In Brentford's match day programme over the course of the 2010/11 season, Nick Bruzon has been finding out what has happened to some former Brentford stars.

Yesterday www.brentfordfc.co.uk reproduced Nick's article on Robert Quinn - click here to read it

Here is part two:

Let's take this opportunity then to look back to his time at Brentford, who Rob signed for in the summer of 1998. He found himself joining a team that had just been relegated and where Ron Noades, former Crystal Palace chairman, had taken over as manager. What was his own motivation in making that same move from Selhurst Park to West London?

"I was only young; 21 when I came there and I remember the phone call. Terry Venables had just taken over at Palace and I'd been involved (to the extent that he featured in a Wembley play off final). I actually still had two years left on my contract at Palace and sometimes I do look back and think, 'Blimey. What was I doing?' going from (what is, now) Championship to Division Three. But I think it's about ambition for playing first team football, because I'd had a taste at a young age. Once you get used to playing and then go back to reserve football it just doesn't compare. I just wanted to play. That was the major thing.

"Ron had gone there and just signed Danny. I knew Ray Lewington had gone there and I knew what a good coach he was. That appealed while Ron had a good chat and said what he wanted to do and who he wanted to bring in. I think it was just that. I wanted to play, we were young, ambitious and that was the reason we went there."

This desire to play first team football and be involved was certainly rewarded at Griffin Park. Not just in terms of appearances but perhaps more so, in the make-up of the team alongside him.

"We were a very young squad and it was one of the best seasons in my career - that first year with the unbeaten run. The team spirit was the best I've ever had at a club - it was amazing. We were all similar ages; we all socialised together, trained together and lived close. I think a lot of players look back on that fondly. I know I do! It was one of the best times in my career and, of course, we won the league. I think we were one or two players short in the second season from going up again and making a decent fist of it.

You look at the players they have all gone on and done it at a higher level. I think we were going to sign a forward like Trevor Benjamin, or someone like that, who was good at that level. At the time if we had signed him or someone else I think we could have kicked on. We had a good bunch of lads there who have had some very good careers. Gavin and Martin are still playing. Hermann and Ivar too."

As supporters, that title-winning season gave us enormous fun getting behind Ron and the lads. As a player, with the spirit that Rob describes, it must have been tenfold! "Oh yeah and because we were so young, it happened so quick. We won at Rotherham away and that just kick started us. Then, I remember we got the promotion, beating Exeter at home and we knew we going to go up. I scored, and I do remember that, because I didn't score a lot. Then we played Swansea in midweek and we were still buzzing. We went out and won that game, then had a big lock in at a pub in Croydon that night, which was a good night. Then we had the Cambridge game at the weekend and there was just no pressure on us. They could draw and we had to win but we did it 1-0. That was a great week. Those seven days were brilliant and everyone was buzzing for the whole week."

Was that Cambridge game REALLY a no pressure match or did you think 'We can be Champions here?'

"Yeah, obviously we wanted the Championship because you want to win things. We knew we'd got promotion but we did want to win it badly. I just remember Lloyd scored and everyone going nuts afterwards. It was a great end to the season and we just carried on the next year really. We had a good summer and I had a great night, that Championship night…"

Presumably this involved another 'lock in' or something similar? "No, it was weird actually. My wife, it was her 21st birthday that night. All the other lads went back to Ron's for a party and my wife, she was my girlfriend then, had a big party. I turned up there already a bit worse for wear and I was bit worse by the end of that."

In my own mind's eye, I always had Ron Noades down as a tough man. However, mid-week 'lock ins' ahead of a title decider and a subsequent house party suggest a different character. You hear some managers have a 'rod of iron' who just say 'no booze' whilst others either turn a blind eye or encourage the team to bond. Was he more relaxed?

