Everton 1 Brentford 0 Defeat for The Bees (not a typo) as that unbeaten run which stretched back as far as October finally came to an end. Thomas Frank’s team outclassed in the first half and all over the hosts in the second. Even David Raya coming close to yours truly’s pre-match prediction and almost scoring at the death. The hope being we pick up where we left off for the trip to Southampton on Wednesday.
Saturday morning ; 10.20am
As ever at this juncture, we look back at who shone for Brentford. Who caused Everton headaches and who is leading the top five in our season long quest find an overall star player (aswell, of course, as the game by game marks). Will any of the subs have played themselves into contention for a starting berth for the trip to Southampton?
We’re half way through the first week of international break. Another ten days until Brentford head to Chelsea for a league game in which there was good news for us Bees yesterday. The narrow defeat at Leicester City now put behind us. Fantasy football teams left gathering dust. No bad thing in the case of yours truly, whose attempt to jinx Leeds United on Friday backfired terribly. Three players selected yet rather than this seeing them fall apart (again), they mounted that stonking rearguard action at Wolves to turn 2-0 down into an eventual 3-2 victory. At the same time, rather than the consolation of a plethora of points that should go with an on pitch win, the net result was a measly three. Three. Points. I give up. That long time aspiration to be a football manager one best consigned to the waste bin of history.
Bruzon’s falling apart. Again.
Anyway, aside from Leeds United and the Foxes putting a dent into the weekend (as ever, you can catch our take on the Brentford ‘top five’ from Leicester City here), there’s been another dalliance or two into the world of football fantasy. Namely, kit design. We shared some of them on these pages in the last few days but, along with some other efforts where we’ve messed around in Photoshop (see – it can be used for more than just venting the spleen about Mrs. Brown’s Boys) why not stick them all up in the same place?
If nothing else, we’re getting close to that time of the season where talk turns to what we’ll be running out in next season. Expect clubs to start dropping their 2022-23 efforts over the coming weeks and, whilst we’ve traditionally left things late, we already know that our home shirt will remain the current home shirt. Huge thanks from from the Bruzon family piggy bank on that decision to roll over this season’s design.
The flip side to this equation being we’re guaranteed a new away and third kit. Jon Varney has already confirmed that, “We hope the new away shirt design will excite our fans who remember the 80’s and early 90’s, whilst the new third shirt is designed very much for the future!”
What does all this mean, though? The obvious guess would be a return for either the Hummel fractals or more blue on blue for our change colours. Possibly even the one season wonder that was the Funky Bee centenary crest. Go on Bob, I dare you…
Could the 2022-23 be heading down one of these routes…
Or, of course, rather than colours it could be a reference to our much loved ‘castle badge’ which was everywhere in the 80-90s . Tapping into that retro vibe very much in evidence at the moment. A bit of castle action. A helping hand from one of my favourite (non Bees) Umbro kits of all time. A sash. My word, an actual sash on a Brentford shirt…
…. or perhaps adopting the Castle badge once more?
As for the ‘one for the future’, that’s as open to interpretation as you want. Could we be going back down the trailblazing route? Specifically that adopted with the brown / orange? Whilst it is, without doubt, up there with our best ever change strips in years, it’s fair to say that one split opinion. Incredibly, some people didn’t like it – I know, I know – so would take a huge leap of faith to retread that path. Then again, combine those colours with some yellow and our much repeated ‘Bus stop in Hounslow’ tag for the obvious solution. One we’ve talked about before and would take balls of marketing steel to adopt. Albeit, just imagine…..
Just for the meltdown…..
Then there’s our favourite yellow and black combo. The one unveiled in the window of a Bathroom shop (c/o our then sponsors, Bathwise) . Albeit remixed into more of a Bee motif.
Or something more simple but (and with apologies for shoddy photoshoppery) showing colours appropriate for what’s going on in the wider world at the moment.
It’s all complete guesswork and, with no inside knowledge, nothing more than a bit of fun. The point being that talk will soon be starting. The guesses will begin. The reveal will be dropped on us.
