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Brentford

Gtech Community Stadium - Brentford Stadium

Capacity: 17,250 (all seated)
Club Nickname: The Bees
Year Opened: 2020
Pitch Size: 105m x 68m
Address: Brentford Community Stadium, Lionel Road, London, England
Phone: 0333 005 8521
Pitch Type: Hybrid grass
Shirt Sponsors: Hollywood Bets
Ticket Office: 0333 005 8521
StadiumTours: 0333 005 8521
Undersoil Heating: Yes
Manufacturer: Umbro
Home Kit: Red with White
Away Kit: Blue
Last Update: July 23, 2024

The Brentford stadium, which is now called the Gtech Community Stadium, was a long time in the making. After having played at Griffin Park since 1904, the  Bees made the switch in 2020 after executing a plan that had been in development since 2002. The ground has four distinct stands – South, North, West, and East.

The premium seats, dugouts, and media seats are available on the south stand. The family area is located in the North stand, while the hard-core supporters can be seen in the West stand. The away end is found in the East Stand.

With the Brentford stadium being a relative new build, it is perhaps unsurprising to learn that there haven’t been any major alterations to the exterior of the stadium. Inside the ground, though, the summer of 2022 did see some pretty substantial work take place. The Bees acted swiftly to facilitate safe standing off the back of a change in legislation.

As for future development, the design of the Gtech Community Stadium does allow for relatively easy expansion where capacity is concerned.

How big is Brentford’s new stadium?

Right now, Brentford have a maximum capacity of 17,250 but there are changes that can be made to reach circa 25,000 – with a couple of levels in between the two as well. If the football on the pitch remains as it currently is, an increase could arrive sooner rather than later – but there is no official word on that.

As an away fan visiting Brentford’s ground, you will find yourself seated in the East Stand of the Gtech Community Stadium. You will not completely occupy the stand, as only a small section will be devoted to the visitors.

The view of the pitch from the East Stand is fantastic with no restricted view seats on sale – which is hardly a surprise given the age of the stadium. Typical football food is on offer on the concourse while alcohol is served before the match and at half time.

What is the away allocation at Brentford?

Expect an allocation of around 2,000 for away visits at the Brentford Community Stadium.

Brentford’s stadium entrances differ depending on if you are a home or an away fan.

Gtech Community stadium entrance
Copyright: xMarkxChapmanx FIL-18560-0011

Away fans have to access the ground via the railway bridge from Capital Interchange Way to the East Stand.

Home fans have to access the East Stand via Lionel Road South to Gate E or from Capital Interchange Way.

There is no access for visiting supporters between sections E and F on the map below – (courtesy of the club’s official website).

Gtech Community stand entrance

Most away fans – especially those that arrive by train – will exit at Kew Gardens. This is around a mile away from the Brentford ground (circa 20 minutes of walking). The route through to the stadium is a decent one and the main pubs welcoming away fans are on that side of the water – with Kew Bridge taking you across the water and near to the ground.

Away pubs at Brentford away include:

  • Tap on the Line – Kew Gardens Station, Station Approach, Richmond TW9 3PZ
  • The Botanist – 3-5 Kew Grn, Richmond TW9 3AA
  • Coach and Horses – 8 Kew Grn, Richmond TW9 3BH

For those trying to get to the Gtech Community Stadium, the best bet would be to use the M1 or M40. This will take you to close proximity of Brentford’s stadium for those coming from the north. If you are heading to the stadium from the south, then you need to take the A4.

One should remember that taking a taxi in London is going to be an expensive affair. It could cost anywhere around £50 for a from the London Heathrow airport, which is only eight miles away.

Where is the best place to park for Gtech Community Stadium?

Matchday parking can be pre-booked via this link. Aside from the official car park, it is difficult to find anywhere to park near the Gtech Community Stadium due to parking restrictions.

The train or metro is a great option to reach the ground, as it is only 100 meters away from the Kew Bridge Station.

What tube station is near Brentford FC?

Brentford’s ground is also connected very well to the London Underground system, as it is close to Chiswick Park, Gunnersbury, and Acton Town stations.

As with most clubs nowadays, the ticket pricing at Brentford’s stadium, the Brentford Community Stadium, is tiered depending on what category match you are going to. The match categories range from A+ to B.

Category A+ ticket prices for the 2023/24 season:

  • Adults: £35-65
  • Seniors: £25-55
  • 18-24s: £25-55
  • Under 18s: £10-55

A full breakdown of the current pricing can be found on the official Brentford website.

Brentford fans have a sense of humour with their songs, and indeed one of their chants – “we’re just a bus stop in Hounslow” made the news overseas with this YouTube video.

Stadium tours at the Gtech Community Stadium take place through on selected dates throughout the season. Prices are as follows:

  • Adults: £20
  • Concessions: £10

Full details on the Brentford stadium tours can be found on the Bees official website.

Official programme: £4

Brentford vs Fulham rivalry: The biggest rivalry the Brentford Community Stadium sees is when Fulham come to visit. The two London sides battle it out with local pride on the line.

Brentford vs QPR rivalry: You’d expect this match to be more ferocious than the Fulham rivalry but, for some reason, it’s not. Again, both these clubs are London based but that only tells part of the story. Back in the Sixties, QPR wanted to buy out Brentford in a move that would have banished the ‘real Brentford’ out of the league.

The anthem most commonly associated with Brentford is ‘Hey Jude’

As you may expect with a newly developed ground, Brentford’s stadium provides disabled supporters with good access and unlimited car parking facilities in the bays. The Brentford ground is completely accessible on a wheelchair. The ambulant seats and wheelchair spaces are seen throughout the ground. Disabled fans will also be able to get special access to toilets, which are located only 40 meters away from the viewing platforms.

Record Attendance

17,163 vs Liverpool on 2nd January 2023.

