Forum Topic

Brentford Football Club - new season starts today!

Today sees the start of the 08/09 footie season so I am back urging any disillusioned/out-of-practice/latent Brentford supporters to head down to Griffin Park on August 16th for the first home game of this campaign.  I've put a bit about ticket purchases at the end of this post but please note we have a Family Ticket which covers 2 adults and up to 3 children for £20.  Yes, that is correct - £20 and 5 people get through the turnstiles.   Lots of new signings during the close season, some players known to me and others not (cut and paste this into your browser for a look at the squad: http://www.brentfordfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/TeamHome/0,,10421,00.html).  I saw the Bees in action against Ipswich and Watford in pre-season friendlies and although the scores are pretty meaningless, it did provide a flavour of what football is going to look like at GP over the next 9 months.  Nathan Elder, our huge centre-forward who can jump like Les Ferdinand, has recovered from knee surgery; Alan Connell was full of his trickery and skills; Gary Smith seems to have spent the past month bossing the midfield every time he has played; Craig Pead has scored fantastic goals; one of our new boys, Marcus Bean, looks a very exciting prospect - very fast and good positional sense; and Marvin Williams, a right winger, scares me with his speed so what he will do to the opposition's defence doesn't bear thinking about.  Ben Hamer is back from Reading on a season's loan and Ian Pearce (yes, THE Ian Pearce) may be playing as a centre back for us alongside the ever-improving Karleigh Osborne.If you want to investigate season tickets, please cut and paste the link below into your browser and you'll go straight through the the right page on the Brentford FC website(http://www.brentfordfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/SeasonTickets/0,,10421~1287528,00.html).Information about matchday ticket prices can be found here (http://www.brentfordfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/AdmissionPrices2007-08/0,,10421~1070650,00.html) and you can buy tickets online, over the phone or in person.  Chelsea's adult tickets are £35 a pop, by the way.  I know we are not Chelsea but that's one of the attractions as far as I am concerned: we are not Chelsea.A 65, E2 or E8 bus will drop you right by the ground where you can browse in the club shop, wet your whistle at any one of the 4 pubs at the corners of the ground, grab food at The Princess Royal or a delicious burger at The Griffin (with bacon, cheese and onions if you are very hungry), have a sit-down lunch at the great greasy spoon cafe in Leyton Road, get a curry at The Watermans Arts Centre or delicious chips at The Albany Fish Bar.  Food and drink is also available inside the ground (Pukka pies, hot dogs - all the usual suspects and very enjoyable too).Hope to see you there!

Allison Franklin ● 6626d34 Comments

Grrrrr!  We lost 1-0 to Bury.  Thankfully, I decided not to spend half my week-end on the supporters coach getting to and from Gigg Lane but followed the commentary on Bees World instead.Hopefully we will do better at our first home game next Saturday against Grimsby, kick off 3pm.

Allison Franklin ● 6625d

And what's wrong with being Chelsea?

Trizia Fiorellino ● 6623d

Last season I decided I must start going to support Brantford more as they are on my doorstep and ended up going 3 timesI must agree it is a great afternoon out and I will be back again this seasonC'mon The Bees

Ben Lavender ● 6623d

It sounds like you're up against it tomorrow Allison, with quite a number out injured or suspendedAnyway, good luck against that lot from the wrong side of the river.  Just think, you're only 3 points off the top at the moment (and 30 off bottom!)

James Lockwood ● 6620d

You obviously don't understand much about loyalty Trizia. If you are a real supporter as opposed that someone who just goes with the flow of popular hype then you stick with your team through thick and thin. Nothing at all wrong with supporting Chelsea if that is your choice, but don't by inference try to denigrate someone like Allison, who is at least consistant. Anyway you can stand at Brentford, and lap up the atmosphere of a time when people behaved themselves a bit better. Not that such bad behaviour is unknown at Griffin Park, its usually less so.And if someone comes out with a clever clogs remark about 'one man and a dog', my answer to that is'It only takes one to start something' Rant over!

