Brentford F.C.

Brentford Football Club was founded on October 17, 1889, in Brentford, Middlesex. The club was established after a meeting at the Oxford & Cambridge pub near Kew Bridge, where it was decided to form a permanent football club in the town.

In October 1892, Brentford entered the West London Alliance league for the first time and relocated to Benn's Field. The team performed exceptionally well, finishing at the top of the division without a single defeat in 10 out of 12 matches.

In the 1900-01 season, Brentford clinched the Southern League Second Division title under the management of William Lewis. The team's top scorer, Peter Turnbull, played a crucial role in securing promotion to the top-flight.

In July 1915, the Southern League cancelled its competition due to the First World War, leading to Brentford's participation in the London Combination.

During the 1918-10 season, Brentford FC faced challenges with only 11 contracted players due to the aftermath of World War I. Despite the struggles, they ended the season as champions after the Armistice, with increased attendances.

In 1926, Harry Curtis was appointed as the manager of Brentford Football Club, marking the beginning of the club's most successful period. His tenure saw promotions in 1933 and 1935, leading Brentford into the top-flight of English football for the first time.

After topping the table for the third time in the 1934–35 season on 2 March 1935, Brentford secured the title and promotion to the First Division for the first time in the club's history.

In October 1936, Billy Scott became Brentford's first full England international, showcasing the club's growing recognition and talent on the international stage.

Between October 1937 and February 1938, Brentford held onto the top spot in the First Division for 17 consecutive matches, reaching their peak performance in the league.

Between October 1937 and February 1938, Brentford reached its zenith by holding onto the top spot in the First Division for 17 consecutive matches.

In February 1939, Les Smith achieved the milestone of becoming the second Brentford player to win a full England cap.

On May 30, 1942, Brentford achieved a memorable moment by winning the London War Cup final against Portsmouth with a 2-0 victory.

In February 1949, Jackie Gibbons was installed as player-manager of Brentford, marking the end of Harry Curtis's long reign as manager.

Brentford climbed into the promotion places in late October 1962 during their first season in the Fourth Division.

Despite winning just seven of the final 14 matches of the season, Brentford finished 1962–63 as Fourth Division champions on 29 March 1963.

The M4 flyover was opened in 1964, as shown in footage courtesy of British Pathe. The flyover was a significant infrastructure project that improved transportation in the Brentford area.

By January 1967, Brentford had spent £114,000 on transfer fees over the previous five seasons, attendances had dropped by 50%, and the club was losing £400 a week. The club faced a potential takeover by Queens Park Rangers.

On February 23, 1967, a syndicate led by Ron Blindell took over the shares of Brentford, providing financial stability to the club.

In March 1968, Brentford chairman Ron Blindell announced plans to move the club to Hillingdon's Leas Stadium, but the club was saved at the last minute by a loan from former director Walter Wheatley. This move would have resulted in the club being renamed as 'Brentford Borough FC'.

In 1977, Brentford secured promotion back to the Third Division with a 4th-place finish, led by top scorer Steve Phillips.

Brentford reached its first major competitive cup final in the 1984–85 season, facing off against Wigan Athletic in the 1985 Football League Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium. In front of a 34,932 crowd, Brentford lost 3–1, with Robbie Cooke scoring what proved to be a consolation goal.

In 1987, Steve Perryman was appointed as the manager of Brentford Football Club, bringing new energy and direction to the team. His leadership set the stage for the club's return to the second-tier in 1992 after a 38-year wait.

Brentford won the Third Division championship in the 1991–92 season, securing second-tier football for the first time since the 1953–54 season. The success was attributed to striker Dean Holdsworth's 38 goals and Gary Blissett's 18 goals.

After a promising start in the First Division in the 1992–93 season, Brentford suffered a downturn in form and were relegated back to the third-tier after a 4–1 defeat to Bristol City on the final day. Phil Holder and Wilf Rostron's contracts were terminated by the incoming chairman Martin Lange.

In August 2002, Brentford faced financial difficulties due to the ITV Digital collapse and the financial restraints imposed by Noades. The club was on the brink of administration, but it was narrowly avoided.

In the 2003-04 season, Brentford played against Barnet in the Football League Trophy, with the match ending in a 3-3 draw. Brentford emerged victorious with a 3-1 win in the penalty shootout.

In the 2004-05 season, Brentford had a successful FA Cup run, reaching the fifth round and making it to the League One playoffs. They faced Sheffield Wednesday in the semi-finals but were overpowered.

During the 2005-06 season, Brentford faced Oxford United in the Football League Trophy, resulting in a 1-1 draw. Oxford United secured a 3-2 victory in the penalty shootout.

In the 2006-07 season, Brentford competed against Northampton Town in the Football League Trophy, ending in a 0-0 draw. Brentford claimed a 4-2 win in the penalty shootout.

In the 2008-09 season, Brentford secured the League Two title under the management of Andy Scott, earning promotion to a higher division. The team's performance improved significantly throughout the season.

In July 2009, Benham and Bees United made a deal under the codename 'Gecko' where Benham agreed to provide £1m annually for 5 years in exchange for increasing his equity to 35% and having the option to become the owner of Brentford by 2014.

Before the 2009-10 season, an investment agreement was reached between Matthew Benham and Bees United, leading to significant capital injection into Brentford over a five-year period. This financial boost had a positive impact on the club's performance.

Under Andy Scott, Brentford won the League Two title in May 2010 after a victory in the penultimate match of the 2009–10 season.

The 2010-11 season was marked by Brentford's successful cup exploits, including reaching the fourth round of the League Cup and the 2011 Football League Trophy Final. Additionally, a financial agreement was made for continued investment in the club.

In June 2012, Benham fully bought Brentford F.C. from Bees United, although Bees United still retained a place on the club board.

Brentford lost 1-0 to Doncaster Rovers on the final day of the 2012-13 season, missing out on automatic promotion to the Championship.

In 2014, Brentford Football Club secured automatic promotion back to the second-tier of English football after a series of failed playoff campaigns. This marked a significant milestone for the club in their journey towards higher competition.

In 2015, an agreement was reached for the redevelopment of Griffin Park into a housing complex, leading to Brentford FC eventually moving out of the ground in 2020.

At the end of the 2015-16 season, Brentford scrapped their academy and Development Squad, adopting a B team as the primary method to develop players.

In 2020, Brentford FC moved to its new home ground, the Brentford Community Stadium near Kew Bridge, after leaving Griffin Park.

Brentford finished third in the 2020-21 regular season and won the Championship play-off final against Swansea City with a 2-0 victory, earning promotion to the Premier League after 74 years.