http://www.eatsleepsport.com/fulham/hughes-starts-fulham-talks-1217965.html? (http://www.eatsleepsport.com/fulham/hughes-starts-fulham-talks-1217965.html?)
Hughes starts Fulham talks
It's understood Fulham have started talks with Mark Hughes over a new deal, with the Welshman linked with two other managerial roles.
Although Hughes penned a two-year contract last summer, there have been suggestions that he could move on from Craven Cottage during the summer.
The 47-year-old is believed to be on the list of potential new managers at his former club Bayern Munich, while Hughes has also been mentioned as a potential replacement for Gerard Houllier at Aston Villa.
Hughes has always stated that he is happy to remain with the Cottagers and the Fulham board are hopeful of tieing him down to a longer deal during the close season.
After shaky start to the season, the former Manchester City and Blackburn boss lead Fulham to eighth in the Premier League this season - four places and three points better than last season.
Riverside Season Tickets
With 2011/12 Season Tickets selling faster than ever before, availability is rapidly reducing! There are still some great locations available to buy, but only for those fans who get in now.
The Riverside Stand is already over three quarters full, however, some excellent seats that will provide you with fantastic views of the Whites in action next season remain available.
Some blocks still have two or more seats next to each other, allowing you to sit with a friend or family member.
Facing the oldest existing stand in English Football, your match view will be set against the backdrop of the Johnny Haynes Stand and the iconic Cottage which have remained practically unchanged since 1905.
Located on the same side of the ground as the dugout, you will catch first glimspe of players warming up and be able to see Mark Hughes giving orders from his technical area.
Not only will you benefit from great views of the action from the Riverside Stand, but you can meet with friends for a bite to eat or a drink pre-match and at half-time on the serene Riverside Terrace overlooking the Thames. The Riverside Stand is home to the majority of Fulham's hospitality suites, making it the perfect location to enjoy a matchday.
Don't miss your chance to grab one of the few remaining Season Ticket seats in the Riverside Stand.
(http://www.fulhamfc.com/Images/MainNews/HeadlineImages-small/Tickets/STAvailability-Riverside.gif)
Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/May/GreatSeasonTicketLocationsStillAvailable.aspx?#ixzz1NRAsq9YC (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/May/GreatSeasonTicketLocationsStillAvailable.aspx?#ixzz1NRAsq9YC)
Fulham - I Don`t!
And there was I celebrating the fact that Fulham had two players in the current England squad.
Wrong!
It only transpires that one of them has pulled out!
David Stockdale, one of three keepers named, has had to inform Fabio Capello and his management team that he isn`t available for the fixture against Switzerland.
The small matter of David getting married the day before the fixture has kyboshed any chance of David pulling on an England shirt!
Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=242798#ixzz1NRBA1bei (http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=242798#ixzz1NRBA1bei)
http://www.teamtalk.com/sunderland/6951666/TT-s-Premier-League-unsung-heroes? (http://www.teamtalk.com/sunderland/6951666/TT-s-Premier-League-unsung-heroes?)
TT's Premier League unsung heroes
With TEAMtalk's Soccers to be handed out next week, Jon Holmes picks out a team of Premier League players whose efforts may go unrecognised.
Fulham's considerable achievement in finishing eighth in the Premier League this season has to a large extent gone unnoticed, unlike the Michael Jackson statue outside Craven Cottage, which was attracting large crowds when I was at the ground for the Arsenal game on Sunday. The likeness is no better on closer inspection, I can assure you.
Unsung heroes were on my mind as I followed the Thames back towards Putney Bridge on a sunny summer afternoon. It's hard not to reflect wistfully on the season as a whole as you walk away from the final match of the campaign, and with precious little to shout about from my own club's fortunes on the pitch (Plymouth Argyle - administrated and relegated), I was keen to highlight those in the Premier League who warrant a mention for their efforts in 2010/11.
All these players will have been rightly praised by their own supporters in recent months and some will have picked up club awards. However, the purpose of the exercise is not only to spread some love away from the likes of Chicharito, Bale, Parker, Kompany and Hart, but also to highlight some names which may have been, like Fulham, relatively overlooked.
So here's a team and nine substitutes, with all 20 top-flight clubs represented, which scratches beneath the surface of the world's richest league...
Goalkeeper: Asmir Begovic (Stoke): Younger than Golden Gloves winner Joe Hart, winner of the Potters' young player of the season gong, and kept eight clean sheets in 28 league starts.
Right-back: Martin Kelly (Liverpool): Made his full Premier League debut in the 2-0 home win over Chelsea, won man-of-the-match awards for his performances in big games against Manchester United and Everton, described as "turbo-charged" by Jamie Carragher - and only just turned 21.
Centre-back: Antolin Alcaraz (Wigan): Snapped up on a free before Paraguay's World Cup jaunt in South Africa and after a sluggish start, got better and better. Voted Latics' best in show by his team-mates.
Centre-back: Ian Evatt (Blackpool): Picking a Seasiders defender might seem strange with the club having conceded 78 goals this season, but the burly ex-Chesterfield man should be remembered for his determined, committed approach (and not that own goal at Old Trafford). Blackpool's official website users recognised his worth by handing him the club's John Schofield Memorial Trophy.
Left-back: Phil Bardsley (Sunderland): Quite a season for someone who thought about quitting Wearside last summer having been underused by Steve Bruce. 37 appearances, three belting long-range goals, international football with Scotland and the Black Cats' player of the season award.
Right wing: Junior Hoilett (Blackburn): Rovers are often labelled a team of bruisers, but jet-heeled Canadian forward Hoilett breaks that mould. His stunner against West Brom was named the club's goal of the season and he looks set to be handed a bumper new contract.
Central midfield: Chris Brunt (West Brom): Eleven assists puts him fourth equal in the Premier League contributions chart, and the versatile 26-year-old Northern Irishman has also been rewarded for his maturity by being made permanent Baggies skipper.
Central midfield: Dickson Etuhu (Fulham). Dempsey and Hangeland tend to win most of the plaudits down by the river in SW6, but Etuhu is ranked just behind them in the Castrol Index's analysis of the Cottagers. Certainly physical, but also pretty skilful.
Left wing: Marc Albrighton (Aston Villa). An up-and-down season perhaps, disrupted by illness, but he's still only 21 and there were flashes of brilliance. Scored an outstanding goal at Fulham and could be one to watch at the Under-21 Euros.
