It was on 16 January 1986 that the Brentford Lifeline Society was launched by Keith Loring, the Club’s then Chief Executive, alongside his counterpart at Bolton Wanderers, Alf Davies - the brainchild behind Lifeline - and England legend Nat Lofthouse. Hounslow Civic Centre was the location to launch the money-raising scheme in front of a packed audience of Bees fans. Since then it has continued to play a major and crucial part in the ongoing history of Brentford Football Club.

In its 30th year, the Society is proud to announce that every member of the First Team squad is now a member. On Saturday 16 January 2016 the Society will be celebrating 30 years to the very day that it was launched by taking over the Hospitality Lounge in its entirety as match sponsor.

On that day the Society will be drawing out five Lifeline numbers, for each of which the lucky Member will receive a voucher to the value of £2,500 which can be used at any time over the ensuing two years opening up a world of opportunity as you can pick your own choice of holiday or holidays with Thomson/First Choice.

Additionally, to help celebrate the anniversary the Society will, at the home game against Milton Keynes Dons on Saturday 5 December be drawing out 30 Lifeline numbers, for each of which the lucky Member will receive, in time for Christmas, a Marks and Spencer’s Family Christmas Hamper to the value of £150.

The following day, 40 Lifeline members and Guests, will be attending Richmond Theatre’s Christmas Pantomime “Cinderella” following lunch at Don Fernandos’ Restaurant in Richmond, the prize numbers for which will be drawn out at the home game against QPR on Friday 30th October.

And that’s not all. During the week following the Milton Keynes Dons match, we will be drawing out 30 Lifeline numbers, for each of which the lucky Lifeline Members will receive an invitation for themselves and a guest, to attend the Burnley game and enjoy the full Match Sponsors Package in the Sponsors Lounge to help celebrate our Pearl Anniversary.

That apart the Brentford Lifeline Society continues to support all Football Club functions whether it is Sporting Dinners, end of season Player of the Year Event, or match day hospitality.

Additionally, the Society is very proud to support the Club in a number of initiatives, which most recently included the purchase of a hyperbaric oxygen chamber to complement the anti-gravity treadmill, which the Society has financed for the past three years. Both of which have proved to be tremendous acquisitions as the Medical Department strive to treat our injured players.

Neil Greig, the Club’s Head of Medical, said: “We are very grateful to the Brentford Lifeline Society, their members and the Brentford fans who support them, for their generosity and on-going commitment. They have been most supportive over the past few years in respect of their financial assistance in enabling us to proceed with projects such as the Anti-gravity treadmill that we purchased in 2012 and most recently a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, both of which help enormously in the development, recovery and healing process of our injured players. We are indebted to the society and their members for their continuing support.”

Over the course of the past almost 30 years the Society has donated either directly or indirectly to the Club in excess of £2m. Application forms for membership can be downloaded online by going to www.brentfordfc.co.uk/fans and clicking the Lifeline logo.

The support of the Lifeline Society to Brentford Football Club is no less important now than it was then. Hence the name. Here’s to the next 30 years.

Peter Gilham

Chair

The Brentford Lifeline Society