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Brentford head to sunny Portugal this week to take on their illustrious hosts, Benfica, in a preseason friendly. Many Bees fans have made the trip to see Thomas Frank’s side take on one of the most famous names in European football, however, if Brentford’s first visit to Lisbon, back in 1936, is anything to go by, there could be some filthy tactic employed by Roger Schmidt’s team at Estádio da Luz on Thursday evening.

Pictured left: The Benfica and Brentford team before the 5-0 1936 match.
Pictured above: A Portugese magazine showing action from the 4-4 draw with Lisboa.

“Never Again. The Filthiest Football I Have Seen.”
“BITES, HACKS, KICKS” A Human Bull Fight in which Portugese Players “Went Mad”

The Brentford F.C. party which, during the past fortnight, has been visiting Portugal, returned to London on Wednesday night. The following morning “Argus” obtained from Mr. Harry Curtis an exciting and full account of the “Bees” adventures in Lisbon.

In vivid sentences, Manager Curtis tells how players of the Champion Sporting Club, the Portugese cup-holders, went “mad” in the last game of the three. How they hacked, bit, and jumped on prostrate opponents. How one player ran 10 yards and kicked Bateman while he was on the ground. How he himself had to run down on to the field and intervene in a dog-fight between 20 players because the referee and linesmen had walked off. How he threatened to withdraw his team from this “human bull fight” unless some order was obtained.

And many other interesting things which occurred on this colourful trip. How the home crowd whistled at their own players on one occasion because of the foulness of their play. No wonder Brentford are proud of returning unbeaten, their record being: versus Lisboa, 4-4; versus Benfica Club, League Champions, 5-0; and versus Champion Sporting Club, cup-holders, 2-1.

Brentford returned home to London 88 years ago unbeaten, although bruised and with teeth marks my the sounds of it, and here’s hoping that all those Brentford fans who have flown over from London see a repeat of the 5-0 scoreline that Harry Curtis’ team achieved back in the day.

Dave Lane