1985–86 Brentford F.C. season explained

Club:Brentford
Season:1985–86
Manager:Frank McLintock
Chairman:Martin Lange
Stadium:Griffin Park
League:Third Division
League Result:10th
Cup1:FA Cup
Cup1 Result:First round
Cup2:League Cup
Cup2 Result:Second round
Cup3:Football League Trophy
Cup3 Result:First round
League Topscorer:Cooke (17)
Season Topscorer:Cooke (18)
Highest Attendance:6,351
Lowest Attendance:2,512
Average Attendance:3,957
Pattern La1:_brentford_home_84-85
Pattern B1:_brentford_home_84-85new
Pattern Ra1:_brentford_home_84-85
Pattern Sh1:_red stripes
Pattern So1:_brentford_home_84-85
Shorts1:000000
Socks1:000000
Pattern La2:_brentford_away_84-85
Pattern B2:_brentford_away_84-85
Pattern Ra2:_brentford_away_84-85
Pattern Sh2:_dark blue stripes
Pattern So2:_brentford_away_84-85
Shorts2:FFFFFF
Prevseason:1984–85
Nextseason:1986–87

During the 1985–86 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. Inferior home form and a number of key player departures meant that the Bees could finish no higher than 10th position.

Season summary

After the recent Heysel Stadium disaster and the Bradford City stadium fire, the financial implications of the work needed to bring Griffin Park up to standard hampered Brentford manager Frank McLintock's movement in the transfer market during the 1985 off-season.[1] The core of the previous season's Football League Trophy final team would be sold off, with midfielder Chris Kamara and forward Keith Cassells leaving before the beginning of the season and captain Terry Hurlock would later be sold for a club-record £95,000 fee in February 1986. Goalkeeper Trevor Swinburne and defender Paul Roberts were released and the mid-season retirement of goalscoring winger Gary Roberts also compounded the break-up of the team. McLintock re-signed bit-part goalkeeper Richard Key and midfielder Terry Bullivant on free transfers and also brought in 20-year-old centre back Terry Evans from non-league Hillingdon, a transfer which would go on to be an important contributor the club's success in the early 1990s.

The 1985–86 season proved to be one of consolidation in the Third Division for Brentford, with the team briefly challenging for promotion in August and for a three-month period in late 1985, but otherwise being rooted in mid-table.[2] There was little cheer to be had in the cup competitions, but manager Frank McLintock was able to make some incoming mid-season transfers, bringing in midfielder Andy Sinton for a £25,000 fee and loaning wingers Steve Burke and Ian Holloway from Queens Park Rangers and Wimbledon respectively.[3] Forward Francis Joseph, top scorer during the 1982–83 season, returned from a long injury layoff in April 1986 and boosting the attack, which had been led alone by Robbie Cooke. Brentford finished the season in 10th place, with an away record superior to that of at Griffin Park.[4]

Results

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

WinDrawLoss

Pre-season and friendlies

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)
27 July 1985WembleyA0–0n/a
30 July 1985Wokingham TownA2–1n/aHurlock, Cooke
7 August 1985SouthamptonH1–0962Butler
10 August 1985Oxford UnitedH4–21,480Hurlock, Cooke, Lynch, Evans
9 May 1986Tottenham HotspurH4–32,129Cassells, Holloway, F. Joseph, Roberts

