Bees
back at square one
Brentford v Darlington
Coca-Cola League Two
Saturday
November 22nd 2008, 3pm
Man
to watch
Full match previews on the D@rlo
Uncovered website.
I like Griffin Park, it feels
like a real football ground. It's set among some quite attractive
terraced homes, some ivy-covered and others taking the trouble to
display hanging baskets. The stadium is tucked away, not dominating
and inside it also feels like a traditional ground. Away fans are
given the seating upstairs behind the goal. Seat prices for 2009/2009
are: adults £19, OAP's £13, Juniors £5. It's a bit of a perch and
not much leg room, but a good view when you're there - a bit like
Hereford.
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Brentford
FC:
Braemar Road, Brentford, TW8 0NT
Tel: 0870 900 9229 or 0208 847 2511
History: Formed in 1889 by the local rowing club, who played
at various local grounds and joined the Southern League. They turned
professional in 1900 after being caught paying their amateur players,
moving to Griffin Park in 1904. They were elected to the new Third
Division South in 1920. In the 1929/30 season, Brentford set a record
for winning all 21 home matches. The Bees then propelled themselves
up from Third to First Division in the 1930s - beating their mighty
London rivals Arsenal 2-1 at home and finishing fifth in the top
division in 1936. After the war, they suffered a slump in fortunes.
In the late 60s, they fought off a takeover bid by QPR. The late
80s, finally saw a revival, with Brentford reaching the quarter
finals of the FA Cup for the first time in 40 years under Steve
Perryman. They also enjoyed promotions under Phil Holder and David
Webb in the 1990s, although also some play-off defeats. Since then,
the club has had an unsettled time off the pitch - eventually leading
to a supporters' trust takeover and Brentford becoming a community-owned
club in 2006. Both Steve Coppell and Martin Allen had revived fortunes
on the pitch. Allen left after promotion failure and the club were
relegated back to the bottom division.
Record Attendance: 38,678 v Leicester City, FA Cup 1949
Capacity: 12,763
Last season: 14th
Honours: Old Div 2 champions 1934/35, old Third Div champions
1991/92, Div 3 S champions 1932/33, Div 4 champions 1962/1963, 1998/1999
Record victory: 9-0 v Wrexham, Third Division, 1963
Defeat: 0-7 v Swansea City, Third Division South, 1924
Nickname: The Bees
Colours: Red, black and white
Manager: Andy Scott
Chairman: Greg Dyke
Players out: John Mousinho (Wycombe), Darius Charles (Ebbsfleet,
loan)
Players in: Matt Heywood (Grimsby), Charlie MacDonald (Southend),
Ben Hamer (Reading, loan), Leigh Mills (Tottenham, loan)
Famous fans/players/connections: Dean Gaffney (actor), Kenny
Lynch (singer, comedian), "Rocket" (Soccer AM)
Steve Coppell, Martin Allen, David Webb., Mickey Adams, (managers);
Herman Hreidarsson (player)
Click for Streetmap of ground |
From North: Either
take the A406 North Circular (from M1/A1) to the Chiswick
roundabout, then join the Great West Road, at the third set of traffic
lights turn left into Ealing Road.
Or and from the West Exit M25 at junction 15
onto the M4 eastbound. Leave at junction 2 exit M4 (signs for
A4, N and S Circular A406 (A205), Chiswick A315), onto slip road
down onto the A4, which runs underneath, and parallel to, the motorway.
At Chiswick roundabout, there's a choice of directions:
(a) To the main parking area: Right round the Chiswick roundabout
and head back up the A4 (signposted The West, Heathrow A4, M4).
Keep in the two right-hand lanes (s/p Staines, Hounslow A4) and
go straight on for 1.5 miles, to junction/lights. When here, turn
left (s/p Brentford A3002) into Boston Manor Road. Somerset Road,
which leads to one of the best parking areas, is on the right after
another mile.
(b) To the ground: Take 4th exit at the Chiswick roundabout
(s/p S. Circular A205, A316, M3 Richmond) onto Chiswick High
Road/Kew Bridge Road. Straight onto junction/lights (Kew Bridge
Junction). Here, keep in lane for the A315 and go straight on (s/p
Hounslow, Brentford A315), towards The Plough. At the lights after
half a mile turn right (by McDonalds) into Ealing Road, which runs
past Griffin Park.
More parking: Turning into Ealing Road off of the A4 the
car park is immediately on your right. Coming away from the ground
on Ealing Road towards the A4, it is the last left-hand turning
before the lights. The car park is manned and remains
open between 11.30am and 7.30pm. Also some street parking.
Kew Cars 020 8568 6666
Brentford and Ealing Radio Cars 020 8840 3300
Darlington FC Supporters Club
Coach TBC.
Contact: 01325 243911. See Supporters'
Club website for more details.
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Trains: TIMES TO BE UPDATED: Darlington
09.02-arr King's Cross 11.37, then Tube (Northern Line) to Bank and Central
Line to Leyton. Duration: c3hrs 50 mins. Return: Leyton Tube-King's
Cross, then 18.35-arr Darlington 21.03, Duration: 3hr 15 mins.
Local overground trains
from London Waterloo to Brentford (the Reading services).
It's a five minute walk from the station. Head up to the main road
and turn left. Take first main left turn into Windmill Road, and
first right (s/p Methodist Church) into Clifden Road. The
Stadium is then directly ahead of you.
Tube: The nearest Tube is South Ealing (Piccadilly
line) - and is 15 minutes along Ealing Road, turn right at the
tube station. .
