Fulham Boy in Texas

Found out about your website when I saw the logo in Brian McBride's player section on the FFC website; had no idea that there was a fan base here in the States! I'm a British exchange officer embedded within the US Navy down here in Corpus Christi so I thought I'd drop you guys a line and join the Club.

I'm Fulham born and bred and went to my first match at Craven Cottage when I was 5 years old in 1965, with my (late) dad, himself a life-long Fulham supporter. Was a ball-boy at Fulham during seasons 72-73 and 73-74. Went to the FA Cup Final at (the old) Wembley in 1975 when we were roundly beaten 2-0 by West Ham - my dad and I wept like babies at the final whistle (I still cherish my Wembley ticket stub). I joined the Royal Navy in 1978 and moved away from London so in the last 30 years I've only attended sporadically but have always remained faithful - even during the dark years before we started creeping back up the ladder in the late 90's.

My two sons have inherited their father's and late grandfather's love of Fulham Football Club, even though the eldest was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and the youngest is actually an American/British dual-citizen born in Maryland, when I was on exchange with the US Navy the first time around during 87-89. Even though they are in full-time education up north, and visit me here during the holidays, they both get to support Fulham at least once or twice a season at Craven Cottage, including when they go up to Scotland to play the likes of Celtic in pre-season matches.

Hope you have enjoyed getting this message, and I look forward to corresponding with you some more.

Regards,
Bob Hawkins MBE

 

Hi Bob,

Welcome aboard.

Regards GBFC.

 

Welcome Bob! What an experience the 1975 FA Cup Final must have been for you. I have a DVD of it as I was not alive when it was played, but it is nice to have as a keepsake despite the Cottagers coming up on the wrong end against West Ham.

You will find a nice group of Fulham supporters on the site and specifically here on the message board.

Welcome again Bob!

 

Thanks for your welcomes Guys! Yes, indeed - the '75 Cup Final was an awesome experience (I was 14 at the time). I too have the DVD, and the match day programme, which I didn't keep at the time but my eldest son gave to me as a Christmas present when he got a copy off e-Bay. I'll take a picture of the ticket stub then post it on here. I've got some pictures from a special day I had viewing the Fulham vs West Ham from the Chairman's Box for their home match on 17 Sep 05. My eldest son was with me and he got to meet Chris Coleman and McBride after the match; I settled with quoffing champagne in the Chairman's Lounge afterwards and chatting with Sir Trevor Brooking (England and West Ham)! Al-Fayed wasn't there that day, so I didn't meet him, which I'm not bothered about as I don't trust the guy...that can be the subject of a separate Post however!!

Regards,
Bob.

 

Welcome and thanks for your service, Bob.. And congrats on your MBE {this listing, right?} and good job in the Falklands.

But who did you piss off to be posted in that hell-hole?
Bright side, with near 30 in you ought to about own that base.

Cheers!


PS: Pardon the impertinence but, as I got out of the USN 40 years ago, I figger I outrank you.

8)

 

Rear Admiral of the Blue, Sir Horatio Petty-Fog?

Bob, is it right that you are not allowed to wear your sword? I was told once - that after the muntiny at the Nore and Spithead, the King banned it and it acts as a reminder of the discrace?

 

Wow. Such stories and such a history with the club. AND a fellow serviceman. I see this as mojo!



On a side note, Corpus Christi is a nice place to visit. My family used to go there from time to time when we were stationed in San Antonio, and I went there not 5 years ago when I, too, was stationed there.

 

Welcome and it is great to have a seasoned Fulham such as yourself on the forum.

 

First and foremost, CONGRATULATIONS on the MBE that's got to be a great honour and a privilage to be able to use after your name, well done.

Secondly, I too attended that Wembley final back in 1975 and also have the DVD and programme, unfortutately I wasn't bright enough to have kept the stub.

What part of Fulham did you live Bob, I may know you?????

I knew a Hawkins but he was a Joey?

 

Wow! Some great posts to my introductory message. I'll end up not doing any work if I tune into this superb website every day!

Firstly, thanks for your kind words about my service, both to the UK and the USA (this is my second stint out here) - unfortunately I missed out on the Falklands being stuck in HMS VERNON in Portsmouth on my professional Diving, Minewarfare and EOD course (it sucked not to be down there at the time!); secondly, thanks for recognising the achievement of the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) - that's right Pettyfog I was in the New Years Honours List 2007 - I received it from HM The Queen on 7th March this year at Buckingham Palace for 'Services to the Navy, and Services to Youth' (I'm a Scout Leader and volunteer worker in Youth community/charity projects); thirdly, thank you for recognising me as a true Fulham fan - that means a lot!

In answer to GBFC - it is true that Naval Officers have to carry their swords by order of Queen Victoria (not the King) following the Nore and Spithead mutinies, and to this day the only time we are allowed to 'hook-up' our swords is when one is the Colour Officer carrying the Queen's Colour on parade - that said, the Royals appear each year in their Naval uniforms and Naval Greatcoats at the Cenotaph in Whitehall on Remembrance Sunday with their swords hooked-up, but then they are also carrying wreaths - and they are related to the woman that they are in defiance of!!

