The Brentford B team was set up in May 2016, in place of a traditional academy. It focuses on players aged between 17 and 21, and recruits many of its players from non-league teams, while also picking up players released by other clubs’ academies. In the years since its foundation, the model has proved successful, helping to produce a string of players for their first team.

In this fascinating interview filmed exclusively for CV Academy, Brentford B assistant coach Sam Saunders breaks down the reasons for the B team’s success, reflecting on their varied fixture list, a clear pathway into the first team and the positive experience of playing opposition from across Europe. He goes on to share how Brentford pays tribute to the late Robert Rowan, who – in his role as head of football operations – played a key role in the B team’s inception.