Prince v Michael Jackson – a non football fan’s guide to Fulham v Aston Villa
This Saturday at Wembley Stadium, Fulham will meet Aston Villa for a place in next season’s EPL. Fulham overcame Derby County 2-1 on aggregate and Villa overcame Middlesbrough 1-0 after defending a Mile Jednak goal for 165 minutes.
A statue of Michael Jackson stood outside Craven Cottage for two years.
It’s the Cottagers against the Villains. It’s the city of London against England’s second city, Birmingham. It also sees two of the most interesting clubs in England do battle.
Fulham have always been known as one of London’s friendlier clubs. Even getting to their Craven Cottage stadium is outside the usual for London.
Rather than a trudge past inner city local housing, the walk from Putney Bridge Underground station takes you through Bishops Park, past Fulham Palace and along the banks of the Thames.
Craven Cottage itself is named after an actual cottage which was built in 1904 and is a listed building. Famous Edwardian architect Archibald Leitch had forgotten to include dressing rooms in the stand alongside Stevenage Road, and the Cottage Pavilion was belatedly added to his plans.
The southwest London club suffered less from the hooligan problem of next door Chelsea in the 1980s and their fanbase never suffered the far right infiltration of other clubs in London. Attending matches at Fulham was always a tad more civilised even in the worst days than elsewhere.
At the executive level, music hall comedian Tommy Trinder (1909 – 10 July 1989) was chairman of the club between 1959 and 1976. Former England boss Bobby Robson has managed them. Legendary players’ rights camaigner and BBC Match of the Day anchor Jimmy Hill has been chairman. Mohamed Al-Fayed, owner of Harrods and father of Dodi Al-Fayed, who died with Princess Diana, has been an owner. During that era, ex-England skipper Kevin Keegan was head coach.
Famous Fulham fans include actors Hugh Grant and Harry Potter’s Daniel Ratcliffe, Vindaloo singer Fat Les aka Keith Allen, ex James Bond Pierce Brosnan, American lounge singer and actor Tony Curtis, “Streets of London” singer Ralph McTell and Eminem.
Controversy and some hilarity ensued in 2011 after the early death of American pop star Michael Jackson. Owner Mohamed Al Fayed decided to erect a sculpture of the singer outside the Hammersmith Stand, claiming his friend Jackson was a big Fulham supporter. He told the media that it was human nature to want to honour the passing of such a great fan and superstar. When Al Fayed sold the club, the statue was quickly removed.
Princess Diana’s son and Dodi Al-Fayed’s father will be on opposite sides – again
Not to be outdone, among Aston Villa’s famous fans you will literally find royalty. Villain Prince William is a well known member of the royal family or perhaps it’s the other way round. English media have revealed today that the future King of England will be taking time off from his royal duties (wasting taxpayers’ money) to attend the game at Wembley in a personal capacity. Odds are that he will not sing “God Save My Gran” before the game however although it is presumably even less likely he will take a knee. Acknowledging his support, Villa sent him a shirt to commemorate the birth of each of his three children.
But it isn’t just future heads of state that support the claret and blue, but past heads of government too. Former Prime Minister David Cameron who resigned after Brexit, is a Villa fan. He and the club apparently share a desire to be in Europe after 2019.
Not to be outdone by Fuham’s American contingent, so is actor Tom Hanks. He is joined by British Actor Martin Shaw better known in the States as Detective George Gently.
Among others hoping it won’t be a Black Sabbath for Villa on Saturday are rocker Ozzie Osbourne and world renowned violinist Nigel Kennedy who once played a selection of Villa songs on a $10,000 violin at a Houston hotel. He didn’t just play one song either but stradi-various.
William Windsor: Least likely fan to take a knee during the national anthem
Aston Villa have had more on field glory than their opponents. They won the League in 1981, their seventh title. They went on to win the European Cup (forerunner of the Champions League) in 1982. They have won seven FA Cups and five League Cups. Coach Steve Bruce is at his ninth club and he has won promotion four times from this tier to the top as a manager already.
Villa have played at their stadium in Aston, Birmingham since 1897, making it one of the longest continually used stadia in the world.
The sides have played 68 times and are tied 23-23 in wins with 22 draws. This match however has more at at stake than ever before, with the side claiming their 24th win heading to the Premier League. We don’t envy Price William the task of explaining the concept of promotion to his grandmother when he gets home.
Prost Amerika will be at Wembley on Saturday and tweeting live. Please follow us here.