Average Attendance

  • 2022-2023: 17,079 (Gtech Community Stadium)
  • 2021-2022: 16,907 (Gtech Community Stadium)
  • 2020-2021: N/A (Covid-19)
  • 2019-2020: 9,156 (Griffin Park)
  • 2018-2019: 10,257 (Griffin Park)

When you think about Brentford’s ground, you immediately go to one of two places; that’s the current stadium – the Gtech Community stadium – or their prior ground – Griffin Park. There have, however, been five other homes for the Bees. Admittedly, they all came in 15 year period in the early days. The names of you were wondering are Clifden Road, Benns Field, Shotters Field, Cross Road and Boston Park.

We won’t look back at them in any greater detail. Griffin Park though was Brentford’s stadium for 116 years; it was famed amongst fans for the fact it had a pub at each corner. No other stadium can claim that. On opening, Griffin Park, could hold 20,000 fans. By the thirties it had undergone such development that the New Road stand could hold that by itself. Things remained fairly static from that point on with the ground holding 38,000 people – although the great fire of Brentford in 1983 needs to be mentioned. It wasn’t until 2006 that all four stands had roofs and, as Premier League football edged closer, further work was needed to meet regulation. Eventually, the club opted for a move to Gtech Community Stadium.

Reviews

Avatar of John Rogers John Rogers
Game AttendedBrentford v Leeds United
CompetitionPremier League
Date03/09/2022

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?

A decent away day - I always like London for a visit - and I had suprisingly managed to get a ticket for the away section from a meagre 1700 allocation.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Despite recent the recent strikes of railway personnel, I had a relatively trouble-free journey: train from home to Leeds, change at Leeds, break the journey at King's Cross, then tube to Vauxhall and train to Kew Bridge. The ground is spitting distance from the latter.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

Not trusting the railways, I arrived in London just after 9 a.m., so took the opportunity to enjoy a bit of culture at the British Museum, before heading for Brentford at about 11.30. The closest pub to Kew Bridge Station is the Express Tavern, but this was already getting busy and the billowing smoke from some sort of cooking was pretty off-putting, so headed for the more civilized 'One Over the Ait', overlooking the waterfront, for burger & chips and a couple of pints. Just time for a quick visit to the so-called Brentford Superstore. £4 for a programme seemed over-priced, but this was nothing compared to the £6 club badge that was little more than a glorified drawing pin.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?

The ground is shoe-horned in between what appear to be high rise apartments, but is quite attractive, externally, as new grounds go. Fans mingled freely outside, but away supporters have dedicated turnstiles on Capital Interchange Way. At the time of posting this review it is quite interesting to compare images of the ground's surroundings on Google Streetview to the area now occupied by the GTech Stadium. Once inside, the concourse is reasonably spacious for a small ground, seating and safe standing areas are good, and sight lines are excellent. The quirky rooflines were presumably determined by planning restriction requirements.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

A great game if you were a Brentford fan; less so for Leeds as we lost 5-2. This was due in no small part to inconsistent refereeing and the poor interpretation of VAR (or absence of use, in the case of what was a clear Leeds penalty), some shambolic defending by Leeds, and a great performance by Ivan Toney, who bagged himself a hattrick.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game

Relatively straight forward, picking up a train from Kew Bridge, although having to change at Euston rather than Vauxhall as it didn't stop there. Tube to King's Cross then train home.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out

Positives: Good journey, nice ground, friendly atmosphere. Negatives: The result, and over-priced merchandise
Avatar of Philip Green Philip Green
Game AttendedBrentford v Everton
CompetitionFA Premier League
Date27/08/2022

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?

This was actually my second visit to the GTech Community Stadium. It came about through a season-ticket holder friend contacting me the day before to say that he wouldn't be back from holiday in time to attend the game. The chance of a free match at a club I love (isn't Brentford (nearly) everyone's second favourite club?) on a summer Saturday was too good to miss! An added bonus was that the ticket was for the safe standing area and I was really keen to experience this. I can't remember the last time I (legally) stood at a top-flight football match.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

I had a very easy journey down from Hertfordshire - train to Finsbury Park, tube to Vauxhall and then a train to Kew Bridge. I was surprised that the train was not jam-packed and arrived at the ground at 2.30.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

There was a really friendly atmosphere around the stadium with minimal police presence. There are a couple of pubs right next to the ground and these were doing a roaring trade on a sunny Saturday afternoon. I chose to go to the ground and felt obliged to sink a pint of London Pride (£6 in a reusable plastic glass) before taking my seat. There were lengthy queues outside for a programme, but I purchased mine from a stall within the stand where nobody was waiting.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?

The GTech is a really interesting stadium and sits on a triangle of land between railways. Hats off to the architects, as every possible bit of space has been filled to produce a unique place to watch football. The concourse space is surprisingly roomy and is on two levels. Away fans are tucked away in the north eastern corner and made plenty of noise. The north stand is a fairly low single-tier construction, as are the east and west stands. The main stand has some executive boxes but also has an outdoor concourse area to mingle in (although you can't stand there during the game) which is a good use of space. The south-eastern and south-western corners are much smaller to account for the railway lines. A really interesing feature is the use of different coloured seats throughout the stadium. Apparently the thinking behind this was that if there were large numbers of empty seats, it wouldn't be so obvious. It's not a problem Brentford have had since moving in, with every major game effectively being sold out. I was in the west stand which has been adapted for safe standing by adding bars at roughly elbow height. I thought they'd impair my view if sitting but they didn't. Despite not being particularly tall, my view of the game was unimpeded, which was a bonus.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

