It is eleven years this afternoon since the Fulham fanatic and Daily Star’s chief football writer, Danny Fullbrook, passed away far too soon. Summing up Danny’s impact doesn’t get any easier with time. He was the life and soul of every party, a countless source of wisdom, a generous and loyal friend who brought the passion of a fan to the press box and never forgot how fortunate he was to travel the world covering the beautiful game.

Danny was born in Staines and took his first steps in a trailblazing career in the media at the University of Hull, where he he covered Hull City – and conducted Tom Cairney’s first media interview – for the Hull Daily Mail. His immense contribution to both student life and the local paper he loved is honoured today by his alma mater and he took his authentic commentary on football to the Midlands where he covered the beautiful game in his own imitable style for the Birmingham Mail.

He moved onto the national scene when he was appointed the Daily Star’s football correspondent aged just 28. Eyebrows at the new entrant but ‘Fearless’ as he became known didn’t let anybody down. He was the youngest member of the Fleet Street elite but you never would have known it: he was trusted by players, coaches, colleagues and fans for getting things right, became a ghost writer to many senior names and his rise was timed perfectly to cover his beloved Fulham in the Premier League.

His writing was authoritative but always bore the fan in mind and his column, entitled ‘Frank. Fearless. Forthright’, became a must read. His appearances on the Sunday Supplement with Jimmy Hill were legendary, especially when he disagreed with a bona fide Fulham legend on events at Craven Cottage. Danny’s book on Fulham’s first season in the top flight, written with his esteemed colleague Harry Harris, in a diary format remains an indispensable guide to the club’s first season back in the big time for 33 years.

He went on to cover England and make such a lasting impression that Roy Hodgson and Steven Gerrard paid a moving tribute to Fullbrook in their final media briefing in Poland before the start of the Euro 2012. Frank Lampard, who became a lifelong friend, attended Danny’s funeral and David Beckham was one of the last people to talk with Danny as cancer cruelly took him far too early. I’ll always remember how Danny encouraged me to write about Fulham, from the day he took a copy of my writing in David Lloyd’s TOOFIF with a smile and followed up with an email from the Stevenage Road press box less than twenty minutes later.

He was an enthusiastic supporter of this site, which would have never taken off without his constant cajoling, and we will continue Hammyend in his honour. I’m very honoured to call Danny’s mum, dad and sister friends as well as his son, Ed, who has become a vocal member of Fulham fanbase. We’re very proud to be doing our bit to keep Danny’s legacy alive at Craven Cottage through our coverage of London’s oldest professional club and promoting the work of the next generation of Fulham-supporting journalists.

We all miss you Danny – but I know you’re cheering on the Whites wherever you are watching on from now!