Fond Bees memories for Jake Bidwell

Facing Brentford tonight will bring back some fond memories for Jake Bidwell as the Swansea City full-back takes on the club he represented for almost five years.

Bidwell had two loan spells with the Bees before completing a permanent move from boyhood club Everton in the summer of 2013.

He ended up making 211 appearances in total, scoring three goals, and helping the West London club reach the Championship by clinching the 2014 League One title.

That season he was included in the PFA League One Team of the Year, and went on to be a mainstay as Brentford established themselves as play-off contenders in the second tier under Mark Warburton before leaving for QPR in 2016.

Brentford have long been renowned for an astute approach and a view to long-term development, and they will move to a new stadium next season as they prepare to depart their Griffin Park home.

And, while Bidwell is firmly focused on his job at Swansea, he only has positive things to say about his old club.

“I had five good seasons there, and have some great memories of the club,” he said.

“They’re a good footballing team, their ideas may have changed slightly since I was there but I don’t think their identity has. Hopefully it should make for a good game.

“I think the new stadium next season will help take the club to the next level. It’s a well-run club, I have no bad words to say about them, and they have got a lot to look forward to.

“They’ve lost a lot of good players but they still manage to compete at the right end of the table. “