We’ve had it all over the years. Fans involved. A youth team member leaking the picture. The week long strip tease inflicted upon us by (now Leyton Orient) chief executive Mark Devlin. The only ask this time around being that whatever it is, please make it quick and make it soon. And Bob, if you are reading – I’m available….
How not to ‘launch’ an away kit. Curse that leak
Until then, which of these would you pick ?
Which of these would you pick for the #BrentfordFC 'third' shirt next season ?
Theo other, actual, news from yesterday was the news that Chelsea tickets are back on sale. With the terms of their sanctioning tweaked, Brentford fans with over 2,000 TAPS will be able to get these from today on a first come, first served basis. 1,600 were already sold before the shutters came down which, by my rudimentary calculations, means we have another 1,400 to go. Don’t @ me if that maths is wrong. Just move quick smart if you want in. Full details here, on Brentford ‘official’.
Until then, you can have a vote on the kit or catch up on that Leicester City piece.
Monday morning. The weekend has seen Brentford go down at home to Newcastle United, keeper Kepa take the worst penalty since Yoann Barbet found low-earth orbit against Norwich City and Leeds United parting company with Marcelo Bielsa. Yet it was dominated by FIFA proving themselves as spineless as ever when it comes to Russia. The ongoing and barbaric atrocities being committed by Putin and his lackies in the Ukraine have resulted in global condemnation, ejection from everything as far afield as the Eurovision song contest to hosting their own Grand Prix (and anything in between) whilst the footballing community have made their own feelings very clear. Wojciech Szczesny and Poland leading the charge and refusing to play Russia next month.
We’ve always loved the player, affectionally known as Chesney, at Brentford after his 25 game stint in 2009/10. It seems like five minutes ago he was pulling out all the stops, game after game. Ripping up tress in goal and performing last line of defence heroics that haven’t been matched until, well, probably David Raya. Now, he’s up on the global stage making his feelings (and those of his countrymen) known loud and clear.
Speaking to the DAZN Sports streaming service, Szczesny was unequivocable with his thoughts:
“We won’t play against Russia at the World Cup, that’s for sure. Let’s see if FIFA will have balls to give Russia the World Cup by forfeit – I don’t think so”.
“I refuse to stand on the pitch, wearing the colours of my country and listen to the national anthem of Russia! I refuse to take part in a sporting even that legitimases the actions of the Russian government.”
Well said, that man. With Sweden and the Czech Republic joining the Poles in their decision, FIFA have finally flinched. There has been no kicking the Russian team out. Instead, a typically half-arsed measure of still allowing them to compete but on neutral ground under the name Football Union of Russia (RFU). No flags , no anthems, no flags. But still playing.
President of the Polish FA, Cezary Kulesza, was as forthright as Szcezny on hearing this news. He called it “Totally unacceptable” with, incase anybody was in any doubt, the commitment that.. “We are not interested in participating in this game of appearances. Our stance remains intact: Polish national team will not play with Russia, no matter what the name of the team is.“
Look. I get its not the fault of the Russian players or Russian people. Robert Lewandowski was amongst those also recognising that side. At the same time, giving a government and a dictator who thrives on his own ego, on global recognition and some misplaced macho bullshit where the world order is still rooted in the 18th century any credibility or attention, no matter how watered down it may be, is a complete and utter NO. It was an open goal and FIFA have missed. Missed it worse than Diana Ross taking a penalty.
The world looks on at a c*nt
Instead, they’re now in a situation where Gianni Infantino still sleeps with the Order of Friendship medal given to him by Vladimir Putin under his pillow. Where the head of FIFA has acted with all the speed of a turning oil tanker in swerving questions before, finally, finally coming out with this nonsensical watered down rubbish. Nobody is going to play against Russia in the current circumstances. The World Cup, already under huge scrutiny given the controversy of Qatar, could become an even bigger farce than it is already looking like turning in to. And rightly so.
The World is burning at the moment. Football had a chance to draw a line in the sand. To show strong leadership. To show support – primarily for Ukraine but also its other members. The football community has come out and made their feelings quite clear. Even in the symbolic gestures from supporters waving banners, flags and going to games in yellow and blue. From players openly saying they refuse to participate in the charade.
The game’s leadership, anything but. It makes me sick. F*ck Ras-Putin. F*ck FIFA. Our beautiful game is currently being made to look very ugly at the top level.
