Bees 5 - Sheff Wed 0 (7th March, 2020) (1 Viewer)

[BEEcool]

Exactly 1 year ago today - feels more like 10. Still not sure it’s fully sunk in that was the last time the vast majority of us watched a live game at GP. I can’t claim to remember too much about the game or day generally to be honest, there was no real reason to, felt like a ‘regular’ game day at GP which I guess in some ways made a nice farewell.

 

[Simon W]

It doesn’t feel weird anymore not going to a game every Saturday ... I am so used to not going now

 

[horshambees]

Like many others I know that this is the longest time I have spent not going to watch Brentford play.
A whole year and maybe a few more months yet.

 

[Downbeat Bee]

It doesn’t feel weird anymore not going to a game every Saturday ... I am so used to not going now

It still feels weird to me.

 

[KenCootesNephew]

I just remember it as a cracking day out, as usual, with a better than usual 5-0 win.
Me and my brother got chatting to a couple of Wednesday lads on the train back.
They offered a 'well done' handshake when we got off at Clapham Junction.
We politely declined. ''Better not mate. Don't know what might happen with this poxy virus .......''

 

[ruislip bee]

It doesn’t feel weird anymore not going to a game every Saturday ... I am so used to not going now

I know what you mean. It was an unwritten understanding. Bees at home on a Saturday afternoon - I'm going and we build our weekend around that. Now it's difficult to get the time to sit down to watch a match on a Saturday afternoon. I've missed a loads. Previously it was my me time. Out the house for 4 or 5 hours. Meet my mate, catch up, have a couple of beers and a laugh. Watch the game and meet the rest of our group. I just hope things go back to the way they were without huge arguments once we're allowed back in to matches.

 

[Stanley]

Our whole world has been turned upside down pretty much since that very day. An unforgettable game and an unforgettable few moments looking round GP as we walked up the ER steps on the way out knowing in our hearts we would not be back.

 

[Alex]

It doesn’t feel weird anymore not going to a game every Saturday ... I am so used to not going now

Same, and getting so used to watching it on TV that, that doesn't feel strange either.

 

[GP200]

Same, and getting so used to watching it on TV that, that doesn't feel strange either.

...............unable to watch and enjoy games on TV..............especially away games that I ought be at..............

 

[TorbayBee]

Fabulous day. Travelled up in the train in the morning with Mrs TB. Couple of pints and some food in the Black Dog. Into the New Road and for some strange reason I recorded the Ealing Road doing Hey Jude just before kick off. Little did I know it was the last time ever that would happen. Met our son later in Kew for a great meal. Home next day . Perfect!!

 

[badgerbee]

As he wasn’t a ST holder, I knew my Dad wouldn’t get to the Barnsley game, so we chose this one to be his last ever game at GP, with him having first gone over 65 years ago.
Me and my sister swapped our ER STs for seats in New Road so that we could all be together, as our Dad isn’t able to stand for 90 minutes these days.
So glad, we could all be there together and, like others, suspected it could be the last ever with fans, so had a quick glance over my shoulder on the way out. But I still feel “robbed” of saying our final farewells, particularly as we’d also planned on going to the Wigan game the following month with my son and daughter........
Did the “final tour” thing back in August, but nothing will be able to make up for what it would have meant to have been there for the real, final time.......

 

[Houghton Bee]

Just by chance my brother and a mate decided on this being their likely last visit even before Covid was on the horizon, so I gave up my New Road ST seat for the terrace and we opted to do the 4 corner pubs one last time pre-game. Glad we did, great day (we went for a bit of a post-game pub crawl through London as well) but it wasn't the day GP deserved or needed bar the result. The other downer was my dad had a fall a couple of weeks prior to the game and couldnt use my ST as planned so never got a chance to say his goodbye to the ground he'd attended since the early 70s.

I dont think, even having attended the final tours in summer, its really sunk in for me, maybe it never will.

 

[Outlander]

Decided due to work that this would be the last game for me at GP. It was also the first game at GP for my then 5 year old (having done several northern away games) We also came down with my dad who has been supporting since the 50s. Did the whole day out in London thing with the boy before and after as he had never been to London before.
Seems almost surreal that was pretty much the last normal thing we did. Also an incredibly bitter sweet sort of feeling that we were at the last game at GP with fans.
My overriding feeling still is that I am gutted for those who didn’t make it “one last time” for all that I am grateful I did, and my boy did for “one first time”

 

[Invipai]

Was just glad I made it...only made the decision to attend on the Tuesday or so (was based in Manchester at the time). I bought a ticket via the ticket exchange, and chose New Road for the first time since the Wrexham FA Cup game in 2011! I was sat right behind the dugouts which was good!

