The first match was played at the Cottage was 121 years ago, 10th October 1896, against Minerva FC in the Middlesex Senior Cup. The lads of the day won 4-0. We'd had acquired the ground two years previously and "ground" is a bit of a euphemism to describe the overgrown patch. It took those two years to turn it into a football ground fit for a 'Proper Club'. A deal was struck whereby the owners of the ground carried out the work and in return received a proportion of future gate receipts. Mainly because of the water levels the ground level had to be raised - from excavations from the new Shepherd's Bush underground - and banked - from Borough Council sweepings. Standing only in those days. Although, as popularity and attendances increased, a stand was built in 1903. The 'Rabbit Hutch' which catered for something like 1000 of the local worthies. please log in to view this image
