The club launched itself into the West London Alliance, then moved into the Southern League in 1898. They spent twelve years in the Southern League First Division, making very little impact, before getting relegated to the Second Division in 1912. It was during this period that they found a permanent home, moving into Griffin Park in 1904.

The Brook Road Stand - our home for the afternoon. A mixture of seating (upper) and terrace (lower). Photo © 2005 Ciderspace

When football resumed after the First World War the club was given a place in the SL First Division again. Although finishing 15th they somehow fluked election into the new Third Division of the Football League in 1920. They ended the first season bottom but one and had to seek re-election. Another re-election was required in 1925. However from those inauspicious beginnings their fortunes then took a turn for the better.

In 1929-30 they set a home record which can only be equalled, never beaten, winning every league match at Griffin Park. Then between 1933 and 1935 they got promoted twice and found themselves in Division One. Their first season saw them finish the top club in London in fifth. That remains their highest point. Immediately after the Second World War they were relegated. By the mid-Fifties they were back in Division Three South, and by the early Sixties into the recently formed Fourth Division.

Towards the end of that decade the club was on its knees. An attempted takeover by Queens Park Rangers was fought tooth and nail, and the club withdrew from all competitions except the Football League and Cup and F.A. Cup and operated on a total staff of fourteen players to pare its costs to the bone. They survived - just.

For the next twenty years Brentford bounced about between the Fourth and Third divisions, though mostly in the latter. In 1991-92 Brentford showed their best form for many years and were Champions of Division Three. This took them back to the Second Division in the season the Premier League began - so it was called the First Division. They only lasted the one campaign.

The David Webb years, which still have Bees fans spitting blood, followed until Ron Noades bought the club in 1998 and made himself manager. Despite some initial derision from the football world Noades taking the managerial role was not the expected disaster and they won the Division Three title. They remained at Division Two / League One level, with a couple of unsuccessful play-offs and a couple of successful battles against relegation to keep the interest going, until 2006-07, at the end of which season they were relegated in 24th place.

Noades had gradually withdrawn from the club, first as manager, then as chairman and owner. However as he departed (slowly) it gradually emerged that Brentford was, as in the late Sixties, in a horrendous financial mess. Things were going pretty well on the pitch under Martin Allen, but off it things went from bad to worse as each supposed club-saving deal foundered on new revelations as to the state of the books.

Eventually Bees United, a Supporters Trust with 1,200 members, became the majority shareholder in January 2006. Football supporters are attracted by the romance of owning their club, but the reality can be rather different and dissent, grievance and faction lurked in the background, with seemingly regular resignations and back biting the order of the day. The team went on to reach the play-offs but lost out at the semi-final stage to Swansea City. Martin Allen is a very emotional manager and couldn't hide his huge disappointment in the days that followed this defeat. Possibly combined with a belief that the club couldn't take the next step forward, within a few weeks he had resigned. For a club that didn't give the appearance of being financially very sound the appointment of Leroy Rosenior seemed a shrewd one, as a manager used to working on a shoestring at Torquay United. However it didn't work out and his tenure was short, sacked by November after five months. Youth Team Manager Scott Fitzgerald took over for the second half of the season but couldn't keep the Bees up. Already relegated, he was sacked with four matches to go and Barry Quin kept things ticking over as caretaker whilst the club negotiated to bring in ex-England captain Terry Butcher as the new man at the helm for the following campaign. Butcher lasted about as long as Rosenior before he too was sacked, and Assistant Manager Andy Scott stepped forward. After getting through four managers in eighteen months some sanity returned and the club recognised that 14th in League Two was at least some form of stabilty and Scott was retained into the 2008-09 season.

Braemar Road Stand Photo © 2005 Ciderspace

The campaign was a successful one, with Brentford coming back up as League Two Champions. This term they have consolidated, and are one of the few clubs in the division who entered the back end of the season with nothing to play for, well adrift of the play-off spots but comfortably clear of the relegation zone.

We have some cup history against Brentford, as well as the meetings in the League, having played them three times in the F.A. Cup when we were a Non-league club, with one victory - in 1970 when goals by Chris Weller and ex-Brentford Cliff Myers secured a 2-1 win at Huish. We have only won once in our five visits to Griffin Park. This was in 2006 when a last gasp 1-2 took the Glovers to second in the League One table. Our most recent visit was in the Football League Trophy, losing on penalties.

