Why Join BIAS? Because Every Brentford Fan Deserves a Voice
Written by Dan Suh, BIAS Executive Committee Member, October 2026
Brentford Football Club has changed enormously since BIAS was formed. The stadium has changed, the ownership has changed and the Bees are now established on a stage that supporters of previous generations could only dream about.
But one thing hasn’t changed: supporters need a voice of their own.
That is why BIAS – the Brentford Independent Association of Supporters – exists, and why joining us remains as important today as it has ever been.
Born from supporters standing together
BIAS has its roots in 1998, when concerned Brentford supporters came together during a difficult period in the Club’s history. What began as opposition to the ownership of David Webb developed into something much more lasting: an independent organisation capable of representing Brentford supporters and standing up for their interests.
BIAS subsequently played an important role in the successful campaign against proposals to sell Griffin Park and move Brentford to a groundshare at Woking.
It also became clear that a separate supporters’ trust was needed to help secure the Club’s long-term future. BIAS played a crucial role in establishing what became Bees United in 2001.
Bees United is Brentford’s supporters’ trust, a separate organisation which went on to play a significant role in the Club’s ownership and development. Today, it continues to represent supporters’ interests, including through its representation on the Brentford FC board.
BIAS remained a separate, independent supporters’ association, continuing to represent fans and help ensure that the future of the Club and the search for a new stadium could not simply be ignored.
Those were major battles concerning the very future of Brentford Football Club.
Thankfully, Brentford is in a very different place today.
But that doesn’t mean supporters no longer need independent representation.
Different times. Different issues. Same purpose.
Most of the issues BIAS deals with today aren’t about whether Brentford will have a football ground tomorrow.
They are about what it is actually like to be a Brentford supporter today.
Ticket prices and ticketing policies. Away allocations and travel. Changes to kick-off times. Memberships. Digital ticketing. The matchday experience. Accessibility. Equality and inclusion. Fan behaviour. Stewarding and policing. The protection of our Club’s heritage.
These are issues that affect all of us, whether we are Season Ticket holders, My Bees members, occasional matchgoers, away regulars or supporters following the Club from further afield.
Some issues affect thousands of supporters. Others may initially affect just one.
And that distinction matters.
If you’ve encountered a problem with a ticket, been treated unfairly, struggled with an away-game issue or found yourself caught by a policy that doesn’t seem to work properly, it can be difficult to know where to turn.
Sometimes BIAS can help an individual supporter get their concern heard. At other times, one fan contacting us highlights a problem affecting many more people.
A single supporter raising an issue can be the beginning of something that improves things for everybody.
And much of our work happens before supporters even realise there might be an issue. By engaging with the Club on policies, proposals and decisions, we aim to make sure the interests of supporters are considered from the outset.
You don’t need to have a problem to benefit from that work.
Independent – but engaged
BIAS is recognised by Brentford FC as an official fan group, but we remain wholly independent of the Club.
That independence means we can work constructively with Brentford while still being prepared to challenge decisions when we believe supporters have not been treated fairly or with respect.
And BIAS has meaningful opportunities to make supporters’ views heard.
Alongside Bees United, we co-chair Brentford’s Fan Advisory Board (FAB), which provides a formal opportunity for supporter representatives to discuss the Club’s strategic, non-football activities with senior Club officials.
This includes matters such as ticketing, stadium operations, the supporter experience and other decisions affecting fans.
We also participate in working groups dealing with the everyday issues that supporters encounter.
These relationships matter because they give supporters a route to influence decisions, raise concerns and propose improvements directly with those responsible.
But having a seat at the table is only part of the story.
The more supporters we represent, the greater the weight our voice carries when we sit at that table.
Beyond Brentford, our affiliation with the Football Supporters’ Association enables us to raise issues affecting Bees fans as part of the wider national conversation about supporters’ rights and the future of football.
Why does your membership matter?
Because our influence doesn’t come from money or status.
It comes from supporters.
BIAS is a democratic, not-for-profit organisation run by Brentford fans for Brentford fans. Membership is free, and BIAS now represents nearly 4,000 members.
That’s a significant collective voice. But imagine how much stronger it could become if thousands more Brentford supporters joined us.
When we discuss ticket prices, supporter policies or the matchday experience with the Club, our membership gives us credibility and a mandate to speak on behalf of supporters.
Every additional member strengthens that mandate.
The larger and more representative our membership, the greater our ability to influence the conversations and decisions that affect Brentford fans.
And that’s why joining matters, even if you’ve never contacted BIAS, never needed our help and perhaps never given much thought to what we do.
You may never personally need BIAS. But every Brentford supporter benefits from having a strong BIAS.
You don’t have to attend meetings. You don’t have to join the committee. You don’t have to agree with BIAS on every issue.
Joining simply means adding your voice to an independent organisation whose job is to make sure supporters are heard.
And if you do have views about how Brentford could improve things for supporters, membership gives you an opportunity to contribute to the conversations and priorities that shape our work.
Stronger together
Brentford has come a very long way since BIAS was created. We should celebrate that progress.
But football continues to change, and decisions made by clubs, broadcasters and football authorities can have a real impact on the people who follow their team week after week.
As Brentford continues to grow, we need to make sure that supporters remain at the heart of the Club’s future.
Whether you’ve followed Brentford for fifty years or five months, whether you attend every game or support the Bees from afar, your voice matters.
That’s why BIAS mattered in 1998.
It’s why BIAS matters today.
And it’s why we want you to join us.
Membership is free. Your voice matters. Together we are stronger.
