1985–86 Brentford F.C. season

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Brentford
1985–86 season
ChairmanMartin Lange
ManagerFrank McLintock
StadiumGriffin Park
Third Division10th
FA CupFirst round
League CupSecond round
Football League TrophyFirst round
Top goalscorerLeague: Cooke (17)
All: Cooke (18)
Highest home attendance6,351
Lowest home attendance2,512
Average home league attendance3,957

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

Wimbledon winger Ian Holloway was signed on loan late in the season to invigorate the attack.

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. 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. 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. 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.

League table

Main article: 1985–86 Football League Third Division

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
8 Notts County 46 19 14 13 71 60 +11 71
9 Bristol City 46 18 14 14 69 60 +9 68
10 Brentford 46 18 12 16 58 61 −3 66
11 Doncaster Rovers 46 16 16 14 45 52 −7 64
12 Blackpool 46 17 12 17 66 55 +11 63
Source: [citation needed]

Results

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Pre-season and friendlies

Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s)
27 July 1985 Wembley A 0–0 n/a
30 July 1985 Wokingham Town A 2–1 n/a Hurlock, Cooke
7 August 1985 Southampton H 1–0 962 Butler
10 August 1985 Oxford United H 4–2 1,480 Hurlock, Cooke, Lynch, Evans
9 May 1986 Tottenham Hotspur H 4–3 2,129 Cassells, Holloway, F. Joseph, Roberts

Football League Third Division

No. Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s)
1 17 August 1985 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 2–1 5,576 Bullivant, Murray
2 24 August 1985 Bristol Rovers A 1–0 4,140 Lynch
3 26 August 1985 Bournemouth H 1–0 4,283 Cooke
4 31 August 1985 Wigan Athletic A 0–4 2,871
5 7 September 1985 Plymouth Argyle H 1–1 3,927 Lynch
6 13 September 1985 Doncaster Rovers A 0–1 2,831
7 17 September 1985 Reading H 1–2 6,351 Booker
8 21 September 1985 Lincoln City A 0–3 1,856
9 28 September 1985 Rotherham United H 1–1 3,257 Alexander
10 1 October 1985 Darlington A 5–3 2,447 Alexander (3), Booker, Lynch
11 5 October 1985 Swansea City H 1–0 3,508 Lynch
12 12 October 1985 Bolton Wanderers A 2–1 4,106 Wignall, Cooke
13 19 October 1985 Newport County A 0–0 3,646
14 22 October 1985 Walsall A 2–1 4,318 Wignall, Hurlock
15 26 October 1985 Blackpool A 0–4 5,448
16 2 November 1985 Cardiff City H 3–0 3,934 Hurlock, Cooke, Lynch
17 6 November 1985 Derby County H 3–3 4,707 Murray, Cooke, Butler
18 9 November 1985 Bristol City A 0–0 6,598
19 23 November 1985 Chesterfield H 1–0 3,502 Roberts
20 30 November 1985 York City A 0–1 3,674
21 14 December 1985 Bury H 1–0 4,038 Sinton (pen)
22 22 December 1985 Bristol Rovers H 1–0 5,724 Cooke
23 28 December 1985 Bournemouth A 0–0 4,006
24 4 January 1986 Cardiff City A 0–1 3,398
25 11 January 1986 Wigan Athletic H 1–3 4,048 Booker
26 18 January 1986 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 4–1 3,420 Cooke (2), Sinton (2)
27 21 January 1986 Notts County H 1–1 4,002 Evans
28 24 January 1986 Doncaster Rovers H 1–3 3,568 Cooke
29 1 February 1986 Plymouth Argyle A 0–2 4,873
30 4 February 1986 Walsall H 1–3 3,015 Alexander
31 1 March 1986 Rotherham United A 2–1 3,260 Booker, Cooke
32 8 March 1986 Swansea City A 0–2 3,683
33 11 March 1986 Newport County A 2–1 1,508 Lynch, Cooke
34 14 March 1986 Bolton Wanderers H 1–1 3,284 Booker
35 18 March 1986 Gillingham A 2–1 3,558 Booker, Cooke
36 22 March 1986 Blackpool H 1–1 3,528 Cooke
37 29 March 1986 Notts County A 4–0 3,857 Burke, Cooke (2), Holloway
38 31 March 1986 Gillingham H 1–2 4,702 Cooke
39 5 April 1986 Derby County A 1–1 11,026 Holloway
40 13 April 1986 Bristol City H 1–2 3,701 Millen
41 16 April 1986 Reading A 1–3 6,855 Murray
42 19 April 1986 Chesterfield A 3–1 2,344 Cooke, Butler, Booker
43 22 April 1986 Lincoln City H 0–1 3,011
44 26 April 1986 York City H 3–3 2,864 Hood (og), R. Joseph, F. Joseph
45 3 May 1986 Bury A 0–0 2,953
46 5 May 1986 Darlington H 2–1 2,824 Millen, Cooke