Having trounced Man Utd 4-0 in their previous home fixture, expectations were pretty high for Bees fans. So when Everton pegged them back, there was a bit of a sense of frustration. The Toffees took the lead completely against the run of play midway through the first half. Chelsea transfer-target Anthony Gordon latched on to a brilliant long ball and slotted it past Raya expertly. He certainly did his prospects no harm with such a well-taken goal. Brentford pushed for an equaliser relentlessly - they hit the woodwork three times in the match and their efforts were rewarded in the 85th minute when Janelt pounced on a flick-on to prod home. Pickford was incandescent with the Assistant Referee for not flagging for offside - the correct decision, as it turned out. But the game ended all-square, which was probably a fair result. The atmosphere throughout was brilliant - the acoustics of the stadium make it sound as though there were considerably more than 17000 fans in attendance. Apart from some choice language, it was a very family-friendly environment. I didn't leave my seat at half time so can't comment on the food on offer.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game

Because of the constraints around the ground, it took a while to get out of the stand, and the space outside was extremely cramped for a while. But this soon eased. I made the error of heading towards the one station in the area (Gunnersbury) that's shut for the hour after final whistle and had to walk another 20 minutes to the next station on the line. (I'd have been better off joining the queue for Kew Bridge!) To be fair to Brentford, this was not their decision and is all explained very clearly on their website. I should have looked at it before the match! There was minimal police presence after the game, with home and away fans mingling freely.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out

Despite my trouble getting home, this was another great day out. Brentford is a fantastic club and the fans have a 21st-century stadium to be proud of.

Images

Brentford
Avatar of Mark Mark
Game AttendedBrentford vs Newcastle United
CompetitionPremier League
Date26/02/2022

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?

I was keen to get to this game being the first time we've played here with fans allowed (still trying to forget the woeful league cup tie). I've got a few friends from this part of London but have never made it to a game so counted myself fortunate to get a ticket, the away allocation is particularly small. Newcastle were getting on a bit of a roll too which was exciting.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

We drove down on the morning of the game and had pre-booked parking at the B&Q just over the road on the North Circular. The journey was very smooth and parking was very easy to find. If you get there early enough there's lots of free side street parking off Chiswick High Road.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

We arrived about 3 and a half hours before kick off so walked along to Chiswick to grab some food, about a 25 minute walk. After a quick bite to eat we made our way to the Express Tavern by Kew Bridge. There was a good mix of home and away fans with plenty of good beer and some decent looking food (didn't try it as we'd already eaten). Home fans were pretty friendly, if a little over confident.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?

I'd heard lots about the stadium before visiting but it's hidden away behind quite a few tall apartment block type buildings so not easy to spot. There were plenty of police and match day staff around to direct to the right part of the ground as there's only one way to access the ground for away fans. I did note that it's a little tricky for disabled fans to access the stadium as there is a flight of about 20 or so stairs down to the turnstiles and only one small lift for access. Away fans also had to pass about 2 ticket checks before even reaching the turnstile so leave plenty of time to get to the gate.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

There's a ton of space once inside the ground with lots of room between rows. There are also lots of TV screens in the roof of the stands for fans to catch replays etc. One negative was that the toilets were impossibly small leading to the sinks doubling as an extra urinal. The sun was blinding in the first half so I would recommend taking some sunglasses, I'd managed to leave mine in the car even though I suspected I'd need them. The game itself was very enjoyable, a clumsy challenge leading to a red card made Newcastle's day a lot easier than I thought it might be. Newcastle came away with a comfortable 2-0 win, with the only highlight for the home fans being the second half appearance of Eriksen (I'm glad this was his first game back as he looked a bit off the pace).

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game

Getting away from the game was very easy. Being a small stadium the crowds were virtually non-existent. We were parked very close and right by the junction of the North Circular and M4 so were on the road home within 20 minutes.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out

If you can get a ticket as an away fan I'd highly recommend Brentford for a day out. Very easy access if you are doing it there and back on the day but also well located if you are stopping in London for a night out after.
Avatar of Daniel O'Rourke (West Ham) Daniel O'Rourke (West Ham)
Game AttendedWest Ham United
CompetitionPremier League
Date10/04/2022

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?

A new stadium to visit (having always hoped for a chance to see WHU at Griffin Park) and the first time I have ever seen WHU play the home team. This was also West Ham's first competitive game away to Brentford in 30 years (albeit we'd played them in pre season).

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

We drove to Blackhorse Road, my how that's changed and tubed to Victoria ; then District line to Gunnersbury, which took about 45/50 minutes all in. From The tube station its a very simple 10 minute walk to the away end. Essentially turn right out of the tube, turn right down a passage and then onto Wellesly road. There wasn't a particularly large crowd to follow, but we made it in good time.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

We stopped in on a Fullers pub, 'the Pilot', for an afternoon beer before the game. The pub was very pleasant with a decent garden and very civil home supporters. The Russian church bells chiming were an added bonus.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?

You don't really see the ground until you are in it. As others have said its squeezed into a small area behind flats - similar to Wimbledon. Getting in was a minor challenge, only 2 turnstiles for about 500 people, but friendly stewards throughout. I sat on the front row (you can see the seat in the right of the picture here) this gave a good view of the stands except to my left. The stadium is an odd shape, but tidy, compact and able to generate a little noise (not that we had much to shout about).

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

Brentford won 2-0 and deservedly so. Their giant centre back romped about the pitch like Ginola in his pomp and Ericsson pulled all of the strings. West Ham offered little to almost nothing. The atmosphere from them was buoyant (having beaten Chelsea the week before they are on role). Stewarding was friendly and unobtrusive. The toilets were small and queues long. My wife observed the ladies were clean and pleasant enough (which is not often the way)

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game

Getting away was easy. There was a friendly police presence and very polite traffic management We decided to head to Kew (and eventually Kew Gardens). The walk in evening sunshine was peasant as was the pub on Kew Gardens station where we had a late lunch before heading back to Blackhorse Road and home.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out

This was a great day out even though we lost. Lovely sun shine great company (my wife and old friend). Decent pubs and no delays on the train. We will do this again.
Avatar of Ryan Dodds Ryan Dodds
Game AttendedBrentford v Newcastle United
CompetitionPremier League
Date26/02/2022

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?

