1965–66 Brentford F.C. season explained

Club:Brentford
Season:1965–66
Manager:
(until 18 April 1966)
Ian Black
(18 April–2 May 1966)
Billy Gray
(from 2 May 1966)
Chairman:Jack Dunnett
Stadium:Griffin Park
League:Third Division
League Result:23rd (relegated)
Cup1:FA Cup
Cup1 Result:Second round
Cup2:League Cup
Cup2 Result:Second round
League Topscorer:Lawther (10)
Season Topscorer:Lawther (11)
Highest Attendance:15,000
Lowest Attendance:4,450
Average Attendance:8,416
Pattern La1:_red_stripes
Pattern B1:_redstripes2
Pattern Ra1:_red_stripes
Pattern So1:_redtop_2whitestripes
Shorts1:000000
Socks1:000000
Prevseason:1964–65
Nextseason:1966–67

During the 1965–66 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. After an awful first half of the season, Brentford dropped into the relegation places in January 1966 and failed to recover, ending the club's three-season spell in the Third Division.

Season summary

The lack of incoming transfer activity during the 1965 off-season served to highlight the view at Griffin Park that Brentford's squad was strong enough to secure promotion to the Second Division during the 1965–66 season. The campaign began with a rousing 6–1 victory over local rivals Queens Park Rangers at Griffin Park, courtesy of goals from John Fielding, Joe Bonson, Ian Lawther and a Micky Block hat-trick. The win gave way to three defeats and a draw in the following four matches, but consecutive victories over Shrewsbury Town and Swansea Town in mid-September proved to be a false drawn.[1] Brentford would win just one more league match before the end of 1965 and the team's plight was worsened by the departures of influential attackers Jimmy Bloomfield, Mark Lazarus and John Fielding after disputes with manager Tommy Cavanagh. Outside forward John Docherty was bought back from Sheffield United for his second spell at Griffin Park in December 1965, but Brentford began 1966 entrenched in the relegation places.

Misfiring forward Joe Bonson was sold in January 1966 and though manager Cavanagh was provided with the funds to purchase replacement forwards Brian Etheridge, John Regan and Bobby Ross, the new signings failed to help the team convert draws into all-important wins, with four matches being drawn in March. Three consecutive defeats in early April left the supporters clamouring for Cavanagh's head and despite a brief respite after a 2–0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, a 5–0 defeat away to Exeter City on 16 April led chairman Jack Dunnett to dispense with Cavanagh's services. Youth team manager Ian Black won, drew and lost each of the following three matches in a caretaker capacity, before Billy Gray was appointed as manager.

Gray began his reign with Brentford in 23rd place and three points from safety with five matches remaining.[2] A 3–0 home defeat to Mansfield Town in his first match in charge effectively ended all survival hopes after the gap to safety opened up to five points.[3] A draw and a win versus Watford and Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic respectively in the following two matches put the Bees back within two points of safety,[4] but defeats in the final two matches of the season sealed the club's relegation to the Fourth Division.

Three club records were set or equalled during the season:

Results

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

WinDrawLoss

Football League Third Division

No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)
121 August 1965Queens Park RangersH6–115,000Fielding, (Block 3, 1 pen), Bonson, Lawther
224 August 1965Grimsby TownA2–35,002Block, Gelson
328 August 1965Bristol RoversA1–112,160Cobb
44 September 1965York CityH0–110,850
511 September 1965Oxford UnitedA0–210,003
614 September 1965Shrewsbury TownH4–010,950Lazarus (2), Lawther, Cobb
718 September 1965Swansea TownH2–010,300Lawther, Block
825 September 1965WalsallA1–18,384Cobb
92 October 1965WorkingtonH0–18,700
106 October 1965Shrewsbury TownA0–04,982
119 October 1965Scunthorpe UnitedH0–17,720
1216 October 1965WatfordA1–112,337Lawther
1323 October 1965Oldham AthleticH0–08,110
1430 October 1965GillinghamA0–18,669
156 November 1965MillwallH1–214,800Higginson
1620 November 1965Exeter CityH1–25,940Cobb
1723 November 1965Grimsby TownH3–25,180Cobb, Thomson, Lawther
1827 November 1965ReadingA0–26,128
1911 December 1965Mansfield TownA0–23,637
201 January 1966Scunthorpe UnitedA2–35,568Block, Docherty
218 January 1966Peterborough UnitedH1–07,380Lawther
2215 January 1966Oldham AthleticA1–112,029Cobb
2329 January 1966Queens Park RangersA0–114,493
245 February 1966Bristol RoversH0–56,240
2512 February 1966Swindon TownA1–212,376Docherty
2626 February 1966Oxford UnitedH5–17,100Docherty, Cobb, Etheridge, Lawther (2)
271 March 1966Southend UnitedH2–09,000Lawther, Curley
285 March 1966Swindon TownH0–19,900
297 March 1966Southend UnitedA0–17,029
3012 March 1966Swansea TownA1–17,925Regan
3119 March 1966WalsallH2–27,900Regan, Docherty (pen)
3226 March 1966WorkingtonA1–12,207Docherty
3328 March 1966York CityA1–12,598Etheridge
342 April 1966MillwallA0–113,385
358 April 1966Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–217,176
369 April 1966Hull CityH2–49,920Lawther, Docherty
3711 April 1966Brighton & Hove AlbionH2–07,670Regan, Curley
3816 April 1966Exeter CityA0–54,975
3923 April 1966ReadingH1–17,800Gelson
4026 April 1966Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticH1–05,790Regan
4130 April 1966Hull CityA1–424,318Regan
427 May 1966Mansfield TownH0–37,970
4310 May 1966WatfordH1–15,580Thomson
4417 May 1966Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticH1–05,130Docherty
4521 May 1966Peterborough UnitedA0–33,936
4628 May 1966GillinghamH0–24,450

