Row Row Row Your Boat: A Brentford FC Dynasty

[AdamJones113]

Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream.........
Brentford was formed in 1889 to provide members of Brentford Rowing Club something to do in the winter months. Initially it was going to be called The Brentford Rowing and Football Club. There was then another meeting to decide whether they preferred to play Association or Rugby Football. The proper game won out by eight votes to five, and they went with the simple Brentford FC. The most obvious connection to their origins was the use of the Rowing Club colours - an iffy sounding salmon, claret and light blue - as their strip in the early years. The club launched itself into the West London Alliance, then moved into the Southern League in 1898. They spent twelve years in the Southern League First Division, making very little impact, before getting relegated to the Second Division in 1912. It was during this period that they found a permanent home, moving into Griffin Park in 1904.

The Brook Road Stand - our home for the afternoon. A mixture of seating (upper) and terrace (lower). Photo © 2005 Ciderspace

When football resumed after the First World War the club was given a place in the SL First Division again. Although finishing 15th they somehow fluked election into the new Third Division of the Football League in 1920. They ended the first season bottom but one and had to seek re-election. Another re-election was required in 1925. However from those inauspicious beginnings their fortunes then took a turn for the better. In 1929-30 they set a home record which can only be equalled, never beaten, winning every league match at Griffin Park. Then between 1933 and 1935 they got promoted twice and found themselves in Division One. Their first season saw them finish the top club in London in fifth. That remains their highest point. Immediately after the Second World War they were relegated. By the mid-Fifties they were back in Division Three South, and by the early Sixties into the recently formed Fourth Division.
Towards the end of that decade the club was on its knees. An attempted takeover by Queens Park Rangers was fought tooth and nail, and the club withdrew from all competitions except the Football League and Cup and F.A. Cup and operated on a total staff of fourteen players to pare its costs to the bone. They survived - just.
For the next twenty years Brentford bounced about between the Fourth and Third divisions, though mostly in the latter. In 1991-92 Brentford showed their best form for many years and were Champions of Division Three. This took them back to the Second Division in the season the Premier League began - so it was called the First Division. They only lasted the one campaign.
The David Webb years, which still have Bees fans spitting blood, followed until Ron Noades bought the club in 1998 and made himself manager. Despite some initial derision from the football world Noades taking the managerial role was not the expected disaster and they won the Division Three title. They remained at Division Two / League One level, with a couple of unsuccessful play-offs and a couple of successful battles against relegation to keep the interest going, until 2006-07, at the end of which season they were relegated in 24th place.
Noades had gradually withdrawn from the club, first as manager, then as chairman and owner. However as he departed (slowly) it gradually emerged that Brentford was, as in the late Sixties, in a horrendous financial mess. Things were going pretty well on the pitch under Martin Allen, but off it things went from bad to worse as each supposed club-saving deal foundered on new revelations as to the state of the books.
Eventually Bees United, a Supporters Trust with 1,200 members, became the majority shareholder in January 2006. Football supporters are attracted by the romance of owning their club, but the reality can be rather different and dissent, grievance and faction lurked in the background, with seemingly regular resignations and back biting the order of the day. The team went on to reach the play-offs but lost out at the semi-final stage to Swansea City. Martin Allen is a very emotional manager and couldn't hide his huge disappointment in the days that followed this defeat. Possibly combined with a belief that the club couldn't take the next step forward, within a few weeks he had resigned. For a club that didn't give the appearance of being financially very sound the appointment of Leroy Rosenior seemed a shrewd one, as a manager used to working on a shoestring at Torquay United. However it didn't work out and his tenure was short, sacked by November after five months. Youth Team Manager Scott Fitzgerald took over for the second half of the season but couldn't keep the Bees up. Already relegated, he was sacked with four matches to go and Barry Quin kept things ticking over as caretaker whilst the club negotiated to bring in ex-England captain Terry Butcher as the new man at the helm for the following campaign. Butcher lasted about as long as Rosenior before he too was sacked, and Assistant Manager Andy Scott stepped forward. After getting through four managers in eighteen months some sanity returned and the club recognised that 14th in League Two was at least some form of stabilty and Scott was retained into the 2008-09 season.

Braemar Road Stand Photo © 2005 Ciderspace

The 2008-09 campaign was a successful one, with Brentford coming back up as League Two Champions. They consolidated in their new surroundings well, being one of the few clubs in the division who entered the back end of the season with nothing to play for, well adrift of the play-off spots but comfortably clear of the relegation zone. A 9th placed finish was more than satisfactory, and they followed that up with a 2010-11 season 11th placed finish - too good to go down, but on the flip side too erratic to bother the play-off spots.
The 2010-11 season saw them also reach a Football League Trophy final, but despite that achievement, a fairly bad run of form in the middle of that campaign saw Andy Scott relieved of his duties. Striker Nicky Forster did a lengthy caretaker slot, including their trip to Wembley, but he made way over the summer of 2011 for former Manchester City player Uwe Rösler. The German managed a 9th placed slot in his first full season, which sort of shows the Bees problem as it stands over the last three years - top half of the table but each time falling just that tiny little bit short of getting into the play-offs. That's no disgrace mind, given some of the clubs that have been above them in the table.
We have some cup history against Brentford, as well as the meetings in the League, having played them three times in the F.A. Cup when we were a Non-league club, with one victory - in 1970 when goals by Chris Weller and ex-Brentford Cliff Myers secured a 2-1 win at Huish. We also met in the Football League Trophy - going out on penalties on that occasion, whilst Brentford were briefly a League Two side during the 2008-09 season.



