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Wildcard Wednesday: Griffin Park Special
11 Plays12 hours ago
This week we are looking back at our time at the iconic Griffin Park stadium. I'm joined by Daniel as we share our favourite memories and quirks of the stadium we used to call home. What are your favourite memories of Griffin Park? Send them in to our socials.
Hosts:
Lydia Batalona
Daniel Toppin
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Transcript
00:00:02
Speaker
every club every day the global sports podcast network hi everyone today for our wildcard wednesday we'll be looking back at the iconic griffin park stadium and sharing our favorite memories of the place Brentford used to call home i'm nydia and today i'm joined by daniel how are you today daniel i'm good it's nice to not be on hosting duties i can sit back and relax today so yeah it's a different role for me today um Just to remind everyone, we are a new podcast. Any shares on your socials are much appreciated. So I thought we'd start with a little bit of an overview of Griffin Park. It was our home from 1904 to 2020, and I hosted over 2,800 football matches, which, I don't know, for that many years, to me, it doesn't sound like that many matches, but who knows. And it was
00:00:59
Speaker
famous pub quiz question which actually did come up at uni once is the only English stadium with a pub on each corner. ah We briefly talked before but did you ever used to go to any of them? I've been in a couple of them but I used to go with my granddad and he wasn't much of a drinker so I can't say I had a regular. I think even more recently I've been to a couple of them I think because I think a lot of people still go to them.
00:01:27
Speaker
Um, and and they like to stick with their traditions from years gone by and obviously it's not too far away. I think at least two of them are still open. I know one of them at least is closed, which is a shame. Obviously they've, they lost a lot of income, especially over the COVID period when there were it was no timing anyway. It's just like, well, at once, but yeah, I think in the world, like close. Yeah, there's two left. So. Yeah. In a, in a, in a time.
00:01:56
Speaker
where obviously we had COVID anyway. And the fact that they're in a small residential area, if it wasn't for the football, they wouldn't survive. But obviously it's good that the two that are still there are probably only still there because Brentford fans do still go there before the games, which which is good to see. I guess it is quite good that it's obviously not too far from our new home. I found a few random stories Um, so our first competitive match was against Plymouth algo, which ended one all, um, but the changing rooms hadn't been finished. So the players were forced to change at the public baths, which I thought was that happened nowadays. I feel like there'd be a few bus stops before the game, to be honest. change game weren' Very good. Anywhere Griffin park. So maybe maybe the the public bars are a bit nicer down the road. and good Um, there's been lots of.
00:02:54
Speaker
Yeah, I say lots of them. I don't think that many people are interested. But people were questioning where the name came from, Griffin Park. um And it's rumored to take its name from a nearby pub, The Griffin, which was owned by the Griffin Brewery, which shut down. But I'd say that probably makes the most sense to me. I mean, the pub connection has probably got something to do with the brewery. So I think that's quite cool. One of the pubs is still called The Griffin or was still called The Griffin. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So I think it was some I think some people that preferred some of the other pubs were arguing that that it was not named after that and that it was the other way around but I don't know. It also survived two world wars and it was bombed twice in World War II and I didn't realise there was a fire that in 83
00:03:46
Speaker
i did yeah i think it burnt the old royal oak stand down which was quite a popular stand obviously it held a lot more back then especially because it's mostly terracing but i think that was a big terrace stand that was burnt down by fire which i think was where brook road was where the away fans were towards the end of griffin park times I think that is the stand that broke down and was replaced by that weird two-tiered one. yeah Very odd situation, but I thought 60 people were evacuated and apparently the groundkeeper was like living underneath. I got rescued by some of the players. He was living underneath the stand.
00:04:32
Speaker
his house, he went into his house through there, through around the door. I feel like that would only ever happen in Griffin Park, but he survived, hang on. So I thought, where in the house should you sit? and beyond I was on your own, I was most identical to where I am.
