Editing Craven Cottage (section)

==Life==

===Pre-Fulham===
[[File:Craven Cottage LH4736.jpg|thumb|right|Aerial view of Craven Cottage on the banks of the [[River Thames]] as of 2010.<!-- based on file creation date -->]]
The original Cottage was built in 1780, by [[William Craven, 6th Baron Craven|William Craven]], the sixth [[Baron Craven]]<ref name="placeinhistory">{{cite web |url=https://www.fulhamfc.com/club/history |title=HISTORY |publisher=Fulham F.C. |date=11 January 2021|access-date=11 January 2021}}</ref> and was located close to where the Johnny Haynes Stand is now. At the time, the surrounding areas were woods which once made up part of [[Anne Boleyn]]'s hunting grounds.<ref name="placeinhistory" />

The Cottage was lived in by [[Edward Bulwer-Lytton]]<ref name="placeinhistory" /> (who wrote ''[[The Last Days of Pompeii]]''<ref>{{cite book |title=The Last Days of Pompeii | first=Edward | last=Bulwer-Lytton | date=September 2007 |publisher=Dodo Press |isbn = 978-1406521641}}</ref>) and other somewhat notable (and moneyed) persons<ref name="placeinhistory" /> until it was destroyed by fire in May 1888.<ref name="placeinhistory" />  Following the fire, the site was abandoned.<ref name="placeinhistory" /> Fulham had had 8 previous grounds<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/july/01/moments-that-made-ffc |title=50 Moments That Made Fulham: 10. The Formation of the Club – 1879 |publisher=Fulham F.C. |date=1 July 2013|access-date=19 November 2013}}</ref> before settling in at Craven Cottage for good. Therefore, The Cottagers have had 12 grounds overall (including a temporary stay at [[Loftus Road]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/september/11/top-10-loftus-road-matches |title=Top 10: Loftus Road Matches |publisher=Fulham F.C. |date=11 September 2013|access-date=19 November 2013}}</ref>) Of particular note, was [[Ranelagh House]], Fulham's palatial home from 1886 to 1888.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.derelictlondon.com/londons-long-lost-sports-grounds.html |title=London's Long Lost Sports Grounds |publisher=Derelict London |access-date=19 November 2013}}</ref>

===Under construction: 1894–1905===
[[File:Rabbit Hutch at the Cottage.jpg|thumb|right|The 'Rabbit Hutch' stand along Stevenage Road before [[Archibald Leitch]]'s redesign in 1904-5]]
When representatives of Fulham first came across the land, in 1894, it was so overgrown that it took two years to be made suitable for football to be played on it.<ref name="placeinhistory" /> A deal was struck for the owners of the ground to carry out the work, in return for which they would receive a proportion of the gate receipts.<ref name="placeinhistory" />

The first football match at which there were any gate receipts was when Fulham played against [[Minerva F.C.|Minerva]] in the [[Middlesex Senior Cup]], on 10 October 1896.<ref name="placeinhistory" /> The ground's first stand was built shortly after.<ref name="placeinhistory" /> Described as looking like an "orange box", it consisted of four wooden structures each holding some 250 seats, and later was affectionately nicknamed the "rabbit hutch".<ref name="placeinhistory" />

In 1904 [[London County Council]] became concerned with the level of safety at the ground, and tried to get it closed.<ref name="placeinhistory" /> A court case followed in January 1905, as a result of which [[Archibald Leitch]], a Scottish [[architect]] who had risen to prominence after his building of the [[Ibrox Stadium]], a few years earlier,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.therangersarchive.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=93&Itemid=128 |title=Archibald Leitch – 'Engineering Archie': The Designer of Ibrox |publisher=The Rangers Archive |access-date=19 November 2013}}</ref> was hired to work on the stadium.<ref name="placeinhistory" /> In a scheme costing £15,000<ref name="placeinhistory" /> (a record for the time<ref name="Terrace">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19009781 |title=Fulham's plans to increase Craven Cottage capacity approved |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 July 2012|access-date=19 November 2013}}</ref>), he built a pavilion (the present-day 'Cottage' itself<ref name="placeinhistory" />) and the Stevenage Road Stand,<ref name="placeinhistory" /> in his characteristic [[red brick]] style.<ref name="placeinhistory" />

