FROM THE TIGERS TO THE WHITE HOUSE I was so fortunate to be a big part of unbelievable times
FOLAN REFLECTS ON REACHING WEMBLEY AND PREMIER LEAGUE
Caleb Folan has led a life less ordinary since leaving Hull City in 2011. Moves to Malaysia, Myanmar and Trinidad have followed on from an American adventure that included a date with Barack Obama at the White House, yet there was nothing that ever came close to his East Yorkshire highs.
“It was just the best,” said Folan. “I can look back on my whole career and there was nothing better. I count myself fortunate to have those experiences.”
Almost a decade has passed since Folan last turned out for City but his place in club folklore was assured long ago. Not only was he the Tigers’ first £1m signing, recruited from Wigan in 2007, the centre forward was a key figure in the team that ended a 104-year wait for top-flight football.
Just for good measure Folan also scored the late winner that sank Fulham on an unforgettable introduction to the Premier League. “Just to be part of history, it was unbelievable.”
Folan encountered too much frustration in the second half of his City career to pretend it was always sweetness and light but he – and the Tigers – will always have 2008.
“To have achieved something like we did, you have to be like brothers,” said Folan.
“That was a special group.
“You can have a jigsaw puzzle and you open it up and for us the pieces just slotted in nicely. It was perfect. The characters, the individual personalities, everything.
“I can remember sitting in the dressing room at Wembley and that’s when it really hit me what we’d done.
“I was looking across at people like Ian Ashbee, Andy Dawson, the guys that had been there throughout. And I’d never felt that before, that sense of achievement in people until then. I was like ‘Wow, that’s special.’ It was amazing to see.”
Folan was the most expensive piece in that promotion-winning jigsaw. City’s intent had been made clear with the capture of Bryan Hughes, Richard Garcia and Wayne Brown but it was a £1m move for Folan in the same week of Jay-jay Okocha’s arrival that the Tigers began to target the Premier League.
Folan had been with City before during a brief loan spell from Leeds United in 2001 but his return saw the first seven-figure cheque written out.
“Thirteen years, wow,” added Folan, looking back on City’s show of faith. “I never really thought about the fee.
“I met with Phil Brown and as soon I did it felt right. There was something about him that just made you be yourself. I’d not felt that in years.
“I’d always had those old-school managers but with Phil there was this pressure released. It was like he was your mate, down to earth, cool.
“Straightaway it just felt special. I knew that’s where I was supposed to be. It was a stage of my life when I was growing as a man but also getting to experience so many things as a footballer.”
Folan scored nine goals in that promotionwinning season of 2007-08, including one in the play-off semi-final win over Watford to cue scenes of pandemonium at the KCOM Stadium.
Three months later he was at it again. Geovanni perhaps scored the more iconic goal when cancelling out Fulham’s lead but Folan was on hand to turn in Craig Fagan’s cross to give City their first three points in the Premier League.
“A crazy moment,” he said. “I was generally aware of how historic some of these things were but they stay with you. You reflect, more so now, and they were unbelievable times. Just so fortunate to have been part of it.”
Folan, though, had fallen down the pecking order that summer. The signing of Geovanni, Marlon King and Daniel Cousin created a new-look attack that would defeat the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham but leave causalities in their wake.
“Getting to the Premier League, I think there was a feeling that the club had to invest in more players,” said Folan. “You can understand that because you have to try and progress but sometimes I think there was some of us who were overlooked. I felt we could’ve done the jobs that players signed did.
“I think me and Phil had a few moments. Most of the time you’d understand selections and it wasn’t like I didn’t feel valued but all you want are the opportunities.”