Fulham v Arsenal

It was time to head along to my first football match and the choice of venue was Craven Cottage, the home of the mighty Fulham Football Club ('FFC'). My friend Chris is a member of FFC and had managed to get hold of some tickets to a mid week Premiership game vs Arsenal over the internet. A group of four of us went, Chris and his brother Dave, Andrew Bull and myself. Andrew and Dave are both Arsenal fans and Chris and I were proudly displaying our FFC membership pins (mine was borrowed but I may have to get hold of my own).

The game was absolutely fantastic. No other live sport that I have been to is quite the same. With 10 minutes to go to kick-off the ground was practically empty but within 20 seconds of kick-off there was a sell out crowd of 24,500 (Craven Cottage isn't very big) and the chanting started and did not let up for the entire game. We didn't know any of the chants, but managed to pick a few up. Some of the classics were:

- Same old Arsenal, always cheating
- We are Fulham, super Fulham, we are Fulham FFC. We are Fulham, super Fulham, we are Fulham, f%&k Chelsea
- If you hate Chelsea, stand up.

It appears every club has its arch rival and for Fulham it was neighbouring Chelsea. Mind you, I have discovered that everyone hates Chelsea.



After 6 minutes, and against the run of play, underdogs Fulham went up 1- nil from corner kick. 15 minutes later they slotted another from a break away much to the delight and surprise of the home crowd. They separate the fans so the other end of the stadium was a bit subdued by this stage. Arsenal pulled one back after 35 minutes from an amazing free kick and it was 2 - 1 to Fulham at half time.



The second half included two disallowed goals for off side, a penalty shot off the cross bar from Fulham, an Arsenal player sent off, a few more yellow cards and almost a fight. There must have been about a dozen yellow cards in the game.

Super Fulham hung on for a great win and we left vowing to get along to more games.