Here are some pictures I took of Griffin Park home of Brentford Football Club and the surrounding area before the League One fixture against Pompey. It was an overcast and rainy day and as you'll see the pictures are a bit gloomy!
This was my first trip to Griffin Park. I drove up the A3, parked and then travelled by tube, taking the District Line from Wimbledon to Earls Court and then Picadilly Line to South Ealing.
The walk to the ground, along South Ealing Road and Ealing Road, took about 15 minutes.
The Brentford Football Club badge, picture taken outside the Bees United Stand from Braemar Road.
Of course Brentford's nickname is The Bees and the club's mascots are, unsurprisingly, two bees: Buzz Bee and his sister Buzzette. I'm no expert on club mascots or bees for that matter, I had to look this up. But I can confirm that they were both there on Saturday!
Griffin Park is famous for having a public house at each corner of the ground. However, this well known piece of English football club trivia is a little misleading.
I thought the pubs would be part of the ground's infrastructure, similar to the blocks of flats built in to the corners of Brisbane Road, home of Leyton Orient. But that's not the case.
None of the pubs are actually 'attached' to the ground, which is surrounded by housing of various ages and design although predominantly terraced.
Taking the route to the ground which I did the first pub you actually come across is The New Inn. But we'll start this clockwise journey around the ground at the main entrance off Bramaer Road.
Walking down this street I could see and hear the Pompey fans enjoying a few pre-match drinks outside The Griffin: "Johnny Ertl! Ninja Turtle!".
The Griffin.
I also witnessed the unveiling of this new Pompey banner outside the pub.
Entrance for visiting supporters.
Continuing clockwise from The Griffin you enter Brook Road South and this picture shows the entrance for visiting supporters which is nestled in amongst the houses.
Floodlight pylon on the corner of The Bees United Stand and The Brook Road Stand, taken from Brook Road South
Floodlight pylon on the corner of The Bill Axbey Stand and The Brook Road Stand taken from Brook Road South.
The Royal Oak.
Probably the least busy pub on the day. It did have a couple of bouncers on the door, so perhaps not surprising.
Entrance to the ground from New Road.
Fancy this at the bottom of your garden?
Taken from the top of New Road. This floodlight pylon is on the corner of The Ealing Road Stand and The Bees United Stand.
The New Inn
This pub is at the top of New Road and on the junction with Ealing Road.
Abandoned: Three Equidistant Three-Quarters Full Pint Glasses (try saying that quickly)!
Picture taken just along Ealing Road from The New Inn. I'm sure there's a story here some where!
Floodlight pylon - picture I/II taken from Ealing Road.
If I've got my geography correct, I think this one is positioned on the corner of The Bill Axbey Stand and The Ealing Road Stand.
Two floodlight pylons - picture II/II again taken from Ealing Road.
I think the one in the foreground is on the corner of The Ealing Road Stand and The Bees United Stand.
The Princess Royal and look there's The Princess Royal in the foreground off to do some shopping ;-)
The grandly named Bees Superstore.
Park the bus!
A picture of the Pompey team coach outside the Main Entrance to the ground. There really is nowhere else to park in the narrow streets!
The Main Entrance to the ground.
This made me chuckle. Is there only one director? Or one gate?
The view back down Braemar Road to The Griffin.
As you can see, the fans have attracted a bit more official attention at this point.
All four floodlights in one picture, taken from Clifden Road.
Pictures Taken Inside The Ground
A piece of history.
I spotted this brass plate as I entered the ground through a fabulous, old-style 'rush preventitive' turnstile. It clack-clack-clacked as I entered the ground!
As I've said before on this blog you will always find something really interesting at every ground you visit, this was my 'find of the day' at Griffin Park! I know, I'm a bit sad...
The turnstile itself.
I wonder how many fans have passed through it over the years?
Parts of the ground have seen better days.
The view of The Bill Axbey Stand as viewed from the terracing for the visiting fans.
Note the 'Fly Qatar Airways' advert on the roof. I guess that message is visible from planes as they fly in to nearby Heathrow Airport. I wonder if it makes any passengers change their mind about their carrier as they zoom overhead?
This is The Bees United Stand.
The Ealing Road End of the ground.
This end is for home fans and was probably the most vocal section of home support on the day. There may well have been a few visiting fans in there too mind...
BlueThruAndThru
