The history of Craven Cottage and its site on the banks of the River Thames has long been a contentious one. View Craven Cottage photos| to see how it changed over time.
Indeed, at the end of the 2001/02 season the Whites played what they thought would be their last league game at the Cottage as it was recognised. Preparing to play the following season at Loftus Road, the team were expecting to return to a brand new stadium a year later. However, opposition to the proposal obstructed the process and spiraling construction and legal costs resulted in the Club eventually abandoning the new stadium project.
Instead, in December 2003, plans were unveiled for £8million worth of major refurbishment work at the existing Craven Cottage to bring it in line with Premier League requirements. With planning permission granted, work began in earnest in January 2004 in order to meet the deadline of the new season. The team played its first game in the new-look 22,000 all-seater stadium in a pre-season friendly against Watford on July 10, 2004.
The consistently growing attendances at the Cottage season after season demonstrates that demand for tickets is growing year-on-year and, as a result, additional improvements have been made to the stadium to further boost the capacity and enhance fans’ matchday experience. Now, more than ever, Fulham Football Club can boast a stadium that is truly befitting of Barclays Premier League football.
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STADIUM FACILITIES
Capacity:
25,700
First Aid
There are two First Aid points in the ground. The first is next to the Open Air Bar under the Riverside Stand and the second is in the Putney End undercroft.
Official Merchandise
Matchday is a major opportunity for Fulham’s retail operation and in order to maximise merchandise sales a new, larger store was opened in August 2005 in the Johnny Haynes Stand. Furthermore, the shop at the stadium is supported by the Fulham Road Shop which offers plenty of retail opportunities for those on their way to the ground on a matchday and in the local area on a non-matchday. There are also two mobile units around the stadium on matchdays that make Fulham products available to fans once they have entered the Cottage.
Away Fans and the Neutral area
Craven Cottage has been configured to allow the number of seats provided to the away club to vary between the minimum League requirement and up to a maximum of nearly 6,500. This has proved to be a huge advantage over the last couple of seasons when the Club was selling games with a large demand from the visiting club and a lesser demand from home fans (e.g. Cup ties against lower League opposition) as the Club is obligated to remove tickets from general sale when the away allocation and neutral areas sell out.
Tickets within the ‘neutral’ area of the Putney Stand are sold on the premise that the individual could be sat next to a supporter of either team, or indeed a genuine neutral. The neutral area effectively acts as a buffer zone, allowing the Club to continue to sell tickets once the away allocation has sold out. The introduction of the neutral zone has been warmly received by all fans and has reduced the occurrence of away fans securing seats in home areas of the stadium over the last two seasons. The Big Match Package is also only be available in this area.
Disabled Facilities
Read more about our disabled facilities|
Smoking Policy
In line with legislation introduced on July 1, 2007, Craven Cottage and all its bars and concourses, is a completely no smoking stadium.
Betting
The Club’s Official Betting Partner has facilities in place at various points around the stadium.
Stewards
Stewards are on hand in all areas of the stadium. Their job is to make your visit safe and pleasant. Please help this process by co-operating with their instructions. Stewards are also there to answer your questions and help with problems so please direct any queries to them in the first instance.
Behavioural Policy
In the interests of public safety we ask all supporters to co-operate with the following policies:
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Under no circumstances are people allowed on to the pitch. This is an offence under the Football (offences) Act 1991.
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Supporters must not use racial chants or indecent and abusive language whilst in the stadium. This is an offence under the Football (offences) Act 1991.
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The throwing of any items on to or towards the pitch or in to an area for spectators is strictly forbidden. This is an offence under the Football (offences) Act 1991.
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Consumption of alcohol in view of the pitch is contrary to licensing regulations and will lead to ejection. This is an offence under the Sporting Events (control of alcohol) Act 1985.
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You are asked to observe ground regulations by not bringing in to the stadium any objects that might cause injury to others.
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This is an all-seater stadium and persistent standing in the seated areas will lead to your being asked to leave or ejected.
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In the interest of public safety you are requested to refrain from standing in, blocking or sitting in any gangways, exits or stairwells.