If You Know Yer History delves into the rich tapestry of Brentford’s past, recalling tales that shaped the club and its supporters. In this edition, Billy “TheBee” Grant looks back at the brief, faux rivalry with Leyton Orient, taking fans to September 2013 when Orient’s taunts were met with a dominant Brentford performance.
He revisits the aftermath of that clash, including Russell Slade’s infamous claim that Brentford’s bench “celebrated like they’d won the cup” – a comment that only fuelled Bees fans’ passion and creativity for the rest of the season. Through humour, insight, and a touch of nostalgia, this piece captures a memorable chapter in Griffin Park history.
Brentford fans know all about the Fulham rivalry. We know about QPR too – their attempted takeover of Brentford back in ’67 kicked off that little love affair.
But less Bees will remember our so-called “rivalry” with Leyton Orient in the early Teens.
I say rivalry… really it was one-way.
For years, Orient was just another fixture. Then suddenly, September 2013 rolls around and O’s fans start calling us “The Scum.” Out of nowhere. It felt a bit like when Fulham fixate on their so called Chelsea rivalry and Chelsea fans shrug and move on with barely noticing.
Maybe the beef started the season before. January 2013, ex-Bee turned pantomime villain Martin Rowlands scored for Orient against The Bees on a freezing cold Tuesday night. He then sprinted the length of Griffin Park to the Ealing Road, badge-kissing and pointing furiously at Brentford fans. To say it didn’t go down well is an understatement.
By September 2013 Orient were flying. They were on seven straight league wins and flying at the top of the league when they came to Griffin Park. They turned up mob-handed and were noisy.
They won 2-0.
Top of the table by five points. Twelve clear of mid-table Brentford.
Division 1 Table 23rd September 2013 after Orient beat Brentford 2-0
Orient were flying.
Cue the abuse:
“Mind the gap.”
“We beat the scum 2-0.”
With Matthew Benham buying the club a year earlier and Uwe Rösler brought in to get Brentford to play better football, fans sensed the dawn of an exciting new era. But with that result and an all-too-familiar 12th spot in the table, Bees fans were bracing themselves for yet another season of mid-table mediocrity.
Fast-forward six months. Wolves had found form. Orient started to wobble. Brentford had surged up the table.
When the return match approached in March, Orient were clinging onto 2nd spot and Brentford were in 3rd place with games in hand.
It was winner takes all.
The Bees fans came in numbers – boats down the river Thames and all sorts. Orient bizarrely gave us the whole East Stand. 3600 tickets. To say we brought the noise is an understatement as you can see in the mayhem in the matchday video below.
Trotta scores. The place erupts.
Final whistle. Bedlam.
The Brentford bench goes wild.
Cue Russell Slade as he rants in a TV interview (below):
“They celebrated like they’d won the Cup.”
And yes, we did because that day felt like winning the cup. It was a turning point for Brentford, paving the way to promotion.
That line came back to haunt him. As you can see on the video, Bees fans sang the cup celebration songs every game until the end of the season, waving trophies and FA Cups with Slade’s face on them.
In the end, Brentford nicked 2nd place and automatic promotion. Orient slipped to 3rd and then blew a 2-0 Wembley lead to lose the play-off final against Rotherham.
In the summer, their star man Moses Odubajo jumped ship to Griffin Park – and became a Bees favourite.
And the moral of the story?
Never … ever … start singing too soon.
Because it is, as we often say on the Beesotted Podcast, a nine-month season.
Check our more Brentford If You Know Yer History on our podcasts on Pride Of West.London including a journey through Brentford’s terrace songs on the Great Brentford Songbook which can be found if you click here.
Billy TheBee Grant
@billythebee99