Striker: Steven Fletcher (Wolves). Only just squeaked into double figures, but made a telling overall contribution to Wolves' successful survival battle and proved to be well worth the £6.5million shelled out to Burnley nine months ago.
Striker: Didier Drogba (Chelsea). Bear with me on this one... it's rare that the big Ivorian is forgotten about, but I'm not sure he's received enough credit for his role in dragging the Blues back into the runners-up spot. And with 12 goals and 15 assists, no player had a part in more Premier League goals in 2010/11.
Substitutes: Steve Harper (Newcastle); Sylvain Distin (Everton), William Gallas (Tottenham), Pablo Zabaleta (Man City); Craig Gardner (Birmingham), Mark Noble (West Ham), Michael Carrick (Man Utd), Lee Chung-Yong (Bolton); Theo Walcott (Arsenal).
Manager: Roberto Di Matteo (West Brom). Sacked in early February after what was undoubtedly a dodgy run, but hark back to your response when you heard the news of the his departure. Shocked? After all, Albion had recorded a thrilling 3-2 win at Arsenal, had hammered Everton 4-1 at Goodison, were the only team to have taken points off Manchester United at Old Trafford, and were playing some fantastic attacking football down at the Hawthorns. OK, so the defence was a bit all over the place (only Blackpool conceded more) but don't say Di Matteo couldn't lift his players. The Baggies had the greatest resolve over the course of the campaign, claiming 27 points from losing positions - and 14 of those were grasped back under the Italian's watch.
Chairman/Owner: Dave Whelan (Wigan). Jaws dropped on the opening day when brilliant Blackpool coasted to a 4-0 win at the DW Stadium, and when Latics were hit for six the following weekend by Chelsea, the pressure was fierce for Roberto Martinez, who looked to be suffering from second season syndrome. But the Spaniard was backed to the hilt by Whelan, and results steadily improved to the point where Wigan hung in there and then peaked at just the right time. Once viewed as a bit of a Northern windbag for the media, Whelan kept his mouth shut for the majority of the campaign and let Martinez get on with the hard graft. And when he did speak out, it was with more considered ideas on big issues (salary caps, the ongoing mess at the FA, etc) that won him wider respect within the game.
Fans: Manchester City. City fans have felt hard done by on several occasions in the last year or two, frustrated by the media's focus on the millions sloshing around in the Eastlands coffers and perceived exaggeration of squabbles on the training pitch and in the boardroom. But credit where it's due, City have won a lot of friends this season and a lot of that is due to the supporters themselves. It's not just about the Poznan, it's about good humour and spirited support - and while there are countless examples of this all around the country, not least from FA Cup opponents Stoke, I tip my hat to the City faithful and the success they helped to achieve this year.
http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/euro-2012/england/7762/3/exclusive- (http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/euro-2012/england/7762/3/exclusive-)–-stockdale-fabio-said-he'd-rather-i-went-my-wedding-wembley?
Exclusive – Stockdale: Fabio said he'd rather I went to my wedding than Wembley
Fulham goalkeeper David Stockdale has told talkSPORT that Fabio Capello gave him his blessing to get married rather than face Switzerland next month.
After recent problems with his glovemen Capello had called upon the former Darlington shot stopper, who has excelled when used by Mark Hughes at Craven Cottage this season.
And Stockdale revealed that although it was disappointing to have to pull out he's still proud about his call-up.
He told Drive Time: "It's one of those things, when we arranged it unfortunately I wasn't a part of the England plans but seeing as I've done OK this season Fabio decided to call me up. It was a catch-22 situation.
"[My fiancée] offered to move [the wedding], we rang the church, the hotel and had alternative dates and when I spoke to England they were brilliant about it and told me not to be silly so we just left it as it was.
"I'm glad she's going to be my wife the way she handled it. For a wife-to-be to try to move a wedding, when I've had six months to a year of earache trying to organise this one. Trying to change it in six days isn't the easiest thing so I give all credit to her and both our families for trying to get me in the England squad.
"I don't like it being called 'dropping out' because I'd never drop out for my country if it had anything to do with anything other than the missus.
"It was nice of [Fabio] to ring me and let me know he'd rather have me going to my wedding.
"I'm the proudest guy at the moment even though I've had to withdraw from the squad, it's all about getting in there, it's every footballers dream and I've come from the lower leagues like Joe [Hart] has.
"Fingers crossed I can get playing next year and get in other squads and I won't be withdrawing from them."
End of Season DVDThe 2010/11 Season Review DVD is now available for you to pre-order and relive some of the best moments in what was an amazing season for Fulham FC.
(http://www.fulhamfc.com/Images/MainNews/NewsPages/Retail/2011-12-Products/eosa2011-dvd-newsimage.jpg)
The 2010/11 season was another successful campaign in English football's top flight and was Fulham's 10th consecutive season in the Premier League. New Manager, Mark Hughes, delivered dynamic and attacking football to the Cottage and results on the pitch followed as the team continued to improve throughout the season to finish 8th in the table, their second highest in the Club's Premier League history.
Amongst many memorable results there were some standout performances including a thrilling encounter with Tottenham Hotspur in which Fulham beat North London neighbours 4-0 in the FA Cup, with goals coming from all quarters thanks to Murphy, Hangeland, and Dembele. And the season saw some individual milestones as Clint Dempsey capped off a stunning campaign by claiming the record as the Club's highest ever goal scorer in a Premier League season.
Pre-order your copy now for delivery from 22nd June 2011.
Relive every goal and every victory, along with exclusive player interviews, in this record of the 2010/11 season and pre-order today!
Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/May/EndofSeasonDVD.aspx?#ixzz1NRCLSOw0 (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/May/EndofSeasonDVD.aspx?#ixzz1NRCLSOw0)
http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/sport/fulham-fc-ealing/2011/05/25/jonathan-greening-makes-fulham-claim-82029-28764419/? (http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/sport/fulham-fc-ealing/2011/05/25/jonathan-greening-makes-fulham-claim-82029-28764419/?)
Jonathan Greening makes Fulham claim
FULHAM have done better this season than anyone had a right to expect, according to Jonathan Greening.
The midfielder says the change of manager and style of play from last season could easily have been a recipe for disaster, but the players deserve credit for adapting so well.