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RECENT RESULTS

07/08/2010	Carlisle United	Away	NPL1	L	0-2	5913
07/08/2010	Carlisle United	Away	NPL1	L	0-2	5913
14/08/2010	Walsall	Home	NPL1	L	1-2	4544		Alexander 44
21/08/2010	Swindon Town	Away	NPL1	D	1-1	8132		MacDonald 8
28/08/2010	Rochdale	Home	NPL1	L	1-3	4636		Simpson 27

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

CLUB GOALSCORERS

Name	LGE	FAC	FAT	LGC	CC	Total
Robbie Simpson	1	0	0	0	0	1
Gary Alexander	1	0	0	0	0	1
Charlie MacDonald	1	0	0	0	0	1

ATTENDANCE STATISTICS

Highest League Attendance: 4636, vs Rochdale, 28/08/2010
Lowest League Attendance: 4544, vs Walsall, 14/08/2010
Average League Attendance: 4590

CURRENT LEAGUE SEQUENCE STATISTICS

Games Without A Win:	4		Games Without A Home Win:	2
Games Without An Away Win:	2		Games Without Defeat:	0
Games Without A Home Defeat:	0		Games Without An Away Defeat:	1
Games Without A Draw:	1		Games Without A Score Draw:	1
Games Without A No-Score Draw:	4		Games Without Scoring:	0
Games Without Conceding:	0		Home Results Sequence:	LL
Away Results Sequence:	LD		Overall Results Sequence:	LLDL

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The welcoming facilities of the Ealing Road End we're more used to at Griffin Park - but not this time. Now has a roof and been given to the home support. Photo © 2005 Ciderspace

Exit M25 at Junction 15 (signposted Heathrow Terminals 1,2 & 3, London (West)) and take the M4 eastbound. After 8.3 miles exit M4 at junction 2 (signposted A4, N and S Circular A406 (A205), Chiswick A315), onto slip road down onto the A4, which runs underneath, and parallel to, the M4. After 0.7 miles you reach Chiswick Roundabout. Take the fourth exit (signposted South Circular A205, A316, M3 Richmond) onto Chiswick High Road/Kew Bridge Road. Go straight on for 0.3 miles to junction/lights (Kew Bridge Junction). Here, keep in the lane for the A315 and go straight on (signposted Hounslow, Brentford A315), towards `The Plough'. At lights after 0.5 miles turn right (by McDonalds) into Ealing Road, which runs past Griffin Park.

Parking

There used to be official secure parking available at the Equinox Car Park five minutes from the ground, at a cost of £5.00. However this is no longer referenced anywhere and we assume it's ended. So it's likely to be the struggle to find on-street parking in London. Good luck. There are some high rise estates and back streets around without Resident Only parking schemes, but without wishing to insult the locals you may think twice about leaving your vehicle there when you see them. The club itself suggests people try the Somerset Road area - and with a name like that how could you resist?

By Rail

The nearest mainline halt is Brentford Station. South West Trains run from Waterloo and Vauxhall to Reading via Brentford. If coming up from the South-West change at Clapham Junction for services to Brentford.

On leaving the station head up to the main road and turn left. Take first main left turn into Windmill Road, and first right (signposted 'Methodist Church') into Clifden Road. The stadium is then directly ahead of you. Five minutes walk max.

An alternative mainline station is Kew Bridge. This station is on the same line as Brentford Station, and around half a mile from the ground. The walk does take you past some of the better pubs listed below.

Take steps up from platforms to main exit and turn right. Keep going for 0.3 miles, and then turn right by McDonalds into Ealing Road. Walk up Ealing Road until you see the ground (to your left).

The nearest Underground stations are (not particularly convenient):

Gunnersbury (District Line, Zone 3)
About one and a half miles to ground.
Exit station into Chiswick High Road and turn left. After 0.3 miles, at Chiswick Roundabout, take 2nd exit (signposted South Circular A205) into Chiswick High Road, which becomes Kew Bridge Road. Then as for 'By Road' directions above.

South Ealing (Piccadilly Line, Zone 4)
About the same distance, possibly slightly less.
Exit right from station and walk down Ealing Road to the ground - or catch the No.65 bus.

The Bill Axeby (New Road) Stand. Photo © 2005 Ciderspace

By Bus

The E8 is a frequent service from Hanwell along Boston Manor Road, while the E2 runs from West Ealing along Windmill Road. The No.65 runs from south of the river, over Kew Bridge. Nos. 237, 267 and H29 run along Kew Bridge Road. The main night bus is the N97, Brentford High Street to either Central London or Heathrow Airport.