With this being a brand new ground we were keen to tick this one off. Brentford sounded like a good area with plenty pubs so it didn’t take much persuasion to go down to west London.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

We got the train to Kings Cross from Durham which was fine then took the tube to Vauxhall with the intention of switching to the overground direct to Brentford. This proved difficult as the trains on platform 8 which seemed to be heading west were heading south west, we ended up changing at Clapham Junction as this was a better station to navigate.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

We went to the Kings Arms right by Brentford station for a few before walking over to the New Inn for a swift one prior to walking to the ground. Encountered the odd home fan who was pleasant and helpful. The ground is a short walk from the New Inn but the away turnstiles being a good distance from this end of the ground. A ground that you can’t walk all the way around, so must do a lap of a load of commercial buildings to reach the away turnstiles. At least another 15 minute walk from that corner to the away end.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?

The ground itself is smart with an unusual design when compared to other new grounds, stewarding being rather poor as there are only two entrances for 1,700 fans which led to around 200/300 of us still stuck outside after kick off – arrive in decent time.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

The sunshine was blinding in the first half as it was a lovely day in London so a cap or some sunglasses wouldn’t go a miss. I missed the red card given to Brentford’s Dasilva in the first 10 minutes which sounded like it shifted momentum our way. After this a relatively dominant display saw Newcastle go in 2 goals up before half time and keep it that way in the second 45. A great reception given by both sets of fans to Christian Eriksen after his return to football following his incident at the Euros in 2021. Brentford fans unfortunately quite quiet throughout, with the away support making all the noise.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game

Getting away wasn’t a problem and we walked over to the Esso at Chiswick flyover for a Subway and some train cans. We then got a taxi to Acton Town station which took us directly back to Kings Cross well in time for our 18:30 train back to Durham.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out

A decent day out in a few good pubs with a great result to keep our survival fight pushing on. Although for a new ground this seems like an architect’s nightmare, logistics around the ground and turnstiles problems really put a dampener on an otherwise great day. Would happily return again.
Avatar of Phil Kirby Phil Kirby
Game AttendedBRENTFORD V WOLVES
CompetitionPREMIER LEAGUE
Date22/01/2022

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?

Very keen to get to this game as it would be yet another new ground for me to have seen Wolves play on as well as helping to re-complete my 92. Following many visits to the old Griffin Park it was going to be interesting just how this new build stadium would compare.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Being a Saturday afternoon kick off the journey from The Midlands by road to West London was a very easy ride.We had pre booked to park on a drive from one of the booking websites which meant we did not have to search for a car park. However, our 1.4 miles walk to the stadium taking just over half an hour was not ideal. That said it was very straight forward, most of the walk being on a main road under the A4 flyover. If you head for Windmill Road, W5 there is actually no need to pay as we did as free on road parking is available outside of midweek working hours.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

We spent a bit of time at Kew Bridge which is next to the stadium and where you can eat and drink from a good selection of places but saved our 'chippy' until after we got back to the car with plenty of take aways in the Windmill Road area. Home support was friendly even accepting that we were owed a result after their time wasting from earlier in the season. Cashless inside the stadium but programmes at an incredible £4 could be bought outside.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?

First impressions were of a magnificent piece of civil engineering that had created this stadium. The plot of land is surrounded by existing buildings and railway lines. Incredible that a stadium has been shoe horned into the space available, all concerned should be very proud of their achievement. The away section curled around one corner providing 1600 multi coloured seats. It provided excellent catering and toilet facilities that put many of the older PL grounds to shame. Just £1.50 for tea !

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

What an eventful game, 2 concushion subs, game stopped play by a drone, red card recinded, referees mike on the blink, 3 great goals, Brentford manager sent off and thankfully Wolves getting revenge for earlier in the season. Good atmosphere but with Brentford fairly deflated not quite what we had expected. If only every away ground could be as good as this, very impressed.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game

Easy to get back on our long walk to the car but with a maximum of 17000 in the ground cannot imagine public transport to be the hassle you get at the other London grounds. Despite not being able to move all the way round the outside due to the other buildings and rail lines it was still fairly easy to get away.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out

Brilliant day all round, be proud of your new home Brentford, it may lack the unique feel of Griffin Park but for me it is a winner.
Avatar of Martin H. (AVFC) Martin H. (AVFC)
Game AttendedBrentford vs Aston Villa
CompetitionPremier League
Date02/01/2022

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?

This provided the first chance to see my team play at Brentford's new stadium. I had been to Griffin Park for the three matches we played there during the recent Championship seasons (lost all three!) and I was hoping with a change of stadium the Villa might see a change of results (not to be though!)

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

I travelled to London on the train from the Midlands arriving at Euston mid-morning. I had a personal commitment (had to deliver a late Christmas present to my daughter in Ealing) so I made the journey to Ealing Broadway via the London Underground. Present safely delivered, I then made the trip from Ealing Broadway to Kew Bridge by bus (number 65). Journey took about 20 minutes. Kew Bridge is quite close to the Brentford Community Stadium. Please see below for the journey back to Euston post-match.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

Didn't go for any food / drink outside the stadium so went straight into the ground. Quite a few fans of both teams outside the stadium. No issues here - a very relaxed atmosphere. The stadium is tucked away behind some apartment blocks / car showrooms so initially seemed tricky to find. In particular the away section. However, with the help of a police lady and then a 'lollipop person' (who had a sign with 'away fans' and an arrow showing the way), I was soon there. Quickly down the steps and entered the ground.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?

