1986–87 Brentford F.C. season explained
Club: | Brentford |
Season: | 1986–87 |
Manager: | (until 24 January 1987) Steve Perryman (from 25 January 1987) |
Chairman: | Martin Lange |
Stadium: | Griffin Park |
League: | Third Division |
League Result: | 11th |
Cup1: | FA Cup |
Cup1 Result: | Second round |
Cup2: | League Cup |
Cup2 Result: | First round |
Cup3: | Football League Trophy |
Cup3 Result: | Quarter-final |
League Topscorer: | Cooke (20) |
Season Topscorer: | Cooke (25) |
Highest Attendance: | 7,443 |
Lowest Attendance: | 1,110 |
Average Attendance: | 3,918 |
Pattern La1: | _brentford_home_86-87 |
Pattern B1: | _brentford_home_86-87new |
Pattern Ra1: | _brentford_home_86-87 |
Pattern So1: | _brentford_home_86-87 |
Pattern Sh1: | _red stripe |
Shorts1: | 000000 |
Socks1: | ff0000 |
Pattern La2: | _brentford_away_86-87 |
Pattern B2: | _brentford_away_86-87 |
Pattern Ra2: | _brentford_away_86-87 |
Pattern So2: | _brentford_away_86-87a |
Pattern Sh2: | _brentford_away_86-87 |
Prevseason: | 1985–86 |
Nextseason: | 1987–88 |
During the 1986–87 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. Frank McLintock resigned as manager in January 1987 and his replacement Steve Perryman saved the club's season, elevating the Bees to an 11th-place finish.
Season summary
It was all change at Griffin Park during the 1986 off-season.[1] Assistant manager John Docherty left the club to become manager of Millwall and took long-serving defender Danis Salman with him, for a "ridiculous" £20,000 fee which was settled by tribunal. Manager Frank McLintock released midfielders Terry Bullivant, Tony Lynch, George Torrance and forwards Rowan Alexander and Steve Butler.[2] Wimbledon winger Ian Holloway's loan was made permanent for a £28,000 fee and also arriving at Griffin Park were defender Phil Bater, midfielder Paul Maddy and forward Gary Stevens. The marquee signing of Chelsea winger Paul Canoville was set to be decided by tribunal, but fell through after Reading won the day with a £60,000 bid.
A poor start to the season led manager Frank McLintock to continue to act in the transfer market during the opening months.[3] £35,000 midfielder Wayne Turner was installed as the new captain, Tony Obi arrived on loan and Henry Hughton and Robbie Carroll joined on non-contract terms. Brentford continued to tread water in the lower reaches of mid-table through November and December 1986 and McLintock attempted to remedy the situation by signing experienced defenders Steve Perryman and Micky Droy. By January 1987, the Brentford supporters were calling for the sacking of McLintock and after a 4–1 defeat to Port Vale on 24 January, the club's board announced that his contract would not be renewed at the end of the season. McLintock immediately left the club.
After Frank McLintock's departure, player Steve Perryman was announced as caretaker manager. An immediate turnaround in the team's form led the board, who had reportedly shown interest in Wimbledon's Dave Bassett, to appoint Perryman to the role on a permanent basis in late-February 1987. He made two important additions to the club's staff, appointing Phil Holder as assistant manager and signing forward Gary Blissett for a £60,000 fee from Crewe Alexandra. Perryman lost just five of his first 23 games in the job and steered Brentford to an 11th-place finish.
