Fulham

Craven Cottage actually has its roots in a real life cottage that stood on the site of Fulham’s home ground from 1780 until it burnt down in 1888. Rumoured occupants of the cottage over the years include Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Florence Nightingale and even Queen Victoria, though none of these rumours have ever been substantiated. The cottage was located on a patch of ground that has now become the centre circle, whilst the pitch area that surrounded it was actually a forrest that was part of a hunting ground used by Anne Boleyn. Before settling at Craven Cottage Fulham were a team of footballing nomads, travelling from one ground to another without ever really laying down roots at any of them. They were looking for a permanent home, though, and club representatives realised they had somewhere with potential when they came across the land that would later become their home ground. The land was overgrown so badly, however, that it took two years to make is suitable for football to be played on it.