Post by Macmoish on Jun 7, 2011 8:02:59 GMT
QPR, Fulham and Chelsea fans prepare to battle for derby bragging rights
By Greg Burns/Fulham Chronicle
Jun 6 2011
WHAT separates Hammersmith and Fulham from the cities of Glasgow, Manchester and Liverpool? The answer is footballing prowess. GREG BURNS explains.
MANCHESTER, Glasgow and Liverpool are gigantic footballing cities with giant traditions and trophy cabinets that glisten with their winning mentalities.
Manchester United and Manchester City are battling for glory in the Premier League while the fierce rivalry between Rangers and Celtic regularly spills over in the Scottish Premier League.
And if you come from Liverpool then you are either an Evertonian Bluenose or a Scouser red.
But when the whistle blows on the 2011/12 Premier League season on August 13, H&F will put them all to shame with their three top flight football teams.
QPR's promotion to the Premier League might have been dramatic but it has set up six derbies as they rub shoulders with near neighbours Chelsea and Fulham.
A mere 6.3 square miles in size and with a population that is hovering around 170,000 – it is a remarkable achievement for W12 and SW6.
But who do fans of the three teams see as their main derby rivals?
For Fulham and Chelsea fans, it seems a friendly relationship turned sour when the Whites dared to take on their rich and illustrious neighbours at Stamford Bridge.
David Lloyd, editor of There's Only One F In Fulham fanzine, said: "Because of my vintage I can recall our earlier stint in the top division when, before travelling to away games became the norm, some supporters would watch Fulham at home one week and then Chelsea at the Bridge the next.
"From the Fulham perspective they’re the team we’d love to beat. The Blues tend to consider us as an irksome little brother."
Chelsea fan, blogger and Fulham Chronicle freelance reporter Dan Levene, said: "Stamford Bridge was, of course, offered to Fulham before Chelsea were formed. The Whites were pretty happy with Craven Cottage, and the Blues were formed more or less to spite them for not buying the ground.
"These days, most Fulham fans seem to despise Chelsea. They see them as new money arrivistes, full of brag and swagger and a load of arrogance.
"Chelsea fans, meanwhile, seem to quite like Fulham. When they got to the Europa League final last year, I had loads of texts and tweets from Chelsea fans wishing 'the little brother' good luck.
"The one-sided rivalry is reinforced by the record between the clubs. I think Fulham have won the derby about once in 35 years - and never at Stamford Bridge."
QPR last played in the top flight of English football in 1996 when they were relegated and Fulham, two years before Mohamed Al-Fayed bought the club, were languishing in 17th place in Division Three.
Chelsea have finished in the top six of the Premier League in every season since with QPR and Fulham crossing paths again in the old Division One in 2000.
The Whites claimed the bragging rights that season as they won 1-0 at Loftus Road on September 18, 2000 to win the first meeting between the two sides since 1983.
Fulham's rise, under Al-Fayed, continued in 2001 as they were promoted to the Premier League with QPR relegated from Division One.
Fans of the Whites will be no strangers to Loftus Road after ground sharing with QPR between 2002 and 2004 as Craven Cottage was renovated.
David Barton, who runs www.queensparkrangersfc.com, admits it has been hard to watch Fulham flourish in the top-flight and said Chelsea's visit to Loftus Road will be the first fixture they will look out for when they are released next Friday (17/6).
He said: "It was frustrating at first especially as Fulham's promotion to the top flight came in one of our worst ever seasons when we were relegated to Division Two.
"I think most QPR fans though respect what Fulham fans have gone through over the years and can actually take heart from the way they have progressed into a good Premier League side over the last ten years.
"I think most of us who grew up in the 1980's and early 1990's still consider Chelsea to be our main rivals but I would imagine this is a very one sided rivalry as they left us behind a long time ago.
"Chelsea at home will be the one most look forward to as it's been so long since we played them at Loftus Road."
Mr Lloyd said: "Having stormed the Championship last season Rangers will be keen to do well, I know their fans have been desperate to get back into the top flight, but we’ll be looking forward to the derby games with confidence. The six points on offer are every bit as important as any local bragging rights."