Results
Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend
Pre-season and friendlies
Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
---|
29 July 1986 | Ashford Town (Middlesex) | A | 5–0 | n/a | F. Joseph, Maddy, Allen, untraced (og) |
2 August 1986 | Baldock Town | A | 1–1 | n/a | Bater |
5 August 1986 | West Ham United | H | 1–2 | 1,970 | F. Joseph |
9 August 1986 | Oxford United | H | 1–2 | 1,144 | Maddy |
13 August 1986 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 0–1 | 2,245 | |
16 August 1986 | Orient | A | 1–1 | 540 | Stevens |
28 October 1986 | Arsenal XI | H | 6–3 | 412 | F. Joseph (2), Carroll, og (2) |
15 May 1987 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 2–3 | 7,049 | Bowles, og | |
Football League Third Division
No. | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
---|
1 | 23 August 1986 | Bournemouth | H | 1–1 | 3,856 | Cooke (pen) |
2 | 30 August 1986 | Doncaster Rovers | A | 0–2 | 1,675 | |
3 | 6 September 1986 | Port Vale | H | 0–2 | 3,150 | |
4 | 13 September 1986 | Fulham | A | 3–1 | 4,820 | Stevens, Cooke, R. Joseph |
5 | 16 September 1986 | Carlisle United | A | 0–0 | 2,904 | |
6 | 20 September 1986 | Darlington | H | 5–3 | 3,265 | Stevens (2), Bater, Cooke (pen) |
7 | 27 September 1986 | Gillingham | A | 0–2 | 4,710 | |
8 | 30 September 1986 | Bury | H | 0–2 | 3,238 | |
9 | 4 October 1986 | Newport County | H | 2–0 | 3,231 | Sinton, Maddy |
10 | 11 October 1986 | Mansfield Town | A | 0–1 | 3,456 | |
11 | 18 October 1986 | York City | H | 3–1 | 3,457 | Cooke, Stevens (2) |
12 | 25 October 1986 | Walsall | A | 2–5 | 4,495 | Cooke, Millen |
13 | 1 November 1986 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 1–2 | 3,522 | Maddy |
14 | 4 November 1986 | Notts County | H | 1–0 | 3,057 | Carroll |
15 | 8 November 1986 | Chester City | A | 1–1 | 2,055 | Cooke |
16 | 22 November 1986 | Blackpool | H | 1–1 | 4,471 | Stevens |
17 | 30 November 1986 | Rotherham United | A | 3–2 | 3,148 | Sinton, Cooke (2) |
18 | 13 December 1986 | Wigan Athletic | A | 1–1 | 2,411 | Cooke |
19 | 21 December 1986 | Middlesbrough | H | 0–1 | 5,504 | |
20 | 26 December 1986 | Swindon Town | A | 0–2 | 8,086 | |
21 | 28 December 1986 | Bristol Rovers | H | 1–2 | 4,500 | Cooke |
22 | 1 January 1987 | Chesterfield | H | 2–2 | 3,622 | Cooke, Bater |
23 | 3 January 1987 | Blackpool | A | 0–2 | 4,384 | |
24 | 10 January 1987 | Bournemouth | A | 1–1 | 4,682 | Millen |
25 | 24 January 1987 | Port Vale | A | 1–4 | 3,062 | Cooke |
26 | 1 February 1987 | Fulham | H | 3–3 | 5,340 | Stevens, Sinton, Bates |
27 | 7 February 1987 | Carlisle United | H | 3–1 | 3,032 | Maddy, F. Joseph, Wright (og) |
28 | 15 February 1987 | Darlington | A | 1–1 | 2,303 | Droy |
29 | 21 February 1987 | Gillingham | H | 3–2 | 4,015 | Maddy, Stevens, Cooke |
30 | 28 February 1987 | Bury | A | 1–1 | 2,317 | Stevens |
31 | 3 March 1987 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 2–0 | 3,465 | Stevens, Cooke (pen) |
32 | 7 March 1987 | Walsall | H | 0–1 | 3,442 | |
33 | 14 March 1987 | York City | A | 1–2 | 2,426 | Cooke |
34 | 17 March 1987 | Bristol City | H | 1–1 | 4,051 | Maddy |
35 | 21 March 1987 | Mansfield Town | H | 3–1 | 3,336 | Carroll (2), Cooke |
36 | 4 April 1987 | Chester City | H | 3–1 | 3,496 | Droy (2), Blissett (pen) |
37 | 7 April 1987 | Newport County | A | 2–2 | 1,596 | Nogan, Blissett |
38 | 11 April 1987 | Notts County | A | 1–1 | 4,358 | Priest |
39 | 14 April 1987 | Doncaster Rovers | H | 1–1 | 3,426 | Blissett |
40 | 18 April 1987 | Chesterfield | A | 2–1 | 2,116 | Cooke, Williamson (og) |
41 | 20 April 1987 | Swindon Town | H | 1–1 | 7,443 | Cooke |
42 | 25 April 1987 | Middlesbrough | A | 0–2 | 9,942 | |
43 | 28 April 1987 | Bristol City | A | 2–0 | 9,050 | Carroll, Blissett |
44 | 2 May 1987 | Rotherham United | H | 2–0 | 3,425 | Cooke, Nogan |
45 | 4 May 1987 | Bristol Rovers | A | 1–0 | 3,513 | Sinton |
46 | 9 May 1987 | Wigan Athletic | H | 2–3 | 4,235 | Sinton, Blissett (pen) | |
FA Cup
See main article: 1986–87 FA Cup.
Football League Cup
See main article: 1986–87 Football League Cup.
Football League Trophy
See main article: 1986–87 Football League Trophy.
- Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[4] The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties,[5] [6] Statto
Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1986–87 season.
