Jump to content

1991โ€“92 Brentford F.C. season

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Brentford
1991โ€“92 season
ChairmanMartin Lange
ManagerPhil Holder
StadiumGriffin Park
Third Division1st (promoted)
FA CupSecond round
League CupThird round
Football League TrophyFirst round
Top goalscorerLeague: Holdsworth (24)
All: Holdsworth (38)
Highest home attendance12,071
Lowest home attendance4,586
Average home league attendance7,156
โ†ย 1990โ€“91
1992โ€“93ย โ†’

During the 1991โ€“92 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. The club finished the season as champions to seal second-tier football for the first time since 1953โ€“54. In 2013, it was voted as Brentford's best ever season by the club's supporters.[1]

Season summary

[edit]
Dean Holdsworth's 38 goals during the season was one shy of Jack Holliday's club record.

After defeat to Tranmere Rovers in the 1991 Third Division play-offs, Brentford manager Phil Holder made just one addition to his squad prior to the beginning of the 1991โ€“92 season, in the shape of ยฃ60,000 defender Billy Manuel from Gillingham.[2] Two wins from the opening two league matches of the season put Brentford in the automatic promotion places, but three successive defeats dropped the club back to 16th by early September 1991.[3] Aided by on-fire forward Dean Holdsworth, the Bees won 13, drew three and lost three of the following 19 matches, losing just once in the league.[2] Having reached the top spot in the Third Division after a 4โ€“0 victory over Wigan Athletic on 9 November, the club stayed at the summit until 8 February 1992, when a fifth defeat in 9 matches dropped the club back to third.[3]

Brentford vied with Birmingham City and Stoke City in the automatic promotion places between mid-February and mid-March, but four successive defeats and two draws dropped the Bees back to 4th.[3] Six wins in the final six matches of the season (which included a 4โ€“0 victory over West London rivals Fulham at Griffin Park) saw Brentford claim the Third Division championship on the final day,[4] after a Gary Blissett goal was enough to beat Peterborough United at London Road.[2] Dean Holdsworth's 24 league goals tied him with Huddersfield Town's Iwan Roberts as the top scorer in the Third Division and Holdsworth's total of 38 in all competitions was one goal short of Jack Holliday's club record,[5] set during the 1932โ€“33 season, when Brentford had last been promoted out of the Third Division.[6][7]

League table

[edit]

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Brentford (C, P) 46 25 7 14 81 55 +26 82 Promotion to the First Division[a]
2 Birmingham City (P) 46 23 12 11 69 52 +17 81
3 Huddersfield Town 46 22 12 12 59 38 +21 78 Qualification for the Third Division play-offs
4 Stoke City 46 21 14 11 69 49 +20 77
5 Stockport County 46 22 10 14 75 51 +24 76
Source: [citation needed]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted
Notes:
  1. โ†‘ From the 1992โ€“93 season, the second tier - then known as the Second Division - was renamed to the First Division, the third tier - then known as the Third Division - was renamed to the Second Division, and the fourth tier - then known as the Fourth Division - was renamed to the Third Division.

Results

[edit]
Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

[edit]
Win Draw Loss

Pre-season

[edit]
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)
27 July 1991Staines TownA2โ€“0n/aGodfrey, Holdsworth (pen)
30 July 1991PortsmouthH0โ€“21,231
3 August 1991EnfieldA1โ€“1n/aSmilie
6 August 1991Chelsea H4โ€“34,923Cadette (2), Holdsworth, Smilie
7 August 1991Maidenhead UnitedA2โ€“3n/aLine, untraced (og)
10 August 1991Colchester United A3โ€“1n/aLuscombe, Godfrey, Gayle
12 August 1991Chesham United A4โ€“3n/aCadette (2), Blissett (pen), Ratcliffe

