Brentford

HOW TO GET THERE

CAR
Leave the M4 at junction 2 and take the A4, going around the Chiswick Roundabout so that you end up coming back on yourself. Continue along the A4 and at the first roundabout take a left onto the B455 (Ealing Road). The ground is located about half a mile down this road on your right.

PARKING
There is no parking at the ground for supporters, so apart from a small pay and display car park in Buts Road, it is street parking. Previous experience tells me that you will need to park a fair distance from the ground, possibly in Ealing.

TRAIN/TUBE
Brentford Station is about a 5/10 minute walk from the away turnstiles. Simply turn left as you leave the station into Sidney Gardens and head for the pathway in the corner, which will bring you out onto Hamilton Road. Walk straight up this road and you will come to the ground. There are regular trains from London Waterloo and Clapham Junction.

There is also a tube station at South Ealing, which is on the Piccadilly Line. This is further and will take approximately 15 minutes to walk to the ground. Simply turn Right when you leave the station and follow Ealing Road.

PUBS
Heaven!!! This ground is well known for having a pub on each corner of the ground. Due to the moving of away end, it would be expected for away fans to change their choice, but apparently not. Here are the choices;

New Inn- Traditionally Pools fans have headed for the New Inn which is on the corner by Ealing Road. This is the opposite end of the ground from the Away End and also the Train Station. The New Inn is a decent pub that has had Sky Sports in my previous visits. It always used to be the local Celtic Supporters Branch, however don't let this put you off.

The SEP will be having a meeting in this pub from 1230hrs.

The Griffin- This pub was famously used in the film 'Green Street' but you should get a better reception when we play there. I do know that a few Pools fans had problems when they went in there for the last away game a few years ago, so be careful if you do go in here. The Beerintheevening website reports that it is quite expensive, but so is everywhere in the smoke!!!

Princess Royal- I have always found this pub to be a bit lifeless, even when there are quite a few fans drinking in here. In normally has a decent number of away fans, but not as popular as the New Inn. The last time I was there it had been taken over by the club and was being run by them as a Matchday Bar, which may appeal to some, but not others.

Royal Oak- I have only been in here once and was not that impressed. It is very much home fan dominated, but more by the 'younger, lets pick on the lone 58yr old away fan' brigade. I have also read about a few away fans having problems in here, so my personal advice would be to give it a miss and try any of the other 3 pubs.

GRIFFIN PARK- Capacity 12,762
Pools fans who have visited in the past few years (apart from the last 2 seasons) will have stood on a large open terrace behind the goal, attempting to make some noise only to see these dreams disappear into the London smoke. This is not the case anymore as this stand has been given a roof and handed over to the home fans.

Away fans are back to where they where in the 90's, behind the opposite goal in a strange 2-tiered construction, similar to the one at Southend. Underneath is a terrace, which holds about 1,000 and directly above is a seated stand, which holds 600. This terrace roof is only about 8ft high and great for making some noise.

To the left is a very simple seated stand, which if you look behind, has a the steel structure that indicates the stand was originally going to be much bigger. To the right is the fiar sized main stand that extends round into the corners.

SAFETY
I have always found most home fans to be a decent lot and are good for a laugh and a chat. However I have seen a few young idiots running about for 'key' games. it is also worth avoiding the Royal Oak pub.

SOUTH EAST POOLIES
The South East Poolies will be having a branch meeting prior to the Brentford game this Saturday. The meeting will be relaxed and informal, with both members and non-members invited to attend.

There will be the usual raffle (tickets £1) with a couple of prizes that money can’t buy. All members who attend the meeting will receive 1 FREE ticket.

The meeting will start at 12.30 and as well as the usual agenda, the upcoming Hartlepool Weekend will be given discussed.

Feel free to join us or even just pop over and say hello, whilst purchasing a raffle ticket!

PRICE