TRIBUTES were paid this week to arguably Brentford’s finest ever goalkeeper, who passed away last week.

Gerry Cakebread OBE made 374 appearances for the Bees over nine years from 1955-1964 before joining Hillingdon Borough.

A Brentford supporter as a youngster, Cakebread came through the club’s youth system but chose to stay part-time throughout his career. After breaking into the first team in 1955, he went on to set a club record of 187 consecutive appearances between November 1958 and August 1962.

A nasty leg injury kept Cakebead sidelined for the latter part of Brentford’s Fourth Division Championship win in 1963, but he returned in goal on a famous night in October that same year when the Bees hammered Wrexham 9-0 at Griffin Park, their record win.

An England Youth player in his early years, Cakebread went on to play for the U23s too, and could even have won full honours if he’d played full-time, according to a former team-mate.

Legendary defender Tommy Higginson said: "He was a fine goalkeeper and a real gent, he could definitely have played for England." Jim Towers, Brentford’s leading goalscorer of all time, added: "Gerry used to get picked for the FA XIs they had back then, which is as good as national recognition."