Brentford Manager Uwe Rösler told Bees fans at the end-of-season Big Red Ball that his side would bounce back from the “setback” of missing out on automatic promotion.
The Bees needed to beat Doncaster Rovers on Saturday to win promotion to The Championship but fell agonisingly short.
Marcello Trotta fired a stoppage time penalty against the crossbar, Doncaster broke away and scored to win the game 1-0 and clinch the npower League One title.
Brentford finished third and will now face Swindon Town in the League One Play-Off Semi-Finals.
The winners over two legs will go to Wembley and play a one-off game against either Yeovil Town or Sheffield United for the final promotion place.
“Our season is not over,” said Uwe, speaking at The Big Red Ball last night.
More than 400 Bees fans attended the end-of-season event and a full complement of players and coaching staff were in attendance.
Uwe was presented with a prize for ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Season’ by the team that put together The Bees Player Show, the home match day coverage on the Club’s premium website service.
The Brentford Manager said: “I would like thank Peter Gilham for organising this fantastic event.
“Last year we had about 225 people, this year it is 425.
“That shows where we are going and how far we have come.
“My main thank you goes to the players.
“I said to them before the game yesterday I could not have wished for a better group for my first job in England.
“They have really helped me.
“I enjoy working with them and the belief I have in them is endless.
“I know how far they have come in two years.
“The sky is the limit.
“We had a setback yesterday but we will be there.
“We have bounced back before and we will do it again.
“I would like to thank my back room staff.
“They often get forgotten, they are massively important – coaches, medical, fitness, analysis, kit man.
“They are top people and they ensure we give the players the support and quality they need to perform.
“I would also like to thank Mark Warburton.
“The Sporting Director role is not recognised in English football often.
“He does not get the credit he deserves.
“A Football Club is not about a one-man show, it is about a team that works very well, all going in one direction.
“We have people in place in the management positions and the playing positions.
“I see a club going in the right direction.”
A series of ‘Player of the Year’ awards were handed out at The Big Red Ball.
Harlee Dean won the Bees Travel Club ‘Player of the Year’ and shared the Players’ ‘Player of the Year’ Award with Simon Moore.
He also finished second in the voting for Supporters’ ‘Player of the Year’.
He was full of praise for Brentford’s supporters and said they “drag” the players through games.
Harlee said: “This has been my first full season and apart from yesterday it could not have gone any better for me personally.
“We do what we do for the fans.
“The fans have been amazing all season.
“At Sheffield United there was more than 20,000 of their fans, all I could hear were ours.
“It means so much to us and drags us through games.
“There is a lot done behind the scenes, we have to thank the staff, we are an unbelievably fit team.
“But in the last few minutes it is the fans that drag you through.
“We can hear them; they suck the ball in to the goal.
“That’s the reason we are where we are.
“We have three more games left and we believe we can win the Play-Offs.”
Clayton Donaldson won the Supporters’ ‘Player of the Year’ prize in a season where he scored 22 goals this season and also chipped in with 13 assists.
The striker also lost his mother in February but carried on playing
“It has been emotional for me,” he said.
“I came off a decent season last season and I don’t think I would have got through without the support of all the players and staff.
“Scoring goals and losing my Mum, it’s been emotional.
“Without the team and the fans I wouldn’t have got through it.
“This one is for her.”
Simon Moore said: “It’s been a phenomenal season.
“There have been ups and downs, highs and lows and the only way is up now.
“To go up at Wembley will be fantastic.
“We have a great set of lads, everyone has been fantastic and the team spirit is great.
“We believe we can do it.”
The Griffin Park Grapevine ‘Player of the Season’ award, voted for by members of the unofficial forum during the season on a match-by-match basis, was won by Adam Forshaw
The midfield player said: “I am honoured.
“It has been a massive joint effort; it could have gone to any of the lads.
“I’m really pleased and I’d like to thank those that voted for me.”
Clayton Donaldson was also awarded the Community ‘Player of the Year’ prize, for work in the community and with Brentford FC Community Sports Trust
The striker, who grew up in Bradford, said: “I grew up with kids that tried to make money the wrong way and got involved with the wrong crowd.
“I have seen it all and been through it all.
“I decided to step out and go in to football as a way out.
“Kids can get lost sometimes and need guidance, they don’t always get it.
“It is great when community schemes show them there are other paths.
“The kids of now are the next generation; the more we can get on the right path the better it will be for everyone.”
The final award, and the most coveted among the squad, the ‘Hottie of the Year’ prize, was won by Jonathan Douglas
The midfield player said: “I am over the moon.
“This is probably the best award I have ever won.
“I room with Sam Saunders every away trip and the amount of effort he goes to to make himself look half decent is unbelievable.
“He will be devastated.
“This is for you Sam.”
The full award ceremony from The Big Red Ball will be available on Bees Player this week.