The Tanner report: Sean Davis

Yesterday at a Fulham gathering I had the privilege of meeting Sean Davis. The word legend is over used but appropriate for Sean. He played 155 games for Fulham but the crucial feature of these was that they were in all 4 divisions, a rare feat.  The one we recall the best took place almost 15 years ago when we were promoted. Under Jean Tigans we won our first 11 games and were never seriously challenged. However Graeme Souness who managed Blackburn had the temerity to suggest that his team was better. Added to this a horrific car accident after which skipper and the heartbeat of the side Chris Coleman never played again and the game was always going to be keenly contested.

Blackburn got off to dream start with a early headed goal from Matt Jansen. When Fulham’s Rufus  Brevett was sent off our our cause seemed hopeless. Louis Saha pulled one back when Brad Friedel dropped the ball.   Sean admitted he gave him a sneaky nudge.  In the dying minutes Sean popped up in the box to provide the winner. In a moment that ranked alongside Danny Murphy’ s header to save us from relegation and Dempspey’s chipped lob 5 years ago against Juventus as amongst the best of the Al  Fayed era.

Over the years I have really appreciated the intelligence and humour of Fulham fans. There was one such example yesterday. Comment was made of  Kit Symons ‘ performance as caretaker to that when he had the position permanently. A supporter suggested that the best option might have been to delay the permanent appointment as long as possible as the greatest  run of success we have had in this dismal season was when Kit was aspirant manager. Fulhamish.