Colin Vaughan ● 6619d

good god - where did that come from????Can you show me exactly where I did try denigrate Alison or anyone come to that??She made a statement - "I know we are not Chelsea but that's one of the attractions as far as I am concerned: we are not Chelsea". Who is denigrating who exactly? Why is NOT being Chelsea an attraction? That's what I asked.As for not knowing much about loyalty, that is an extraordinarily crass and quite frankly rude assumption to make about someone you don't know, who has asked one simple question in answer to what I perceived as a dig.Finally, not that I need to justify myself, but I have been supporting Chelsea for over 30 years and travel home and away with them - do I qualify as loyal in your world?

Trizia Fiorellino ● 6619d

The attraction for me in Brentford not being Chelsea is that Chelsea are a big business with a football team attached to it.  Brentford are still a football club of human proportions.I know we have to run as a business, too, and I am not saying we wouldn't like more money but if it's a choice between the Premiership - the very formation of which shafted most of the other professional clubs in England and Wales - and a club that is constantly struggling but is affordable and therefore accessible to most of the local population, I'll take the latter.Each to their own.  Big, wealthy football clubs have excellent marketing and a lot of TV exposure and lots of youngsters want to follow successful teams, not unglamorous ones like Brentford.  That's why I think our £20 ticket for two adults and three children is a very good deal and reflects the surrounding area of the Club.

Allison Franklin ● 6619d

Pleased to see you are going to GP, Ben, we need all the support we can get.Yes, James, we are up against it tomorrow (so what's new?).  Not only have we got multiple injury problems but Marcus Bean was sent off for dissent at Swansea and is suspended from play tomorrow.Gawd.  Think I might need a sharpener before I go through the turnstile tomorrow - a little anaesthetic to dull the pain....

Allison Franklin ● 6619d

Oh Dear!Trizia! You know thats the trouble with the internet, you can misconstrue peoples motives. I suppose if we had all been standing around having a drink, and you had come out with that statement, with no doubt a smile, a little gentle banter would have taken place and no more would have been said, but the written word by itself can sometimes be misconstrued, if thats upset you I apologise. I have to say I did point out that there was nothing wrong in supporting Chelsea, in fact I can remember going to 'The Bridge' myself with my Father many years ago to watch Chelsea and West Ham play out a 1-1 draw, which kept Chelsea up in the then Div 1 to the expense of Bolton, and the crowd singing 'Dear old pals', the Chelsea goal was a bit of a fluke. So sorry if I misconstued your motives Trizia, and if we were all together having a drink. I'd buy you one!

Colin Vaughan ● 6619d

Actually Trizia, Allison has said what perhaps I should have said in reply. Brentford, and other small clubs like it have a more human face somehow. In my neck of the woods I know of many who have given up going to watch Arsenal and Tottenham, and instead save much money by going to watch Barnet, or Dagnham and Redbridge in Div2. Cost is of course one reason, but having a more human face is another.When I went to watch Chelsea all those years ago most clubs including Chelsea were like that, and if you Trizia, have supported Chelsea for 30 years you probably would agree that it was like that even then. I hope you continue in your loyalty, although if Man U is anything to go by, the loyal fans are being priced out of the club by the 'corporate suits'. So my Niece and her Husband who live in Manchester found the Season Ticket prices now so exorbidant that they  go down the road and watch Accrington Stanley!

Colin Vaughan ● 6619d

Don't we all.Still, it's not as if you're lacking choice there is it!!!

James Lockwood ● 6619d

I'd say there's also probably another element to the joys of the lower league fan.  In general, fans of the 'top 4 teams' look forward to counting how many trophies they've won each year, and at times, it seems that's all the matters.  Whereas you go down the levels of the footballing table and you find more and more fans who savour the joys of each and every match.  Given you win more matches than trophies each season, I'd say the lower league fans get more satisfaction from the game.To give you my personal experiences, I remember a few years back going to Brentford with Hull and winning 2-0.  Now that may not be so great, but the result took us off the bottom of the bottom division (that's great to remember, when I think what I'm going to witness tomorrow).  There was also a game at Barnet, that despite losing in the pouring rain, we had a great day out in the open terrace, and then the game... oh there've been far to many.  But you catch my drift.The number of times over the years that I've mentioned to workmates that I was going to a Hull City fans forum that night in London, they were shocked that I was able to get access so easily to the chairman, managers, players etc.Watching top teams on the telly is fine - kind of like fantasy television, but sometimes lower league football on the terraces will always have a much better atmosphere and camaradarie.  That is one thing, for the next season at least, I will miss

James Lockwood ● 6619d

Quite happy to take money from one of the axis of evil though?Also, Chelsea used to be where Brentford are now - actually in more dire straits - I supported them then too. When/if a club becomes successful we as fans don't say "oh dear, we've become a corporate monster - we'll go and support someone else", just as if they get relegated we don't decide to go and support someone more succesful.My point in asking my original question was why you had to mention Chelsea at all. I love my club and so I bit.

