Brentford Fans Net Nearly £2,000 for Chiswick Lifeboat Heroes
By Charities Correspondent
Generous Brentford supporters have helped raise almost £2,000 for Chiswick RNLI during the latest match day collection.
In the two hours before kick-off on Saturday 21 February, volunteers and crew from Chiswick RNLI collected £1,946 through bucket donations and card payments — with more than half given in cash, proving notes and coins are still very much in circulation.
The fundraising drive forms part of the long-standing partnership between the lifeboat station and Brentford F.C., which dates back to the club’s days at Griffin Park.
Now a Premier League side, the Bees play at the Gtech Community Stadium, just a short distance from the River Thames where Chiswick’s volunteer crew regularly train.
Many fans gathered in riverside pubs ahead of the match — areas familiar to lifeboat crews during exercises — before heading into the stadium for the clash against Brighton.
Collectors were also treated to pitch-side tickets, giving them the chance to enjoy the atmosphere alongside 17,000 supporters.
Chiswick RNLI station manager Andy Mayo said the day was a great success.
“All the collectors had a fantastic time and there was plenty of friendly banter with the fans,” he said. “Being right next to the action on the pitch made it even more special.”
Chiswick Lifeboat Station is the second busiest in the UK and Ireland. Since the RNLI’s Thames search and rescue service launched in 2002, crews have responded to more than 4,900 incidents and saved over 2,500 people.
The RNLI relies entirely on voluntary donations to keep its lifesaving service running.
