Monday Fulham Stuff - 15/07/24...

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Results

Sunday 14/07
Spain	2-1	England

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AC Milan eye Sheffield United star amid Fulham interest

    AC Milan are interested in Vinicius Souza from Sheffield United.
    Fulham are also keen on the player.
    United holding out for up to £30m for Souza who has a contract until 2027, making any deal complicated with a potential takeover looming.

Italian giants AC Milan have joined the race to sign Vinicius Souza from Sheffield United this summer.
 According to Alan Nixon, the Serie A side are weighing up a move for the 25-year-old.

The midfielder has been with the Blades since last year, joining from Belgian side Lommel on a four-year deal.

He featured 36 times in the Premier League, including 29 starts, as Chris Wilder oversaw their relegation straight back down to the Championship (all stats from Fbref).

United will be aiming to fight for promotion back to the top flight this year, so it remains to be seen whether a fee can be agreed with a valued member of the first team squad.

Vinicius Souza - Sheffield United league appearances by season (per Fbref.com)

Season	Appearances (Starts)
2023-24	36 (29)

AC Milan interested in Vini Souza
 AC Milan are the latest club to join the race to try and sign Souza from Sheffield United this summer.

Fulham are also in the mix, and have reportedly already had a £15 million bid for the player rejected.

The Cottagers are in the hunt for a replacement for Joao Pallinha, who made the switch to Bayern Munich already in this transfer window.

 This has led to them to set their sights on the United player, but it has been previously revealed that the Yorkshire outfit are holding out for up to £30m in order to sell.

Milan are yet to make a formal offer to the Blades for Souza, and it remains to be seen whether they would be willing to meet the £30m asking price set by the Championship club.

 Souza has a contract with United until the summer of 2027, giving them a lot of leverage in any potential negotiations.

But the situation surrounding their potential takeover could complicate the deal, with it being claimed that a consortium is looking to take a stake in the club.

Sheffield United's summer business
 The Blades will be aiming to build a team capable of competing for automatic promotion next season.

Jamie Shackleton and Sam McCallum have already been signed, both joining as free agents after their departures from Leeds United and Norwich City, respectively.

But their attempts to sign Harrison Burrows from Peterborough United have been hit by a snag due to the takeover situation, indicating a resolution may be needed before more additions are made.

 The Blades have until 30th August to finalise any potential transfer moves before the market shuts for the calendar year.

Sheffield United's £30m asking price for Vini Souza is unlikely to be met
 Souza being sold for £30 million seems a very unlikely scenario this summer, especially since the Blades have been relegated.

If the Blades are looking to raise funds, then this should be a reasonable way to do that, as even £20m could go a long way for the club right now.

The takeover situation does complicate any potential deal at Bramall Lane right now, but it will be difficult for Souza to ignore the chance to sign for a team the size of Milan if they come knocking.

If the Brazilian pushes for a move this summer, then that could potentially force the club into lowering their demands.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/sheffield-united-ac-milan-join-fulham-vinicius-souza-race/

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Stockport County made George Best history alongside Man United and Fulham: View

    Stockport County boasts George Best in their history - a notable mention beside Pele and Maradona.
    Best's short stint at Edgeley Park made a lasting impression, scoring goals and drawing crowds.
    The Hatters are part of an exclusive group with Best in their ranks, a source of pride for the club.

Few Football League sides can boast a world-famous Ballon d'Or, European Cup and English First Division winner in their history books, but Stockport County can, thanks to George Best's short stint at Edgeley Park back in 1975.
 The Hatters aren't short of notable names in their hall of fame, most recently the likes of Dean Henderson and Ashley Williams, who are recognised in every football-supporting household in the country.

But Best trumps them all, by some distance. His is a name that sits in comfortable company among the likes of Pele, Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi as an all-time great of the game.

Yet, at 29 years old, he was lacing up his boots to face Swansea City at Edgeley Park.

Best established himself as a great with Manchester United
 The start, and indeed the bulk, of the most memorable periods in Best's career was, of course, just down the road from Edgeley Park, at Old Trafford with Manchester United.

Having been with the Reds since the age of 15, Best quickly rose to the first team and made his professional debut as a 17-year-old and scored in just his second appearance.

He was showing strong promise, but few could have predicted just how successful he would go on to be over the next few years.

