During the 1997–98 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Second Division. Just 11 wins in 46 matches saw the club relegated to the Third Division on the final day of the season.
Season summary Following defeat in the 1997 Second Division play-off final, David Webb moved "upstairs" to become the club's new chief executive in August 1997. Formerly Brentford manager since the beginning of the 1993–94 season, Webb acquired a majority shareholding of the club as part of a consortium with Tony Swaisland (chairman) and John Herting (director). Days after the takeover, the spine of the previous season's team (Carl Asaba, Barry Ashby and Paul Smith) were sold for six-figure fees. Brian Statham was sold later in August and promising youngster Marcus Bent was transfer-listed. Replacements were found in the lower divisions, non-League and in Premier League reserve teams, with Paul Barrowcliff, Derek Bryan, Leon Townley, Ricky Reina and Charlie Oatway arriving for five-figure fees. First team coach Kevin Lock took caretaker charge of the club until the appointment of Eddie May as manager four days after the regular season began. Clive Walker installed as May's assistant.
A 3–0 defeat to Millwall on the opening day saw Brentford begin the season bottom of the Second Division. Despite registering two wins in late-August and early-September to move into mid-table, just two wins in the following 13 matches in all competitions saw May and Walker removed from their posts on 4 November. David Webb resigned as chief executive, but remained on the board of directors, amidst rumours he had fallen out with chairman Swaisland. Former Swansea City manager Micky Adams was installed as manager and fared little better, failing to win until mid-December.
In a bid to strengthen the team, Adams sought experienced players and signed Glenn Cockerill (as player-assistant manager), Warren Aspinall and loanee Nigel Gleghorn. Injuries soon began to mount, with first-choice right back Ijah Anderson and off-season signings Derek Bryan and Ricky Reina succumbing. Continuing player sales and bad results led some Brentford supporters to call for the removal of David Webb. Multiple protests were staged over a disparity between the incoming and outgoing transfer fees and questioning where the incoming money was going.
It wasn't until late-January 1998 that the team found some form, losing just once in 12 matches, but registering seven draws. Brentford went into the final day of the season one place above the relegation zone, having won just one of the previous four matches. A win away to play-off contenders Bristol Rovers (themselves needing to win) or other favourable results were required for the Bees to retain their Second Division status. A 2–1 defeat and victory for 22nd-place Burnley relegated Brentford to the Third Division for the first time in 20 years.
League table
Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend WinDrawLoss
Pre-season and friendlies DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)16 July 1997HamptonA3–0n/aAnderson, Dennis, Bent21 July 1997Hertford TownA5–0n/aSpencer (2), Hurdle (2), Asaba23 July 1997Chertsey TownA4–0n/aTaylor, Spencer, Rapley, Canham (pen)26 July 1997Dover AthleticA2–0n/aTaylor, Myall29 July 1997WimbledonH1–32,322Asaba31 July 1997YeadingA1–0n/aRapley2 August 1997HayesA0–3n/a6 December 1997St Albans CityA5–3n/aDenys (2), Spencer, Hurdle, Omigie27 January 1998KingstonianA1–1n/aGoddard23 March 1998KingstonianA0–1n/a4 May 1998FelthamA4–4n/aBryan (2), Rapley, Adams
