1973–74 season of Brentford F.C.
Brentford 1973–74 football season
Brentford1973–74 season |
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Chairman | Les Davey & Walter Wheatley (until January 1974) Walter Wheatley (January–March 1974) |
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Manager | Mike Everitt |
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Stadium | Griffin Park |
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Fourth Division | 19th |
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FA Cup | First round |
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League Cup | First round |
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Top goalscorer | League: Cross (17) All: Cross (17) |
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Highest home attendance | 8,717 |
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Lowest home attendance | 3,166 |
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Average home league attendance | 5,063 |
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During the 1973–74 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Fourth Division. A dreadful season, marred by infighting at boardroom level, resulted in a 19th-place finish, Brentford's lowest in the Football League since the 1925–26 season.
Season summary
In the wake of Brentford's relegation straight back to the Fourth Division at the end of the previous season, manager Frank Blunstone, who had come to the end of his contract, left Griffin Park to take over as youth team manager at Manchester United.[1] Despite the relegation, fan support for Blunstone was high and the finger of blame pointed at the board of directors, with one letter to the Middlesex Chronicle summing up the situation that the board's penny-pinching ways since 1967 were "necessary for a couple of years or so, but timidity of this sort prompts me to believe that promotion last year was an unwelcome accident, which has now been rectified".[1] Brentford entered pre-season without a manager and training was taken by full back Alan Hawley and other senior professionals.[2] Eventually former Wimbledon player-manager Mike Everitt was appointed as manager, just seven days before the beginning of the season.[1] Everitt made no signings before the first match of the season and inherited a tiny 14-man squad, with backup goalkeeper Gary Towse being Brentford's only incoming transfer, signed two months earlier.[1]
With Brentford one place above the re-election zone after seven league matches,[3] manager Everitt began recruiting new players, including defender Gordon Riddick for a £4,000 fee and loanees Michael Brown and Hughie Reed.[1] The signings had no immediate impact and Brentford sank to the bottom of the Football League after a 4–1 defeat to Scunthorpe United at the Old Showground.[3] The loss meant that Brentford became the first club to occupy both first and last places in the Football League, having risen to top position during the early months of the 1937–38 season.[1] Behind the scenes, the Brentford board had split into two factions, with one side pushing for a move to a new stadium and the other half wishing to stay at Griffin Park.[1] Joint-chairmen Les Davey and Walter Wheatley were split on the matter and Wheatley became sole chairman of the club in January 1974,[2] though he would be ousted two months later.[1]
With Brentford still struggling on the field, midfielder Stewart Houston was sold to Manchester United in December 1973 for a club-record £55,000 fee,[4] but the money was not immediately reinvested in the squad.[1] The disharmony in the boardroom also spread to the playing squad, with Paul Bence, Alan Nelmes, Jackie Graham, Barry Salvage and Paul Priddy requesting moves away, though ultimately none would depart Griffin Park.[5] A 10-match unbeaten run from mid-February through to early-April 1974 finally assured safety and youth products Richard Poole, Kevin Harding and Roy Cotton were able to be blooded,[3] though none of the trio would make more than a handful of senior appearances for the club.[1] Cambridge United forward Dave Simmonds and Bournemouth defender Jimmy Gabriel were brought in on transfer deadline day.[2] Brentford ended the season in 19th place, the club's lowest finish in the Football League since the 1925–26 season.[1] The average home league attendance of 5,063 was the lowest since the club joined the Football League in 1920.[6]
League table
Source: rsssf.com
Notes:
- ^ Scunthorpe United v. Exeter was never played; Exeter failed to turn up and Scunthorpe were awarded the points.
