0808 The Official Fulham FC Matchday Programme

BITESBITES

Whites

Riverside Stand Support

The Club submitted a Planning

Application on 1st December to the

London Borough of Hammersmith

& Fulham (LBHF) for the Riverside

Stand development at Craven

Cottage and is seeking your support

this month.

Fulham were granted planning

permission in 2013 for its previous

design. The new application has

developed the 2013 scheme by

creating a riverside development

of its prominent location on the

Thames. The new design will

address the Club’s operational and

sporting requirements during the

football season, looking to increase

the capacity to almost 30,000 from

the current 25,700. It will also

provide a community hub that will

add to the vibrancy of the local area

on non-matchdays.

Please fill out the online petition

form to give your support for the

Riverside Stand development by

going to fulhamfc.com/Riverside-

Stand-Support

Lucas Piazon is looking to

finish the season on a high after

spending the first half of the

campaign in the treatment room.

The on-loan Chelsea man

broke his leg in the 0-0 draw

at Leeds United in August, but

recently made his return to action

with substitute appearances in

Fulham’s last three games.

The 23-year-old, who also spent

last season on loan at the Cottage,

said: “I can go out there and put my

leg in and I know it will be 100 per

cent. It’s a new

year now, my leg

feels good, I feel

good so hopefully

I can finish the

season strong.

“It was hard

to watch,

this period is so long and it was

tough to watch. I was always here

supporting them but to be back out

there helping them is much better.

“I had three games before the

injury, so the new year is the

beginning of the season for me so

I have to make the most of it.”

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Man In The Middle

Michael Oliver

2017/18 Matches Officiated: 22

Yellow Cards: 87 Red Cards: 05

Northumberland’s Michael Oliver takes charge of

today’s game. He last officiated the Whites in the

2-1 win at Aston Villa in April 2014.

He became the Premier League’s youngest official

in August 2010 - aged 25 years and 182 days.

Timmy Abraham has signed

his first professional contract

with Fulham which will keep

him at the Club until at least the

summer of 2020.

The striker arrived in SW6 from

Charlton Athletic last summer

and has hit four goals in 13

appearances for the Under-18s

this term.

“It’s a very good feeling,” said

Abraham, the younger brother of

Chelsea forward Tammy. “Every

young player wants to get to

this point where they become a

professional.

“I hope to achieve much more,

and that this is just the start of

many more things to come.

“I’ve settled in well, it’s a

great family Club with a good

philosophy, so hopefully I can

keep going.

“I try to be the best I can in every

game and I just want to focus on

pushing forward.

“For everybody here it’s very

encouraging to see others in the

Academy getting opportunities

because you know there is a

chance if you do well.”

Academy Director Huw Jennings

added: “We took a strategic

decision to invest in Timmy, whose

profile is very different to other

players we have in the Academy.

“We’re looking forward to a

bright future with him.”

Today’s Mascot | Away

James

Hobbies: Football, gaming & cycling

Fave SFC Player: Mario Lemina

Fave Sportsperson: Lionel Messi

Wants To Be: A sports physio

Abraham Turns Pro

Piazon Pumped

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