| Club: | Brentford |
| Season: | 1989–90 |
| Mgrtitle: | Player-manager |
| Manager: | Steve Perryman |
| Chairman: | Martin Lange |
| Stadium: | Griffin Park |
| League: | Third Division |
| League Result: | 13th |
| Cup1: | FA Cup |
| Cup1 Result: | First round |
| Cup2: | League Cup |
| Cup2 Result: | Second round |
| Cup3: | Football League Trophy |
| Cup3 Result: | Quarter-final |
| League Topscorer: | Holdsworth (24) |
| Season Topscorer: | Holdsworth (28) |
| Highest Attendance: | 7,962 |
| Lowest Attendance: | 2,544 |
| Average Attendance: | 5,662 |
| Pattern La1: | _brentford_home_88-90 |
| Pattern B1: | _brentford_home_88-90 |
| Pattern Ra1: | _brentford_home_88-90 |
| Pattern So1: | _brentford_home_88-90 |
| Shorts1: | 000000 |
| Socks1: | 000000 |
| Pattern La2: | _brentford_away_91-92 |
| Pattern B2: | _brentford_away_89-90 |
| Pattern Ra2: | _brentford_away_91-92 |
| Pattern So2: | _brentford_away_91-92 |
| Pattern Sh2: | _brentford_away_91-92 |
| Shorts2: | 000000 |
| Socks2: | 000000 |
| Prevseason: | 1988–89 |
| Nextseason: | 1990–91 |
During the 1989–90 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. After showing relegation form during the first three months of the season, a revival between November 1989 and February 1990 ensured a mid-table finish.
After a long season in which the sheer amount of cup fixtures ultimately affected Brentford's hopes of a finish in the Third Division play-offs, manager Steve Perryman saw fit to make only minor changes to his squad.[1] Released were bit-part players and late-season signings Andy Feeley, Graham Pearce, Jon Purdie, Jeremy Roberts and Tony Sealy and in came just two players – club record £167,000 midfielder Eddie May from Hibernian (as a direct replacement for March 1989 departee Andy Sinton) and left back Mark Fleming on a free transfer from Queens Park Rangers.
Aside from progressing to the second round of the League Cup, Brentford had a torrid start to the Third Division season and dropped into the relegation places on 9 September 1989.[2] Manager Perryman entered the transfer market to bring Watford forward Dean Holdsworth back to Griffin Park, after a one-month loan spell during the previous season.[3] The £125,000 paid for Holdsworth made him the club's most expensive forward at the time.[4] The signing of Holdsworth had little immediate impact and the Bees' slump continued from September into mid-November, when the club occupied bottom place in the division for three weeks in a row. A 2–0 win over Northampton Town at the County Ground on 25 November provided the spark that changed the team's fortunes, with Holdsworth coming into form and inspiring a run of 10 wins and 1 draw from a 13-match spell, which lifted Brentford from 24th to 9th place. The Bees stumbled through to the end of the season and the products of Colin Lee's youth team were given game time. Brentford ended the campaign in 13th place.
Brentford's goal tally listed first.
| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 July 1989 | Ashford Town (Middlesex) | A | 3–0 | n/a | Haag, Gayle, Cronk | |
| 22 July 1989 | Farnborough Town | A | 2–3 | n/a | Blissett, Cockram | |
| 24 July 1989 | Crewe United | A | 1–0 | n/a | Gayle | |
| 29 July 1989 | St Albans City | A | 6–0 | n/a | Haag (2), Godfrey (2), May, Buttigieg | |
| 1 August 1989 | Fully | A | 3–1 | n/a | Jones (2, 1 pen), Smillie | |
| 7 August 1989 | Yeading | H | 2–2 | n/a | Jenkins, Funnell | |
| 9 August 1989 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 1–0 | 4,667 | Gayle | |
| 12 August 1989 | Wimbledon | H | 0–1 | 2,200 | ||
| 14 August 1989 | Dartford | A | 1–2 | n/a | Moabi | |
| 18 October 1989 | Hayes | A | 0–3 | n/a | ||
| 11 May 1990 | Sheffield United | H | 4–2 | 1,531 | Driscoll, Holdsworth, Godfrey, Booker (pen) |
