Since the escape from relegation last season (not the Great Escape of course) I have been eager to see when the trip to Griffin Park would be. It’s fairly easy to get there, I have some old workmates who are Bee’s season ticket holders, and if the football’s not up to much, you can watch the planes come into land, at nearby Heathrow! However in late June, it became apparent that this season’s trip was to be just 8 days after the birth of our second child, as it transpired we had a girl, so of course she was late! Fifteen minutes after listening in to the Swansea game on Tuesday, my wife calmly announced we should call the maternity unit, and fifteen (yes just fifteen) minutes before delivery (just 3 hours later) the Midwives strode along the path!!!

I did gallantly mention yesterday, that I probably wouldn’t go to the game on Saturday "probably"? "I think you mean obviously’’! Was the reply.

I have had some fun at Brentford though, I saw Concorde once! I also remember the Albion won there in the FA Cup in 1987. I think it was first round , might have been second, but Garry Nelsons left foot scored a beaut! I vaguely recall Neil Smillie taking us apart in the League Cup 1st Round in about 1989.

It was two legs in those days, although most of our players only used one! I think we almost pulled it back in the 2nd Leg but lost by the odd goal. The League Cup certainly isn’t a Facebook friend of ours!

We played a ‘home game’ there in the Associate Members cup in 2001 (alright Auto Windscreen Shield, Paint Pot, we don’t really care, but the Football League get lots a sponsorship money) as the Withdean Pitch resembled a paddy field, so we swapped and lost.

My most recent visit was in February 2007, when we managed to lose to a very poor Brentford team that included Neil Shipperly, who had avoided, if not flatly refused, to join the Albion most of that season. Good job as he looked like he was 6 foot’ both ways.

I hope all those that make the trip tomorrow enjoy an Albion win, and Mr Salde (sorry on line in joke) doesn’t let his two obvious favourites, Tunnicliffe and Dicker just sit around all afternoon, whilst their mates run around in the heat. I shall be dipping my elbow in various liquids, and on that note, can I just thank the two wonderful Midwives, Cindy Boxall and Vic Bell who attended to us early Wednesday morning and hopefully like Albion’s winning goal tomorrow, blink and you’ll miss it!