During the 1994–95 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Second Division. After a runners-up finish in the league, club's season ended with defeat in the 1995 play-off semi-finals.
Season summary Brentford entered the 1994–95 Second Division season with the nucleus of a new squad, built since the breakup of the team which was relegated from the First Division at the end of the 1992–93 season. Forward Nicky Forster was manager David Webb's only significant summer signing, a £200,000 buy from Third Division Gillingham.
Eight wins and four defeats from the opening 12 games saw the Bees placed 4th in the league, before four defeats in the next five matches dropped the club into mid-table. By early December 1994, first and second round exits from the three cup competitions lightened the fixture load and Brentford set off on a 14-match unbeaten run, winning 10 matches and racking up notable 7–0 and 6–0 victories over Plymouth Argyle and Cambridge United respectively. The victory over Cambridge United in late January 1995 returned the Bees to the top of the table for the first time since the opening day of the season, when five goals were put past Plymouth Argyle at Home Park. Twin strikers Nicky Forster and Robert Taylor were in imperious form, scoring over half the team's goals and forming a partnership that came to be known as the 'FT Index'. The pair saw to it that Brentford finished the 1994–95 season as the only club in the top four divisions with two players scoring 20 league goals or more.
The unbeaten run came to an end with defeat to Shrewsbury Town on 25 February, but another 11-match unbeaten sequence kept Brentford in top spot going into late April. Brentford's good form ran in tandem with that of Birmingham City's and the Blues topped the table for the first time in eight weeks on 19 April, with the Bees returning to the summit three days later after a 2–0 victory over Cardiff City. Due to a restructuring of the English league system, only top spot in the 1994–95 Second Division offered automatic promotion, which placed heavy emphasis on a "winner takes all" fixture between Birmingham City and Brentford on at St Andrew's on 26 April. A 2–0 defeat for Brentford in front of a 25,581 crowd (the Second Division's record attendance for the season), plus a home defeat to Bournemouth and a draw away with Bristol Rovers in the final two matches, led to a runners-up finish and a place in the play-offs. The Bees met fifth-placed Huddersfield Town in the play-off semi-finals and were knocked out on penalties at Griffin Park after a 2–2 draw on aggregate, with captain Jamie Bates seeing his decisive spot kick saved.
A number of club records were set or equalled during the season:
Fewest Football League goals conceded in a season: 39 (equalled club record) Most clean sheets kept in a Football League season: 22 (equalled club record) Most goalscorers in a Football League match: 6 – Darren Annon, Paul Smith, Robert Taylor, Nicky Forster, Denny Mundee and Lee Harvey (versus Plymouth Argyle, 17 December 1994)
League table
Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend WinDrawLoss
Pre-season and friendlies DateOpponentVenueResultScorer(s)18 July 1994BournemouthA4–1Mundee (2), Smith, McGhee20 July 1994Dulwich HamletA5–0Forster (2), Taylor (2), Annon23 July 1994Chertsey TownA3–2Harvey, Forster, Mundee25 July 1994HamptonA7–1Benjamin (3), Forster, Ashby, Smith, Ratcliffe27 July 1994Welling UnitedA4–0Forster, Taylor, Mundee (pen), Annon29 July 1994PortsmouthH1–2Taylor3 August 1994Queens Park RangersH0–06 August 1994Kettering TownA2–0Annon, Grainger (pen)9 August 1994BromleyA2–0McGhee, Benjamin29 October 1994Windsor & EtonA7–0Taylor (5), Asaba, Ansah8 May 1995BarnetA5–4Forster (2), Taylor (2), Hurdle
