please log in to view this image 1990-2001, 408 appearances, 53 goals Twelve years ago today Simon Morgan sealed a move to Brighton on a Bosman free ruling. The 34-year-old signed a one-year deal after choosing the south coast club ahead of their Second Division rivals QPR and Notts County. He chose instead to join up again with Micky Adams. And what a pairing they were for Fulham Football Club. At the start of the ‘naughty nineties’ life at the Cottage was not at all happy and in February 1996 we were lying 91st out of 92 clubs in the league. In the previous ten years managers had come and gone; the unlucky Ray Lewington, the incompetent Alan Dicks, the clueless Don McKay and the questionable Ian Branfoot. Enter Micky Adams who kept us up in that season1995/96 and then in his first full year in charge (1996/97) took us to our first promotion in 15 years. Within a year Micky had gone but not Morgs, who followed that promotion with another in 1998/99, under Kevin Keegan. And yet another in 2000/01, under Jean Tigana. Simon missed most of that season after seven months out with a cruciate knee ligament injury. However he made his first appearance of the campaign as a substitute in the 2-0 win against Wolves. He was the star act that night and was cheered every time he touched the ball after receiving a standing ovation when he came on 14 minutes from the end. His throw-ins even received roars of approval and there was a rip-roaring send-off at the final whistle. Only fitting for Craven Cottage’s most popular son who had stayed loyal to the Club for more than 10 years and played for us in the bottom three divisions. After the game he himself said, “It was absolutely fantastic for me to get on and to be able to say I have been part of three promotion-winning teams. This team will go down in Fulham history and being part of it is something to tell the grandchildren, that is for sure.” The final word on Simon Morgan the man, however goes to Micky Adams - “A favourite saying of mine is that ’when leaders lead, the followers will follow’ and the truth of this is borne out by Morgs’ contribution to our promotion success.”