Football League Second Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)19 August 1997MillwallA0–38,951216 August 1997ChesterfieldH0–04,000323 August 1997WatfordA1–310,125Taylor (pen)430 August 1997Grimsby TownH3–13,875Rapley, Taylor (2)52 September 1997GillinghamH2–04,903Bent, Taylor (pen)65 September 1997Southend UnitedA1–33,387Rapley713 September 1997Plymouth ArgyleA0–04,394819 September 1997Wycombe WanderersH1–13,755Taylor927 September 1997BurnleyH2–14,317Hutchings, Rapley104 October 1997Preston North EndA1–28,954Bent1111 October 1997York CityA1–32,831Taylor1218 October 1997WalsallH3–04,874Taylor, Denys, Bent1321 October 1997Bristol RoversH2–33,967Bent, Rapley1425 October 1997Luton TownA0–26,494151 November 1997BournemouthA0–04,772164 November 1997Carlisle UnitedH0–13,424178 November 1997Bristol CityH1–46,162Reina1818 November 1997Northampton TownA0–45,2271922 November 1997Oldham AthleticA1–15,012Scott2029 November 1997WrexhamH1–13,748Aspinall212 December 1997FulhamA1–110,783Gleghorn2213 December 1997BlackpoolH3–13,725Taylor, Townley (2)2320 December 1997Wigan AthleticA0–43,3012426 December 1997Southend UnitedH1–15,341Taylor2529 December 1997GillinghamA1–35,786Taylor263 January 1998ChesterfieldA0–04,0492710 January 1998MillwallH2–15,529Taylor, Aspinall2817 January 1998Grimsby TownA0–44,8862924 January 1998WatfordH1–26,969Rapley3031 January 1998Plymouth ArgyleH3–14,783Bates, Scott, Hogg317 February 1998Wycombe WanderersA0–06,3283214 February 1998Preston North EndH0–04,9523321 February 1998BurnleyA1–110,097Taylor3424 February 1998WalsallA0–03,1663528 February 1998York CityH1–24,490McGhee363 March 1998Bristol CityA2–210,398Bryan, Rapley377 March 1998BournemouthH3–24,973Hutchings, Bryan, Rapley3814 March 1998Carlisle UnitedA2–16,021Hogg, Scott3921 March 1998Northampton TownH0–05,7464028 March 1998Oldham AthleticH2–14,547Scott, Taylor414 April 1998WrexhamA2–23,654Rapley, Hutchings4211 April 1998FulhamH0–210,5104313 April 1996BlackpoolA2–13,926Hutchings, Aspinall (pen)4418 April 1998Wigan AthleticH0–24,4804525 April 1998Luton TownH2–26,598Scott, Hutchings462 May 1998Bristol RoversA1–29,043Rapley
FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)R115 November 1997Colchester UnitedH2–22,899Taylor (2)R1 (replay)25 November 1997Colchester UnitedA0–0 , lost 4–2 on pens)3,613Smith, Taylor (2), Bent
Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)R1 (1st leg)12 August 1997Shrewsbury TownH1–12,040DenysR1 (2nd leg) 26 August 1997Shrewsbury TownA5–3 (won 6–4 on aggregate)2,136Rapley (2), Taylor (2), BentR2 (1st leg) 17 September 1997SouthamptonA1–38,004TaylorR2 (2nd leg) 30 September 1997SouthamptonH0–2 (lost 5–1 on aggregate)3,957
Football League Trophy
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)SR213 January 1998Luton TownA1–23,106Townley Sources: Soccerbase, 11v11, Griffin Gazette, The Big Brentford Book of the Nineties
Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1997–98 season. Position Name Nationality Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepers GK Kevin Dearden Tottenham Hotspur1993DefendersDFMicky AdamsSwansea City1997ManagerDFIjah AndersonSouthend United1995DF Jamie Bates (c) Youth1986DFDanny Cullip Fulham1998DFGraeme HoggNotts County1998MFCarl HutchingsYouth1993DFLeon TownleyTottenham Hotspur1997DFPaul WatsonFulham1997Loaned from Fulham before transferring permanentlyMidfieldersMFWarren Aspinall Carlisle United1997MFPaul BarrowcliffStevenage Borough1997Loaned to Stevenage BoroughMFSteven Blaney West Ham United1993MFScott CanhamWest Ham United1996MFDean Clark Youth1997 MFGlenn CockerillFulham1997Assistant managerMFKevin DennisArsenal1996MFRyan DenysYouth1997Loaned to Yeovil TownMFDavid McGheeYouth1994MFCharlie OatwayTorquay United1997ForwardsFWDerek Bryan Hampton1997 FWMalcolm McPherson West Ham United1996 FWKevin RapleyYouth1997FWAndy ScottSheffield United1997FW Robert Taylor Leyton Orient1994 FWNiall ThompsonZultse VV1998Players who left the club mid-seasonGKGraham BensteadKingstonian1997Goalkeeping coach, releasedGKNick ColganChelsea1997Returned to Chelsea after loan GK Tamer Fernandes Youth1993Loaned to Peterborough United, releasedGKMike PollittNotts County1998Returned to Notts County after loanDFGareth HallSunderland1997Returned to Sunderland after loanDF Gus Hurdle Carshalton Athletic1993ReleasedDFStuart Myall Brighton & Hove Albion1996ReleasedMFNigel GleghornBurnley1997Returned to Burnley after loanMFRichard GoddardArsenal1996Transferred to WokingMFSimon SpencerTottenham Hotspur1997ReleasedMFSimon WormullTottenham Hotspur1997ReleasedFW Marcus Bent Youth1995Transferred to Crystal PalaceFW Joe Omigie Donna1994ReleasedFWRicky ReinaDover Athletic1997Retired Source: Soccerbase
