So Brentford did it with victory over Preston and are now, with Wolves, Championship bound. The earlier post match article has a few pictures (and a couple of hungover words) but here, armed with nothing more than a mobile phone, are the alternative shots that made up my day…..
It is a little known fact that almost 25 years ago I applied to be manager of Preston North End football club – we’ll chalk it down to the impetuousness of youth. However, whilst rummaging through the attic on the morning of the game I came across not only a stash of old programmes and fanzines, but a stark reminder of this fact.
Preston – never replied. Their loss is Brentford’s gain
I’m still waiting for that reply. Who knows how our promotion chances were effected by the butterfly effect of Keith Leeming’s failure to follow up?
Still, nestling alongside this was an early copy of Beesotted. How’s this for an omen? It was only issue 15, which was published after Gary Blissett’s goal at Peterborough in 1992 took Brentford up to the second tier of English football.
An unexpected omen from the attic
The final piece of attic related ‘treasure’ was a 1996 programme from a game v Burnley. Perhaps we are just a bit more astute (or I have a filthy mind) but did their fans get one over Graham Haynes and Ian Westbrook in ‘Around the Hive’?
Burnley 1 Brentford 0 ??
Many of the Last Word articles this season have featured ‘View from the terrace’ . Put simply, this is matchday ‘action’ captured with all the technological power of an iPod telephone.
Well here are two from yesterday – Clayton looking to pick out an unmarked Will Grigg (more noticeable for the swathe of (unrequired) stewards at the Preston end) and then one more of those immense celebrations.
View from the terrace. Preston fans were the epitomy of good sportsmanship, too
View from the terrace – Bees fans unleash all that pent up excitement
And after this, well – we all know what happened. There was dancing in the street (thankfully NOT a mullet clad, trench coat sporting Mick Jagger / David Bowie video), speeches from Matthew Benham, impromptu Q&A with Warbs , and the Brentford team signing anything (and I mean , anything..)
Chairman Cliff Crown – I bet he replies to letters
Is this Saunders territory? One lucky fan gets an autograph
Fans celebrated inside and out . There was just a great vibe around The Griffin (which, I understand, continued long into the night at The Lord Nelson, too). Even 1992 hero Bliss got in on the action.
The legend that is Gary Blissett, outside the ground
Partying in the shadow of Griffin Park
And with the sun setting, it simply remained for us to go inside for one last look at the League One table.
I’m so happy, I won’t even berate Sky for upper case bracketery
BrentfordFC 