| No. | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 August 1989 | Bristol Rovers | A | 0–1 | 5,851 | ||
| 2 | 26 August 1989 | Chester City | H | 1–1 | 5,153 | Evans | |
| 3 | 2 September 1989 | Cardiff City | A | 2–2 | 3,499 | May (2) | |
| 4 | 9 September 1989 | Bury | H | 0–1 | 5,010 | ||
| 5 | 16 September 1989 | Huddersfield Town | A | 0–1 | 5,578 | ||
| 6 | 23 September 1989 | Birmingham City | H | 0–1 | 5,386 | ||
| 7 | 26 September 1989 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 3–2 | 3,496 | Smillie, Jones, Godfrey | |
| 8 | 30 September 1989 | Wigan Athletic | H | 3–1 | 4,647 | Blissett, Holdsworth, May | |
| 9 | 7 October 1989 | Bristol City | H | 0–2 | 7,421 | ||
| 10 | 14 October 1989 | Preston North End | A | 2–4 | 5,956 | May, Holdsworth | |
| 11 | 17 October 1989 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 1–2 | 4,537 | Holdsworth | |
| 12 | 21 October 1989 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 0–1 | 3,073 | ||
| 13 | 28 October 1989 | Fulham | H | 2–0 | 7,962 | Evans, Smillie | |
| 14 | 31 October 1989 | Notts County | A | 1–3 | 4,586 | Moncur | |
| 15 | 4 November 1989 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 2–4 | 5,720 | May, Ratcliffe | |
| 16 | 11 November 1989 | Blackpool | A | 0–4 | 2,512 | ||
| 17 | 25 November 1989 | Northampton Town | A | 2–0 | 3,165 | May, Holdsworth | |
| 18 | 3 December 1989 | Leyton Orient | H | 4–3 | 6,434 | Smillie, May, Holdsworth (pen), Blissett | |
| 19 | 17 December 1989 | Mansfield Town | H | 2–1 | 5,022 | Holdsworth (2) | |
| 20 | 26 December 1989 | Reading | A | 0–1 | 5,590 | ||
| 21 | 30 December 1989 | Swansea City | A | 1–2 | 4,537 | Blissett | |
| 22 | 1 January 1990 | Walsall | H | 4–0 | 5,259 | Blissett, Smillie, Holdsworth, Jones | |
| 23 | 6 January 1990 | Rotherham United | H | 4–2 | 5,624 | Holdsworth (3), Stanislaus | |
| 24 | 12 January 1990 | Chester City | A | 1–1 | 2,302 | Cockram | |
| 25 | 20 January 1990 | Bristol Rovers | H | 2–1 | 7,414 | Ratcliffe, Cadette | |
| 26 | 27 January 1990 | Bury | A | 2–0 | 2,963 | May, Holdsworth | |
| 27 | 10 February 1990 | Huddersfield Town | H | 2–1 | 6,774 | Holdsworth (2) | |
| 28 | 18 February 1990 | Leyton Orient | A | 1–0 | 6,572 | Holdsworth | |
| 29 | 21 February 1990 | Cardiff City | H | 0–1 | 5,174 | ||
| 30 | 25 February 1990 | Northampton Town | H | 3–2 | 6,391 | Blissett (2), Holdsworth | |
| 31 | 3 March 1990 | Rotherham United | A | 1–2 | 5,603 | Blissett | |
| 32 | 6 March 1990 | Wigan Athletic | A | 1–2 | 1,938 | Blissett | |
| 33 | 10 March 1990 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 0–2 | 5,815 | ||
| 34 | 13 March 1990 | Birmingham City | A | 1–0 | 8,169 | Holdsworth | |
| 35 | 17 March 1990 | Bristol City | A | 0–2 | 10,813 | ||
| 36 | 20 March 1990 | Preston North End | H | 2–2 | 4,673 | Holdsworth, Blissett | |
| 37 | 24 March 1990 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 1–0 | 6,156 | Holdsworth | |
| 38 | 31 March 1990 | Shrewsbury Town | H | 1–1 | 5,387 | Smillie | |
| 39 | 7 April 1990 | Notts County | H | 0–1 | 5,105 | ||
| 40 | 10 April 1990 | Fulham | A | 0–1 | 6,729 | ||
| 41 | 14 April 1990 | Walsall | A | 1–2 | 2,903 | Sparham | |
| 42 | 16 April 1990 | Reading | H | 1–1 | 5,594 | Driscoll | |
| 43 | 21 April 1990 | Mansfield Town | A | 3–2 | 2,347 | Holdsworth (2, 1 pen), Blissett | |
| 44 | 28 April 1990 | Blackpool | H | 5–0 | 4,784 | Evans, Cockram, Holdsworth, Driscoll, Blissett | |
| 45 | 2 May 1990 | Swansea City | H | 2–1 | 4,950 | Holdsworth (2) | |
| 46 | 5 May 1990 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 2–2 | 5,379 | Godfrey, Evans |
See main article: 1989–90 FA Cup.
See main article: 1989–90 Football League Cup.