"Being the new boys in town, and only a league club since the 60s, Chelsea fans feel much the same about QPR as Fulham fans do about Chelsea," added Mr Levene. "In addition to this, the two club's firms had a few altercations in the 1980s, and passions remain pretty high.
"The nadir in this rivalry for Chelsea was Easter 1986 when, challenging for the league title, they were thumped 6-0 at Loftus Road. QPR fans still see this as one of their greatest ever moments.
"Chelsea fans largely find it amusing these days that QPR are still caught-up with a 25 year old local derby."
It all makes for fascinating viewing next season as the eyes of the footballing world turn their attention to the hotbed of football that is H&F.
We can't wait.
FACT BOXES
DERBY DISTANCE
Chelsea – Fulham: 1.8 miles
Chelsea – QPR: 3.4 miles
Fulham – QPR: 3.1 miles
#Only a short one mile walk across Stanley Park separates Liverpool and Everton while four-and-a-half miles separate Man City and United.
#Rangers and Celtic fans need to travel five miles to the Old Firm derby while Birmingham City's relegation to the Championship mean their 3.7 mile rivalry with Aston Villa will be missing from the Premier League calendar next season.
#You only need to cross the street to walk between SPL Dundee United's Tannadice Park ground and Division One rivals Dundee.
FOOTBALLING LONDON BOROUGHS
Hammersmith & Fulham: Chelsea, Fulham, QPR (Premier League).
Islington: Arsenal (Premier League).
Hounslow: Brentford (League One).
Kingston upon Thames: AFC Wimbledon (League Two).
Croydon: Crystal Palace (Championship).
Southwark/Lewisham: Millwall (Championship).
Greenwich: Charlton Athletic (League One).
Barking & Dagenham: Dagenham & Redbridge (League Two).
Newham: West Ham United (Championship).
Waltham Forest: Leyton Orient (League One).
Haringey: Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League).
Barnet: Barnet (League Two).
More www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/fulham-and-hammersmith-news/local-fulham-and-hammersmith-news/2011/06/06/feature-qpr-fulham-fc-and-chelsea-fc-fans-prepare-to-battle-for-derby-bragging-rights-82029-28829902/#ixzz1OZj0Y0Z8
By Greg Burns/Fulham Chronicle
Jun 6 2011
WHAT separates Hammersmith and Fulham from the cities of Glasgow, Manchester and Liverpool? The answer is footballing prowess. GREG BURNS explains.
MANCHESTER, Glasgow and Liverpool are gigantic footballing cities with giant traditions and trophy cabinets that glisten with their winning mentalities.
Manchester United and Manchester City are battling for glory in the Premier League while the fierce rivalry between Rangers and Celtic regularly spills over in the Scottish Premier League.
And if you come from Liverpool then you are either an Evertonian Bluenose or a Scouser red.
But when the whistle blows on the 2011/12 Premier League season on August 13, H&F will put them all to shame with their three top flight football teams.
QPR's promotion to the Premier League might have been dramatic but it has set up six derbies as they rub shoulders with near neighbours Chelsea and Fulham.
A mere 6.3 square miles in size and with a population that is hovering around 170,000 – it is a remarkable achievement for W12 and SW6.
But who do fans of the three teams see as their main derby rivals?
For Fulham and Chelsea fans, it seems a friendly relationship turned sour when the Whites dared to take on their rich and illustrious neighbours at Stamford Bridge.
David Lloyd, editor of There's Only One F In Fulham fanzine, said: "Because of my vintage I can recall our earlier stint in the top division when, before travelling to away games became the norm, some supporters would watch Fulham at home one week and then Chelsea at the Bridge the next.
"From the Fulham perspective they’re the team we’d love to beat. The Blues tend to consider us as an irksome little brother."
Chelsea fan, blogger and Fulham Chronicle freelance reporter Dan Levene, said: "Stamford Bridge was, of course, offered to Fulham before Chelsea were formed. The Whites were pretty happy with Craven Cottage, and the Blues were formed more or less to spite them for not buying the ground.
"These days, most Fulham fans seem to despise Chelsea. They see them as new money arrivistes, full of brag and swagger and a load of arrogance.
