Bias (Brentford Independent Association of Supporters) representatives were out and about in Ealing Broadway on Valentine Day trying to introduce shoppers to a new love and to sample real passion by watching the Bees in action against Port Vale.
We were joined by Amy Crook from the Brentford FC Community Sports Trust and by Buzz Bee, who made our efforts a lot easier as we no longer looked like timeshare touts and people in the street were laughing as they approached.
It is new residents with no connection to Brentford Football Club who BIAS wanted to target as the reality is that the vast majority of Brentford fans have been introduced to the club by their parents, friends, neighbours or colleagues or through the Football in the Community scheme.
BIAS wanted to break the ice, and to offer the shoppers in Ealing the chance to attend the match in the afternoon at Griffin Park. Brentford Football Club was fully supportive of the scheme and provided a mixture of complimentary tickets for the New Road stand and the family stand.
Those who took the tickets were given a flyer with directions on how to get to GP, how to obtain tickets for future matches and the family stand etiquette.
The active Brentford supporters we met were declined the free tickets being given out, and all accepted and welcomed that the aim of the initiative was to attract new support.
It's a great feeling when talking to a fan who has not been for years and who accepts a ticket as you feel that if the team perform a love will be rekindled and that once again they will become a regular attendee.
It is also very gratifying introducing new fans, especially when you explain the prices of the family stand tickets and you see the pleasant surprise on their faces as they realise that having fun with their families is a lot cheaper than they thought and their first tickets are free.
BIAS has also received a lot of praise and positive comments from Brentford fans, praising the initiative and often inviting us to their town to do a similar event.
PHIL MARCHANT
by email
