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Fulham are back, but can they stay there?
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Fulham are back, but can they stay there?

Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic celebrates his team's promotion to the Premier League after beating Preston on Tuesday. (Photo: Reuters)
Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic celebrates his team's promotion to the Premier League after beating Preston on Tuesday. (Photo: Reuters)

Life is definitely never boring for Fulham football fans. Three promotions and two relegations in the last five seasons sounds like value for money.

To put it another way, every season the Craven Cottage spectators see their club go either up or down.

Happily, this is one of their up seasons and this week they clinched promotion so they can have another bash at the Premier League.

The big question of course is can they stay there and shake off the unwanted yo-yo label?

It is a valid query because the club's last two excursions into the Premier League were very short-lived.

Yet, there is no question they have been the best team in the Championship this season, so far scoring 98 goals with Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic notching 40 of them, a truly remarkable performance.

In one hot spell, they scored 19 goals in three games.

Other outstanding players have been Welsh winger Harry Wilson and exciting 19-year-old midfielder Fabio Carvalho who have played key roles in making Fulham such an entertaining side to watch.

Much credit must go to Portuguese manager Marco Silva who knows a thing or two about being a gaffer in the Premier League after spells at Hull City, Watford and Everton.

"This season has been fantastic for the fans," Silva said after Tuesday's 3-0 win over Preston. "Mitro has been phenomenal."

Fulham fans will be hoping Mitrovic can replicate his form next season because last time they were in the Premier League it didn't happen.

The Serb suffered a miserable time with injuries, illness and loss of form which all contributed to their relegation.

Silva is well aware how tough it will be to stay in the Premier League.

"The gap is getting bigger," he said. "The challenge is huge. We must have desire and ambition."

The "gap" he is talking about has been particularly noticeable this season with newly promoted clubs Norwich City and Watford looking out of their depth.

However, he will be encouraged by the way another West London club, Brentford, have responded with the Bees appearing to have secured top flight status for another season.

Silva will also be hoping that American billionaire owner Shahid Khan will spend wisely when it comes to new signings which they will definitely need if they are to stay up.

The new Riverside stand at Craven Cottage is expected be ready for the upcoming season which should provide a boost for players and fans alike.

Back in the 1960s, I visited many stadiums in London but my fondest memories are of Craven Cottage.

The pleasant walk to the stadium through the park by the River Thames was a good start.

The atmosphere at the Cottage was something special.

They had one of the worst teams in the old First Division but just managed to hang in there year after year, before finally taking the plunge in 1968.

In the four seasons I watched them, their highest finishing position was fifth from bottom.

The great Johnny Haynes was still there, but on his last legs as were many of the team.

Despite the poor results, there was always a decent crowd who were usually entertained, if not by the football, by the cheerful banter on the terraces.

The Cottage attracted entertaining and witty spectators, possibly because the chairman was stand-up comedian Tommy Trinder.

In fact, Trinder got into trouble with his board for cracking jokes about how awful Fulham were.

The football always had a certain entertainment value, especially with eccentric players like Jimmy Hill, Tosh Chamberlain and Rodney Marsh.

Chamberlain was best known for one of football's classic comedy moments when he took a corner kick, missed the ball but broke the corner flag with his boot.

They don't produce players like that these days.

Back to the present. Today Fulham visit second-placed Bournemouth who are favourites to clinch the other automatic promotion spot and the only team that could pinch the title from the Cottagers.

Perhaps the two clubs might exchange thoughts on how to survive in the Premier League next season.

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