(http://www.ciderspace.co.uk/asp/oppo.../brentford.asp)

Editor's Note: Ah, screw it. This is my last one, I promise. I wanted a real goal, and Sunderland wasn't giving me that. I deliberated before posting this, I've played some games, the squad is shaping up sweet. I feel it's a great challenge... let's do this.

Settings:
Half Length: 10 minutes
Pace: Slow
CPU: Professional
Financial Status: Strict (60%)

[AdamJones113]

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Year One Transfer Budget: $1,000,000

—Well, it's not much. Especially since I've hired a GTN scout and two youth squad scouts. The two youth scouts will start in Scotland (that's where the new manager is from) for three months and England for six months. My main GTN scout is Joe Clyne. He'll open in England while the others canvass the Republic of Ireland and Scotland.
Did I mention I only have $1,000,000? I figure that's enough for one good transfer since I hope to sign 2-3 youngsters for the youth squad.

Next Update
How's the banner look?

[moose141]

Looking forward to this, should be a good challenge for you. Bringing teams up from the depths of the Football League is always interesting and can keep you invested for more than a few seasons.

[AdamJones113]

Quote: Originally Posted by moose141

Looking forward to this, should be a good challenge for you. Bringing teams up from the depths of the Football League is always interesting and can keep you invested for more than a few seasons.

Yep, very different from Sunderland, who've plateaued (and that is the commentary I always heard with them..."D'you think they're punching above their weight, bein' in the top flight?").
I'm really loving my squad right now, not too different from Sunderland (albeit much worse).

[AdamJones113]

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Lewandowski is overjoyed to be heading to Real Madrid

Largest Transfer:
ST Robert Lewandowski from BVB to Real Madrid for $55,000,000.

Total Money Spent:
$110,000,000—half of it went to BVB.


Brentford FC Transfer Stuff:
Did I mention we have a $1,000,000 budget? I'll say it again: that's good enough for one good youngster after our scout acquisitions.
Sold: ST Paul Hayes (29) to Real Valladoid

Loaned: 2 reserves

Purchased: None yet.

[AdamJones113]

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Meet the Bees
4-5-1

Striker: Clayton Donaldson (66 OVR)

Donaldson is 30 years old, but he's strong as a bull and has the best header I've ever seen in a FIFA game. Due to his lack of speed, we'll need to work the ball to hm in or around the box, but crosses are going to be super fun with this guy. As the only striker, he'll be the one scoring the most.


Right Midfielder: Martin Fillo (67)/Adam Forshaw (65)

Fillo will hopefully be the one crossing to Donaldson. Split widest to the right, Fillo is the highest overall on the squad and at 28 should continue to be for a few seasons.

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Forshaw is also fairly highly rated; the 22-year old could be the cornerstone for years to come. He'll need to improve his stamina though, as he seems to be subbed off every match.

Left Midfield: Sam Saunders (64)/George Saville (56)

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Saunders will start out wide to the left. What he lacks in speed, he makes up for in aggressiveness and stamina. Another good crosser, he's 30 years old and only has a couple more good years left.

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Saville, 20, is on loan from Chelsea—that's why he'll be starting, despite his meagre 56 overall rating. Another who needs to work on his stamina, but he hustles and has a good shot. Did I mention he's on loan from Chelsea?

Next Update: Defenders/Keeper

[AdamJones113]

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Meet the Bees Some More

Defensive Midfielder: Alan McCormack (63)

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The 30-year old midfielder is the second last line of attack. He came over from Swindon Town and looks to have a couple more good years left in him, though Mr McCormack is a very aggressive fellow.

Left Defense: Jake Bidwell (61)/Harlee Dean (62)

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Bidwell, the Left Back, is 20 but he's been a professional for a while now. He came from Everton. Bidwell has good acceleration and looks to be a factor offensively behind Sam Saunders.

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Dean is the left center back beside Bidwell. He also comes from the premiership, returning full-time after a season on loan from Southampton. Nothing special about him; just a rock to anchor the defense is all.


Right Defense: Shaleum Logan (61)/Tony Craig (63)

Logan is the Right Back. He's played for Chelsea but that was a while ago: he's old now and thankfully he won't have to run too much behind Martin Fillo. He can still play defense, though.

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Craig is the armband-wearer and highest-rated player on defense. He can also head stuff in on corners. I'm glad there's not much to say about arguably the most important men on the team.


Keeper: David Button (62)

Reserves: T. Diagouraga (62, CM), J. Douglas (58, CM), W. Grigg (63, ST), other guys...

Next Update: Match Day 1

[AdamJones113]

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Clayton Donaldson's goal was the margin of victory