FA Cup

Main article: 1985–86 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s)
1R 16 November 1985 Bristol Rovers H 1–3 4,716 Evans

Football League Cup

Main article: 1985–86 Football League Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s)
1R (1st leg) 20 August 1985 Cambridge United A 1–1 1,794 Booker
1R (2nd leg) 3 September 1985 Cambridge United H 2–0 (won 3–1 on aggregate) 2,512 Cooke (pen), Hurlock
2R (1st leg) 25 September 1985 Sheffield Wednesday H 2–2 5,352 Alexander (2)
2R (2nd leg) 15 October 1985 Sheffield Wednesday A 0–2 (lost 2–4 on aggregate) 11,132

Football League Trophy

Main article: 1985–86 Football League Trophy
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer
SR1 (match 1) 15 January 1986 Derby County H 0–0 2,531
SR1 (match 2) 29 January 1986 Gillingham A 1–1 1,464 Murray
  • Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties, Statto

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1985–86 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Richard Key England (1956-04-13)13 April 1956 (aged 29) Swindon Town 1985
GK Gary Phillips England (1961-09-20)20 September 1961 (aged 23) Barnet 1984
Defenders
DF Jamie Bates England (1968-02-24)24 February 1968 (aged 17) Youth 1986 Loaned to Maidstone United
DF Terry Evans England (1965-04-12)12 April 1965 (aged 20) Hillingdon 1985
DF Roger Joseph England (1965-12-24)24 December 1965 (aged 19) Southall 1984
DF Keith Millen England (1966-09-26)26 September 1966 (aged 18) Youth 1985
DF Jamie Murray Scotland (1958-12-27)27 December 1958 (aged 26) Cambridge United 1984
DF Danis Salman England (1960-03-12)12 March 1960 (aged 25) Youth 1975
DF Steve Wignall (c) England (1954-09-17)17 September 1954 (aged 30) Colchester United 1984
Midfielders
MF Terry Bullivant England (1956-09-23)23 September 1956 (aged 28) Unattached 1985
MF Steve Burke England (1960-09-29)29 September 1960 (aged 24) Queens Park Rangers 1986 On loan from Queens Park Rangers
MF Ian Holloway England (1963-03-12)12 March 1963 (aged 22) Wimbledon 1986 On loan from Wimbledon
MF Tony Lynch England (1966-01-20)20 January 1966 (aged 19) Youth 1983
MF Andy Sinton England (1966-03-19)19 March 1966 (aged 19) Cambridge United 1985
MF George Torrance Scotland (1957-09-17)17 September 1957 (aged 27) Wokingham Town 1984 Loaned to Maidstone United
Forwards
FW Rowan Alexander Scotland (1961-01-28)28 January 1961 (aged 24) St Mirren 1984
FW Bob Booker England (1958-01-25)25 January 1958 (aged 27) Bedmond Sports & Social 1978
FW Steve Butler England (1962-01-27)27 January 1962 (aged 23) Windsor & Eton 1984 Loaned to Maidstone United
FW Robbie Cooke England (1957-02-16)16 February 1957 (aged 28) Cambridge United 1984
FW Francis Joseph England (1960-03-06)6 March 1960 (aged 25) Wimbledon 1982
Players who left the club mid-season
DF Bobby Fisher England (1956-08-03)3 August 1956 (aged 29) Cambridge United 1984 Released
MF Gary Cooper England (1965-11-20)20 November 1965 (aged 19) Queens Park Rangers 1985 Returned to Queens Park Rangers after loan
MF Terry Hurlock England (1958-11-22)22 November 1958 (aged 26) Leytonstone/Ilford 1980 Transferred to Reading
MF Gary Roberts Wales (1960-04-05)5 April 1960 (aged 25) Wembley 1980 Released
  • Sources: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties, Timeless Bees

Coaching staff

Name Role
Scotland Frank McLintock Manager
Scotland John Docherty Assistant Manager
England Ron Woolnough Physiotherapist

