All at Brentford Football Club were saddened to hear of the death of former Chief Executive Keith Loring. Keith was in charge of the off-field operations of the Club for a decade in the 1980s and 90s. He has died after a short illness.

Keith first arrived at Brentford in a part-time role, working on commercial projects. It was not long before he took over as Chief Executive, in 1985, working under former Chairman Martin Lange. He oversaw the Club’s first Wembley visit in more than 40 years, for the Freight Rover Trophy Final the same year, and was at the helm off the pitch for the next ten years.

In that time The Bees reached the last eight of the FA Cup, losing to Liverpool at Anfield in 1989. Brentford won promotion to the second tier in 1992, only the second time the Club had ever achieved it, and played in the newly former Division One. He helped grow the Club’s off-field staff and was Chief Executive when the Football in the Community Scheme, the forerunner to what is now Brentford FC Community Sports Trust, was launched.

One of Keith’s greatest legacies was the formation of the Brentford Lifeline Society in early 1986. Lifeline is now more than 35 years old and has put more than £2m in to the Club over that time. It still runs to this day, offering prizes for participants and funding Brentford FC projects.

Keith left Brentford in 1995 and took up the same Chief Executive role at Derby County FC. In eight years at Derby, Keith oversaw the move from the Baseball Ground to a new purpose-built stadium. Six of those years were spent in the Premier League.

Keith spent eight years working at Derbyshire County Cricket Club, including time as their Chief Executive. He most recently worked as a consultant in the Derbyshire area. He also helped out on the committee at Mickleover FC and with local charities.

The sympathies of everyone at Brentford FC are sent to Keith’s wife Lesley and their family.