The stand on Stevenage Road celebrated its centenary in the 2005–2006 season<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2005/august/15/stevenage-road-centenary |title=Stevenage Road Centenary |publisher=Fulham F.C. |date=15 August 2005|access-date=19 November 2013}}</ref> and, following the death of Fulham FC's favourite son, former England captain [[Johnny Haynes]], in a car accident in October 2005<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4353732.stm |title=Legendary Haynes dies after crash |publisher=BBC Sport|date=18 October 2005|access-date=19 November 2013}}</ref> the Stevenage Road Stand was renamed the Johnny Haynes Stand after the club sought the opinions of Fulham supporters.<ref name="Haynes">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/f/fulham/4480816.stm |title=Fulham re-name stand after Haynes |publisher=BBC Sport|date=29 November 2005|access-date=19 November 2013}}</ref>

[[File:Fulham Football Club - geograph.org.uk - 577777.jpg|thumb|right|The façade of the Johnny Haynes stand]]
Both the Johnny Haynes Stand and Cottage remain among the finest examples of [[Archibald Leitch]] football architecture to remain in existence and both have been designated as Grade II listed buildings.<ref name="officialwebsite" />

===Establishing itself as a stadium===
An [[England national football team|England]] v [[Wales national football team|Wales]] match was played at the ground in 1907,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.englandstats.com/matches.php?mid=90 |title=England 1 – 1 Wales |publisher=England Stats |date=18 March 1907|access-date=19 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://sites.google.com/site/englandmatchreports/090-wales-1907 |title=England 1 – 1 Wales |publisher=England Match Reports |date=18 March 1907|access-date=19 November 2013}}</ref> followed by a [[rugby league]] international between [[England national rugby league team|England]] and [[Australia national rugby league team|Australia]] in 1911.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/kangaroos-tour-1911/game-7/england-vs-australia.html |title=England 6 lost to Australia 11 |publisher=The Rugby League Project |date=18 October 2011 |access-date=19 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140925101657/http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/kangaroos-tour-1911/game-7/england-vs-australia.html |archive-date=25 September 2014 }}</ref>

One of the club's directors [[Henry Norris (businessman)|Henry Norris]], and his friend William Hall, took over [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] in the early 1910s,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arsenal.com/history/laying-the-foundations/club-moves-from-woolwich-to-highbury |title=Club moves from Woolwich to Highbury |publisher=Arsenal F.C. |date=16 December 2008|access-date=19 November 2013}}</ref> the plan being to merge Fulham with Arsenal,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arsenal.com/history/arsenal-stadium-highbury/arsenal-stadium-a-history |title=Highbury – A history |publisher=Arsenal F.C. |date=14 July 2008|access-date=19 November 2013}}</ref> to form a "London superclub" at Craven Cottage.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IcsXyTmY7MoC&q=ARSENAL+FULHAM+%E2%80%9CLONDON+SUPERCLUB%E2%80%9D&pg=PT15 |title=Rebels for the Cause: The Alternative History of Arsenal Football Club | first=Jon | last=Spurling |publisher=Random House |date=2 November 2012|access-date=19 November 2013|isbn=9781780574868 }}</ref> This move was largely motivated by Fulham's failure thus far to gain promotion to the top division of English football. There were also plans for Henry Norris to build a larger stadium on the other side of Stevenage Road but there was little need after the merger idea failed. During this era, the Cottage was used for choir singing and marching bands along with other performances, and Mass.<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs0LBqzEDIM| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211124/Vs0LBqzEDIM| archive-date=2021-11-24 | url-status=live|title=Craven Cottage 1926|date=16 November 2010|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKDAASBY8yE| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211124/sKDAASBY8yE| archive-date=2021-11-24 | url-status=live|title=Craven Cottage Charity Match 1920|date=16 November 2010|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In 1933 there were plans to demolish the ground and start again from scratch with a new 80,000 capacity stadium. These plans never materialised mainly due to the [[Great Depression]].