"I think we have exceeded expectations this year," Greening said.
"It's always hard when you lose somebody who has ingrained you to play a certain way and we probably found it hard to get out of it really.
"The new manager [Mark Hughes] didn't really want us to play that way and now I think we are a bit more attacking and are playing a bit more like the manager wants."
Greening added: "He said after Sunday's game that he's proud of the way we've all pulled together and worked hard.
"We've got a really good team spirit here and haven't got any big time Charlies. Finishing eighth makes it a great season really."
http://www.talksport.co.uk/radio/drivetime/blog/2011-05-25/stockdale-i (http://www.talksport.co.uk/radio/drivetime/blog/2011-05-25/stockdale-i)'ll-try-and-get-fulham-no-1-spot-back?
Stockdale: I'll try and get the Fulham No. 1 spot back
David Stockdale has told talkSPORT he understands why he was dropped by Mark Hughes despite his good from and has revealed he will do his best to get the no. 1 spot back.
He told Drive Time: "It's the manager's decision, you can't really go with someone who's played ten games over someone who's played 610. I understand his decision. I think it was probably right for the team at the time.
"I'm a realist and I work hard and I'll try and get that spot back when I can. I'm a typical northern lad that got a break and I just want to do the best that I can for everyone.
"It's just a buzzing being in and around the Premier League never mind England. I'm happy to be named in a Premier League 18 never mind an England squad so I'm just taking each day as it comes and it's a nice dilemma to have when you're trying to pick your country or your future wife."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/may/26/kenny-dalglish-danny-murphy-liverpool (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/may/26/kenny-dalglish-danny-murphy-liverpool)
Liverpool's Kenny Dalglish responds to Murphy's 'little pressure' claim
• Murphy pointed out Reds had played 'under very little pressure'
• We played fantastic that night against Fulham, says Dalglish
Kenny Dalglish has taken Danny Murphy to task after the Fulham captain claimed Liverpool have to prove they can perform under pressure when they bid to return to the Champions League next season.
Liverpool were transformed in the second half of the season under Dalglish, rising from 12th when he replaced Roy Hodgson as manager in January to sixth and only missing out on the Europa League after losing their final two matches. Among several impressive performances was a 5-2 win at Fulham on 9 May, after which Murphy praised his former club's revival but claimed Liverpool's woeful start to the season had allowed them to play without pressure in the final months.
When asked if Liverpool could challenge for the title in 2012, Murphy replied: "It's hard to say because they have been playing under very little pressure. They haven't needed to go out and win games, and everything they get now is a bonus. It will be a different ask for those players to play under pressure every week if they are near the top, but with Kenny in charge and a few more additions they will be pushing for the top four again."
Dalglish is unhappy with that evaluation, however, and has rebuked a player who championed Hodgson's credentials for the Liverpool job that he sought last summer. The Liverpool manager said: "He [Murphy] should know there is always pressure here. He played here long enough, didn't he? I just know that we played fantastic that night against Fulham and so does he.
"There's always a caveat in there somewhere, isn't there? There's always somebody that asks a question. But if you take any pride in your work, you are under pressure in any walk of life. It's not just exclusive to football. You worry about their ability to play first, and I'm sure the players can handle anything else that comes with it."
Dalglish says he did not want the season to end having won 10 of 18 Premier League games since taking charge. "The season has only been a short one for myself having come in in January," he said. "You don't feel ready for a holiday and want it to continue. There will be plenty of enthusiasm in July when we come back."
Having confirmed Liverpool will be in the market for top‑quality additions this summer, the Scot is adamant he will have a squad capable of handling and fulfilling expectations next season. "The expectation is for everybody to build on what has happened since January, have a good summer and go into every game with the same attitude and commitment as we have shown since January. If you put those things in place, then we aren't going to be too far away.
"Everyone is looking forward to next season, which wouldn't have been the case if we had stayed 12th. The fans are looking forward to it and so are the players. The disappointment of earlier in the season doesn't do them any harm, because once you win a couple of games you see how enjoyable it is. We only need to show improvement, and that will be a successful season. If we improve on what we've done this season next season, then I don't think anybody can be disappointed."
The Fulham end of season report and summer transfer guide, by Neil McLeman(http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/incoming/article740724.ece/ALTERNATES/gallery-large/End+of+Season+-+Fulham)
So that was the season that was. Our expert reporters have their say below. But how was it for you? Let us know by leaving a comment below...
Sum up the season in 140 characters or less...
Slow start, terrible run of eight games without a win culminating in horrendous Boxing Day defeat to West Ham, followed by strong finish
Hero?
Clint Dempsey - top scorer led the line while the Fulham forward line was devastated by injuries
Villain?
Karl Henry - the Wolves midfielder's leg-breaking tackle on Bobby Zamora in September also injured Fulham for nearly three months
Will the manager still be there in August?
Good question as Mark Hughes is halfway through a two-year contract. Negotiations have started about a new deal but the former Wales manager might be in no rush. A calculated gamble to take the job after eight months out, his stock dipped and has now risen. Would he he tempted if the Aston Villa job became available?
Funniest moment?
Mark Schwarzer's performance in 5-2 home defeat to Liverpool
Your personal highlight?
While many autocratic Middle Eastern dictators fell this season, owner Mohamed Al Fayed still carries out his pre-match waddle around the pitch and laps up the applause of his followers
Key lesson learned for 2011-12
You can never have enough strength in depth, though it is a difficult balancing act at a club the size of Fulham.
What areas need strengthening in the summer?
Full-backs. And how much longer can Danny Murphy be the creative inspiration in the centre of midfield
Who should they be targeting?
Paul Konchesky was an excellent Fulham player but average at Liverpool. On-loan Eidur Gudjohnsen has yet to score but has linked play well.
Who needs to go?
Full-backs John Pantsil and Carlos Salcido. Internationals Eddie Johnson and Bjorn Riise have hardly figured this season.