Next season we'll open with a full Lionel Road hopefully! We're not too far away now in the grand scheme of things...

 

[Garybaldbee]

I still can't quite believe that after more than 45 years visiting Griffin Park I missed what was to all intents and purposes the last game there. I'd panicked earlier in the year when I discovered that friends were getting married on the same day as the (originally scheduled) Barnsley match, but had come up with a cunning plan to get to both match and wedding - only to then be caught out by a holiday in early March. The day of the Sheffield Wednesday game was one of those 'once in a lifetime' holiday experiences in a beautiful part of Argentina but when I think back to it all I recall was being glued to the GPG following the goals going in and trying to dismiss a nagging worry that I might be missing a far more significant moment back home. All of which means that the last match I went to was San Lorenzo against Lanus in the Argentine top flight that same weekend. That's not quite the way it was meant to be

Maybe it was for the best though. I'd dreaded saying goodbye to GP and the emotion of that last lingering look round. I'm hoping that come August, when, fingers crossed, we'll all be back, the passage of time and the familiarity gained from seeing the new ground so often on TV will help cushion the sheer weirdness of going somewhere other than Griffin Park to watch our beloved Bees.

 

[Ealing Bee]

I wasn't sure I'd be able to make this game, so didn't bother buying a ticket in advance (obv).

An hour or so before kick-off, it still wasn't looking possible, but I took a long, mourneful look at the ticket website, just to punish myself - all Sold Out.

Then at 2.45, I suddenly realised I could go, went onto the website and got what I think was the last ticket on sale anywhere, a seat in the New Road. I'm certain it hadn't shown up when I'd looked previously, so maybe someone cancelled?

Anyhow, I bombed it to GP and got in with 10 mins gone. I was sitting amidst two or three families with kids. They were all local, but the adults weren't really interested in football (more rugby fans, in truth), so it was their first time at GP, and only because the kids had been nagging them to take them to a football match.

Any football match.

And what a match it was!

Best of all, the Mum sitting next to me was from Sheffield and was a bit of a Wednesdayite, having gone to the odd game up there when she was younger.

I didn't take the piss.

Too badly.

Anyhow, whilst many people are wistful and sad due to it being the final game etc, I've not taken it so badly, basically because I was so close to not even being there.

 

[horshambees]

Had a wander around Griffin Park on Sunday afternoon and sad to see the Big black boards up even on the corner of the Brook Road/New Road stand.
Someone does not want us looking in anymore.

 

[GABS]

The Leeds game at GP a few weeks before was my last trip up from Hampshire to see the Bees at home. Like those at the Sheffield game, probably more so, I didn't take it in as my last GP game but in hindsight it was a cracking match to be my last experience of the place.

 

[Longhope Bee]

I watched Peter Gilham's memories of the match and day... TRIBUS presents: Peter Gilham on fans' final day at Griffin Park
I was there and it made me realise again just how much I miss GP. It will take some time for the new stadium to accumulate so many memories

 

[hatfieldbee]

I still can't quite believe that after more than 45 years visiting Griffin Park I missed what was to all intents and purposes the last game there. I'd panicked earlier in the year when I discovered that friends were getting married on the same day as the (originally scheduled) Barnsley match, but had come up with a cunning plan to get to both match and wedding - only to then be caught out by a holiday in early March. The day of the Sheffield Wednesday game was one of those 'once in a lifetime' holiday experiences in a beautiful part of Argentina but when I think back to it all I recall was being glued to the GPG following the goals going in and trying to dismiss a nagging worry that I might be missing a far more significant moment back home. All of which means that the last match I went to was San Lorenzo against Lanus in the Argentine top flight that same weekend. That's not quite the way it was meant to be

Maybe it was for the best though. I'd dreaded saying goodbye to GP and the emotion of that last lingering look round. I'm hoping that come August, when, fingers crossed, we'll all be back, the passage of time and the familiarity gained from seeing the new ground so often on TV will help cushion the sheer weirdness of going somewhere other than Griffin Park to watch our beloved Bees.

Hope you've been able to see a replay of the game.

 

[Guildford Bee]

In the days leading up this match it was clear the world was about to change. Matches had already gone behind closed doors in Italy the Covid protocols around handshakes etc were announced.

I remember thinking to myself at the time there was a faint chance it could be the last game with fans at GP but I never thought that a year on we still wouldn’t be back at football.

