The last week has seen three anniversaries slip by, largely unnoticed. Three years ago, in March 2001, around thirty five supporters attended a meeting in Stripes to discuss the formation of a Brentford Supporters Trust.
It was decided to proceed with such a venture, and a month later, on 26 April a public meeting of around 250 supporters endorsed the idea, and the Trust was formally launched. It was subsequently incorporated as a company by the Registry of Friendly Societies on 26 June 2001.
The stated aims and objectives of Bees United upon its formation were:
1. to strengthen the bonds between Brentford Football Club and the local community, and to represent the interests of the community in the running of the club;
2. to encourage Brentford Football Club to take proper account of the interests of its supporters and of the local community in its decisions;
3. to seek the democratic election of a supporters representative onto the board of directors; and
4. to raise funds and invest as a stakeholder in Brentford Football Club.
Bees United membership rapidly expanded to around 1500, and a board of directors was democratically elected. Initially contacts with the Club were strained, but a breakthrough arose in January 2002 when the then Trust Chairman, John McGlashan, was appointed to the board of Brentford FC. This gave Bees United a direct insight into the owner’s plans for the Club, and we did not like what we heard. Although the deeply unpopular groundshare at Woking proposal had been abandoned, plans were going ahead for a groundshare at Kingstonian, with Griffin Park being sold to clear the overdraft of £4.5m run up over the previous 4 years when the Club was losing around £1m each year.
In February 2002 Bees United launched its first prospectus, opposing the sale of Griffin Park until a new ground in the Brentford area had been secured. The prospectus also marked the commencement of serious fund-raising efforts by Bees United, with the loan note scheme and standing order donations established. Since then Bees United has raised over £375,000, of which £333,000 has been loaned to the Club, funds which have been vital in keeping the Club afloat whilst our plans for a new stadium can be progressed.
The second significant anniversary was on 31 March 2003 when Ron Noades resigned from the Brentford board, paving the way for myself and Andrew Wainwright to join John McGlashan on the Brentford FC board and giving Bees United effective operational control of the Club. In parallel, Bees United were granted an option to acquire the majority shareholding in both Brentford FC Ltd and Griffin Park Stadium Ltd for £1 each, subject to being able to relieve Ron Noades and his company of the guarantees currently securing the overdraft. The option runs until 31 May 2005.
As a pre-requisite for being able to exercise the option, the Brentford board set a budget for 2003/04 with the aim of breaking even at an operating level (ie before interest charges), in contrast to the huge losses being incurred in prior years. By demonstrating that we can operate the business without haemorrhaging money right, left and centre, coupled with an asset in Griffin Park which is worth considerably more than the Club’s liabilities, we believe we have the best opportunity of achieving the necessary refinancing, particularly if we continue to make progress with the plans for Lionel Road.
And the third anniversary? Well, it was Peter Gilham’s birthday on Wednesday. He assures me that he is 39 again, and who am I to disbelieve him?
Stephen Callen (Bees United and Brentford FC Finance Director)