This journey’s end is more famous as a start. Putney Bridge marks the beginning of the Championship Course of the Men’s Varsity Boat Race, used in all but four editions of the contest since 1845.
But in 1914, the Cambridge crew prepared for the race by rowing the course in reverse from Mortlake to Putney.
Our first away day in Fulham had taken place six years earlier on 4th April 1908, with the Leicester Daily Mercury reporting that “there were twenty thousand present, including many from Leicester to cheer the team on”
.Leicester Fosse lost 5-1. The third goal was the worst of the lot by the sound of things, with “the Fosse backs appearing to think play had stopped”. The Mercury didn’t hold back in its assessment of the game, stating: “An avalanche has fallen on Leicester Fosse. That is all one can say about the catastrophe.”
This Saturday, the City players will run out from the same pavilion as the Fosse players did that day. And to their right, they will see the same stand. Originally the Stevenage Road Stand, it was renamed in honour of the legendary Johnny Haynes after his death in 2005 – the centenary year of both the pavilion and the stand.
Fulham are back at the Cottage on Saturday, and everything will be right in the world – as long as we take all three points. But will there be any new (or returning) faces in the lineup?
The Thursday Club are back in full force to discuss the latest transfer goings on at Motspur Park, including Sander Berge, Joachim Andersen, and a rumoured move for Lyon’s Rayan Cherki – as well as questioning whether there’s any chance that a late deal for André could still take place given where Fulham still need to strengthen.
Then in Part Two, we’re on to the weekend, looking at how our next opposition Leicester fared against Tottenham on their return to the big time on Monday night, examining whether this is already a ‘must-win’ game, and answering a load of your emails as well.
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