Take a trip back in time to Fulham's NASL by the Thames
Football treasure unearthed by Gary Silke & Derek Hammond...
From the mid to late '70s Britain’s top footballing superstars that were getting on a bit found a new way to earn a few quid. They all got summer jobs in the North American Soccer League, showboating around on artificial turf in huge stadiums… with roofs!
But what to do during the proper football season when you don’t quite fancy the rigours of a Football League Division One campaign?
Fulham provided the answer. Craven Cottage became a sort of NASL by the Thames for some of the world’s best players who were going a bit curly at the edges. Bobby Moore was the first, leaving Upton Park for SW6. He was then joined by George Best and Rodney Marsh for the 1976-77 season.
They dazzled the likes of Hereford with some sublime skill and Best surprised everyone, including himself, by turning up for all 42 league matches. But somehow, the glorious has-been experiment didn’t quite fit together.
Fulham avoided relegation to Division Three with one game to spare…
Blog Tags: 1970s, Fulham, USA, TV
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