I read that Chairman Mo is unwell. "health failing" was the term.
Just thought I'd start a thread to pass on my thanks to the man who decided to sprinkle a bit of gold dust on our beautiful club. The Fulham FC representatives who initially passed our club over to him deserve immense gratitude for realising that Mo would completely get Fulham. He did. And took us on a wonderful journey.
I am immensely grateful for the years he gave to us and, himself passing us on to fantastic new owners. who also get us.
Thanks Mo
Without going into the many weird and wonderful aspects of Big Al. Fact is Fulham Football Club became a completely different animal under the money and protection of Al Fayed. From a struggling underdog whose aspirations started and finished with survival. We ended up a club who are annoyed by relegation and promotions to the top flight.
13 years in the top division spoilt us under Al Fayed. But Fulham are a different animal now to the struggling club we were before Al Fayed. Yes without him we would have never felt the magic of Europe or the Prem.
Hope he feels better soon.
Sad news, will always be remembered as the man who took us from obscurity and maybe even near extinction, to a European final. Something I certainly would never have believed possible. I hope he recovers but it sounds serious.
We can and do debate who is the single biggest legend in our history but two things you can't dispute are that (i) he is at least in the top 5, and (ii) going on actual impact, he's clearly number one. Taking us from a poor third tier side to a European Cup Final is not only the greatest transformation anyone has achieved in our history, it's one of the greatest transformations that's ever happened in football, and a fairytale the vast majority of clubs will never experience. He deserves to be honoured at some point to the greatest extent we can muster - renaming a stand, a statue or something on that scale. I wish him all the best.
Still miss him strolling across the pitch before the match, get well soon.
All the best wishes to Mo. A legendary chapter in our club's story.
He will go down forever as a Fulham legend.
A man I will be eternally grateful to. He not only saved us from mediocrity but gave us gravitas in the process. Get well soon Alf
Top man
The term legend is used far to easily these days when referring to players who've come and go. Al Fayed was a legend though. He ran this club astutely and really really cared about it. He got the right people in behind the scenes and always made informed footballing decisions. I remember when Roy signed and not having a clue about who he was, plucked out of thin air.. and then he went on to achieve the success he did with us. It was a fitting tribute and end to his tenure and he transformed this club.
I know we're under new ownership but there would be nothing more fitting in my eyes than to have a statue or stand named after the man for all he gave us and what it meant in the grand scheme of things. Whilst I'm not the biggest fans of the khan's and think they leave a lot to be desired, they do still seem like ok people and I do feel they are stable owner's.
Will always have my utmost respect for the dignity he gave the club and the early years in particular.
Not quite the Man Utd of the south, but europa league finals, keegan, hodgson, berbativ, duff, Murphy, Haynes, saha, horse field, hangeland etc etc all would simply not have happened (or the 13 consecutive seasons in the premiership) without him.
Hope the club, if this does seem to be that time of his life, put on a fitting tribute to the man and his tenure to the club. Will be sure to be at that game when it happens.
I would expect that he is one of the worst patients imaginable. He would demand that everything was done correctly. I'm sure that until the day he dies He will be barking his orders. I don't believe that during his time as our custodian he suffered fools gladly. He always demanded the best and he hired the best. He is a great man and Fulham supporters can only be grateful for what he did for this club by the river. Mohamed get well soon
Having dreams come true is not an everyday thing. He did just that for us. What more can be said ?
Quote from: Statto on August 15, 2021, 08:51:50 PM
We can and do debate who is the single biggest legend in our history but two things you can't dispute are that (i) he is at least in the top 5, and (ii) going on actual impact, he's clearly number one. Taking us from a poor third tier side to a European Cup Final is not only the greatest transformation anyone has achieved in our history, it's one of the greatest transformations that's ever happened in football, and a fairytale the vast majority of clubs will never experience. He deserves to be honoured at some point to the greatest extent we can muster - renaming a stand, a statue or something on that scale. I wish him all the best.
+1
Quote from: Andy S on August 15, 2021, 11:38:35 PM
I would expect that he is one of the worst patients imaginable. He would demand that everything was done correctly. I'm sure that until the day he dies He will be barking his orders. I don't believe that during his time as our custodian he suffered fools gladly. He always demanded the best and he hired the best. He is a great man and Fulham supporters can only be grateful for what he did for this club by the river. Mohamed get well soon
I am to believe he has a ery good private Dr looking after his health, one he respects a lot
The geezer's a legend. Get well soon Mo.
Saved the club . Loved his enthusiasm. Hope he recovers soon.