FA Cup

See main article: 1965–66 FA Cup.

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)
1R13 November 1965Yeovil TownH2–19,320Fielding (2)
2R4 December 1965ReadingA0–510,582

Football League Cup

See main article: 1965–66 Football League Cup.

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)
2R22 November 1965WorkingtonA0–03,374
2R (replay)30 November 1965WorkingtonH1–24,720Lawther

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1965–66 season.

Pos.NameNat.Date of birth (age)Signed fromSigned inNotes
Goalkeepers
GKChic BrodieAugust 21, 1965Northampton Town1963
GKGordon PhillipsAugust 21, 1965Hayes1963
Defenders
DFPeter GelsonAugust 21, 1965Youth1961
DFAlan HawleyAugust 21, 1965Youth1962
DFAllan JonesAugust 21, 1965Liverpool1963
DFHamish MacKenzieAugust 21, 1965Dunfermline Athletic1964
DFGeorge ThomsonAugust 21, 1965Everton1963
Midfielders
HBRon CrispAugust 21, 1965Watford1965
HBTommy HigginsonAugust 21, 1965Kilmarnock1959
HBHugh McLaughlinAugust 21, 1965St Roch's1961
HBEddie ReeveAugust 21, 1965Youth1964
HBMel Scott (c)August 21, 1965Chelsea1963
HBWillie SmithAugust 21, 1965Celtic1963
Forwards
FWMicky BlockAugust 21, 1965Chelsea1962
FWBilly CobbAugust 21, 1965Plymouth Argyle1964
FWTom CurleyAugust 21, 1965Celtic1965
FWJohn DochertyAugust 21, 1965Sheffield United1966
FWBrian EtheridgeAugust 21, 1965Northampton Town1966
FWIan LawtherAugust 21, 1965Scunthorpe United1964
FWJohn ReganAugust 21, 1965Shrewsbury Town1966
FWBobby RossAugust 21, 1965Shrewsbury Town1966
FWBarry ThornleyAugust 21, 1965Gravesend & Northfleet1965
Players who left the club mid-season
FWJimmy BloomfieldAugust 21, 1965Birmingham City1964Transferred to West Ham United
FWJoe BonsonAugust 21, 1965Newport County1964Transferred to Lincoln City
FWJohn FieldingAugust 21, 1965Southport1963Transferred to Grimsby Town
FWMark LazarusAugust 21, 1965Queens Park Rangers1964Transferred to Queens Park Rangers

Coaching staff

Tommy Cavanagh (21 August 1965 – 18 April 1966)

NameRole
Tommy CavanaghManager
Jimmy SirrelTrainer
Eddie LyonsPhysiotherapist

Ian Black (18 April – 2 May 1966)

NameRole
Ian BlackCaretaker Manager
Jimmy SirrelTrainer
Eddie LyonsPhysiotherapist

Billy Gray (3–28 May 1966)

NameRole
Billy GrayManager
Jimmy SirrelTrainer
Eddie LyonsPhysiotherapist

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Substitute appearances in brackets.

PosNatNameLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GKChic Brodie3501020380
GKGordon Phillips1101000120
DFPeter Gelson3422000362
DFAllan Jones4402020480
DFAlan Hawley3602020400
DFHamish MacKenzie20000020
DFGeorge Thomson4421020472
HBRon Crisp10 (1)0100011 (1)0
HBTommy Higginson3012020341
HBHugh McLaughlin0 (1)000000 (1)0
HBEddie Reeve20000020
HBMel Scott3801020410
HBWillie Smith50000050
FWMicky Block2962020336
FWJimmy Bloomfield20—0020
FWJoe Bonson1211020151
FWBilly Cobb27 (2)7202031 (2)7
FWTom Curley1420000142
FWJohn Docherty267——267
FWBrian Etheridge162——162
FWJohn Fielding912200113
FWIan Lawther371020214111
FWMark Lazarus92—20112
FWJohn Regan125——125
FWBobby Ross170——170
FWBarry Thornley70000070

Goalscorers

Pos.NatPlayerFL3FACFLCTotal
FWIan Lawther100111
FWBilly Cobb7007
FWJohn Docherty7——7
FWMicky Block6006
FWJohn Regan5——5
FWJohn Fielding1203
FWBrian Etheridge2——2
FWMark Lazarus2—02
FWTom Curley2002
HBPeter Gelson2002
DFGeorge Thomson2002
FWJoe Bonson1001
HBTommy Higginson1001
Total482151

Management

NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Tommy Cavanagh22 August 196416 April 1966
Ian Black (caretaker)23 April 196630 April 1966
Billy Gray7 May 196628 May 1966

Summary

Games played 50 (46 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)
Games won 11 (10 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Games drawn 13 (12 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Games lost 26 (24 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Goals scored 51 (48 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Goals conceded 77 (69 Third Division, 6 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)
Clean sheets 10 (9 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Biggest league win 6–1 versus Queens Park Rangers, 21 August 1965
Worst league defeat 5–0 on two occasions
Most appearances 48, Allan Jones (44 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)
Top scorer (league) 10, Ian Lawther
Top scorer (all competitions) 11, Ian Lawther

Transfers & loans

Players transferred in
DatePos.NamePrevious ClubFeeRef.
May 1965DF Michael Ogburn Portsmouthn/a
August 1965HB Ron Crisp Watford£2,000
August 1965FW Tom Curley Celticn/a
October 1965FW Barry Thornley Gravesend & Northfleet£2,000
December 1965FW John Docherty Sheffield Unitedn/a
1965HB Keith Hookern/an/a
February 1966FW Brian Etheridge Northampton Town£8,000
March 1966FW John Regan Shrewsbury Town£4,250
March 1966FW Bobby Ross Shrewsbury Town£4,250
Players transferred out
DatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.
August 1965FW Dai Ward Worcester City£2,000[9]
October 1965FW Jimmy Bloomfield West Ham United£6,500
4 November 1965FW Mark Lazarus Queens Park Rangers£6,000[10]
December 1965FW John Fielding Grimsby Townn/a
January 1966FW Joe Bonson Lincoln Cityn/a
Players released
DatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.
May 1966FW Joe Gadston Corby Town1966
May 1966HB Hugh McLaughlin Gravesend & Northfleet1966
May 1966HB Willie Smith Hastings UnitedAugust 1966[11]
May 1966FW Tim Soutar Ashford Town (Kent)1966

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Brentford results for the 1965–1966 season . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160328003102/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1965-1966/results . 28 March 2016 . 25 January 2017 . Statto.com . en-GB.
  2. Web site: 11v11 league table generator . 5 September 2019 . www.11v11.com.
  3. Web site: 11v11 league table generator . 5 September 2019 . www.11v11.com.
  4. Web site: 11v11 league table generator . 5 September 2019 . www.11v11.com.
  5. Web site: Brentford scoring and sequence records . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304193423/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/records . 4 March 2016 . 25 January 2017 . Statto.com . en-GB.
  6. Book: Haynes, Graham . A-Z of Bees : A Brentford Encyclopaedia . 1998 . Yore . 1874427577 . Harefield . 121 . 39504068.
  7. Book: 100 Years Of Brentford . Brentford FC . 1989 . 0951526200 . White . Eric . 388.
  8. Book: Haynes, Graham . Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006 . Coumbe . Frank . Yore Publications . 2006 . 978-0955294914.
  9. Web site: V, W, X, Y and Z . 18 March 2023 . The Bristol Rovers History Group . en.
  10. Web site: Seasonal Stats – 1965/66 . 9 May 2018 . QPRnet.
  11. News: 5 August 1966 . Busy Time Ahead For Brentford . The Brentford & Chiswick Times.

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