During the 1998–99 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. The club finished the season as champions after victory over runners-up Cambridge United on the final day.
Season summary
After relegation to the Third Division at the end of the previous season, the ownership of Brentford changed hands for the second year in succession, when Ron Noades took over the club as owner and chairman during the 1998 off-season. Noades installed himself as manager and appointed a three-man coaching team of Ray Lewington, Terry Bullivant and Brian Sparrow. Nearly £1.5 million was spent on assembling almost an entirely new starting lineup, with goalkeeper Jason Pearcey, defenders Danny Boxall, Darren Powell, Rob Quinn and Hermann Hreiðarsson (the club's then-record £750,000 signing), midfielders Martin Rowlands and Tony Folan and forwards Lloyd Owusu and Darren Freeman added to the ranks.
9 wins in the opening 13 league matches put the Bees firmly in control at the top of the table, though three successive defeats in the midst of the run temporarily dropped the club back to 7th place. There was some early-season excitement in the League Cup, with a 4–2 aggregate victory over First Division club West Bromwich Albion in the first round setting up a two-legged tie with Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. 3–2 defeats in each of the two legs (with Brentford taking the lead in both matches) ended the run, with memorable goals being scored by Andy Scott, Darren Freeman and Lloyd Owusu.
Three league defeats in a four-match spell in November and injuries and suspensions to Andy Scott, Darren Powell, Danny Boxall, Jamie Bates and Martin Rowlands led Noades to further strengthen the squad with forward Leo Fortune-West and midfielder Gavin Mahon. Though Fortune-West would be sold on a matter of months later, Mahon replaced Warren Aspinall in midfield and remained an ever-present until the end of the season. Five wins in the following six league matches saw the club begin 1999 firmly placed in the automatic promotion places. A spell of just one win from a spell of seven league matches in January and February saw Noades reach for the chequebook again and sign forward Scott Partridge from Torquay United for £100,000.
With the purchase of new captain Paul Evans and buoyed by the goalscoring of Partridge and Owusu, the Bees went undefeated from late February through to early May. The club secured automatic promotion back to the Second Division with two matches to spare after a 3–0 victory over Exeter City on 1 May. A 4–1 win over Swansea City in the following match returned Brentford to the top of the table for the first time since 20 October 1998. The victory set up a "winner takes all" match for the title on the final day at the Abbey Stadium versus nearest challengers Cambridge United. Lloyd Owusu's 25th goal of the season was enough for victory and for Brentford to win the Third Division championship.
League table
Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend WinDrawLoss
Pre-season DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)Notes10 July 1998HamptonA4–0n/aTaylor, Scott, Freeman13 July 1998BashleyA2–2n/aRapley, McGhee15 July 1998Chesham UnitedA6–0n/aMcGhee (3), Thompson, Taylor, Anderson18 July 1998MillwallH2–00Rapley, McGheeMatch played behind closed doors.28 July 1998Queens Park RangersH0–04,7061 August 1998Crawley TownA0–0n/a
