Northenders. This coming Saturday PNE will be travelling down to the Capital once again to take on Brentford at Griffin Park. Brentford football club was formed in 1889. At the usual monthly meeting of the Brentford rowing club, the question of starting a football club was discussed as an alternative sport for club members to play during the the winter months. It was agreed that a further meeting be arranged to set the ball rolling. The meeting took place and it was proposed that the new club be named "The Brentford Rowing and Football club, the consensus of opinion was that the two clubs should be kept separate and that the name should be Brentford Football club. It was decided that the colours would be salmon, claret and light blue the same as the Rowing club. I suppose that all the Brentford fans are relieved that the club no longer play in those colours but a more reserved red and white striped shirts and black shorts and socks. Brentford in their early formative years used several different venues as their home but the club moved to its present day home ground, Griffin Park, in 1904. The club nickname is "THE BEES" and originated in the early years when supporters when urging their team on used to shout "buck up B's". The club were promoted to the old Div 2 in 1932/33 season and two years later promoted to the old Div 1, and reached 5th place in their first season. This is the highest position the club have ever reached. Brentford attained more impressive placings in Div 1 until war interrupted league football. It is worth mentioning that during PNE's successful run to winning the FA cup in 1938, PNE knocked Brentford out of the competition at the quarter final stage. In 1942 Brentford won the "London War Cup" by beating Portsmouth in front of 71000 spectators at Wembley stadium. Since the war Brentford have been a bit of a yo yo club between the lower divisions despite having several notable and well known managers, and have had their financial problems like most clubs including PNE. On the 10th June 2011 Uwe Rosler was confirmed as the new manager, on a two year contract. Brentford have played at Griffin Park since 1904. The ground is unique in British football in that there is a pub on each corner of Griffin Park. Royal Oak, New Inn, The Griffin - which was used in the film Green Street - and The Princess Royal which is owned by the club. For your interest : On the 17-2-51 PNE played Brentford at Griffin Park in a League Div 2 (old) game and won 2-4. It was the season that PNE won the Div 2 (old) championship and returned to the top flight Div 1 (old). As most Northenders will know, the photo showing Sir Tom playing against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on a waterlogged pitch and known as "The Splash" was voted sports photograph of the year. What most will not know is that in the above game at Griffin Park, Sir Tom scored a goal that many pundits believed to be one of the finest they had ever seen. The game was played on a mud-bath and Sir Tom started a run in his own half of the field and beat 6/7 players on route to goal before sticking the ball in the net, it was a fabulous goal which I have never seen bettered since. A photograph was taken from a high up position and it had been enhanced by showing Sir Tom's path en route to goal also showing all the defenders positions. This photograph was in every national newspaper the following day, and was called "The Quagmire". I wonder if there are any Brentford or Northend fans who can recall the game etc, and importantly have saved a copy of the Photo/match report. Should anyone like to find out more about Brentford's history follow the link below, it is an interesting and varied one. http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk/page/History/0,,10421,00.html On to Saturday's game and one that will be a real test for Northend. Brentford slipped up last night when they dropped two points at home to Exeter City, had they won they would be sitting in top place now and not the 5th place they currently hold. PNE are on a roll and confidence will be high following their recent very good form and it will be as stiff a test for Brentford as it will be for Northend, Brentford will no doubt be looking to make amends for the two points they dropped last night and PNE will be seeking to continue their unbeaten run. A tough game in prospect then so much to debate I suggest. Please add your thoughts and comments on this thread.
Just printed off a map and the names of the four pubs, should be a top class afternoon! I think this will be a real test, no doubt the toughest game of the season so far... will be pleased with a draw, but have a sneaky feeling for a 2-1 win to PNE!
Pretty simple to me, if we are serious about getting out of this division we need to get something from this game, there will be tougher test to come. I would be happy with 1 point and delighted with 3. 442 with Ashbee starting ahead of Nicholson. I reckon 1-1.
To be fair, I have to agree. If we want to get promoted, particularly automatic, we should still get something from the game. Defo our toughest test yet, but as you say games against SheffU, Hudds and Charlton will be even tougher... not sure I would change from a winning league formula and I like Nico's goal threat. Should be a cracking game!
