1984–85 Brentford F.C. season

Brentford
1984–85 season
ChairmanMartin Lange
ManagerFrank McLintock
StadiumGriffin Park
Third Division13th
FA CupThird round
League CupSecond round
Football League TrophyRunners-up
Top goalscorerLeague: Cassells,
Cooke (12)
All: Cassells,
G. Roberts (18)
Highest home attendance8,214
Lowest home attendance2,003
Average home league attendance4,074

During the 1984–85 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. The season is best remembered for the club's first appearance in a Football League Trophy final, which was lost 3–1 to Wigan Athletic.

Season summary

Frank McLintock prepared for his first full season as Brentford manager by trimming his squad, releasing goalkeeper Paddy Roche, defenders Jim McNichol, Ian Bolton, Graham Wilkins and forward Tony Mahoney. His only significant signings were left back Jamie Murray from Cambridge United for £27,500 and centre back Steve Wignall from Colchester United for a £18,000 fee.

Manager McLintock presided over a season of transition in the Third Division, treading water in mid-table through to the end of 1984 and then dropping further in the early months of 1985. The goals of £20,000 signing Robbie Cooke allayed any fears that the club would be sucked into a relegation battle for the second successive season. The Bees repeated the previous season's feats in the League Cup and FA Cup, reaching the second and third rounds respectively. McLintock gave teenage defenders Keith Millen and Roger Joseph their debuts late in the season and both of whom would go on to become key players for the club. Brentford finished in 13th place in the Third Division.

Brentford's 1984–85 season is chiefly remembered for the club's run to the final of the Football League Trophy. The competition had been established in the 1982–83 season as the Football League Group Cup, but by 1984–85 the tournament had gained prestige, with sponsorship from Freight Rover and Wembley Stadium was announced as the venue for the final. The Bees won six matches in a row to reach the final, scoring 17 goals and conceding just three. The final was reached after an emphatic 6–0 Southern Area Final win over Newport County at Griffin Park, in which winger Gary Roberts scored four goals in a four-minute spell either side of half-time. The final versus Wigan Athletic at Wembley Stadium on 1 June 1985 was Brentford's first appearance at the ground since the 1942 London War Cup final. A disappointing defensive performance led to a 3–1 defeat, with Robbie Cooke scoring what proved to be the consolation goal.

Two club records were set or equalled during the season:

  • Most Football League games without a clean sheet: 20 (29 September 1984 – 26 January 1985)
  • Fastest hattrick (all competitions): 3 minutes – Gary Roberts (versus Newport County, Football League Trophy Southern Area final, 17 May 1985)

League table

Main article: 1984–85 Football League Third Division

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
11 Walsall 46 18 13 15 58 52 +6 67
12 Rotherham United 46 18 11 17 55 55 0 65
13 Brentford 46 16 14 16 62 64 −2 62
14 Doncaster Rovers 46 17 8 21 72 74 −2 59
15 Plymouth Argyle 46 15 14 17 62 65 −3 59
Source: [citation needed]

Results

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Pre-season

Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s)
1 August 1984 Wembley A 1–1 n/a Hurlock
4 August 1984 West Ham United H 1–0 2,109 Cassells
7 August 1984 Baldock Town A 1–2 n/a Myers
11 August 1984 Tottenham Hotspur H 0–3 3,612
15 August 1984 Chelsea H 0–3 2,775
20 August 1984 Luton Town H 0–2 893