By Taxi

A selection of Brentford taxi companies can be found here.

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Local Pubs :

One of those pubs you wonder how it stays open. © Hugh Gleave Albany Arms: Tucked away in a back street close to the bus station and a few minutes walk from the stadium. Never seems to be anyone in it except chavs watching TV. Does claim to have the cheapest pool table in town. It is under threat of closure (may have been as I haven't been down to Brentford so far this year) following this police report: "These premises have a history of incidents that have undermined the licensing objectives. Police and other responsible authorities have received a catalogue of complaints that have included noise complaints, assaults, fighting, disturbances, residents being threatened, drunkenness, theft and kindred offences, firearms, including the discharge of firearms, offensive weapons, criminal damage, drugs and breaching of the licensing act 2003, youths on the premises, youths being supplied both alcohol and drugs on the premises, and breaches of the private security act 2001." You have been warned! Albany Arms, 17, Albany Road, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 0NF. Tel: 020 85606773. Map: Click Here.

The pub pianist has gone....... at least we sincerely hope so. © Hugh Gleave Brewery Tap: Popular Fuller's pub down towards the river near Thames Lock, around ten minutes walk from the ground. Has Fuller's Chiswick, London Pride, ESB and Discovery. Fuller's seasonal ales as appropriate and a guest. Lagers were Carling and Carsberg, and the er, cider Strongbow. Food lunchtimes through until 7.30 p.m. in the evening (except at the weekend when it's Sunday lunch only). Pool table, and live music most nights (Tuesday and Thursday is jazz). Incidentally it is not the brewery tap of Fuller's, which is based just down river in Chiswick, but of a long deceased brewery that was taken over in 1908. Opening is 12.00 noon - 12.00 midnight. Best of the Fuller's pubs in the area in this reviewer's opinion. Brewery Tap, 47, Catherine Wheel Road, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 8BD. Tel: 020 8560 5200. Map: Click Here.

Closest pub to Kew Bridge Station. © Hugh Gleave Express Tavern: Just off the northern end of Kew Bridge and 15 minutes walk from the stadium. A busy area, but the lounge and garden at the back (with covered area for smokers) escape some of the traffic noise. Big on the history of Brentford, including some Bees memorabilia. Beers are Bass - reputedly the best in the area - and Young's Bitter, plus two regularly changing guest beers. Food at lunchtimes and in the evening (except Tuesday and Sunday night). Opening is 11.30 a.m. - 3.00 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. (6.30 p.m. on Saturdays) - 11.00 p.m. (and midnight on Thursday, Friday and Saturday). Sunday is 12.00 noon - 10.30 p.m. Express Tavern, 56, Kew Bridge Road, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 0EW. Tel: 020 8560 8484. Map: Click Here.

Pub by Brentford mainline station. © Hugh Gleave Kings Arms Bar and Hotel: Looked to be down in Station Road to me, though gives its address as the bigger thoroughfare of Boston Manor Road. Anyway, right by Brentford railway station so might be of use if waiting for a train, but nothing else to recommend it really. Much of a muchness. Has London Pride, Taylor Landlord, and sometimes a third real ale. Bed and breakfast (from 7.00 a.m.) also available. Food served, Sky Sports, pool table, beer garden, own parking (but very limited). Over 21's only. Kings Arms Bar and Hotel, 19, Boston Manor Road, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 8EA. Tel: 020 85605860. Map: Click Here.

Bit 'twee' and middleclass but still attracts a good number of football fans on matchdays. © Hugh Gleave Lord Nelson: Across the other side of the M4 but still in Brentford - just. Round the corner from The Globe (below), which is easier to spot. It's half a mile by road, but a five minute walk by foot using the pelican crossings, to the ground. Larger than it looks from the outside back street local that can get very busy on matchdays. Finding parking can be a problem. Beers are London Pride and seasonals. Up to five can be on, but only two were when we visited. Food is served from 12 noon - 2.30 p.m. and 6.00 p.m. - 9.30 p.m., with an emphasis on the organic. Full meals are on the expensive side - £8.00 to £13.00 - but there is a wide range of 'snacks', and these were pretty generous portions at £3.00 to £5.00. Everything is cooked to order. The dining space is also the children area. Wheelchair friendly. The garden at the back was very pleasant, larger than one would expect, and available for the evil smokers. There's a playground for very small children. Has Sky Sports on a big screen, a jukebox and darts. A 'middleclass' establishment, but some of the better pub food in the area, if a little trendy. Lord Nelson, 9, Enfield Road, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 9NY. Tel: 020 8508 1877. Map: Click Here.

