Biggest Historical Rivals

I have been a Fulham fan for about 6 or 7 yrs now and an observer from the McBride days. A veritable neophyte. Could one of you lifers add any personal anecdotes as to the fiercest/oddest/oldest rivalries for the club? My google maps would say Chelsea and QPR for obvious reasons. But are there others that have traditionally been real "hate-rated" contests. Possibly by either trades gone bad, coaching changes, etc... I would like to further my immersion in all things FulhamFC.

 

Rivalries
Main article: West London derby

Fulham fans consider their main rivals to be Chelsea.[38] Despite this fixture not being played that often in the years preceding Fulham's ascent to the top division, this is a clear local derby as Chelsea's ground, Stamford Bridge, is in Fulham. However, it is only recently that the two teams have been competing in the same league. Chelsea do not consider Fulham as rivals in the same way, as they are usually competing at the top end of the Premier League and consider Manchester United and Arsenal as their main rivals.

Fulham consider their secondary rivalries to be with QPR and Brentford.[38] Fulham last played QPR in the 2000–01 season before meeting them again twice in the 2011–12 Premier League season in which Fulham were the victors with a "sensational" 6–0 victory at Craven cottage, and beating them 1–0 away from home at Loftus Road.[39] Fulham last played Brentford in a pre-season Friendly money raiser for Brentford Legend Kevin O'Connor in 2010 where Fulham won 0–5 at Griffin Park, they also have small rivalries with other London clubs, including West Ham United.

Outside of London, Gillingham are still considered rivals to Fulham hardcore despite the two clubs having played in different divisions for the past eleven years. Fulham and Gillingham have been involved in several high-tempered matches in the lower leagues, including the death of a Fulham supporter outside a game between the two clubs in Kent, in the 1990s.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulham_F.C.

Wiki for the win :banana-dance:

 

There was a thread on the old site that discussed this topic, and I think Mike posted a picture of a sign about the Brentford rivalry (very funny if memory serves). Martin-in-Nashville (the ex=pat lifer) shared his thoughts on Gillingham and the death of the supporter (Matthew Fox).

The problem w/the Chelski rivalry is they don't view us as anymore than a nuisance and not a true rival. The atmosphere at the 2 qpha matches was awesome and if they survive the drop it will continue to build.

 

Wasn't Derby heated at one point? I remember reading about that when they were up.

 

Vegas...in looking into that possible Derby rivalry, ran across this little gem. Those of you following during the Sanchez years will enjoy turning back the clock but especially pay close attention to the person causing the most threat to the Rams.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/footbal ... 043003.stm

Funny.
Not so funny...take a look at that starting XI. Yikes.

 

How did we stay up with that lineup? What's so shocking is that Sanchez had a ton of money to spend and completely wasted it.

Anyways, it wasn't a rivalry, but a pitch invasion in 1983 that was talked about. Knew it was something like that.

 

Good thing we had Craig Dempsey around back then. I wonder if he's as good as Clint?

 

Wow, what a lineup :doh: McBride and Bullard were out on long term injuries, Baird and Davis were the scapegoats, Hangs was still playing for FC Copenhagen, and Sanchez had us well down the road to relegation. The expression; 'darkest before the dawn' certainly applied.

 

Tee hee. Though he did have pace