00:04:50
Speaker
now but obviously we were the side of the dugouts um back then or towards the end of the time at Griffin Park when they moved over from the opposite end so yeah right by the halfway line probably one of the best views yeah yeah it was yeah it was great it was great i loved it i mean i remember being in always being in the family like zone whatever but there being a surprising amount of like security incidences like once the guy that sat behind us even though so they had a family who were obviously away fans and then they were using they were literally I can't remember who we were playing but they were literally in their like blue shirts whatever they're blue and white scarfs and they're being a bit of a bust up in the family zone so that was interesting that was like but I'm also thinking how irresponsible as a parent why you bring your child
00:05:46
Speaker
in the home end in their massive blue kit, it's just silly decision. But did you ever have any standout crowd moments? I wasn't in the loudest part of the stadium, but I was with people that still go now and still, some of them sit near me still now. um I was probably the loudest person around me, to be honest. ah Before the game, Peter Gillum, when he read the team out, not just before kickoff, but a little like half an hour before kickoff, he'd read the team.
00:06:16
Speaker
And I'd start shouting after every player's name. And then he gave me a shout out a few times. um Yeah, from New Road. And then once J-Tab, that was a long time ago, came into the stands and gave me his boots because I was a kid that shouted a lot. So, ya a kind for the nice memories so from Griffin Park. Yeah, to just for me being a girl who shouted. And i still I still do the same to be honest, I'm spelled an L.
00:06:44
Speaker
um Can confirm, seeing that I realised I sit the road behind you. Yeah, we realised that at the last home game, I was like, have you always been there? Yeah. um So was that, I think that's quite impressive. Like I've tried to get, once I can't remember, I can't remember boy who's called our old Dutch player. Dutch.
00:07:08
Speaker
Yeah, I actually can't remember when he was going, that was bad. But but um me and my dad went down, I had my sign and I was like, wrote it in Dutch, like, oh, can I have your shirt? um then And then he ended up just giving my dad a handshake, which I mean, to be fair, my dad was pleased. I was like, I've never, I've never bought a sign. I think back then it was probably a bit easier anyway. I wasn't trying to get anything from him.
00:07:33
Speaker
I just shouted a lot. that He must have noticed every week. So I obviously made an impact on the team. So I like to think I was a big part of yeah any success that we had back then. Like the number one fan. yeah It was easier though. There was a lot less of us every week. yeah I mean, there was only what? Probably 5,000 that used to go every week back then. So I guess it was a bit easier. I think Obviously, we'll move on to talk about this later as well as a like growth and moving to a different stadium. But I think there's some things that can't be replicated from back in the day at Griffin Park. ah Just the feeling of walking along all the terraced houses, going in, like walking past people's backyards, whatever. it's just It felt like a special feeling. And it felt, obviously, the atmosphere was
00:08:27
Speaker
pretty intense just because of the small size of the stadium. yeah Is there anything you miss specifically? Oh, I definitely think it's different. I think yeah I can understand all the reasons why we moved and and and we probably had to move. I think obviously at Griffin Park you're very close to the pitch. The atmosphere can be very good on on its day. and Obviously a shades have looted away a little bit with all the back gardens and the houses and obviously You won't really get that in terms of any modern stadiums nowadays. So it had its own character and people loved it for that reason. I think even away fans, you know, it was somewhere that they always enjoyed visiting. And even though you had those little poles in the way, sometimes the view was generally good for most places in the stadium.
00:09:13
Speaker
I remember or one of those polls being like, I mean, my sister swapping each at half time because one of the polls was just like always in the way. Yeah, i don't get that anymore. yeah you um So I think that obviously because it was in a residential area, it's very, it's basically impossible to expand. um So I guess some of the character was also the reason why it wasn't sustainable.
00:09:43
Speaker
in the current day, especially now that we're in the prem. But were there any, I just saw people on Twitter taking chairs, like having them in their garden. Did you manage to rescue anything from Griffin Park? Have you got any? No, no, I didn't. I know in the new stadium, obviously there's a couple of the old turnstiles. Yeah. In the concourse, which is a nice touch. um Yeah, I didn't, I didn't manage to get anything. I think they were quite hard to get hold of.
