Brentford F.C. Reserves and Academy
Brentford F.C. Reserves was the reserve team of Brentford. The reserve team played at varying times from 1900 until 2011. During the 2012 off-season, the English reserve football pyramid and youth system was overhauled under the Elite Player Performance Plan and replaced with a new Academy system and development leagues. Brentford's reserve team was relaunched as the Brentford Development Squad in 2011 and in 2012 it began competing in Professional Development League 2 South. After closing the academy in May 2016, the club withdrew from the Elite Player Performance Plan and Professional Development League and launched a new Brentford B team. Following the first team's promotion to the Premier League in 2021, the club reopened its academy in time for the start of the 2022–23 season, under the Elite Player Performance Plan, while retaining the B team.
Brentford Reserves defend a Wycombe Wanderers attack during the 1988 Capital League Cup Final. Brentford won the match on penalties.
As of April 2024, right back Mads Roerslev has made the most Brentford first team appearances of any B team graduate.
Central defender Chris Mepham was the first former Brentford academy player to be capped at full international level, for Wales.
Neil MacFarlane has served as head coach of Brentford B since May 2019.
Griffin Park was a football ground in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow, England. It was the home ground of Brentford F.C. from its opening in September 1904 to August 2020. The ground was in a predominantly residential area and was known for being the only English league football ground to have a pub on each corner. The ground's name referred to the griffin featured in the logo of Fuller's Brewery, which at one point owned the orchard on which the stadium was built.
Griffin Park
Griffin Park pictured from the New Road stand, September 2015.
The forecourt behind the Braemar Road stand, pictured in January 2015, with the club offices and bar visible.
The Braemar Road stand from pitchside in January 2019.