The first person to have the title of manager at Fulham was Harry Bradshaw, who took over at the Cottage in April 1904 when he was approaching his 50th birthday.
Even though professional football was then in its infancy, this was Bradshaw's third club and he was one of the pioneer administrators. Never a professional player himself, he began as secretary of Burnley in 1891, became chairman in 1893 and then manager three years later.
The Turfites, as they were then known, were founder members of the Football League and Bradshaw was one of the prime movers during the League's infancy. Despite relegation in his first season in charge, he took Burnley to promotion at the first attempt and then to third place in Division One, turning the club into a major footballing force.
He did the same for Woolwich Arsenal when he moved south in June 1899. He rescued an ailing club from bankruptcy and in five years at Plumstead took the club into the First Division, the first London club to compete at this level.
It was, therefore, something of a coup for Fulham, newly formed as a company and playing in the First Division of the Southern League (effectively the Third Division), to acquire someone of Bradshaw's stature as their manager in the spring of 1904. He did not disappoint the board or the supporters and completed a personal hat-trick of successful club appointments.
Within two years, Fulham were Southern League champions, a title they defended successfully in 1906-07, which paved the way for entry to the Second Division of the Football League. In their debut as a first class club, the Cottagers came within a whisker of promotion and reached the semi final of the FA Cup.
As if this was not enough, Bradshaw also oversaw the redevelopment of Craven Cottage in 1905 with the temporary structures (the Rabbit Hutch stand) giving way to the Stevenage Road stand and Craven Cottage that survive to this day.
Like his contemporaries, Bradshaw's role was largely administrative, with the trainer working most closely with the players. Coaching and tactics in today's terms were unknown, and much was improvised by the players on the pitch. As far as Bradshaw had an input into tactics, it was reflected in the players he bought to the club.
At Fulham, as when he was at Arsenal, he had a preference for Scottish players, noted for their close control, dribbling skills and passing. He was not slow to make changes, even with successful sides, and in his five seasons at the helm, a total of 69 players was used (including two of his sons, Will and Joe), and never less than 21 were tried in a season.
After the promising start to Fulham's League career, 1908-09 was anti-climatic and, on the expiry of his five-year contract, Bradshaw left the Cottage for the secretaryship of the Southern League, a post he retained until his retirement in 1921.
At the time of his death, in September 1924, he was living in Chelverton Road, Wandsworth, a senior citizen much respected throughout football and fondly remembered at Craven Cottage.