Brentford F.C.

Brentford Football Club are a professional football club based in Brentford, Greater London, England. The team compete in the EFL Championship, the second tier of the English football league system. Nicknamed "the Bees", the club was founded in 1889 and played home matches at Griffin Park from 1904 before moving to Brentford Community Stadium in 2020. Their main rivals are fellow West London clubs Chelsea, Fulham, and Queens Park Rangers.

Brentford
Full nameBrentford Football Club
Nickname(s)The Bees
Short nameBrentford
Founded10 October 1889 (1889-10-10)
GroundBrentford Community Stadium
Capacity17,250[1]
OwnerMatthew Benham
ChairmanCliff Crown
Head coachThomas Frank
LeagueChampionship
2019–20Championship, 3rd of 24
WebsiteClub website

Brentford initially played amateur football before they entered the London League in 1896 and finished as runners-up of the Second Division and then the First Division to win election into the Southern League in 1898. They won the Southern League Second Division in 1900–01 and were elected into the Football League in 1920. Brentford won the Third Division South title in 1932–33 and the Second Division title in 1934–35. They spent five seasons in the First Division, reaching a peak of fifth in 1935–36, before three relegations left the club in the Fourth Division by 1962. Crowned Fourth Division champions in 1962–63, Brentford were relegated in 1966 and again in 1973 after gaining promotion in 1971–72. They spent 14 seasons in the Third Division after gaining promotion in 1977–78 and went on to win the Third Division title in 1991–92, though were relegated again in 1993.

Brentford were relegated into the fourth tier in 1998 and won promotion as champions in the 1998–99 campaign. They were relegated in 2007 and won promotion as champions of League Two in 2008–09 and then were promoted out of League One in 2013–14. They had unsuccessful Championship play-off campaigns in 2015 and 2020. Brentford have a poor record in finals, finishing as runners-up in three Associate Members' Cup / Football League Trophy finals (1985, 2001 and 2011) and losing four play-off finals (the 1997 Second Division final, 2002 Second Division final, 2013 League One final and 2020 Championship final).

History
League positions of Brentford since the 1920–21 season of the Football League.

1889 to 1954
Main article: History of Brentford F.C. (1889–1954)

1954 to 1986
Main article: History of Brentford F.C. (1954–1986)

1986 to present
Main article: History of Brentford F.C. (1986–present)

Current and past grounds
Griffin Park aerial view.

Current squad

First team
As of 1 February 2021[5]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  ESP David Raya
3 DF  ENG Rico Henry
4 DF  ENG Charlie Goode
5 DF  ENG Ethan Pinnock
6 MF  DEN Christian Nørgaard
7 MF  ESP Sergi Canós
8 MF  DEN Mathias Jensen
9 MF  DEN Emiliano Marcondes
14 MF  ENG Josh Dasilva
15 FW  FIN Marcus Forss
17 FW  ENG Ivan Toney
18 DF  SWE Pontus Jansson (Captain)
No. Pos. Nation Player
19 MF  FRA Bryan Mbeumo
20 MF  IRN Saman Ghoddos
22 DF  DEN Henrik Dalsgaard (Vice-Captain)
23 DF  NZL Winston Reid (on loan from West Ham United)
24 MF  GHA Tariqe Fosu
26 MF  GRN Shandon Baptiste
27 MF  GER Vitaly Janelt
28 GK  ENG Luke Daniels
29 DF  DEN Mads Bech Sørensen
30 DF  DEN Mads Roerslev
31 MF  CZE Jan Žambůrek
― DF  DEN Luka Racic

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF  ENG Dominic Thompson (at Swindon Town until 30 June 2021)
13 GK  ISL Patrik Gunnarsson (at Silkeborg until 30 June 2021)
16 FW  ECU Joel Valencia (at Legia Warsaw until 30 June 2021)
21 FW  TUR Halil Dervişoğlu (at Galatasaray S.K. until 30 June 2021)
25 GK  ENG Ellery Balcombe (at Doncaster Rovers until 30 June 2021)
No. Pos. Nation Player
― DF  GUI Julian Jeanvier (at Kasımpaşa until 30 June 2021)
— MF  ENG Arthur Read (at Stevenage until 30 June 2021)
— MF  FIN Jaakko Oksanen (at AFC Wimbledon until 30 June 2021)
— MF  WAL Joe Adams (at Grimsby Town until 30 June 2021)