Statistics

Appearances and goals

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 England Richard Key 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
GK England Gary Phillips 43 0 1 0 4 0 2 0 50 0
DF England Terry Evans 18 (1) 1 1 1 1 0 2 0 22 (1) 2
DF England Roger Joseph 27 (1) 1 0 0 3 0 2 0 32 (1) 1
DF England Keith Millen 30 (2) 2 0 0 4 0 1 0 35 (2) 2
DF Scotland Jamie Murray 45 3 1 0 4 0 2 1 52 4
DF England Danis Salman 40 0 1 0 2 0 2 0 45 0
DF England Steve Wignall 28 2 1 0 3 0 0 0 32 2
MF England Terry Bullivant 7 (1) 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 9 (1) 1
MF England Terry Hurlock 27 2 0 0 4 1 1 0 32 3
MF England Tony Lynch 28 (5) 5 1 0 4 0 2 0 35 (5) 5
MF Wales Gary Roberts 3 1 0 0 0 0 — 3 1
MF England Andy Sinton 26 3 — — 2 0 28 3
MF Scotland George Torrance 18 (3) 0 1 0 4 0 1 0 24 (3) 0
FW Scotland Rowan Alexander 24 (4) 6 1 0 2 (1) 2 1 (1) 0 28 (6) 8
FW England Bob Booker 44 7 1 0 4 1 1 0 50 8
FW England Steve Butler 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 1
FW England Robbie Cooke 43 (1) 17 1 0 4 1 2 0 50 (1) 18
FW England Francis Joseph 5 (3) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 (3) 1
Players loaned in during the season
MF England Steve Burke 10 1 — — — 10 1
MF England Gary Cooper 9 (1) 0 — — — 9 (1) 0
MF England Ian Holloway 13 2 — — — 13 2
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties

Goalscorers

Pos. Nat Player FL3 FAC FLC FLT Total
FW England Robbie Cooke 17 0 1 0 18
FW England Bob Booker 7 0 1 0 8
FW Scotland Rowan Alexander 6 0 2 0 8
MF England Tony Lynch 5 0 0 0 5
DF Scotland Jamie Murray 3 0 0 1 4
MF England Andy Sinton 3 — — 0 3
MF England Terry Hurlock 2 0 1 0 3
MF England Ian Holloway 2 — — — 2
DF England Keith Millen 2 0 0 0 2
DF England Steve Wignall 2 0 0 0 2
DF England Terry Evans 1 1 0 0 2
MF England Steve Burke 1 — — — 1
MF Wales Gary Roberts 1 0 0 — 1
MF England Terry Bullivant 1 0 0 0 1
FW England Steve Butler 1 0 0 0 1
FW England Francis Joseph 1 0 0 0 1
DF England Roger Joseph 1 0 0 0 1
Opponents 1 0 0 0 1
Total 58 1 5 1 65
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties

Management

Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
P W D L W % P W D L W %
Frank McLintock Scotland 17 August 1985 5 May 1986 53 19 16 18 035.85 46 18 12 16 039.13

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
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
July 1985 DF England Terry Evans England Hillingdon n/a
August 1985 MF England Terry Bullivant Unattached Free
August 1985 GK England Richard Key England Swindon Town Free
December 1985 MF England Andy Sinton England Cambridge United £25,000
1985 MF England Robbie Peters n/a n/a
Players loaned in
Date from Pos. Name From Date to Ref.
September 1985 MF England Gary Cooper England Queens Park Rangers November 1985
12 March 1986 MF England Ian Holloway England Wimbledon End of season
March 1986 MF England Steve Burke England Queens Park Rangers End of season
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
August 1985 FW England Keith Cassells England Mansfield Town £17,000
August 1985 MF England Chris Kamara England Swindon Town £14,500
February 1986 MF England Terry Hurlock England Reading £95,000
Players loaned out
Date from Pos. Name To Date to Ref.
September 1985 FW England Steve Butler England Maidstone United November 1985
March 1986 DF England Jamie Bates England Maidstone United n/a
March 1986 MF Scotland George Torrance England Maidstone United n/a
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
October 1985 DF England Bobby Fisher England Maidstone United 1985
January 1986 MF Wales Gary Roberts England Barnet 1986
May 1986 FW Scotland Rowan Alexander Scotland Greenock Morton 1986
May 1986 MF England Terry Bullivant Retired
May 1986 FW England Steve Butler England Maidstone United 1986
May 1986 MF England Tony Lynch England Maidstone United 1986
May 1986 MF Scotland George Torrance England Maidstone United 1986

Awards

References

  1. ^ a b Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 150.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 168-173.
  3. ^ a b "Brentford results for the 1985–1986 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  4. ^ a b White, p. 328-331.
  5. ^ a b White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 398. ISBN 0951526200.
  6. ^ "Brentford League Table 1985-1986". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 25 February 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  7. ^ Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 152-164, 399.
  8. ^ Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2011). The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. ISBN 978-1906796716.
  9. ^ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  10. ^ a b Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 427.
  11. ^ Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 390.
  12. ^ a b Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 383.
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