There’s been a bit of nonsense written about Tom Cairney this season. I felt the skipper, such a loyal servant to the club that has seen plenty of strife since he signed from Blackburn Rovers in 2015, deserved far better than the pelters he received in the aftermath of last month’s defeat to Chelsea. Yes, the collapse was criminal but the defeat from a position of strength was a consequence of Marco Silva failing to react to Enzo Maresca’s half-time tweaks and then asking Cairney, a playmaker, to try and protect a slender lead rather than turning to a more defensively minded midfielder like Harrison Reed.
The Scottish international’s appearance in soul-destroying SW6 derby was his 350th game for Fulham. The Whites wouldn’t be back in the top flight – let alone in with a shot of Europe for the first time in thirteen years – without the latest custodian of Johnny Haynes’ number ten jersey. Cairney came to the Cottage from Blackburn Rovers a decade ago, helped the Whites avoid back-to-back relegations and then flourished under Slavisa Jokanovic. He didn’t just score the goal that beat Aston Villa at Wembley in 2018, but he stuck around as Fulham went up and down between the top tiers like a yo-yo. Cairney lifted the Championship play-off trophy again in lockdown after Joe Bryan deceived David Raya two years later and he has been a reliable substitute for Marco Silva as one of the continent’s most underrated coaches re-established London’s oldest professional club as a Premier League force once again.
Father time eventually catches up with all of us – and, there have been signs of that of late – but Cairney’s skillset is special. He has enjoyed a number of eye-catching cameos from the bench this season, scoring an equaliser at Spurs, and added valuable experience within the Boxing Day clash with the Blues at Stamford Bridge was in the balance. The 34 year-old took plenty of opprobrium, alongside his head coach, after Fulham surrendered a lead to lose at home to Everton last weekend, but yesterday afternoon showed he still has the technique and tenacity to trouble top-tier defences.
He spread the play intelligently as Fulham began to get a hold of the midfield in a way that they never managed when Sander Berge was on the pitch. Boosted by the introduction of Josh King and Harry Wilson from the bench, Cairney relished the freedom he was offered to carry the ball deep into Brentford territory and, with his side still behind, drove Fulhm forward impatiently. Cairney’s glancing header from Kenny Tete’s cross demonstrated why is so keen to keep him at the Cottage – the finish was one thing, but Cairney had to get in the box and occupy the home centre backs.
The joyous celebrations in the aftermath of a rare headed goal and the raucous nature of the Fulham faithful’s response might it can easily be interpretated as farewell, as the Guardian have done this afternoon. But Cairney is keen to continue his career at Craven Cottage – and, even setting aside his footballing ability, Fulham are very lucky. We are all familiar with the number ten’s lovely left foot, but the midfielder’s class extends well beyond the football field.
Cairney has quietly – but consistently – supported the family of Fulham fanatic Danny Fullbrook since the former Daily Star and Daily Mirror man was taken from us far too soon by cancer in 2012. Fullbrook conducted Cairney’s first ever press interview when he was Hull City reporter for the Hull Daily Mail and a fresh-faced teenager was breaking into the Tigers first team. Danny would be very proud of the leader he’s product – as well as those star turns as a pundit on Sky Sports. Selfishly, we hope he won’t be tempted by the lure of a television studio. It seems as though Fulham’s finest custodian of the number ten jersey since Johnny Haynes has plenty more to give.
As the Hammersmith End sings, there ain’t nobody like Tom Cairney.