On 8 October 1938, 49,335 spectators watched Fulham play [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]].<ref name="ESPN" /> It was the largest attendance ever at Craven Cottage and is unlikely to be bettered, because the stadium is now an all-seated with no room for more than 29,700. The ground hosted several football games for the [[1948 Summer Olympics]], and is one of the last extant that did.<ref>[http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1948/OR1948.pdf 1948 Summer Olympics official report.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716035822/http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1948/OR1948.pdf |date=16 July 2011 }} pp. 45–6.</ref>

===Post-World War II===
[[File:Johnny Haynes statue.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Johnny Haynes]] (1934–2005), Fulham's most famous player, in his classic 'hand-on-hip' pose, outside the stand named after him]]
It was not until after Fulham first reached the top division, in 1949, that further improvements were made to the stadium. In 1962 Fulham became the final side in the first division to erect [[floodlights]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/august/22/throwback-thursday |title=1962: Cook Lights Up The Cottage |publisher=Fulham F.C. |date=22 August 2013|access-date=19 November 2013}}</ref>  An electronic scoreboard was installed on the Riverside Terrace at the same time and flagpoles flying the flags of all of the other first division teams were flown from them.<ref name="pies">{{cite web |url=http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/fulham/171403/the-black-and-white-years-scorching-vintage-photos-of-fulhams-craven-cottage-between-1923-1978.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801230450/http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/fulham/171403/the-black-and-white-years-scorching-vintage-photos-of-fulhams-craven-cottage-between-1923-1978.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=1 August 2013 |title=The Black-And-White Years: Scorching Vintage Photos Of Fulham's Craven Cottage, Between 1923–1978 | first=Chris | last=Wright |publisher=Who Ate All The Pies? |date=30 July 2013|access-date=21 November 2013}}</ref> Following the sale of Alan Mullery to Tottenham Hotspur in 1964 (for £72,500) the Hammersmith End had a roof put over it<ref name="roof">{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/fulham-go-from-laughing-stock-to-serious-players-1947790.html |title=Fulham go from laughing stock to serious players | first=Steve | last=Tongue |newspaper=The Independent|location=London |date=18 April 2010|access-date=21 November 2013}}</ref> at a cost of approximately £42,500.

Although Fulham were relegated, the development of Craven Cottage continued. The Riverside terracing, infamous for the fact that fans occupying it would turn their heads annually to watch [[The Boat Race]] pass,<ref name="334,000">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z2rBc7i0RnsC&q=%E2%80%9CCRAVEN+COTTAGE%E2%80%9C+334000&pg=PT124 |title=Football Fanatic: A Record Breaking Journey Through English Football | first=Ken | last=Ferris |publisher=Random House |date=1 March 2013|access-date=19 November 2013|isbn=9781780578019 }}</ref> was replaced by what was officially named the 'Eric Miller Stand',<ref name="Miller">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16531444 |title=Fulham submit plans to expand Craven Cottage to a 30,000-seat stadium |publisher=BBC Sport |date=12 January 2012|access-date=19 November 2013}}</ref> [[Eric Miller (businessman)|Eric Miller]] being a director of the club at the time.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/jan/18/sport.comment1 |title=The Cottage has been a block of flats waiting to happen since the 1980s | first=David | last=Lacey |newspaper=The Guardian|location=London |date=18 January 2003|access-date=19 November 2013}}</ref> The stand, which cost £334,000<ref name="334,000" /> and held 4,200 seats, was opened with a friendly game against [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]] in February 1972, (which included [[Eusébio]]).<ref name="Benfica">{{cite web |url=http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/june/06/throwback-thursday |title=1972: Riverside Royalty|publisher=Fulham F.C. |date=6 June 2013|access-date=19 November 2013}}</ref> [[Pelé]] was also to appear on the ground, with a friendly played against his team [[Santos F.C.]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/may/30/throwback-thursday |title=1973: Pelé Plays At The Cottage|publisher=Fulham F.C.|date=30 May 2013|access-date=19 November 2013}}</ref> The Miller stand brought the seated capacity up to 11,000 out of a total 40,000.<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2ZoU0mkbn8| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211124/T2ZoU0mkbn8| archive-date=2021-11-24 | url-status=live|title=Fulham v Burnley 1972|date=9 August 2011|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Eric Miller (businessman)|Eric Miller]] committed suicide five years later after a political and financial scandal,<ref name="Herald">{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19790131&id=4MFAAAAAIBAJ&pg=3989,4722016 |title=MPs may debate scandal of suicide tycoon |work=The Herald|location=Glasgow|date=31 January 1979|access-date=19 November 2013}}</ref> and had shady dealings with trying to move Fulham away from the Cottage. The stand is now better known as the Riverside Stand.<ref name="Miller" />