00:10:11
Speaker
I think some people may have people known people on the inside and and sent a few bits and of six I think a few bits also went to auction or for sale. Well I've got like a nice little illustrated sort of poster which I brought to uni of like of Griffin Park and then I was getting so much stick from all the people like all my friends seeing my room they're like what is that but it's fine.
00:10:39
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I've got old photos of videos and during COVID they invited Season to get hold of us on a tour, which I went on. So I've got photos of me all around Griffin Park, which is empty because obviously they they gave us like a farewell tour because we couldn't go into the last games because of COVID. So I've got things like that. I think I made a little album out of um've got that tour. So I've got a little memento that I've made myself. Yeah, I definitely think that it's obviously so such sad timing that that was one other thing that covid took away from people and playing our first like playing games behind closed doors obviously must have been difficult for the players as well but it was just that's one thing that i'd say is quite english and like weekly life and then the fact that even that was disrupted kind of is good that
00:11:40
Speaker
the English footballs kind of bounced back from that. yeah I think Brentford had a lot planned for the final home game. Obviously they were never able to do it. I think they were trying to get different pieces of entertainment in. Obviously they had that board. We were going to get a few good bands. yeah But alas, that never happened. So, okay, after the ads, we'll move on to talk about our new home.
00:12:08
Speaker
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00:12:36
Speaker
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00:12:48
Speaker
This podcast is part of the Global Sports Podcast Network, the only network bringing you exclusive daily news and views on your Premier League team, the Premier League, women's football, and fantasy football. A unique listening experience that puts fans first, bringing you the very latest breaking news from your team. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and make us your first listen every day. Global Sports Podcast Network, every club, every day. So, thought now we'd move on to talk about the GTEC or as it used to be known, the Brentford Community staddo Stadium. and We've already kind of discussed it, but do you think the move was necessary? Yeah, absolutely. I think if we wanted to achieve our ambitions of obviously being in the Premier League, it obviously turned out to be really ideal because the season we ended up moving was our first season in the Premier League, which obviously we wouldn't have known. I think we need to maximise revenue opportunities
00:13:47
Speaker
We need to allow more people to be able to watch a team because we're going to get more popular being in the Premier League. And obviously if you think how much Griffin Park has held, I don't think we've had ever had an attendance at the GTEC for the men's first team lower than what Griffin Park held. So yeah I think it has been necessary. I think there were probably certain um regulations that Griffin Park didn't meet in terms of like,
00:14:15
Speaker
changing room size and media spaces what's even the toilets i just remember the queue for the women's toilets was like out of this world and they were tiny like they were so small and even as a child i was like how am i supposed to fit in this tiny little cube so i don't think that would have uh worked in the pram but yeah i think the fact that our first game at the new stadium was that win against arsenal maybe alleviated some people's fears that there wasn't going to be as good as an atmosphere, things like that. And I still think that because it's still comparatively small um as a state as a football stadium in the program, like you can still get great atmosphere. I still think it can be like a scary place for teams to come play because you are so close to the pitch. And I think that as well,
00:15:13
Speaker
It's just, as a location, being in between the railways is just kind of quirky and a bit cool. Yeah, it's different. It's not just ah like a box shape, like a lot of new of new stadiums, which doesn't seem to have much character.
00:15:31
Speaker
It definitely helped obviously with the transition that, I mean, I did go to two of the games before the Arsenal game, obviously the Arsenal game was the first game with ah Full House. yeah And obviously the atmosphere that day was always going to be amazing. And it was like, it was like everyone returned and it was a whole new world that we were in because even on the pitch, it was nothing like Griffin Park. It was obviously the Premier League now and everything has changed and on the pitch and off the pitch, it is literally a complete completely different world to what Griffin Park was. So it's a good thing, I think, and it shows how far we've come. And obviously 10, 15 years ago, you would not have thought that we'd be in the Premier League playing the likes of Arsenal at a new stadium. I think, yeah, all the timing sort of worked out in the end and it made for a special game. um I also do find it, thinking about that now,
00:16:30
Speaker
I find it funny how Rhea still has that tattooed on his neck as the Arsenal goalkeeper. I know, now he plays for him. But, you know, I think everyone everyone's gone. It was his Premier League debut. um More than anything, I think he would have had it tattooed um no matter who it was against. ah Yeah, that was a cool tattoo. So we talked about the commercial benefits of the new Stadium.
