LETTERS
From 'Ayes B on the Griffin Park Grapevine
26/7/01
This is my personal perspective concerning the 'No To Woking'
campaign The No To Woking campaign was created because a lot
of supporters felt uneasy about the prospect of Brentford FC
selling Griffin Park to become possible indefinite tenants at
Woking with either no definite plans for a new stadium.
Paul Stedman, 'Stedders' the leader of the BIAS Stadium Action
Group recognising the serious dangers that becoming tenants
at Woking with no cast iron guarantees of returning to the area
decided that the best way forward was to call a public meeting.
Members of the BIAS Stadium Action Group met before the meeting
to create and set a very successful agenda.
All of the fanzine editors and individuals who had expressed
very strong opinions about sharing at Woking were asked to set
the tone for the meeting by speaking for 5-10 minutes. In being
asked to speak they were asked to stick with the one issue,
their concerns at Brentford FC becoming tenants at Woking.
In opening the first meeting at the Princess Royal, Paul Stedman
stated and continually re-emphasised that the meeting was solely
about the concerns of becoming Woking's tenants and not a campaign
to oust Ron Noades, moan about the sale of Scott and Quinn,
the departure of Ray Lewington etc etc. At the end of the speeches
a motion was put to the floor and carried unanimously that becoming
indefinite tenants at Woking should be opposed.
A brainstorming session was then undertaken and after a break
the ideas suggested were put to the floor and co-ordinators
for the various activities sought. To my knowledge everybody
who volunteered to take a lead role was given their lead (There
is definitely NO clique). When two or more people put themselves
forward for the same role they were asked tow work together
as it was the meetings organisers desire to get as many people
involved as possible and 'not just the same old faces'.
The No To Woking campaign is a campaign to voice our concerns
of Brentford FC becoming tenants at Woking with no cast iron
guarantees of returning to the area. It is definitely is not
a campaign to stay at Griffin Park for ever It is definitely
is not a campaign to stay oust Ron Noades It is definitely is
not a campaign to say 'Yes To Feltham' It is definitely is not
a campaign to relocate Brentford FC The supporters of the No
To Woking campaign are an alliance of concerned Brentford supporters,
some of whom do hold the above views which they often express
as individuals in a very strong manner. To me the campaign is
about selling 'our home' to become tenants:
* in a non league ground,
* that has no corporate facilities,
* is half the capacity of Griffin Park
* has no match-day revenue that will benefit Brentford FC (Bars/
restaurants)
* and is hard to get to.
The following facts also worry me: Ron has not denied the frequent
press reports of his impending retirement 'in a years time'
If Brentford FC need to move from Griffin Park because of the
poor facilities, the only chance of surviving at Woking were
the facilities are poorer will be to either:
* To use the money raised from the sale of Griffin Park to make
up the shortfall in finances caused by the lower attandance's.
* Or to break up our team and sell our hero's because the club
can't afford their wages.
No other club has had to sell their ground first, so why do
we? The forecast increase in property prices indicate that the
commercial value of GP will continue to soar, surely it makes
sense to obtain a bridging loan to build the new ground or to
lease GP from the developers until a new ground is constructed.
Leaving Griffin Park for Woking threatens the very existence
of Brentford FC - a risk not worth taking Brentford FC is an
important part of my life and I'm not prepared to risk its very
existence by the club becoming Woking's indefinite tenants.
If reassurances are forthcoming I will exercise my right to
change my mind but at the moment I support the 'No To Woking'
campaign. Please forget all personality differences, Brentford
FC is bigger than us all. If you are concerned PLEASE GET ON
BOARD and support the No To Woking Campaign - Lets keep the
club at Griffin Park until a new stadium is constructed or at
least under construction. Support the No To Woking campaign
'SABREFOOT'
From Russell Grant
The reason I have pressed home Brentford's "Middlesexness"
is,apart from the fact it's true,is that the preponderance of
clubs that answer to West London can edge us out of any would
be "angles". Qpr,Fulham and Chelsea all go for the
West London link which is why I have been so careful to encourage
and cultivate our identity,seperateness and distinctiveness
from them.
