The Opponent: Brentford
It was a warm London summer’s day, and Brentford’s Braemer Road was bathed in the glow from the rays. Suddenly, Kevin Chippendale noticed something odd in the sky. It was no bird, much too large, and no plane, for it was a creature. Whatever the pedestrian was observing, it somehow resembled a dragon, or more so a griffin, but surely not, and then, rather coincidentally, it soared towards the Green Dragon apartments. Fast forward to February of the next year, a bitterly cold day, and again, Mr Chippendale is strolling through the area, and unexpectedly it’s there again, this time he could make out clearer details, characteristics, such as a long muzzle, dog-like in form but large wings which convinced Kevin that what he was seeing must surely have stemmed from his mind as a hallucination. However, a friend of Kevin’s, named Angela Keyhoe, also spotted the beast, a massive bird-like critter perched near the Watermans Art Centre, and then psychologist John Olssen, whilst jogging near the Thames, had his own sighting.
Suddenly the media flocked upon the scene and programmes such as The Six ‘o Clock Show were quick to cover the story of what would become known as the Brentford Griffin. Many sceptics shouted ‘hoax’ but the snowball effect had gone into motion, locals were seeing things in the sky that either were or weren’t there, phone-in options were given to any witness who’d sighted the monster, and eventually Andrew Collins published The Brentford Griffin: The Truth Behind the Tales. Paranormal researchers were quick to link the sightings to the fact that the local football team, Brentford, had a coat of arms complete with proud griffin, and they also played at Griffin Park, whilst the local public house, The Griffin, was also caught up in the circus. It was as if the town’s symbolic creature had come to life, and the beast, which had been buried deep within the human psyche, was now taking flight.
Of course, when the sightings died down, so did the fuss, convincing many that there was no flying wonder, merely a sum of misinterpretation, hysteria and hoax. However, a Martin Collins mentioned that he’d heard of the beast as far back as the 1950s whilst at school in St John’s which back then was overlooked by Brentford’s football stadium. Legend was rife that a griffin-like creature was brought to the town by King Charles II as a gift for his mistress. However the poor beast fell into the River Brent and washed away, presumed dead. The creature ended up living healthily at the Brentford Eyot. The story doesn’t end here though. Sir Joseph Banks was reported to have brought a griffin back from a Pacific Island when in the company of Captain Cook. The beast was housed at Kew Gardens which was situated across the water from the Eyot, and the two monsters allegedly bred.
Where the opposition gather – http://beesotted.co.uk/?p=11913Last 6 – WLDDWW – 2nd on 87 points.
They have served us both – David Ball, Charles Allwright, Baden Herod, John Buttigieg, Alan Connell, Tom Dawson, Jonathann Douglas, Alex Rhodes, Ted Nash. Jimmy Gabriel, Alan Reeves, Freddie Fox, Junior Lewis, Chris Kamara, Jo Kuffor, Les Roberts, Lionel Piggin, Mark McCammon, Harry Morris, Alan McCormack, Fola Onibuje, Jack Price, John Bostock, Deon Burton, Denny Mundee, Dave Partridge, Leigh Mills, Alex McCulloch, Archie Ling, Jack Price, Harry Morris, Mike Grella, Paul Evans, Kevin Deardon, Mike Bull, John Moncur, Nathan Byrne, John Cornwall, Cecil Blakemore, William Kirby, Dean Hooper, Toumani Diagouraga, Glen Cockerill, Simon Cox, Owain Tudur-Jones, Percy Whipp, Bert Young, Andy Rollings, Les Wilkins, Paul Smith, George Rushton, Teddy Ware, Norman Thomson, Ricky Shakes.
The Odds – Swindon 11/4 Draw 12/5 Brentford Evens
The Son Says – For the first time in as long as I can remember he has gone for a 2-2 draw. Don’t think he had a very good day.
The Prediction – Brentford’s away form is a little patchy although their league position can’t be argued with. 3-1 Town with goals from Pritchard (2) and Kasim in front of 8’110, 1112 from London.
And Finally – “I’m not sure what kind of reception I’ll get. If it’s bad I’ll laugh and get on with it because it will never affect me. I would expect boos because if I was a fan I would do the same! You try to get into their heads and make them angry. Swindon’s a superb club. I had a two fantastic years there and would never say a bad word about them. But I play for Brentford now and get paid to do a job for them. There will be no sentimental values come three o’clock on Saturday.” Welcome Back Alan, and its 3.07 by the way.