Championship football club Brentford yesterday (Sunday) marked its first competitive match at its new stadium with a victory over Wycombe Wanderers in the EFL Cup first round.
Brentford defeated Wycombe 4-2 on penalties after the match finished 1-1. Ethan Pinnock scored Brentford’s first competitive goal at the 17,250-seat stadium in the 32nd minute before Scott Kashket equalised with 14 minutes remaining.
Due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, no fans were allowed at the stadium, which will also serve as the home of the London Irish rugby union team.
Brentford’s home match against Preston North End on October 3 will potentially be the first chance fans will have to sample the new stadium. The UK government is hoping to allow stadiums to open at reduced capacities and with social distancing from October.
Brentford played its final match at its old Griffin Park stadium on July 29 with a 3-1 play-off victory over Swansea City. The London club had played at the famous ground since it opened in 1904.
Work on Brentford’s new stadium was temporarily halted due to COVID-19 but the venue was completed in time for the 2020-21 season. The stadium was delivered by EcoWorld London and the wide-ranging development also includes a purpose-built location for the Brentford FC Community Sports Trust, as well as a public square with shops, cafes and restaurants, and more than 900 new homes.
The stadium will be one of the host venues for England’s staging of the UEFA Women’s Euro in 2022.
Image: Brentford
Share this