all, justice will be done.

The memory of that terrible night will not leave me, but I am comforted by the sight of the jury patiently listening and learning. I only hope that they can read between the lines and see through some of the more blatant attempts to deny what the world could see: the reality of a man and woman deeply in love with each other. My barrister, Michael Mansfield QC, and his team are doing a great job highlighting discrepancies in the stories we’ve heard so far.

The support from everyone who has visited my site and taken the time to write to me has been overwhelming. I would like to thank every single one of you now for your continued words of reassurance, encouragement and understanding.

I send you every good wish for the festive season and the hope that you will find complete happiness with your family and friends.

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Children's Christmas Party

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:08:18 GMT

Every year the Chairman throws a party for ill and under-privileged children. Together with their families and hospital staff, the children are welcomed to the store for a very special breakfast, followed by a morning of spectacular entertainment and activities.

Happy faces
This year's party, which was held on Sunday 18th November, saw 250 thrilled children experience the wonderland of a Harrods Christmas. Activities including decorating gingerbread, face-painting and balloon sculpting, were interspersed with a fantastic show of costumed characters, a jumbo bubble machine, and a mobile disco which saw children dancing the Congo with giant Harrods' bears around the Georgian Restaurant. The icing on the cake was the appearance of Father Christmas, whose presence and gifts brought so many smiles to the faces of these inspiring young children.

Alvin and the Chipmunks and Harrods staff volunteered to help out at the event. Crafty Arty and Balloonitics provided the activities, and Harrods' suppliers gave generously to the children's goody-bags, which each child took home at the end of the event, together with this year's Harrods Bear.

Harrods Christmas Parade
Thousands turned out on 3rd November to watch the arrival of Father Christmas to Harrods during the Harrods Christmas Parade. Read more, and watch the video

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