Born in Hackney but raised in South London, Alan Nelmes was an indispensable part of Brentford’s first-team squad for nearly a decade. A no-nonsense defender, he quietly went about his business, delivering consistently reliable performances, and ultimately earning himself a place in Brentford’s Hall of Fame.

PART ONE

Alan Nelmes attended Ingram High School, located near the imposing silhouette of Selhurst Park. Football was in his blood, and it wasn’t long before he caught the eye of one of the capital’s biggest clubs, Chelsea. Signing professional terms in October 1965, the youngsterr must have believed he was on the cusp of something special. However, Stamford Bridge can be an unforgiving place for an aspiring footballer, and despite his best efforts, he failed to break into the first team and was released at the end of the 1966-67 season.

Turning down offers from Aldershot and Colchester United, Nelmes opted for a fresh start at Fourth Division Brentford in July 1967. It was a decision that would define his career, though settling into the rigours of lower-league football was no easy task. Yet, he adapted quickly, showcasing an underrated turn of pace and a rugged determination that made him the perfect partner for the composed and assured Peter Gelson.

What’s more, versatility became one of Nelmes’ great strengths. Initially deployed as a right-back, he soon demonstrated an ability to play across the backline, and even as a sweeper. The 1967–68 campaign saw him feature in five different positions, an indication of his adaptability and the trust placed in him by the Brentford management. Moreover, he became a beacon of consistency, missing only three matches between 1968 and 1972—an astonishing run that included over 100 consecutive appearances for the side.

In an era when defenders were rarely expected to trouble the scoresheet, Nelmes still found a way to contribute. A rare but memorable goal came against Notts County on 2 March 1968, when he was thrust into an unfamiliar centre-forward role and duly obliged with one of his only two strikes for the club. The other, perhaps even more remarkable, was a last-minute winner against Scunthorpe United at Griffin Park. As Kevin Keegan ball-watched in blissful ignorance, Nelmes ghosted in at the back post to snatch a dramatic victory. It was one of those fleeting moments when a defender gets to play the hero, and he certainly made the most of it.

PART TWO

By 1970, Nelmes was a fixture in the team, and his contributions were formally recognised when he was awarded the Brentford Players’ Player of the Year award for the 1970–71 season. His nickname, ‘Spider,’ was a testament to his gangly but effective style of play, stretching to make crucial tackles, intercepting passes, and generally making life miserable for opposition forwards. His defensive prowess was instrumental in Brentford’s promotion to Division Three in the 1971–72 term, though, in a cruel twist of fate, the West Londoners´ stay in the higher tier was short-lived, and they were relegated back to Division Four the following season.

Nevertheless, Nelmes remained loyal to the cause, even as injuries began to take their toll. The relentless nature of lower-league football, played on boggy pitches against battle-hardened opponents, eventually wore him down. Consequently, at the end of the 1975–76 season, Brentford made the tough decision to release him. It was the end of an era, but he left Griffin Park with his head held high, having made 350 outings.

Curiously, despite being a physically imposing player who relished the defensive side of the game, Nelmes was never sent off during his professional career—a remarkable statistic considering the rough-and-tumble nature of 1970s football. His services to Brentford did not go unnoticed, and in 1978, he was granted a testimonial against his former club Chelsea. The match ended in a rather humbling 8–2 defeat, but at least Nelmes walked away with £7,000—a significant sum in those days and a just reward for years of dedication.

Following his departure from Brentford, Alan Nelmes continued to ply his trade in non-league football, turning out for Hillingdon Borough, Hayes—managed by former teammate Bobby Ross—and finally Southall. However, a cartilage injury ultimately curtailed his playing days, forcing him into retirement. While many former players struggle to find a new direction post-football, he carved out a varied and interesting path.

In his playing days, he had lived in Isleworth and worked at the Watneys brewery in Mortlake—a classic case of a footballer supplementing his income in an era when wages were much lower than today. Later, he ran a business in Bognor Regis before moving into security work at Gatwick Airport. By 2015, he had settled in Middleton-on-Sea, enjoying a well-earned retirement away from the razzmatazz of professional soccer.