Coaching staff
Kevin Lock (1 – 12 August 1997) NameRole Kevin LockCaretaker Manager Graham BensteadGoalkeeping Coach Keith AllinsonPhysiotherapist Fergus DignanMedical Officer
Eddie May (12 August – 5 November 1997) NameRole Eddie MayManager Clive WalkerAssistant Manager Graham BensteadGoalkeeping Coach Kevin LockFootball Coordinator Keith AllinsonPhysiotherapist Fergus DignanMedical Officer
Micky Adams (5 November 1997 – 2 May 1998) NameRole Micky AdamsManager Glenn CockerillAssistant Manager Kevin LockFootball Coordinator Stuart BevisPhysiotherapist Fergus DignanMedical Officer Colin MartinMedical Officer
Statistics
Appearances and goals Substitute appearances in brackets. PosNatNameLeagueFA CupLeague CupFL TrophyTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKGraham Benstead100 (1)000—1 (1)0GKKevin Dearden350204010420DFMicky Adams0000—0 (1)00 (1)0DFIjah Anderson170004000210DFJamie Bates401204010471DFDanny Cullip130———130DFGraeme Hogg172———172DFGus Hurdle1701 (1)0400022 (1)0DFCarl Hutchings435204000495DFStuart Myall2000000020DFLeon Townley15 (1)210101118 (1)3DFPaul Watson250——00250MFWarren Aspinall243——10253MFPaul Barrowcliff5 (6)020300010 (6)0MFSteven Blaney4 (1)0———4 (1)0MFScott Canham11 (11)00 (1)02 (2)01014 (14)0MFDean Clark0 (4)000000 (1)00 (5)0MFGlenn Cockerill23020—00250MFKevin Dennis0 (5)000000 (1)00 (6)0MFRyan Denys12 (7)100410016 (7)2MFRichard Goddard00000 (2)0000 (2)0MFDavid McGhee19 (10)120200023 (10)1MFCharlie Oatway30 (3)020000032 (3)0MFSimon Spencer1000100020MFSimon Wormull3 (2)0001 (1)0105 (3)0FWMarcus Bent19 (5)42031—24 (5)5FWDerek Bryan2 (9)20000002 (9)2FWMalcolm McPherson7 (2)01000008 (2)0FWJoe Omigie0 (1)00000000 (1)0FWKevin Rapley23 (14)90 (1)03 (1)21027 (16)11FWRicky Reina2 (4)1200 (1)0004 (5)1FWAndy Scott24 (2)500—1025 (2)5FWRobert Taylor39 (1)1312431045 (1)18FWNiall Thompson6 (2)0———6 (2)0Players loaned in during the seasonGKNick Colgan50———50GKMike Pollitt50———50DFGareth Hall60———60MFNigel Gleghorn11100—10121 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: Soccerbase
Goalscorers PosNatPlayerFL2FACFLCFLTTotalFWRobert Taylor1323018FWKevin Rapley902011FWAndy Scott50—05DFCarl Hutchings50005FWMarcus Bent401—5MFWarren Aspinall3——03DFLeon Townley20013DFGraeme Hogg2———2FWDerek Bryan20002MFRyan Denys10102MFNigel Gleghorn1———1DFJamie Bates10001MFDavid McGhee10001FWRicky Reina10001Total5027160 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: Soccerbase
Discipline PosNatPlayerFL2FACFLCFLTTotalPtsDFJamie Bates810000008111FWRobert Taylor41101000619MFWarren Aspinall70——10808DFPaul Watson70——00707MFCharlie Oatway60000000606MFGlenn Cockerill5010—00606DFCarl Hutchings50100000606DFDanny Cullip50———505FWNiall Thompson21———215MFDavid McGhee30101000505DFGus Hurdle10102000404DFGraeme Hogg30———303FWMalcolm McPherson30000000303DFLeon Townley30000000303MFNigel Gleghorn2000—00202FWAndy Scott2000—00202MFRyan Denys20000000202FWKevin Rapley20000000202MFPaul Barrowcliff10001000202MFSteven Blaney10———101DFGareth Hall10———101FWMarcus Bent100000—101DFIjah Anderson10000000101FWDerek Bryan10000000101MFKevin Dennis10000000101DFStuart Myall10000000101MFScott Canham00001000101Total78350601090399 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: Soccerbase
International caps PosNatPlayerCapsGoalsRefFWNiall Thompson10
Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Kevin Lock (caretaker)9 August 199712 August 1997Eddie May12 August 19975 November 1997Micky Adams5 November 19972 May 1998 |
Summary