Accusations Of Modern Slavery!!!
Brentford U21 1 v Leicester City U21 0
Premier League Cup, Group G
Friday 10 November 2023
Played at Wheatsheaf Park, Staines
Wheatsheaf Park in Staines is the 456th different ground I've watched football on. And. Do you know what? I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. Staines Town were formed in 1892. And, Staines Town FC played in the modern era at Wheatsheaf Park. But, Staines Town are no more. Before their fall, a local businessman, Alan Boon, and his son Matthew, pumped a load of their own money into the Club.
But, as they financed ground improvements, they ran into a bit of shit and decided/needed to sell the freehold in 2008. They were now tenants, with a landlord, at Wheatsheaf Park, where they had played since 1951. In turn, those first landlords of Wheatsheaf Park sold the freehold to new landlords Downing LLP.
In 2018, still tenants at their historical ground, Matthew Boon sold Staines Town to Joe Dixon and Paul Jaszynski. They spouted all the usual bullshit about taking Staines into the Football League with a ten year plan. Their model was a non cash splashing sustainable thingamajig.
Well. Who knew. It all goes to shit. They try and fail to buy the freehold. Players don't get paid. At an away match in Guernsey, the traveling fans have a whip round so the players can have a meal.
The main issue is that (ground tenant and club owner) Dixon is at constant fuck offery loggerheads with landlords Downing LLP. (This next bit is factual. But the spin is mine) Dixon realises, he is a tenant, the leverage he has is that he can use the ground and car park for whatever he fucking wants.
Downing LLP have a prestigious leisure complex (The Thames Club) as part of the Wheatsheaf Park footprint. So, how can Dixon damage that Downing LLP business? Hurt them in the pocket. So they'll sell back the freehold.
I know, thinks Dixon, we'll have a game on the pitch every fucking day for six months. Be chaos for the leisure complex. Noise. Car parks full. That "Thames Club" won't look so fucking prestigious after all that palaver. Dixon puts it on the whiteboard. Blue skies it. How can we make it even worse?
Know what, we'll make it a six month football tournament, game a day for TRAVELLERS. We'll call it - The Travellers Community Cup. And, the car park will be given over to caravans, mobile homes, horses, and indeed carts.
Have that Downing LLP and your posh Thames Club thinks Evil Genius In His Own Shed Joe Dixon. Your fucking move.
Downing's move is to sit tight and wait for the Dixon Caravan Plan to die on its arse. Which it does. Let's have it right that Travellers ploy was a stake raiser. Where can Dixon go now?
He throws the last dice. He accuses Downing LLP (through their other investments) of having links to Environmental Crimes, Human Rights Abuses and Modern Slavery. Downing LLP just sit that ludicrous accusation out as well.
By this time, Dixon is refusing to play Staines Town games at Wheatsheaf Park. The 2021/22 season is completed with home games at Wealdstone & Bedfont. Town finish the season losing 30 out of 36 games. Goal difference is minus 95. That's it. They don't/can't enter the league in 2022/23. There are phoenix club group chats. Staines Town still exists as a bit of paperwork at Companies House. An offer is made to sell the club to the fans for a million. Then 400 grand. Bills are unpaid. Everything collapses in a mountain of further debt.
Right. Recap. Benevolent owners had to sell the freehold of the ground. Historic home ground ended up with a leisure company. Benevolent owners decided to sell the club. New owners made a mess. Relationship with landlords completely breaks down. The plan for a game a day Travellers Tournament never happens. Accusations of Modern Slavery are levelled against the landlord. Nobody is getting paid. It all ends in a heap. With no more Staines Town.
My reason for telling that story is that - from October 2023, Premier League Brentford have repurposed Wheatsheaf Park as a home for their Academy and Women's teams. And that is why I am here tonight. I have no clue who owns what and pays what.
The good news would seem to be, this historic ground is being used, and maintained, again. With at least a medium term future. The bad news remains - not by Staines Town it ain't (yet).
And. There's a twist. Remember way back. When the Boons had to sell the freehold. And someone bought it BEFORE Downing LLP. The first landlords. Remember them?
Well. I'm no expert on shell and holding companies. But, Wheatsheaf Park (Staines) Ltd is listed at Companies House. It's listed as one of the holding companies under the Scarborough United Group. In that list of companies is Sheffield United Group Ltd. So, layperson understanding, Kevin McCabe, the Scarborough Group, “Sheffield United”, they were Staines Town's first landlords. They owned Wheatsheaf Park before it ended up in Downing LLP’s grip.
Anyway. Wheatsheaf Park. Repurposed by Brentford. And, with apologies to Staines Town fans, what a superb job they're making. Big, big crowd. No announcement. But Stewards had been told to expect 800. Looked at least that to me. They've obviously chucked a lot of the budget at the pitch. Having only been “in use” for a fortnight, it's in pristine condition. But, a superb surface. It was so green, I had to double take to check it wasn't plastic!
The lock up club shop was doing a roaring trade as well. Other clubs (you knows where I'm pointing) take note. You CAN use Academy games as an important touch point for fan engagement.
On Tuesday, I watched two of Emile Heskey's lads play for Manchester City U19 - Jaden & Reigan. On Thursday, I watched Ryan Giggs lad, Zach, play for Sheffield United U17. Tonight, I watched David Beckham's lad, Romeo, play for Brentford U21. Reigan scored a Penalty. But, Zach scored a technique screamer as the ball dropped to him. There was a constant rumour buzz around Wheatsheaf Park that David & Victoria were in attendance to support Romeo. He looked ordinary. Long periods without touching it.
It was an even enough game. Plenty of pace and good control skills from both sides. Brentford deserved to win it I thought. And they did with Val Adedokun’s 17th minute goal.
My first visit to Wheatsheaf Park. My first visit to Staines. If you get a chance, GO. Because then you can enjoy.
Thames Side Brewery & Tap Room
1 Hale St, Staines TW18 4UW
Very much a working Brewery. The shiny kit is all along one wall. They'd just finished a bottling run. Those were being loaded into a storage bin on the stage. The brewer was beavering away on his laptop on the table behind me. And at the centre table in the large seated area, there was an impromptu beer bottle labelling line. Very much a working Brewery.
Eight of their own on Cask. (One kicked and I noticed they put a guest Cask on). And four of their own on Keg.
Thames Side Brewery, White Swan, Pale Ale on Cask at 4.2%
Lovely beer. Clear as a bell. Chinook & Columbus. Slightly grassy. Builds up to some fruit. And there is bitter left in the hops.
Thames Side Brewery, The Green Manalishi, Green Hop Special Bitter on Cask at 4.5%
She's fetched that one out of the cellar, rather than pull it from the handle. I think I may have got the last one. The Fuggles & Golding Hops used in the brew were still growing in the Brewer's garden beside the River Thames in Staines two hours before the brew. I know. I asked him. Very earthy & rustic. Chewy (as you can see from the photo!
Thames Side Brewery, Egyptian Goose India Pale Ale on Cask at 4.8%
Fuggles, East Kent Goldings, and Cascade Hops. I thought that was very pale looking for an English IPA. Lovely beer mind. Bit of Granny Smith in the smell and initial taste. Easy drinking at that abv. Tastes like one of them where they've honed the recipe for years.
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