Football League Third Division

[edit]
No. DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)
1 17 August 1991Leyton OrientH4โ€“36,156Holdsworth (3), Evans
2 24 August 1991Exeter CityA2โ€“13,518Gayle, Blissett
3 31 August 1991Huddersfield TownH2โ€“35,459Jones, Godfrey
4 3 September 1991Hartlepool UnitedA0โ€“13,660
5 7 September 1991Shrewsbury TownA0โ€“13,139
6 14 September 1991Reading H1โ€“05,775Cadette
7 17 September 1991Hull City H4โ€“14,586Evans, Smilie, untraced (og), Holdsworth
8 21 September 1991Darlington A2โ€“13,900Smilie, Holdsworth
9 28 September 1991Bolton WanderersH3โ€“25,658Holdsworth (2), Gayle
10 5 October 1991Fulham A1โ€“07,710Evans
11 12 October 1991Peterborough United H2โ€“17,705Evans, Smilie
12 19 October 1991West Bromwich AlbionH1โ€“28,575Gayle
13 26 October 1991BuryA3โ€“02,280Holdsworth (2), Gayle
14 2 November 1991Bradford CityA1โ€“05,359Smilie
15 6 November 1991Birmingham CityH2โ€“28,798Smilie, Blissett
16 9 November 1991Wigan AthleticH4โ€“06,675Blissett (2), Holdsworth (2)
17 22 November 1991BournemouthA0โ€“04,764
18 30 November 1991Swansea CityH3โ€“26,669Holdsworth, Ratcliffe, Blissett
19 14 December 1991Torquay UnitedA1โ€“12,475Godfrey
20 22 December 1991Exeter CityH3โ€“07,226Blissett (2), Gayle
21 26 December 1991Huddersfield Town A1โ€“210,605Blissett (pen)
22 28 December 1991Leyton OrientA2โ€“47,333Luscombe (2)
23 1 January 1992Hartlepool UnitedH1โ€“07,102Holdsworth
24 4 January 1992Stockport CountyA1โ€“24,421Untraced (og)
25 11 January 1992Stoke City H2โ€“09,004Luscombe, Holdsworth
26 18 January 1992Chester City A1โ€“11,447Booker
27 25 January 1992Preston North EndH1โ€“07,559Evans
28 1 February 1992West Bromwich AlbionA0โ€“215,984
29 8 February 1992BuryH0โ€“36,789
30 11 February 1992Swansea CityA1โ€“13,582Millen
31 15 February 1992Torquay UnitedH3โ€“26,079Booker, Blissett, Bates
32 22 February 1992Stoke CityA1โ€“216,417Blissett
33 29 February 1992Stockport CountyH2โ€“17,484Smilie, Holdsworth
34 3 March 1992Chester CityH2โ€“06,869Blissett, Holdsworth (pen)
35 7 March 1992Preston North EndA2โ€“33,548Smilie, Buckle
36 10 March 1992Birmingham CityA0โ€“113,290
37 14 March 1992Bradford CityH3โ€“46,791Evans, Blissett, Holdsworth
38 20 March 1992Wigan Athletic A1โ€“22,371Holdsworth
39 29 March 1992BournemouthH2โ€“27,605Godfrey, Blissett
40 1 April 1992ReadingA0โ€“05,660
41 4 April 1992Shrewsbury TownH2โ€“05,561Holdsworth, Evans
42 11 April 1992Hull CityA3โ€“03,770Holdsworth (2), Blissett
43 17 April 1992DarlingtonH4โ€“18,383Holdsworth (2), Blissett, untraced (og)
44 20 April 1992Bolton Wanderers A2โ€“14,382Evans, untraced (og)
45 26 April 1992FulhamH4โ€“012,071Holdsworth, Gayle, Blissett, Ratcliffe
46 2 May 1992 Peterborough United A 1โ€“0 14,539 Blissett