NB: The other tube serving the area is Gunnersbury (District
line) By foot: Exit station into Chiswick High Road and
turn left. After 0.3 miles, at Chiswick Roundabout, take 2nd exit
(s/p S. Circular A205) into Chiswick High Road, which becomes Kew
Bridge Road.
You can also take the Hammersmith and City Line to Goldhawk
Road, and then take the 267/237 bus to Brentford (25 mins). Or take
the Wimbledon branch of the District Line to East Putney, left out
of the station and its five minutes walk to Putney mainline station
and it's two stops.
Travel tip: If you're planning to go to other London trips
this season, it might be worth you buying an Oyster card.
You can apply at any Tube station - a simple form to fill in, and
you buy top-ups in multiples of £10 and it gives quite big discounts
on single journeys and also works out cheaper than one day travelcards.
You can also use on buses, which are more useful for Brentford.
Another bit of plastic, but a time-saver with those long queues
at the ticket machines.
Kew Bridge: This station is on the same line from Waterloo
as Brentford station, but is closer to The Plough, The Waggon and
Horses, and the Strand-on-the-Green. It's half a mile to the ground:
Take steps up from platforms to main exit and turn right. Keep going
for a third of a mile, then turn right by McDonalds into Ealing
Road.
Bus: No 65 runs south of the river, over Kew
Bridge, up Ealing Road near the ground. The E8 is a frequent service
from Hanwell along Boston Manor Road, while the E2 runs from West
Ealing along Windmill Road. Nos. 237, 267 (these stop outside Gunnersbury
tube and take you to Brentford High Street) and H29 run along Kew
Bridge Road.
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Name up in
lights at Piccadilly Circus. Photo: Gerry Smith.
It's That London, there's
all the capital's delights and its environs to explore.
As well as the delights
of the capital in inner London to explore if you make a day of it,
there are enough sites near the ground to make this a fairly pleasurable
trip.As well as trying a River Thames walk, Kew Gardens isn't far
away - if it's a cold day, try the hothouse - and the grounds are
wonderful to walk around. Kew itself is a slightly twee, upmarket
place. If you really want to stay over close to the ground, there
is a Premier Travel Inn 52 High Street, Brentford, 0870 990 6304
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Real ale/Near the stadium 
 The
Magpie and Crown 128 High St (A315), Brentford
A very real-ale focussed pub, which prides itself on regularly changing
beers - there were four on in our visit - as well as a good continental
and cider choice. There is also good Thai food served. Open from
11am, food from 12pm. CAMRA-recommended. Run by Steve - a Hartlepool
fan, but we couldn't find any fault! An easy 10-15 minute walk to
the ground. DAFTS recommended Click
for Streetmap
The Griffin, Brook Road South (off Braemar Rd).
One of the four pubs in each corner of the ground, this is the best
by far. A very busy match-day traditional London boozer, and not
surprisingly, given the proximity to the brewery, it's a Fuller's
pub. It's friendly though and there is a pleasant beer garden out
at the back. DAFTS recommended - if you can squeeze in
Brewery Tap, 47 Catherine Wheel Rd, off High Street.
A pleasant Victorian Fuller's pub a bit further away from the hectic
matchday pubs, close to the Thames lock. It's hidden away a little,
dominated by a derelict office block and a car valeting centre.
It has a small decked patio at the back to sit out on in good weather
and does a good range of food, from sandwiches to home-cooked lunches.
There is also a pool room and Sky TV. DAFTS recommended Click
for streetmap
See also the
local CAMRA website 
There are plenty of chip
shops within easy reach, a sprinkling of cafes and other fast food
places on the High Street, such as Greggs and Subway. While if you insist, there is a McDonalds
in Ealing Road.
At the ground, the pie casing was a little tough; nice sausage rolls and coffee OK.
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Other local pubs
 Red Lion, , 92-94 Linkfield Rd, Isleworth
DAFTS recommend this alternative for early birds in a mid-terrace,
a five minute walk from the station. It's a real ale haven, with
12 beers and also ciders. Food (inc breakfasts) served from 12 noon.
A short stroll (stagger?) from Isleworth railway station, itself
a few stops from Kew Bridge and Brentford overground stations. A
friendly welcome. Click
for Streetmap
Bell and Crown,
11-13 Thames Road. The other side of Kew Bridge, for
those who want a riverside setting - you can walk along the Thames
footpath towards Griffin Park. A Fuller's pub, with good food, comfortable
inside, with views over the Thames and a patio onto the river path. My own personal take was that it took itself a little too seriously, but you can't argue with its Thames outlook.
Click
for Streetmap
Express Tavern, 56 Kew Bridge Rd
Steeped in local history - and of the football club - this 200-year-old
two-room pub with a beer garden, is a friendly local alternative,
right by Kew Bridge.
Waterman's Arms, Ferry Lane, off Brentford High St
Not far from the ground, close to the Ealing Road junction, this
is a Greene King pub for those trying to avoid the F-word. The also
serve food. Close to the Premier Travel Inn.
Near/at the stadium
The New Inn, 1 New Road, Brentford (pictured bottom left).
The nearest pub to the away end, so it can get very busy. Also has a beer garden, if the weather is fine and for overspill.
The other football pubs are the small The Royal Oak, 38 New
Road, and the Princess
Royal, Braemar Road , which is the "official" club pub,
having been taken over by Brentford FC and refurbished. It will
obviously be packed on match days though with home supporters.
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