Fulham - Bittersweet Reflection

The day of destiny came and the day of destiny passed us by.

No trophy will grace Craven Cottage this year; despite the belief, despite the desire and despite the hunger.

Fulham played their hearts out and battled until the end; in itself, being a great achievement.

We were gracious in defeat and dignified in despair. The season of hope for Fulham, crumbled in the hands of Atletico Madrid.

The emotions that passed through me, and many other Fulham fans last night are truly not surmountable in word form.

With emotion, though, comes reflection, and disregarding the bitter sorrow we all collectively felt last night, not just as Fulham, but as an English representative; we did ourselves truly proud.

Simply to be in a major European Final is a magnificent achievement, and, in the chaos and tears that followed in Germany, we must all treasure the journey that led us to Hamburg in this, the season 2009/10.

It was dubbed the year to remember and it still is the year to remember, defeat aside.

Nobody will ever forget the victories over Shakhtar, Juventus and Hamburg alike. Nobody in the Black and White of Fulham will fail to remember the 2009/10 season for all the elation, desperation and memories it has brought every single one of us.

The World has viewed our courage and grit and openly applauded it. We are a recognised force, not just in the Premier League, but now in Europe.

We were given the opportunity to surpass expectation. To jump huge hurdles. And we snapped at the opportunity.

Fulham FC, with our support and the tutorship of Roy Hodgson and his staff, have made history.

I will never forget. Nobody will ever forget.

We believed 'til the very end. We are Fulham.

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