Sorry to put a dampener on things but it's a well known fact he approached Chelsea before us ! I never liked the bloke before he came to us so , not being a hypocrite, he is not a legend in my books . But saying that I don't wish bad health on him .
I was never convinced about his stories about being a long time supporter when he took over, typical MAF but I'm convinced he fell in love with the club.
He transformed our club on and off the pitch when it was on its knees and he will always be greatly admired in my book.
Best wishes to him!
I was lucky enough to shake his hand and thank him personally a couple of times. Anyone who was around before he came to the club need not take a reality check as to the impact he has had on our club and us supporters. We had been floundering in the lower reaches of the football league and teetering with the reality of moving away from Craven Cottage for the survival of the club. I cannot see us being where we are today without him. Thank you again Mo.
Sorry to hear that Mo is unwell. Whatever his reasons for acquiring the club it is my opinion that he fell for the club on the night we played a pre season game soon after the death of Dodi and realised that not everyone in the UK disliked him. He provided some wonderful times for supporters and for what he did I will always thank him. As an aside I wrote to him a couple of times and on each occasion got a very good letter back. I know a number on this Board have problems with TK but, again my opinion, I think Mo left us with excellent owners. Get well soon Mo and hopefully we can see you once more at The Cottage.
Quote from: General on August 15, 2021, 11:36:21 PM
The term legend is used far to easily these days when referring to players who've come and go. Al Fayed was a legend though. He ran this club astutely and really really cared about it. He got the right people in behind the scenes and always made informed footballing decisions. I remember when Roy signed and not having a clue about who he was, plucked out of thin air.. and then he went on to achieve the success he did with us. It was a fitting tribute and end to his tenure and he transformed this club.
I know we're under new ownership but there would be nothing more fitting in my eyes than to have a statue or stand named after the man for all he gave us and what it meant in the grand scheme of things. Whilst I'm not the biggest fans of the khan's and think they leave a lot to be desired, they do still seem like ok people and I do feel they are stable owner's.
Will always have my utmost respect for the dignity he gave the club and the early years in particular.
Not quite the Man Utd of the south, but europa league finals, keegan, hodgson, berbativ, duff, Murphy, Haynes, saha, horse field, hangeland etc etc all would simply not have happened (or the 13 consecutive seasons in the premiership) without him.
Hope the club, if this does seem to be that time of his life, put on a fitting tribute to the man and his tenure to the club. Will be sure to be at that game when it happens.
General, I think you are getting a bit carried away when you attribute Haynes to MAF! Lol
Quote from: Dr Know on August 16, 2021, 08:52:55 AM
Sorry to put a dampener on things but it's a well known fact he approached Chelsea before us ! I never liked the bloke before he came to us so , not being a hypocrite, he is not a legend in my books . But saying that I don't wish bad health on him .
I don't know about the Chelsea rumour and neither does anyone else I suspect, but I'm not sure it's very relevant. I also appreciate that he may have made his fortune through arms trading, was accused of bullying by more than one member of his Harrods staff, made a fairly derisory attempt to buy British citizenship etc. So I can understand that many people weren't too keen on MAF as an individual. However I think you have to set all that background stuff aside; for what he did for Fulham FC he is and always will be, a club legend.
Quote from: Dr Know on August 16, 2021, 08:52:55 AM
Sorry to put a dampener on things but it's a well known fact he approached Chelsea before us ! I never liked the bloke before he came to us so , not being a hypocrite, he is not a legend in my books . But saying that I don't wish bad health on him .
Not a dampener. But we must remember he had a choice to put his money in any profit making business. In the end what he did for Fulham was over and above anything we have ever seen before in our long history. The fact that he looked around and wanted a safer investment before hand doesn't take away what he did. His spokesman, Michael Cole (?) was already a long known Fulham supporter. I can't say I was a fan before either but again what he did for us was over and above.
Would I want to be a business rival? No.
Quote from: Cambridge Pete on August 16, 2021, 09:21:13 AM
Sorry to hear that Mo is unwell. Whatever his reasons for acquiring the club it is my opinion that he fell for the club on the night we played a pre season game soon after the death of Dodi and realised that not everyone in the UK disliked him. He provided some wonderful times for supporters and for what he did I will always thank him. As an aside I wrote to him a couple of times and on each occasion got a very good letter back. I know a number on this Board have problems with TK but, again my opinion, I think Mo left us with excellent owners. Get well soon Mo and hopefully we can see you once more at The Cottage.
Think you will find that game was a league game against Plymouth, which we won 2-0, I think Paul Moody scored both.