FA Cup

[edit]
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance Scorer(s)
R1 18 November 1991 Gillingham H 3โ€“3 5,830 Holdsworth (2), Blissett
R1 (replay)26 November 1991GillinghamA3โ€“17,328Holdsworth (2), Sealy
R27 December 1991Bournemouth A1โ€“26,538Bates

League Cup

[edit]
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance Scorer(s)
R1 (1st leg)20 August 1991Barnet A5โ€“5 2,416Cadette (2), Godfrey, Holdsworth (2)
R1 (2nd leg) 27 August 1991 Barnet H 3โ€“1 (won 8โ€“6 on aggregate) 5,583 Holdsworth, Godfrey, Evans
R2 (1st leg) 24 September 1991 Brighton & Hove Albion H 4โ€“1 4,927 Godfrey, Cadette, Holdsworth (2)
R2 (2nd leg) 9 October 1991 Brighton & Hove Albion A 2โ€“4 (a.e.t.), won 6โ€“5 on aggregate) 4,502 Cadette, Holdsworth
R330 October 1991Norwich CityA1โ€“47,394Manuel

Football League Trophy

[edit]
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance Scorer(s)
PR22 October 1991AldershotA2โ€“01,348Sealy (2)
PR17 December 1991BarnetH3โ€“61,871Luscombe, Holdsworth (2)
SR1 21 January 1992 Leyton Orient A 2โ€“3 1,861 Holdsworth (2)

Playing squad

[edit]
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1991โ€“92 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Ashley Bayes England 19 April 1972 (aged 19) Youth 1990
GK Graham Benstead England 20 August 1963 (aged 27) Sheffield United 1990
Defenders
DF Jamie Bates England 24 February 1968 (aged 23) Youth 1986
DF Terry Evans (c) England 12 April 1965 (aged 26) Hillingdon 1985
DF Chris Hughton Republic of Ireland 11 December 1958 (aged 32) West Ham United 1992 Coach
DF Billy Manuel England 28 June 1969 (aged 22) Gillingham 1991
DF Keith Millen England 26 September 1966 (aged 24) Youth 1985
DF Brian Statham England 21 May 1969 (aged 22) Tottenham Hotspur 1992 Loaned from Tottenham Hotspur before transferring permanently
Midfielders
MF Bob Booker England 25 January 1958 (aged 33) Sheffield United 1991
MF Paul Buckle England 16 December 1970 (aged 20) Youth 1988
MF Andy Driscoll England 21 October 1971 (aged 19) Youth 1989 Loaned to Staines Town
MF Tony Finnigan England 17 October 1962 (aged 28) Swindon Town 1991
MF Kevin Godfrey England 24 February 1960 (aged 31) Leyton Orient 1988
MF Detzi Kruszyล„ski Poland 14 October 1960 (aged 30) Wimbledon 1992 On loan from Wimbledon
MF Robbie Peters England 18 May 1971 (aged 20) Youth 1989
MF Simon Ratcliffe England 8 February 1967 (aged 24) Norwich City 1989
MF Wilf Rostron England 29 September 1956 (aged 34) Sheffield United 1991 Assistant manager
MF Neil Smilie England 19 July 1958 (aged 33) Reading 1988
Forwards
FW Gary Blissett England 29 June 1964 (aged 27) Crewe Alexandra 1987
FW Marcus Gayle Jamaica 27 September 1970 (aged 20) Youth 1988
FW Dean Holdsworth England 8 November 1968 (aged 22) Watford 1989
FW Simon Line England 1 November 1971 (aged 19) Crystal Palace 1991
FW Lee Luscombe England 16 July 1971 (aged 20) Southampton 1991
FW Tony Sealy England 7 May 1959 (aged 32) MYPA 1991
Players who left the club mid-season
GK Perry Suckling England 12 October 1965 (aged 25) Crystal Palace 1991 Returned to Crystal Palace after loan
MF Keith Jones England 14 October 1965 (aged 25) Chelsea 1987 Transferred to Southend United
FW Richard Cadette England 21 March 1965 (aged 26) Sheffield United 1988 Transferred to Falkirk
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties[9]