Trizia Fiorellino ● 6618d

I will suppot Chelsea forever - I could not ever support another side. Did I prefer it 20 years ago? Probably, but I was younger, had fewer responsibilities and was resigned to the fact that we would never win anything so I was happy with my lot.That said, would I have given up actually seeing my beloved boys win the league? NEVER.

Trizia Fiorellino ● 6618d

Chelsea have been there too. What we have now is different - but I primarily go and watch Chelsea - that hasn't changed. My friends and family still know to avoid me if we lose (obviously that happens less so now) and the guys that work for me know the best time to ask for time off is following a win.

Trizia Fiorellino ● 6618d

Take your point Trizia, and sorry once again for the misunderstanding. I hope that you continue to support Chelsea seeing that support goes back a long way. You must remember when 'The Bridge'was nearly all open to the elements, and the famous 'Shed' was one of the few covered areas. As a loyal supporter I just hope you are not priced out eventually, as many at Man Untd have been.

Colin Vaughan ● 6618d

Fantastic afternoon for watching footie, I must say.  Glorious sunshine and comfortably warm.  The match was scrappy but we won and I'll take 3 points any way they come, thank you very much.  The pitch at Barnet has a noticeable slope so whichever team has it's goal at the bottom of the incline, it's Charge of the Light Brigade stuff towards it.Our goal was a penalty and if Barnet's finishing was - I was going to say better but existed would be more accurate - we would have drawn or possibly been beaten.  But we weren't.Home next week to Rotherham who, of course, have an even bigger incentive than usual to want to win as they were docked points at the beginning of the season and looked certainties for relegation.  Since then they have won every match and are now -8 points so another 3 from Griffin Park next Saturday would be a real filip to their campaign.See you there.

Allison Franklin ● 6611d

Funny old place Underhill Allison. Handy for the Tube though.

Colin Vaughan ● 6611d

Just typing these words means I run the danger of activating the BFC Curse which will see us plunge down the League Table and out the other end to the Conference - but I don't care, I'll run the risk.We are playing well.  Very well a lot of the time.  We've only lost 5 times so far this season.  We have taken points from the other successful teams in League Two and we playing Wycombe on 14th March at Griffin Park.  For those of you who have taken your eye off the ball, Wycombe are right behind us, a game in hand and 4 points behind.  In other words, breathing right down our neck.  If you don't attend any other sporting event this year - this decade - please get yourself to Griffin Park on the 14th of this month.  This is not just about the football - it's never just about the football - this is about the team having the mental strength to hold their nerve, keep believing in themselves and staying relaxed enough to play well.  You can help by being their to roar them on when they face The Chairboys in just over a week's time.People of Ealing, forget your mouldy old QPR, overpriced Chelsea and underachieving Fulham - Brentford is where it is at for us West Londoners at the moment. What's happening at the moment is either going to lead to one hell of a party in TW8 come early May or an increase in calls to the local branch of Samaritans but whether it's triumph or tragedy, I'd urge you to be there to take part in some of it.

Allison Franklin ● 6417d

People of EalingTodayWe saw 10,400 and some odd people at Griffin Park last Saturday for a thrilling, exhausting, roller-coaster of a game against Wycombe who at that point were breathing down our necks in terms of league position. A 3-3 scoreline was pretty fair, I thought.However, Wycombe seem to have imploded and have now dropped out of the automatic promotion spots and next Saturday Brentford face Gillingham who have risen up the table to replace WW.  Although there's six points between us and Gillingham, you can see by Wycombe's demise from the automatic promotion places that it doesn't take much for triumph to turn into disaster (something at which Brentford Football Club have excelled).  Although Brentford are looking pretty solid (despite a 0-1 defeat to Chesterfield on Tuesday night), the fat lady is not singing yet.  In fact, she's not even made it into her dressing room.This should be a good game and I urge you to spring for some tickets and come along to join us for a noisy, friendly, exciting and engaging afternoon.  If you listened to any of the coverage of BFC before the Wycombe game, you will have heard on Radio 5 Live what a friendly group of supporters we are and how thrilling the game was and from London Tonight what a lovely club we are.  And indeed we are so come and be lovely with us.