On [[Boxing Day]] 1963, Craven Cottage was the venue of the fastest [[hat-trick#Association football|hat-trick]] in the history of the English football league, which was completed in less than three minutes, by [[Graham Leggat]]. This helped his Fulham team to beat [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich]] 10–1 (a club record).<ref>Three minutes is the time quoted by [https://web.archive.org/web/20090325201135/http://www.grahamleggatsoccer.com/memories.htm his official website].</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/incoming/article6235.ece/BINARY/Fulham+10-1+Ipswich |title=Ten for The 'Turkeys' | first=Bill | last=Holden |newspaper=Daily Mirror |date=27 December 1963|access-date=18 November 2013}}</ref> The international record is held by [[Jimmy O'Connor]], an [[Republic of Ireland|Irish]] player who notched up his hat trick in 2 minutes 14 seconds in 1967.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bournemouth/3485294.stm |title=Hayter keeps feet on ground | first=Mark | last=Mitchener |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 February 2004|access-date=19 November 2013}}</ref>

Between 1980 and 1984, '''Fulham [[rugby league]]''' played their home games at the Cottage.<ref name="rugbyleague" /> They have since evolved into the '''London Crusaders''', the '''London Broncos''' and '''Harlequins Rugby League'''<ref name="rugbyleague" /> before reverting to [[London Broncos]] ahead of [[Super League XVII|the 2012 season]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/15353867 |title=Harlequins revert to London Broncos name again for 2012 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=1 November 2011|access-date=19 November 2013}}</ref> Craven Cottage held the team's largest ever crowd at any ground with 15,013, at a game against [[Wakefield Trinity]] on 15 February 1981.<ref name="Napit">{{cite web |url=http://www.napit.co.uk/viewus/infobank/rugby/superleague/harlequinsrl.php |title=Harlequins RLFC |publisher=Napit |access-date=19 November 2013}}</ref>

===Modern times===
[[File:Craven Cottage Stevenage Road Stand.jpg|thumb|right|Craven Cottage before the implementation of the [[Taylor report]].]]
[[File:Johnny Haynes Stand.JPG|thumb|right|The historic triangular gable on top of the Haynes stand, one of the few extant at British grounds]] 
When the [[Hillsborough disaster]] occurred in 1989, Fulham were in the second bottom rung of [[The Football League]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statto.com/football/teams/fulham/1988-1989/table |title=Fulham 1988–1989 : English Division Three (old) Table |publisher=Statto |access-date=20 November 2013 |archive-date=29 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829014704/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/fulham/1988-1989/table |url-status=dead }}</ref> but following the [[Taylor report]] Fulham's ambitious chairman Jimmy Hill tabled plans in 1996 for an all-seater stadium.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2395783/Fulham-pushed-out-Hill.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2395783/Fulham-pushed-out-Hill.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Fulham pushed out Hill | first=Mihir | last=Bose |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London |date=7 February 2003|access-date=20 November 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> These plans never came to fruition, partly due to local residents' pressure groups, and by the time Fulham reached the [[Premier League]], they still had standing areas in the ground,<ref name="Terrace" /> something virtually unheard of at the time. A year remained to do something about this (teams reaching the second tier for the first time are allowed a three-year period to reach the required standards for the top two divisions),<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/plymouth_argyle/6740273.stm |title=Plymouth forced to close terrace |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2 August 2012|access-date=20 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19095689 |title=Peterborough back calls for safe standing at football grounds |publisher=BBC Sport |date=11 June 2007|access-date=20 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-12600812 |title=Colchester MP wants return of football standing areas |publisher=BBC News |date=28 February 2011|access-date=20 November 2013}}</ref> but by the time the last league game was played there, against [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] on 27 April 2002, no building plans had been made. Two more [[Intertoto Cup]] games were played there later that year (against [[FC Haka]] of Finland<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/fulham/3030674/Intertoto-Cup-Fulhams-tepid-farewell-to-home.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/fulham/3030674/Intertoto-Cup-Fulhams-tepid-farewell-to-home.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Intertoto Cup: Fulham's tepid farewell to home | first=Gary | last=Slater |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London |date=7 July 2002|access-date=20 November 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and [[Egaleo FC]] of Greece<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/fulham/3031317/Intertoto-Cup-Saha-saves-the-day-for-Fulham.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/fulham/3031317/Intertoto-Cup-Saha-saves-the-day-for-Fulham.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Intertoto Cup: Saha saves the day for Fulham | first=Andrew | last=Walshaw |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London |date=21 July 2002|access-date=20 November 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref>), and the eventual solution was to decamp to [[Loftus Road]], home of local rivals [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|QPR]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/1800444.stm |title=Fulham's Loftus Road switch |publisher=BBC Sport |date=4 February 2002|access-date=20 November 2013}}</ref> During this time, many Fulham fans only went to away games in protest of moving from Craven Cottage.<ref name="Fortress">{{cite web |url=http://espnfc.com/news/story?id=304739&cc=5739 |title=Al Fayed wants 'Fortress Cottage' |publisher=ESPN FC |date=8 July 2004|access-date=20 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://lostboyos.wordpress.com/2013/01/02/lost-in-fulham/ |title=Lost in…Fulham |publisher=Lost Boyos |date=2 January 2013|access-date=20 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?topic=6406.15;wap2 |title=Fulham messageboard discussion |publisher=Friends of Fulham|access-date=20 November 2013}}</ref> 'Back to the Cottage', later to become the 'Fulham Supporters Trust', was set up as a fans pressure group to encourage the chairman and his advisers that Craven Cottage was the only viable option for Fulham Football Club.<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2ldnVIuhjc| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713114339/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2ldnVIuhjc&feature=related| archive-date=2015-07-13 | url-status=dead|title=1964 – 1965 – Fulham v Man United|date=21 January 2009|via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AIRmZnXqlw| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704131644/https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=4AIRmZnXqlw| archive-date=2015-07-04 | url-status=dead|title=Craven Cottage Film|date=22 December 2008|via=YouTube}}</ref>

