Brentford make it to the Premier League and the first time in the top flight since 1947.
Category: London
Wembley
So Brentford have another go at reaching the rarified zones of football- the Premier League – today.
So according to the BBC the game is worth £160 million- significant then from that point of view, but also would be the first time since 1947 that Brentford played in the top flight. A lifetime or more.
It also seems that the Bees are favourites.
In the end I had access to a ticket for the game but had affirmed with Isaac that I would go to watch his rugby match – after all his training. So Percy is now going in my place.
I will be watching Isaac and then trying to find a pub showing the game in east London. Hopefully not a problem.
COYB.
Family walk
On Friday we were all together as Joe is soon off, to celebrate birthdays and as it was the first time for many months EQ was allowed out of Scotland.
A walk through parts of west London, including a view of the Almond Ave.
That was followed by Gunnersbury park and saying hello to grandmother and grandfather, plus a clean up of the grave.
Next stop were the gardens of Chiswick House before the lunch stop at Kew.
Nice.
Brentford in the news…but I think their chance has passed
Brentford’s Thomas Frank: ‘I try to stay calm … then suddenly I explode’
Brentford’s manager, Thomas Frank, celebrates with Mads Roerslev after the win at home against Sheffield Wednesday in February. Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images
Head coach discusses promotion ambitions, social media and changing plans to see Ollie Watkins score for England
Fri 2 Apr 2021 11.00 BST
Last Thursday evening Thomas Frank was at home in south-west London, watching Denmark’s Under-21s on his laptop when, a few miles away, Ollie Watkins was brought on for his England debut at Wembley. It was the cue for the Brentford head coach to fetch the remote. “I turned on the telly and saw Ollie score,” says Frank, who worked with the striker for three seasons. “The story of Ollie is remarkable, from League Two to the Championship and now the Premier League and the national team. He is humble but worked very hard. With that you can get very far.”
Frank is hoping to guide Brentford to the top flight after coming within one game of promotion last season. The international break allowed him to recharge the batteries, a little respite from a gruelling campaign that began only 33 days after losing the play-off final. Getting off the hamster wheel, as Frank puts it, is tricky but the change of pace and spending a few hours with family, exploring Netflix or walking through the woods with Torben, a cross between a Shar Pei and an English bulldog from Battersea, was much needed. “I watched After Life. I tried to find something where I can laugh and cry a bit, and I did both.”
With nine games to play Brentford are hoping tears of joy lie ahead. Before visiting Huddersfield on Saturday they are fourth in the Championship, in the midst of what, ostensibly, is a three-way fight with Watford, whom they face in their penultimate game, and Swansea for the second automatic promotion place. “We are definitely getting into the last part of the race, so maybe we are not sprinting yet but we are definitely increasing the tempo, or trying to.
But at same time the matches are slipping:
Huddersfield Town 1-1 Brentford: Mads Sorensen earns point but Bees’ promotion hopes take hit
3 April 20213 April 2021.From the section Championship
Brentford’s automatic promotion hopes were dealt a blow after a draw which edged Huddersfield closer to safety.
Lewis O’Brien took advantage of a mix-up between Bees goalkeeper David Raya and defender Mads Roerslev to put the hosts ahead after seven minutes.
Brentford equalised five minutes into the second half when Mads Sorensen turned in Vitaly Janelt’s cutback, before Ivan Toney hit the post.
Both sides had chances to win it late on but had to settle for a point each.
The point moves Brentford up to third on goal difference but they remain nine points behind Watford in second, albeit with a game in hand, with the draw edging Huddersfield eight points clear of the relegation places.
Afternoon at Kew
By popular demand- from earlier in the week. Almost as good as printing it?
Central London Wander
A walk today that started from Trafalgar Square. The above was taken in St. James’ Park.
We walked from B. Palace to Westminster. In Parliament Square there were all the flags of the Commonwealth on display as part of a current celebration.
Later, after walking along the Southbank and then back across the millennium bridge and a moody image looking downstream.
Local history
Long term known to the locals as a local.
South London walk
I seem to be struggling with the format of this thing currently, but here goes.
On Friday, the walk we followed was as action of the Capital Ring and the Green Chain Walk; the latter component of which did seem to be that much more pleasant.
In total the walking was about 22 Km, a little more than planned.
The end stop was Nunhead cemetery which has been close to admissions for many years and nature has reclaimed the area, and so it is very beautiful. However, there are a number of war graves sites, which of course, continue to be maintained.
The derelict chapel 
Heading out
Positive football future?
I am starting to think on promotion, and that it is more likely this season, after a close effort last season with the play-off final loss. Brentford seem so resolute even if less exciting? In the news;
- Ivan Toney scores twice as Brentford move up to second
- Bournemouth end poor run to overcome Birmingham
Ivan Toney celebrates scoring one of his two goals in Brentford’s 4-1 victory at Middlesbrough. Photograph: Richard Lee/BPI/REX/Shutterstock
Brentford recovered from a poor start to win 4-1 at Middlesbrough and climb into the top two in the Championship.
Middlesbrough were 1-0 up inside three minutes when the Brentford goalkeeper David Raya failed to collect Neeskens Kebano’s cross. However, the visitors were level in the 38th minute when Ivan Toney tapped in after good work by Tariqe Fosu – and they took control after the break.
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Vitaly Janelt (58) fired home from the edge of the box after the top scorer Toney had headed the ball down for him, Mathias Jensen (64) made it 3-1 following a slip from Paddy McNair, before Toney tapped in the fourth 10 minutes from time.