Allison Franklin ● 6401d

I'm not a regular but have always enjoyed a trip to Griffin Park and the ticket prices for kids make it a good afternoon of family entertainment.It is encouraging to see them looking forward to being in a higher division next season by investing in good players now. Brentford need to be in the Championship to make their new stadium viable. I'd love to see them do it.

Paul Cavanagh ● 6396d

Great, please come and join us tomorrow.  I don't think the crowd will be as big as it was for the Wycombe game because Brentford are victims of their own success - this is not a six pointer - but it matters that we keep on winning.  That way we don't have to worry about what anyone else is doing.The game against Luton, which is the last one of the season, is going to be a strange affair, I think.  Luton fans crying as they disappear from League football and us celebrating as we go up.There.  Fate tempted.

Allison Franklin ● 6396d

bump!

James de Vivenot ● 6395d

Missed the game at the weekend but hope to get along to a match over the holiday period.Congratulations to the Bees for winning Community Club of the year.

Paul Cavanagh ● 6392d

Paul, I'm hoping to see all 3 remaining home games. The Luton match on the last day of the season is likely to be a sell-out. The atmosphere at that game is bound to be emotionally-charged, with the Bees (hopefully) celebrating promotion whilst Luton will almost certainly be relegated out of the Football League on that day.It will be great to be there to witness a little bit of local history being made.

James de Vivenot ● 6392d

So.  Here we are with 6 games to go, still top of the League, 4 points ahead of Wycombe who have been moving up and down the league like a yo-yo and who are now back right behind us.  This Easter Saturday sees us play Exeter at home.  Exeter are 4 points behind us as well (3rd, behind Wycombe) but we have a game in hand on them but games in hand you cannot take to the bank.We played fantastic football against Bradford and conceded in the 91st minute (grrrrrrrrrrrRRRRRRRRRRRRRR)to draw.  Although we broke the first loan player Ipswich lent us (he's gone home with a bust metatarsal), Jim Magilton seems to think we are ok enough to loan us Billy Clarke who is something else.  We have also Sam Williams on loan from Aston Villa and our very own Darren Powell has returned to us as a signing until the end of the season to provide cover at the back.Unfortunately, Charlie McDonald has a very bad shoulder injury which will keep him out for the rest of the season (one of those odd player-falls-over-for-no-apparent-reason-and-lays-very-still situations).  Fortunately, we have some sparkling youngsters from Premier and Championship sides to fill the gap so why not come and fill your boots on Saturday?  Our family tickets are amazing value at £20 for a group of 4 or 5, one of whom must be an adult (and in BFC speak that means anyone over 16 years of age).  You can't buy these on the day so have a look here http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk/page/TicketNews/0,,10421~1070594,00.html for how to book them ahead.One last thing:  Andy Scott, our manager, has asked everyone to roar the team on against Exeter on Saturday so why not come along and make your contribution to getting BFC over the finishing line for the season in style.See you there.

