Over the last 13 months since this column has been running, our reader may have realised I’m somewhat of a Brentford kit nerd. A quick search of this site with the word ‘kit’ will also show pieces on what we, our Championship rivals (and beyond) have worn. Likewise, some of the quirkier efforts through the ages. Hull City AFC and their tiger stripes, the Coventry City T, Spanish broccoli, beer and octopus designs being some of the best.
However, whilst reading a thread on GPG this morning in regards to Brentford shirt, it suddenly dawned on me. I’ve written about our best ever home and, equally, away shirt. There’s also been a piece published on what are, in my opinion, our worst ever away tops.
But I’ve never completed the story by talking about my least popular home effort. Until now.
By and large, our home kit has generally been pretty good over the years and so to compile a top ten or even top five would be, largely, a pointless exercise. That said, two do stand out for me and both are from recent years.
In second place is the 2012/13 effort. On the surface, I really liked this. Thick stripes, a decent shade of red and even a solitary touch of black on the shoulder was a nice touch. Then you turned it over.
Where were the stripes? Not only had they been removed ‘due to football league regulations’ (that, seemingly, Sheffield United were able to circumnavigate) but they’d been replaced by a teabag. Whilst the front of this was standard shirt material, the reverse was some sort of perforated ventex effort. It meant our female fans had their bra straps on display whilst it gave all of us the chance of gaining a polka dot sun tan.
As for the stick on ‘Skyex’ sponsor patch. It was the first appearance of this much maligned piece of low budget kit design – a trend that has continued into the Adidas regime and blighted their, otherwise, sterling efforts.
2012/13 – Fantastic front but that horrible, horrible back. No stripes; just teabags
But that’s nothing, to me, on the previous season’s effort. 2011/12 is, in my opinion, the most awful of all the shirts we’ve ever had.
It’s not just that there are too many red stripes, relative to a classic Brentford shirt, yet not enough to bring it into the cult territory of the ‘funky bee’ 1989 centenary effort. Although that’s a poor start.
Then chuck in the black collars. They’re floppy!!? Think Eric Cantona, but after a few too many Kronebourgs.
The only point of a collar on a football shirt is so as you can stand it up – preferably just at the point of entering ‘Saunder’s territory’. Nothing is more likely to put the wind up the opposition than a midfielder with a known eye for goal, making this final adjustment before striking a free kick.
Cantona shows how a collar, if it has to be incorporated into a football kit, should be treated.
So we have too many stripes and a pathetic collar but the ultimate crime is the red shoulder patches and double black trim. Adidas have their famous three stripes, so Puma decide to copy this but go one less. Why?
It’s an awful choice and this entire upper makes us look like hotel doormen. Perhaps some people like it but, personally, I won’t even have this one in my collection.
Talk about Puma seeing out their contract in style. Or lack of .
2011/12 – Marcel Eger models my worst ever Brentford shirt
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.
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.
One, non Brentford, subject close to my heart this season has been the ongoing effort to thwart Hull City owner Doctor Assem Allam in his attempt to rebrand the club as Hull Tigers. There were more developments on that yesterday which we’ll look at shortly but, of course, there’s only one place to start today – Griffin Park, with Crawley Town due to visit.
There can’t be too many people unaware of the significance of a win tonight.
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.
There was great work on the club website yesterday where, it seems, the Russell Slade sour grapes when Brentford beat Leyton Orient on Saturday have unearthed a sense of ‘official’ humour. After the unsporting O’s manager had, bizarrely, complained that Brentford “celebrated like they’d won the FA Cup” following our ten man away win against the second placed team, this video appeared on our Official YouTube channel.
Come on, feel the noise
I don’t think Slade realises what a colossal own goal he has scored in making those comments.
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.
Whilst this is primarily a Brentford FC blog, one of those subjects close to my heart this season has been the attempt by Hull City AFC owner Doctor Assem Allam to rename the club as Hull Tigers.
Whilst a backlash was predictable, the scale and heartfelt nature of this peaceful protest against the move has stunned even him. Inflammatory language has been forthcoming but the ‘No to Hull Tigers’ team has stood firm.
Indeed, this week they made their submission to the FA as to why the request to change the club’s name should be rejected, including the video below.
It reminded me, in part, of the excellent piece the Lionel Road team put together for their presentation to Hounslow Council. Moreso, though, it was yet another example of how lucky we are to have an owner like Matthew Benham. A man who talks and engages with fans whilst, at the same time, is building for the club’s future in the right way.