Anyway, that’s just me. For what it’s worth. Trying to bring up a young child to know the difference between right and wrong or explain what the heck is going on in the world at present isn’t an easy job. I get sleepless nights over where this could end up but, at least, I still have my principles. It’s a shame others don’t. Oh well, enjoy that medal Gianni.
I was going to talk about the League cup, about Leeds United , about Newcastle and about Brentford going to Norwich City but really can’t be bothered with any more. This stuff is written on the hoof. Made up as it goes along and having done so, I’m over football for now. A relief for everyone. If you really want to then you can get the player / performance review from the Bees – Magpies game, here.
The Premier League is getting closer. With tickets for the West Ham and Valencia pre-season games now on sale to Brentford ST holders, it doesn’t feel long until we will all be back together once more. Even more exciting, the question of who will be in the Bees starting XI has been opened up that bit further with confirmation of our first signings of the summer. The last few days have seen the chewed up biros out in force with Frank Onyeka joining from FC Midtjylland and then, yesterday, confirmation that centre back Kristoffer Ajer has left Celtic for Lionel Road. Both, moves about as telegraphed as a ‘joke’ in an episode of Mrs. Browns Boys yet, like the alleged comedy, nobody was laughing. At least in Glasgow where there were the usual cracks about #teamslikeBrentford. Comedy genius the likes of which we’ve never heard before and a level that Brendan O’Carroll could only aspire too.
Who might be next?
But we digress. With Midtjylland holding Celtic 1-1 on Tuesday night in the Champions League second qualifying, Ajer has swapped the chance to be knocked out of Europe’s top competition before his club’s domestic league has even started for a chance to play in an actual competitive Premier league. A place where more than just Rangers might actually win the title. Insert fishing rod emoji and stand back.
It’s a great move for him and a wonderful one for us. A Norweigan international and only 23 years old, he fits the Brentford model perfectly. Thomas Frank has described him as his “First choice” signing, telling the told the BBC that, “we think he fits the position specific profile perfectly, especially on the ball….Kris is very composed and can find the right passes between the lines.”
Kris is now a Bee
Then there’s Frank Onyeka. A player whose name has been mentioned for months. Not surprising , given the Midtjylland connection. Another international, the Nigerian is seen by Thomas as a box to box player who has become the dominant midfielder in the Danish league. Our head coach telling ‘official’ that, “His performances in the Champions League last season convinced us that he is ready for the Premier League.”
Just as Kris is going to provide wonderful competition in defence, the battle for midfield places could be equally intriguing. Christian Norgaard and Mathias Jensen both featured all the way to the Euro 2020 semi-finals whilst we still have Vitaly Janelt and then, of course, Josh Dasilva is due to return from injury (at some point.Err….) . Again, all four players with international experience for their respective age groups and Vitaly, in particular, ending his close (closed?) season on a high for Germany.
Clanggggg. The sound of a name being dropped. I was one of several fans involved in some filming for the Premier League about Brentford yesterday lunchtime (due to go out on Sky / BT August 4th) . It was an article looking at us as a club, our history, at Thomas and what to expect in the forthcoming months. One of the questions was about how we are perceived? The bus stop in Hounslow, the tinpot club who fly under the radar. We know it. We’ve all heard it. We love it. Whilst there was a lot of praise and thanks for Kris, there were as many snide comments from the Celtic faithful. Fair enough. It’s football. Nothing unexpected and the standard response from outside TW8 to anything we do.
Oh, I’ve missed it so much. Genuinely. The sneers. The frustration. Just the fact that we must be doing something right to elicit such a response. To sign such quality. We’re going to get it from certain quarters all season which is amazing given how little of a shit we give about any of that nonsense, beyond thriving off it. Beyond lapping it up and telling the joke ourselves.As Billy Reeves, amongst others, has noted: “In July 2013 we gave up three-quarters of our ground to Celtic fans for a friendly. Today we sign their star defender for £13.5mill.”
Football is definitely coming home (somebody really should write a song about that) and you can now count the weeks until the big kick off on the fingers of one hand. We’ve got the official shirt launch on Saturday and then the trip to Old Trafford next week.
