Fulham’s 1968 coffin procession following our relegation

[Hammer Smith]

Does anyone on here know much about this? I can't find anything online but I believe there was a mock Fulham coffin & a procession - through Bishop's Park? It was probably organised by Jimmy Hill - all done to mourn our relegation from the top flight, & it didn't go down at all well with the fans. I think it was meant as an ironic protest & criticism of the Club's hierarchy.

[paulbrookersmazydribbles]

Hadn't heard about this. My neighbour was a regular at that time - will ask him if he knows anything about it.

[gang]

Does anyone on here know much about this? I can't find anything online but I believe there was a mock Fulham coffin & a procession - through Bishop's Park? It was probably organised by Jimmy Hill - all done to mourn our relegation from the top flight, & it didn't go down at all well with the fans. I think it was meant as an ironic protest & criticism of the Club's hierarchy.

Yes, I remember this; it didn't go down well with anyone. Jimmy was working as a television pundit at the time, having left management at Coventry.

[Hammer Smith]

Hadn't heard about this. My neighbour was a regular at that time - will ask him if he knows anything about it.

That would be great. 😊

[Woolly Mammoth]

I remember that day, and inside the coffin was Fulhams Trophy Cabinet.

[Hammer Smith]

Does anyone on here know much about this? I can't find anything online but I believe there was a mock Fulham coffin & a procession - through Bishop's Park? It was probably organised by Jimmy Hill - all done to mourn our relegation from the top flight, & it didn't go down at all well with the fans. I think it was meant as an ironic protest & criticism of the Club's hierarchy.

Yes, I remember this; it didn't go down well with anyone. Jimmy was working as a television pundit at the time, having left management at Coventry.

I think I remember once reading somewhere that fans hurled bottles or such like at the coffin. Do you know whether or not it took place in Bishops Park? 

[Hammer Smith]

I remember that day, and inside the coffin was Fulhams Trophy Cabinet.

Is that what Jimmy Hill said? must have been a very small coffin then.

[The Bishop]

I remember this game very well as it was my first football match ever. It was May 1968 and the match was a 2-2 draw with Southampton. Fulham were bottom of the old Division One and already relegated. I stood on open terracing by the river, where our wonderful new stand now resides. I can recall the coffin on a barge stunt. It was draped in Fulham's colours. A surreal moment for your first game.

[Stoneleigh Loyalist]

I remember it and Jimmy Hill was very prominent in the press coverage. Many of us considered it to be insulting .

[Hammer Smith]

I remember this game very well as it was my first football match ever. It was May 1968 and the match was a 2-2 draw with Southampton. Fulham were bottom of the old Division One and already relegated. I stood on open terracing by the river, where our wonderful new stand now resides. I can recall the coffin on a barge stunt. It was draped in Fulham's colours. A surreal moment for your first game.

Thanks for that. This is really interesting information.

[Andy S]

Yes I remember it but it wasn't a big thing for the fans but the press boys loved it. Photos in loads of The papers

[mrmicawbers]

Very William Hague recollection.Top hat wearers in my head.

[Hammer Smith]

 :clap_hands:
So do you remember whether was organised by Jimmy Hill himself then - & was he on the barge?

[Stoneleigh Loyalist]

A. Can't say. B. He was on the barge.

[bigalffc]

I remember it well, Jimmy was all out for publicity, I don't believe there was any love lost between him and our owner comedian Tommy Trinder. I had been attending games since '58 so had ten years of us being in the top division. It was a daunting prospect going down. In fairness to Jimmy some years later he came back and saved us from total calamity and organised the sale to Mo Fayed.

[Hammer Smith]

I remember it well, Jimmy was all out for publicity, I don't believe there was any love lost between him and our owner comedian Tommy Trinder. I had been attending games since '58 so had ten years of us being in the top division. It was a daunting prospect going down. In fairness to Jimmy some years later he came back and saved us from total calamity and organised the sale to Mo Fayed.

So Big Al, I can picture it now like this - a few men all dressed in black and wearing top hats, gathered around a coffin draped in Fulham colours in a barge, going down river, after the end of the match, past the sad fans at Craven Cottage. Reminds me of that really spooky scene in Venice in Don't Look Now!

[filham]

Yes, I remember it but only saw it on TV. It was soon forgotten.

[Penfold]

I remember it well, Jimmy was all out for publicity, I don't believe there was any love lost between him and our owner comedian Tommy Trinder. I had been attending games since '58 so had ten years of us being in the top division. It was a daunting prospect going down. In fairness to Jimmy some years later he came back and saved us from total calamity and organised the sale to Mo Fayed.

JH had nothing to do with the sale to MAF - Bill Muddyman sorted that and JH was far from pleased at the time.

[Fulhamight]

Have a press cutting somewhere in my old scrap books. Will try and find it.

[Fulhamight]

Article and photo found. Just can't reduce size and attach.