Participants from the Brentford FC CST Deaf Programme paid a visit to Brentford FC’s Jersey Road Training ground last month as special guests of the club.

Upon arrival Peter Gilham, Brentford FC’s Player Welfare Manager, met the participants. The group were able to watch the training sessions that included some high intensity pass and move games. Brentford players John Egan and Yoann Barbet then joined the group for a Q and A session.

Peter then took the group on a tour of the facilities. First up was the kit room were they met the First Team Logistics Manager Bob Oteng. Peter explained the stories behind the various team shirts on display (including Wayne Rooney’s and Frank Lampard’s) as well as those from Brentford FC internationals Lasse Vibe and Philip Hoffman. The group were then taken to the fitness room were Lasse took questions from the group and demonstrated the various fitness machines and training programmes.

Training had now finished so the group were introduced to Head Coach Dean Smith. Dean took the time to answer questions on how the team train, team selection and how they manage the expectations of players of all different ages. Dean also detailed his own career as a professional.

Dean made the group very welcome and invited them into the team canteen to have lunch with the players – a very rare honour indeed. It was a wonderful day out for our deaf group and one that will not be forgotten. The Trust would like to take this opportunity to thank Peter, John, Yoann, Lasse and Dean for the time they spent and the hospitality they showed, it was very much appreciated.