Now to ring up the boss and see if I can work the day out of our Manchester office. Pretty sure there’s a bus stop down this way I can travel from.
Friday was Brentford kit launch day. It should have been the most exciting date on the calendar. One to rank with 13th August when the Bees walk out against Arsenal or perhaps even the moment which will see one North Standobserver finally marry his beloved in a few weeks’ time. For clarity, not Buzzette.
Buzzette – still got it!
Yet the pressures of work meant that, sadly, any excitement (or otherwise) as the new designs dropped had to be parked. There was no flurry of over excited tweets from this self-proclaimed Kit nerd. Indeed, social media was barely touched so I can’t account for Luis. Yet now, the laptop screen has been slammed shut firmer than a transfer window at the denouement of deadline day and we can take a more considered view.
Boom. From nowhere they appeared. The days of Mark Devlin’s strip tease are long gone. A 7(seven) day preamble of brief flashes before the full reveal – the kit rather than our then chief executive. Instead, without warning it was with us. Much like an ‘emergency’ episode of Mrs. Brown’s Boys when the originally scheduled programme has to be cancelled due to an over running news report / football fixture, it was in our faces with no time to prepare. Home. Away. Goalkeeper. But what do you think?
The Brentford 2021/22 Umbro shirts are here
In a way, the enforced delay from yours truly has probably been no bad thing, in hindsight. I may not have been responsible for my actions. And not in a good way. We have a new sponsor – Hollywood Bets – and being blunt, gut reaction to the logo was that it looks horrific. A jarring clash of a graphic and their colour scheme no way to replace the otherwise absent traditional black trim on the Brentford shirt. Moreso when you see how lushthe mocked up versions from Jamie Maison on Twitterlook . Oh Fullers, wherefore art thou?
What might have been….
The plus points are that stripes are bang on. Quantity and thickness. The red is a great shade and striped arms are great. I’m also a sucker for a round neck collar so top marks there – even if the two tone colour scheme is a missed opportunity. All white would have been immense. The Bee logo on the back of the neck is another lovely touch.
As for the away version, this is the initial pick of the bunch. Buttercup (apparently) yellow with black sleeve trim and badges, a v-neck and the sponsor (whilst still jarring) seeming more blended into this design. Then there’s that subliminal diamond motif shading within the kit itself. It is, and I quote, “An eye catching design”. Not my words Carol, the words of Brentford official. Who could disagree?
Umbro are up there with Hummel in my favourite kit manufacturers and so I’m, personally, thrilled we have them for a third season. At least. Then again, I do need to get out more. Yet until New Balance take over – and I get a monogrammed shirt for the price of a regular one – we couldn’t have a better technical sponsor.
David Raya will be wearing all green. His shirt features “A pixel graphic sleeve and tonal crew neck”. This time, a design described as “Exciting”.
Pixel perfect?
Take your pick. Something for everyone? Whilst perhaps not up there as an all-time classic, that’s less to do with Kitman Bob and the kit design ; more with the marketing team and our choice of commercial partners. Money talks and all that. It’s not even a case getting snotty about betting companies – we’ve had 888, Matchbook and LeoVegas before so the ship has long since sailed about the ‘evils’ of gambling. It’s just that on the initial reveal it looked awful.
Perhaps it’s just me. Perhaps other love it. Do you? Perhaps time will ease the pain on the eyes or it will look much better in the flesh. I was privileged enough to see the amazing brown/orange for real before that was revealed to the world and have to say that it knocked my socks off. Up there with our best ever. The reaction from others on seeing the pictures first was, we could politely say, the opposite.. Perhaps, the same will apply here.
Let’s not be stupid. I’m still going to buy one. As Mrs Bruzon said last night, “It’s The Premier League shirt”. Plus the first 1000 through the door when it goes on sale next Saturday (a club shop exclusive launch prior to online sales ) get Premier league badge printing for free.
Yet as Harry also said to me, “Dad? Where are the black bits?”. And his child-size kit, presumably bereft of sponsor, will have none.
The Jaffa cake – up there with our best, ever.
As one, final thought…Might a dip into the Umbro back catalogue and the laced necks of the early 90s have been another alternate to the trim colour / collar conundrum? Just saying…..
