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Fulham Football Club started life as a Sunday school team (Fulham St Andrews) in 1879, eventually shortening the name to the current form in December 1888.

In 1892, the club joined the West London League, winning it at the first attempt.

The Move to Craven Cottage

Two years later they moved to Craven Cottage, and in 1895 joined the Second Division of the Southern League.

In 1903 the Cottagers were promoted to the Southern League First Division and in 1908 they were elected to the Football League Second Division, where they established themselves as a top ten team, although never really in the hunt for promotion.

During the 1920's the club went into a gradual decline which saw them relegated to Division Three (South) in 1928, returning to the Second Division four years later.

A Short Stay in Division One

In 1949 Fulham won the Second Division championship and promotion to the top tier for the first time. They spent three seasons in the First Division before being relegated in 1952.

In 1959 they were promoted again and spent the next nine seasons in the First Division, albeit constantly struggling against relegation. Their luck eventually gave out when they were relegated in 1968, and the following year they dropped into Division Three.

In 1971, they were promoted back to the Second Division, and in 1975, they reached the FA Cup final where they lost to West Ham.

Life in the Basement

During the Eighties the club moved between the Second and Third Divisions but they found themselves in the fourth tier in 1994.

By January 1996, the club were bottom of the League and had debts spiralling out of control. Under former player, Micky Adams, they managed to lift themselves to 17th place.

The following season, they won promotion to Division Two (previously the Third Division).

Mohamed al Fayed Buys the Club

In May 1997, Harrods owner Mohamed al Fayed bought Fulham Football Club and announced plans to take them into the Premier League within five years. Kevin Keegan was recruited as manager and al Fayed made funds available to improve the playing staff.

Back in the Top Flight

In 1999, Fulham won the Division Two championship by a clear 14 points.

After Kevin left to become England manager, Jean Tigana, a member of the great French side of the Eighties, was appointed.

Under Tigana, the club were promoted to the Premiership as First Division champions in 2001.

In 2009, under manager Roy Hodgson, Fulham achieved their highest ever top flight finish. Their 7th place finish guaranteed them a place in the newly rebranded Europa League.

Joy and Heartbreak in Europe

The 2009/10 European campaign was a memorable one, with the club reaching the final of the competition, beating former European champions Juventus and Hamburg en route before losing 2-1 to Atletico Madrid in the final.

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