Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 07/07/26...

[WhiteJC]

World Cup 2026: Norway make history

Sander Berge and Oscar Bobb both played their part in Norway's impressive 2-1 victory over Brazil in the World Cup Round of 16.

Erling Haaland's double saw Norway book their place in the Quarter-Finals for the first time ever, setting up a mouth-watering clash against England.

Sander once again started at the base of midfield, completing over 98 per cent of his 119 passes, and registering three defensive contributions.

    Sander Berge bossed things against Brazil. ⛰️🇳🇴 pic.twitter.com/o4JpLg8XCq
    — Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) July 5, 2026

The first half was eventful, but goalless, as Patrick Berg had a goal disallowed and Bruno Guimarães saw a penalty saved inside a pulsating opening 15 minutes.

Oscar had been making a big impact from the bench in this tournament, and that continued midway through the second period. His clever flick set David Møller Wolfe free, with Haaland inches away from meeting his flash across the face of goal.

But Haaland was on the scoresheet just 12 minutes later as he towered above Gabriel Magalhães to give Norway the lead.

His powerful strike from the edge of the box all but secured Ståle Solbakken's side's place in the last eight, although Neymar grabbed a consolation from the spot in the 10th minute of added time.

Norway face England on Saturday 11th July, 10pm BST.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/july/06/world-cup-2026-norway-make-history/

[WhiteJC]

Why Bishops Park is football's most iconic pre-match walk
We continue our series featuring elements that shape the Fulham FC matchday experience.

The biggest gripe against modern football stadiums, aside from the fact they all look like soulless bowls, is their location.

Often built on large swathes of industrial land, set apart from the towns and cities the clubs are based in, they offer little in terms of culture or character. And it's often worse in the areas surrounding them.

There's not a Fulham fan on the face of the planet who's not grateful every day to call Craven Cottage home. We'd happily forego a 50,000-capacity stadium and everything that goes with it to remain there.

Bishops Park is a huge part of the Cottage's appeal.



It's widely regarded as the most picturesque and iconic walk to a football ground in England (Nottingham get in the mud).

But it wasn't always that way.

It was donated to the public by the Bishop of London 143 years ago, when Fulham FC was just four years old. It was initially just Bishops Meadow (the strip of land along the river just after you enter from Putney Bridge), a marshy, polluted wasteland next to an even more unsanitary River Thames, with the Fulham Palace to the other side. After a decade - and a lot of work - the park officially opened to the public in 1893.

By the turn of the 20th century, much of Bishops Park as we know it today was open. The most popular element was (no surprises here) the man-made beach surrounding the ornamental lakes in Fielders Meadow, just after Bishops Meadow, originally known as Margate Sands, because the sands were brought in from - you guessed it - Margate.

After its 2010 rennovations, Fulham Beach, as it's now known, remains a firm favourite among locals in the warm weather, while us match-going fans march past it at pace, regretting staying at the pub for that last pre-match beer.

Bishops Park also includes spaces for tennis and that classic English pastime, bowls, and there are allotments tucked behind Fulham Palace. If you're a film buff, you can also go and see where scenes from The Omen were filmed. So there's something for everyone, even if you're not going to watch the mighty Whites.

But it's that walk through Bishops Meadow, across the skate park with the cafe on your right, then alongside Fielders Meadow as your make your way to Craven Cottage, that makes Bishops Park so special.

I remember half-jogging behind my dad in the sun, rain and snow, desperate to make kick-off (we'd already walked from Lytton Grove, just off Putney Hill!). There weren't many other people walking though the park when I started going in 1995, but that number sure grew in the intervening six years as we rocketed up the leagues.

I remember walking back through the park, listening to my dad's portable radio as James Alexander Gordon read out the full-time scores. People would walk alongside us and ask "how [insert team] got on".

I've now made the walk with my eldest, and I'll do it one day with my youngest. Then they'll do the same with their kids in the future (hopefully I'll be dawdling behind).

We're extremely lucky to have had this journey to our cathedral of football.

Craven Cottage is special - but it's the elements that surround it, like Bishops Park that contribute to its soul.

Long may they do so.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/p/why-bishops-park-is-footballs-most

[WhiteJC]

Mike Cave confirmed as new Brighton sporting director
Paul Barber has explained why Mike Cave has secured a major appointment at Albion.

 Cave has been appointed to the role of sporting director on a permanent basis.

He has previously worked at the club as assistant technical director and technical director.

 Cave has played a noticeably more prominent role since the recent departure of Jason Ayto.

He will be based at club's training ground in Lancing and will report directly to Barber, the club's chief executive and deputy chairman.

Barber said: "We are delighted that Mike's responsibilities are increasing. In his four years here, Mike has developed exceptionally well and is well respected inside and outside of our club.

"Mike has extensive knowledge of our club's sporting operations which will serve him well in his new role.

"Mike's responsibilities have expanded over time and he continues to impress with his knowledge, enthusiasm and capacity for hard work.

 "I am looking forward to continuing to work even more closely with Mike in to the future."

The fact Cave has come through the Albion ranks in recent years means he is totally aligned with the club's methods on player recruitment.

Since arriving from a role as Fulham's academy director in 2022, he has worked with Ayto and David Weir.

Cave said: "Throughout my time here, (chairman) Tony Bloom and Paul Barber have put a huge amount of trust in me to play my part in delivering their vision for the club.

"I've also been fortunate to work for and closely with the likes of David Weir and Jason Ayto, both of whom I have a lot of respect for.

"This is an exceptionally exciting role to be taking on - with the continued opportunity to work with staff across the club who are leaders in their respective fields - one impossible to turn down.

"The work for the new season is already well underway and I am looking forward to seeing what it will bring."

Cave graduated from Loughborough University with a degree and masters in sports science and sports management before joining the International Management Group (IMG), where he held roles in both their consulting and media sales divisions.



https://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/26256658.mike-cave-confirmed-new-brighton-sporting-director/

[MickTheBeard]

Interesting article about mike cave who is promoted at brighton in their academy setup has been their aprox 4+ years originally with Fulham before gave his resignation but was made to serve his 3 months notice was surprised at the stance by fulham,thought it might be for breathing space to find a replacement or he new secrets they did not want to get in enemy hands.I reckon the later as a few people have left over a period of time.