There is a song that occasionally gets an airing at Griffin Park that starts, “My old man said be a Fulham fan...”

Suffice to say the response from Brentford supporters to this suggestion, which follows in the next line of the ditty, is in the negative and eye-wateringly profane. For most Bees fans, I guess, this is just another song out of the many aimed at our local rivals - the notion that they might actually be related to a Fulham supporter must be as fanciful to them as the idea that Brentford will be moving to a new stadium any time soon.

Sadly, my older brother and I can't be quite so blasé as the lyrics cut to the quick. Forgive me father, but I must confess that my family is full to the brim with bloody Fulham fans.

It’s probably due to one of those simple twists of fate that Bob Dylan likes to warble on about, or perhaps it was just a mistake at the adoption agency, but the Gore family is almost totally black and white (Dad, other brother, uncles, cousins, Granny etc.), with just the two of us choosing to follow the righteous path that leads to TW8.

It’s clearly not up there with the famed splitting of families that the Everton-Liverpool divide causes in Pound Land (surely Merseyside – Ed?), but, still, it gives us all something to row about over Sunday lunch and that, after all, is what family is all about.

When Fulham were announced as the opponents for Kevin O’Connor’s richly deserved testimonial match we all got reasonably excited. With them and our other traditional rivals QPR both plying their trade in higher divisions than Brentford over the last few years, it's been a while since we've got to enjoy a proper derby match. Despite attempts to build them up, games against no-mark clubs like Wycombe Wanderers and Leyton Orient just aren't the same.

As Wednesday's fixture is a friendly it obviously won't carry quite the same atmosphere or importance that a league or cup match between the two sides might, but it should still be a little spicier than your average pre-season kickabout.

Without wishing to sound like an earnest berk, I hope the atmosphere stays as convivial as possible. Sure, I'll be hurling the odd insult and joining in with that song about “my old man” with extra gusto knowing he'll be at the other of the ground to hear it, but let's also make sure the main focus is on Super Kev so we can give him proper thanks for his 11 years of sterling service to our football club.