Brentford fans row to Premier League finale in nod to club’s history

Twelve Brentford fans rowed from Strawberry Vale to Kew Bridge as The Bees concluded their Premier League campaign with a 4–2 loss against Newcastle United at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Brentford Football Club traces its history back to the Brentford Rowing Club and October 1889.

The rowing club had split into two earlier that year, with the original continuing to meet at the Bunch of Grapes pub while the breakaway club met at the Oxford and Cambridge Hotel.

It was from the latter’s debate on what sport should be played throughout the winter that the football club was born.

Now, almost 135 years later, supporters of that club have paid homage to its rowing roots.

“It’s lovely to recreate that history. I’m excited to show up in our boat, flying the Brentford flag,” said owner of the boat Andy Brown ahead of the row.

The crew took to the Thames with the endorsement of Brentford manager Thomas Frank, who was asked about their plans in Thursday’s press conference.

“I think it’s fantastic that they’re doing it and I hope they will have time for a pint in the sun before the game,” said the Brentford boss.

With the sun bearing down and the tides in their favour, the crew left Strawberry Vale, Twickenham, at 12:55 PM.

A chorus of ‘Thomas Frank’s red-and-white navy’ sounded their procession down the Thames, which included a stop-off for that pint in the sun.

The boat arrived on Brentford shores 20 minutes before kick-off to the acclaim of onlooking Bees fans, marking a successful first voyage for the crew, who have discussed the idea since the season’s beginning.

“We knew Andy had the boat from this last time last year,” said rower John Eccleston.

“I think we’ve been talking about this the whole season but Andy’s the one who finally said we’ve got to do this for the final match.”

After a successful debut row, the crew are hoping to make a tradition out of it.

Andy responded in the affirmative when asked if this marked the beginning of an end-of-season tradition, saying “I hope so, maybe also at the start of the season too.”

Rowers: Andy Brown (Captain), Emily Brown, Neil Bradford, Guy Cooper, Louis Cooper, Peter Howard, James Howard, Howard Bowles, Oliver Bowles, Jan Smith, John Bowling, John Eccleston