Brentford fans sing "Hey Jude" as a beloved club anthem that started in the late 1960s.
This Beatles classic, originally written by Paul McCartney in 1968 to comfort John Lennon's son Julian during his parents' divorce, took on a unique life at Brentford FC.

The Origin Story

Peter Gilham, Brentford's stadium announcer since 1968, played "Hey Jude" over the PA system at Griffin Park for his friend Judy Kaufman—nicknamed "Jude"—during a match in the early 1970s. Fans overheard it, loved the uplifting vibe, and spontaneously adopted it as their own, turning a personal gesture into a stadium ritual. Gilham later reflected it was "an innocent start" that evolved quickly without any grand plan.

How It Became Tradition

  • By the 1970s, "Hey Jude" rang out pre- and post-match, fostering unity among supporters even in lower leagues.
  • Fans adapted the lyrics, swapping "Jude" for "Brentford" (or "Brent Ford" in chants): Brentford, don't make it bad, take a sad song and make it better... Na na na, Brentford!.
  • It exploded in popularity during Brentford's 2021 Premier League return after 74 years, with viral videos of 15,000+ Bees belting it out after wins like the 2-0 over Arsenal.

Modern Moments and Fun Ties

Even manager Thomas Frank joined in, performing it on karaoke duty, cementing its place in club lore. The song now announces signings—like Brentford B's Jude Russell in 2021—and echoes at the Community Stadium.

Other clubs sing it too (e.g., Manchester City since their 1968 title, Arsenal for ex-player Giroud), but Brentford claims the purest, longest fan- driven link.

"I will always associate Hey Jude with Brentford." – Fan reflection

Quick Forum Vibes

Reddit threads buzz with Liverpool fans asking, "Why Brentford?"—answers always circle back to Gilham's Judy play. Griffin Park forums debate "who sang it first" among clubs, but Brentford's story stands out as the most heartfelt. No major 2026 updates shift this—it's timeless Bees passion.

TL;DR: A sweet shoutout to "Jude" in 1968 sparked it; fans made it Brentford's soul-stirring staple.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.