After one and a half seasons at [[Loftus Road]], no work had been done on the Cottage. In December 2003, plans were unveiled for £8 million worth of major refurbishment work to bring it in line with Premier League requirements.<ref name="officialwebsite" /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/f/fulham/3326021.stm |title=Fulham return to Cottage |publisher=BBC Sport|date=16 December 2003|access-date=20 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://legacy.london.gov.uk/mayor/planning_decisions/strategic_dev/2004/jan0704/craven_cottage_appendix.pdf|title=Craven Cottage Stadium (Fulham Football Club)|publisher=Greater London Authority|date=3 December 2003|access-date=20 November 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819104129/http://legacy.london.gov.uk/mayor/planning_decisions/strategic_dev/2004/jan0704/craven_cottage_appendix.pdf|archive-date=19 August 2012}}</ref> With planning permission granted, work began in January 2004 in order to meet the deadline of the new season. The work proceeded as scheduled and the club were able to return to their home for the start of the [[2004–05 FA Premier League|2004–05 season]]. Their first game in the new-look 22,000 all-seater stadium was a pre-season friendly against Watford on 10 July 2004.<ref name="officialwebsite" />

The current stadium was one of the [[Premier League]]'s smallest grounds at the time of Fulham's relegation at the end of the [[2013–14 Premier League|2013–14]] season (it was third-smallest, after the [[KC Stadium]] and the [[Liberty Stadium]]).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-22940442 |title=Cardiff City plan stadium expansion in time for 2014/15 season |publisher=BBC News|date=17 June 2013|access-date=20 November 2013}}</ref> Much admired for its fine architecture,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/11767726/Ranking-all-54-stadiums-in-Premier-League-history.html?frame=3390163|title=Ranking all 54 stadiums in Premier League history|date=3 August 2015|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London}}</ref> the stadium has recently hosted a few international games, mostly including [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]]. This venue is suitable for Australia because most of the country's top players are based in Europe, and West London has a significant community of [[expatriate]] Australians. Also, [[Greece national football team|Greece]] vs. [[Korea Republic national football team|South Korea]] was hosted on 6 February 2007.<ref name="GreKor">{{cite web |url=http://espnfc.com/match?id=212500&cc=5739 |title=Match: Greece v South Korea – International Friendly |publisher=ESPN FC |date=6 February 2007|access-date=20 November 2013}}</ref> In 2011 Brazil played Ghana, in an international friendly,<ref name="BraGha">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/14798121 |title=Brazil 1–0 Ghana |publisher=BBC Sport|date=5 September 2011|access-date=20 November 2013}}</ref> and the [[2011 UEFA Women's Champions League Final|Women's Champions League Final]] was hosted.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/may/26/lyon-turbine-potsdam-womens-champions-league |title=Wendie Renard and Lara Dickenmann make amends as Lyon see off Potsdam | first=Paul | last=Doyle |newspaper=The Guardian|location=London |date=26 May 2011|access-date=20 November 2013}}</ref>

