January 2011

Down narrow London streets and cramped residential roads sits an unassuming, unspoilt stadium that has lived to tell more tales than many places put together.

While the footballing landscape changes on a regular basis, how refreshing to see a ground so unspoilt by progress, housing such wonderful, welcoming fans.

The Johnstone’s Paint Trophy was delighted to visit Brentford and conduct its latest ‘team in focus’ feature and was left in no mistake why the Beautiful Game is still so handsome.

Call us nostalgic, but the immediate sight of four proud floodlights lighting the cold night sky was one to savour.

No need for directions, just a walk down Ealing Road, and the near death experience at the bottom of it when trying to cross the A4!

No sooner did we negotiate the junction than were we at the main entrance to Griffin Park itself, greeted with the friendliness of which we became accustomed.

Tales of Tommy Lawton and obligatory top 6 finishes in the old first division were told by the home fans, who soon made us realise that this place has seen some special days – and will witness some more to come.

Forget HD television. If any experience defined football in crystal clear vision, this was it.

The steak pies for starters were right up there with the best we’ve tasted this season, with pastry to make many celebrity chefs drool.

If football be the food of love, let’s eat! We eat some more, enjoying a feast of entertainment on the pitch, courtesy of Andy Scott’s Brentford and Exeter City.

With the Ealing Terrace and Brook Road Stands rocking, the scene was set for a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

When the final whistle sounded, we reflected a night that we’ll remember for a long time, summed up by the words on the front cover of the quite excellent matchday programme...

Bees. Real fans. Real football.

Johnstone's. Bringing colour to the beautiful game.