Football League Third Division

No. Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s)
1 25 August 1984 Orient H 0–1 4,171
2 1 September 1984 Walsall A 1–0 4,747 Booker
3 8 September 1984 Wigan Athletic H 2–0 3,724 Cassells, Salman
4 18 September 1984 Rotherham United A 1–1 3,644 Hurlock
5 22 September 1984 Swansea City H 3–0 4,298 Hurlock, Cassells (2)
6 29 September 1984 Cambridge United A 2–1 2,580 Kamara, Cassells
7 2 October 1984 Doncaster Rovers H 1–1 4,901 Harle (og)
8 6 October 1984 Bradford City H 0–1 4,196
9 13 October 1984 Millwall A 0–2 5,385
10 20 October 1984 Gillingham H 5–2 4,053 G. Roberts (3), Alexander, Cassells
11 23 October 1984 Burnley A 1–3 2,916 Malley (og)
12 27 October 1984 York City H 2–1 4,261 Salman, G. Roberts
13 3 November 1984 Bristol City A 1–1 7,674 Kamara
14 7 November 1984 Derby County A 0–1 10,530
15 10 November 1984 Lincoln City H 2–2 4,115 Cassells, Booker
16 24 November 1984 Bournemouth A 0–1 4,113
17 27 November 1984 Newport County A 0–2 1,589
18 1 December 1984 Bolton Wanderers H 2–1 3,668 Cassells, Kamara
19 15 December 1984 Preston North End A 1–1 2,818 G. Roberts
20 22 December 1984 Hull City A 0–4 6,354
21 26 December 1984 Bristol Rovers H 0–3 5,254
22 29 December 1984 Reading H 2–1 5,161 Booker, Richardson (og)
23 1 January 1985 Plymouth Argyle A 1–1 6,926 Alexander
24 19 January 1985 Wigan Athletic A 1–1 3,358 Cooke
25 26 January 1985 Newport County H 2–5 3,962 Kamara (pen), Cooke
26 2 February 1985 Cambridge United H 2–0 3,254 Cooke, Torrance
27 9 February 1985 Swansea City A 2–3 4,440 Kamara, Cooke
28 16 February 1985 Doncaster Rovers A 2–2 3,129 Cooke, Salman
29 23 February 1985 Bristol City H 1–2 4,526 Booker
30 2 March 1985 York City A 0–1 4,288
31 5 March 1985 Burnley H 2–1 3,267 Cooke, Butler
32 9 March 1985 Gillingham A 0–2 5,799
33 23 March 1985 Bradford City A 4–5 6,038 Cooke (3), Booker
34 27 March 1985 Walsall H 3–1 3,021 G. Roberts, Hurlock, Cooke
35 30 March 1985 Derby County H 1–1 4,423 G. Roberts
36 6 April 1985 Bristol Rovers A 0–3 4,419
37 8 April 1985 Plymouth Argyle H 3–1 4,043 Cassells (2, 1 pen), G. Roberts
38 13 April 1985 Lincoln City A 1–1 1,980 Cooke
39 16 April 1985 Orient A 1–0 3,164 Booker
40 20 April 1985 Bournemouth H 0–0 3,559
41 23 April 1985 Rotherham United H 3–0 3,019 G. Roberts (2), Cassells
42 27 April 1985 Bolton Wanderers A 1–1 4,230 Kamara
43 4 May 1985 Preston North End H 3–1 3,476 Booker, G. Roberts, Cooke
44 6 May 1985 Reading A 0–0 3,898
45 11 May 1985 Hull City H 2–1 4,309 Skipper (og), Cassells (pen)
46 19 May 1985 Millwall H 1–1 5,050 Cassells

FA Cup

Main article: 1984–85 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s)
1R 17 November 1984 Bishop's Stortford H 4–0 3,948 Alexander (2), Cassells (2)
2R 8 December 1984 Northampton Town H 2–2 4,449 Alexander, Cassells (pen)
2R (replay) 17 December 1984 Northampton Town A 2–0 3,610 Hurlock, Cassells
3R 5 January 1985 Oldham Athletic A 1–2 4,163 Kamara

Football League Cup

Main article: 1984–85 Football League Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s)
1R (1st leg) 28 August 1984 Cambridge United H 2–0 3,037 G. Roberts (2)
1R (2nd leg) 4 September 1984 Cambridge United A 0–1 (won 2–1 on aggregate) 2,347
2R (1st leg) 26 September 1984 Leicester City A 2–4 7,638 Alexander, Kamara
2R (2nd leg) 9 October 1984 Leicester City H 0–2 (lost 6–2 on aggregate) 6,291

Football League Trophy

Main article: 1984–85 Football League Trophy
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s) Notes
SR1 (1st leg) 6 February 1985 Reading A 3–1 2,500 Torrance (2), P. Roberts
SR1 (2nd leg) 26 February 1985 Reading H 2–0 (won 5–1 on aggregate) 2,011 Wignall, G. Roberts
SR2 19 March 1985 Cambridge United H 1–0 2,003 Cooke
SQF 11 April 1985 Swansea City A 2–0 1,653 Booker (2)
SSF 30 April 1985 Bournemouth A 3–2 4,657 Cooke (2), Kamara
SF 17 May 1985 Newport County H 6–0 8,214 Cassells (2, 1 pen), G. Roberts (4)
F 1 June 1985 Wigan Athletic N 1–3 39,897 Cooke
  • Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties, Statto