"Chelsea fans, meanwhile, seem to quite like Fulham. When they got to the Europa League final last year, I had loads of texts and tweets from Chelsea fans wishing 'the little brother' good luck.
"The one-sided rivalry is reinforced by the record between the clubs. I think Fulham have won the derby about once in 35 years - and never at Stamford Bridge."
QPR last played in the top flight of English football in 1996 when they were relegated and Fulham, two years before Mohamed Al-Fayed bought the club, were languishing in 17th place in Division Three.
Chelsea have finished in the top six of the Premier League in every season since with QPR and Fulham crossing paths again in the old Division One in 2000.
The Whites claimed the bragging rights that season as they won 1-0 at Loftus Road on September 18, 2000 to win the first meeting between the two sides since 1983.
Fulham's rise, under Al-Fayed, continued in 2001 as they were promoted to the Premier League with QPR relegated from Division One.
Fans of the Whites will be no strangers to Loftus Road after ground sharing with QPR between 2002 and 2004 as Craven Cottage was renovated.
David Barton, who runs www.queensparkrangersfc.com, admits it has been hard to watch Fulham flourish in the top-flight and said Chelsea's visit to Loftus Road will be the first fixture they will look out for when they are released next Friday (17/6).
He said: "It was frustrating at first especially as Fulham's promotion to the top flight came in one of our worst ever seasons when we were relegated to Division Two.
"I think most QPR fans though respect what Fulham fans have gone through over the years and can actually take heart from the way they have progressed into a good Premier League side over the last ten years.
"I think most of us who grew up in the 1980's and early 1990's still consider Chelsea to be our main rivals but I would imagine this is a very one sided rivalry as they left us behind a long time ago.
"Chelsea at home will be the one most look forward to as it's been so long since we played them at Loftus Road."
Mr Lloyd said: "Having stormed the Championship last season Rangers will be keen to do well, I know their fans have been desperate to get back into the top flight, but we’ll be looking forward to the derby games with confidence. The six points on offer are every bit as important as any local bragging rights."
"Being the new boys in town, and only a league club since the 60s, Chelsea fans feel much the same about QPR as Fulham fans do about Chelsea," added Mr Levene. "In addition to this, the two club's firms had a few altercations in the 1980s, and passions remain pretty high.
"The nadir in this rivalry for Chelsea was Easter 1986 when, challenging for the league title, they were thumped 6-0 at Loftus Road. QPR fans still see this as one of their greatest ever moments.
"Chelsea fans largely find it amusing these days that QPR are still caught-up with a 25 year old local derby."
It all makes for fascinating viewing next season as the eyes of the footballing world turn their attention to the hotbed of football that is H&F.
We can't wait.
FACT BOXES
DERBY DISTANCE
Chelsea – Fulham: 1.8 miles
Chelsea – QPR: 3.4 miles
Fulham – QPR: 3.1 miles
#Only a short one mile walk across Stanley Park separates Liverpool and Everton while four-and-a-half miles separate Man City and United.
#Rangers and Celtic fans need to travel five miles to the Old Firm derby while Birmingham City's relegation to the Championship mean their 3.7 mile rivalry with Aston Villa will be missing from the Premier League calendar next season.
#You only need to cross the street to walk between SPL Dundee United's Tannadice Park ground and Division One rivals Dundee.
FOOTBALLING LONDON BOROUGHS
Hammersmith & Fulham: Chelsea, Fulham, QPR (Premier League).
Islington: Arsenal (Premier League).
Hounslow: Brentford (League One).
Kingston upon Thames: AFC Wimbledon (League Two).
Croydon: Crystal Palace (Championship).
Southwark/Lewisham: Millwall (Championship).
Greenwich: Charlton Athletic (League One).
Barking & Dagenham: Dagenham & Redbridge (League Two).
Newham: West Ham United (Championship).
Waltham Forest: Leyton Orient (League One).
Haringey: Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League).
Barnet: Barnet (League Two).
More www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/fulham-and-hammersmith-news/local-fulham-and-hammersmith-news/2011/06/06/feature-qpr-fulham-fc-and-chelsea-fc-fans-prepare-to-battle-for-derby-bragging-rights-82029-28829902/#ixzz1OZj0Y0Z8
