Whites or Cottagers?

[Twig]

There has been some interesting discussion on here recently about political correctness and then I just read the thread from a Cardiff fan in which one of our readers asked that Cottagers be changed in his FFC article to Whites.  The reason is obvious, but are we bowing to political correctness by not using our old nickname just because it has unfortunate connotations?  I rather like the naivety of "Cottagers" but on the other hand it opens us up to some heavyhanded "wit" from opposition fans.  Just interested in your thoughts on tradition vs change.  Plus there is not much to complain or argue about right now!

[absent cottager]

Both, but definitely still the cottagers, it's funny! It perfectly sums up being a Fulham fan in many ways! There's loads of teams that call themselves the whites, but only one cottagers!

[Deanothefulhamfan]

I also saw this get pointed out earlier and it also made me think.... our nickname is the cottagers although our fans often talk about us being the whites, which is also a theme in one of our chants. I think our member pointed it out as it probably flowed better in the article. I actually have no problem with the cottagers, it is who we are and is part of our history, but totally understand why some people want us to distinguish it.

Other teams and the media refer to us as the cottagers, yet the fans refer to Fulham as the whites. Is there actually a team nicknamed the whites? Preston?

[btings]

"Cottagers" isn't used that way in the US -- I had no idea of the connotation until just now, when I had to google it.  Language!

[absent cottager]

Leeds, spurs, I know they.re liliwhites, but they still sing come on you whites, Real Madrid...  Sure there's more

[RaySmith]

It's more to do with what Fulham fans feel more comfortable with than anything to do with pc.

The Cottagers was our official nickname when every team had one.

Now old nicknames are often forgotten as fans use more modern or glamorous sounding ones-and these are the nicknames that clubs are known by.

I remember when Palace were officially The Glaziers, and their club badge was of the Crystal Palace, at a time when many of their fans still remembered it before it burned down in the war, but everyone knows them now as the Eagles-and that is also their badge.

At Fulham when have you ever heard anyone shout 'come on you Cottagers' ?-but I think media still remember and use  the word because we are so associated with the Cottage, which is an integral part of our identity.

Myself -I'm not bothered by us being referred to by that monicker, and it does have a charm, as well as  nudge, wink connotations.

[Mince n Tatties]

I also saw this get pointed out earlier and it also made me think.... our nickname is the cottagers although our fans often talk about us being the whites, which is also a theme in one of our chants. I think our member pointed it out as it probably flowed better in the article. I actually have no problem with the cottagers, it is who we are and is part of our history, but totally understand why some people want us to distinguish it.

Other teams and the media refer to us as the cottagers, yet the fans refer to Fulham as the whites. Is there actually a team nicknamed the whites? Preston?

Preston are the Lilywhites.

[Deanothefulhamfan]

Spurs sing more about spurs as appose to the whites / lilywhites.

[Mince n Tatties]

Reading used to be called !The Biscuit Men!

[White Half]

I have often mulled this one over - there is no song we sing that promotes us or identifies us as being The Cottagers. I racked my brain for a song that could be suitable and only come up with "Cottagers" to the tune of "we are Leeds" or "P-N-E".

May be one for Ed to get going as he was instrumental in creating "We are the white, we are the whites" which is one I backed from the off regardless of PC!

[Fernhurst]

Where's our historians ?

Our families Fulham heritage stretches back to 1909.......never ever heard The Cottagers mentioned by parents, uncles, brothers or anyone else whilst growing up.

We were always The Lillywhites around our family and friends.

Where did The Cottagers nickname originate.... Some football magazine no doubt.

Always found it distasteful even before I discovered its connotations!

[Peabody]

Fernhurst is right, we were always known as the Lilywhites which over time was shortened to The Whites. We were never called The Cottagers, which is a fairly recent name and quite honestly, you never hear it called out at home games.

[RaySmith]

I do remember it as the 'official' nickname when I first started supporting Fulham in the early 60's -but who decides on these  nicknames? - I have never, ever heard a single Fulham fan using it, or anyone outside of the media.

[Luffy86]

My old man always called us the lillywhites.

[Twig]

Fernhurst is right, we were always known as the Lilywhites which over time was shortened to The Whites. We were never called The Cottagers, which is a fairly recent name and quite honestly, you never hear it called out at home games.

I am not so sure.  I go back to the late 50's as a supporter (at around the age of 7) and used to go with my father and his brothers who all lived in Fulham, Putney and Hammersmith.  I am trying to recall whether they ever talked about us as the Cottagers.  I certainly don't agree that it is a relatively new nickname, I was definitely aware of it decades ago so I am afraid I disagree with you on that.  However it is also true that one never hears it at home games, at least not for a long time now.  I just can't recall whether it was ever in common usage?

[Mince n Tatties]

Fernhurst is right, we were always known as the Lilywhites which over time was shortened to The Whites. We were never called The Cottagers, which is a fairly recent name and quite honestly, you never hear it called out at home games.

Its not recent Mr P, The Cottagers is the official nickname of the club from way back.
My late Dad always referred to Fulham as The Cottagers.

[Martinsback]

I took my black friend to the Cottage and we were both embarrassed and angry at the use of "whites" as in come on you Whites. Surely now that we are in the 21st century we can forget this imperialistic nonsense and move on?

[Deanothefulhamfan]

Martin is this a wind up attempt, with all the PC talk on here lately I am not sure if you are being serious? 

[Neil D]

Cottagers is fine.  It just doesn't lend itself to chants.  Ransacking the past to make it more acceptable to present-day sensibilities is a pointless pursuit.  I suppose this is why Shrewsbury's ground is now the New Meadow and not Gay Meadow.  It's a slippery slope.

[Martinsback]

Martin is this a wind up attempt, with all the PC talk on here lately I am not sure if you are being serious? 

Why oh why is "Cottagers" not PC? Surely we now all embrace practices which used to be considered uncouth or bawdy? It is the imperialistic stereotyping and racial superiority that should and will be banned in the future. Come on Fulham this is 2014 after all.