Like Doctor Allam at Hull, Matthew is looking to change things. But for the positive. So please, watch the video and follow @NotoHullTigers on twitter. The FA don’t yet have a date to announce what will happen to Hull City AFC but I hope they listen to the voice of the people. Otherwise, I can’t imagine what carnage will follow.
And Brentford fans, don’t forget that our future is up in the air too. Just as I’m supporting the No To Hull Tigers team, I’d urge you to please sign the petition to Boris Johnson in regards to Lionel Road. This will only take you 15 seconds but the end result could last a lifetime .
From Brentford to Bournemouth, Sheffield United to Hull City and more good news coming out of the club – it’s been a busy mid-week period for all things Bees related.
The good news is still no news – on the transfer front, that is. None of the current first team have left Griffin Park whilst, tellingly, there aren’t even any rumours circulating. Although, understandably, the club would never comment on these things until they are fact (or sometime after, in the case of Farid and his paper work) they have been pretty much on the mark so far.
Chuba Akpom, and Alan Judge have both joined although all the talk of Rob Kiernan – as it stands – is yet to reap any material evidence. However, I’ll take that none of the usual ‘non-club’ sources are talking about any of our players leaving as a very positive sign.
That said, a very interesting piece of business is going on a league above us
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.
BrentfordFC 
From the best shirt to the worst – with a video nod to Eric
6 SepOver the last 13 months since this column has been running, our reader may have realised I’m somewhat of a Brentford kit nerd. A quick search of this site with the word ‘kit’ will also show pieces on what we, our Championship rivals (and beyond) have worn. Likewise, some of the quirkier efforts through the ages. Hull City AFC and their tiger stripes, the Coventry City T, Spanish broccoli, beer and octopus designs being some of the best.
However, whilst reading a thread on GPG this morning in regards to Brentford shirt, it suddenly dawned on me. I’ve written about our best ever home and, equally, away shirt. There’s also been a piece published on what are, in my opinion, our worst ever away tops.
But I’ve never completed the story by talking about my least popular home effort. Until now.
By and large, our home kit has generally been pretty good over the years and so to compile a top ten or even top five would be, largely, a pointless exercise. That said, two do stand out for me and both are from recent years.
In second place is the 2012/13 effort. On the surface, I really liked this. Thick stripes, a decent shade of red and even a solitary touch of black on the shoulder was a nice touch. Then you turned it over.
Where were the stripes? Not only had they been removed ‘due to football league regulations’ (that, seemingly, Sheffield United were able to circumnavigate) but they’d been replaced by a teabag. Whilst the front of this was standard shirt material, the reverse was some sort of perforated ventex effort. It meant our female fans had their bra straps on display whilst it gave all of us the chance of gaining a polka dot sun tan.
As for the stick on ‘Skyex’ sponsor patch. It was the first appearance of this much maligned piece of low budget kit design – a trend that has continued into the Adidas regime and blighted their, otherwise, sterling efforts.
2012/13 – Fantastic front but that horrible, horrible back. No stripes; just teabags
But that’s nothing, to me, on the previous season’s effort. 2011/12 is, in my opinion, the most awful of all the shirts we’ve ever had.
It’s not just that there are too many red stripes, relative to a classic Brentford shirt, yet not enough to bring it into the cult territory of the ‘funky bee’ 1989 centenary effort. Although that’s a poor start.
Then chuck in the black collars. They’re floppy!!? Think Eric Cantona, but after a few too many Kronebourgs.
The only point of a collar on a football shirt is so as you can stand it up – preferably just at the point of entering ‘Saunder’s territory’. Nothing is more likely to put the wind up the opposition than a midfielder with a known eye for goal, making this final adjustment before striking a free kick.
Cantona shows how a collar, if it has to be incorporated into a football kit, should be treated.
So we have too many stripes and a pathetic collar but the ultimate crime is the red shoulder patches and double black trim. Adidas have their famous three stripes, so Puma decide to copy this but go one less. Why?
It’s an awful choice and this entire upper makes us look like hotel doormen. Perhaps some people like it but, personally, I won’t even have this one in my collection.
Talk about Puma seeing out their contract in style. Or lack of .
2011/12 – Marcel Eger models my worst ever Brentford shirt
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