The untimely passing of lifelong Fulham fan, Tony Fisher, has hit me very hard this morning. Tony was a generous, kind, supportive and energetic soul who travelled to follow Fulham everywhere, with his trusty union flag emblazoned with the Fulham badge at its heart alongside him wherever he went.

It proved to be very fitting that Tony carried the Championship play-off trophy onto the Wembley turf before Fulham’s fabulous triumph over Aston Villa on that glorious May day in 2018. He was dubbed Fulham’s super fan having won an EFL search to find someone suitable for the honour and, although he eschewed the title, they couldn’t have chosen better. Tony embodied what supporting Fulham should be about – he was considered, caring and passionate about his team.

I’ll fondly remember the train journeys to far flung places we shared together and dissecting matches, formations and those mentions that didn’t go so well as we waited on platforms to head back home home. I’m grateful for his encouragement to keep writing about Fulham but what shone through most was his enjoyment of life and his love of other people. Tony would never shout about it but he was a regular fundraiser for charity and went well beyond the call of duty to support the less fortunate.

He was a real Fulham character and our lives will all be poorer without him. I hope we will be all able to pay him a proper and lasting tribute at Craven Cottage in the very near future. We send our deepest condolences to Tony’s friends and family at this sad time.