Football League Third Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)18 August 1998Mansfield TownH3–04,846Rapley (2), Freeman215 August 1998Halifax TownA0–13,876322 August 1998Brighton & Hove AlbionH2–06,355Thomas (og), Scott429 August 1998BarnetA3–02,710Quinn, Rowlands, Owusu531 August 1998RochdaleH2–14,873Powell, Rapley65 September 1999Hull CityA3–24,058Owusu, Aspinall, Scott78 September 1998Torquay UnitedA1–32,340Bates812 September 1998Rotherham UnitedH0–34,803919 September 1998ScarboroughA1–32,028Owusu1026 September 1998DarlingtonH3–04,486Powell, Rowlands, Owusu113 October 1998Peterborough UnitedA4–26,056Freeman, Scott (2), Folan1217 October 1998Hartlepool UnitedH3–14,883Freeman, Aspinall (pen), Rowlands1320 October 1998Scunthorpe UnitedH2–14,700Scott, Owusu143 November 1998Plymouth ArgyleA0–34,650157 November 1998Shrewsbury TownA0–22,7991610 November 1998Southend UnitedH4–14,285Owusu (3), Freeman1721 November 1998Leyton OrientA1–26,340Folan1828 November 1998Chester CityH2–15,173Owusu, Rowlands1912 December 1998Exeter CityA1–02,793Owusu2018 December 1998Cambridge UnitedH1–05,069Folan2126 December 1998Brighton & Hove AlbionA1–34,838Freeman2228 December 1998Cardiff CityH1–09,535Hreiðarsson232 January 1999BarnetH3–16,011Freeman, Bryan, Mahon249 January 1999Mansfield TownA1–34,095Owusu2523 January 1999RochdaleA0–22,1132630 January 1999Cardiff CityA1–411,509Boxall272 February 1999Carlisle UnitedH1–13,674Barr (og)286 February 1999Hull CityH0–25,0862913 February 1999Torquay UnitedH3–24,299Owusu, Bryan, Hreiðarsson3016 February 1999Swansea CityA1–25,109Hreiðarsson3120 February 1999Rotherham UnitedA4–23,899Mahon, Owusu (3)3227 February 1999ScarboroughH1–14,783Bryan339 March 1999Peterborough UnitedH3–04,195Partridge, Mahon, Owusu3413 March 1999Shrewsbury TownH0–05,0823516 March 1999Halifax TownH1–13,713Partridge3620 March 1999Carlisle UnitedA1–02,564Partridge373 April 1999Hartlepool UnitedA1–02,719Owusu385 April 1999Plymouth ArgyleH3–16,979Evans, Mahon, Folan3910 April 1999Scunthorpe UnitedA0–05,6044013 April 1999Chester CityA3–11,766Anderson, Evans, Bryan4117 April 1999Leyton OrientH0–08,2454224 April 1999Southend UnitedA4–15,248Owusu (3), Partridge4327 April 1999DarlingtonA2–22,514Scott, Partridge441 May 1999Exeter CityH3–06,977Quinn, Scott, Partridge454 May 1999Swansea CityH4–17,156Owusu, Evans, Hreiðarsson, Partridge468 May 1999Cambridge UnitedA1–08,936Owusu
FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)NotesR114 November 1998Camberley TownH5–04,783Bates, Quinn, Folan (2), HreiðarssonDespite the match taking place at Griffin Park, Brentford wore their away strip, due to competition rules stating "where the colours (shirts, shorts or stockings) of the two competing clubs are similar, both clubs must change, unless arrangements are mutually agreed by the competing clubs".R25 December 1998Oldham AthleticA1–14,217Freeman (pen)R2 (replay)15 December 1998Oldham AthleticH2–2 , lost 4–2 on pens)4,375Owusu, Freeman
Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)R1 (1st leg)11 August 1998West Bromwich AlbionA1–28,460RapleyR1 (2nd leg) 18 August 1998West Bromwich AlbionH3–0 (won 4–2 on aggregate)4,664Bates, Oatway, OwusuR2 (1st leg) 15 September 1998Tottenham HotspurH2–311,831Scott, FreemanR2 (2nd leg) 23 September 1998Tottenham HotspurA2–3 (lost 6–4 on aggregate)22,980Scott, Owusu
Football League Trophy
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)SR18 December 1998Plymouth ArgyleH2–01,580Hreiðarsson, RowlandsSR25 January 1999Wycombe WanderersA4–12,010Fortune-West, Scott (2), QuinnSR319 January 1999WalsallH0–0 , lost 4–3 on pens)2,048 Sources: Soccerbase, 11v11, Brentford Official Matchday Magazine
Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1998–99 season. Position Name Nationality Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepersGKKevin DeardenTottenham Hotspur1993Loaned to Barnet and Huddersfield Town GKJason Pearcey Grimsby Town1998GKAndy WoodmanNorthampton Town1999Loaned from Northampton Town before transferring permanentlyDefendersDFIjah AndersonSouthend United1995DFDanny BoxallCrystal Palace1998DFDanny Cullip Fulham1998DFMichael DobsonYouth1999DFHermann HreiðarssonCrystal Palace1998DFDarren PowellHampton1998DFRob QuinnCrystal Palace1998DFPaul WatsonFulham1997MidfieldersMFDean Clark Youth1997 MFKevin