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Watching Fulham/Newcastle at Craven Cottage
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Football was meant to be played at Craven Cottage. End of story.
Can it be any more of a match made in heaven? It looks like it could be from the early 1900s (oh wait, it is)…..it has an elegant brick layering on the outside that looks more like that nice vintage house you want to live in when you snag your dream job….it’s small and intimate….it sits in a stunning location RIGHT on the Thames……its fans are vocal, local and passionate.
I was truly impressed by the structure when I stepped inside for today’s match between Fulham and Newcastle. Earlier in the day I had considered bagging out on the idea, but thank heavens I decided to trudge down there for the 4 p.m. kickoff. You could sit and look for hours at The Cottage Pavilion, or the Johnny Haynes Stand with its elegant “Fulham Football Club” sign on the top of the roof. It didn’t shock me to find out that the latter is a classified historic building in its own right. Craven Cottage makes you feel right at home, and no wonder people lament the mega-structures like Old Trafford and the Emirates once they take in a match at a place like that.
Granted, the cold rain sweeping through the stadium kept me on my toes, but it’s impossible not to feel comfortable when you visit this park. I was in the Hammersmith End in the third row and kept finding myself with a big grin on my space as I checked out my surroundings. Taking in a match in such a cool stadium under the lights with a packed house is quite an experience.
As for the game, it was a wild and wet afternoon of some forward-thinking football that kept everyone alert for most of the 90 minutes. While Newcastle perhaps didn’t get the goals that their second-half possession deserved, Fulham took advantage of the opportunities they had and used a Danny Murphy penalty in the 66th minute to claim the three points and boost themselves into 10th place with 14 points despite playing only 11 matches.
But while the football was good, Craven Cottage stole the show in my book. If you’re a football fan who plans on making a trip to see some of the English stadiums, skipping out on this one means you’re probably not too far away from the insane asylum. Don’t miss out.