Football League Second Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)1 13 August 1994 Plymouth ArgyleA5–17,976Smith, Forster (2), Stephenson, Taylor220 August 1994Peterborough UnitedH0–15,561327 August 1994Stockport CountyA1–04,399Taylor430 August 1994Rotherham UnitedH2–04,031Taylor, Forster53 September 1994WrexhamH0–25,820610 September 1994Wycombe WanderersA3–46,847Taylor, Stephenson, Cousins (og)713 September 1994York CityA1–22,836Taylor817 September 1994BlackpoolH3–24,157Forster, Smith, Grainger (pen)924 September 1994Crewe AlexandraA2–03,839Forster, Taylor101 October 1994Shrewsbury TownH1–04,556Taylor118 October 1994Bristol RoversH3–05,330Forster (2), Taylor1215 October 1994BournemouthA1–04,411Forster1322 October 1994Birmingham CityH1–27,779Ward (og)1429 October 1994Cambridge UnitedA0–03,102152 November 1994Bradford CityA0–14,105165 November 1994Hull CityH0–15,4551719 November 1994Huddersfield TownA0–110,8891826 November 1994Brighton & Hove AlbionH2–14,728Ashby, Ansah1910 December 1994Peterborough UnitedA2–24,102Taylor, Forster2017 December 1994Plymouth ArgyleH7–04,492Annon, Smith, Taylor (2), Forster, Mundee, Harvey2126 December 1994Leyton OrientH3–06,125Mundee, Ratcliffe, Forster2227 December 1994Chester CityA4–12,261Forster (3), Grainger2331 December 1994Oxford UnitedH2–07,125Forster, Taylor242 January 1995Cardiff CityA3–25,235Harvey, Forster, Taylor2514 January 1995Swansea CityH0–07,2112621 January 1995Hull CityA2–13,823Mundee, Grainger2728 January 1995Cambridge UnitedH6–06,390Forster, Taylor (2), Grainger, Bailey (2)284 February 1995Brighton & Hove AlbionA1–19,499Bailey2911 February 1995Bradford CityH4–36,019Mundee, Taylor, Grainger, Forster3017 February 1995Swansea CityA2–03,935Forster (2)3121 February 1995Huddersfield TownH0–09,5623225 February 1995Shrewsbury TownA1–24,570Forster334 March 1995Crewe AlexandraH2–07,143Mundee, Taylor347 March 1995WrexhamA0–02,8343511 March 1995Stockport CountyH1–06,513Taylor3618 March 1995Rotherham UnitedA2–02,968Forster, Abrahams3721 March 1995Wycombe WanderersH0–09,5303825 March 1995BlackpoolA2–14,663Bates, Taylor391 April 1995York CityH3–06,474Grainger, Forster, Taylor408 April 1995Oxford UnitedA1–17,800Taylor4115 April 1995Chester CityH1–18,020Abrahams4217 April 1995Leyton OrientA2–04,459Bates, Forster4322 April 1995Cardiff CityH2–08,268Grainger (pen), Taylor4426 April 1995Birmingham CityA0–225,5814529 April 1995BournemouthH1–210,079Abrahams466 May 1995Bristol RoversA2–28,501McGhee, Taylor
Football League Second Division play-offs
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)SF (1st leg)14 May 1995Huddersfield TownA1–114,160ForsterSF (2nd leg) 17 May 1995Huddersfield TownH1–1 , (drew 2–2 on aggregate, lost 4–3 on penalties)11,161Grainger (pen)
FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)R112 November 1994Cambridge UnitedA2–23,353Annon, TaylorR1 (replay)22 November 1994Cambridge UnitedH1–24,096Grainger
League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)R1 (1st leg) 16 August 1994Colchester UnitedA2–02,521Stephenson, TaylorR2 (2nd leg) 23 August 1994Colchester UnitedH2–0 (won 4–0 on aggregate)2,315Parris, SmithR2 (1st leg) 20 September 1994Tranmere RoversA0–13,754R2 (2nd leg)27 September 1994Tranmere RoversH0–0 (lost 1–0 on aggregate)4,076
Football League Trophy