Read more: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/blogs/mirror-football-blog/Fulham-2010-11-season-rated-hero-villain-manager-funniest-moment-summer-transfers-and-more-by-Neil-McLeman-article740669.html#ixzz1NREDsRM7 (http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/blogs/mirror-football-blog/Fulham-2010-11-season-rated-hero-villain-manager-funniest-moment-summer-transfers-and-more-by-Neil-McLeman-article740669.html#ixzz1NREDsRM7)
Sign up for MirrorFootball's Morning Spy newsletter Register here
http://www.uefa.com/uefa/footballfirst/matchorganisation/refereeing/news/newsid=1635005.html?rss=1635005+DamkovÃ%C2%83Â (http://www.uefa.com/uefa/footballfirst/matchorganisation/refereeing/news/newsid=1635005.html?rss=1635005+Damkov%C3%83%C2%83%C3%82)¡+up+for+Lyon-Potsdam+challenge
Damková up for Lyon-Potsdam challenge
Published: Thursday 26 May 2011, 11.12CET
Dagmar Damková will add the 2011 UEFA Women's Champions League final to an impressive list of deciders she has refereed on Thursday and is determined to give her all at Craven Cottage.
Dagmar Damková will add another string to her considerable bow when she takes charge of tonight's UEFA Women's Champions League final between Olympique Lyonnais and 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam in London.
This competition has been kind to the 36-year-old Czech, whose appearance in the second leg of the 2006 final – where Potsdam relinquished their European crown to German rivals 1. FFC Frankfurt – proved the precursor to her refereeing the final of the 2008 Olympic women's tournament in Beijing and the following year's UEFA European Women's Championship.
After completing a pre-match training session at Craven Cottage, Fulham, along with her Czech refereeing team – assistants Adriana Šecová and Lucie Ratajová, and fourth official Jana Adámková – Damková took time out to speak to UEFA.com.
UEFA.com: How honoured are you to be selected for the final?
Dagmar Damková: It's excellent, just perfect. I will do my best as I always try to and I just hope that it will be a perfect evening for everybody. I'll be happy if people say the refereeing team performed well.
UEFA.com: Of all the games you have handled, which was the most memorable?
Damková: These are all the finals I've had – [UEFA Women's] EURO 2009 in Finland and the Olympic Games. Then there's the final I had in what used to be the UEFA [Women's] Cup. It used to be two legs but that was also perfect. I would also include the final of the men's Czech Cup at home in 2006 between [AC] Sparta Praha and [FC] Baník Ostrava. It's nice to remember all these finals.
UEFA.com: Will it make a difference to have three Czech officials alongside you?
Damková: It's good, definitely, and I'm happy that they're here with me. But when I'm at other tournaments I'm used to going with different assistants from different countries anyway so I don't mind who I work with.
UEFA.com: Has stopping full-time teaching this year made a difference to your refereeing career?
Damková: Yes, I have more time for training, more time to concentrate before games. Now I'm free anytime I'm called to work at a match, so being available is good.
UEFA.com: Women's football has become increasingly professional since you entered the FIFA list in 1999. Does that go for the match officials too?
Damková: Yes, definitely. I think it goes hand in hand with football, which is faster now. We have a lot of courses, a lot of seminars. There are lots of teaching materials and we have great lectures – things have moved forward a lot.
©UEFA.com 1998-2011. All rights reserved.
A Place In History
Thursday 26th May 2011
Join us||||
Share If you're looking to purchase a Season Ticket at Fulham Football Club| for the 2011/12 campaign, you will not just be supporting the oldest London club in the Barclays Premier League next season, you will be sitting in a stadium steeped in rich history.
Last week we looked back at the history of Craven Cottage up to the end of the 1930's when attendances were at an all time high. We managed to find some historical images of the Johnny Haynes Stand as it is now known, and the iconic Cottage which has now stood for over 100 years.
This week will we continue our journey through time and focus on The Johnny Haynes era, up until his Fulham career ended in 1970. Haynes' club career record of 158 goals in 658 games still stands and The Maestro is quite simply know as Fulham's greatest ever player.
(http://www.fulhamfc.com/Images/MainNews/NewsPages/ExPlayers/Haynes/JH689.jpg)
Next Page
"He was without doubt one of the greatest players this country has ever produced. He ranks alongside Wright, Matthews, Charlton, Finney, Lofthouse and Moore, great club men and international players. He loved the game and was a sensational player." Bobby Robson
"He's the best passer of the ball I've ever seen. It was as if he possessed his own internal guided missile system." Pele
"Any suggestion that he lives anywhere other than the Pantheon is an insult to anyone who saw him play." Michael Parkinson
"Forget David Beckham or Glenn Hoddle. Johnny Haynes was the best passer of the ball the game has ever seen." Jimmy Greaves
A Place in History – Part 2
We pick up A Place in History in 1948. The team photo below shows the newly crowned champions of Division Two. A great run of form towards the end of the season saw Fulham draw one and win six out of their last seven games on their way to beat West Bromwich Albion to the title by a single point.
Interestingly, with goalkeeper Doug Flack injured for the final three games of the season, and reserve stopper Ted Hinton injured, Larry Gage stepped in to deputise and performed brilliantly in two wins and one draw. These three games were his only appearances for Fulham.
Fulham team photographed with their Second Division Championship trophy. (Back row, l-r) Eddie Perry (team manager) Harry Freeman, Len Quested, Doug Flack, Jim Taylor, Joe Bacuzzi, Pat Beasley, Frank Penn (trainer). (Front row, l-r) Ron Lewin, Arthur Stevens, Robert Thomas, Arthur Rowley, Sidney Thomas, John McDonald, Dave Bewley
On December 27th, 1952, the famous Johnny Haynes made his Fulham debut in a 1-1 draw, his first goal came at home against West Ham United in a 3-2 defeat. The rest, as they say is history. The next season Haynes, still only 18 years of age, scored 18 goals in all competitions. Pictured below is Johnny Haynes in 1950, aged 15 and stood in front of the stand which now carries his name.
Here is a selection of images of The Maestro playing at Craven Cottage in the 1950's and early 1960's, starting with a shot from 1955 in a match against Hull City.
In the next shot Haynes, playing inside-left (white shirt), leaps above his marker against Yeovil Town to head the ball against the cross bar during the Third Round FA Cup tie at the Cottage in January 1958.
Another famous name from the 50s, Sir Bobby Robson, was playing for Fulham, signing in October 1950 from a team in County Durham called Langley Park. Robson had offers from both Sunderland and Newcastle United but opted for a move to London instead.
Alongside Johnny Haynes and Beddy Jezzard, the trio formed a great partnership up front, with Robson scoring 19 goals in 1952/53 and 23 goals in 1954/55. He left for West Bromwich Albion in 1956 for a fee of £25,000.