It’ll be a little while longer until our boys come back to Brentford. Denmark beat Wales 4-0 last night to reach a Euro 2020 quarter-final with Netherlands / Czech Republic. It was a game where we came for the goals and stayed for Robbie Savage’s indignant cries of, “That was not a….” every time a decision went against the Welsh. With the Bees connection of Matthias Jensen and Christian Norgaard combined and, of course, the universal outpouring of love for Christian Eriksen following his cardiac arrest in the Finland game, it felt about as un-neutral a neutral game as we’ve ever seen before. Even the stadium in Amsterdam was almost exclusively the preserve of the Danes and, in the end, it all proved too much. For Thomas Frank, longer to wait for his squad to return whilst let’s not forget Pontus is still with a Sweden team who don’t face Ukraine until Tuesday.
The arrival of the Brentford ‘two’ was greeted with the usual outpouring on social media. Matthias even getting an ‘assist’ late on although also demonstrating yet again (as if any further demonstration was even needed) the old mantra about corner kicks – “Don’t take it short. It never f*&king works” . Yet both fitted seamlessly into a Denmark side they are now an established part of on matchday and I can only expect more of the same next time out. No matter what it does to our domestic plans.Ah, the sweet price of successful recruitment strategy.
the connections between Denmark and Brentford are well, well documented
As has been well noted in recent times, we’ve more players in the tournament than Arsenal. With our opening Premier League fixture against the Gunners little more than six weeks away, the time for relaxing will be brief. At best.
But what to do in that time? Editor, bring forth the crowbar. Is there a finer way to spend a few hours than catching up on the events of last season? In reminding yourself just how Brentford reached the Premier League? In seeing just how deep our connection with the Denmark national side runs?
Well, yes, there are plenty of better ways than this but the annual Last Word season review is now available for download. A great story, albeit terribly told. And I know I bang on about this a lot but with all proceeds going to Rob Rowan’s Memorial Fund for CRY then console yourself in the fact that anybody generous enough to do so is helping an amazing cause. I can only thank those who have already downloaded one already. I mean, it’s literally one, but that’s a start. The link is here if you want to take a look. Thank you !
For those of you wanting a fix of optimism, I’ve seen these shirts for sale on ebay. As a self-confessed kit nerd there’s always an eye open to try and fill those last few gaps in the collection, no matter the cost (if anyone does have the Osca home variant where the stripes stop half way up……) but even I’d baulk at this. A combined price of £745…..!! Even the most expensive hospitality seat at Old Trafford is cheaper than that ! Eye watering stuff and, apparently, not a typo.
I love the Hummel kits. Up there with our very best and whilst these may claim to be in perfect, as good as new condition, those prices are beyond the wildest fantasies in terms of price. Surely?
‘Ow much???
Perhaps this is deemed realistic in the current market. Unlikley, but.. If so, it may well transpire that there are untapped reserves of gold at the back of your wardrobe. Get rummaging. If nothing else, until Kitman Bob is allowed to release our new shirts into the wild keeping half an eye on these will provide some temporary distraction. Even if a bid is out of the question.
Brentford host Norwich City tonight looking to bounce back from the Stoke enigma. Going over the bones of that one again won’t help any. We all saw it. We all know. We all, err, go again. Elsewhere, the hotly anticipated ‘third’ shirt was revealed to the world yesterday. If Ollie and Said had wanted to wear claret and blue, then perhaps there was an alternative to joining Aston Villa and West Ham. This kit is a cracking effort that is as clean and smart as had been hoped for from those initial ‘reveal’ photos. A well documented nod to our origins rather than those who have spent the transfer window shopping at Lionel Road.
We were given a proper look yesterday
First up though, the Norwich City game. I’ll be amazed if Brentford start with the same formation as we did on Saturday. Whether we start how we finished it is another question, of course. The switch to a pairing of Ivan Toney and Marcus Forss drew gasps of admiration from all quarters and is one we’d love to see again. Moreso with home advantage. Such as it is, these days.
We know also that Emiliano Marcondes is available although Pontus remains out (albeit for weeks rather than months). Thomas using his press conference to confirm that,”We will still have Shandon, Mads, Pontus, and Christian out for this game”.