Brentford B
As of 2 February 2021[6]
Further information on the B team: Brentford F.C. Reserves and Academy

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
32 MF  ENG Paris Maghoma
34 FW  SCO Aaron Pressley
35 DF  SCO Kane O'Connor
36 DF  ENG Fin Stevens
37 MF  IRL Alex Gilbert
38 MF  ENG Max Haygarth
39 DF  SCO Lewis Gordon
40 GK  WAL Nathan Shepperd (Captain)
— GK  NIR Jared Thompson
— GK  SWE Simon Andersson
— GK  ENG Ben Winterbottom
No. Pos. Nation Player
— DF  FRA Aubrel Koutsimouka
— DF  ENG Ben Hockenhull
— DF  FRA Tristan Crama
— MF  AUS Lachlan Brook
— MF  DEN Mads Bidstrup
— MF  FRA Julien Carré
— MF  ENG Wraynel Hercules
— MF  ENG Ethan Robb (on loan from Bognor Regis Town)
— MF  ISL Valgeir Valgeirsson (on loan from HK)
— MF  ENG Ryan Trevitt
— FW  DEN Gustav Mogensen

Coaching staff
As of 22 September 2020[7]

First team
Name Role
Thomas Frank Head Coach
Brian Riemer Assistant Head Coach
Kevin O'Connor Assistant First Team Coach
Manu Sotelo Goalkeeper Coach
Vacant Head of Set Pieces and Individual Development
Neil Greig Head of Medical
Chris Haslam Head of Athletic Performance
Luke Stopforth Head of Performance Analysis
Bernardo Cueva Tactical Statistician

Brentford B
Name Role
Neil MacFarlane Head Coach
Allan Steele Assistant Coach & Technical Lead
Sam Saunders Assistant Coach
Jani Viander Goalkeeper Coach
Matt Bramhall Strength and Conditioning Coach
James Purdue Strength and Conditioning Coach
Liam Horgan Physiotherapist
Richard Potts Physiotherapist
Vacant Analyst

Management
As of 12 August 2019[8]
Name Role
Matthew Benham Owner
Cliff Crown Chairman
Donald Kerr Vice-Chairman
Jon Varney Chief Executive
Lisa Skelhorn Club Secretary
Lorna Falconer Head of Football Operations
Rasmus Ankersen Co-Director of Football
Phil Giles Co-Director of Football
Lee Dykes Head of Recruitment
Monique Choudhuri Director
Stewart Purvis Director
Mike Power Director
Nity Raj Director

Nickname

Brentford's nickname is "The Bees".[9] The nickname was unintentionally created by students of Borough Road College in the 1890s, when they attended a match and shouted the college's chant "buck up Bs" in support of their friend and then-Brentford player Joseph Gettins.[9] Local newspapers misheard the chant as "Buck up Bees" and the nickname stuck.[10]

