From Timbers to Forest – but is this a stat too far?

Still buzzing from thrashing Fulham on a Friday which was less Good and more Bloody Brilliant, Brentford have another chance for a Bank Holiday bonus when they entertain Nottingham Forest on Monday. With only six games to go, and The Bees back in the play off zone, nobody needs a numpty like me to spell out the significance of a win.

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.

View from the terrace – Stuart Dallas and fans celebrate at 2-0

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Could this be next season’s away kit ?

Another month, another international break. Such are the ‘problems’ facing Brentford as life in the Championship means we now have a bit more spare time on our hands. And, as ever, the mind starts to wander.

No better case in point than yesterday when, on a trip to White City Westfield , whilst failing to spot any footballers lining up outside Nandos, I did stumble across an exhibition of film memorabilia – all of which is to be auctioned later this month.

International break means Nandos is a footballer free zone

The regular reader may be aware that I am very much a fan of the ‘James Bond’ series of films. And, likewise, that Roger Moore stands head, shoulder and eyebrows above anyone else to have filled the role. Moore IS the best Bond. Fact.

So imagine my shock when I spotted THIS lurking amongst the props to be sold.

If anybody has a few thousand pounds spare….?

Way, way beyond the budget of a mere mortal such as myself. That said if any multi millionaires are reading, imagine how good this would look in the corner of Stripes bar.

But then my imagination went into overdrive. The other topic to regularly feature in this column is that of the ‘comedy’ football kit. Usually emanating from Spain, we’ve seen everything from Broccoli to lager and octopus tentacle to butler motifs incorporated into a novelty away shirt.

Who doesn’t love a comedy shirt? Or a montage?

Then it hit me. Why not combine both? Especially as Brentford, having dabbled with yellow, blue and black in recent years, don’t have a ‘regular’ away scheme. To the best of my knowledge, no English team has gone for one of the ‘eccentric’ away shirts (although the Hull City AFC ‘tiger stripe’ home remains a favourite). As such, why not take the chance to become trailblazers?

Could the Bees, now our contract with Adidas has been extended, go for a Safari style away shirt? Not so much ‘wild beasts’ but a tan or green in the Roger Moore Style.

Perhaps with ‘Nobody does it better’ playing over the Griffin Park tannoy for the big unveiling.

Could the Bees tap into the ‘eccentric’ shirt market – Roger style?

One can dream. And in the short term, I’ll await my medication.

The other shirt news, this time genuine, to reach me from ‘sources’ is in regards to a new Brentford Tee shirt now on sale. Penalty success is such a rare thing at Griffin Park that one of our most momentous (not THAT one) has been recorded for posterity.

Want the chance to relive Alan Judge tasting the net against Preston as we went up last campaign? You can do so here…

A penalty to be celebrated

And finally, just a polite request for your help with a reminder about the FBA and FSF Football blogging awards. With Beesotted and The Last Word both up for nomination, it would be massively appreciated if any reader could take 30 seconds to vote.

Beesotted are up in the ‘best video’ and ‘best club’ category . The Last Word in ‘best club’ and best ‘new’ . The work of Beesotted is, of course, legendary, and I wish them luck as they look to make the final shortlist.

It would be great if we could have a couple of Bees going ‘head to head’ at a national level – and you can nominate here.

An update from Sam Saunders gets my vote

Whatever football news was announced yesterday, there was one piece of information that has probably bypassed most sources. Even the official Brentford club site doesn’t have this one, yet.

But for me, an already exciting season has just cranked up another notch.

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 along.

2013 – a review of the year in pictures

It’s been some year for Brentford.

The Bees missed out on automatic promotion through the narrowest of margins, then obtained the usual result at the ‘W place’ in North London before finishing 2013 on a run of 34 points out of a possible 36.

Along the way we’ve had a change of manager, a change of Chairman, an epic FA cup encounter with Chelsea and the small matter of Lionel Road.

Armed with nothing more than an iPod phone and ‘screen grab’, these are my ten ‘Last Word’ defining images of 2013.

10 – Doncaster Rovers. Whilst Brentford were ultimately denied by ‘The Nag’s Head’ (Trotta’s bar) we should have seen it coming. The day started badly with Bees supporters on Soccer AM getting a season’s low score of ‘zero’ in the end of show ‘sixty second shoot out’.

Worse was to come

9 – Cardiff Beach became this year’s holiday hotspot for goalkeepers.

Farewell Simon and welcome, David Button

8 – Herr Rösler kept the players, and Billy, waiting after the Stevenage debacle. Twelve games later and the rest is history.

Nothing ‘a little chat’ couldn’t sort out

7 – The Griffin Park crowd has been noticeably louder this season. Moreso, at the death where late winners are becoming the team’s speciality.

Volume levels at Griffin Park have certainly risen this year.

6 – Lionel Road. Councillor Dhillon became a fan favourite as Matthew Benham’s dream moved one step closer when planning permission was approved.

The award winning matchday programme celebrates Lionel Road. (Other publications are available, too)

5 – It’s all your fault. Highflying Peterborough come down to earth with a bump.

Don’t cry, ‘keeper. Game,set and match. 3-2 Brentford

4 – A full house on New Road for ‘pay what you can’. Despite Keith Stroud officiating, Brentford won.

The Bees made it three out of three against Shrewsbury.

3 – This is Saunders territory. The Champions of Europe under threat as Chelsea hang on for a draw at Griffin Park.

Chelsea. Louder than Aldershot. Almost

2 – Whilst Lionel Road is the future, Griffin Park remains atmospheric.

I’ll miss Griffin Park but Lionel Road IS the future

1 – The league table, December 31^st 2013.

Thank you, BBC. Sweet, sweet viewing on their website

This is Saunders territory. And a challenge for BBC Billy

I love a football ritual.

The lucky shirt (of which my current, unwashed since Colchester, Adidas ‘away’ is about to walk itself into the laundry basket); the pre-match pint; the same spot on the terrace; the magic pants. We all have them but, at Brentford, I have one above all.

It has evolved, courtesy of our friends at ITV. Whenever Manchester United used to win a free kick anywhere within 15 yards of the penalty box, the next phrase you’d hear Clive Tildesley utter, with palpable excitement in his voice at the prospect of what could follow, was: “This is Ronaldo territory”.

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.