Was the best pub in Brentford. Will it remain so? © Hugh Gleave Magpie & Crown: Was the best pub in Brentford by a long way. Mock-Tudor architecture set back from the High Street providing an outside drinking area in fine weather, and a patio at the back. Single bar in a horseshoe shape. No set real ales, but a constantly changing selection of four guests, with a running total of 2,310 different beers served up in the last fourteen years. This was the only place for traditional cider in the area. There were up to three, plus an occasional perry. Lagers were varieties like draught Budvar, Fruli, Hoegaarden, Affligem and Paulaner. There was Fosters and Strongbow for people with no taste. Has traditional pub games including a bar billiards table. Excellent jukebox. Thai food served Tuesday to Saturday evenings. Opening is 11.00 a.m. - midnight Monday to Wednesday, 11.00 a.m to 1.00 a.m. Thursday to Saturday, 12.00 noon to midnight Sunday. 10 minutes walk to the ground. However N.B.: after huge rows with the freeholder trying to impose a massive rent rise the long term landlord simply walked away in January 2010. It opened again in February, but it's not clear which direction it's going. Reports say the cider has already gone and the beer range been reduced. A crying shame if they ruin what was a very eccentric outlet but one of the best real ale pubs on the lower league circuit. Magpie & Crown, 128, High Street, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 8EW. Tel: 020 8560 5658. Map: Click Here.

O'Briens: Couple of hundred yards west of the Magpie & Crown (above), and a possible alternative if that pub has gone off. A free house that was The Northumberland Arms until that closed a couple of years ago. Completely refurbished and reopened as a slightly (for Brentford!) upmarket joint - but nothing too pretentious. Food is served 12.00 noon - 3.00 p.m. and 6.00 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. Fuller's London Pride is the house beer (not sure why in an area where one can get this beer almost everywhere), but more interestingly they stock one or more beers from the Twickenham Fine Ales micro-brewery. There's then also a changing guest, making a normal total of four real ales on handpump. For what is a small pub quite a wide range of specialist foreign bottled beers are also available. Opening times are 11.00 a.m. - 11.00 p.m. Monday to Saturday, 12.00 noon - 10.30 p.m. Sunday. O'Briens, 11, London Road, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 8JB. Tel: 020 8560 0506. Website: Click Here. Map: Click Here.

Not what it was. © Hugh Gleave O'Riordans: Half way along from Kew Bridge to Ealing Road, the turning up towards the stadium. Freehouse that used to be an excellent Irish (NOT Oirish) pub, but gradually and sadly declined over the years as Captain Morgan's. Change of owner in 2008, with promises to invest and get it back to the glory days. The first step has been to restore the original name of O'Riordan's. Focus on Gaelic sports in season. Food was served noon until 8.00 p.m. weekdays, noon until 5.00 p.m. at weekends last time we passed. Real ale is one from Fullers, one from Youngs and (sometimes) one from somewhere else, but it was for the best stouts for miles around that this pub used to be noted. Whether that status has been recovered yet we don't know. O'Riordans, 3, High Street, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 0DX. Tel: 020 85605543. Map: Click Here.

Very much a home pub. © Hugh Gleave Princess Royal: Pub at the South-East corner of the stadium. It has a close relationship with the club and is seen as the 'official' pub for supporters. Some years ago Brentford's Official Site was stating the informal connection was going to become formal, with all sorts of redevelopment, but that never happened. Fuller's, but mainly keg, with Carling and Carlsberg the lagers. There was Sky Sports, and a small music stage that gave it a social club feel. Strips everything out, so standing only, switches to plastic 'glasses', and becomes a swill joint on matchdays. The only clientele when visited on a non-matchday was chavs and scallies - so we swiftly passed through. Princess Royal, 107, Ealing Road, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 0LF. Tel: 020 8847 2018. Map: Click Here.

Not worth bothering with. © Hugh Gleave Royal Horse Guardsman: Bog standard pub, badged under Courage, a couple of minutes walk from the stadium. Nothing to recommend it. Royal Horse Guardsman, 23, Ealing Road, Brentford, Middlesex. Tel: 020 85605677.

The only customer enters. © Hugh Gleave Royal Oak: At the North-West corner of the stadium. Nothing pub with a single customer on a Saturday (close season) lunchtime. Badged as Courage, keg throughout. Bar food available and Sky Sports. Decided not to bother the till. Reports suggest that on matchdays it tends to attract some of the twattier elements who follow Brentford, so probably better avoided for that reason too if the beer wasn't enough to put you off. Royal Oak, 38, New Road, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 0NU. Tel: 020 8560 7876. Map: Click Here.