Craven Cottage often hosts other events such as 5-a-side football tournaments and weddings.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fulhamfc.com/visit/experiences-and-events/weddings |title=Weddings |publisher=Fulham F.C. |access-date=20 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203002130/http://www.fulhamfc.com/visit/experiences-and-events/weddings |archive-date=3 December 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Some have Sunday Lunch at the Riverside restaurant<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fulhamfc.com/hospitality/packages/riverside-restaurant |title=Riverside Restaurant |publisher=Fulham F.C. |access-date=20 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131125120514/http://www.fulhamfc.com/hospitality/packages/riverside-restaurant |archive-date=25 November 2013 }}</ref> or the 'Cottage Cafe'<ref name="cafe" /> on non-match days. Craven Cottage hosted the [[Oxbridge]] Varsity Football match annually between 1991 and 2000 and again in 2003, 2006 (the same day as the '[[The Boat Race|Boat Race]]'<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2006/060321_1.html |title=ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2006/060321_1.html |publisher=University of Oxford |date=21 March 2006 |access-date=20 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130428110024/http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2006/060321_1.html |archive-date=28 April 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>), 2008, 2009,<ref name="Varsity">{{cite web |url=http://www.ouafc.com/varsity-matches/index |title=List of Varsity matches |publisher=Oxford University A.F.C. |date=9 December 2009 |access-date=20 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203041949/http://www.ouafc.com/varsity-matches/index |archive-date=3 December 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and 2014<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/fulham/10395031/Oxford-University-v-Cambridge-University-varsity-match-set-to-return-to-Fulhams-Craven-Cottage.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/fulham/10395031/Oxford-University-v-Cambridge-University-varsity-match-set-to-return-to-Fulhams-Craven-Cottage.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Oxford University v Cambridge University varsity match set to return to Fulham's Craven Cottage | first=Henry | last=Winter |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London |date=21 October 2013|access-date=20 November 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> as well as having a [[Soccer Aid]] warm-up match in 2006.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-previews/soccer-aid-626142 |title=Soccer Aid | first=Jane | last=Simon |newspaper=Daily Mirror |date=23 May 2006|access-date=20 November 2013}}</ref> The half-time entertainment includes the SW6ers<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cafcbois.blogspot.co.uk/2006/04/match-report-fulham-2-1-charlton.html |title=Match Report: Fulham 2–1 Charlton | first=James | last=Da Lion |publisher=CAFC Bois |date=15 April 2006|access-date=20 November 2013}}</ref> (previously called The Cravenettes<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2001/december/03/monday-s-media |title=Re-print of reports of Fulham 0–0 Leeds United on Fulham official website |newspaper=[[The Times]] |date=3 December 2001|access-date=20 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/jjwillow/3218040453/in/photostream/ |title=The Cravenettes | first=John | last=Willoghby |publisher=Flickr |date=1 January 2006|access-date=20 November 2013}}</ref>) which are a group of female cheerleaders. Other events have included brass bands, [[Michael Jackson]] (although just walking on the pitch, as opposed to performing),<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByyajPOy2Ag| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211124/ByyajPOy2Ag| archive-date=2021-11-24 | url-status=live|title=Michael Jackson at Fulham football ground|date=25 November 2010|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Travis (band)|Travis]] playing, Arabic dancing, [[keepie uppie]] professionals and presentational awards. Most games also feature the 'Fulham flutter', a half-time draw;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2007/april/17/text-for-fulham-flutter |title=Text for Fulham Flutter |publisher=Fulham F.C. |date=17 April 2007|access-date=20 November 2013}}</ref> and a shoot-out competition of some kind,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fulhamfc.com/help/faq/stadium-experience |title=Stadium Experience |publisher=Fulham F.C. |access-date=20 November 2013 |archive-date=14 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014080623/http://www.fulhamfc.com/help/faq/stadium-experience |url-status=dead }}</ref> usually involving scoring through a 'hoop' or 'beat the goalie'. On the first home game of the season, there is a carnival where Fulham fans are encouraged to attend in black-and-white colours.{{fact|date=March 2025}}