The stadium is tidy and certainly a big step up from the old Griffin Park. The view from the away end is pretty good. The stadium capacity is 17,250 and I was wondering (given that every Brentford EPL home game is sold out and the away section only holds 1,725) if they should have made the ground a little bigger. That said, the location of the stadium (behind the apartments/showrooms) would probably mean that a bigger stadium would not be feasible.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

Facilities inside the ground were good, and managed to have a couple of enjoyable pre-match pints. As for the game. In the first half Aston Villa started brightly and deservedly went ahead through Danny Ings after some neat play from Emi Buendia. It would have been good for the Villa (and deserved) had they reached half-time still at 0-1 however, Wissa equalised for Brentford just before the break with a good curling shot from just outside the penalty area. Villa were much poorer in the second half and, although didn't appear to be in any trouble, didn't create any meaningful chances either. However, as the game reached the later stages, Brentford started to look more dangerous and Roerslev scored the winner for the Bees with seven minutes to go. Thought that the atmosphere was pretty good overall, and the Brentford fans certainly enjoyed their victory. Sadly another away defeat at Brentford for us Villa fans despite the new stadium.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game

Decided to get the London Underground back to Euston, however I read on the Brentford FC website that the nearest underground station (Gunnersbury) is closed for an hour after each Brentford home match. The next station up the line is Chiswick Park however this appeared to be quite a long walk (30 mins or more perhaps). So I caught the number 267 bus from outside Kew Bridge overground station that travelled up the main road and stopped very close to Chiswick Park Underground station. There were very few football fans at Chiswick Park. After a few minutes wait, caught the tube back to Euston (change at Victoria) and arrived in plenty of time for my train back to the Midlands.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out

Really enjoyed the day out - despite the defeat. Always good to place a 'been to' tick against a new ground. Look forward to visiting the Brentford Community Stadium again in the near future. NB: I might travel via Kew Bridge overground station next time (very close to the stadium). Some friends of mine went via this route and they arrived back at Euston within a couple of minutes of me.
Avatar of STEVEN YARDLEY STEVEN YARDLEY
Game AttendedBrentford v Forrest Green Rovers
CompetitionEFL League Cup
Date24/08/2021

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?

Having been to Griffin Park on a few occasions as a visiting supporter with Birmingham City I wanted to see the new stadium for myself,

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

I travelled up from the South coast by train, changing at Clapham Junction for a connection to Kew Bridge, the stadium is less then a 5 minute walk away, really easy journey.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

On my previous visits to Brentford I have always gone in The ExpressTavern right next to Kew Bridge station for a drink, it was about a mile away from Griffin Park so was'nt so busy then but now it's right next door to the new stadium so was very busy. I decided as it was a Sunny evening to walk across Kew Bridge to The Cricketers on Kew Green where I sat outside having a couple of pints, not your typical match day pub but was nice.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?

The Brentford Community stadium is totally different to the old Griffin Park but I can see why Brentford fans like it, comfortable seats with good views and being a smaller stadium there was a good atmosphere, the away end was in the opposite corner of the ground from where I was seated, did'nt hear alot of noise coming from the Forrest Green fans

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

Even though Forrest Green put up a fight in the end Brentford were to good for them and came out easy winners. Cant comment on food & drink as I did'nt bother queuing up for anything at half time.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game

Very easy I left with about 5 minutes still to play because being an evening match I needed to get a train back to Clapham Junction for my connection back South, no problems at all.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out

Being a late Summer's evening it was nice way to spend an evening, and happy to say it's another stadium I've visited.
Avatar of Ben Ben
Game AttendedBrentford 2-1 Watford
CompetitionPremier League
Date10/12/2021

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?

After a good display but losses to Chelsea & Man City, a game against Brentford was a good chance to really kick our season off. Also was excitement in going to Brentford's new ground. Having been to Griffin Park before (one of my favorite old grounds), I was looking forward to see the new stadium.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Due to possible train strikes and not an easy route from where we traveled from, we drove down and was able to find street parking (Only minor 'commuter' restrictions, so was all fine to park there) about a 20 minute walk from the ground (Popes Lane, just top of Gunnersbury Park). Wasn't bad getting there, the usual Friday night traffic.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

Nearby where we parked, we found a very nice Italian restaurant. Good food (very nice Pizza's) and drinks, it was the highlight of the day. Didn't have any real interactions with Brentford fans before the game.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?

As we got near the ground, we still couldn't see it. It seems to be hidden by all the apartments / car showrooms that surround the stadium which is a bit of a shame. To get the away end we had to walk around all of these showrooms etc. to a narrow sideroad which looked at an apartment block, before heading down some stairs to see the ground and the away end. This was a shame as having liked Griffin Park with it's more traditional football feel, this felt a bit off. Other parts of the surrounding area of stadium were closed off, so you can't walk around the stadium. There was also a home section in this small area which proved problematic later and seems strange because the rest of surrounding area was closed off. The view was good with no poles in the way (unlike many prem grounds). The Stadium looked nice but also a bit strange (felt a bit blocky and compact).

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

The game started a bit flat, but Brentford improved and had a couple of good chances with forced Bachmann to make 2 good saves. We eventually had a chance which hit the post and was cleared, before Dennis headed in from a corner to put us 1-0 up. Nothing much happened in the half really. Second half started and very poor football was on show, no one could keep possession well and we just sat off and from there Brentford controlled the game. We only had 2 half chances the whole half before some poor subs and then the inevitability of Watford's poor defending allowed Brentford to equalise. Their fans turned up, Brentford were up for it and got a penalty in the last minute of stoppage time to hand them a deserved 2-1 win. Overall, a shocking performance from us and we did not deserve anything out of that game. The atmosphere from our fans was good at times (but we have been far better this year). Brentford fans were very quiet and could barley hear them until they made it 1-1 (another change from Griffin park, which had good atmosphere when I went).