Results
- Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend
Pre-season and friendlies
No. | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
1 | 25 August 1973 | Hartlepool | A | 0–1 | 3,447 | |
2 | 1 September 1973 | Exeter City | H | 0–1 | 4,814 | |
3 | 8 September 1973 | Darlington | A | 2–1 | 2,287 | Woon, Cross |
4 | 10 September 1973 | Torquay United | H | 0–0 | 5,581 | |
5 | 15 September 1973 | Doncaster Rovers | H | 2–0 | 4,957 | Cross (2) |
6 | 17 September 1973 | Reading | H | 0–1 | 8,717 | |
7 | 22 September 1973 | Bury | A | 0–3 | 4,329 | |
8 | 29 September 1973 | Barnsley | H | 5–1 | 5,010 | Scales, Woon (2), Docherty, Metchick |
9 | 3 October 1973 | Reading | A | 0–1 | 11,267 | |
10 | 6 October 1973 | Lincoln City | A | 2–3 | 4,056 | Woon, Cross |
11 | 13 October 1973 | Peterborough United | H | 0–1 | 6,141 | |
12 | 20 October 1973 | Rotherham United | H | 1–1 | 4,419 | Webb |
13 | 24 October 1973 | Torquay United | A | 0–3 | 4,445 | |
14 | 27 October 1973 | Scunthorpe United | A | 1–4 | 2,523 | Cross |
15 | 3 November 1973 | Mansfield Town | H | 4–1 | 4,331 | Houston, Cross (3, 1 pen) |
16 | 10 November 1973 | Workington | A | 2–0 | 970 | Woon, Riddick |
17 | 12 November 1973 | Stockport County | A | 1–1 | 1,948 | Riddick |
18 | 17 November 1973 | Chester | H | 3–0 | 5,166 | Cross (3) |
19 | 1 December 1973 | Gillingham | H | 0–3 | 5,748 | |
20 | 8 December 1973 | Bradford City | A | 1–1 | 3,243 | Webb |
21 | 15 December 1973 | Darlington | H | 0–0 | 3,166 | |
22 | 22 December 1973 | Barnsley | A | 1–2 | 2,458 | Cross |
23 | 26 December 1973 | Newport County | H | 1–1 | 5,445 | Graham |
24 | 1 January 1974 | Exeter City | A | 1–2 | 5,754 | Salvage |
25 | 5 January 1974 | Swansea City | H | 0–2 | 3,501 | |
26 | 12 January 1974 | Doncaster Rovers | A | 2–1 | 3,009 | Woon (2) |
27 | 19 January 1974 | Hartlepool | H | 1–2 | 4,646 | Allen |
28 | 26 January 1974 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 0–0 | 1,380 | |
29 | 2 February 1974 | Northampton Town | A | 0–0 | 4,130 | |
30 | 9 February 1974 | Bury | H | 1–2 | 4,015 | Cross |
31 | 16 February 1974 | Peterborough United | A | 0–1 | 7,645 | |
32 | 23 February 1974 | Lincoln City | H | 2–1 | 4,171 | Salvage, Cross |
33 | 2 March 1974 | Newport County | A | 1–1 | 2,167 | Salvage |
34 | 9 March 1974 | Scunthorpe United | H | 2–1 | 4,053 | Salvage, Allen |
35 | 16 March 1974 | Rotherham United | A | 1–1 | 2,536 | Metchick |
36 | 18 March 1974 | Northampton Town | H | 3–1 | 3,686 | Cross, Simmons, Salvage |
37 | 23 March 1974 | Workington | H | 1–1 | 5,008 | Cross |
38 | 26 March 1974 | Swansea City | A | 0–0 | 2,220 | |
39 | 30 March 1974 | Mansfield Town | A | 1–1 | 1,909 | Graham |
40 | 1 April 1974 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 3–0 | 5,552 | Cross, Metchick, Simmons |
41 | 6 April 1974 | Stockport County | H | 0–0 | 5,625 | |
42 | 12 April 1974 | Colchester United | A | 1–2 | 8,155 | Simmons |
43 | 13 April 1974 | Chester | A | 0–0 | 2,775 | |
44 | 16 April 1974 | Colchester United | H | 0–0 | 7,478 | |
45 | 20 April 1974 | Bradford City | H | 2–0 | 5,224 | Simmons, Poole |
46 | 27 April 1974 | Gillingham | A | 0–1 | 9,319 | |
FA Cup
Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer |
1R | 24 November 1973 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 1–2 | 11,050 | Allen |
Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer |
1R | 28 August 1973 | Orient | H | 1–2 | 6,620 | Webb |
- Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[7] The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies,[8][9] Statto
Playing squad
- Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1973–74 season.
