The Great Adventure
Al-Fayed's Rollercoaster Ride with Fulham FC
Published on 2. October 2023
Book
Hardback
320 pages
978-1-80150-502-4 (ISBN)
Description
The Great Adventure: Al-Fayed's Rollercoaster Ride with Fulham FC is the fascinating tale of Mohamed Al-Fayed's remarkable 16-year reign as the owner of Fulham.
The flamboyant Harrods owner bought the famous old London club in a GBP6.25 million deal in the summer of 1997, just after Fulham had been promoted from the Football League's lowest rung. He promised to make the club a Premier League side within five years. He did it in four - and then took Fulham into the unexplored territory of European football.
Along the way there were ten managers, two promotions, numerous club record signings, rows with the FA, the Football League, the Premier League, the government - and his managers. There were plans to buy the Twin Towers of Wembley and there was the statue of Michael Jackson unveiled at Craven Cottage.
Author Tony Banks talks to the players, managers and staff who were there during the most remarkable period in the club's history and uncovers their astonishing behind-the-scenes stories.
The flamboyant Harrods owner bought the famous old London club in a GBP6.25 million deal in the summer of 1997, just after Fulham had been promoted from the Football League's lowest rung. He promised to make the club a Premier League side within five years. He did it in four - and then took Fulham into the unexplored territory of European football.
Along the way there were ten managers, two promotions, numerous club record signings, rows with the FA, the Football League, the Premier League, the government - and his managers. There were plans to buy the Twin Towers of Wembley and there was the statue of Michael Jackson unveiled at Craven Cottage.
Author Tony Banks talks to the players, managers and staff who were there during the most remarkable period in the club's history and uncovers their astonishing behind-the-scenes stories.
Reviews / Votes
"Banks, a brilliant sportswriter and a Fulham fan, is insightful and entertaining throughout, revealing what went on behind the scenes during this period... The Great Adventure: Al-Fayed's Rollercoaster Ride with Fulham FC is a brilliant read, one I devoured in three days. Tony Banks' meticulous research, along with the personal accounts of those who were there, make it a publication that all Fulham and most football enthusiasts will enjoy." * On Magazine * "Fleet Street veteran Tony Banks tells the story brilliantly." * Backpass Magazine * "Tony Banks has sought to capture the spirit of Al-Fayed's heady 16-year reign. He has certainly achieved this... The narrative races along and packs in myriad fascinating details and quotes, plans that might have been, and players who might have signed." * When Saturday Comes *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Hove
United Kingdom
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 138 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
463 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-80150-502-4 (9781801505024)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
10/2023
Pitch Publishing Ltd
€11.99
Available for download
Person
In a 35-year career on national newspapers, Tony Banks wrote about football for the Press Association, Today, The Sun, Daily Express, Daily Star and Daily Mirror. He saw his first Fulham match in 1973, and covered the club intimately throughout the Al-Fayed era. He was London football correspondent on the Daily Express, and covered World Cups, European Championships and Champions League finals.