6 years ago today was, without doubt, one of the most pivotal days in the history of Brentford Football Club. After a brace from Fulham’s Joe Bryan, Brentford were defeated in the Championship playoff final - their biggest game, arguably, ever. This, however, was just the beginning.
The Spellbinding Story Of The 19/20 Season
A season truly like no other in more ways than one. Forever remembered as the season taken charge of by a global pandemic, but also memorable to Brentford fans as the campaign when the ‘BMW’ trio of Saïd Benrahma, Bryan Mbeumo, and Ollie Watkins captured our imaginations, alongside standout seasons from David Raya, Rico Henry, and Josh Dasilva to name just a few.
Regarded as one of the best sides the Championship had ever seen, however, the season was a slow burner for Thomas Frank and his exhilarating crop of players.
That was until a famous comeback at Griffin Park against Millwall in October, frequently said by Brentford fans to be the turning point of the season, where the players finally galvanised under Thomas Frank’s management. From then on, the boys never looked back. A dominant win spearheaded by the electric front 3 on a damp evening in Swansea followed, which preceded one of the great nights at Loftus Road as another performance of near perfection secured the bragging rights in front of one of the all-time Brentford away followings.
A derby day win against Fulham in mid-December saw Brentford break into the top 6 for the first time in the campaign, where they made themselves comfortable for the remainder of the season. Another thrilling win to add to the ever-growing collection in a season where something special was evidently brewing. Being the first statement win of the season, spirits were high, with Thomas Frank famously quoting after the derby that “the BMW is still running fast” - one of many beautifully executed one-liners from the legendary Dane. A successful end to 2019 was just what Brentford and Thomas Frank needed as they entered the second half of the season. Thomas, the leader of the Brentford pack, was clearly in love with the progress behind the scenes that the first half of the season had demonstrated.
The infamous 2020 began with a compelling 4-0 win at Bristol City, setting the tone for what was set to be one of the biggest years ever for the club. QPR came to town and got sent packing in a style that reflected what this team was all about. A goal from each of the BMW brushed aside the neighbours who could only have dreamed of being on the wave that Brentford were surfing. A win that brought Premier League dreams much into sight, but very much still on the horizon. Thomas Frank was then rewarded with a new contract until 2023, something unimaginable just over a year ago when he won just 1 of his first 10 games in charge. Nothing but praise for a manager not only finding his feet in the Championship, but propelling an energetic group of players into dreamland. A faltering February brought Brentford back down to earth to a degree; however, with the sheer talent the club had at their disposal, there was no need to worry.
When the world was at a standstill for 3 months throughout lockdown, the work at the club towards the main objective of promotion never stopped. When doubts over momentum lingered for teams in the promotion race, Brentford took advantage of this unprecedented time to take their momentum to a new level. These visions came to life when Brentford captured the imagination not only of their fans, but of the entirety of English football, iconically winning their first 8 games after the continuation of the season. A run of games that brought the Bees well into the automatic promotion fold, helped by securing a stunning win against a lethal West Brom side. This period of the season was perfectly summed up in a direct manner by Charlton manager Lee Bowyer, who very rightly stated that "Brentford have been hammering teams left, right and centre, both before and after the lockdown”. The talent that struggled to get started at the beginning of the season had finally shone through. An unstoppable force that was running like a Ferrari shifting through the gears.
Reality harshly set in for Brentford, however, and those glamorous wheels soon fiercely fell off in back-to-back losses against Stoke City and Barnsley, devastatingly leaving the club in the playoffs, begging the question if this Premier League dream would ever be achieved. Life was made a touch harder as Brentford took the back foot in the first leg of the playoff semi-final against Swansea, but coolly overturned the deficit in the second leg where those Ferrari cogs of Jensen, Mbeumo, Marcondes, and Watkins were turning in tandem. Deserved winners overall, and into battle they went in a playoff final for the ages against West London rivals Fulham.
A day of gargantuan disappointment as the dreams of the season were crushed once and for all under the Wembley arch. This time, well-deserved losers. “The sun will rise again tomorrow”, said Thomas Frank after the gut-wrenching loss, and good heavens did these words carry meaning.
It was do or die for Brentford now. The rebuild began from the moment they woke up in the morning of the 5th of August 2020. Major departures of Ollie Watkins and Saïd Benrahma never fazed the club, as they quickly moved to secure the signings of Ivan Toney and Vitaly Janelt, who were the players to soon be playing monumental roles in taking the club to the next level.
We know how the story goes from here on in. Promotion was emotionally secured 10 months later, on the same Wembley turf where dreams were shattered.
The 4th of August will always be a day to forget for Brentford fans, but the final whistle that very day is a moment to remember. It was the most pivotal moment in our history. Despite catastrophic setbacks, the fire in the belly of the club never faded. That fire that never dared to go out is why we are where we are today.