The revived [[Fulham F.C. Women]] and reserve teams occasionally play home matches at the Cottage. Other than this, they generally play at the club's training ground at [[Motspur Park]]. Craven Cottage is known by several affectionate nicknames from fans, including: The (River) Cottage,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/football/clubs/fulham/article2301454.ece |title=Return to river Cottage key to Coleman's home comfort | first=Nick | last=Szczepanik |newspaper=[[The Times]] |date=21 August 2004|access-date=20 November 2013}}{{subscription required}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-1-stoke-0-relief-at-the-cottage-as-late-darren-bent-strike-lifts-martin-jols-men-out-of-the-drop-zone-8861070.html |title=Fulham 1 Stoke 0: Relief at the Cottage as late Darren Bent strike lifts Martin Jol's men out of the drop zone | first=Giuseppe | last=Muro |newspaper=Evening Standard|location=London |date=5 October 2013|access-date=20 November 2013}}</ref> The Fortress (or Fortress Fulham),<ref name="Fortress" /> Thameside, The Friendly Confines, SW6, Lord of the Banks, The House of Hope, The Pavilion of Perfection, The 'True' [[Fulham Palace]] and The Palatial Home. The Thames at the banks of the Cottage is often referred to as 'Old Father'<ref>{{cite web |url=http://clockenders.com/afc/?p=6616 |title=FULHAM 2 V 2 ARSENAL |first=Aussie |last=Jack |publisher=Clockenders |access-date=20 November 2013 |archive-date=10 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610220910/http://clockenders.com/afc/?p=6616 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=196960 |title=Fulham 2 Hamburg 1 |first=Andrew |last=Joyce |publisher=Vital Football |date=30 April 2010 |access-date=20 November 2013 |archive-date=20 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130320062407/http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=196960 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://walsall.web-fans.com/2009/05/the-darlo-saddler-blogs-issue-no-29/ |title=The 'Darlo Saddler' Blogs – Issue No. 29 |first=Darlo |last=Saddler |publisher=Walsall Web-Fans |date=23 May 2009 |access-date=20 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131120213056/http://walsall.web-fans.com/2009/05/the-darlo-saddler-blogs-issue-no-29/ |archive-date=20 November 2013 }}</ref> or [[The River of Dreams]].

The most accessible route to the ground is to walk through Bishops Park from [[Putney Bridge tube station|Putney Bridge]] (the nearest Underground station),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fulhamfc.com/help/faq/travelling-to-the-game |title=Travelling to the Game |publisher=Fulham F.C. |access-date=21 November 2013}}</ref> often known as 'The Green Mile' by Fulham fans (as it is roughly a mile walk through pleasant greenery).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://youdontknowjackfrombordeaux.wordpress.com/2013/05/12/judgment-day-finding-my-premier-league-club-in-london/ |title=Judgment Day: Finding my Premier League Club in London |publisher=You Don't Know Jack from Bordeaux |date=12 May 2013|access-date=21 November 2013}}</ref> In 2016 ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' ranked the Cottage 9th out of 54 grounds to hold Premier League football.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/11767726/Ranking-all-54-stadiums-in-Premier-League-history.html?frame=3390163 |date=10 May 2016 |title=Ranking all 54 stadiums in Premier League history – where does Upton Park feature? |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|location=London}}</ref>