Allison Franklin ● 6383d

So.  Here we go with 6 games left and all of them feeling like Cup Finals.  Wycombe and Exeter are dancing around one another in the second and third places whilst the Bees have stayed top and are still 4 points ahead. If you want to read some number-crunched information about how likely it is for us to be promoted, read this hilarious and informative posting on the fans website, Griffin Park Grapevine (http://www.griffinpark.org/forums/showthread.php?t=71097)On Easter Saturday we face Exeter who are on the same points as Wycombe so it feels like another 6-pointer.  We have lost Nathan Elder and Charlie McDonald through injury (both pretty horrible ones, as well) and we were loaned a player from Ipswich but we broke him and had to send him back (metatarsal).  Anyway, Jim Magilton obviously thinks we deserve a second chance and has loaned us Billy Clarke who is something else and we also have Sam Williams on loan from Aston Villa (very, very young and already showing those touches that make some players stand out) and we have re-signed Darren Powell who was our centre back quite a few seasons ago.  Everyone is totally up for this - the squad, the manager, the Board and certainly the fans - and the atmosphere at Griffin Park has been electric for certain games and noisy for every one.  Andy Scott has asked people to come and roar on the boys on Saturday and to turn Griffin Park into the intimidating place it can be when we are in full voice.  Why not come down and add your vocal weight to it on Saturday?  If you have children and want to sit a little bit away from the more vociferous supporters, we have a Family Stand which affords a great view. There are great value Family Tickets but they are not available on match days (sorry, I did post on here yesterday and gave details in case anyone was interested but my post didn't appear on this thread for some reason) but if you join us on another occasion, call the Club ahead of match day and they will be happy to help. Brentford football players are very accessible and spend a lot of time with fans, young and old so if you have children who like collecting autographs, you absolutely *must* be there at some point this season.This is real, live football played yards away from where you sit or stand and it's happening right on your doorstep.  Come and be a part of it.

Allison Franklin ● 6382d

See you there!

James de Vivenot ● 6382d

I'm not up to much on Saturday so maybe I'll come along. I've only ever been in the away end at GP. How would you compare the atmosphere in each of the 3 home stands?

Tom Henderson ● 6382d

Hi TomWell, I'm a Bill Axbey gal myself so of course I think we have the wittiest, noisiest group but truth be told there's more singing from the Ealing Road end which is standing only. Our stand, which is in New Road, has a mixture of very well established BFC supporters (it was renamed a couple of seasons ago after Bill Axbey who died aged 102 years old, still a season ticket holder and long-time New Road devotee), middle-aged, seniors and parents with children (the kids usually end up at the very front of the stand where they go all saucer eyed when they are within touching distance of a player taking a throw in).For sheer intimidation factor, you need to go into The Paddock in the Braemar Road side where the language is extremely industrial and the residents make sure that the away manager knows exactly how they feel about the fixture (said manager has to walk past The Paddock to get to the dug out and is about 2 feet away when being given feedback).If you want a drink beforehand, would thoroughly recommend The Princess Royal or The Griffin.Hope you come along.

Allison Franklin ● 6381d

Thanks for the tip.  I ended up in the Braemar Road stand having got confused by the fact that the away fans queuing at their end were wearing the same shirts as the B's.  Anyway I enjoyed the atmosphere at the match, although Exeter made more noise.  I like the look of Billy Clarke (apart from his penalty taking!). I'll definitely go again.

Tom Henderson ● 6380d

Great, Tom.  Really pleased you will be coming back.  I think we could all see it going pear shaped right in front of our eyes and were too tense to really get behind the time.Billy Clarke is a good 'un but what a dreadful spot kick by him!

Allison Franklin ● 6380d

OK, this is going to be your last chance to see the Bees in action though quite honestly it's going to be tough to get a ticket.Our very good value Family Tickets are all gone; there are single tickets available for a couple of section of Braemar Road and some single tickets available for the Bill Axbey Stand in New Road.After drawing with Exeter on Easter Saturday, winning at Bournemouth on Easter Monday and beating Accrington yesterday, we are hovering on the verge of promotion to League One.  If Saturday's results for Exeter and Bury had been different, we would be confirmed as promoted now.However, it looks likely that we will definitely be promoted on Tuesday night when we play Dagenham.  If we win at Dagenham, we are up.  If Wycombe lose their Tuesday night game, we are up and as champions.I'm so chuffed I'll be walking around with an idiot grin on my face for the summer and it will be a nice counterpoint to walking around feeling seriously down as I was a few years ago when we lost to Stoke in the play-off final in 2002 (yes, I have waited 7 years for this moment).If anyone has come to see us this season and has considered a season ticket, please have a look at the Club website.  You can buy a season ticket online.Fingers crossed please for Tuesday night.  God, I'm gonna get drunk on 2nd May and stay drunk for the rest of the holiday weekend...

Allison Franklin ● 6373d

See you there on 2nd May, Allison. I can't wait to celebrate the Bees' promotion! I just hope that a small minority of Luton fans don't try to spoil the party.

James de Vivenot ● 6373d