The new Brentford heritage shirt was the kit worn when we won the Middlesex Junior Cup in April 1894. It was only the club’s 5th season in existence since the (breakaway) Rowing Club founded it in 1889. The club had entered this cup in the 2 previous seasons but this was the club’s first real cup success.
About 500-600 B’s (not yet “Bees”) fans travelled to the final at Crouch-end, south Hornsey from Kew Bridge station. Three trains were used. One train was a short one, and “its capacities were severely taxed to accommodate the crowd”.
A telegraph messenger brought news of the half time and final score back to Brentford. It was displayed at a number of buildings around the town, including the Princess Royal (although Griffin Park was still 10 years away) Beat Westminster Ponsonby (1-1) 2-1 (Johnson, Pratley)
Once supporters and the team had made the journey back to Kew Bridge station, a huge procession took place from Kew Bridge to Brentford Bridge.
The procession was made up of: – Mounted Police – Crowds – the Gas Works Band – The town’s new Fire Engine – The Brake (opened topped coach) carrying the Team & Committee – Crowds – the Phoenix Drum & Fife Band – Crowds – More crowds – Mounted Police present had estimated that 6,000 were watching & involved. That is more than celebrated our promotion to the Premier League!
A local journalist reported that there were “Bands, a fire engine, fog signals, rockets, red fire, green fire, flags, bunting, lanterns. The food and drink was flowing in abundance with champagne, port, whiskey, bitter, mild & bitter, four ale, ginger beer, lemonade, roast & boiled mutton, roast beef, ………and all other kinds of fish were brought into requisition to do honour to the occasion.”
The cup was later put on show at the “establishment of Mr H Jason Saunders”, vice-present and future chairman of the club. The win put Brentford on the football map & gave the local Brentonians a team to get behind.
Adapted from several “tweets’ and with kind permission from Jonathan Burchill
