Fulham - 'You Only Sing When You're Rowing'!

Last updated : 12 December 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor
GROUND - CRAVEN COTTAGE

Away fans are housed to one side of the new Putney End Stand, on the river side of the ground. The stand will be shared with home supporters, with away fans being allocated around 3,000 seats, which is just under half of the overall capacity of this stand.

The walk from the tube station through a park, and having a pint (or two) overlooking the River Thames, this can be an enjoyable experience.

The walk down Stevenage Road to the away entrance, gives you chance to admire the quaint red brick facade of the Stevenage Road Stand, whilst inside you can enjoy modern facilities, and apart from the game, you can still catch glimpses of rowers making their away along the Thames. Although at 5.15pm on a December evening ... perhaps not!

One other item of interest is that Fulham is the only club that I know of that has a designated area of the ground reserved for 'neutral supporters'. This is located on one side of the Putney Road End, adjacent to the away fans section. I guess that the original idea was to attract tourists to London to a game. However, for each game there seems to be a good mix, of home, away and neutral fans in this area.

PUBS

Some of the pubs near the ground have been designated home fans only, so most away fans use the pubs south of the river (across Putney Bridge). The Dukes Head is recommended, which overlooks the Thames. Allow 20 minutes to get from that pub to the ground. The Crabtree on Rainville Road is closer. The Kings Head on Fulham High Street allows away fans.

GETTING THERE

At the end of the M1 turn right (west) onto the A406 (North Circular) and follow it towards Harrow for nearly 4.5 miles. Turn left (east) onto the A40 heading into London (passing close to Loftus Road and after a little over 4 miles turn right (west) onto the A402 for just about 350 yds. Here you turn left (south) along the A219 for a little over half a mile. This brings you into Hammersmith where you turn right onto the A315 and then after just 130 yds or so turn left (south) back onto the A219. Follow this road for a little over a mile and the ground is down the side street off to your right.

TUBE

The nearest station is Putney Bridge, which is on the District Line. The ground is a 15 minute walk. Turn left out of the station and then head for Bishops Park by the side of the river.