- Sources: The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies,[10] Timeless Bees[11]
Coaching staff
Name | Role |
Mike Everitt | Manager |
John Docherty | Assistant manager |
Jimmy Gabriel | Coach |
Jess Willard | Trainer, Chief Scout |
Statistics
Appearances and goals
- Substitute appearances in brackets.
Pos | Nat | Name | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Total |
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
GK | | Paul Priddy | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
GK | | Gary Towse | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
DF | | Michael Allen | 27 (5) | 2 | 0 (1) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 26 (8) | 3 |
DF | | Paul Bence | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 0 |
DF | | Jimmy Gabriel | 9 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 0 |
DF | | Peter Gelson | 40 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 0 |
DF | | Alan Hawley | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
DF | | Gordon Riddick | 26 (1) | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 27 (1) | 2 |
DF | | Terry Scales | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 1 |
MF | | John Docherty | 13 (1) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 (1) | 1 |
MF | | Jackie Graham | 31 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 2 |
MF | | Stewart Houston | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 1 |
MF | | Dave Metchick | 33 (1) | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 34 (1) | 3 |
MF | | Alan Nelmes | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 0 |
MF | | Barry Salvage | 37 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 5 |
FW | | Roy Cotton | 1 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 |
FW | | Roger Cross | 39 (2) | 17 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 41 (2) | 17 |
FW | | Kevin Harding | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
FW | | Richard Poole | 5 (1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 (1) | 1 |
FW | | Dave Simmons | 12 | 4 | — | — | 12 | 4 |
FW | | Stan Webb | 13 (2) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 14 (2) | 3 |
FW | | Andy Woon | 24 (3) | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 25 (4) | 7 |
Players loaned in during the season |
GK | | Steve Sherwood | 16 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 0 |
DF | | Michael Brown | 3 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 |
MF | | Hughie Reed | 3 (1) | 0 | — | — | 3 (1) | 0 |
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: 100 Years of Brentford[7]
Goalscorers
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: 100 Years of Brentford[7]
Management
Name | Nat | From | To | Record All Comps | Record League |
P | W | D | L | W % | P | W | D | L | W % |
Mike Everitt | | 25 August 1973 | 27 April 1974 | 48 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 025.00 | 46 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 026.09 |
Summary
Games played | 48 (46 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup) |
Games won | 12 (12 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup) |
Games drawn | 16 (16 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup) |
Games lost | 20 (18 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup) |
Goals scored | 50 (48 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup) |
Goals conceded | 54 (50 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup) |
Clean sheets | 13 (13 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup) |
Biggest league win | 5–1 versus Barnsley, 29 September 1973 |
Worst league defeat | 3–0 on three occasions; 4–1 versus Scunthorpe United, 27 October 1973 |
Most appearances | 43, Roger Cross (41 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup) |
Top scorer (league) | 17, Roger Cross |
Top scorer (all competitions) | 17, Roger Cross |
Transfers & loans
Awards
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k White, p. 292-294.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 88-92.
- ^ a b c "Brentford results for the 1973–1974 season". Statto.com. 12 April 2016. Archived from the original on 12 April 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
- ^ a b "Doc Remembers Houston". Goal: 14. 26 January 1974.
- ^ Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 78.
- ^ White, p. 295.
- ^ a b c White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 392. ISBN 0951526200.
- ^ Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 80-87.
- ^ Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 304-305.
- ^ Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2011). The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. ISBN 978-1906796709.
- ^ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
- ^ Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 108.
- ^ a b Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 295.
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National teams | |
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League competitions | Levels 1–4 | |
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Levels 5–6 | |
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Levels 7–9 | |
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Cup competitions | FA cups | |
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Football League cups | |
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European competitions | |
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