Team colours and badge

Brentford's predominant home colours are a red and white striped shirt, black shorts and red or black socks.[11] These have been the club's predominant home colours since the 1925–26 season, bar one season – 1960–61 – when yellow (gold) and blue were used, unsuccessfully.[12] The colours on entering the Football League, in 1920–21, were white shirts, navy shorts and navy socks.[11] Away kits have varied over the years, with the current colours being a black shirt with black shorts, both with yellow detailing, along with yellow socks. Brentford have had several badges on their shirts since it was formed in 1889.[13] The first one, in 1893, was a white shield, with 'BFC' in blue and a wavy line in blue, which is thought to represent the river and the rowing club, who founded the football club.[13] The next known badge, the Middlesex County Arms, was on shirts donated by a club supporter in 1909.[13] The Brentford and Chiswick arms, as a badge, was used just for the one season, in 1938–39.[13] The next badge wasn't until 1971–72 when a shield, formed into quadrants, which had a hive and bees in one, 3 seaxes in another and the other two with red and white stripes.[13] In 1972, the club organised a competition to design a new crest, which was won by Mr BG Spencer's design, a circle with a bee and stripes with founded 1888. This was introduced in 1973 and used until May 1975, when it was brought to the club's attention, via Graham Haynes, that the club was formed in 1889 and not in 1888. Therefore, a new badge, reputedly designed by Dan Tana – the club's chairman at the time – was introduced for the 1975–76 season and continued until 1994 when the current badge was introduced.[13] In 2011 Russell Grant claimed to have designed the badge in a BBC interview,[14] however it was in fact designed in 1993 for two season tickets by supporter Andrew Henning, following a request from Keith Loring the then chief executive.[12] In 2017, the club redesigned its crest to a more modern, uncluttered, design with the flexibility for use in two tone colour print.[13] The design is a double roundel with the club name and year founded in white on a red background and a large central bee.[13]

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors
Period Kit supplier Shirt sponsor
1975–1976 Umbro None
1977–1980 Bukta
1980–1981 Adidas
1981–1984 Osca DHL
1984–1986 KLM
1986–1988 Spall
1988–1990 Hobot
1990–1992 Chad
1992–1995 Hummel
1995–1996 Core Ericsson
1996–1998 Cobra
1998–2000 Super League GMB
2000–2002 Patrick
2002–2003 TFG
2003–2005 St. George
2005–2006 Lonsdale
2006–2007 Samvo Group
2007–2008 Puma
2008–2012 Hertings
2012–2013 SkyEx
2013–2015 Adidas
2015–2016 Matchbook
2016–2017 888sport
2017–2019 LeoVegas
2019–2020 Umbro EcoWorld London
2020–2021 Utilita

Honours and best performances
Main articles: List of Brentford F.C. records and statistics § Club honours and best performances, and List of Brentford F.C. seasons

Champions and promotions

Cup winners

Wartime honours

Leagues

Cups

Awards
Main articles: List of Brentford F.C. records and statistics § Awards, and List of Brentford F.C. managers § Awards

Rivalry
Main article: West London derby

Brentford's main rivals are Fulham and Queens Park Rangers.[32] Brentford have a long standing rivalry with Fulham.[33] In the past this fixture has been marred by crowd violence.[34] Brentford's rivalry with Queens Park Rangers intensified in 1967, when Rangers failed in an attempted takeover of Brentford, a move which, had it succeeded, would have seen Rangers move into Griffin Park and Brentford quit the Football League.[35][36] As with the Fulham rivalry, this fixture sees passions run high amongst both sets of supporters with local pride at stake.[37]

In February 2013, it was announced that Brentford had entered into partnership with Icelandic 1. deild karla club UMF Selfoss, which would enable Brentford to send youth and development squad players to Iceland to gain experience.[38] The partnership also sees the two clubs exchanging coaching philosophies and allows Brentford to utilise UMF Selfoss' scouting network.[38] In May 2013, the Brentford staff forged links with Ugandan lower league club Gulu United as part of the "United for United" project, aimed at forming the region's first youth training camp and identifying talented players.[39] Brentford owner Matthew Benham became majority shareholder in Danish club FC Midtjylland in 2014 and the staff of both clubs share ideas.[40]

Affiliated clubs

Celebrity connections
  • Brentford FC is mentioned often on the BBC comedy People Just Do Nothing DJ Beats often wears a Brentford jacket, and Angel's room is full of Brentford memorabilia.
  • Actor and comedian, Bradley Walsh was a professional at the club in the late 1970s, but never made the first team squad.[43]
  • Dan Tana, Hollywood actor and restaurateur, served on the club's board and was chairman.[44]
  • Model Stephen James played for the club's youth team prior to his release in 2008.[45]
  • Entertainer Vic Oliver served as the club's vice-president in the early 1950s and was later president of the Brentford Supporters' Club.[46]
  • Politician Jack Dunnett served as club chairman between 1961 and 1967.[47]

Past managers
Main article: List of Brentford F.C. managers

Past players
Main article: List of Brentford F.C. players

Capped international players
Main article: List of Brentford F.C. international players

Player of the Year
Main article: Brentford F.C. Player of the Year

Hall of Fame
Main article: List of Brentford F.C. Hall of Fame members

Seasons
Main article: List of Brentford F.C. seasons

Records
Main article: List of Brentford F.C. records and statistics

Notes
  1. Elected into Southern League Second Division London.
  2. No system of promotion in place.