Football League Third Division

No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)
117 August 1985Wolverhampton WanderersH2–15,576Bullivant, Murray
224 August 1985Bristol RoversA1–04,140Lynch
326 August 1985BournemouthH1–04,283Cooke
431 August 1985Wigan AthleticA0–42,871
57 September 1985Plymouth ArgyleH1–13,927Lynch
613 September 1985Doncaster RoversA0–12,831
717 September 1985ReadingH1–26,351Booker
821 September 1985Lincoln CityA0–31,856
928 September 1985Rotherham UnitedH1–13,257Alexander
101 October 1985DarlingtonA5–32,447Alexander (3), Booker, Lynch
115 October 1985Swansea CityH1–03,508Lynch
1212 October 1985Bolton WanderersA2–14,106Wignall, Cooke
1319 October 1985Newport CountyA0–03,646
1422 October 1985WalsallA2–14,318Wignall, Hurlock
1526 October 1985BlackpoolA0–45,448
162 November 1985Cardiff CityH3–03,934Hurlock, Cooke, Lynch
176 November 1985Derby CountyH3–34,707Murray, Cooke, Butler
189 November 1985Bristol CityA0–06,598
1923 November 1985ChesterfieldH1–03,502Roberts
2030 November 1985York CityA0–13,674
2114 December 1985BuryH1–04,038Sinton (pen)
2222 December 1985Bristol RoversH1–05,724Cooke
2328 December 1985BournemouthA0–04,006
244 January 1986Cardiff CityA0–13,398
2511 January 1986Wigan AthleticH1–34,048Booker
2618 January 1986Wolverhampton WanderersA4–13,420Cooke (2), Sinton (2)
2721 January 1986Notts CountyH1–14,002Evans
2824 January 1986Doncaster RoversH1–33,568Cooke
291 February 1986Plymouth ArgyleA0–24,873
304 February 1986WalsallH1–33,015Alexander
311 March 1986Rotherham UnitedA2–13,260Booker, Cooke
328 March 1986Swansea CityA0–23,683
3311 March 1986Newport CountyA2–11,508Lynch, Cooke
3414 March 1986Bolton WanderersH1–13,284Booker
3518 March 1986GillinghamA2–13,558Booker, Cooke
3622 March 1986BlackpoolH1–13,528Cooke
3729 March 1986Notts CountyA4–03,857Burke, Cooke (2), Holloway
3831 March 1986GillinghamH1–24,702Cooke
395 April 1986Derby CountyA1–111,026Holloway
4013 April 1986Bristol CityH1–23,701Millen
4116 April 1986ReadingA1–36,855Murray
4219 April 1986ChesterfieldA3–12,344Cooke, Butler, Booker
4322 April 1986Lincoln CityH0–13,011
4426 April 1986York CityH3–32,864Hood (og), R. Joseph, F. Joseph
453 May 1986BuryA0–02,953
465 May 1986DarlingtonH2–12,824Millen, Cooke

FA Cup

See main article: 1985–86 FA Cup.

Football League Cup

See main article: 1985–86 Football League Cup.

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)
1R (1st leg)20 August 1985Cambridge UnitedA1–11,794Booker
1R (2nd leg)3 September 1985Cambridge UnitedH2–0 (won 3–1 on aggregate)2,512Cooke (pen), Hurlock
2R (1st leg)25 September 1985Sheffield WednesdayH2–25,352Alexander (2)
2R (2nd leg)15 October 1985Sheffield WednesdayA0–2 (lost 2–4 on aggregate)11,132

Football League Trophy

See main article: 1985–86 Football League Trophy.

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer
SR1 (match 1)15 January 1986Derby CountyH0–02,531
SR1 (match 2)29 January 1986GillinghamA1–11,464Murray

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1985–86 season.

Pos.NameNat.Date of birth (age)Signed fromSigned inNotes
Goalkeepers
GKRichard KeyAugust 17, 1985Swindon Town1985
GKGary PhillipsAugust 17, 1985Barnet1984
Defenders
DFJamie BatesAugust 17, 1985Youth1986Loaned to Maidstone United
DFTerry EvansAugust 17, 1985Hillingdon1985
DFRoger JosephAugust 17, 1985Southall1984
DFKeith MillenAugust 17, 1985Youth1985
DFJamie MurrayAugust 17, 1985Cambridge United1984
DFDanis SalmanAugust 17, 1985Youth1975
DFSteve Wignall (c)August 17, 1985Colchester United1984
Midfielders
MFTerry BullivantAugust 17, 1985Unattached1985
MFSteve BurkeAugust 17, 1985Queens Park Rangers1986On loan from Queens Park Rangers
MFIan HollowayAugust 17, 1985Wimbledon1986On loan from Wimbledon
MFTony LynchAugust 17, 1985Youth1983
MFAndy SintonAugust 17, 1985Cambridge United1985
MFGeorge TorranceAugust 17, 1985Wokingham Town1984Loaned to Maidstone United
Forwards
FWRowan AlexanderAugust 17, 1985St Mirren1984
FWBob BookerAugust 17, 1985Bedmond Sports & Social1978
FWSteve ButlerAugust 17, 1985Windsor & Eton1984Loaned to Maidstone United
FWRobbie CookeAugust 17, 1985Cambridge United1984
FWFrancis JosephAugust 17, 1985Wimbledon1982
Players who left the club mid-season
DFBobby FisherAugust 17, 1985Cambridge United1984Released
MFGary CooperAugust 17, 1985Queens Park Rangers1985Returned to Queens Park Rangers after loan
MFTerry HurlockAugust 17, 1985Leytonstone/Ilford1980Transferred to Reading
MFGary RobertsAugust 17, 1985Wembley1980Released

Coaching staff

NameRole
Frank McLintockManager
John DochertyAssistant Manager
Ron WoolnoughPhysiotherapist

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Substitute appearances in brackets.

