Centenary celebrations

W4 Shrimper · Sep 24, 2004

Went to a local museum last weekend, which included a room dedicated to the celebration of 100 years at Griffin Park for Brentford FC.

It was a great display, featuring, old programmes, scarves, jerseys and lots of quotes from fans talking about good times at Griffin (although it also brought back memories of a couple of very painful away trips to that part of town).

It then got me thinking about our forthcoming centenary celebrations. If anyone in the Trust is around West London at all (the museum is in Gunnersbury Park), it'd be well worth visiting for some inspiration.

Alternatively, I can go back again if the Trust would like a more comprehensive review.

Anyway, no massive deal, but thought it'd be worth mentioning.

footymad13 · Sep 24, 2004

Would be perfect for the museum in Priory Park ...

Napster · Sep 24, 2004

Not a bad idea as it goes, but I think best suited to Fossetts Farm, when it happens.

ps near Gunnersbury Park is where I used to live...

Napster · Sep 24, 2004

A COLLECTION of Brentford supporters' memories celebrating the centenary of Brentford Football Club at Griffin Park is to be launched this weekend.

Brentford's manager, Martin Allen will open the exhibition at Gunnersbury Park Museum this Sunday, September 19.

Brentford Football Club has played at Griffin Park for the last hundred years and is one of the few league clubs to retain its place in the heart of the community. To celebrate this, Gunnersbury Park Museum commissioned oral history specialist, Rachel Cutler, to record interviews with 35 Brentford supporters young and old, asking them about their match-day rituals and memories, the highs and lows of supporting Brentford and their thoughts on the future of the club and Griffin Park.

The result is a fascinating archive of facts and stories, many of which are transcribed or can be heard in the exhibition. Memories of Brentford's glory days in the First Division, when crowds of 30,000 came to Griffin Park and the sound of wooden rattles was deafening.

Stories such as Welsh international, Dai Hopkins, who walked to Griffin Park with his boots in a paper parcel, or Gerry Cakebread who played a match even when his teeth had been knocked out. Fans also explain why they support Brentford and give their views on the takeover by Bees United and the future of the club. You can even manage your own "Bees" team - in a table top game.

The exhibition will be opened at 11am on September 19 at Gunnersbury Park Museum and will run until February 28, 2005. Admission is free.

Beaver · Sep 24, 2004

An exhibition of Memrobillia is one of the things the committee are looking at.

I will aim to have a look at Brentford's the next tme I'm working up in the area.

Thanks for the info.

W4 Shrimper · Sep 25, 2004

[b said:
Quote[/b] (Beaver @ Sep. 24 2004,18:51)]An exhibition of Memrobillia is one of the things the committee are looking at.

I will aim to have a look at Brentford's the next tme I'm working up in the area.

Thanks for the info.

No worries.

One of the things I liked about it was that it was focused on the fans and the community side of Brentford FC (they're a really good 'local' club), rather than just on the football team itself.

As it's only a short walk for me (Naps, I live not far from Strand on the Green in Chiswick, don't know if you know it), I'll gladly troop up there again on behalf of the Trust if anyone would like me to.