For me, perhaps unusually, it started with an away game as my first BFC fixture, away at Northampton Town in 1988. While I was born in London and my dad had lived on Evelyn Road (right next to Kew Gardens), I grew up in Norfolk surrounded by Norwich fans who were in their pomp winning the Milk Cup, beating Liverpool the last day the Kop stood and beating Bayern Munich.
Meanwhile, I was being drawn into the world of Brentford, in those days via Ceefax mostly, and realising that this was part of my family history even if there were few home wins, barely any away wins, rare occasional Cup runs and never any promotions (one of the great stats from those days – along with the “pub at every corner of the ground” – was that we were the longest serving members in the Third Division!). And that is what life as a Brentford fan looked like it was going to be, and I had managed to hone my response to the “Why do you support Brentford?” questions to a pithy “mostly for the glory and the trophies”, which would take a minute or two to register usually. Now, as I write this, we sit incredibly – given where we have come from – in 8th place in the Premier League and so these are, indeed, our halcyon days and who knows where we might go from here?
My personal involvement with Bees United began almost naively when the deal to buy the club from Ron Noades was starting. My day job is as a corporate lawyer and so I knew what was involved in actually buying a company, so I put my hand up, contacted BU and asked if they needed any help (essentially pro bono) with legal advice – which I well knew they probably couldn’t afford to fund otherwise. I then advised the trust on buying the club, then taking a fresh round of funding from Matthew and then ultimately selling the club to Matthew so to now be taking on the role of BU Chair and the appointed supporter director on the board feels like both a dream come true but also like the culmination of a journey that started a long time ago.
Now, the results, the performances, the league position that we are seeing are those that Brentford fans could barely have dreamt of in the past. While the plaudits should go to Matthew and every person who works for (and who has worked for) the club over the years for what has been achieved on the pitch (and off it – for example with the stadium move), it is also undoubtedly especially a time to be cherished for those who shook buckets, mounted political campaigns, and who gave their time to save the club. One thing I want to ensure is that – because of those times – Bees United are at the heart of making sure we never forget where we came from nor why Bees United was created. While we are fortunate that there is no immediate likely need for the “BU Special Share” to be invoked given our fantastic new home at the Gtech Community Stadium, the existence of that share – whatever happens in the future – will mean that we don’t find ourselves in the position other clubs have found themselves without a stadium to call their own. I would also remind everyone that it is crucial to remember that the “BU Special Share” only exists while Bees United exists – it is a share that is personal to Bees United and can’t be transferred.
Turning to what I would like to achieve in taking on the role of Chair, the plan is that in the next few months we will set out a 3-year strategy for Bees United which will take us to the 20-year anniversary of taking the majority stake in BFC and that we will share that strategy and the aims with you, our members. You can expect to hear more about the 4 pillars that will be at the core of the strategy:
- Representing you, our members, and the wider supporter group of BFC and the local community in discussions with the club on decisions they are taking (which Bees United can also uniquely influence through my role as a director on the BFC board)
- Promote and protect the history and heritage of the club. This pillar will be very much about remembering where we have come from as a club, and how that has led to the culture and values that the club has today, but also to reflect the wider historical and social context that Brentford FC has had in the community. As one of my BU board members pointed out astutely “Brentford FC has been around since 1889, there is a lot of social history and there is a lot the club has done in the community since it began”. You can expect to hear more about how we are planning to celebrate this history and protect our heritage.
- Maintaining first class governance and financial management of Bees United with a view to growing the membership
- Sharing information, having increased transparency of what we do as board and provide opportunities for you the fans to give your personal views and input – on which note – thank you to everyone who contributed to the “Tell Stuart” Question, which we are still working through to build into our plans.
These are the most exciting times in the club’s history (or certainly at least within living memory) and my ambition is for us to ensure that we never forget any part of the history, even as we celebrate every win against the #TeamsLikeBrentford brigade and relish every part of it.
I also want Bees United to be something that you are all proud to be members of and for you to all feel engaged with your board and for the aims of organisation to feel relevant to you all and for you to see how we contribute to the club and the community.