As Saturday draws ever nearer it is worth remembering that if PNE can win this difficult game, they will leapfrog the Bees, and depending on other results be in third place by tea time tomorrow and with games in hand. PNE are looking for their sixth successive victory a tall order no doubt but all the playing staff at Deepdale are fired up with confidence running high, and will take to the field looking to extend their winning run. I think Northend are capable of winning this game and given the good luck that every team needs will bring all three points back to Deepdale. The Referee for this game is Andy DâUrso who in 8 games, has already dished out 28 cards this season. North End fans may remember DâUrso from Pride Park last season where he sent off winger Keith Treacy in the closing stages of the game, so all twenty two players better be on their best behavior even though the game will be very competitive. A narrow PNE win then for me but will take a draw if PNE can't manage the three points.
PNE take all three points with their 6th win on the bounce at Griffin Park. Two goals from Neil Mellor and a wonder strike from Hume send Preston to six straight wins for the first time since 1999. A terrific result and one that will hopefully bring the supporters on side who have been putting it about that "we ain't played anybody yet". More on this great result later. UTMW
great result plummy another chance for the "second string" midweek against high flying Southampton so might just be the end of the run, in all competitons, only leaves us 6 on the bounce in the league to go for
That'll do for me, play a different side again on Wednesday and play the proper side against the Prenton lads next week
Teams for todays game at Griffin Park. PNE: Arestidou, McLaughlin, Carlisle, Hume, Coutts, Proctor, Nicholson, McLean, Parry, Alexander, Mellor. Subs: Ashbee, Morgan, Tsoumou, Mayor, Comrie. BRENTFORD: Lee, Woodman, Bean, Douglas, Donaldson, Weston, McGinn, Osbourne, Thompson, Llera, Reeves. Subs: Moore, O'Connor, Eger, Grella, Forrester. Phil Brown quite correctly (IMHO) decided to go with the team that has been doing so well in the League except for the enforced change in goal that give Arestidou the opportunity to make his League debut for PNE. Some of the players who starred in the midweek Carling Cup game at Charlton no doubt might have felt disappointed, but their chance will come again. Four of those players were rewarded by earning a place on the bench. I didn't attend the away fixture but followed the PNE minute by minute match report. Let me take this opportunity to thank the travelling support (maybe 1000 plus) who gave the team their none stop support throughout the game... It might be an appropriate time to also suggest that the stay away home support get off their backsides and get down to Deepdale and give the Team/Club the same level of support as the way fans do. There is a far different aura around the club and fans than there had been over the two preceding seasons, a possitive and feel good factor brought about by the management and the playing staff responding to them. There is no doubt that PNE have silenced many of their critics by a very good start to the season, and although early days it is plain to see that PNE have a Management team and playing staff who give 100% and are capable of beating any team in this division. Some PNE supporters have held the view that Northend had managed a good start due to not having played some of the more fancied teams, forgetting that the more fancied team had played against the very same teams that PNE have. Anyway today's fixture was seen as a real test of how far Northend have come since the end of last season. PNE have passed that test in some style today and could have inflicted an even bigger defeat on one of the fancied teams. PNE shot out of the blocks from the kickoff and within 10 minutes had taken the lead, playing some good football Northend threatened every time they moved forward. According to the minute by minute match report PNE had three strikers that created havoc and the Bees could not contain them, whilst at the same time our midfield and back four were again on top of their job. I think that maybe Smith_PNE will be along to to give his thoughts on today's game having attended at Griffin Park so for now I will leave match comments to him etc. Well done PNE you are doing a first class job and making many supporters happy, I hope this winning sequence will continue and Prestonians will respond accordingly the Club/Management/Players deserve your support.
It was indeed finneyfan and one that augers well for the remainder of the season.. I thought that I had replied to this post a while ago but must have forgotten to press "reply", ah! well another senior moment..
That is a very impressive statistic maclad, which on it's own suggests that PNE dominated the proceedings BUT the icing on the cake is converting that 68% possession into three goals and picking up three points and Northend did just that... Things are looking very good at the moment and we have to make the most of it and enjoy it while we can, football's a funny old game...a bit like me..
