Around and about Fulham

1. Destination: London
There's nowhere in the world quite like London. The capital of the UK, and the biggest city in the EU, London is a vibrant, multicultural, 24-hour city. Guide your way through the stimulating blends of old and new, the buzz of the city and the tranquillity of its many open spaces make London unique for both tourists and locals alike. Over 300 languages are spoken in London, contributing to the city's own fascinating culture and making it a fantastic place to travel to and experience culture from all over the world.

2. Where is Fulham?
Fulham is in west London, between Chelsea, Kensington and Hammersmith, on the north of the River Thames.

3. Which other part of London is it associated with?
As Fulham is quite small, it is combined with neighbouring Hammersmith to form the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. The people of Hammersmith and Fulham elect a Member of Parliament at each general election.

4. How is King Henry the Eighth of England connected to Fulham FC?
The site of Fulham’s ground used to be woodland in the 16th century, and was owned by Anne Boleyn, who used to go hunting there. Anne became the second wife of King Henry the Eighth, who had her executed in 1536.

5. Why are Fulham nicknamed ‘the Cottagers’?
In 1780, a man called William Craven built a house, which became known as Craven Cottage. This stood on the spot now occupied by the centre circle of Fulham’s pitch. The stadium kept the name of Craven Cottage, and Fulham are called ‘the Cottagers’ because of that.

6. Are Fulham the only team based at Craven Cottage?
Technically yes, though the Republic of Ireland and Australia also use the stadium for friendly matches. This is partly due to the fact that many expat Irish and Australians live in the area. In fact, nearby Earl’s Court is nicknamed ‘Kangaroo Valley’, due to its high Australian population.

7. Have any footballing records been made at Fulham?
In 1963, Craven Cottage was the venue of the fastest hat trick in the history of the English football league. Graham Leggat scored his three goals in under three minutes, during Fulham’s 10-1 win over Ipswich.

8. Is Fulham associated with any other sports?
Yes. The annual boat race between teams from Oxford and Cambridge Universities takes place on the Thames and goes past Craven Cottage. There also used to be a sports ground called Lillie Bridge in Fulham, which held the first ever amateur boxing matches in 1867.

Click here for a vocabulary activity

What do you remember about Fulham?

Read the statements about Fulham and decide if they are true or false.

Exercise

Does Fulham have any famous residents? Search the web to find the answer.
Many well-known people live in Fulham. But which film star is a resident?

• Daniel Craig (who plays James Bond)
• Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter)
• Renee Zellweger (Bridget Jones)
• Matt Damon (Jason Bourne)