Hounslow Borough needs a good kick up the arse;they have already
lost Hounslow Town,a very great amateur club in the 50's and
60's,and one thing that denotes civic pride and local flag-waving
is a football club,especially a football league one.
Richmond Borough paid Hampton FC to put their name in the club's
title. It's a concern and a travesty,yep I agree heritage is
important over a hundred years of being alive-which is why I
rage at people who don't support Middlesex which is 1,300 years
old in 2004!
I notice Gaz's profile cites that he comes from Feltham,West
London....
I rest my case!
From Carole Ealden (Letters
Page-Non-League Paper 10th June)
I have been a Woking supporter for many years.There have,over
this time,been many possible ground share projects which have
come to nothing. Now there is talk of Brentford sharing with
us from 2002.I have noted on teletext and ceefax that the Brentford
supporters do not want to share at Kingfield and will fight
it. >What makes them think all Woking supporters want to see
them at our ground,taking over,using our pitch,our facilities.What's
in it for us supporters? >What happens when the FA Cup comes
around?If both sides are drawn at "home" who takes
precedence?I have strong doubts that Woking will be given the
first match and Brentford the second! Woking supporters will
get their chance to speak against the idea in July.By then it
could be too late. I have a message for Brentford supporters
- you may not want to journey down to Woking,well perhaps we
don't want you.Please don't take it for granted that you have
the only voice in this matter.
From Andrew Dakers
Over the past few weeks there has been considerable debate surrounding
the Club's predicament on the Hounslow Liberal Democrats website.
A suggestion that I put forward there was (The GSK Wallis House
site)I would estimate its area to be about twice that of Griffin
Park. And GSK used to have options on a lot of property to the
West of Wallis House. My guess would be that they would want
to downsize their property portfolio once their staff have moved
to the new site. The Council and/or club should make an approach.
Has this been considered? Hope you are able to contribute to
the debate on the Lib Dems site.Best Regards.
From Russell Grant
I have been told of the outrageous scheme to take our County
Town's club out of the County - how can I help? and having been
a Bees supporter from the age of 7, i can assure you Brentford
as the County Town of Middlesex HAS to be in Middlesex. Putting
it in Surrey is like asking Lancashire to move Old Trafford
to Headingley. I'd get in touch with Allan Coles of the County
of Middlesex Trust, lives in Brentford and a big Brentford fan.
You should know that many Bees fans campaigned for the Middlesex
coat of arms to be included in the club badge and I supplied
a copy of it to Keith Loring - so now you know I have a vested
interest in the whole thing! From Terry Palmer (Bees fan for
50 years)....No move until we know we have a new stadium. Or
stay at GP until the team is good enough to demand a new stadium.
Don't forget how many teams get it wrong ie: new stadium followed
by relegation. (Bolton Reading Huddersfield Millwall)! Lets
try and fit the very fine balance of the team on the field and
strategy correct off the field. And if Mr Noades is as good
as many think he is, certainly he does,then it will be a good
plan to follow. Good luck lads, good luck Steve Coppell and
good luck Ron Noades!
These are comments by Woking
FC Vice-Chairman John Buchanan sent to an anonymous Woking FC
shareholder who had questioned the groundshare proposal!!
1."Before we met the directors of Brentford FC,Hounslow
Borough Council had been dragging its feet over a new site for
the club.This situation has now changed and progress is being
made....BFC are hoping to have all planning permission and work
started before they come to Kingfield.We hope this will appease
the Brentford fans".
2."The option Brentford have got can be taken up between
July 2001 and May 31st 2002.For this,WFC will be paid a considerable
fee.If Brentford do not take up the option by May 2002,we keep
the fee and Brentford FC do not come,but hopefully they will
have forced the Council to accomodate them at a new ground".
3."If the option is taken up,Brentford FC can play first
team games at Kingfield for two seasons(two seasons only)while
the stadium is being completed".
4."We have and always have had a termination clause of
one seasons notice".
