SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday 20th August 2016
@Craven Cottage, London
Ground Capacity: 25,678
Kick Off: 15:00
Entry Fee: £40
Programme: £3.50
Venue #76
Arrived in Putney around 13:30 using my usual mode of transport British Rail and of course the London underground. The weather was sunny with a few clouds and a strong wind which could have effected the afternoon's football. Just a 15 minute walk from the station to Craven Cottage and quite picturesque it was too crossing the Putney bridge that spans over the River Thames, couldn't but help taking a few pictures of the river which looked a bit manky as the cloud thickened above it. Once across to the other side walked down the steps leading to the walkway that stretched along side the river and saw a couple of rowers paddling their vessels and I wondered if they were ball boys taking position and getting ready for some potential action.
Moving further along I cut through Bishop's park and could see the new floodlights of Craven Cottage in the distance and getting closer could see the ground emerge obscured by trees which there were plenty as you would expect in an English park. Finally came to the outside perimeter of the ground and couldn't believe how close it was to the river, there is no question why the stand that runs alongside the Thames is called the Riverside. Keeping to the path that runs along the back of the Putney end and exit's the park onto Stevenage Road where I turned right on saw the bricked building that encases the Stenenage Road stand now called the Johnny Haynes stand named after the Fulham legend of the 50's and 60's who made just short of 600 appearances scoring 146 goals.
Found my own way to my seat without the usual assistance of the stewards, everything was well labelled and easy to find for a change but was a bit taken aback when I saw where I'd be watching the match from. I know it's a grade 2 listed building but should football fans still be subjected to sitting on wooden seats in a stand made of wood. I know that the Bradford City incident at Valley parade was many years ago but I thought safety standards were greatly improved after this tragedy. I must admit to feeling a little uncomfortable and not just because the seats were wooden and the leg space was very cramped, I was very fortunate for there was no-one sitting next to me either side and was able to stretch out to the sides.
I watched a dull and boring game at the begging of the week featuring Cardiff City which they lost 1-0 to Bristol Rovers after extra time. It was the most boring game of football that I've ever had the misfortune to watch and this game started in the same manner. Things did improve though but it took 44 minutes for the opening goal to arrive. Sone Aluko managed to turn Matthew Connolly and find substitute Ryan Sessegnon who had only been on the field 3 minutes after replacing injured Floyd Ayite, the 16 year old managed to scramble the ball into the back of David Marshall's net.
Peter Whittingham nearly made it 3-1 when his free kick from 25 yards hit the Fulham crossbar and bounced downwards toward the goal line but Button managed to gather the ball to safety.
Arrived in Putney around 13:30 using my usual mode of transport British Rail and of course the London underground. The weather was sunny with a few clouds and a strong wind which could have effected the afternoon's football. Just a 15 minute walk from the station to Craven Cottage and quite picturesque it was too crossing the Putney bridge that spans over the River Thames, couldn't but help taking a few pictures of the river which looked a bit manky as the cloud thickened above it. Once across to the other side walked down the steps leading to the walkway that stretched along side the river and saw a couple of rowers paddling their vessels and I wondered if they were ball boys taking position and getting ready for some potential action.
Moving further along I cut through Bishop's park and could see the new floodlights of Craven Cottage in the distance and getting closer could see the ground emerge obscured by trees which there were plenty as you would expect in an English park. Finally came to the outside perimeter of the ground and couldn't believe how close it was to the river, there is no question why the stand that runs alongside the Thames is called the Riverside. Keeping to the path that runs along the back of the Putney end and exit's the park onto Stevenage Road where I turned right on saw the bricked building that encases the Stenenage Road stand now called the Johnny Haynes stand named after the Fulham legend of the 50's and 60's who made just short of 600 appearances scoring 146 goals.
The police presence was vast the biggest I've seen since starting this venture 4 seasons ago, they were everywhere on foot, horseback and in vehicle but there were a lot of Cardiff fans in and around Stevenage road although they seemed to be very well behaved. I bought a programme and took loads more pictures before visiting the souvenir shop to purchase my usual host team scarf which now seem to be taking over my small computer room and then entered the ground via turnstile 20 of the Johnny Haynes stand
Found my own way to my seat without the usual assistance of the stewards, everything was well labelled and easy to find for a change but was a bit taken aback when I saw where I'd be watching the match from. I know it's a grade 2 listed building but should football fans still be subjected to sitting on wooden seats in a stand made of wood. I know that the Bradford City incident at Valley parade was many years ago but I thought safety standards were greatly improved after this tragedy. I must admit to feeling a little uncomfortable and not just because the seats were wooden and the leg space was very cramped, I was very fortunate for there was no-one sitting next to me either side and was able to stretch out to the sides.
Toilet facilities were very basic and far too small for a side in the Sky Bet Championship it makes me wonder how they they managed when they were in the Premiership and what will happen if they ever get promoted again. Food facilities were ample but far too expensive as they usually are at London grounds. Lots of TV's to watch pre match football or Sky half time service during interlude but area which was situated at the back of the stand was also on the small side.
THE MATCH
I watched a dull and boring game at the begging of the week featuring Cardiff City which they lost 1-0 to Bristol Rovers after extra time. It was the most boring game of football that I've ever had the misfortune to watch and this game started in the same manner. Things did improve though but it took 44 minutes for the opening goal to arrive. Sone Aluko managed to turn Matthew Connolly and find substitute Ryan Sessegnon who had only been on the field 3 minutes after replacing injured Floyd Ayite, the 16 year old managed to scramble the ball into the back of David Marshall's net.
After the break Cardiff seemed the more likely and after a dressing room dressing down by their manager levelled the game after an hour's play. The goal came from nowhere when Joe Ralls found space and curled a fine shot into Button's top right hand corner of the net.
Five minutes later and the Bluebirds had turned the match around with an almost carbon copy of the first goal. Anthony Pilkington cut inside and struck another 20 yard plus curler this time into David Button's right hand bottom corner and sent the away support wild and the home support wild with anger and frustration.
Peter Whittingham nearly made it 3-1 when his free kick from 25 yards hit the Fulham crossbar and bounced downwards toward the goal line but Button managed to gather the ball to safety.
Cardiff couldn't send their travelling fans home totally happy though for with just four minutes left of normal time Kevin McDonald drilled a long ranged shot through a crowd of defenders leaving Marshall unsighted and unmoved as the ball struck the back of his net to level the game once more in favour of Fulham sending their fans home happier and relieved and maintaining their unbeaten run of the season thus far.
On the other side of the pitch running the touch line is the Riverside stand which, as the the name suggests sits on the banks of the river "Thames". Opened in 1972 the Riverside was raised above pitch level until the mid naughties when extra seating was added to bring the stand to pitch side level. It has windshields situated either side of the stand and a couple of supporting pillars. There are executive boxes running across the back which houses the TV gantry.
The Putney Road end also has supporting pillars but these one's stretch right across the stand just below half way down. This stand hosts the away fans and has a plane tree situated in the corner by the river which makes it the only senior football ground still to have a tree inside it's perimeter. 
MATCH DETAILS
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