Last month I was both delighted and honoured to be able to publish some fascinating and evocative memories of watching the Bees from Peter Lumley, who has been supporting Brentford FC for more years than he cares to remember.
Peter was delighted with the many appreciative responses he received from the readers of his article and I am pleased to say that he has just sent me some follow-up information which I am sure that you will all enjoy:
In my recent guest contribution to Greville’s blog I ducked an invitation to name the best team drawn from all the Brentford players I have watched during my seventy-three years as a fan at Griffin Park.
On reflection I have decided to take on Greville’s challenge but with one proviso – that I can name more than one team.
Team A will be made up of players blessed with great technical ability.
Team B will feature those more aptly described as robust or physical.
I will then take on the almost impossible task of naming a best eleven made up from both categories as Team C.
Finally I have also selected a team of eleven players – Team D who, in my opinion, were exceptionally loyal to the club over a number of years and also demonstrated great enthusiasm and commitment whilst on the pitch.
I am sure that everyone will appreciate that the selected players span seven decades and that, inevitably, there will be those who rightly point out some glaring omissions.
Also, assessing the ability of players is, by definition, highly subjective. One man’s hero can be another man’s Nick Proschwitz or Murray Jones!
So here we go!
TEAM A
Joe Crozier
Alan Hawley
Ken Coote
Jim McNichol
Mel Scott
Jonathan Douglas
Stan Bowles
Johnny Brooks
Dean Holdsworth
Jimmy Bloomfield
Leslie Smith
Subs: Chic Brodie, Moses Odubajo, Stewart Houston, Peter Broadbent, Neil Smillie, Roger Cross, Alex Pritchard
TEAM B
Alf Jefferies
Billy Gorman
Martin Grainger
Tom Higginson
Terry Evans
Jamie Bates
Terry Hurlock
Gary Blissett
George Francis
Jim Towers
Gary Roberts
Subs: Len Bond, George Poyser, Jack Chisholm, Ron Harris, Dai Hopkins, Andre Gray
TEAM C
Joe Crozier
Billy Gorman
Ken Coote
Jim McNichol
Mel Scott
Terry Hurlock
Stan Bowles
Jimmy Bloomfield
Dean Holdsworth
Jim Towers
Leslie Smith
Subs: Chic Brodie, George Poyser, Stewart Houston, Billy McAdams, Roger Cross, John Dick, George Francis
TEAM D
Gerry Cakebread
Kevin O’Connor
Ken Coote
Tom Higginson
Terry Evans
Keith Millen
Billy Dare
Francis Joseph
Dave McCulloch
Bobby Ross
Jackie Graham
Subs: Alan Nelmes, Alan Hawley, Joe James, Sam Saunders, Jamie Bates, Alan Judge, Robert Taylor
I am quite certain that you will all take great pleasure in pointing out lots of glaring omissions, so I will list just a few more players who, if numbers permitted, would have graced one or more of my selected teams:
Dave McKellar
Andy Sinton
Billy Scott
Ernie Muttitt
George Wilkins
Len Townsend
Clayton Donaldson
Steve Phillips
Ken Horne
Nicky Forster
Jimmy Hill
Ron Greenwood
Tony Harper
Barry Silkman
Alan Cockram
Barry Asby
Leon Legge
Harlee Dean
Jota
Jake Bidwell
Stuart Dallas
Roger Joseph
Ben Hamer
Stuart Nelson
Richard Lee
Dai Ward
Keith Jones
Danis Salman
Wally Bragg
Barry Tucker
Gordon Phillips
Kevin Dearden
Graham Benstead
Steve Sherwood
Toumani Diagouraga
Adam Forshaw
james Tarkowski
D J Campbell
Danis Salman
Roger Joseph
I have also listed Brentford managers in a somewhat haphazard order of preference apart from the top two who in my opinion stand head and shoulders above the rest:
Harry Curtis
Mark Warburton
Steve Coppell
Martin Allen
Phil Holder
Steve Perryman
Frank Blunstone
Jimmy Sirrell
Bill Dodgin Junior
Jackie Gibbons
John Docherty
Uwe Rosler
Frank McLintock
Fred Callaghan
Malcolm MacDonald
Wally Downes
Micky Adams
Ron Noades
David Webb
Nicky Forster
I very much look forward to reading all the comments that we are certain to receive once everybody has read Peter’s interesting and thought provoking list.
I will start the debate off by mentioning a name that despite my reading through Peter’s note to me three times I was still unable to find – Peter Gelson. An accidental or deliberate omission on his part?
What do you think?
bfctalk 
I looked down the list a couple of times & it seems Gordon Sweetzer is missing!
Maybe he didn’t play a massive number of games but there are some single season & loan players appearing – so his scoring abilities surely get him a place in the honourable mentions section…?
It would be fascinating to see Team B in action. Or should that be “in action”…
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Can’t believe Peter Gelson is not on that list. One of the best and most loyal of all our players in our history. Unreal and impressed.
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I would hope and expect that it is simply an oversight! After all there are lots of players for Peter to remember over a seventy-three year period!
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frompeter lumley:sincere apologies to peter gelson and all his fans.the omission was a massive seniormoment and certainly not intended!
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Ah OK. Just read Peter’s response. Apologies. Peter Gelson was my hero as a kid. They say, never meet your hero’s. Well I did and he was / is an absolute gent. A true Bees legend in my eyes.
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John O’Mara and Andy McCulloch?
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Hard to argue with any of those. Only been following the Bees since the late fifties so cannot compete but how about team H. Those beginning with the letter.
Hamer, Harris, Hreiðarsson, Hill, Houston, Hawley, Hurlock, Higginson, Hopkins, Holdsworth, Hooker. (Sorry but I always had a soft spot for Keith Hooker)
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Brilliant! Thanks. Did you see Keith Hooker’s goal against Notts County with the mishit cross from way out on the wing?
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72 goals in 32 games. Frank Dudley
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Or 32 goals in 72 games.
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From Peter Lumley: Re Ian Ashtons team of players beginning with the letter H= how about this for ateam ofBs! Brodie Bence Bidwell Bates Bragg Bean Bowles Brooks Blissett Bloomfield Broadbent.Subs:Bond Benstead Button Booker Blunstone?
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Great memories for me growing up as a young Bee!! Watching the 9-1 against Wrexham was a highlight. Loads of players worthy of mention so will just add John Dick and Alan Mansley to the list.
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