Sir Bobby returned to Craven Cottage for another five seasons before he ended his playing career in 1967 and remodelled his style to be a more defensive player. Sir Bobby is pictured below heading towards goal against Hull City in front of the historic Johnny Haynes Stand gable in November 1953.
Fulham won the game 5-1 with Robson and Haynes scoring two each and Jezzard netted the other. The three scorers that day scored 68 of Fulham's 98 league goals.
Bedford Jezzard scored a total of 154 goals in just 306 games for Fulham. He joined from Watford in July 1948 and made 30 appearances in the 1948/49 promotion season.
He scored 27 goals in the top flight for Fulham over three seasons but really thrived after Fulham's relegation to Division Two at the end of 1951/52. In two seasons between 1952 and 1954 he found the net an astonishing 74 times in just 84 appearances, his 39 goals in the 1953/54 season remains Fulham's best post 1945 total in one season.
He also played twice for England in the 1955 season. Bedford, nicknames 'Beddy' is pictured below trying to reach a cross in an FA Cup Third Round replay against Charlton in January1950.
Another famous name playing for Fulham during the 1950's was Jimmy Hill. His professional playing days began at Brentford in 1949 despite a brief spell at Fulham juniors in 1943. He signed for Fulham in 1952 as a half back and moved further forward to fill the void left when Sir Bobby Robson signed for West Bromwich Albion in 1954.
He totalled 52 goals in 297 appearances for Fulham in ten seasons before being forced into retirement in 1961. He is pictured below beating Doncaster Rovers goalkeeper to the ball in 1956.
Keep an eye out for A Place in History Part Three next week, which will look towards the 1970's.
.
Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/May/APlaceInHistoryPartTwo.aspx#ixzz1NS4yOn5n (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/May/APlaceInHistoryPartTwo.aspx#ixzz1NS4yOn5n)
Back In Europe!(http://www.fulhamfc.com/Images/MainNews/NewsPages/Logos/EuropaLeague.gif)
Fulham are making a return to European football next season in the UEFA Europa League.
The 2009/10 UEFA Europa League Finalists received confirmation on Thursday morning from the Barclays Premier League that Fulham's final position in the Fair Play League had earned the Club a place in Europe.
The UEFA Europa League draw for the first and second Qualifying Rounds will be made in Geneva on the 20th June. Fulham's first round match (two legs) will take place on the 30th June and 7th July.
Final Barclays Premier League Fair Play Table
(http://www.sportingintelligence.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/PL-Fair-Play-table.jpg)
Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/May/BackInEurope.aspx#ixzz1NSd4omRu (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/May/BackInEurope.aspx#ixzz1NSd4omRu)
European Challenge(http://www.fulhamfc.com/Images/MainNews/NewsPages/Management/Hughes/general1.jpg)
Fulham's return to European football was confirmed by the Barclays Premier League on Thursday morning and manager Mark Hughes is looking forward to the challenge of navigating his Team through the qualifying rounds of the UEFA Europa League.
The draw for Fulham's first round opponents will take place in Geneva on the 20th June and whilst Hughes is clearly not underestimating the various challenges that today's announcement will pose, he is evidently relishing the prospect of leading his Team into Europe.
"We've got a very early start to the season and we will have to come back on something like June 23rd for a match on June 30th," Hughes told to fulhamfc.com. "We'll have three to four weeks break maximum so it's difficult to plan for.
"A huge amount of thought needs to go into the guys that need the rest and making sure we have the right quality on the field to move through the competition in the early rounds. If you don't get it right you'll get knocked out.
"It's difficult but I've done it before when I was at Manchester City. We basically replaced pre-season games with competitive games so you can benefit from it. For the beginning of the season you should arguably be in better shape than the teams that have played friendly matches. You've got to hope towards the end of the season it doesn't have a detrimental impact.
"It's a big ask for every club and it's not just the players. It's the management, the Sports Science department and all people that drive the First Team.
"Whatever competitions you're in you have to pay them respect and do as well as you can, but you have to manage your resources correctly. We're in it to win it and we'll get as far as we can. The Club enjoyed a fantastic adventure in the Europa League in 2010 and we'll do our best to replicate that.
"European football is important. It helps you develop and gives you an insight into different teams and players. If you have more exposure to tests abroad that will help you as a team."
Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/May/HughesEuropaConfirmation.aspx#ixzz1NSeRdXRq (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/May/HughesEuropaConfirmation.aspx#ixzz1NSeRdXRq)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/may/26/fulham-fair-play-europa-league? (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/may/26/fulham-fair-play-europa-league?)
Fulham to take England's Fair Play place in Europa League
• Fulham's spot confirmed despite final day red card
• England received additional Europa League place
(http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/SPORT/Pix/pictures/2011/5/26/1306406057390/Fulham-007.jpg)
The Premier League has confirmed that Fulham will take up England's Fair Play place in the Europa League next season.
Mark Hughes's side had only one player sent off in league matches all season – the red card coming in the last game, leading to suggestions that relegated Blackpool could pip them to the spot.
Chelsea finished top of the Fair Play League but had already qualified for the Champions League and Fulham were in second spot.
The Premier League said: "Fulham has finished the season as the highest placed club in the 2010-11 Fair Play League that has not already qualified for Uefa competitions via the 2010-11 Premier League.
"The club will take the additional European place awarded to England and compete in next season's Uefa Europa League."
England received an additional Europa League place for next season after finishing second in Uefa's national fair play table based on results from all Uefa club and international matches played over the season.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/fulham/8537902/Fulham-handed-a-Europa-League-place-through-the-Premier-Leagues-Fair-Play-League.html (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/fulham/8537902/Fulham-handed-a-Europa-League-place-through-the-Premier-Leagues-Fair-Play-League.html)
Fulham handed a Europa League place through the Premier League's Fair Play League
Fulham will play in the Europa League next season via the Premier League's Fair Play League.
(http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01905/fulham_1905611c.jpg)
League of their own: Fulham will enjoy another run in the Europa League thanks to England's Fair Play League entry
Photo: ACTION IMAGES
Mark Hughes' side had just one player sent off in league matches all season - that happened in the very last game leading to suggestions that relegated Blackpool could pip them to the spot.
Chelsea finished top of the Fair Play League but had already qualified for the Champions League and Fulham were in second spot.