Beyond that, draw your own conclusions. Whichever way Thomas goes, expect the same sort of reaction as we did when playing Coventry recently. Brentford came out of the blocks flying before eventually moving clear in the second half. Norwich City are currently placed fifth but a victory would see us overtake the Canaries on goal difference. I think Thomas will stick with the tried and tested. Two centre backs and Marcus kept on the bench. A chance to inject fresh blood as legs begin to tire on both sides. It’s the obvious choice with games continuing to come at us at break neck speed but with Brentford suddenly having a choice up top, it’s understandable we’re desperate to play both ! Good luck solving that one, Thomas.
As ever, the game is on I-follow. As ever, follow the golden rules. Make sure you avoid Safari when selecting a browser, you’ll need to add your credit card details when putting in your code to redeem the game for free and don’t forget to check your bank statement afterwards. Many are the stories coming in regarding those still charged for viewing despite free access. Whilst the reclaim process sounds relatively simple, that we are even having to go down this route is another farce that I’d love to hear the EFL and I-follow explanation of.
Presumably the Sky red button is also available, being a mid-week game. Don’t quote me on that though. With codes available, the soothing tones of Mark Burridge and Marcus Gayle are there preferable route, anyway.
Elsewhere, we’ve now seen the new kit. It looks a thing of beauty and will be worn with white shorts and socks. The club shop is reopening next week for all sales, including this one. You can read the full info on ‘official’ here, with the salient point being that the Superstore will reopen from Friday 30 October at 9am for seven days a week until Sunday 29 November (Monday to Saturday – 9am to 5pm / 10am – 4pm on Sundays). For three days only prior to general launch, our third shirts will be exclusively available in store. Supporters will receive goodie bags for every purchase over £50 (subject to availability)”.
It’s a quite lovely shirt and with the ability to buy in person once more available, I’ll be popping down to Braemar Road soon. Whilst we me made a crack about Aston Villa at the top end, this really does put me in mind of their own Umbro away shirt from 1980-81 which is no bad thing. If for no other reason than the Villans ended that campaign as league champions. I’ll take a lucky omen wherever it can be found and for me, Clive, that’s about as good as they come.
Had Umbro gone one further and added that famous elasticated diamond piping to the sleeves, I may not have been responsible for my actions. In a good way. However, sometimes less is more and I think we’ve nailed it. Great work.
Until then, its Norwich City. Enjoy the game. Please….
Brentford are at Stoke City today. Move along ; nothing retrospective to discuss. We’re 7th in the division and have two wins from two since picking up again after the International break. Ivan Toney is on fire – braces against Coventry City and Sheffield Wednesday have stormed him to the top of the Championship goal scorer charts – and the Bees are buzzing (groan). But off pitch, the talk was all about kit. Primarily, our new third kit. My word, it looks like it’s going to be awesome. And Kitman Bob has something special – if you are quick….
Friday evening saw the return of Marcus Gayle and Stu Wakeford in The Warm Up on Youtube. You can catch it further below. Of course it had all the build up for the Stoke game and the retrospectives on Coventry and Sheffield Wednesday.
We had Marcus paying his previously earned forfeit – filmed singing ‘Hey Jude’ in front of La Rosetta (It’s a little Italian restaurant. At Brentford, err, high street). Whilst wearing a bumble bee costume. There was also a catch up with Tarique Fosu and some ‘old school’ FIFA action. If action is the right word as the Megadrive classic was dusted down.
But let’s not pretend there wasn’t one real highlight – the sneak peak at our new Umbro third kit.
Oh. Wow. This could be something quite wonderful. The glimpse of the white shirt with red badge and sponsor put one immediately in mind of the St. George sponsored 2005-06 away effort. And that is a thing of beauty.
Yet what really had fans salivating was the sleeve trim – a nostalgic throw back to our first ever kit from 1889-90 in salmon, claret and blue. The briefest of snatches has yours truly already hanging on next week’s formal reveal. What a nod to our inception down at the Brentford Rowing Club as the original club colours have resurfaced.