Coaching staff

[edit]
Name Role
England Phil Holder Manager
England Wilf Rostron Assistant Manager
England Graham Pearce Coach
Republic of Ireland Chris Hughton Coach
England Gordon Phillips Goalkeeping Coach
England Roy Clare Physiotherapist

Statistics

[edit]

Appearances and goals

[edit]
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 England Ashley Bayes 1 0 2 0 3 0 0 0 6 0
GK EnglandGraham Benstead 370102020420
DF EnglandJamie Bates 41 (1)131502051 (1)2
DF EnglandTerry Evans 4483 05 12 0549
DF Republic of IrelandChris Hughton 120โ€”โ€”โ€”120
DF EnglandBilly Manuel 27 (8)030512037 (8)1
DF EnglandKeith Millen 341302020411
DF EnglandBrian Statham 180โ€”โ€”โ€”180
MF EnglandBob Booker 14 (2)2โ€”โ€” โ€”14 (2)2
MF EnglandPaul Buckle 8 (7)11 (1) 02 (1) 02 (1) 013 (10)1
MF EnglandAndy Driscoll 0 (1)00000000 (1)0
MF England Tony Finnigan 3 0 โ€” โ€” 1 0 4 0
MF EnglandKevin Godfrey 26 (5)32 (1) 05 32 035 (6)6
MF EnglandKeith Jones 61โ€”30โ€”91
MF England Robbie Peters 1 (8) 0 0 0 1 (2) 0 1 (1) 0 3 (11) 0
MF EnglandSimon Ratcliffe 31 (3)230302 (1)039 (4)2
MF EnglandWilf Rostron 15 (3)0002 (1) 01018 (4)0
MF EnglandNeil Smilie 4473 05 0 30557
FW EnglandGary Blissett 31 (6)17312 (2)03039 (8)18
FW EnglandRichard Cadette 10 (1)1โ€”34โ€”13 (1)5
FW Jamaica Marcus Gayle 28 (10) 6 1 (1) 0 3 (1) 0 2 (1) 0 34 (13) 6
FW EnglandDean Holdsworth 40 (1)24344 (1)62 (1)449 (3)38
FW EnglandSimon Line 00000 (1)0000 (1)0
FW England Lee Luscombe 10 (3) 3 โ€” โ€” 2 1 12 (3) 4
FW EnglandTony Sealy 9 (9)02 (1)1โ€”1212 (10)0
Players loaned in during the season
GK England Perry Suckling 8 0 โ€” โ€” 1 0 9 0
MF PolandDetzi Kruszyล„ski 80โ€”โ€”โ€”80
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties[9]

Goalscorers

[edit]
Pos. Nat Player FL3 FAC FLC FLT Total
FW England Dean Holdsworth 24 4 6 4 38
FW England Gary Blissett 17 1 0 0 18
DF England Terry Evans 8 0 1 0 9
MF England Neil Smilie 7 0 0 0 7
FW Jamaica Marcus Gayle 6 0 0 0 6
MF England Kevin Godfrey 3 0 3 0 6
FW England Richard Cadette 1 โ€” 4 โ€” 5
FW England Lee Luscombe 3 โ€” โ€” 1 4
MF England Bob Booker 2 โ€” โ€” โ€” 3
MF England Simon Ratcliffe 2 0 0 0 2
DF England Jamie Bates 1 1 0 0 2
MF England Keith Jones1โ€”0 โ€”1
MF England Paul Buckle 1 0 0 0 1
DF England Keith Millen 1 0 0 0 1
DF England Billy Manuel 0 0 1 0 1
Opponents 4 0 0 0 4
Total817157110
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties[9]

Management

[edit]
Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLWย %PWDLWย %
Phil Holder England 17 August 1991 2 May 1992 5729919050.88|4625714054.35

