London is home to five English Premier League (EPL) clubs. Each has a long and distinctive history that tells much about the cultural and social changes in England's capital city during the last century.
Arsenal Football Club
Now situated at the Emirates Stadium, to many supporters the spiritual home of Arsenal will always remain Highbury. However their first outing as a professional club in 1891 was under the name Woolwich Arsenal and saw them playing matches in South London.
At the end of the 1912/13 season the club was in a parlous economic state. The relative isolation of their South London home resulted in poor attendances and drastic measures had to be considered. New owner Henry Norris took a bold move in relocating north of the River Thames to Highbury, making them neighbours of Tottenham Hotspur, who remain their fiercest rivals to this day.
Chelsea Football Club
Founded in March 1905, their ground at Stamford Bridge was the reason Chelsea were formed as a football club. Guy Mears, a great advocate for the sport of football, felt London lacked the same passion for a game so loved in the north of the country.
To Mears an old athletics stadium to the west of the capital at Stamford Bridge seemed ripe for development and perfect as home to a professional football club. Although plans did not always run smoothly a deal was eventually struck and Chelsea Football Club was formed to play in the new stadium.
Fulham Football Club
Founded in 1879 and the oldest of London's professional clubs, Fulham has become synonymous with their ground Craven Cottage. Situated on the banks of the River Thames it has an intimacy and charm rare in more modern stadia. The Johnny Haynes stand and the Cottage itself were designed by renowned Scottish architect Archibald Leitch and both structures are listed buildings in the United Kingdom.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club
Originally formed in 1882 under the name Hotspur FC, Tottenham was added to the name two years later with the move to its current home of White Hart Lane taking place in 1899. The land upon which the ground stands was originally owned by brewers Charringtons and was the site of the White Hart public house The move of Woolwich Arsenal to neighbouring Highbury in 1913 ignited a local rivalry still burning in the modern game.
West Ham United Football Club
West Ham has long been the leading club in East London and under their current name has existed since 1900 when they played home games in Plaistow. For season 1904-05 they moved to Green Street in the Upton Park area, their new stadium named the Boleyn Ground in reference to it standing on land previously housing Anne Boelyn.
Premier League Clubs in London
With London clubs constituting 25% of the English Premier League, the capital city hosts many top class matches during the regular season. Readers wishing to sample the unique atmosphere and excitement of the EPL may be interested in the English Premier League ticket prices for season 09/10.
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