Morning all! Another throroughly enjoyable afternoon with the whites, and an impressive result! We started off by taking in the four pubs on each corner of the ground, which was a really good way to get us in the mood and the last pub (The Griffin) nearest to the away end was nice and lively with the North Enders in fine voice! Having stated that I would be happy with a point earlier in the week, that quickly changed when we got in the ground! It was far worse than expected, and the sort of place we should really be getting the three points. That said,I have too many memories of losing at the likes of Layer Road and Southend to take that foregranted! We were on the terracing, at least 500/600 in there, and then looked like the same above in the seats from the TV pics. really good atmosphere non stop singing throughout! To be fair, a prper old school ground and much more enjoyable than the new style grounds i.e. Reading, Southampton and so on... Couldnt see a great deal of North End attacks in the first half - down the far end - but we started really well! great to get an early goal and playing some nice stuff. A bonus this seasn is the amount of crosses we get in with seemingly no natural width! Brentfords right winger was their best player, and showed his pace past Parry to set up the equaliser. Brentford probably then had their best ten mins and put a bit of pressure on but nothing too dangerous. Great to get the second goal a little bit against the run of play and deflate them before HT. Second half Brentford were very much playing on the break. Not a great second half, not too many chances, but I did think we would need the third. Great finish from Mells and after that we coasted in truth. Very professional performance, by no means explosive, and in truth I was a little disappointed with Brentford on the day. Llera (on loan from Bpool) looked particularly weak at the back and I thought CC did a great job on Donaldson. Difficult to pick a MoM, everyone playng really well... perhaps Mells for another two goals and looking pretty dangerous throughout. I think we give the fringe players a run at Southampton, and keep going at the league, really put some pressure on the top two places! If we can keep consistency, particularly so many wins as opposed to draws (Hudds seem to draw too many for me!) then we will have a real chance of an auto spot! Cheers
Afternoon Smith_PNE...and thanks for posting your match report.. The PNE minute by minute match report can become a little biased at times so far better to have a personal account from one of the away supporters. On this occasion from what you have posted the PNE minute by minute report seems to have been pretty well on the money. 1951 was the last time that I visited Griffin Park and it doesn't sound like there has been much change since... The away support was given as about 840 or so, but a couple of the fans who were there reckon it was nearer 1500 than 840, a great turn out whatever the true figure was. It's a fair old hike down to Brenford for the away supporters and must be costly as well, and the away support does seem to be growing. Very pleasing that the performance was a professional one and it shows that Phil Brown and Horton are on top of things and the senior players are doing their job no doubt helping one or two of the younger players though the games. A one goal lead is always precarious as has been proven many times in the past as the team who are behind are always going to come at you in the latter part of the game. Very good report and hopefully you might do the same again when you manage to get to an away game. Thanks again for taking time out to share your thoughts with the rest of us who cant get to away games..
This was a great result, but lets keep our heads down and not get carried away. Lets see where we are after Xmas and only then can we consider if we can get out of this league at the first time of asking. Yes I'm a Brown doubter - although I'm slowly changing - but he is shaping North End into a tough side to play against and if we can hold this you never know. UTW
Good post markos but I tend to disagree a little re "seeing where we are after Xmas". Different fans have been saying similar things, the last one being the BIG test last Saturday. The point is that the goal posts keep getting moved further back all the time after Northend pass the latest test. I do appreciate it is still relatively early in the season and there is a long way to go, so I am not getting carried away at all, but I can see the possitive effect our manager and his assistant have had on the club which is reflected in the results and the response by the playing staff and most supporters who have got behind the team. I am just as confident about this Managers appointment as I was depressed about DF when he was appointed manager. Brown and Horton are a team and have a wealth of footballing experience behind them to help PNE move forward. There will be set backs along the way but come the end of the season I am convinced PNE will be thereabouts. Meanwhile I am enjoying the ride and will continue to do so regardless of any setbacks, there is a buzz around Deepdale that has been missing for some time. PNE are moving forward right now.....I hope...
