Back to the Cottage – the independent Fulham Supporters’ Trust – will tomorrow evening present evidence at a public hearing to the Greater London Authority (GLA) on the need for Fulham Football Club to return to their historic Thames-side home, Craven Cottage.

The fans’ group – one of 70 Trusts established by supporters at English professional clubs – have been working on plans which would enable Fulham to return to Craven Cottage on an interim basis, whilst longer-term options are properly assessed. Fans are asking the GLA to use their planning powers to help secure London football clubs in the heart of their communities.

In their written submission, Back to the Cottage argue: “The GLA should recognise the contribution that football clubs make to their communities and take a great deal of convincing about proposals for relocation. There should be a presumption towards keeping clubs in their areas, only allowing relocation once an alternative stadium in an appropriate area has been built.”

The group’s own initial research shows that a return to Craven Cottage, where Fulham played from 1894 until May 2002, is feasible: “Long term, the existing ground could be gradually re-built to accommodate approximately as many as the Valley, where Charlton Athletic – very similar to Fulham historically – are now a successful Premiership club. In the short term, a similar capacity to Loftus Road could be achieved by re-profiling existing terraces and bolting seats on top. The cost of this would be retrievable within a very short period. A return to Craven Cottage while the Club got its long-term act together would unite everyone.”

Back to the Cottage spokesman, Tom Greatrex, added: “The GLA have a role to play in ensuring that London’s professional football clubs survive and prosper. Upgrading and improving stadia in London has proved much more difficult than outside the capital – the GLA could, and should, use its planning powers to protect London’s football clubs and their grounds from the vagaries of high land prices, obstructive residents and property developers and prevent London clubs from dispersing away from their historic community bases.”

Notes to Editors:

1. Back to the Cottage is the campaign name of the recently formed Fulham Supporters’ Trust. The Trust, established with the backing of the government funded Supporters Direct initiative, will be officially launched at Hammersmith Town Hall on Tuesday 6 May.

2. The Trust has submitted written evidence to the Greater London Authority (GLA) inquiry into football stadia. Back to the Cottage will be answering questions, and giving oral evidence, at a public hearing at City Hall on Tuesday 1 April at 7.30pm.

3. Full copies of the Back to the Cottage written submission are available on request, or can be viewed here

http://www.backtothecottage.co.uk/glasubmission_010403.pdf - - (PDF - 119K) : (27 PAGES)

4. Please visit, and bookmark, our website at www.backtothecottage.com for further information and updates.