00:16:57
Speaker
um Obviously when they, when it was built, they kind of had this partnership with the London Irish in mind. Um, so I think because of that, there's less, they made sure that there was less, um, like brand but for branding within the stadium itself. Um, but now they've gone into administration and it doesn't look like they'll be playing here again. Do you think that that will harm the club financially, like in a big way?
00:17:28
Speaker
No, I don't think that we would have moved there and been reliant on them. Obviously, it's helpful to have extra income, but I don't think we're relying on them at all. I think we know that we can self survive. And I think just being in the Premier League as well, which obviously we didn't know that we'd be in the Premier League when we probably agreed the deal in the first place. I actually don't think we needed them at all. And if anything, they made the pitch a bit bit worse at times. so I think in the Premier League, you don't need them. I think you get enough money from being in the Premier League. and Obviously we are still hosting some other events, which is nice and it's always a good thing, both for Brentford's reputation and adult obviously maximising revenue. So it's obviously a stadium that can be used for other things. And obviously there is, I think, a decent amount of Brentford branding. Obviously we had the issue with the multicoloured seat, which is meant to look like it's full when it's not.
00:18:23
Speaker
um Which I don't mind, I don't mind. It makes it different again. and But also, I don't think we need to worry about relying on the multi-coloured seats. I think ah that would be a bit concerning if we were like, that was our only way of having it look like a full house. In the championship though, if we went down, I reckon we wouldn't sell out every week and I reckon and maybe then um the the seats would make it look like it's fuller than it is. True, true.
00:18:52
Speaker
um so Like you kind of said, we do hold other events there. I did actually see some people got married about a month ago. Their first wedding in the GTEC. Not sure that was the one I was going to get married. Yeah, let's go. Yeah, let's go. I want to get married there. Thousands of people or whatever. Big screen. Why not? I'm not sure my girlfriend wants to get married there, but I do.
00:19:17
Speaker
like, maybe you can have two separate ceremonies. She gets the nice white wedding, and you get little Brentford like, pies on the side kind of wedding, who knows. But I talked to people at work. And actually, quite a few people went to see some of the international women's games at the GTEC, which is obviously, and they were only had positive things to say and said, it was really nice stadium. So I do think it's good that we're now being shown on a bigger stage perhaps obviously the women's games are still that issue they're not getting sold out but i think any getting new people into the stadium however way is it always a good thing and last month it was the first there was a first Brentford women's game in the stadium which is obviously also a step in the right direction yeah they've been they've been before they have been before yeah i think it was they've done it the last couple of seasons i think but
00:20:15
Speaker
Yeah, hopefully they can go there more regularly um now. And I think we have broken the women's attendance a few times. ya um So hopefully it will encourage more people to go. I think the problem I've had with that in the past, I think last year, they did it the same weekend as the men were at Man City Away. And on the Sunday, I was sitting in Manchester. So I think maybe sometimes they need to consider the men's schedule.
00:20:41
Speaker
to make it work for more people ah and then they'll get more people down. But yeah, it's obviously a good thing. um um I think more and more women's teams are now playing at the men's stadium um and it helps. I think they definitely get a higher attendance there than they do at the usual home stadium. I definitely think it was especially exciting that the Euros were played there, especially when England was doing so good. It was really only like good publicity for us.
