Fulham, QPR & Chelsea fans unite to fight groundshare deals

Back To The Cottage Press Release - 26/12/02

Fans' representatives of the three professional football clubs in the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham have today joined forces to work together for the future of their respective clubs in the area. Supporters' groups from the three clubs have issued the following statement: "Consistently, over the past twenty years, the future of at least one of our clubs has been in question. There have been bankruptcies, merger proposals and various permanent groundshares mooted. As fans, we know that whatever happens to one of our clubs potentially impacts upon the very future of the others. "All three clubs have strong identities arising from their individual associations with their own stadiums. With three clubs in the same borough, in a city with a further ten professional sides, moving away from their stadium permanently will be disastrous for the long-term future of the club involved. "For too long, the decisions of our Directors have been made with one eye to the potential property value of a stadium site, without proper consideration of the future of the club. As fans, we are vehemently opposed to any groundshare which threatens the identity of our clubs. We are determined to resist such half-baked proposals, and we will work together to do so. On the pitch, we are rivals. Off the pitch, we have the same aim - to ensure all three of our clubs play at their own home grounds." The fans' groups involved are:- - BacktotheCottage.com, supported and run by members of the independent Fulham Supporters' Club and other Fulham fans. - QPR First, the supporters' trust of QPR fans - Chelsea fans on-line - Chelsea Independent supporters' association ENDS