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.
SAT 22 May 2021Championship – Play-offs – 2nd LegBrentford12:30AFC Bournemouth(Agg 0-1)Venue: Brentford Community Stadium
Brentford v Bournemouth (0-1 agg): Thomas Frank wants Bees to draw on experience
21 May 202121 May 2021.From the section Championship
Brentford head coach Thomas Frank (left) and Bournemouth boss Jonathan Woodgate are hoping to lead their sides to the Championship play-off final at Wembley next Saturday
Championship play-off semi-final second leg: Brentford v Bournemouth (0-1 agg)
Venue: Brentford Community Stadium Date: Saturday, 22 May Kick-off: 12:30 BST
Off to the new stadium today for the second time with Anthony by my side. Clearly a big game for the Bees and with some fans in the stadium, maybe it will feel like a normal match. Long time no attendance .
Am I confident? Not overly, but a win is possible.
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
A mix-up in the Brentford defence gave Lewis O’Brien the opportunity to open the scoring with the Terriers’ only shot of the first half
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.
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.
Miguel Almirón helps nine-man Newcastle add to Southampton’s misery
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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.
Brentford’s Josh Dasilva celebrates after scoring the only goal of the game. Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters
Still, at least Newcastle can concentrate on the league now. On a dank and dreary night, they were handed a lesson in invention and ambition by a Brentford team who can now celebrate the first major cup semi-final in their 121-year history.
Now just have to see who we play next: Man City, Man U or Tottenham
The first visit to watch Brentford – of course in the time of the pandemic. As London is ‘tier 2’ of restrictions then attendance at sports events is allowed with a restriction of 2000 on the size of the crowd.
As tickets are only open to season ticket holders and based on priority of seniority I did not get the offer for the first match. But the second game was my chance, a surprise, as I thought it would be game three. I suppose there are more people than I thought who would give up their season ticket in these times of trouble and maybe some who do not want to go to games currently: for of infection or inadequate atmosphere with a small crowd?
So first game for me was against Derby County who have not started the season well. first manager has been sacked and now Wayne Rooney is in charge. Then beginning of a bright coaching career?
Anyway, the game was a disappointment, 0-0, a missed sitter in front of goal, but overall a lack of action. To me the formation does not look right- almost an old fashioned formation with 5 forward line, with big gaps behind and no connection. Some players look out of form.
So, currently placed just outside the play-off slots- which I think is a fair reflection.
Until the next time-which may be a while as rumours of London moving to tier 3 and so no more crowds at matches.
At school, the homophobic bullying was worst on the rugby pitch. But the Steelers helped me rediscover my love for the game – and myself‘Over time the Steelers won the respect of these straight burly British men because not only did they beat them on occasion, they showed them that we’re all pretty much the same.’
So you can imagine my surprise when years later, a rugby club would go on to change my life. Not just any rugby club, the world’s first gay rugby club, the Kings Cross Steelers in London.
I have previously written about my memories of going to GP for my first game. I managed to track down the game with the use of THE ENGLISH NATIONAL FOOTBALL ARCHIVE. I narrowed it down to the Boxing Day match in 1971.
Now I have found more information after buying book about Griffin Park.
From that I can see that it was a big match with a remarkably large crowd of 18,000+.
No one that I recognise
This also invokes the memory of once queuing for ages to get in with my Dad. So maybe this was the match and it was almost a family day out!
Last weekend I took up the opportunity offered by the club to visit the stadium for a last time. The offer was made by the club in light of the pandemic curtailing the final season and a good will offer to season ticket holders in particular. Anyone could go it seems as the original offer was oversubscribed before he season ticket holders had a chance to get in. Anyway it worked out in the end. Here is my late recording.
Braemer Road
My seat
And finally the image I uploaded to be ‘in the crowd’ for the games at the stadium that were played behind closed doors. I never did see myself on the telly but here I am:
It was a good trip in the company of Anthony. I saw parts of the ground that I had never seen- great view of the pitch from the away end upper tier, for example, or parts I had not been to for many years.
Fulham will join Leeds and West Brom in the Premier League
Fulham beat Brentford in the Championship play-off final to secure an immediate return to the Premier League thanks to two extra-time goals from Joe Bryan.
So Brentford continue their series of failures in the play-offs. I watched the game at home with cola and peppermint tea. I stayed mostly calm but frustrated with a lot of the performance as the Bees could not respond to the pressing, defensive techniques of Fulham. As with previous games they could not respond more than longer balls and the central defenders making the plays. No midfielder who could or was willing to to keep ball at foot and force commitment from the opposition. I have seen the same many times before.
Star players did not come to fore. Benrama looked busy, desperate to impress future employers but ineffective. Jensen anonymous- not making self available or not used by team mates? More of the latter I think.
And now the sell off will happen. Watkins already in the news as other clubs look for his signature. I suppose Brentford will get the money and then hopefully finds the next gem. But I do not see another imminent push to the top level next season.
‘Over time the Steelers won the respect of these straight burly British men because not only did they beat them on occasion, they showed them that we’re all pretty much the same.’
