History is against Brentford as they return to top flight after 74-year wait

12-Aug-2021 13:00:02 | The Guardian

Brentford are back in the top tier for the first time since 1947. Other clubs have struggled after such long absences

As Brentford prepare for their Premier League debut on Friday night against Arsenal, only a few of their supporters will remember their previous season in the top flight. It is neatly symmetrical that their last match at this level, on 26 May 1947, just happened to be at home to Arsenal. The day before, England played Portugal in a friendly in Lisbon, running out convincing winners by 10-0 with four goals each from Tommy Lawton and Stan Mortensen, and one apiece for Tom Finney and Stanley Matthews.

Brentford had already been relegated before they met Arsenal in 1947, when they lost 1-0 to a Paddy Sloan goal, his only one for the Gunners, in front of 17,976 spectators at Griffin Park. There will be a similarly sized crowd at Friday’s match at the Brentford Community Stadium, which hosted its first game in August last year after Griffin Park closed its doors after 116 years.

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History is against Brentford as they return to top flight after 74-year wait