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game

After the game there was trouble down that narrow road which seemed likely to happen at some point which does raise the question of why were both sets of fans down that narrow road, when it made sense to keep it away only. We got away quickly, and got back to the car all fine and the drive home was fairly quick.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out

Overall, a very poor performance and frustrating game from us. What is the point of a spirited loss to Chelsea if you can't follow it up with a win or a good performance against the teams around you. While it was nice to see the new ground, it feels a bit strange and losses that football feel to it which is a shame as Griffin Park was one of my favorites. So the only highlight was going 1-0 up and that Italian place.
Avatar of Tim Scales Tim Scales
Game AttendedBrentford 1-2 Norwich City
CompetitionPremier League
Date05/11/2021

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?

A great chance to tick off a new Premier League ground. Not so much looking forward to the match as, at the time of the game, Norwich were winless in 20 Premier League matches...

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

We drove down through London and via the North Circular to go via North Greenwich. From North Greenwich, we hopped on the Jubilee Line before taking the Overground to Gunnersbury. From there, it was a 10-minute walk to the ground.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

Before the game, we went on the tour of the Lord's Cricket Ground which was superb. If you are a big cricket fan, I highly recommend it. As this left us with not much time before kick off, after a quick drink in the Lord's Tavern, we headed for the ground. The home fans seemed harmless enough in the limited interaction we had with them.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?

Nothing will replace Griffin Park but at least Brentford's ground is certainly quirky and unique, perhaps a little bit blocky if you want my humble opinion. That said, we had a superb view from our corner. I also don't like how hidden away it is from the street. If you were walking past, you wouldn't realise it was there. Football clubs are an important part of the community and it seems this club wants to be invisible to its community.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

Norwich played superbly for the first half an hour and raced into a two-goal lead thanks to goals from Mathias Normann and Teemu Pukki, the latter scoring from the spot. Ivan Toney should have received a red card for the hosts, and arguably, so too should Charlie Goode who clattered Pukki for the penalty leading to the second goal. Norwich hung on a bit in the second half, as Brentford looked to have pulled one back through Bryan Mbeumo but VAR pulled it back for offside. Then, Tim Krul completely missed a cross on the hour mark, allowing Rico Henry to notch his first Premier League goal. Luckily, the Brentford onslaught petered out in the dying phases of the game and Norwich held on for their first Premier League win since February 2020. Crumbs! As for atmosphere, I know they were losing to bottom of the table Norwich after 5 minutes, but I was a little disappointed, to be honest. The away fans more than made up for the home noise, but I was probably expecting more. The stewarding inside the ground was fine, but the pre-flight checks before the game seemed rather excessive for a game between two teams that have no history of animosity between each other.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game

We exited the ground rather sharply, before being flummoxed by some less than clear signage for Kew Bridge station. Luckily, we managed to jump on the train to Waterloo with seconds to spare before heading on the River Bus back to North Greenwich. After that, the North Circular wasn't too bad and, whilst stopped off at a McDonald's, we found out that Daniel Farke had been sacked by Norwich. It was probably the right decision, the timing struck me as odd but only time will tell.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out

Overall, a great day from a Norwich perspective to pick up our first win. A very up-and down day with Farke being sacked after a win.
Avatar of Bob Bayliss Bob Bayliss
Game AttendedBrentford v Oldham Athletic
CompetitionCarabao Cup Round 3
Date21/09/2021

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?

Another new ground for us to visit. Game number 140!!

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

We drove from Nottingham to Cockfosters Underground (easy parking). Piccadilly Line direct to Acton Town tube station taking just under an hour. Then quite a lengthy but pleasant half hour walk (1.5 miles) cutting through Gunnersbury Park to the ground. Easy to find and plenty of helpful stewards to direct you when you get to the stadium .

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

Took our own (as they say in Nttm) 'snap' and no time to visit any pubs to sample beer/food. The fans we met all very friendly

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?

As a spanking new ground it looks very good externally. We sat with the Bee's supporters behind the goal in Upper Block W233. Excellent view. Internally the ground is very attractive although the concourse areas are a little cramped and disjointed but all very well signposted. We could see the away supporters on the far side wedged into one corner.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

It was a cracking game from a Bee's point of view with Brentford getting a pen in first few minutes and winning 7 (SEVEN) nil - the last goal being a peach of an overhead kick! Quite clearly a massive gulf between a Prem. team and one at the bottom of League 2. Given the current problems the Latic's have both off and on the pitch, I felt sorry for their supporters who tried very hard to encourage their team - even cheering whenever they got the ball!! We did not sample the food but the many stewards around were very helpful.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game

Getting out was no problem with stewards even helping outside to cross very busy roads. The walk back to the tube seemed lengthy (but maybe I'm getting old!). We got straight on the tube which was virtually empty. The roads around Cockfosters very quite so no issue getting out of the carpark

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out

A really enjoyable evening although with the M1 closed we drove back up the A1 only to find that was closed further north and a diversion in place meaning we got back home about 2a.m. Tired but happy to have seen a goal fest!!! (If only we could see one at The City ground!!!)
Avatar of Ben Bronx Ben Bronx
Game AttendedBrentford 7-0 Oldham Athletic
CompetitionEFL Cup Third Round
Date21/09/2021

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?

I was looking forward to re-completing the Premier League grounds and visiting Brentford's new stadium for the first time.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

I took the train to Kew Bridge station. It's really handy using public transport to get to Brentford as the stadium is right next door to the railway station.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

I arrived about 30-40 minutes before kick-off and had a quick look around the outside of the ground.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?

