How many times have you had to change your plans to ensure that you attend a must-see Brentford football match? We call it that Nick Hornby ‘Fever Pitch’ moment. The moment his wife tried to get him to tie down a summer holiday BEFORE the forthcoming season’s fixtures had been announced for the next season and he skilful avoided making any commitment. At the time. 

We’ve all been there. 

On this week’s Beesotted Pride of West London Podcast from the Meat Market, we discussed this very issue.

One of the Beesotted crew flagged up a potential predicament – with there being (admittedly a very low – 10%) chance of a Brentford Playoff Final appearance at Wembley this season co-insiding with a must go-to family wedding. However, in the world of football fans, any percentage over 0% means there’s always a chance.  So we flagged this potential scenario up with Bees fans and asked how many people have had a similar scenario – having to change their plans to attend a Brentford football match? 

Ever had to change your plans or go completely out of your way to ensure you we able to attend a big #brentfordfc game? Or any game even? We’ll be discussing on this week’s https://t.co/xSzYftaqVq podcast from a pub in Spitalfields – live 7am Thursday

— Beesotted Brentford (@Beesotted) January 10, 2018

Unsurprisingly, the response was phenomenal.  Whereas some fans will be happy to watch a game on TV if that becomes an option, there are plenty of fans who will move hell or high water to ensure that they are there on the day – to shout their team on from behind the goal. 

There was the ‘coming back from holiday for just one day for the big game’ malarkey

@Hammytanner and myself had a holiday booked to Portugal over the playoff final (vs Yeovil) flew back for the game, then flew back to Portugal the following day. 1st football shirt we saw back in Portugal was a Yeovil shirt

— Laurie 🐝 (@LJ_Hicksy) January 10, 2018

There’s the olde ‘armed services lie’ trick

On a delayed flight told them I was in the army and had to be back, they put me on another flight.

— Bigjbees (@yourgetusetoit2) January 10, 2018

There is the olde ‘friendship severance’ moment

I missed my best friends wedding to go and watch Bees play Wigan at Wembley with my dad… mum went to the wedding on her own!

— Caroline Lane (@caz_lane) January 10, 2018

There was the impeccably-timed freeloading

Joined international student society at Univ of Wton when saw they had free bus daytrip to Cambridge the same day Bees playing there. As the group was preparing to visit the sights, I legged it off to the Abbey stadium and sheepishly got back on the bus after the match. (0-0)

— Andrew Cooper (@HongKongBee) January 11, 2018

There was the rumbled by the media moment

Told my ex-wife couldn’t go to Rick Astley concert due to working so that i could go the FA cup replay v Peterboro. Got back to in laws to see goals on BBC and me and my mate were the faces in the crowd celebrating the winning goal. Divorce followed!

— rob young (@robnotso) January 10, 2018

And there was the fear of the rumble by media moment

called in sick when we played Sudbury at Colchester in the cup – then soent the entire 90 minutes panicking that i would be caught on camera!

— Andy Harris Cricket (@aawharris77) January 10, 2018

There’s the ‘making the wrong choice’ moment

I missed my best friends wedding to go and watch Bees play Wigan at Wembley with my dad… mum went to the wedding on her own!

— Caroline Lane (@caz_lane) January 10, 2018

There was the olde wedding detour

There was the ‘co-ordination with weekend planned activity’ malarkey 

Not sure if this counts but in the closing weeks of the League One promotion season I convinced Jo to go walking in the Peak District, starting in Oldham (Athletic) on a Saturday afternoon & finishing in Sheffield (United) on the Tuesday evening.

— Matt Allard (@theMattAllard) January 10, 2018

There was the ‘ensuring the whole team suffers’ due to one player’s non-attendance trick

Had to get our U16’s league game cancelled for the Chelsea Away (replay) as it was broadcasted on TV therefore moves to Sunday.

— Scott James Whittart (@miniwhits5) January 10, 2018

There was the small affair of a sibling’s christening

Just my sons christening, arranged for two months, so rearranged for Saturday, church not happy

— jo whelan (@jowhelan63) January 10, 2018

 
                      Of course there was the olde ‘doctors’ letter’

Once lied saying I had a doctors appointment to get a half day off school for Middlesbrough away in the playoffs. Two kids in front of me signed out saying ‘going to Middlesbrough’

— Rowan Caldwell (@caldwellrowan29) January 10, 2018

There was the olde taking a leaf out of the owner’s book – ‘bunking off school to make important football match’ trick

Haha @chrisbrentford @willtubb and I sneaked out of a school assembly one Friday afternoon to make it on time for Swansea away evening kickoff. Friends for life after that.

— Jak (@jaklinsell) January 10, 2018

There was the ‘promotion is far more important than new job’ stalling

Delayed the start of a new job in Spain in 1992 to see out the season!

— MadsyMcMadsFace (@Laalalane) January 10, 2018

There was the case of taking that nasty man Norman Tebbitt too literally by getting ‘On yer bike’ story

Home play-off leg v Boro. I was working on C4 News til 7.30. Bribed a friend to pick me up from Holborn on his motorbike. Honestly thought I was going to die on the way!!

— Ali Mullaley (@alimullaley) January 10, 2018

Then there was a case of …. maybe missing the match wasnt the best thing. Hope everything is OK now mate.

Billy Grant
@BillyTheBee99

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