"I think they were. All of us respected Ray, especially, because of his coaching skills. He had a good relationship with the players and there was a line but no-one crossed it. Times have changed a bit and I'm not sure how it is on team buses nowadays, but when you won and played well, you used to have a drink on the bus. Then we'd all go out together, because we were so young. I rarely got that again with a team but because the age group were so close together, that's what made it special. The managers never went out with us but you could have a drink and a laugh with them on the way home. As long as no-one took liberties with them they were ok with it.

"I know that with a lot of youngsters I play with now, people don't seem to drink as much as we did, even though we weren't massive drinkers. The alcohol has gone out and a lot of young kids don't drink these days, which is better for them and more professional.

"At Brentford they were alright with it. They treated us well there and not like Third Division footballers, to be fair. We had nice training facilities; we went to La Manga in the summer and Ron treated us to Tenerife when we got promoted."

The other thing I really wanted to ask Rob about was his eventual departure from Griffin Park, with himself and Andy both being sold to a doomed Oxford United side, seemingly out of nowhere. How did it come about, as it seemed really bizarre to the fans?

"Weird! It was to us, to be fair. I still remember the phone call to this day and know exactly where I took it on the M25, driving to the game. We had a cup game, against Brighton at home. I was being rested that night anyway so wasn't playing but got a call from John Griffin, the chief scout, saying they had accepted a bid from Oxford. I was like, 'What?' I was shocked really. He said, 'They've accepted a bid for you, go and talk to them tomorrow'. I only had six months left of my contract and he said that they didn't want me to go but it might be in my best interests, financially, because Brentford weren't sure where they were going to be in money terms the year after. We went there and signed. It happened really quick. I talked to them the next day and signed the night after. I was settled and everything, had just bought my first house in Dartmouth and it was a bit of a rush. In the end it was the wrong move for me. Financially it was better for me but in footballing terms it was the wrong move. I was happy where I was and I don't really know the reason behind it. Oxford were bottom of the league and struggling. They were already down, effectively, when we went there and there was no way they were going to stay up so it was bit strange really."

So the move wasn't anything he was looking for then?

"No, nothing whatsoever. As I say, that phone call was totally out of the blue. It was a shame because I really enjoyed my time there."

Given the enjoyment that Rob had at Brentford, does he get a chance to watch the Bees much these days?

"To be honest, with all my old teams I still played every Saturday and Tuesday or Wednesday, so I never got to see a lot of games. That's what I'd like to do next year as well. When I left, I went to watch Brentford at Cardiff against Port Vale and I'd like to again, especially next week at Wembley. I know Charlie MacDonald who I played with at Ebbsfleet, or Gravesend as it was then, although I think he's injured and missing it. I've got a big soft spot for Palace and Brentford. They're the two teams I really look out for. And AFC Wimbledon, who are a good club. In fact, I probably look out for all my ex-teams except Oxford and Bristol Rovers. All the others I look out for with good memories."

We've talked about Rob's playing career and the next steps that he has started to take. Looking ahead, he has mentioned a few things already over the course of our chat - the work at Welling United and, potentially, coaching and managing. The prospect of finally having free reign over the mince pies at Christmas aside, is there any specific long-term goal?.

"As you know in football it's a lot of who you know and now I feel a bit more confident - once you start coaching its about getting your confidence. I've done more qualifications and I feel as though I could step into a centre of excellence role somewhere. That's what I'm trying to build for and that's my goal for next season, to try and get into a professional set up and get some more experience. From there, you never know.

"Look at Andy Scott and what happened. As soon as you get in there you do well, which he did, and he got the job in the end. Things happen very quickly sometimes. It was very quick with him and equally, with Nicky now. It's a lot of who you know and also - right place, right time. I have enjoyed it, being on the coaching side. I think I'd like to do that and, being realistic, deliver education as well. If a top non league set up (is looking), and there are some good teams out there in the conference which are full time, that would be my goal as well to get into that set up."

Finally, any message for the Brentford fans.

"Thank you for the good memories. That first year was one of the best of my career and I had many happy times there. I was gutted the way I left and wish I hadn't. As I say, it wasn't my doing - believe me. It was as shock but I always look back with very happy memories."