The ground doesn't appear imposing from the outside but once you get inside you really appreciate how they were able to fit a football stadium into such a tight space. As soon as you hit the concourse you are struck by how red everything is. Red signs, red stairs leading to the upper tier and red lights on the ceilings. It may sound a bit too much but they seem to make it work. The stadium isn't the largest but the way it has been designed it manages to create a good atmosphere with the sound bouncing around the stadium. I'm very much a traditionalist and prefer older grounds/stadiums but Brentford deserve credit as they have done a fantastic job with the Brentford Community Stadium.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

The game was extremely one-sided with Brentford running out comfortable 7-0 winners. It was also historic as it was Brentford's biggest ever victory in the history of the League Cup. Marcus Forss scored four of the goals but the best goal of the evening came in the 87th minute of the game when Yoane Wissa scored with a bicycle kick.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game

It took a little longer than expected to get back to the station as I wasn't aware you couldn't enter the railway station from the same area that you exit it from prior to the match. If you are heading back to Kew Bridge after the match there is a different entrance to the station near where the visiting teams coach parks.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out

A thoroughly enjoyable evening and a bargain at £10 for adults in the League Cup.
Avatar of Mike smith Mike smith
Game AttendedBrentford v Brighton
CompetitionPremier league
Date11/09/2021

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?

First away game since covid and also a brand new ground to visit so was really looking forward to this

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

We left Brighton by coach around 11 and had a good journey up until the M25 where we hit traffic and took a good 45 mins to get though then had to go up via twickenham as the M4 was closed due to roadworks and it was really bad traffic getting though there right to the ground where we arrived around 1.30pm the coach parking is in capital interchange way where there’s lots of new flats being built from there you can access the away end by the railway bridge

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

On arrival I went straight in hoping to get a burger but they don’t sell burgers or hot dogs or pies seemingly the offering was only texacan burger a wrap or curry that’s it so no good to a fussy eater like myself I ended getting a coffee and a pack of crisps with chocolate bar to tick me over didn’t see many home fans but the ones I did see where a friendly bunch

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?

You can’t see much of the ground from outside it’s very tucked in between a railway line and the new flats around the away section but on entry it looks a really neat new stadium the away fans are housed in the corner between the goal and corner flag it’s a very impressive stadium

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

The game wasn’t probably the best Brentford probably had the better chances but Brighton where able to nick a late winner and come away with the 3 points, the facilities are brand new and it has a very new feel to the inside as you’d expect from a new stadium, the stewards I encountered where very friendly and welcoming no issues there

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game

Getting away was pretty straight forward back on the coach and we were away fairly quickly and was a much quicker journey home than up was back in Brighton by 7pm

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out

A great day was had pleased my team won really like Brentford’s new stadium but was disappointed with the hot food choice but that didn’t effect my experience really and would definitely go back there again
Avatar of Kevin McCann Kevin McCann
Game Attendedv Brighton
CompetitionPremier League
Date11/09/2021

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?

I was looking forward to many things, the new ground to visit, lots of nice pubs in the area, 3pm kick off and a hot September Saturday. The stadium looked pretty interesting from the TV and pictures that I’d seen so I was looking forward to seeing it for myself.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Got the train from Sussex, change at Clapham Junction to the over ground to Kew Bridge and the stadium was one of the first things I saw when I got off the train. Easy to get to and lots of public transport in the vicinity.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

Home fans were great, very chatty and Friendly. Snaffled a sandwich from the Sainsbury’s local across from the train station then we all went to a pub called the Steam Packet down by the river. The pub is about an 8 min walk to the ground. Stood in the sun and had a few pints prior to the match. Pub was quite busy but not crazy pre match. So many places around the ground to eat and drink you are spoilt for choice.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?

First impressions were a little bit muted as the ground is kind of hidden by a lot of building work on flats and other buildings. Luckily they have stuck massive Brentford badges on the outside of the stadium so you can identify what parts are stadium and what is flats. Inside it looks smart and quite unique for a new build. The main Stand has a massive TV for replays. I liked that you could see the tower of the former Kew Bridge Waterworks in the corner opposite where the away fans are situated.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

The away end is quite tight and has a low roof so the Albion fans made a great racket in there. I think it will become a place away fans like to visit for this reason. The game was not one that will live long in the memory apart from the 90th minute winner From Trossard. The big let-down was that there was no beer and no pies served in the away end, why? There was some Lamb thing, Chicken burger or a falafel Wrap on offer. Very disappointing indeed. Toilets seemed small but lots of them so there was no issue, guess the lack of beer may have kept toilets quieter that in other grounds! Stewards that I met were very friendly and happy to help.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game

Getting away from the ground was simple enough. Most of the Brentford fans had left while we all stayed to celebrate the cheeky 90th min victory and sing our hearts out. The pub we’d been to before was mobbed so we walked down the river and found another pub to celebrate in.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out

Great wee ground, great result, lovely area for a few pints all let down a little by the no beer or pies in the ground. Over all I would be happy to visit again.
Avatar of Andrew Davidson Andrew Davidson
Game AttendedBrentford v Forest Green Rovers
CompetitionCarabao cup second round
Date24/08/2021

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?

Brentford’s new ground was one, like a lot of fans, I needed to visit towards the 92 and this match was very easy and cheap to attend at only £10 for adults.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

I traveled from East Croydon station via Clapham junction to Kew bridge. The ground is literally next to the platform and you can’t miss it!!

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

I went for a walk. down by the Thames by Kew bridge, seeing many friendly, cheerful home and away fans, all glad to be back at a match.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?

The ground is squeezed into a small piece of land, but is very modern and sight lines are wonderful. The FGR fans, who were loud throughout, were housed in the far corner. The only criticism of the ground was that I felt that the legroom could have been a little more generous.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

The game was an exciting cup tie with FGR putting up an impressive performance and the home side only prevailing in the second half thanks to quality substitutions. The stewards were very friendly and I had just a couple of Diet Coke’s, which were quite expensive.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game

The club funnels fans under a tunnel back into Kew bridge, which was fairly quick, and I caught a fast train reversing my journey home.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out

I really enjoyed the new venue and would be keen to return perhaps for a London Irish rugby match.
Avatar of Dominic Dominic
Game AttendedBrentford v Forest Green Rovers
CompetitionLeague Cup, 2nd round
Date24/08/2021

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?