In answer to Martin (in Nashville), I was born 5 Aug 60 at home in Clem Atlee Court Estate on Rylston Road (flats now torn down for townhouses); then in '63 moved to Sherbrooke Road, opposite Henry Compton school (where Olympic Gold medallist Linford Christie went - I knew him as a kid); started at Sherbrooke Primary school in '65 (now torn down for townhouses!); in '68 moved on to Queensmill Road, which joins Stevenage Road - so even less distance to walk to Craven Cottage!; Joined the 16th Fulham (Twynholm) Scout Group as a Cub Scout in '68 also (was still a Venture Scout for my first two years in the Navy!); then in '71 we 'emigrated' just across the Thames river to Putney where I attended Wandsworth Comprehensive until joing the Navy in Jan 78. My father grew up in Brookville Road (he joined the Navy as 'Hostilities Only' 44-47). Didn't know a 'Joey' Hawkins in Fulham but there are 4 pages of us Hawkins' in the London telephone directory!

Finally, Corpus is great but it does indeed have its limitations! My command is moving to San Diego bit by bit over the next couple of years and I will move there in Jan 08 - California here I come!

Just been looking at the fixture list for 07/08. I'm hoping to make it to the Home game vs Man City on 22 Sep (I'll be nipping across on the 'Eurostar' Channel Tunnel train from Belgium where I'll be working on NATO stuff at the time). Apart from that it's going to be difficult for me to get to see The Whites this season.

Take it easy!
Bob MBE.

 

thanks

 

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the info. Good to see another scout too.

GBFC.

 

Bob congragulations is deserved for your massive achievement of earning an MBE. UK owes you a great debt of gratitude for your service.

In your last post you mentioned that you will be at the match vs. Man City. I will be studying abroad in London at that time and that might just be my first match at CC. To be honest that is the main reason for studying abroad...football. Hope all is well and you enjoy your time in Corpus.

 

Thanks for the recognition of the MBE - I am very proud to have been appointed as one and use the suffix with pride!

Let me know if your trip to Craven Cottage on 22 Sep firms up - we could meet for a beer in one of the Pubs next to Putney Bridge tube station, which is walking distance to the ground through Bishop's Park; the station called Fulham Broadway actually services Chelsea's Stamford Bridge ground, which is, paradoxically, actually located in the London Borough of Fulham & Hammersmith (not in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea as one would expect!).

Bob MBE.

 

As soon as I purchase the match package membership I will post what matches I will be at. Hopefully it will be all matches that occur in my time in London.

Sounds fantastic and first round is on me.

 

Hi Bob,
I know I said welcome via email but wanted to do the same for all to see. I'll be seeing you the 22nd and i can suggest a pub or two in putney/fulham which would be nice.

I do have my favorites, the golden lion on Fulham high street and the Bricklayers Arms in Putney, just off of Embankment. Both have completely different crowds which is why I like them.

Anywho, gald you joined and COYW's

 

Welcome Bob!...Wonderful stories.

Enjoy your stay in Corpus!...probably be better to head over to Port A(ransas) and that area for relaxation.

 

Great to be here guys/gals...

I'm really enjoying this site - I feel like I've got these new mates all over the USA and wherever else FulhamUSA reaches out!

HatterDon - hope to see you in SA before long - send me a PM with your details; Markus - thanks for welcoming me and yes I've already sampled the delights of Port A! ; and likewise AmericanMike - I have been shit-faced in the Golden Lion and the Bricklayers on a number of occasions (in my youth!) and would be glad to quoff a beer or two with you my friend! Roll-on 22 Sep - I will definitely shape my plans to catch the Eurostar over from Bruxelles (where I'll be doing NATO work at the time) to see the match vs Man City - hope to see Team_of_Carraghers there too?

Currently sitting in the USO at Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) enroute to Gatwick (LGW) for my big sis' 50th in Hook, Surrey on Thursday (21st), then I'm up to Scotland for the weekend to see my youngest son (the Yank) at boarding school up there. I return to Tx 25 June; he comes out to Corpus on 29th to join his big brother Cam (20) who came out last week. I've ordered a FulhamUSA t-shirt for each of us. My big sis is great - every year she buys me and my lads a new FFC shirt of our choice (H/A/3rd) as our respective birthday presents - my birthday is in August but my lads are April and March, but they don't mind waiting until the summer for the new shirt.

BTW - who was it that wanted a 'PIPEX' shirt? See my post on the 'New Kit' blog.

Take it easy,
Bob MBE.

 

RE: Great to be here guys/gals...

Bob, glad to see you are getting on so well with the site. This is by far the best forum/message board I've ever been on and the Fulham supporters are second to none.

My friend and I will most assuredly see you at one of the pubs for the Man City match. You can count on the first few round on me.

I'll take a look at the Pipex shirt thread. Always interested in a new shirt.