===Plans===
On 27 July 2012, Fulham FC were granted permission to redevelop the Riverside Stand, increasing the capacity of Craven Cottage to 30,000 seats.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11681/7939236/Cottage-expansion-granted |title=Cottage expansion granted |publisher=Sky Sports |date=27 July 2012|access-date=18 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2011/october/08/fulham-forever|title=Fulham Forever|work=fulhamfc.com}}</ref> Beforehand various rumours arose including plans to return to ground-sharing with QPR in a new 40,000 seater White City stadium,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2370480/Fayed-scheme-for-Fulham-switch-to-new-White-City-stadium.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2370480/Fayed-scheme-for-Fulham-switch-to-new-White-City-stadium.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Fayed scheme for Fulham switch to new White City stadium | first=Mihir | last=Bose |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London |date=1 January 2004|access-date=21 November 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3774/the-sweeper/2012/01/28/2869994/the-sweeper-fulham-approached-by-qpr-about-interest-in-sharing-a- |title=The Sweeper: Fulham approached by QPR about interest in sharing a new stadium | first=Wayne | last=Versey |publisher=Goal |date=28 January 2012|access-date=21 November 2013}}</ref> although these now appear firmly on hold with the construction of the [[Westfield London|Westfield]] shopping centre on the proposed site. The board seem to have moved away from their ambition to make Fulham the "Manchester United of the south" as it became clear how expensive such a plan would be.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/aug/08/premier-league-preview-fulham |title=Premier League preview No7: Fulham | first=Paul | last=Doyle |newspaper=The Guardian|location=London |date=8 August 2013 |access-date=21 November 2013}}</ref> With large spaces of land at a premium in south-west London, Fulham appear to be committed to a gradual increase of the ground's capacity often during the summer between seasons. The capacity of Craven Cottage has been increased during summers for instance in 2008 with a small increase in the capacity of the Hammersmith End. Fulham previously announced in 2007 that they are planning to increase the capacity of Craven Cottage by 4,000 seats,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2007/October/CottageRelease.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421203942/http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2007/October/CottageRelease.aspx |archive-date=21 April 2012 |title=Stadium Announcement |publisher= Fulham F.C.|date=3 April 2007 |access-date=18 November 2013}}</ref> but this is yet to be implemented.  There were also proposals for a bridge to span the Thames, for a redeveloped Riverside stand and a museum.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/jan/17/newsstory.sport8?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487 | work=The Guardian|location=London | first=Paul | last=Kelso | title=Development at Craven Cottage to include museum | date=17 January 2003}}</ref> 

More substantial plans arose in October 2011 with the 'Fulham Forever' campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fulhamfc.com/stadium-development|title=Stadium Development – Fulham Football Club|work=fulhamfc.com}}</ref> With [[Mohamed Al-Fayed]] selling [[Harrods]] department store for £1.5 billion in May 2010<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8669657.stm |title=Mohammed Al Fayed sells Harrods store to Qatar Holdings|publisher=BBC News|date=8 May 2010|access-date=21 November 2013}}</ref> a detailed plan emerged in the Riverside Stand as the only viable area for expansion. The scheme involved the demolition of the back of the Riverside Stand with a new tier of seating added on top of the current one and a row of corporate boxes; bringing Craven Cottage up to 30,000 capacity.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stadiumguide.com/fulham-and-brighton-push-for-stadium-expansion/|title=Fulham and Brighton push for stadium expansion [UPDATED]|work=The Stadium Guide}}</ref> Taking into account local residents, the proposal would: reopen the riverside walk; light pollution would be reduced with the removal of floodlight masts; new access points would make match-day crowds more manageable; and the new stand would be respectful in design to its position on the River Thames.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fulhamfc.com/stadium-development/construction-phase|title=Construction Phase – Fulham Football Club|work=fulhamfc.com|access-date=18 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131118050723/http://www.fulhamfc.com/stadium-development/construction-phase|archive-date=18 November 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Buckingham Group Contracting were chosen in March 2013 as the construction company for the project.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2013/03/12/buckingham-set-to-score-with-15m-fulham-refurb/|title=Buckingham set to score with £15m Fulham refurb|work=constructionenquirer.com}}</ref> In May 2019, the club confirmed that work on the new Riverside Stand would commence in the summer of 2019. During the 2019–20, 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons, the ground's capacity was temporarily reduced to 19,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/may/22/chairman-confirms-riverside-stand-development |title=Chairman Confirms Riverside Stand Development|publisher=Fulham F.C.|date=22 May 2019|access-date=22 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/may/22/riverside-transition-plans-confirmed |title=Riverside Transition Plans Confirmed|publisher=Fulham F.C.|date=22 May 2019|access-date=22 May 2019}}</ref> The club announced on 17 March 2022 that the lower tier of the Riverside Stand would be open for the 2022–23 season for over 2000 supporters, with season tickets going on sale from 29 March.<ref>{{Cite web |last=FC |first=Fulham |title=New Riverside Stand: Lower Tier Seating |url=https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2022/march/17/new-riverside-stand-lower-tier-seating/ |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=Fulham FC|date=17 March 2022 }}</ref>