The Premier League said in a statement: ''Fulham FC has finished the season as the highest placed club in the 2010/11 Fair Play League that has not already qualified for UEFA competitions via the 2010/11 Barclays Premier League.
''The club will take the additional European place awarded to England and compete in next season's UEFA Europa League.''
England received an additional Europa League place for next season after finishing second in UEFA's national fair-play table based on results from all UEFA club and international matches played over the season.
http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1441745.html?cid=rssfeed&att= (http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1441745.html?cid=rssfeed&att=)
Fulham given fair play Europa berth
Fulham will play in the UEFA Europa League next season after being awarded a place today under the Premier League's Fair Play League. England received an additional Europa League place for next season after finishing second in UEFA's national fair-play table.
Chelsea finished top of the Fair Play League but had already qualified for the UEFA Champions League and Fulham were in second spot. Mark Hughes' side had just one player sent off in league matches all season - that happened in the very last game leading to suggestions that relegated Blackpool could pip them to the spot.
The Premier League said in a statement: "Fulham FC has finished the season as the highest placed club in the 2010/11 Fair Play League that has not already qualified for UEFA competitions via the 2010/11 Barclays Premier League.
"The club will take the additional European place awarded to England and compete in next season's UEFA Europa League."
http://hammyend.com/index.php/2011/05/fulham-win-fair-play-place/? (http://hammyend.com/index.php/2011/05/fulham-win-fair-play-place/?)
Fulham win fair play place
by DAN on MAY 26, 2011
After an agonising wait, Fulham were this afternoon confirmed as participants in next season's Europa League after winning the extra English place in the European competition.
Fulham's place as the highest non-European qualified place in the Premier League's fair play table was placed in jeopardy by Zoltan Gera's sending off in Sunday's last game of the season against Arsenal. Relegated Blackpool missed out on a place in Europe by a tantalising 0.01 points.
Fulham, who reached the final of the 2009-2010 competition, will start their campaign in the first qualifying round meaning that their season will get underway on June 30. Mark Hughes has suggested he'll be juggling his resources to ensure his first-team players aren't burnt out midway through the league season:
We've got a very early start and we will have to come back on something like June 23 for a match on June 30.
We'll have three to four weeks break maximum so it's difficult to plan for. A huge amount of thought needs to go into the guys that need the rest and making sure we have the right quality to move through the competition in the early rounds.
http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/sport/fulham-fc-ealing/2011/05/26/fulham-midfielder-wants-europa-chance-64767-28768535/? (http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/sport/fulham-fc-ealing/2011/05/26/fulham-midfielder-wants-europa-chance-64767-28768535/?)
Fulham midfielder wants Europa chance
JONATHAN Greening has joined the chorus of pro-Europa league enthusiasts, saying the competition is ideal for a club like Fulham.
The Whites were awarded a spot in Europe next season after pipping Blackpool in the Fair Play scheme.
Some clubs have viewed the competition as a poisoned chalice in the past because of the extra demands it makes on the players. But Greening believes the Whites have proved they are made for it.
He said: "A club like ours will relish the challenge, whereas maybe teams like Tottenham and Liverpool would rather be in the Champions League.
"We know we're probably a few years off the Champions League, so we should take this chance with open arms.
"Last time, we managed to combine all four competitions really well and I think we've got the squad of players to do it. I know the manager wants to add some players as well, so why not. We've done it once, why can't we do it again?
"I don't think coming back early will be a problem and I'm sure the lads would rather be playing against some of the best teams in Europe than sat on a beach somewhere. I know I would."
Greening added: "I was involved in most of the games two years ago and have great memories – especially the Juventus game. But the whole tournament really was special.
"The display at Shakhtor Donetsk was amazing and being involved in the final itself, apart from losing, was a great experience."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13492544.stm? (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13492544.stm?)
Fulham gain Europa League spot through Fair Play league
(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/52894000/jpg/_52894309_gera464.jpg)
Zoltan Gera was sent off on the final day of the season for Fulham
Fulham will play in the Europa League next season after earning a spot through the Fair Play League.
England had received an extra Europa League place by finishing second in Uefa's fair play table for 2010/11.
Chelsea topped the Premier League Fair Play table but having already qualified for the Champions League, Fulham in second were given the Europa spot.
Blackpool had hoped to leapfrog Fulham after Zoltan Gera was sent off for the Cottagers in their final league game.
That was the only red card that Mark Hughes' team received all season.
Teams were awarded fair play points for each Premier League match they played during the season. These were assessed by match delegates and took into account a range of factors such as positive play, the number of red and yellow cards received, respect towards opponents and behaviour of club officials.
http://theovallog.wordpress.com/2011/05/26/an-evening-at-the-cottage-the-womens-champions-league-final/? (http://theovallog.wordpress.com/2011/05/26/an-evening-at-the-cottage-the-womens-champions-league-final/?)
An Evening at the Cottage – The Women's Champions League Final
By John Burn-Murdoch.
Not many people are aware of this – despite my best efforts – but this week London plays host to not one, but two Champions League finals. All eyes have been on Manchester United's upcoming clash with Barcelona for some time now, and this attention will only heighten in the coming days, but it is tonight's clash at Craven Cottage that I have been looking forward to for the past few weeks.
At 8pm the clash between French champions Olympique Lyon and their German counterparts Turbine Potsdam will get underway and the destination of the last piece of major silverware to be contested before the Women's World Cup kicks off next month will be decided.
Last season's corresponding fixture saw the same two sides line up against one another and it was Potsdam who took the spoils, holding their nerve to claim the narrowest of victories after taking the penalty shoot-out 7-6 following a goalless 120 minutes.
This time around Patrice Lair's Lyon side will no doubt be eager to exact their revenge, and after a near flawless domestic campaign the French side stand every chance of doing just that. With one game remaining in the Division 1 Féminine, Les Fenottes have been crowned national champions, having won every one of their 21 fixtures to date, amassing a stellar record of scored 101, conceded 5 along the way. This is Lyon's fifth title in a row and with their superiority in France is beyond any doubt, tonight provided an opportunity to go one better and take their place at the pinnacle of women's club football throughout Europe.