Huge pub in the high street. © Hugh Gleave The Beehive: Large Fuller's pub at the other end of the shopping centre from the Magpie & Crown (above). Has London Pride, Chiswick and ESB as real ales, and some imported lagers. Serves food, and there was a seafood stall out the back in the tiny carpark. Sky Sports and pool table. Plenty of better pubs around - and a few worse. The Beehive, 227, High Street, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 0JG. Tel: 020 85602215. Map: Click Here.

Not as good as the Lord Nelson round the corner. © Hugh Gleave The Globe: Large Fuller's pub with most of their real ale range on tap just across the M4 and five minutes from the ground. Food is served from 12.00 noon - 3.00 p.m. and 6.00 p.m. - 8.00 p.m. weekdays, and straight through from noon to 8.00 p.m. on Saturdays. Strong on live music, but also has a jukebox, pool table and Sky Sports on two big screens. Large outside area in the form of a patio style garden. The beer's expensive though. The Globe, 104, Windmill Road, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 9NA. Tel: 020 85800086. Website: Click Here. Map: Click Here.

Famed for a pub at each corner of the stadium - this is the best. © Hugh Gleave The Griffin: Pub at the South-West corner of the stadium and carrying the same name. Best of the four adjacent to the ground, and thus packed ahead of games. 'Traditional London Boozer' in style. Has two handpumps. Only Pride on when we called in - but very well kept. Also has Fuller's kegs, Guinness and Carling and a fizzy 'cider' of some description. Dart board and better than average juke box. Small beer garden at the back. Recent reviews say prices have shot up and it's now one of the most expensive pints in the area - ludicrously steep even for London. The Griffin, Brook Road South, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 0NP. Tel: 020 8560 8555. Map: Click Here.

Tends to be the main pub for away fans on account of its location. © Hugh Gleave The New Inn: Two room pub plus an outside area at the North-East corner of the stadium. Second best of the four. This is the most used by away fans, possibly because it's the first of the four corners of the ground they'll meet when coming from Brentford railway station. Directors - which I loathe - was the only real ale when I was last there, but that may have gone and been replaced by something better since according to reports. Lagers were San Miguel, Stella, Fosters and Kronenbourg 1664. Other drinks available were Guinness, John Smith's Extra Smooth and Strongbow. Has Sky Sports, and loads of machines of various sorts. Food served, and there's a small patio garden. It's the base for the area's Celtic Supporters' Club, and as such there ought to be a good welcome for the 'other' team in green and white hoops. Strong Irish element to the locals. Under new management from late February 2010 so it may be all change. The New Inn, 1, New Road, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 0NX. Tel: 020 8560 6606. Map: Click Here.

Solid all-rounder of a pub. © Hugh Gleave Waggon & Horses: On the way to the stadium, a few yards down and the other side of the road from the Express Tavern (above), for those alighting at Kew Bridge. Large single room, but partly partitioned, hostelry with additional tables outside for good weather. Popular with away fans. Fuller's London Pride, Chiswick and ESP on handpump. Guinness (ordinary and extra-cold), Chiswick Keg, Stella Artois, Carling, Carlsberg and Strongbow also available. Has pool table and TV. Food served. Another Brentford pub that changed hands fairly recently. Opinion is divided as to whether it has improved or gone down hill. For what it is worth I've always classified it as a pretty bog standard outlet over the years: perfectly acceptable, but nothing to get excited about. Waggon & Horses, 26, Kew Bridge Road, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 0EB. Tel: 020 8560 3590. Map: Click Here.

Nothing wrong with it, nothing special about it. © Hugh Gleave Watermans Arms: Greene King pub around five minutes or so walk from the ground just south of Brentford High Street. Does Abbot and IPA on handpump. Has Sky Sports, and a patio garden. Food served. Watermans Arms, 1, Ferry Lane, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 0AW. Tel: 020 85605665. Map: Click Here.

Likelihood the Natives Will Understand You :

Fairly typical 'working class' area of London. Mainly a mixture of Victorian terracing and estates of high rise flats. Though the new development down by the river is glass and chrome yuppiedom personified. Very very expensive, very very trendy....... and utterly ghastly.

Top-Tip :

Don't try to get in at the Ealing Road End as we're down the other end of the stadium.

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