A new feature for you this season, SeasideEssexXile looks at away grounds and gives you all excellent advice when travelling away from home to watch the mighty.
Brentford’s Griffin Park
Brentford away is a game I look forward to every season. I’ve only ever seen us win there once – a 2-1 victory in the early 90’s but for some reason it’s a ground that holds a real feel good sense about it.
Griffin Park as most of us know hosts a pub on every corner of the ground. Now if thats not an excuse to travel to it I don’t know what is and I’ve drunk in most of them. I can honestly say that as a Pool fan I’ve always been made welcome.
I suppose that now Clarke’s gone fans will remember GP as the scene of his best goal, however last seasons’ 1-1 draw ultimately played a large part in the Pool staying in Div 1.
The bloke on the pitch getting the home fans to sing ‘we are going up’ was the ultimate kiss of death to Brentfords promotion run last season and with wholesale changes to the playing staff + a goodbye from Mad Dog there may never be a better time to play them.
What’s the ground like?
Away fans unless 600+ will have to pay £19 for a seat. Restricted viewing doesn’t make for the best seat we’ll sit in this season. Away fans usually get the terrace behind the goal, but obviously at a increase profit of a max of £2400 this option won’t be available unless we travel in numbers.
I have stood + sat in both of these areas in recent seasons, however it’s the ‘home end’ behind the goal which always holds fond memories for me.
A mixture of standing with seating above a few fans made a lot of noise, hence Brentford fans successfully campaigned to be sat / stood there themselves.
The Ale….
For ale choose either the Griffin or the New Inn. Both friendly enough with most away fans favouring the New Inn. Bit of early summer sunshine meant I sat in the beer garden last season, it’s a 2 min walk from the away end.
Bitter is the typical Fullers Laaannden Pride (if you ever live in the South those adverts are something to behold) lager is well lager.
The New Inn also boasts Sky Sports.
Food
Food, typical fare- although the chicken balti I had last season won the award for being the driest + hottest pie ever eaten by myself.
People In The Ground…
Stewards – not smiler’s but content enough to let us get on with it.
Home Fans – never had a problem, most are happy to exchange gossip, footy talk + banter.
Getting There…
Getting there, plenty of off road parking although a bit slow to get away at the end. Chiswick roundabout J2 round to the right keep going till you see the McDonalds turn right. If I recall correctly Albany Rd.
Train – don’t forget to meet in the HITW first.
Final Thoughts…
Not a bad game to start our season off, we’ve become a bit of a bogey side for Brentford over the last couple of seasons here’s hoping we can still say that come Saturday night.
Fear Factor rating – 2.
