Come on, feel the noise. Many thanks as Slade returns

Cardiff City visit Brentford on Saturday, one year on from the season defining game at Leyton Orient that saw us beat the referee, ‘the curse of the cameras’ and, most importantly, our promotion rivals. With Brentford fans given a third of the ground it was a magnificent display of support from the stands and from the team. Best of all, however, it sent Russell Slade into that infamous meltdown that showed just how badly the 1-0 defeat had affected them.

“They celebrated like they’d won the FA Cup” he moaned afterwards.

To read the rest of this article, season 2014/15 is now available to download onto Kindle (and other electronic reading device) in full. Containing additional material and even some (poor) editing, you can get it here for less than the cost of a Griffin Park matchday programme or Balti Pie.

Thanks for reading and all your comments over the course of the season. For now, I need to make more space on the site for any follow up. However, ‘close season’ will continue in full, further on.

ITV’s FA Cup Arsenal is less than fully loaded

The World Cup is almost here but there is still plenty of football before that. Brentford, of course, wait to find out their final Championship opponents (hopefully Leyton Orient and the Loftus Road mob) whilst, today, Hull City AFC take on Arsenal in the FA Cup final at the W place in North London.

I’ll be tuned in to ITV this afternoon, hoping that Hull City get the chance to take their celebrations to Slade-like levels. This is not a particular pop at Arsenal, although I am sure most neutrals would prefer their barren streak continued, but more because of the way it would round off the year for their supporters.

Any regular reader of this column will be aware of the ‘No to Hull Tigers’ campaign which was, eventually, successful. The team remains as Hull City AFC whilst their owner Doctor Assem Allam now needs to rethink his marketing plans somewhat.

So for them it promises to be a celebratory occasion but I can’t help feeling slightly let down. For me, the FA Cup is all about day-long coverage and the legend that is Jim Rosenthal.

To read the rest of this article, season 2013/14 is now available to download onto Kindle, in full. Containing previously unseen content, you can do so here for less than the cost of one matchday programme.

 Thanks for reading over the course of the campaign. For now I need to make space on this page for any follow up.  The ‘close season’ / World Cup columns continue in full, further on in this site.

Bees up, Fulham down ! Brentford celebrate like we’ve won the FA Cup.

Russell Slade and Leyton Orient – Thank you. What began as a, seemingly, off the cup (sorry, cuff) comment made with a mouthful of sour grapes culminated in Griffin Park being transformed into a sea of Slade embossed FA cups yesterday as Brentford finally left League One.

Yes – we did celebrate when we won against strong opponents at Leyton Orient . I make no apologies for that. They were promotion rivals and their record demanded respect. However, that was nothing compared to yesterday.

Brentford were in celebratory mood all day long – fans, club officials and players alike.

Even Bees chairman Cliff Crown gets in on the act (and models his new pineapple hairdo)

Adam Forshaw’s reward for a great season

 

To read the rest of this article, season 2013/14 is now available to download onto Kindle, in full. Containing previously unseen content, you can do so here for less than the cost of one matchday programme.

 Thanks for reading over the course of the campaign. For now I need to make space on this page for any follow up.  The ‘close season’ / World Cup columns continue in full, further on in this site.