On This Day – 4th September
Fulham enjoyed a bumper pay day on this day back in 1976 as 21,127 fans clicked through the turnstiles at Craven Cottage for the visit of Bristol Rovers.
The crowd was more than double the attendance in their previous game against Nottingham Forest due to a certain number seven making his debut for the home side.
George Best had joined the club from Los Angeles Aztecs and made his debut in the Second Division match against Bristol Rovers.
Fulham had reached the FA Cup Final two seasons before, but lost 2-0 against West Ham United at Wembley. The South London side had invested in a few big-name players such as Bobby Moore and Rodney Marsh but it was George Best who had drawn in the crowds.
The former Manchester United man scored 71 seconds in to the game and was the star of the show, as he had been for the majority of his career.
Best stayed at Fulham until 1978, playing 47 matches and scoring goals. He spent two seasons at Craven Cottage before returning to Los Angeles Aztecs, the club he left to originally join the Second Division side.
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