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)SR1 (match 1)19 October 1994Brighton & Hove AlbionA1–01,104ForsterSR1 (match 2)8 November 1994GillinghamH3–11,795Annon, Asaba, AnsahSR23 December 1994Oxford UnitedH1–22,410Grainger (pen) Source: Statto, The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties
Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1994–95 season. No. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepers1 GK Kevin Dearden Tottenham Hotspur199320 GK Tamer Fernandes Youth1993 25GKNeil Mason——Assistant physiotherapistDefenders2DF Brian Statham Tottenham Hotspur19923DF Martin Grainger Colchester United19934DF Barry Ashby Watford19945DFShane WestleyWolverhampton Wanderers1992Loaned to Southend United6DF Carl Hutchings Youth199312DF Jamie Bates (c) Youth198619DF Gus Hurdle Carshalton Athletic199321DFCorey CampbellYouth1994Midfielders7MFLee HarveyNottingham Forest19938MF Paul Smith Southend United1993 10MFDarren AnnonCarshalton Athletic199414MFDenny MundeeBournemouth199317MFSimon RatcliffeNorwich City198918MFPaul StephensonMillwall199322MFJon HookerGillingham199423MF Paul Abrahams Colchester United1995Forwards9 FW Nicky Forster Gillingham1994 11FW Robert Taylor Leyton Orient1994 13FW Craig Ravenscroft Youth1993Loaned to Woking16FWDavid McGheeYouth199427FW Carl Asaba Dulwich Hamlet1994Loaned to Colchester UnitedPlayers who left the club mid-season15FWIan BenjaminLuton Town1993Released23FWDennis BaileyQueens Park Rangers1995Returned to Queens Park Rangers after loan23FWAndy AnsahSouthend United1994Returned to Southend United after loan24DFGeorge ParrisBirmingham City1994Returned to Birmingham City after loan Source:The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties
Coaching staff NameRole David WebbManager Kevin LockFirst Team Coach Roy JohnsonPhysiotherapist Neil MasonAssistant Physiotherapist Fergus DignanMedical Officer
Statistics
Appearances and goals Substitute appearances in brackets. No.PosNatNameLeagueFA CupLeague CupFL TrophyPlayoffsTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals1GKKevin Dearden430204030205402DFBrian Statham26 (10)02020202034 (10)03DFMartin Grainger36 (1)72120312145 (1)104DFBarry Ashby401203030205015DFShane Westley15 (1)02030200022 (1)06DFCarl Hutchings38 (1)01 (1)0402 (1)00 (1)045 (4)07MFLee Harvey24 (1)22040200032 (1)28MFPaul Smith353204110204449FWNicky Forster462420402 (1)12156 (1)2610MFDarren Annon9 (1)111001 (1)10011 (2)311FWRobert Taylor432321412020532512DFJamie Bates3821020202045213MFCraig Ravenscroft1000000 (1)0001 (1)014MFDenny Mundee22 (17)5100 (1)0201 (1)026 (19)515MFIan Benjamin10—0 (1)0——1 (1)016MFDavid McGhee1 (6)1000000001 (6)117MFSimon Ratcliffe24 (1)1000 (1)0102027 (2)118MFPaul Stephenson3420041102041319MFGus Hurdle7 (2)00 (1)020100010 (3)020GKTamer Fernandes3 (1)000000 (1)0003 (2)022MFJon Hooker0 (1)0——00000 (1)023MFPaul Abrahams7 (3)3———108 (3)327FWCarl Asaba000000110011Players loaned in during the season23MFAndy Ansah2 (1)1——21—4 (1)223FWDennis Bailey63————6324MFGeorge Parris50—21——71 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties
Goalscorers No.Pos.NatPlayerFL2FACFLCFLTFLPTotal9FWNicky Forster2400112611FWRobert Taylor231100253DFMartin Grainger710111014MFDenny Mundee5000058MFPaul Smith30100423MFPaul Abrahams3———0323FWDennis Bailey3————318MFPaul Stephenson20100310MFDarren Annon11010312DFJamie Bates2000027MFLee Harvey20000223FWAndy Ansah1——1—24DFBarry Ashby10000116MFDavid McGhee10000117MFSimon Ratcliffe10000127FWCarl Asaba00010124MFGeorge Parris0—1——1Opponents200002Total81345295 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties
Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %David Webb13 August 199417 May 1995 |
Summary