Upcoming play explores the humble origin of Brentford Football Club

By Hannah Davenport

20th Jan 2022 | Local News

The beginnings of Brentford FC will be told through a satirical play. (Credit: Rob Jex)
The beginnings of Brentford FC will be told through a satirical play. (Credit: Rob Jex)

'A Tram stop in Hounslow' is the upcoming play written by a Brentford playwright about the humble origins of his beloved team, Brentford FC.

Geoff Buckingham, 73, grew up in Brentford and has supported the football club since childhood.

Despite no longer living in the town, he still goes to matches every other week.

Geoff wrote the play during lockdown and, despite having written over 100 plays, his personal connection to the subject matter made this one dear to his heart.

"It was a real labour of love. The club and its history has always been a passion for me," Geoff told Brentford Nub News.

"I got very excited about it and shared the idea with some other Brentford supporters who said I should do the play, and the museum shared my enthusiasm."

Brentford's London Museum of Water & Steam will host two performances of the satirical play which captures the events of October 1889, when Brentford Rowing Club held a rather heated meeting, close to the site of the Museum, to discuss starting a football club.

Having already co-written 'The Brentford Story 1889-1979', a book on the brief history of Brentford FC, Geoff, who will narrate the play, felt it was time the story of the club's interesting origin was more widely known.

"I've seen some good and some bad years, many supporters have endured tough and worrying times and we're now enjoying some better times.

"But I thought it was good to pay tribute to this history, and to the town."

Brentford – A bus stop in Hounslow

Some may be familiar with the title, as it was inspired by recent events when Brentford faced dismissals from other clubs before their promotion to the Premier League last May.

Geoff explained: "Other clubs scoffed at Brentford FC and called them 'a bus stop in Hounslow'.

"But the club supporters have embraced that and they are proud to be a bus stop in Hounslow, there's even a song about it."

He added: "I wanted to celebrate the achievements of the club and pay tribute to all those chaps many years ago who formed it in Brentford, which was a pretty uncomfortable place to live at the time because of the gasworks."

He described how the working-class area of Brentford would have been a "dreadful town to live" back in 1889, aside from the numerous pubs.

"The more I studied this, the more motivated I felt, as Brentford in the 1880s was a tough place to live, so I could see the benefits of having a football team.

"It gave the town something extra, and of course it has brought a lot of pleasure over the years."

Fans may recognise some satirical points in the play from more recent events, which Geoff hopes will bring a few laughs, along with some enlightening facts.

Emma Canterbury, Water & Steam Museum engagement coordinator, said it will be a 'delight' to host the performances.

"The event fits really nicely at the museum as we've been hosting the Farewell Griffin Park exhibition, so it's lovely to be able to host another event for Brentford FC fans in particularly," said Emma.

"It's a delight for us and it's different to what we do normally, being the first play we would have hosted for many years.

"It's nice to bring new activities into the museum."

The event will be held in the steam hall surrounded by four steam engines, making for a unique viewing experience.

There will be two performances on Sunday 6, March at 5.30pm and 7.30pm.

The museum café will be open in the evening for guests to have refreshments.

Adult tickets are £9 and child tickets £5, with money going to the museum and a portion to the performers who are from a nearby drama group.

Book your ticket here.

     

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