Opponents Potsdam will go level with compatriots Frankfurt in having lifted the trophy three times if they prevail this evening, and have enjoyed s similar domestic success to Lyon, finishing atop the twelve team league by a solitary point and in doing so marking their third successive Bundesliga crown. Having lost to title rivals Frankfurt in the final of the domestic cup, Bernd Schröder's side have let slip the opportunity to tilt at a treble, but a victory tonight would conclude and excellent season nevertheless.
Both sides boast squads studded with experienced internationals and for someone who is relatively new to the elite women's game such as myself, it would be difficult to pick out the key protagonists without fear of misrepresentation. For this reason I have enlisted the help of women's football aficionado Gareth Llewellyn (@gci_ls) who pointed me in the direction of some of the stars particularly worth watching at Craven Cottage.
As evidenced by their league form, Lyon are a side who prided themselves on attacking excellence, and one of their main threats in this department will be Eugénie Le Sommer, who finished in second place in the league goalscoring charts on 13. Aged just 22, Le Sommer has proven to be a prodigious talent and has already passed 30 caps forFrance, notching nine goals along the way. Generally operating just off a central striker, she joined Lyon from fellow Division 1 side Briochin last year and has scored 22 goals from 27 appearances this season in all competitions.
Alongside Le Sommer in Lyon's vanguard will be Swedish international Lotta Schelin, Schelin lies in joint second place in the Champions League scoring charts this season and Lyon will look to take advantage of her excellent movement up front as they seek to break down Potsdam's defence. Comfortable either as a winger or a striker, Schelin will be deployed as the latter at Craven Cottage, but her versatility and spatial awareness make her a real threat when the ball is played behind the back line. Preferring to cut in off the left á la Thierry Henry, Schelin has put many of Lyon's European opponents to the sword with this combination of pace, movement and an excellent right foot, and having put two past Arsenal in the semi-finals, will be keen to bag the goals she needs to overhaul Duisburg's Inka Grings as the tournament's leading scorer by the end of the night.
The third of Lyon's key players is Camille Abily, a gifted creative midfielder who is currently in her second spell atLyon. Leading the assist charts for Division 1 Féminine, Abily's vision and interplay will be of concern to Potsdam, and the 26 year-old is certainly not afraid to take a shot herself, with eleven league goals to her name from the current campaign. Having enjoyed successful spells in America's Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) over recent years, Amily is one of Lyon's most accomplished players, and her performance will be integral to their successes this evening.
For Potsdam, one name which even I recognise is Fatmire Bajramaj. Kosovo-born Bajramaj has emerged as of one of the stars of the German national side in recent years and since joining Potsdam two years ago her performances have been nothing short of outstanding. Such is the level of her ability that Frankfurt, the biggest club in the women's Bundesliga, have recently agreed to sign her for a record fee in German women's football, meaning that tonight's match represents her last opportunity to shine in a Potsdam shirt. A superbly gifted footballer and one of the leading talents in her generation, Bajramaj typically operates as a winger but is comfortable anywhere in the final third. In terms of her style of play and eye for goal she bears striking similarities to Cristiano Ronaldo and is certainly not averse to the occasional piece of extravagant footwork. Unless Lyon can manage to shackle the Potsdam number ten, they could be sent on their way by another virtuoso performance from Bajramaj tonight.
Potsdam's top scorer, Anja Mittag, is another whom Lyon will have to watch closely at Craven Cottage and the German international is one of those with a chance of taking the title of top scorer if she has a profitable outing tonight. With 23 goals to her name in all competitions this season, Mittag has made a name for herself as an excellent finisher at club level and also weighs in with a good number of assists.
Completing the list of players to watch tonight is 23 year-old Yūki Nagasato. Japanese international Nagasato will line up alongside Mittag in Potsdam's forward pairing and will look to cap what has been a fantastic first full season with the German champions. Having joined Potsdam from Japanese J-League side NTV Beleza in 2010 as a relative youngster, Nagasato played a part in their Champions League win last year and has gone on to establish herself as a key member of the first team during the current campaign. Also an integral part of the Japanese national side, where she has scored at a rate of over one goal every other game, Nagasato will line up against England in the group stages of next month's Women's World Cup.
The ability of the players on show, the standalone importance of the fixture, and the fact that it is a repeat of last year's final all point towards tonight's encounter being a fantastic contest.Potsdamare probably the favourites, a mark both of the dominance of German sides in this tournament over recent years (Arsenal's 2007 triumph aside, German clubs have lifted the trophy in five of the last six seasons) and of the brilliance at their disposal, chiefly in the form of Bajramaj. Nevertheless, Lyon's superb domestic form will have given them hope, and having matched their opponents blow-for-blow over 120 minutes this time last year the French side will go into tonight's game knowing that they deserve their place in the final and that if they play to their full potential they are capable of coming away with the title. Personally I am just looking forward to watching elite athletes pitting themselves against one another in a quest for Champions League glory, and the spectacle will be enough for me irrespective of the result.
If anyone reading this lives within reach of Fulham and finds themselves at a loose end this evening, I strongly advise you to head to the Cottage and watch some superb football – while ticket prices for Wembley provide new definitions of the term stratospheric, you can get in tonight for a fiver and watch some of the very best the women's game has to offer!
John is the Editor-in-Chief of Durham University's student newspaper, the Palatinate, and a contributor to an impressive list of blogs & radio shows. You can follow him on Twitter @jbm64.
http://timetosoundoff.wordpress.com/2011/05/26/clint-dempsey-poacher/? (http://timetosoundoff.wordpress.com/2011/05/26/clint-dempsey-poacher/?)
Clint Dempsey – Poacher
May 26, 2011
From Opta on twitter:
"11 of the 12 goals that Clint Dempsey scored in the EPL this season were one touch finishes, the other was two touches"
I have thought that since Clint was moved back into midfield after half a season of leading the line, he has looked less effective in front of goal. He has definitely contributed in other ways but the goals dried up to a certain extent. Could this be to do with the fact he is such an excellent finisher rather than a dribbler/creator?
Dempsey's position has always been a funny one, he is definitely a forward rather than a winger, but he is not a striker as such. With Zamora back, it will be interesting to see if Hughes tries to move Dempsey back up top alongside him, or possibly just behind him. What we do know is that with the right service, he is deadly with both feet and his head.
West Brom close in on Fulham winger
WEST Brom are closing in on the signing of Fulham star Zoltan Gera.
