Graham Haynes Brentford FC's historian passes on

Saturday 26th April saw the end of an era at Brentford Football Club.

Prior to the match, news came through that a supporter had collapsed on his way to the ground and on further investigation the supporter was identified as Graham Haynes. A short while into the game came the tragic news that Graham's heart attack had proved fatal. Graham was just 62.

Whilst Graham had a very private life outside of Brentford, it was his knowledge of the Club that had been gleaned from his incredible collection of over a century of press cuttings etc that had made him the "font of all knowledge" as far as Brentford Football Club was concerned. He was the Club's recognised "Historian" and on a very regular basis this season he would be asked for information on a long lost relative who it was believed may have played for Brentford?and within no time at all he would have responded, chapter and verse, together with the promise of documentary and photographic evidence to follow.

He was never happier than when he was challenged on facts concerning the Club, but his was the voice you could guarantee would be the definitive answer.

It was he who changed the Club's history in the early seventies when, following exhaustive investigation, he proved that the Club was formed a year later (1889) than had previously been recorded.

Fortunately for the Club, not to mention my predecessor as programme Editor Eric White and myself, Graham was a prolific writer. He started writing for the programme well over 30 years ago and has been a constant contributor ever since. More importantly, thanks to his amazing collection of Bees statistics, records and facts, and his enthusiastic capacity to put pen to paper, Bees fans past, present and future have an indelible record of Brentford Football Club through the years.

It was his pen that spawned either individually or in collaboration with others, "The Brentford Story", "Three Visits to Wembley", "A-Z of Bees", "Timeless Bees" and of course The Brentford Bible "100 Years of Brentford".

A year ago, almost to the day, another Bees legend, Bill Axbey passed away.

Twelve months on and Graham Haynes sadly joins the list of those who are recognised as having legendary status for the service they have given to Brentford Football Club.

I know I speak on behalf of every Bees fan, whether or not they had met Graham, but who most certainly would have come into contact with him through his words, when I say we extend our deepest sympathies to his wife Janet and to his two sons.

Graham has left an indelible mark on his beloved Brentford Football Club and I for one, believe we will never see his like again.

R.I.P Graham

Peter Gilham

Originally published on www.Brentfordfc.co.uk and republished with kind permission

May 7, 2008