Could there be a sash? Long sleeves? Further surprises? Come on already. Reaction to what we’ve seen so far seemed universally popular. Kitman Bob has done it again.
And then some…. Did you catch this tweet last night?
Games aren’t the same without 🐝🐝 fans !!!!😩 missing the 🔥 drills! So b4 the new kit drops ,I’m giving away 2 of these beautiful shirts for 2 genuine 🐝🐝 fans. Just 🤍 and will pick 2 tomorrow on the journey home. 😀 might need the help of @BrentfordFC admin !! 😳😂 pic.twitter.com/CFpwixv89f
Not one but two of a super limited edition version of last season’s blue and gold special is up for grabs. And there’s no more complex a way of winning it than by liking the tweet. Incredible stuff.
Marcus may be the ambassador but with this and the new launch, it’s Bob who is really spoiling us.
Oh, Bob. With these kits you are really spoiling us..
What else is there to say today? Not much, really. Stoke City await and, personally, I’m going in to this one confident. As ever. But, hey ! Vitaly Janelt has taken to the Brentford team like a duck to water. Along with Mads Bech he really shone at Sheffield, Wednesday. What a shame, in the nicest sense, that it was Ivan who took the headlines.
This will be a tough test, no doubt. Whilst the table is still in nascent form, Stoke are just one point behind us. They’ll be as full of optimism as we are and determined to consolidate their own position. To take another step forward in what is already looking like it could be one of the most open Championship seasons on record.
The match is, as ever, on I-Follow. £10 gets you access – for those of you not watching it at Lionel Road in the sold out club lounge event. Enjoy ! For yours truly, it’s family time and perhaps a beer. Or two. Whichever way you watch, enjoy. The only way is up. What price on Ivan Toney doing it again?
February 28th 1998. A date that will go down in history for Brentford fans. The opposition York City. The result – well, it doesn’t really matter these days. At least, the on pitch one. Instead what happened on the touchline has become one of the most controversial things to ever happen at Griffin Park. It was the day we decided to show the fans our shirt for the following season (something one can only dream of these days). You know the one . The version that added black spray paint to the traditional red & white stripes. The design which, at the very best, looked like a poor man’s graffiti artist had got to work on a Bournemouth kit. But much, much worse. It was slated to go on sale at the final game of that campaign, against Luton Town.
I’ve seen this picture before and was actually there at the time. I even own one of these (thanks to the birthday based generosity and resourcefulness of Mrs. Bruzon). But the history of what happened has all gone a little hazy over time.
Then, whilst leafing through the Big Brentford Book of the 90s to see if I could find a picture of an Umbro / Cobra crossover goalkeeper’s kit I’d seen for sale on eBay, there it was once more.
Not just Graham Benstead wearing a top with two technical sponsors – one of which (right) is still available on the internet based auction site should anybody be looking to pick up historical curio – but the infamous ‘smudge shirt’ , along with the newspaper clipping from the time which ran the subsequent story.
Those of us of a certain age know what happened. Half-time in a late season game saw Peter Gilham announce that we were about to be shown the aforementioned home shirt. One of the youth team then walked around Griffin Park to a shower of boos as the most untraditional of kits was unveiled before our eyes. At least, those are the details I remember.
The article cast a little more detail on events. There were apparently not one but two kids modelling the kit (Lee Tunnell and club hero Michael Dobson) and it was the York City game. When cross referred with other sources, that turned out to have been played in February – I’d have bet on it being April. Probably the first, in retrospect. So this detail was shared on Twitter.
I wasn’t alone in thinking it was later than February whilst the one player / two player conundrum was resolved by the fact that each went in a different direction around the pitch so that only one was on view at a time to each stand. It made no difference to the chorus of boos and chants of “Red and white. Red and white.” Nor did it make any difference to the comments on the feedback form that was also handed out to supporters to give their opinion on the ‘coal smudging’ effect.
The other interesting piece of information confirmed by several supporters being that this was the result of a supporter’s competition to design our kit. What a wonderful idea, in theory, and one I’d love to see happen again. Come on Bobhow about it? (I’ve got dozens – although no brown/orange given the lack of apparent taste in our fan base) .
