Having just stopped working in the corporate world after a 35 year career in all sorts of consumer services and latterly business software I decided to give some time to some of my passions including Brentford.
The BU elections took place in October last year, in November and thanks for your votes, I was elected to the Bees United Board. I saw this as an opportunity to get involved in the organisation that actually used to run the club when I first started going to Griffin Park. My first memories were perhaps more about the spirit of BFC and its supporters than the football. I still remember someone visiting our home with a bucket asking for funds to support the club, and I remember wet and windy evenings in Griffin Park watching ‘proper’ football in the 4th tier.
At times the football was dire – the run up to Terry Butcher leaving in 2007 sticks in my mind with a home loss to Grimsby being the last straw. Yet the club was walkable from home, was friendly, had something about it and I liked the fact that Bees United were in control, commercially at least.
It was an amazing story of fan power that I had also seen at Brighton & Hove Albion in the 1990’s albeit with a different outcome.
More recently I got to meet some of the commercial team at the club, as I was involved in sponsorship in both the Premier League and other sports and was really impressed that the spirit I had witnessed for about 20 years had developed and the stories of togetherness in how the club was run were more than headlines and were very true. Although Bees United no longer controls the club, the pressures of the Premier League and football finances means the BU seat on the main Board, the so called Golden Share as it used to be called, and the supporters voice are still very important.
After a few months being involved on the Board, I need to tell you that there are a small number of very hard working and unpaid volunteers at BU, and at other fan groups, who do a huge amount to keep things running smoothly for us all.
As well as attending and contributing to Club working groups about Season Ticket pricing, ensuring fan voices are taken into account, I’ve recently been involved with discussions & planning around a special 25th anniversary event of Bees United, formed in 2001. I shared fan views at a senior level of the Dugout, plus Food & Beverage and B Team fixture communications with the club. I have also been asked to input into the Fan Advisory Board.
Matchball, BFC v Southampton, 9th March 1935
The BU Board meets around 10 times a year but in between we are frequently in touch. It’s really impressive to see and hear about the hard work behind the scenes to look after things like our history and heritage ensuring the past of Brentford FC is not forgotten.
Witnessing the changes at other clubs around the country its clear to me the work of Bees United remains key and looking to the future I encourage you to keep sharing your views and help us influence the club for the better.
Pete Turner
BU Board electee October 2025