DennisArsenal1996Loaned to Chesham United and Welling UnitedMFPaul Evans (c) Shrewsbury Town1999MFTony FolanCrystal Palace1998MFDirk HebelTranmere Rovers1998MFGavin MahonHereford United1998MFCharlie OatwayTorquay United1997Loaned to Lincoln CityMFMartin Rowlands Farnborough Town1998ForwardsFWDerek Bryan Hampton1997 FWDarren Freeman Fulham1998 FWLloyd Owusu Slough Town1998 FWScott PartridgeTorquay United1999FWAndy ScottSheffield United1997Players who left the club mid-seasonDF Jamie Bates Youth1986Transferred to Wycombe WanderersDFMohamed BerthéBournemouth1999Returned to Bournemouth after loanDFChris CoyneWest Ham United1998Returned to West Ham United after loanDFStephen Jenkins Southampton1999Returned to Southampton after loanMFWarren Aspinall Carlisle United1997Loaned to Colchester United, transferred to Colchester UnitedFWDrewe Broughton Norwich City1998Transferred to Peterborough UnitedFWLeo Fortune-West Lincoln City1998Transferred to Rotherham UnitedFWKevin RapleyYouth1997Loaned to Southend United and Notts CountyTransferred to Notts County Source: Soccerbase
Coaching staff NameRole Ron NoadesManager Ray LewingtonFirst-team coach Terry BullivantAssistant coach Brian SparrowAssistant coach John GriffinChief scout Gerry DelahuntPhysiotherapist Colin MartinMedical Officer Laurence NathanMedical Officer
Statistics
Appearances and goals Substitute appearances in brackets. PosNatNameLeagueFA CupLeague CupFL TrophyTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKKevin Dearden70101020110GKJason Pearcey170203010230GKAndy Woodman220———220DFIjah Anderson35 (3)11 (1)0302041 (4)1DFJamie Bates271314120363DFDanny Boxall37 (1)120402045 (1)1DFDanny Cullip2000200040DFHermann Hreiðarsson33421—31386DFDarren Powell33200300 (1)036 (1)2DFRob Quinn34 (9)231403144 (9)4DFPaul Watson12020200 (1)016 (1)0MFWarren Aspinall17 (2)21 (1)0401023 (3)2MFPaul Evans143———143MFTony Folan19 (1)4320 (1)02024 (11)6MFDirk Hebel6 (9)02 (1)000109 (10)0MFGavin Mahon294——30324MFCharlie Oatway7 (17)0201 (2)10 (1)010 (20)1MFMartin Rowlands32 (4)430403 (1)142 (4)5FWDrewe Broughton10———10FWDerek Bryan9 (11)40 (2)0001 (1)010 (14)4FWLeo Fortune-West2 (9)00 (1)0—2 (1)14 (11)1FWDarren Freeman16 (6)632411024 (6)9FWLloyd Owusu42 (4)22310 (4)22 (1)047 (9)25FWScott Partridge12 (2)7———12 (2)7FWKevin Rapley3 (9)30 (1)00 (4)1—3 (14)4FWAndy Scott31 (3)700422237 (3)11Players loaned in during the seasonDFChris Coyne70—10—80DFStephen Jenkins0 (1)0———0 (1)0 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: Soccerbase
Goalscorers PosNatPlayerFL3FACFLCFLTTotalFWLloyd Owusu2212025FWAndy Scott702211FWDarren Freeman62109FWScott Partridge7———7DFHermann Hreiðarsson41—16MFTony Folan42006DFMartin Rowlands40015MFGavin Mahon40—04FWDerek Bryan40004FWKevin Rapley301—4DFRob Quinn21014MFPaul Evans3———3DFJamie Bates11103MFWarren Aspinall20002DFDarren Powell20002DFIjah Anderson10001DFDanny Boxall10001MFCharlie Oatway00101FWLeo Fortune-West00—11Opponents20002Total79886101 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: Soccerbase
Discipline PosNatPlayerFL3FACFLCFLTTotalPtsDFJamie Bates610100006212DFDanny Boxall70001000808FWDarren Freeman21201000518DFMartin Rowlands60001000707DFHermann Hreiðarsson5000—10606DFIjah Anderson50001000606DFRob Quinn50001000606DFDarren Powell50000000505FWLloyd Owusu40000000404MFWarren Aspinall30000000303FWDerek Bryan30000000303DFPaul Watson30000000303FWLeo Fortune-West2000—10303MFPaul Evans20———202MFGavin Mahon2000—00202DFDanny Cullip10001000202FWScott Partridge10———101GKKevin Dearden10000000101MFTony Folan10000000101MFDirk Hebel10000000101FWAndy Scott10000000101MFCharlie Oatway00000010101Total66221602076385 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: Soccerbase
International caps PosNatPlayerCapsGoalsRefDFHermann Hreiðarsson81
Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Ron Noades8 August 19988 May 1999 |
Summary