Summary

[edit]
Games played57 (46 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 5 League Cup, 3 Football League Trophy)
Games won29 (25 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Games drawn9 (7 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy)
Games lost19 (14 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)
Goals scored110 (81 Third Division, 7 FA Cup, 15 League Cup, 7 Football League Trophy)
Goals conceded85 (55 Third Division, 6 FA Cup, 15 League Cup, 9 Football League Trophy)
Clean sheets12 (15 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Biggest league win4โ€“0 on 2 occasions
Worst league defeat3โ€“0 versus Bury, 8 February 1992
Most appearances54, Terry Evans (44 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 5 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)
Top scorer (league)24, Dean Holdsworth
Top scorer (all competitions)38, Dean Holdsworth

Transfers & loans

[edit]
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous club Fee Ref.
14 June 1991DFEngland Billy ManuelEngland Gillinghamยฃ60,000[10]
October 1991FWEngland Lee LuscombeEngland Southamptonยฃ15,000[11]
October 1991 FW England Tony Sealy Finland MYPA Free [11]
November 1991 MF England Bob Booker England Sheffield United Free [11]
17 January 1992 MF England Tony Finnigan England Swindon Town Non-contract [12]
28 February 1992 DF England Brian Statham England Tottenham Hotspur ยฃ70,000 [12]
February 1992 DF Republic of Ireland Chris Hughton England West Ham United Free [12]
March 1992 DF Republic of Ireland Tim O'Shea England Gillingham Non-contract [13]
Players loaned in
Date from Pos. Name From Date to Ref.
11 October 1991 GK England Perry Suckling England Crystal Palace November 1991 [11]
16 January 1992 DF England Brian Statham England Tottenham Hotspur 16 February 1992 [12]
March 1992 MF Poland Detzi Kruszyล„ski England Wimbledon End of season [13]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
1 July 1991 DF England Jason Cousins England Wycombe Wanderers Free [10]
21 October 1991 MF England Keith Jones England Southend United ยฃ175,000 [14]
9 January 1992 FW England Richard Cadette Scotland Falkirk ยฃ50,000 [12]
Players loaned out
Date from Pos. Name To Date to Ref.
November 1991 MF England Andy Driscoll England Staines Town December 1991 [15]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
30 June 1992MFEngland Andy DriscollEngland Yeading1992[16]
30 June 1992 MF England Tony Finnigan Hong Kong Ernest Borel 1992 [17]
30 June 1992 FW England Simon Line Retired [16]
30 June 1992 DF Republic of Ireland Tim O'Shea Hong Kong Hong Kong Rangers 1992 [16]
30 June 1992 FW England Tony Sealy Hong Kong Michelotti 1992 [16]

Kit

[edit]

Supplier: Chad
Sponsor(s): KLM

Home
Away

Source: Brentford F.C.

Awards

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. โ†‘ "Brentford". Football League 125. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2013). The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. p.ย 50. ISBNย 9781906796723.
  3. 1 2 3 "Brentford results for the 1991โ€“1992 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  4. โ†‘ "Moment in Time: Fulham". Brentford FC. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  5. โ†‘ "English League Leading Goalscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  6. โ†‘ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p.ย 79.
  7. โ†‘ "Brentford Complete History". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  8. โ†‘ Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p.ย 52-72, 449.
  9. 1 2 3 Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p.ย 477.
  10. 1 2 Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p.ย 82.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p.ย 83.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p.ย 86.
  13. 1 2 Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p.ย 87.
  14. โ†‘ "Premier and Football League transfers". www.11v11.com. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  15. 1 2 Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p.ย 85.
  16. 1 2 3 4 Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p.ย 89.
  17. โ†‘ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920โ€“2006. Harefield: Yore Publications. p.ย 57. ISBNย 0955294916.
  18. โ†‘ Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p.ย 445.
  19. โ†‘ Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p.ย 88.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1991โ€“92_Brentford_F.C._season&oldid=1316775298"