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When Brentford played Preston in January, we were invited by a group of lads who we had met a few season ago – when Preston came down to Brentford on their annual Gentry day away day – to come up and hang with them for the day and they showed us the town.

You may or may not know, every year Preston North End fans choose an away match day to celebrate fans and players who have passed away. The day is less of a memorial and more of a celebration as they dress up in bowler hats, suits and dresses and basically have a jolly good day out.

This year they have chosen Bolton as their annual knees up – with 4,500 PNE fans making the short trip to the other side of Lancashire to celebrate all things Preston.

Myself and Dave Lane have been doing a number of non-Brentford filming projects recently for . We thought our trip to Preston would be a great opportunity to kill two birds with one stone and get some real insight from the Lancashire lads and lasses as to what Gentry Day really means to the people of Preston.

It was a great day out and the one thing we got when talking to the guys was a really insight into how emotional and important Gentry Day is for these fans . It  creates an unique identity for Preston North End whilst also ensuring that Preston fans who have passed away will never be forgotten.

There was a poignant moment for me this weekend. The 24 minute applause of Dan Langford – the Brentford fan who sadly passed away recently- against Charlton on Saturday was I feel a ‘gentry day moment’. And it when I was editing the video (above) the following day that it hit home to me that Brentford could really do with a similar long-term remembrance event.

We all know fans who have passed away. The closest ones to me are probably the infamous Bernie Watson – the legendary Bee who supposedly lived in a cottage with a red and white striped roof with a big Bee on top. And also James Kyllo – who infamously appeared on University Challenge allegedly only answering one question. We worked together in the music industry – he was at Creation Records at the height of the Oasis era – and my boss at the time gave me £50 to take him to the pub  before the 1995 Huddersfield playoff match to ensure we secured an Oasis exclusive for a compilation I was working on at the time.

But there are others. Tony Ross. Hughie Bryant. James Pettifer. ex-chairman Martin Lange.

But, despite efforts from certain parties to keep their spirit alive, it’s not that easy as there is no real memorial to bring all these Bees together at the same time.

So myself and Dave Lane have been chatting to a few of our Bees crew – and we’re thinking we may see if we can try and do something special next season. We are looking to revamp the Beesotted website over the summer and are thinking of dedicating a section to fans and players who have passed – giving them their own memorial page with a biog and photos and and area where others can write short stories about them in.

A few of us have also decided to dedicate a day to the Brentford fans and players we know who have passed – just like Preston have done with Gentry Day. It won’t be a ‘Gentry Day’ as such as that belongs to Preston. But between us, we will find something that is uniquely Brentford.

This is something that a few of us have decided to do anyway. It’s not ‘official’. And there is no compulsion for other fans to get involved. But we would be delighted if others would join us (once we have worked out the details) to make this day something special.

Preston North End have showed us how a football community can really pull together. They should be proud of what they have achieved with their Gentry Day celebration.

Hopefully Brentford can follow in their steps – but in their own unique way.

Keep you ears peeled. Any ideas you may have, just email them through on beesotted1992(at)gmail.com

Billy Grant
@BillytheBee99