Best's United career, as per ManUtd.com

Appearances	470
Goals	179

By 23 years old, Best had a European Cup, league titles and a Ballon d'Or to his name, shooting him to stardom and cementing his place as one of the best players to have ever lived.

A mixture of personal demons and manager disputes drew the Old Trafford chapter of his career to a close, setting him on a career adventure that would see him take in the sights of Los Angeles, London, Hong Kong, South Africa, Australia and... Edgeley, just outside the centre of Stockport.

Best played his first post-United professional game at Edgeley Park
 As Best's time with the Reds was nearing the end, he had turned out for non-league Dunstable Town after being convinced by manager Barry Fry to do him the favour, but the Northern Irishman's first professional game since departing Old Trafford came on 28 November 1975 for County. Over 9000 fans packed into Edgeley Park that Friday night for the occasion, according to records kept by online County archive Hatters Matters.

It would be the first of three league outings for the then-Fourth Division side, plus a friendly match set up against Stoke City which provided the first glimpse of Best at the club.

 Before the friendly, the winger said: "Please don't judge me on this match, I am a long way off fitness." He went on to score a 25-yard free-kick in the game.

Despite only sticking around for a handful of games, he was as prolific as you might expect, scoring again in his first professional game for the Hatters against the Swans.

He netted again in his next game, a 2-2 draw against Watford, before finally drawing a blank in his last game for the club, a Boxing Day clash with Southport, but the Hatters still managed to nick a win thanks to an effort from Mick Hollis.

Stockport finished 21st that season, so the sprinkling of Best magic didn't quite do the trick to elevate the club, but it did provide County with a unique place in the history of one of football's most renowned icons.

County are part of an exclusive club in the history books
 Although he was something of a journeyman in his post-United playing days, the Hatters remain part of an exclusive group of clubs to boast Best as part of their club's history.

Many clubs, including Cork Celtic and the three teams he played for in the United States, no longer exist, making that group even smaller today.

In England, only United, Dunstable, County, Fulham and AFC Bournemouth had any experience with the star, and it remains a source of Stopfordian pride today.

With the Hatters focusing on the development of young players in the present, perhaps one day another world-renowned footballing icon will pass through the doors of Edgeley Park. Regardless, the club will always be able to count one of the game's best-ever players, Best, as a former County player.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/stockport-county-made-george-best-history-alongside-man-united-fulham/

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Craven Cottage Hosts Junior Citizenship Scheme

In the spring term, Fulham FC Foundation worked in partnership with local organisations to help young Londoners prepare for life in secondary school.

The Junior Citizenship Scheme (JCS) is a partnership initiative aimed at giving young children the skills to deal with a wide range of emergency situations, and to enable them to make a valued contribution to their local community through good citizenship. The scheme provides a hands on approach to situations children may encounter in their transition to secondary school and beyond.

Fulham FC Foundation partnered with Transport for London (TfL) to facilitate the Hammersmith & Fulham JCS event at Craven Cottage over a period of two weeks. Schools were invited to spend either a morning or afternoon at the stadium to attend a carousel of workshops led by a range of key community partners such as Fulham FC Foundation, TfL, London Fire Brigade, London Ambulance and Metropolitan Police.

Across two weeks, over 1,200 pupils from 37 local primary schools based in Hammersmith & Fulham were hosted. It was reported that:

    99% of children enjoyed the event
    94% of children developed their confidence
    97% of children are more prepared to be more active and responsible citizens
    95% of children learned how to develop good relationships and respect
    99% of children learned how to live a safer lifestyle

"An amazing afternoon that all children enjoyed and will remember as they become independent and go to secondary school." - Year 6 Teacher, Ecole Marie D'Orliac, Fulham Bilingual

"The Junior Citizenship Scheme is an excellent opportunity for the Foundation and the football club to support the facilitation of an extraordinary event that helps young people in our local community prepare for the transition into secondary school. Providing over 1,200 children with the opportunity to come into the stadium, many for the first time, and learn vital life skills from key community partners is something we are very proud to be part of." - Kayleigh Bowers, Primary Education Manager, Fulham FC Foundation

To find out more find out more on how your school can work with Fulham FC Foundation, contact: [email protected]



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2024/july/12/craven-cottage-hosts-junior-citizenship-scheme/