Whites boss Mark Hughes held talks with the wantaway winger last week in a last-ditch attempt to keep him at Craven Cottage.
Gera, who will become a free agent when his contract expires next month, admitted he has not ruled out extending his stay in SW6.
But our sources in Hungary believe the 32-year-old is heading back to the Hawthorns to link up with former Fulham boss Roy Hodgson.
Gera has made more than 100 appearances at the Cottage since his switch from the Baggies three years ago.
Read More http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/london-sport/fulham-fc/2011/05/26/west-brom-close-in-on-fulham-winger-82029-28770148/?#ixzz1NTByEWYJ (http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/london-sport/fulham-fc/2011/05/26/west-brom-close-in-on-fulham-winger-82029-28770148/?#ixzz1NTByEWYJ)
http://www.cottagersconfidential.com/2011/5/26/2191428/were-all-going-on-a-european-tour? (http://www.cottagersconfidential.com/2011/5/26/2191428/were-all-going-on-a-european-tour?)
We're All Going On a European Tour!
We have finally been put out of our never-ending misery; Fulham FC will play European football in the 2011/12 campaign.
Amid all the rumours and amateur calculations, plenty of fabrication was illuminated far and wide that Blackpool might take our spot or that Tottenham may have to qualify in our space.
Eventually though, it has been officially confirmed that Fulham have qualified for the Europa League through England's Fair Play League. We finished above Blackpool, albeit marginally, and Tottenham did, as we all know, finish 5th and therefore qualify without the aid of a favourable disciplinary record.
Despite the euphoria, a few may be concerned about the worryingly early start; late June to be exact, with the first qualifier due to be played on the 30th.
However, there's every chance it could be as fruitful as last time so, hopefully, Hughes will place as much importance on our third European escapade as Hodgson did towards the latter stages of 09/10.
Who's looking forward to May 2012 already?
http://www.cottagersconfidential.com/2011/5/26/2191462/rumours-in-brief? (http://www.cottagersconfidential.com/2011/5/26/2191462/rumours-in-brief?)
Rumours in Brief
West Bromwich Albion are said to be close to tying up a deal with their former employee, Zoltan Gera, while DJ Campbell may have caught Mark Hughes' eye with a £1.25 million buy-out clause.
Hungarian winger Gera, despite the step back he took in midweek over claims he wants to quit Craven Cottage, looks set to re-unite not only with his former club, West Brom, but his former manager, Roy Hodgson, who certainly looks favourably upon the 32-year-old who played such a key part in Hodgson's European exploits. He had said, recently, that it wasn't 'certain' he would quit, after a season of invariably watching on from the sidelines. However, an opportunity to play under the tutorship of Hodgson again is likely to see him leave London. His contract expires next month so no fee would be required.
On the way in could be Blackpool striker DJ Campbell who has impressed the critics during his side's brief Premier League campaign. Both Hughes and Sunderland manager Steve Bruce have perked their heads up at the aforementioned news of Campbell's meagre release clause. He's scored 13 goals this season under Ian Holloway and at times has even been touted as a potential international as Capello's choices dwindle up front. Andy Johnson may well be on the way out and Mark Hughes feels the experience Campbell has gained at the highest level could provide perfect backup for the likes of Bobby Zamora and Moussa Dembele. Steve Bruce may well be more desperate to land the former non-League star, though.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/may/26/the-fiver-fulham-fair-play? (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/may/26/the-fiver-fulham-fair-play?)
SUMMERTIME AND THE LIVING IS EASY (UNLESS YOU PLAY FOR FULHAM)
(http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2011/5/22/1306097714245/Zoltan-Gera-Fulham-007.jpg)
Commiserations, Zoltan. Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images
We all know what June means to footballers when there's no major championship to get stuck into: endless days of sun, sea, sand and, for those of a particular vintage, sangria-fuelled four-a-sides in Ayia Napa. So pity the poor players of Fulham, whose pre-season training will start not in the raging July heat but a few hours before Rafa Nadal and co tuck into their Wimbledon strawberries.
Yes, despite their best efforts at the grizzly end of the season when they picked up cautions faster than a musky-smelling Brixton herb dealer, Fulham have qualified for Big Vase after finishing fourth in the Premier League's Fair Play table. Topping the table – and you'll like this – were the snarling, whining and snivelling folk of Chelsea, whose staff were officially nicer to officials than any other side in the Premier League. So at least Roman can put one trophy on his mantelpiece for this season ...
Meanwhile Fulham will begin their pre-season training on 20 June, ahead of their first Big Vase qualifying match (sub-section 2d (ii)) on 30 June. To reach Big Vase proper they will have to play four [Fiver vidiprinter: FOUR] two-legged ties before the group phase, which means if Mark Hughes's side do reach the final, as they did in 2009-10, they would play 23 matches in total. Given the strain that could put on their small squad, what price relegation?
Europa inclusion could keep Clint Dempsey with Fulham
Staying at Fulham might be a bit more attractive for U.S. national team midfielder Clint Dempsey now that the London club has qualified for European competition. On Thursday, the English Premier League announced that Fulham earned a berth in the 2011-12 UEFA Europa League -- the continent's second-tier competition -- based on its position in the Fair Play standings.
Each year, UEFA gives three nations an extra spot in the massive 194-team Europa League based on a complicated formula that factors in player discipline and cards, behavior of fans and club officials and even team tactics. Each of the three countries then awards its Europa berth to the club placed highest in their national Fair Play table. Fulham finished fourth in England, but the top three teams already had qualified for European competition.
Rumors have swirled that Dempsey, coming off a career-best 13-goal season, might leave Fulham even though under contract for two more years. If he stays, his club campaign will begin early. Fulham's first Europa League match is scheduled for June 30, just five days after the U.S. national team might contest the CONCACAF Gold Cup final.
Fulham enjoyed a historic run in the 2009-10 Europa League, going 11-4-4 and advancing to the first European final in club history. Dempsey & Co. lost an overtime thriller, 2-1, to Atlético Madrid.
Read more: http://aol.sportingnews.com/soccer/story/2011-05-26/europa-inclusion-could-keep-clint-dempsey-with-fulham?#ixzz1NTi9z1rT (http://aol.sportingnews.com/soccer/story/2011-05-26/europa-inclusion-could-keep-clint-dempsey-with-fulham?#ixzz1NTi9z1rT)