Pos. | Name | Nat. | Date of birth (age) | Signed from | Signed in | Notes |
---|
Goalkeepers |
---|
GK | Richard Key | | August 23, 1986 | Swindon Town | 1985 | |
GK | Gary Phillips | | August 23, 1986 | Barnet | 1984 | |
GK | John Power | | August 23, 1986 | Kingstonian | 1987 | On loan from Kingstonian |
Defenders |
---|
DF | Phil Bater | | August 23, 1986 | Bristol Rovers | 1986 | |
DF | Jamie Bates | | August 23, 1986 | Youth | 1986 | |
DF | Micky Droy | | August 23, 1986 | Crystal Palace | 1986 | |
DF | Terry Evans | | August 23, 1986 | Hillingdon | 1985 | |
DF | Roger Joseph | | August 23, 1986 | Southall | 1984 | |
DF | Keith Millen | | August 23, 1986 | Youth | 1985 | |
DF | Jamie Murray | | August 23, 1986 | Cambridge United | 1984 | |
DF | Steve Perryman | | August 23, 1986 | Oxford United | 1986 | Manager |
Midfielders |
---|
MF | Bob Booker | | August 23, 1986 | Bedmond Sports & Social | 1978 | |
MF | Robbie Carroll | | August 23, 1986 | Gosport Borough | 1986 | |
MF | Ian Holloway | | August 23, 1986 | Wimbledon | 1986 | Loaned to Torquay United |
MF | Paul Maddy | | August 23, 1986 | Hereford United | 1986 | |
MF | Andy Sinton | | August 23, 1986 | Cambridge United | 1985 | |
MF | Wayne Turner (c) | | August 23, 1986 | Coventry City | 1986 | |
Forwards |
---|
FW | Gary Blissett | | August 23, 1986 | Crewe Alexandra | 1987 | |
FW | Robbie Cooke | | August 23, 1986 | Cambridge United | 1984 | |
FW | Francis Joseph | | August 23, 1986 | Wimbledon | 1982 | Loaned to Wimbledon |
FW | Lee Nogan | | August 23, 1986 | Oxford United | 1987 | On loan from Oxford United |
Players who left the club mid-season |
---|
DF | Henry Hughton | | August 23, 1986 | Crystal Palace | 1986 | Released |
DF | Steve Wignall | | August 23, 1986 | Colchester United | 1984 | Transferred to Aldershot |
MF | Paul Merson | | August 23, 1986 | Arsenal | 1987 | Returned to Arsenal after loan |
MF | Tony Obi | | August 23, 1986 | Oxford United | 1986 | Returned to Oxford United after loan |
MF | Philip Priest | | August 23, 1986 | Chelsea | 1987 | Returned to Chelsea after loan |
FW | David Geddis | | August 23, 1986 | Birmingham City | 1986 | Returned to Birmingham City after loan |
FW | Gary Stevens | | August 23, 1986 | Shrewsbury Town | 1986 | Transferred to Hereford United | |
- Sources: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties,[7] Timeless Bees[8]
Coaching staff
Frank McLintock (23 August 1986 – 24 January 1987)
Steve Perryman (24 January – 9 May 1987)
Statistics
Appearances and goals
Substitute appearances in brackets.
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties[9]
Goalscorers
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties
Management
Summary
Games played | 55 (46 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 4 Football League Trophy) |
Games won | 19 (15 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 3 Football League Trophy) |
Games drawn | 16 (15 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy) |
Games lost | 20 (16 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy) |
Goals scored | 81 (64 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 13 Football League Trophy) |
Goals conceded | 80 (66 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 8 Football League Trophy) |
Clean sheets | 9 (7 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy) |
Biggest league win | 2–0 on two occasions; 3–1 on five occasions; 5–3 versus Darlington, 20 September 1986 |
Worst league defeat | 4–1 versus Port Vale, 24 January 1987; 5–2 versus Walsall, 25 October 1986 |
Most appearances | 55, Andy Sinton (46 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 4 Football League Trophy) |
Top scorer (league) | 20, Robbie Cooke |
Top scorer (all competitions) | 25, Robbie Cooke | |
Transfers & loans
Awards
Notes and References
- White, p. 331-333.
- Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 173.
- Web site: Brentford results for the 1986–1987 season . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161129024057/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1986-1987/results . 29 November 2016 . 22 February 2017 . Statto.com . en-GB.
- Book: 100 Years Of Brentford . Brentford FC . 1989 . 0951526200 . White . Eric . 399.
- Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 178-193.
- Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 400-403.
- Book: Croxford, Mark . The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties . Lane . David . Waterman . Greville . Legends Publishing . 2011 . 978-1906796716 . Sunbury, Middlesex.
- Book: Haynes, Graham . Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006 . Coumbe . Frank . Yore Publications . 2006 . 978-0955294914.
- Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 428.
- Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 194-199.
- Web site: Transfer In . 25 June 2022 . www.millwall-history.org.uk.
- Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 218.
- Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 383.