Tom Field said Brentford’s Youth Team were ready for tonight’s Under-18 Professional Development League Two Final at Griffin Park.
The Bees will play Charlton Athletic in the final this evening, Tuesday May 12.
The game will be played at Griffin Park and supporters are encouraged to come down and watch the young Brentford side take on their South London rivals.
Left back Tom, who is just back from a rib injury, said training had been high-intensity in the build-up to the match.
He said all the players were prepared for the task.
“Training has been high-intensity and all the boys are ready,” said Tom, speaking to Bees Player.
“I have just come back from a fractured rib.
“Getting back to the fitness levels has been hard, especially with the intensity leading up to the final.
“It has been the same all season.
“We are always training to make ourselves better.”
Brentford reached the final with a 2-1 win over Huddersfield Town last month.
Tom missed that game through injury as said he followed it on the Club’s Twitter feed.
He said playing in a final was a big thing for the players, the Academy and the Club.
“I was at home because I couldn’t move at all,” said Tom.
“I was refreshing the Twitter page constantly.
“I was hoping we could make it.
“I saw us go 1-0 down but I still believed we would win.
“I believed we had the better players.
“It is a big thing to make the final, especially playing at Griffin Park.
“We are playing a good side and to get to the final shows the Academy is moving forward rapidly.”
The game will kick-off at 7pm at Griffin Park tonight.
Tom said he thought a big crowd would help Brentford get the win.
“It would be good if there is a big crowd behind us,” he said.
“If the fans are nice and vocal and get on our side, it will give us an extra two or three per cent.
“That will kick us on and may be the difference.
“Charlton are a very good side.
“They are physical and quick, strong and pass the ball well.
“I think we can beat them.
“With the players we have – especially with everyone back fit – we can beat them.”
Brentford beat Charlton home and away this season, 2-1 in West London and 3-2 in the reverse fixture.
Tom said he expected Charlton to come to Griffin Park and sit deep.
He said The Bees would have to be patient.
“We have to play our style of football,” said Tom.
“We have to keep the ball and move it quickly.
“We want to drag their players out of position and get the ball in behind.
“They will sit off, that is what they have done in the last two games, and we will have to be patient.”
Brentford are unbeaten since January 10, a run that extends to 12 matches, but finished second in the southern section of the Under-18 league.
They were pipped to that title by Charlton, who won their last eight games of the regular season and made it nine victories on the spin by beating Nottingham Forest in their semi-final.
“It has been a very good season,” said Tom.
“Especially following last season, which was not very good.
“I always knew we had good enough players that we could come out strongly this year.
“We should have won the league but finishing second is still good.
“Now we are in the final.
“We are all gutted we didn’t win the league.
“We knew Charlton were a good side so we knew it would be one of us.
“We were disappointed they sneaked ahead of us and we want to get them back.”
Tom will turn professional at the end of the season. He has been offered a one-year contract to be part of Brentford’s Development Squad.
He was one of ten players from the current Under-18 group who have made the step up to work with Development Squad Manager Lee Carsley.
Tom said he was happy to be offered the contract and Brentford had made him the player he is.
He added that with so many players coming through together, it would help them all progress, as would Carsley.
“I was really happy to be offered a contract, especially at such a good club,” said Tom.
“Two years ago I was playing park football, now they are turning me in to a player.
“I am happy.
“There is a great togetherness in the changing room.
“Before and after games we are together.
“Going in to the Under-21 season there will hopefully be players starting games that are first year pros.
“We will have a good spine to the team and hopefully we can win games again.
“I am really looking forward to working with Lee, he is a great coach.
“He demands intensity and that gets the best out of us.
“He will definitely help us progress.”