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 (1st leg) | 23 August 1989 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 3–0 | 6,405 | Millen, Godfrey, May | |
| R1 (2nd leg) | 29 August 1989 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 1–1 (won 4–1 on aggregate) | 4,306 | Blissett | |
| R2 (2nd leg) | 19 September 1989 | Manchester City | H | 2–1 | 6,065 | Evans, Blissett | |
| R2 (1st leg) | 4 October 1989 | Manchester City | A | 1–4 (lost 5–3 on aggregate) | 17,864 | May |
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPR (match 1) | 7 November 1989 | Leyton Orient | H | 3–0 | 2,544 | Holdsworth (2), May | |
| SPR (match 2) | 9 December 1989 | Mansfield Town | A | 1–2 | 1,445 | Holdsworth | |
| SR1 | 23 January 1990 | Reading | H | 2–1 | 3,928 | May, Cadette | |
| SQF | 6 February 1990 | Bristol Rovers | H | 2–2, lost 4–3 on pens) | 4,409 | Smillie, Holdsworth |
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1989–90 season.
| Pos. | Name | Nat. | Date of birth (age) | Signed from | Signed in | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | |||||||
| GK | Ashley Bayes | August 19, 1989 | Youth | 1990 | |||
| GK | Tony Parks | August 19, 1989 | Tottenham Hotspur | 1988 | |||
| Defenders | |||||||
| DF | Jamie Bates | August 19, 1989 | Youth | 1986 | |||
| DF | John Buttigieg |  | August 19, 1989 | Sliema Wanderers | 1988 | ||
| DF | Jason Cousins | August 19, 1989 | Youth | 1989 | |||
| DF | Terry Evans | August 19, 1989 | Hillingdon | 1985 | |||
| DF | Mark Fleming | August 19, 1989 | Queens Park Rangers | 1989 | |||
| DF | Keith Millen | August 19, 1989 | Youth | 1985 | |||
| DF | Steve Perryman | August 19, 1989 | Oxford United | 1986 | Manager | ||
| DF | Robbie Peters | August 19, 1989 | Youth | 1989 | |||
| DF | Sean Sparham | August 19, 1989 | Millwall | 1990 | On loan from Millwall | ||
| DF | Roger Stanislaus | August 19, 1989 | Arsenal | 1987 | |||
| Midfielders | |||||||
| MF | Paul Buckle | August 19, 1989 | Youth | 1989 | |||
| MF | Allan Cockram | August 19, 1989 | St Albans City | 1988 | |||
| MF | Andy Driscoll | August 19, 1989 | Youth | 1989 | |||
| MF | Marcus Gayle |  | August 19, 1989 | Youth | 1988 | Loaned to KuPS | |
| MF | Kevin Godfrey | August 19, 1989 | Leyton Orient | 1988 | |||
| MF | Keith Jones (c) | August 19, 1989 | Chelsea | 1987 | |||
| MF | Eddie May | August 19, 1989 | Hibernian | 1989 | |||
| MF | Simon Ratcliffe | August 19, 1989 | Norwich City | 1989 | |||
| MF | Neil Smillie | August 19, 1989 | Reading | 1988 | |||
| Forwards | |||||||
| FW | Gary Blissett | August 19, 1989 | Crewe Alexandra | 1987 | |||
| FW | Richard Cadette | August 19, 1989 | Sheffield United | 1988 | Loaned to Bournemouth | ||
| FW | Kelly Haag | August 19, 1989 | Youth | 1989 | |||
| FW | Dean Holdsworth | August 19, 1989 | Watford | 1989 | |||
| Players who left the club mid-season | |||||||
| GK | Keith Branagan |  | August 19, 1989 | Millwall | 1989 | Returned to Millwall after loan | |
| GK | Colin Scott | August 19, 1989 | Rangers | 1990 | Returned to Rangers after loan | ||
| DF | Paul Miller | August 19, 1989 | Bournemouth | 1989 | Returned to Bournemouth after loan | ||
| MF | John Moncur | August 19, 1989 | Tottenham Hotspur | 1989 | Returned to Tottenham Hotspur after loan | ||
| FW | Andy Ansah | August 19, 1989 | Dorking | 1989 | Transferred to Southend United | ||
| Name | Role | |
|---|---|---|
| Steve Perryman | Manager | |
| Phil Holder | Assistant Manager | |
| Roy Clare | Physiotherapist |
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 | Ashley Bayes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| GK | Tony Parks | 37 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 45 | 0 | ||
| DF | Jamie Bates | 10 (5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (2) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14 (7) | 0 | ||
| DF | | John Buttigieg | 12 (10) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 (1) | 0 | 0 (2) | 0 | 15 (13) | 0 | |
| DF | Jason Cousins | 12 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 13 (2) | 0 | ||
| DF | Terry Evans | 44 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 52 | 5 | ||
| DF | Mark Fleming | 15 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 (2) | 0 | ||
| DF | Keith Millen | 32 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 1 | ||
| DF | Steve Perryman | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| DF | Robbie Peters | 1 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 (1) | 0 | ||
| DF | Roger Stanislaus | 31 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 38 | 1 | ||
| MF | Paul Buckle | 6 (4) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 (4) | 0 | ||
| MF | Allan Cockram | 21 (5) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 (2) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 24 (7) | 2 | ||
| MF | Andy Driscoll | 10 (2) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 (2) | 2 | ||
| MF | | Marcus Gayle | 1 (8) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (8) | 0 | |
| MF | Kevin Godfrey | 16 (11) | 2 | 0 (1) | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 (3) | 0 | 18 (15) | 3 | ||
| MF | Keith Jones | 42 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 50 | 2 | ||
