Ten years ago today, 20 January 2006, Bees United (BU), The Brentford Supporters Trust, completed the purchase of the majority of shares in Brentford Football Club. What has followed since has been an incredible decade for Brentford Football Club.

As a result of the takeover in 2006 Greg Dyke became Chairman of Brentford FC, then BU Chairman Brian Burgess first joined the Board of the Club, and previous owner Ron Noades left the Club.

During those ten years, Greg became Chairman of the FA, Brian Burgess and Chris Gammon - another former BU Board Member - have led the development of the Brentford Community Stadium at Lionel Road, and Bees United launched an initial partnership deal with Matthew Benham, before going on to sell the shareholding to Matthew in 2012.

Brentford Football Club, with Matthew Benham’s support, is now an established Championship club.  No longer alternating between Leagues One and Two, promotion to the Premier League is now firmly in our sights. In 2001, supporters campaigned against the Club relocating to Woking. Now the new Lionel Road stadium development – just a short walk from Griffin Park – will give Brentford Football Club a local home for decades to come.

David Merritt, Chair of Bees United and Director of Brentford Football Club, reflects on an incredible decade for Brentford Football Club. He said: “The ten years since BU took majority ownership of Brentford FC have been immense for the Club. It was Brian Burgess, Chris Gammon and the Bees United Board that created that historic moment for the Club, and it has been Matthew Benham who has enabled the Club to be so successful since. We started the decade in crisis – we finished it with the most successful season since World War Two, and we head in to this anniversary year for Bees United more positive than ever.”

What an incredible decade!

Come and enjoy the success: Tickets for our forthcoming game against Leeds United on Tuesday 26 January are available here.

Bees United continues to support the long term success and sustainability of Brentford Football Club under Matthew Benham’s ownership.  The Trust still has substantial loans to the Club, a ‘golden share’ preventing the inappropriate sale of Griffin Park (and Lionel Road once it is complete), two representatives on the Board of the Football Club, and both past and present representative on the Lionel Road board.  All roles in Bees United are democratically elected. BU Membership costs just £5 and can be purchased here.