Brentford’s visit to Craven Cottage on Good Friday will be a real blast from the past for many Bees fans – for the generation who were die-hards in the Eighties and Nineties the trip to the banks of the Thames for derby matches with the Cottagers was a regular (and largely successful) occurrence – and some genuine classics were served up by the players of day. Looking back through the Big Brentford Books really does spark some amazing recollections, and if you haven’t got a copy of these books on your shelves at home, you really are missing a trick.
Below is a selection of real Cottage Gems – games where Bees fans witnessed some perfect away days – and cheered on players who really dug deep for the club… exactly the kind of spirit that will be required on Good Friday by the Class of 2015.
1981/82
Sat 29th August: Fulham (A) Won 2-1 Attendance: 7,632
A late flourish from the home side threatened to spoil an impressive opening day performance, despite Fulham taking a 7th minute lead which was cancelled out shortly afterwards when David Crown’s darting run into the penalty box ended with him being fouled – Barry Tucker converted the spot-kick (pictured below). The decisive goal came seconds before half-time when Ron Harris chipped in a free-kick from the edge of the area and, under pressure from Bob Booker, home defender Brown stabbed the ball into his own net. The photo above shows Brentford’s Terry Hurlock wearing the mythically-rare light blue Brentford Adidas kit during the game.
1986/87
Sat 13th September: Fulham (A) Won 3-1 Attendance: 4,820
A fifth successive defeat seemed on the cards when the hosts took an 11th minute lead in the monsoon-like rain, but just before the break a superb move ended with Robbie Cooke turning in an accurate centre for Gary Stevens to smash home from close range. In the 53rd minute Tony Obi’s corner was headed on by Stevens for Robbie Cooke to score with a spectacular overhead kick and the comeback was complete when Tony Obi ran half the length of the field before passing to Francis Joseph (pictured below scoring in the home game with Fulham), who lashed in a stinging shot.
1987/88
Mon 28th December: Fulham (A) Drew 2-2 Attendance: 9,369
Gary Blissett lashed out at the Fulham goalkeeper Jim Stanard in the 16th minute and was shown his third red card of the season (pictured below), all of which had been received for violent conduct. Ten man Brentford took the lead in the 54th minute when Terry Evans rose to head in a cross from Graham Rix but within a minute Rix conceded a penalty for the equaliser. Paul Birch then scored after 72 minutes when he raced from the half-way line, shrugging off two defenders to fire home, before the hosts equalised again three minutes from time.
1988/89
Mon 2nd January: Fulham (A) Drew 3-3 Attendance: 8,120
In a season where we visited Craven Cottage three times, drawing two (Littlewoods Cup and the League) but winning the Sherpa Vans game 2-0, this New Year’s clash was the standout contest. A dismal opening period saw our rivals take a two-goal lead inside the first 25 minutes, but a roaring comeback started in the 39th minute when Terry Evans’ free-kick was misjudged by the keeper and Andy Sinton lobbed the ball back into the net from almost 30 yards. The scores were level before the break as Kevin Godfrey converted a 43rd minute cross after some trickery from Richard Cadette, then seven minutes into the second half, a corner from Andy Sinton was headed goalwards by Terry Evans and diverted into the roof of the net by the head of Richard Cadette. The home side had the final say with a 64th minute equaliser.
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