Sunday Fulham Stuff - 10/10/21...

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Pembs Departs

Following a number of Academy staffing changes, we are now also able to confirm that Mark Pembridge has left the club.

A distinguished career which saw him make nearly 500 appearances came to an end at Craven Cottage, where the Welsh international featured more than 50 times for Fulham.

Before retiring from playing, he took his coaching badges at the Club alongside the likes of Lee Clark, Billy McKinlay and Mark Crossley, and went on to obtain his A-licence.

He joined the Fulham Academy in 2007 as Under-16s Head Coach and later worked with the First Team under Kit Symons. The Club chose to keep Mark within its set up after Symons and the rest of his team departed. This was where he progressed with his youth coaching journey.

Prior to the 2016/17 season, Pembs became Under-18s Head Coach before taking permanent charge of the Under-23s group following Peter Grant's departure. He soon teamed up with now First Team Coach, Colin Omogbehin.

Everybody at Fulham thanks Pembs for his commitment over the years and wishes him all the best for the future.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2021/october/08/pembs-departs/

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Exclusive: Dimitar Berbatov sends former club Fulham a warning after fast start in Championship

Former Fulham striker Dimitar Berbatov is pleased to see the Whites have made a fast start in the Championship but has warned they must learn from their mistakes

Dimitar Berbatov has warned Fulham to learn from their Premier League mistakes as they mount a promotion charge this season.

Fulham have become something of a yoyo club over the past four seasons, where they have either been promoted to the top flight or relegated to the Championship.

New boss Marco Silva is overseeing a fast start this campaign, with the Whites commanding the top spot before recent defeats by Reading and Coventry.

Promotion is the priority at Craven Cottage this campaign, but former Fulham striker Berbatov says the club must learn from past mistakes if they are to go up this season.


Dimitar Berbatov has warned Fulham to learn from their Premier League mistakes ( Image:
Action Images via Reuters)

"That's something that hasn't surprised me," Berbatov said of Fulham starting the season brightly, in an interview with Mirror Football.

"But Fulham need to learn. They are doing the hard work, fighting promotions, then going to the Premier League, then getting relegated, then promoted, then relegated.

"It's strange, I am watching them and I'm like 'Guys, come on! You've done it twice now'.

"If you do it a third time, get promoted and relegated again, then something is not right. Maybe you don't belong to the Premier League.

"Fulham are starting the season in great form but we know the Championship and how many games there are ahead of them.

"I wish them luck, I wish them to get promoted and I wish from the bottom of my heart that when they get to the Premier League they fix their defence and stay there.

"The club is great, it has a great training ground, I love the club, and it's a great place in London. So please stay in the Premier League when that moment arrives."



https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/dimitar-berbatov-sends-former-club-25167419

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Former Luton midfielder Pembridge leaves Fulham academy
Ex-Hatter departs Craven Cottage

Ex-Luton midfielder Mark Pembridge has left his position at Fulham academy after almost 15 years with the club.

The 50-year-old started his career at Kenilworth Road after being spotted by the Hatters' South Wales scout Cyril Beach and moving to England as a youngster.

He played 70 times for Luton the Hatters before moving to Derby County for a fee of £1.25m in 1992, while also had spells at Sheffield Wednesday, Benfica, Everton and Fulham, winning 54 Wales caps too before retiring in 2007.

Pembridge joined the Cottagers academy in 2007 as U16s head coach and later worked with the first team under Kit Symons.

He then had stints as U18s head coach before taking permanent charge of the U23s group, and it was in that time where he coached current Hatter Elijah Adebayo.

A statement on the Fulham website said about Pembridge, who spoke earlier this year about his hopes for Town's own academy status: "Everybody at Fulham thanks Pembs for his commitment over the years and wishes him all the best for the future."



https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/sport/football/luton-town/former-luton-midfielder-pembridge-leaves-fulham-academy-3413376

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Internationals: Assist For Wilson

Harry Wilson grabbed an assist for Wales, who played out a score draw with Czech Republic on Friday. The midfielder was introduced on the hour mark with his side 2-1 down, but was able to slide in Dan James who coolly tucked his effort away. The result means Wales remain in the hunt for second place, with Belgium comfortably top of the pile.

Bobby De Cordova-Reid's Jamaica went head-to-head with Antonee Robinson's USA on Thursday. A Ricardo Pepi brace secured a 2-0 win for the Americans, who sit joint top of their qualifying group.

De Cordova-Reid played 71 minutes but was unable to make any significant impact for the Reggae Boyz, who sit at the bottom of the group. Jedi featured for the entirety of the game and helped his side to their second clean sheet in four qualifiers.

Marek Rodak featured in goal for Slovakia, who lost 1-0 away to Russia. Marek could do little to stop the goal, with his own defender Milan Skriniar putting the ball into his own net from a cross. Slovakia will be given another good test on Monday, when they face Croatia.

Under-23s defender Jay Williams started in midfield for Wales Under-19s, who recorded a clean sheet with a 0-0 draw against Georgia on Wednesday. The 18-year-old was taken off at half time, while midfielder Luke Harris remained an unused substitute for Rob Edwards' side.

Jay Stansfield made a brief appearance for England Under-20s, who played out a 1-1 draw with Italy in Chesterfield. Our forward came on for Leeds United's Sam Greenwood in the 89th minute. Next up for Stanno is a trip to Czech Republic.

It was a tough day at the office for Terry Ablade, who was dismissed on Friday after receiving two yellow cards for Finland Under-21s. Our striker left the field after 66 minutes, before a late Azerbaijan goal meant it finished 1-1.

Midfielder Adrion Pajaziti suffered defeat in his UEFA U21 Qualifier, as Kosovo lost 1-0 to Czech Republic. Ads played 80 minutes and will hope to pick up more playing time next Tuesday, when the two teams face each other for a second time.

Academy left-sided duo Harvey Araujo and Michael Olakigbe both started on the bench for England Under-18s, who fell to an agonising last-gasp defeat at the hands of Norway on Thursday.

Michael was introduced for the second half, while Harvey played his first 10 minutes for the national side towards the end of the game

George Okkas, who received a call-up for Cyprus, featured in a friendly against Romania on Thursday but was on the wrong end of a 2-0 scoreline. He faces Romania again tomorrow.

Ziyad Larkeche's France Under-20s drew the first of their two international friendlies against Tunisia 1-1.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2021/october/09/internationals-/