Seeing FGR (while top of league two, having won every league game since the start of the season) play a (admittedly newly promoted) premier league team, in a brand new stadium (the 2nd non-friendly game with crowds there), in London - what's not to love about every part of this? No expectations of winning, but, well, you never know...

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Very near Kew Bridge station. It has to be said that the more remote separate entrance to the away end (and certain home gates) is not at all well-signposted (yet) - there were "Lollipop ladies" with signs indicating (part of) the route to these. Short Version, head for Capital Interchange Way, and carry along, and you'll see it on the left, over a small bridge.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

Got the train into Kew Bridge, there were lots of Brentford fans around, everywhere it seemed, in West London. A friendly bunch. I didn't go to the pub, but there are several in the area (especially down on the Thames at Strand-on-the-Green) I've been to in the past, generally agreeable plaecs.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?

It's brand new! And much smarter and more characterful than most new major football stadiums built in the UK in recent years (decades)! It's crammed in by railway lines. Away end - a corner area near one of the goals. Sightlines were uniformly excellent. And a really good place to make a lot of noise, as we did (not just singing, banging the metallic bit on the back wall too). Really good. A smart, characterful ,and not identikit ground. The view of a water tower in a gap between two stands is a memorable touch!

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

First half of the game was end-to-end, and, while neither side was at full strength, I really don't think it was at all obvious which team was in the Premier League and which three divisions lower. FGR goalie Lewis Thomas made some incredible saves, and we sneaked a lead eight minutes in. Both teams were quite aggressive and high-paced on the pitch, and several injuries ensued, but really exciting stuff. In the second half Brentford made some changes, to bring in less fringe players, and we started to tire a bit - it was now clear which side was premier league. We sang and sang and sang and chanted and mocked and had fun. An exhilarating atmosphere. Stewards - friendly, mostly unobtrusive, but probably some should have been placed in the area between home and away fans rather earlier than that was the case. Of course we largely stood up most of the time, with no complaint or hassle. Food (no pies!) - a small selection (falafel flatbread, chicken burger, lamb schwarma) seemed high-class and tasty, and, by London standards, not overpriced. Rather decent, and better than, at least, most lower league fare. No booze served in away end, which given the stadium has London Pride as a sponsor seems harsh.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game

I knew getting back into Kew Bridge station after the game (>12,000 turnout) would be slow and painful (and trains run only every half hour, anyway), so walked further along towards the centre of Brentford to get a bus to take me onwards.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out

An excellent evening of pure entertainment, with really no downsides, on or off the pitch.
Avatar of MR MICHAEL K LEBEZ MR MICHAEL K LEBEZ
Game AttendedBrentford v West Ham
CompetitionFriendly
Date31/07/2021

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?

First away game since before Covid and also seeing the new Brentford ground.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Travelled by train to Kew Bridge from Clapham Junction. The ground is about 100yards from the Kew Bridge station. As it was a friendly game the train was not too full and the journey was pleasant.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

Met up with fellow supporters who I had not seen since before Covid. The atmosphere was relaxed inside and outside the ground.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?

The ground seems to be squeezed in between industrial units and offices. Away supporters should cross over the railway bridge and walk 50yards to the traffic lights. (Do not turn immediately left after the bridge as away fans will not be able to get into the ground this way!) At the lights turn left and walk another 50yards. On your left you will have a wide path which leads to the away turnstiles.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

The game was a typical friendly pre season match with a liberal number of substitutes used in the second half. The stewards were very helpful and took me to my seat. The seat numbers were not in numerical sequence which was strange. The seats were in a variety of colours (greens, yellows, white and mauves) which gave the impression that the ground was full when in fact it was only about one third capacity. West Ham sold out their allocation of 900. It looked as if away support for league games would be about 2000 based on the available space in our section.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game

Getting away from the ground was easy and I managed to get onto a train at Kew Bridge which was waiting at the platform (about 5.00pm)

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out

A relaxed day of going to a game football after a long period of lockdown. A good gentle introduction to being amongst football crowds without being crushed or jostled along.
Avatar of Michael S Kimberley Michael S Kimberley
Game AttendedBrentford V West Ham United
CompetitionFriendly
Date31/07/2021

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?

I had a ticket for the Championship game against Reading last December but I was unable to go as Boris called us back to lockdown. I was keen to see what the new ground was like at long last.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

I travelled by train to Kew Bridge, which is served by traIns from Waterloo and Clapham Junction. The station is right next to the ground and therefore ideal.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

I have always found Brentford a family club with a pleasant atmosphere and the new ground feels no different.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?

The new ground looks very well designed though possibly a bit small. The leg-room in the stand was good which it was not at Griffin Park. There is a large screen showing the match at the half-way line on both sides of the pitch. The roof seems a little short: it is fine if the rain falls vertically but add a little wind and the first few front rows get wet. The food on offer was a bit limited: sausage rolls, balti pie etc. No burgers or chips.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

The game was reasonably exciting for a friendly. Brentford held their own until the 66th minute when Said Benrahma conjured a superb curling shot from 20 yards that no keeper could have stopped.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game

I estimated the crowd to be no more than 4,000 and it was quick to leave the stadium easy to board a train back to London. It might not be quite so easy when there is a capacity 17,000 attendance.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out

It was good to get inside the new ground and although I suspect Brentford will struggle in the Premier League, they have a home that the fans can be proud of, is well presented that should have an excellent atmosphere. All in all a very pleasant day out despite the heavy rain before kick off.