Craven Cottage

Why this one matters.

“Tucked into a bend of the River Thames in west London, Craven Cottage is the ground that time forgot, and that is exactly why its supporters adore it. Before Fulham, the site was said to have been the royal hunting ground of Anne Boleyn; since 1896 it has belonged to Fulham FC, who built one of English football's most distinctive homes. The red-brick pavilion facade pictured on this card — the Johnny Haynes Stand, designed by the legendary Archibald Leitch and opened in 1905 — is the oldest surviving football stand in London, its gable proudly proclaiming "THE FULHAM FOOTBALL CLUB" above turnstiles that have welcomed generations of fans. As the card's back recounts, Fulham were hunting a return to the Premier League after a one-year hiatus when this set was released, while the ground itself was undergoing the major redevelopment of the Riverside Stand along the Thames. With a compact capacity of around 19,000, Craven Cottage remains one of the most intimate, atmospheric venues in the top flight — international matches, including England games, have even been staged there. Panini's Stadiums insert preserves the famous facade on the ultra-short Gold Power Prizm, limited to just five copies worldwide; this 1/5 first-off-the-line example, graded PSA MINT 9, is a rare treasure for Fulham devotees and collectors of football's great historic grounds.”