PosNatNameLeagueFA CupLeague CupFL TrophyTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GKRichard Key3000000030
GKGary Phillips430104020500
DFTerry Evans18 (1)111102022 (1)2
DFRoger Joseph27 (1)100302032 (1)1
DFKeith Millen30 (2)200401035 (2)2
DFJamie Murray453104021524
DFDanis Salman400102020450
DFSteve Wignall282103000322
MFTerry Bullivant7 (1)11010009 (1)1
MFTerry Hurlock272004110323
MFTony Lynch28 (5)510402035 (5)5
MFGary Roberts31000031
MFAndy Sinton26320283
MFGeorge Torrance18 (3)010401024 (3)0
FWRowan Alexander24 (4)6102 (1)21 (1)028 (6)8
FWBob Booker447104110508
FWSteve Butler101000000101
FWRobbie Cooke43 (1)1710412050 (1)18
FWFrancis Joseph5 (3)10000005 (3)1
Players loaned in during the season
MFSteve Burke101101
MFGary Cooper9 (1)09 (1)0
MFIan Holloway132132

Goalscorers

Pos.NatPlayerFL3FACFLCFLTTotal
FWRobbie Cooke1701018
FWBob Booker70108
FWRowan Alexander60208
MFTony Lynch50005
DFJamie Murray30014
MFAndy Sinton303
MFTerry Hurlock20103
MFIan Holloway22
DFKeith Millen20002
DFSteve Wignall20002
DFTerry Evans11002
MFSteve Burke11
MFGary Roberts1001
MFTerry Bullivant10001
FWSteve Butler10001
FWFrancis Joseph10001
DFRoger Joseph10001
Opponents10001
Total5815165

Summary

Games played 53 (46 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)
Games won 19 (18 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy)
Games drawn 16 (12 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)
Games lost 18 (16 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy)
Goals scored 65 (58 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 5 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Goals conceded 70 (61 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 5 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Clean sheets 14 (12 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Biggest league win 4–0 versus Notts County, 29 March 1986
Worst league defeat 4–0 on two occasions
Most appearances 52, Jamie Murray (45 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)
Top scorer (league) 17, Robbie Cooke
Top scorer (all competitions) 18, Robbie Cooke

Transfers & loans

Players transferred in
DatePos.NamePrevious ClubFeeRef.
July 1985DF Terry Evans Hillingdonn/a
August 1985MF Terry BullivantUnattachedFree
August 1985GK Richard Key Swindon TownFree
December 1985MF Andy Sinton Cambridge United£25,000[10]
1985MF Robbie Petersn/an/a[11]
Players loaned in
Date fromPos.NameFromDate toRef.
September 1985MF Gary Cooper Queens Park RangersNovember 1985
12 March 1986MF Ian Holloway WimbledonEnd of season
March 1986MF Steve Burke Queens Park RangersEnd of season
Players transferred out
DatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.
August 1985FW Keith Cassells Mansfield Town£17,000
August 1985MF Chris Kamara Swindon Town£14,500
February 1986MF Terry Hurlock Reading£95,000
Players loaned out
Date fromPos.NameToDate toRef.
September 1985FW Steve Butler Maidstone UnitedNovember 1985
March 1986DF Jamie Bates Maidstone Unitedn/a
March 1986MF George Torrance Maidstone Unitedn/a
Players released
DatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.
October 1985DF Bobby Fisher Maidstone United1985
January 1986MF Gary Roberts Barnet1986
May 1986FW Rowan Alexander Greenock Morton1986
May 1986MF Terry BullivantRetired
May 1986FW Steve Butler Maidstone United1986
May 1986MF Tony Lynch Maidstone United1986
May 1986MF George Torrance Maidstone United1986

Awards

Notes and References

  1. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 150.
  2. Web site: Brentford results for the 1985–1986 season . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160313115448/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1985-1986/results . 13 March 2016 . 21 February 2017 . Statto.com . en-GB.
  3. White, p. 328-331.
  4. Web site: Brentford League Table 1985-1986 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170225205755/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1985-1986/table . 25 February 2017 . 21 February 2017 . Statto.com . en-GB.
  5. Book: 100 Years Of Brentford . Brentford FC . 1989 . 0951526200 . White . Eric . 398.
  6. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 152-164, 399.
  7. Book: Croxford, Mark . The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties . Lane . David . Waterman . Greville . Legends Publishing . 2011 . 978-1906796716 . Sunbury, Middlesex.
  8. Book: Haynes, Graham . Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006 . Coumbe . Frank . Yore Publications . 2006 . 978-0955294914.
  9. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 427.
  10. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 168-173.
  11. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 390.
  12. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 383.