Dust off your Passports - It's Europe for us Whites!
What a tremendous season! I cannot tell you how proud I was as Chairman of Fulham FC to join Roy Hodgson in leading the whole team around the pitch after the last game!
I am proud of players, who have excelled themselves this season; proud of Roy who, as I knew he would, has transformed the players into a confident, calm, credible, slick-passing team that is just as worthy of Premier League status than many of the larger clubs; and I am proud of the fans (we have over 25,000 loyal fans), who stood united behind Roy Hodgson and whose support just keeps growing and growing.
Roy has rightly been awarded the Barclays Premier League Spirit Award. His inspiring leadership has not only seen him save us from relegation last season, but make Fulham history by securing our highest ever Premier League finish. His level-headed management style has seen the players perform more intuitively and instinctively. His foresight led to the signing of Mark Schwarzer, a fantastic boost for us. His consistently commanding play between the posts has ensured our place in history, keeping straying balls out of the net and helping create our enviable defence – an extremely formidable 4th best in the league. Brede Hangeland and Danny Murphy have earned special praise throughout the season and rightly so; their dexterity and control has led to both scoring, and preventing, the goals that have helped secure our place in the Europa League next season.
"Our 2-0 and 1-0 home wins against Manchester United and Arsenal and our improved away record with wins at Bolton, Newcastle and Manchester City have given fans a taste of what the Cottagers are capable of achieving."
The players will now take a well-earned break before reporting back for pre-season duty, which includes a tour to Australia, before competing in the 3rd qualifying round of the Europa League in July before the Premier League season kicks off in August.
Congratulations to everyone at Fulham; the critics didn’t think we would make it, but we’ve proven them wrong. So get your passports ready. We are off to Europe!
Come on you Whites!