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1984–85 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Gary Phillips (1961-09-20)20 September 1961 (aged 22) Barnet 1984
GK Trevor Swinburne (1953-06-20)20 June 1953 (aged 31) Carlisle United 1983
Defenders
DF Bobby Fisher (1956-08-03)3 August 1956 (aged 28) Cambridge United 1984
DF Roger Joseph (1965-12-24)24 December 1965 (aged 18) Southall 1984
DF Keith Millen (1966-09-26)26 September 1966 (aged 17) Youth 1985
DF Jamie Murray (1958-12-27)27 December 1958 (aged 25) Cambridge United 1984
DF Paul Roberts (1962-04-27)27 April 1962 (aged 22) Millwall 1983
DF Danis Salman (1960-03-12)12 March 1960 (aged 24) Youth 1975
DF Steve Wignall (1954-09-17)17 September 1954 (aged 29) Colchester United 1984
Midfielders
MF Bob Booker (1958-01-25)25 January 1958 (aged 26) Bedmond Sports & Social 1978
MF Terry Bullivant (1956-09-23)23 September 1956 (aged 27) Charlton Athletic 1983
MF Terry Hurlock (c) (1958-11-22)22 November 1958 (aged 25) Leytonstone/Ilford 1980
MF Chris Kamara (1957-12-25)25 December 1957 (aged 26) Portsmouth 1981
MF Tony Lynch (1966-01-20)20 January 1966 (aged 18) Youth 1983
MF Gary Roberts (1960-04-05)5 April 1960 (aged 24) Wembley 1980
MF George Torrance (1957-09-17)17 September 1957 (aged 26) Wokingham Town 1984
Forwards
FW Rowan Alexander (1961-01-28)28 January 1961 (aged 23) St Mirren 1984
FW Steve Butler (1962-01-27)27 January 1962 (aged 22) Windsor & Eton 1984
FW Keith Cassells (1957-07-10)10 July 1957 (aged 27) Southampton 1983
FW Robbie Cooke (1957-02-16)16 February 1957 (aged 27) Cambridge United 1984 Loaned from Cambridge United before transferring permanently
FW Francis Joseph (1960-03-06)6 March 1960 (aged 24) Wimbledon 1982
Players who left the club mid-season
GK Richard Key (1956-04-13)13 April 1956 (aged 28) Orient 1984 Released
MF Tommy Finney (1952-11-06)6 November 1952 (aged 31) Cambridge United 1984 Released
MF Terry Rowe (1964-06-08)8 June 1964 (aged 20) Youth 1982 Released
  • Sources: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties, Timeless Bees

Coaching staff

Name Role
Frank McLintock Manager
John Docherty Assistant Manager
Ron Woolnough Physiotherapist
Ted Davies Chief Scout

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Substitute appearances in brackets.
Pos Nat Name League FA Cup League Cup FL Trophy Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Richard Key 1 0 — — — 1 0
GK Gary Phillips 21 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 28 0
GK Trevor Swinburne 24 0 4 0 4 0 0 0 32 0
DF Bobby Fisher 27 (1) 0 3 0 4 0 2 0 36 (1) 0
DF Roger Joseph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
DF Keith Millen 16 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 21 (1) 0
DF Jamie Murray 46 0 4 0 4 0 7 0 61 0
DF Paul Roberts 27 (1) 0 3 0 4 0 1 (1) 1 35 (2) 1
DF Danis Salman 43 3 4 0 4 0 7 0 58 3
DF Steve Wignall 36 0 3 0 2 0 6 1 47 1
MF Bob Booker 35 (3) 7 2 (1) 0 2 0 6 2 45 (4) 9
MF Terry Bullivant 5 0 0 0 0 0 3 (2) 0 8 (2) 0
MF Tommy Finney 5 0 1 0 2 0 — 8 0
MF Terry Hurlock 40 3 4 1 4 0 6 0 54 4
MF Chris Kamara 38 (1) 6 4 1 4 1 6 1 52 (1) 9
MF Tony Lynch 5 (5) 0 0 0 0 (1) 0 2 0 7 (6) 0
MF Gary Roberts 39 11 4 0 4 2 5 (1) 5 52 (1) 18
MF Terry Rowe 1 0 — 0 0 — 1 0
MF George Torrance 11 (2) 1 1 0 — 1 (2) 2 13 (4) 3
FW Rowan Alexander 17 (2) 2 3 3 2 1 0 (1) 0 22 (3) 6
FW Steve Butler 3 1 0 0 — 1 0 4 1
FW Keith Cassells 38 (2) 12 4 4 2 0 5 2 49 (2) 18
FW Robbie Cooke 24 12 — — 7 4 31 16
FW Francis Joseph 3 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 5 0
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties

Goalscorers

Pos. Nat Player FL3 FAC FLC FLT Total
FW Keith Cassells 12 4 0 2 18
MF Gary Roberts 11 0 2 5 18
FW Robbie Cooke 12 — — 4 16
MF Bob Booker 7 0 0 2 9
MF Chris Kamara 6 1 1 1 9
FW Rowan Alexander 2 3 1 0 6
MF Terry Hurlock 3 1 0 0 4
DF Danis Salman 3 0 0 0 3
MF George Torrance 1 0 — 2 3
FW Steve Butler 1 0 — 0 1
DF Paul Roberts 0 0 0 1 1
DF Steve Wignall 0 0 0 1 1
Opponents 4 0 0 0 4
Total 62 9 4 18 93
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties

Management

Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
P W D L W % P W D L W %
Frank McLintock 25 August 1984 1 June 1985 61 25 15 21 040.98 46 16 14 16 034.78

Summary

Games played 61 (46 Third Division, 4 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 7 Football League Trophy)
Games won 25 (16 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 6 Football League Trophy)
Games drawn 15 (14 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy)
Games lost 21 (16 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 3 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Goals scored 93 (62 Third Division, 9 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 18 Football League Trophy)
Goals conceded 81 (64 Third Division, 4 FA Cup, 7 League Cup, 6 Football League Trophy)
Clean sheets 15 (8 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 4 Football League Trophy)
Biggest league win 3–0 on two occasions; 5–2 versus Gillingham, 20 October 1984
Worst league defeat 4–0 versus Hull City, 22 December 1984
Most appearances 61, Jamie Murray (46 Third Division, 4 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 7 Football League Trophy)
Top scorer (league) 12, Keith Cassells, Robbie Cooke
Top scorer (all competitions) 18, Keith Cassells, Gary Roberts

Transfers & loans

Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
July 1984 DF Jamie Murray Cambridge United £27,500
August 1984 DF Roger Joseph Southall Trial
August 1984 GK Richard Key Orient n/a
August 1984 DF Steve Wignall Colchester United £18,000
September 1984 GK Rowan Alexander St Mirren £25,000
December 1984 FW Steve Butler Windsor & Eton n/a
December 1984 GK Gary Phillips Barnet £4,000
December 1984 MF George Torrance Wokingham Town n/a
March 1985 FW Robbie Cooke Cambridge United £20,000
April 1985 DF Jamie Bates Crystal Palace n/a
Players loaned in
Date from Pos. Name From Date to Ref.
January 1985 FW Robbie Cooke Cambridge United March 1985
Players loaned out
Date from Pos. Name To Date to Ref.
December 1984 DF Tony Spencer Aldershot March 1985
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
July 1984 DF Ian Bolton Barnet July 1984
September 1984 GK Richard Key Sunderland October 1984
October 1984 DF Terry Rowe Wichita Wings 1984
December 1984 MF Tommy Finney Cambridge United December 1984
April 1985 DF Tony Spencer Retired
May 1985 MF Terry Bullivant Retired
May 1985 DF Paul Roberts n/a
May 1985 GK Trevor Swinburne Leeds United June 1985

Awards

Notes

  1. ^ Match played at Wembley Stadium, London.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g White, p. 324-326.
  2. ^ a b c d "Brentford results for the 1984–1985 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 21 March 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  3. ^ a b White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 398. ISBN 0951526200.
  4. ^ "Brentford League Table 1984-1985". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  5. ^ Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Yore Publications. p. 135. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  6. ^ a b Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 124-136.
  7. ^ "Brentford scoring and sequence records". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  8. ^ Brentford's Official Matchday Magazine versus AFC Bournemouth. 16 November 1996. p. 2.
  9. ^ Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2011). The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. ISBN 978-1906796716.
  10. ^ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  11. ^ a b Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 426.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 138-144.
  13. ^ "Player: Ian Robert Bolton". Watford Football Club Archive. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  14. ^ a b Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 383.