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Display Ground information
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Craven Cottage has been a League ground
for 102 seasons;
from June 1st, 2004
to
the current day
,
from June 1st, 1907
to
May 31st, 2002
.
Craven Cottage was the 196th
ground
to be used for a League game.
Current Capacity; 26,600.
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| Originally part of Anne Boleyn’s hunting grounds, the site was an overgrown wilderness (devoid of the original cottage that had succumbed to a fire in 1888) when Fulham FC first leased it in 1894. It took them two years to construct a ground which, when opened in October 1896, was lacking all facilities except for embankments around the pitch.
Shortly after opening, an unusual 1,000 seat stand was constructed on the east side of the ground but this only lasted until 1905 when, under threat of closure by London County Council as a potential safety hazard (even in those days!), the decision was taken to make major alterations to the venue. A new main stand was built on the east side, terracing extended on the other three sides and a pavilion (known today as Craven Cottage) erected in the south east corner.
The ground remained virtually unchanged until the 1960s when the north end was extended and covered and a new 4,200 seat stand subsequently constructed on the west side. The capacity at the end of 2001/2 season, when the ground closed for planned redevelopment, was 18,623 with 7,023 seats and the pitch size was 110 x 75 yards.
It was hoped to rebuild Craven Cottage as a 30,000 seater stadium and re-open at the commencement of the 2003/4 season but legal protests from local residents and escalating costs led to the abandonment of the project. In 2004 seats were installed on the terraces as a temporary measure, and a roof was erected over the south end giving the ground a nominal all-seat capacity of 24,600, and allowing the club to return to the stadium for the 2004/5 season.
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