The Tanner Report/John Fraser
The name John Fraser would not mean much unless you were a Fulham supporter over 50. John, a right back, was a journeyman pro who played some 65 games for Fulham but one who happened to be the arguably the greatest day in the club’s history the 1975 Cup Final v West Ham. Yesterday I met John at a lunch and was mighty impressed by his humility. As a team over the years I supported them except possibly In the Premiership years, Fulham were always 2 or 3 men short of being a great side. Players like John Fraser were deputed to fill in. John was coached by World Cup winner George Cohen, and played alongside Johnny Haynes, Bobby Moore and Alan Mullery. These three would grace any England team. It is indicative that John could only speak highly of all three. I recall years ago Bobby Keetch telling me that the press tried to create a story of resentment of lesser players to Johnny Haynes when he was the first £100 per week footballer. Bobby told them in no uncertain terms that he felt privileged to be in the same team as a world class passer of the ball.
John told us a story which I will remember too. In the 1975 cup final the team came out on the pitch as was normal 75 minutes before the kick off. There was no Bobby Moore. At first he thought it might be that Bobby Moore knew the pitch so well, he was once England captain after all, but only later did it it occur to him that Bobby, gentleman that he was, wanted to take nothing away from the other lads savouring the experience as inevitably all the attention would focus on Moore. John deputised for Les Strong and we were fearful he would be our weak link. He gave his normal dogged performance . Surprisingly as he was coached by one of England’s greatest overlapping fullbacks George Cohen in Alf Ramsey’s wingles wonders he rarely ventured beyond his own half. West Ham won 2-0 both goals emanating from the other side of the field to John.
Nick Cusack, now financial director at the PFA, once said that playing for Fulham stays with you all your life. John Fraser went to Brentford, played 130 games there but it was never his team. The modern pro is more of an international race horse guided by his agent from club to club as if it is a type of Grand Prix of circuitry. If he joins one of the lesser clubs in the Premiership it is make a move to the big boys or bail out if the club goes down. At Fulham we appreciate loyalty and that is why John Fraser was received yesterday with due and proper respect accorded to him even if he did not possess the talent of one of the luminaries alongside whom he played.