| MF | Eddie May | 30 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 39 | 12 | ||
| MF | Simon Ratcliffe | 35 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 44 | 2 | ||
| MF | Neil Smillie | 43 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 52 | 6 | ||
| FW | Andy Ansah | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (2) | 0 | ||
| FW | Gary Blissett | 36 (1) | 11 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 (1) | 0 | 45 (2) | 13 | ||
| FW | Richard Cadette | 7 (9) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 3 | 1 | 11 (10) | 2 | ||
| FW | Kelly Haag | 1 (4) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (6) | 0 | ||
| FW | Dean Holdsworth | 39 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 45 | 28 | ||
| Players loaned in during the season | |||||||||||||
| GK | | Keith Branagan | 2 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||
| GK | Colin Scott | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | 6 | 0 | |||||
| DF | Paul Miller | 3 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||||
| DF | Sean Sparham | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | 5 | 1 | |||||
| MF | John Moncur | 5 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | ||||
| Pos. | Nat | Player | FL3 | FAC | FLC | FLT | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FW | Dean Holdsworth | 24 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 28 | ||
| FW | Gary Blissett | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13 | ||
| MF | Eddie May | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 12 | ||
| MF | Neil Smillie | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | ||
| DF | Terry Evans | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | ||
| MF | Kevin Godfrey | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | ||
| MF | Allan Cockram | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| MF | Andy Driscoll | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| MF | Keith Jones | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| MF | Simon Ratcliffe | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| FW | Richard Cadette | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| DF | Sean Sparham | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | ||
| MF | John Moncur | 1 | — | — | 0 | 1 | ||
| DF | Roger Stanislaus | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| DF | Keith Millen | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Total | 66 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 81 | |||
| Games played | 55 (46 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 4 Football League Trophy) | |
| Games won | 22 (18 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy) | |
| Games drawn | 9 (7 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy) | |
| Games lost | 24 (21 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy) | |
| Goals scored | 81 (66 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 7 League Cup, 8 Football League Trophy) | |
| Goals conceded | 78 (66 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 6 League Cup, 5 Football League Trophy) | |
| Clean sheets | 10 (8 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy) | |
| Biggest league win | 5–0 versus Blackpool, 28 April 1990 | |
| Worst league defeat | 4–0 versus Blackpool, 11 November 1989 | |
| Most appearances | 52, Terry Evans (44 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 3 Football League Trophy), Neil Smillie (43 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 4 Football League Trophy) | |
| Top scorer (league) | 24, Dean Holdsworth | |
| Top scorer (all competitions) | 28, Dean Holdsworth |
| Players transferred in | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Pos. | Name | Previous Club | Fee | Ref. | |
| 26 July 1989 | MF | Eddie May | Hibernian | £167,000 | ||
| July 1989 | DF | Mark Fleming | Queens Park Rangers | Free | [10] | |
| 29 September 1989 | FW | Dean Holdsworth | Watford | £125,000 | ||
| Players loaned in | ||||||
| Date from | Pos. | Name | From | Date to | Ref. | |
| 19 October 1989 | MF | John Moncur | Tottenham Hotspur | November 1989 | ||
| 24 November 1989 | GK | Keith Branagan | Millwall | December 1989 | ||
| November 1989 | DF | Paul Miller | Bournemouth | December 1989 | ||
| 22 March 1990 | GK | Colin Scott | Rangers | April 1990 | ||
| 22 March 1990 | DF | Sean Sparham | Millwall | End of season | [11] | |
| Players transferred out | ||||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Fee | Ref. | |
| 29 March 1990 | FW | Andy Ansah | Southend United | Free | ||
| Players loaned out | ||||||
| Date from | Pos. | Name | To | Date to | Ref. | |
| October 1989 | MF | Matthew Howard | St Albans City | January 1990 | ||
| 22 March 1990 | FW | Richard Cadette | Bournemouth | End of season | ||
| March 1990 | MF | Marcus Gayle |  KuPS | September 1990 | ||
| Players released | ||||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Join date | Ref. | |
| January 1990 | MF | Matthew Howard | St Albans City | January 1990 | ||
| May 1990 | FW | Kelly Haag | Fulham | August 1990 | ||
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