Deans Blinds and Fulham FC’s deep-rooted history
One of the great privileges of being part of a company with over 130 years of history is the heart-warming stories that are brough to us from time to time.
Recently, we were contacted by a gentleman recalling Deans Blinds historic connection to Fulham FC, London’s longest established football club. We found his memories so touching and eloquently expressed, we would like to share them:
‘The name “Deans Blinds” has been frequently recalled to mind since late 1945 when at ten years of age I was taken by my late father to Craven Cottage to watch my first football match, at the time Mr C B Dean was the Fulham club chairman.
‘I recall travelling to a game on a number 655 trolley bus along Chiswick High Road, passing the journey, looking down, and counting the Dean’s logo on shop blinds as we passed. The totals being variable dependant upon the weather. I have a raft of memories from those early days, some a little quirky. My Dad had been born in 1902 just off the Fulham Palace Road, in Childerley Street. I imagine that he would have made his initial visits to “the Cottage” with his older siblings just prior to WW1. My first match was at a time Dad had been on army leave in 1945, and I still have the “programme” framed on the wall at home. Dad always promised that should Fulham ever secure promotion to Division 1, we would treat ourselves to season tickets. So it was in 1949, Dad visited Fulham offices to buy two season tickets, to be met by Secretary General Manager, Frank Osborne, to be lead into the Stevenage Road stand to select which seats he would prefer. Unbelievable service by today’s standards. Each season ticket cost the Princely sum of £3-3s, and included reserve fixtures. Two tickets costing very nearly a weeks wages.
‘I could waffle on for hours about those early years experiences, such as the transfer of the ageing centre forward, Ronnie Rook for £1,000- to the Arsenal. His immediate goal scoring impact lead many to believe as being instrumental in preserving Arsenal’s enviable record of, still, being the only Club never to have played a season outside of the top level of English football.’
Fulham FC and Deans Blinds were closely linked for many years, thanks to John Dean, founder of Deans Blinds and one of Fulham Football Club’s founders, long-time chairman, and benefactors. John Dean, seen on the left in the photo, celebrated his team’s Division championship win in the 1906-1907 season.
All the best, Colin. Thank you for your memories.
Deans – London’s original blindmakers since 1894
Deans of Putney have a history that spans three centuries as the leading UK manufacturer and installer of blinds and awnings. The company was founded in London by a policeman’s son, Tom Dean, in 1894 and was later taken over by his brother John.
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