As always, I met my old man on Platform 5 at Clapham Junction. We had a couple of beers in the Express and then walked to the ground. I remember thinking that in the packed Hive (how much Covid must’ve been flying around in there?!) that everyone we making an unusually extra effort to wash their hands after using the toilet.

With 20 minutes to go I was having a piss in the Hive toilet when I heard the roar as JDS scored our fourth. I remember thinking there was a chance I’d just missed the last goal in front of fans at GP so was delighted to see Fosu hit the fifth.

After the game my dad shot straight off to catch an earlier train whereas I hung about for a bit and took an extra look around as I left, just in case. I remember turning around and looking back at the Ealing Road floodlights a final time as I left the Paddock. I didn’t actually think that would really be it and thought we might scrape through to the WBA game until games went BCD.

It was a nice game to go out on but I don’t think I’ll ever get over being robbed of those final five games. Not necessarily the Barnsley game which probably would’ve ended up with fights and rows over pitch invasions but certainly WBA (last night game), the Charlton bank holiday game and the final Saturday 3pm game against Preston. All would’ve been sellouts and would’ve doubtless heralded more great memories.

 

[Garybaldbee]

Hope you've been able to see a replay of the game.

I've seen the highlights, thanks. It seems so weird to see footage of matches with actual crowds in the stands now.

 

[BaildonBee]

As a Yorkshire exile, this was one of only two home games I got to last season...the other was Luton Town so I saw 12 goals for and none against. I had resigned myself to not getting a ticket for the last game (I had got mine on NR and one for Wigan ER through the exchange) so I savoured the occasion before and after in the pubs and took photos from the New Road stand. So glad I did. At the time I thought we might be locked down for a few weeks. Didn't think we would still be out a year on. Maybe a blessing after all we didn't get promoted last season, Seeing our new ground empty is awful. Cannot wait for a return to normality.

 

[nick logan]

As a Yorkshire exile, this was one of only two home games I got to last season...the other was Luton Town so I saw 12 goals for and none against. I had resigned myself to not getting a ticket for the last game (I had got mine on NR and one for Wigan ER through the exchange) so I savoured the occasion before and after in the pubs and took photos from the New Road stand. So glad I did. At the time I thought we might be locked down for a few weeks. Didn't think we would still be out a year on. Maybe a blessing after all we didn't get promoted last season, Seeing our new ground empty is awful. Cannot wait for a return to normality.

blag your way into Ewood please

 

[Chiswick bee]

The Sheff Wed game was going to be the last one with my boys, at GP, as they were not Season Ticket holders. Therefore, I was fully prepared as were the team on the day!
What a game to see out the old stadium and one the boys (age 10 and 8) wont forget. Got great photos of them as each goal went in.
We had tickets for Braemar Road, close to Ealing Road as the family stand had sold out, i quite liked the view and had the benefit of moving around at half time to a packed forecourt with some photos of the turnstiles and the BFC badge outside. We were chatting away to random (very tall!) Bees fans, one who had a hip flask to celebrate, i think it was a Gran's Birthday!
We stayed after most had left to take it all in. I'm so glad we did. I actually made a photo collage for us of the game, during lockdown last year, to mark the day!

 

[shaun]

Great game. Summed up how far the club has come under MB ownership. Only shame for me was that my 80 year Dad (now 81 and can’t wait to see a game at Lionel Road) was under the weather and missed it. Would have been a nice way to leave after 72 years!

 

[JANORAK]

It was always going to be The Pipe’s last game. I’ve wondered since whether he sensed something subconsciously. Anyway, as a reporter, I was pretty much useless on the day, feeling really unwell and having to use ‘our’ seat for much of it rather than stand on ER. It was either the worst flu ever, or early covid, and laid me low for the next 7 days. I need to watch the highlights to realise “I was there”...

 

[LingfieldBee]

Remember really well! But only due to personal circumstances. My dad was in a induced coma at the time in ICU. My is dad well and truly in the "Doom and Gloom Brigade" amongst Bees fans, so me and my brother having watched the game at GP, we were buzzing we drove back to Somerset and went straight to ICU and although not concious we told him about every goal. Convinced ourselves we'd go up while on that high during a tough personal time.

 

[TW3Bee]

Remember really well! But only due to personal circumstances. My dad was in a induced coma at the time in ICU. My is dad well and truly in the "Doom and Gloom Brigade" amongst Bees fans, so me and my brother having watched the game at GP, we were buzzing we drove back to Somerset and went straight to ICU and although not concious we told him about every goal. Convinced ourselves we'd go up while on that high during a tough personal time.

Lovely story.