Quote from: Lighthouse on August 16, 2021, 10:35:13 AM
Quote from: Dr Know on August 16, 2021, 08:52:55 AM
Sorry to put a dampener on things but it's a well known fact he approached Chelsea before us ! I never liked the bloke before he came to us so , not being a hypocrite, he is not a legend in my books . But saying that I don't wish bad health on him .
Not a dampener. But we must remember he had a choice to put his money in any profit making business. In the end what he did for Fulham was over and above anything we have ever seen before in our long history. The fact that he looked around and wanted a safer investment before hand doesn't take away what he did. His spokesman, Michael Cole (?) was already a long known Fulham supporter. I can't say I was a fan before either but again what he did for us was over and above.
Would I want to be a business rival? No.
And not forgetting the rumour about the Chelsea Russian bloke was, allegedly, flying in a helicopter along the Thames, saw our ground and liked it but brought Stamford Bridge instead.
Sorry to hear Mo is unwell. Will never forget seeing on on Ceefax: 'Al Fayed takes over Fulham. More to follow....' There certainly was. Another was when we were playing Wolfsberg at the Cottage in the Europa League and he was walking around the pitch before the start. The Wolfsberg fans began jeering at him so he walked back and gave them all a double V sign. Mo is in my top 5 of those who did so much for the club we all love. Good luck Mo.
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Quote from: bog on August 16, 2021, 11:27:43 AM
Sorry to hear Mo is unwell. Will never forget seeing on on Ceefax: 'Al Fayed takes over Fulham. More to follow....' There certainly was. Another was when we were playing Wolfsberg at the Cottage in the Europa League and he was walking around the pitch before the start. The Wolfsberg fans began jeering at him so he walked back and gave them all a double V sign. Mo is in my top 5 of those who did so much for the club we all love. Good luck Mo.
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Plus 1
Al Fayed is a Fulham legend that's a fact.
There should be a statue of him or a stand named after him
Quote from: bog on August 16, 2021, 11:27:43 AM
Sorry to hear Mo is unwell. Will never forget seeing on on Ceefax: 'Al Fayed takes over Fulham. More to follow....' There certainly was. Another was when we were playing Wolfsberg at the Cottage in the Europa League and he was walking around the pitch before the start. The Wolfsberg fans began jeering at him so he walked back and gave them all a double V sign. Mo is in my top 5 of those who did so much for the club we all love. Good luck Mo.
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Can remember exactly where I was when I saw the headline on the back of the Standard. Had to go over to this chap by the bar and asked if he would mind if I read the back page of his newspaper. Perhaps not the most wholesome of individuals at certain times but what he did for our club makes him a club legend in my book.
If I could donate some of my years to him. I probably would.
He changed our fortunes completely. we are only where we are today becuase of him. Anything else does not count.
What is more, with him in charge it was always fun and preffesional. I trusted him 100% to do the best he could for us.
Roy's stories re team talks in the great escape year are tremendous. His interaction with the players fantastic and I loved his walks actross the pitch on so many match days.
it was clear in the last year or two his health was not what it was and selling was not a major suprise.
I wish him very well.
I remember being at the Cottage when he first strolled across the pitch and the fantastic reception he was given.
Crystal Palace, I think (aging memory)
That certainly helped him fall in love with us, No doubt he'd never experienced anything like that, but the great
reactions kept coming.
Then there was Mo strolling across the pitch with Michael Jackson, say no more.
Whatever, a great legend for Fulham and still is, the old boy is still alive and kicking.
Chairman Mo just how can he not be a club legend?
A man who invested no small amount of money in propelling Fulham into the big time.
No previous owner (Chairman) has ever affected the club so profoundly and with such speed as he did. Taking us to a place which only once seemed an impossible dream.
Bloke was doubtless a scallywag but in my book a top top bloke 👍👍.
Get well soon MO . A real hero for FFC .
Suspect if Chairman Mo was 10 years younger we'd currently be beginning our 21st consecutive top-flight season.
I have been regularly been watching Fulham for over 70 years. The best times were the Haynes era and then the MAF years.
We owe him so much.
Quote from: filham on August 17, 2021, 02:51:57 PM
I have been regularly been watching Fulham for over 70 years. The best times were the Haynes era and then the MAF years.
We owe him so much.
Spot on Filham.
We should all owe a huge debt to Al Fayed for rescuing our Club & propelling it to the lofty heights of the PL & that Europa Cup Final. However I was saddened when he lost interest & failed to invest into an ageing squad right at the time a rebuild was necessary. What he did was thankfully before FFP as even he would not have been able to attract the players he did with the restrictions the Khans now face.
Al Fayed got all his investment back so we now move on into a new era & dynasty.
I hope he does recover & I wish him well.