00:21:10
Speaker
yeah Um, so I thought to finish, obviously the whole thing, we talked about the commercial like partnerships of the club and obviously now sponsored in the stadium, sponsored by G tech. But I thought, what are your thoughts on Brentford accepting sponsorships from betting companies, especially given the whole Ivan Tony history? Um,
00:21:39
Speaker
It happens and i think I think betting companies are quite lucrative sponsorships compared to others. um It'll be interesting to know whether any betting partners wanted to sponsor the GTEC and whether we went for the GTEC as a conscious decision because there could be backlash or we don't agree with betting partners. I mean, we can't really say that we don't agree with betting partners because the the shirt sponsored by a betting partner I don't personally have an issue with it, but I understand that there are certain people who may struggle with betting addictions and it doesn't help them being able to see it wherever they go um because those same people are probably going to be interested in football, especially if that's the sort of thing that they they would bet on. So I don't think it's helpful for those people. um I think there is regulations coming in, I think in a couple of years in the Premier League. so
00:22:39
Speaker
I don't think we'll be able to have that shirt sponsorship um for much longer so we're going to have to find a solution and I'm sure we will. um Yeah, I don't particularly i have an issue with it myself but I understand how for some people that it would be difficult and why then maybe it's a good idea to not have it. Yeah, I think that obviously change starts at home but at the same time it's up to the bigger organisations within English football to bring in these like legislations that would stop these betting companies being able to provide like so much sponsorship money and stuff like that. It's only going to stop if it comes from higher up. Every club aren't going to agree and not do it, so it's got to come from higher up.
00:23:34
Speaker
yeah so I think, to end on a more positive note, what was your favourite memory at Griffin Park and why? Gosh, Griffin Park, I've got a few. Favourite match, maybe? Favourite level? I know, I mean, you said you got a few shout outs, so I think that that's a pretty good memory. Yeah, yeah. So, yeah. Before the game, I used to shout a lot. Peter Gillum gave me a few shout outs. Jay Tab, I've got his boots.
00:24:02
Speaker
He came into the stand once and and gave me his boots and he went, are you the kid that shouts a lot? um I'm still the kid that shouts a lot, I'm just building up. Yeah, if that was good. Obviously, a couple of promotions I remember. I remember a few pitch invasions and after you beat Everton in the in the league cup. um I think we beat Sunderland when they were in the Premier League in the FA Cup. I think when like DJ Campbell was around.
00:24:31
Speaker
ah I remember the promotion from league one when Alan Jones scored the penalty and obviously after the game if everyone ran on the pitch again and obviously the playoffs the following season then you've got individual games like that meal wall game where we were 2-0 down with 10 minutes to go and then we ended up winning 3-2 so yeah there's lots there's lots of memories lots lots of special games I mean the majority of the time I've been in the last you know 15 years you know Brentford have been largely successful so it it was a good good last run for it and obviously um where we are now we can't forget about the past but you know we can look back with fond memories. Yeah I'll definitely echo that and I think for me it's just when I look at pictures of me like growing up at Griffin Park just I remember like going for the first few times
00:25:25
Speaker
just because my dad took me and then getting older, getting more interested, like having my little traditions, being seeing my auntie at the games. Like sometimes if we had a really good win, we'd go to get an Indian on like South Ealing Road, just things like that. And I think it's just growing up, having those Saturdays and then being, when it was an evening game, like being excited that I was allowed to stay up late, things like that when I was a bit younger. Yeah, it was obviously, I used to go with my granddad and he's not around anymore. He never got to go to G tech, but obviously it was a place I used to spend with him. So I'll always have special memories for that reason. Um, and you know, if he's looking down now, he'll, but he'll see where we are now and he'll probably be just as surprised as anyone else. And also just as pleased, um, you know, how well we're doing now and how far we've come. But,
00:26:19
Speaker
Yeah, it will always be a memory that that will stay for those reasons too. Definitely. All right. Thanks for listening everyone. And remember to give us a good review on Spotify and to share us with your fellow Brentford fans. Thanks everyone. Bye.
00:26:42
Speaker
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