See also

References
  1. "The stadium". Brentford Football Club New Stadium. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  2. Haynes 1998, p. 66.
  3. "The last night at Griffin Park". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  4. "Brentford 1 Wycombe Wanderers 1 (Brentford win 4–2 on penalties)". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  5. "First Team". Brentford F.C. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  6. "B Team Squad 2019/20". Brentford F.C. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  7. "Brentford FC Football Staff". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  8. "Brentford FC Company Details". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  9. Haynes 1998, p. 98.
  10. Daly, Ken. "Ken Daly's alternative look at the history of Middlesbrough and Brentford who play in a Sky Bet Championship play off at Griffin Park on Friday 8 May 2015". www.mfc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  11. Haynes 1998, p. 30-31.
  12. "Brentford – Historical Football Kits". Historicalkits.co.uk. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  13. "Introducing our new club crest". Brentford FC. 10 November 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  14. "Which Strictly star designed Brentford's badge?". BBC News. 12 November 2011.
  15. Brentford F.C. at the Football Club History Database
  16. "London League 1896–1910". nonleaguematters.co.uk. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  17. Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Yore Publications. pp. 135–136. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  18. Haynes 1998, p. 96.
  19. White 1989, p. 354.
  20. Haynes 1998, p. 119-120.
  21. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 97. ISBN 0951526200.
  22. White 1989, p. 82-84.
  23. Argus (16 November 1928). "A Changed Brentford". The Brentford & Chiswick Times.
  24. "England 1918/19". Rsssf.com. 15 February 2003. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  25. Haynes 1998, p. 46.
  26. Haynes 1998, p. 51.
  27. "Brentford FC CST: Awards". www.brentfordfccst.com. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  28. Chapman, Mark. "Brentford win 2015 Football League Family Excellence Award". brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  29. "Brentford achieves the Football League Family Excellence Award". www.brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  30. Wickham, Chris. "A list of all the awards collected by Brentford FC, staff and players over the past year". brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  31. "Brentford FC Moment in Time: Norwich City". Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  32. "The results of the largest ever survey into club rivalries" (PDF). Footballfancensus.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  33. "Football Ground Guide". Football Ground Guide. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  34. "Fulham F.C. – The 1995/1996 Season". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 23 August 2002. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  35. https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2017/february/im-backing-brentford-part-two-how-the-proposed-1967-takeover-started/
  36. Haynes 1998, p. 123-125.
  37. "Brentford FC vs. QPR". Footballderbies.com. 6 October 2006. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  38. Wickham, Chris. "Bees agree Icelandic partnership". brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  39. Wickham, Chris. "Join Brentford in supporting Gulu United". brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  40. Wickham, Chris. "Brentford club staff visit FC Midtjylland". brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  41. "BBC Sport – FC Midtjylland: Brentford owner Benham invests in Danish club". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  42. "London Tigers play on Griffin Park pitch". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  43. "Ex bees Rover returns". brentfordfc.co.uk. 16 August 2006. Archived from the original on 7 October 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  44. "A match made in Hollywood interview". Evening Standard. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  45. "Stephen James | The Man Behind The Body Art Model". www.brother2brother.co.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  46. Haynes 1998, p. 100-101.
  47. Haynes 1998, p. 27.
  • Brentford FC – the club's website
  • Griffin Park Grapevine – Largest and Busiest Unofficial Brentford FC Website
  • Bees United – The Brentford Supporters' Trust and owners of the majority of shares in BFC
  • BIAS – Brentford Independent Association of Supporters
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