One can only imagine what was rejected to go for this. One can only imagine the marketing meeting that not only came up with the selection for the winning design but then chose to launch it in such a fashion. “Listen chaps, I’ve had an idea. Two youth team players. A vandalised kit that’s like nothing we’ve ever worn before. And we spring it on the fans as a surprise…..” More drugs anyone?
As fellow Kit nerd Luis Adriano noted on Twitter “I wonder how the person who designed the ‘winning’ competition entry must have felt/feels?! To see and hear that reception then know that their design was canned before it was ever worn in a match! “
Luis also knocked up his own take on the competition entry. At least, I hope it was his own take and not twenty years of built up frustration finally finding cathartic release.
One thing’s for sure, it never went on sale against Luton Town.
Luis in no way suffering from Bank Holiday boredom
With all the Brentford related on-pitch buzz at present being about the visits of Leicester City and the 237 derby (FA Cup and Championship, respectively), there’s something even bigger happening off it. No – not the transfer window. Move along, nothing to see there. Fact.
Of course, Monday saw the club launch their latest caption competition (one can hope) as Peter Gilham was pictured wearing a VR headset for his own personal game of Lionel Road simulator (one can hope).The reason being that the ‘regular’ season tickets for our new home have now gone on sale and, it has to be said, that having been along to the reservations centre myself this morning things are incredibly slick. The whole process was ludicrously easy, hands on and engaging. Being honest, I’d feared the worst when my appointment as our group ‘representative’ was confirmed. The phrase ’It’s Brentford, innit’ lives long in the mind. Reputations take an age to build and a moment to destroy.
Virtual Reality. Whatever that is
Instead, we got Brentford 2.0.The biggest sales pitch of our communal lives has just kicked off but the whole team seem intent on making this as user friendly as possible.
Current seating is being replicated as closely as possible. Groups are being organised. Phone calls made in advance to remind us of the pertinent additional info to bring – namely, photo ID for the U-16s / seniors. I still forgot but was saved by the joy of tech. The club and sales team at great lengths to make the whole experience as painless and simple a process as possible.
If anything, this is a wonderful opportunity for displaced friends to reorganise themselves and finally get a chance to sit together after years of being split up, save for the 15 minute beer run at half time. It is an opportunity the club seem hell bent on grabbing. The Ealing Road becoming the West Stand. Groups of singers put together. A chance to really build an atmosphere that replicates what we have at present. Then cranks it up to 11.
I even got my hands on Peter’s VR head set to check out the view from my prospective new vantage point. That looks good. Very good. Sadly, there was no smell-o-vision option to see if the phantom trumper from Ealing Road would be in close proximity. Or, should that be trumpers? Rumour has it they are Balti fuelled brothers. Instead, we’ll just wish good luck to those in the West Stand…..
Me waxing lyrical isn’t going to impact your decision to buy a season ticket. That’s not the agenda here. I don’t have one, anyway. I’m not employed by the club and am nothing more than a fan who clogs up your timeline with a pile of crumby observations and the odd photo. Yet this is a key moment in our rapidly evolving history and one which I cannot believe has been undertaken so seamlessly.
Let the seat sales commence
I WAS stressed up front and won’t pretend otherwise. This is a crunch decision. A massive moment. The opportunity to cock it up, huge. There’s no stadium to walk around yet (at least, not which we are allowed in to) and so we really are relying on good faith and computer simulation. Walking past the site on a daily basis I’m still amazed that we’ve been able to fit our new home into what seemed a tiny plot of land.
Yet, yet, yet… so far, so very, very good. It is there. It is happening. Judging by the seat maps on display we’ve plenty of choice of where to sit. Going on the intent to match current views at Griffin Park as much as possible at Lionel Road, the club’s aim is clearly 110% about accommodating supporters. Keeping us happy.The team are informed, on board and they get it. They get that this is as huge for us as it is for them.
There’s not much else to say beyond the fact that if you want to get in, you will. If you want to see Brentford, you will. There will be no pillars on the way. No TV gantries blocking the view. Nothing to hinder your enjoyment.
Roll on August. Roll on our first game. What price that being in the Premier League?
Finally – a ‘signing’ photo. No half chewed biro though
BrentfordFC 