During the 2003–04 English football season, Brentford competed in Football League Second Division. After a mid-season spell of one win in 18 matches and relegation looking definite, manager Wally Downes was sacked in mid-March 2004. Martin Allen took over and pulled off "The Great Escape" to secure safety on the final day of the season.
Season summary
Cash-strapped Brentford began the 2003–04 season with a threadbare squad, depleted through injuries and propped up with youngsters, with manager Wally Downes admitting that the club's "immediate goal is keeping ourselves afloat for a period that shows the bank we can manage ourselves". Five defeats in the opening six games left the club second-from-bottom, before the integration of loanees Ben May, Tommy Wright and Joel Kitamirike yielded an improvement in form in September 2003, going unbeaten and winning three of five matches. In October, amidst speculation that former Brentford manager Steve Perryman would return to the club as director of football, manager Wally Downes was assured that his role would not be affected. Perryman eventually turned the offer down.
Despite a morale-boosting 7–1 FA Cup first round victory over Gainsborough Trinity and four wins from six matches in October and November lifting the Bees to mid-table, the rot soon set in. After the goalkeeping position weakened by the £500,000 sale of Paul Smith in January 2004 and with just one win from 19 matches in all competitions, Wally Downes was sacked after a 2–0 home defeat to Stockport County on 13 March 2004, which was Brentford's fifth consecutive defeat. Caretaker manager Garry Thompson took charge for the away match versus Blackpool on 16 March, with a 1–1 draw securing the first point won for a month.
Former Barnet manager Martin Allen took over on 18 March 2004 and was tasked with retaining Brentford's Second Division status. Allen released a number of players, installed his own backroom team and immediately galvanised the squad, winning three and drawing three of his first six matches to lift the Bees above the relegation places. A priceless point salvaged at already-relegated Wycombe Wanderers on 24 April kept the Bees above the relegation places. A 1–0 defeat away to fellow strugglers Grimsby Town in the penultimate match of the season left Brentford in 19th place, two places above the relegation zone. In order to secure safety on the final day, the club would need victory over Bournemouth or favourable results elsewhere. The match versus Bournemouth at Griffin Park remained scoreless until seven minutes from time, when substitute Alex Rhodes "coolly slotted" past Cherries' goalkeeper Neil Moss for a 1–0 win that completed Brentford's escape from relegation. The club ended the season in 17th place.
League table
Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend WinDrawLoss
Pre-season DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)15 July 2003ReadingH3–2n/aPeters, Tabb, Blackman19 July 2003Yeovil TownA0–21,93622 July 2003Exeter CityA0–01,10126 July 2003Dorchester TownA0–142729 July 2003Staines TownA2–1n/aSomner, Peters2 August 2003Farnborough TownA3–1550Beadle, Peters (2, 1 pen)5 August 2003PortsmouthH0–13,080
Football League Second Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)19 August 2003Tranmere RoversA1–47,307Hunt (pen)216 August 2003Peterborough UnitedH0–34,463323 August 2003WrexhamA0–14,048425 August 2003Oldham AthleticH2–14,073Hutchinson, Rougier530 August 2003Port ValeA0–15,25766 September 2003Plymouth ArgyleH1–35,688May713 September 2003Rushden & DiamondsA1–04,396Hunt816 September 2003BlackpoolH0–03,818920 September 2003Hartlepool UnitedH2–14,501Sonko, Wright1027 September 2003ChesterfieldA2–13,257Hunt, Wright1130 September 2003Colchester UnitedA1–13,343Rougier124 October 2003Sheffield WednesdayH0–38,6311318 October 2003Luton TownH4–25,579Hunt, Tabb (2), May1421 October 2003Brighton & Hove AlbionH4–06,532Hunt (2 pens), Tabb, May1525 October 2003Notts CountyA0–24,145161 November 2003BarnsleyH2–14,789Hutchinson, Rougier1711 November 2003Queens Park RangersA0–115,8651815 November 2003Wycombe WanderersA2–16,445Hutchinson, Tabb1922 November 2003Grimsby TownH1–34,685Hunt (pen)2029 November 2003BournemouthA0–16,6742113 December 2003Stockport CountyA1–14,081Jackman (og)2220 December 2003Swindon TownH0–25,0772326 December 2003Bristol CityH1–25,912May2428 December 2003Plymouth ArgyleA0–217,882253 January 2004Oldham AthleticA1–14,990May2610 January 2004Tranmere RoversH2–24,105Hunt, May2717 January 2004Peterborough UnitedA0–04,6582824 January 2004WrexhamH0–14,567Hunt2931 January 2004Port ValeH3–24,306Tabb, Hunt, Rougier307 February 2004Bristol CityA1–313,029Hutchinson3114 February 2004Queens Park RangersH1–18,418O'Connor3221 February 2004Luton TownA1–46,273Wright3328 February 2004Notts CountyH2–34,478Evans, Hutchinson342 March 2004Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–16,007356 March 2004Swindon TownA1–27,649May3613 March 2004Stockport CountyH0–26,615McCammon3716 March 2004BlackpoolA1–14,617Hunt (pen)3820 March 2004Rushden & DiamondsH3–24,616Tabb, Hunt, Talbot3927 March 2004Hartlepool UnitedA2–15,206Tabb, Dobson403 April 2004ChesterfieldH1–14,962Evans4110 April 2004Sheffield WednesdayA1–120,004Sonko4212 April 2004Colchester UnitedH3–25,017Tabb, Sonko, Harrold4317 April 2004BarnsleyA2–09,824Talbot, Tabb4424 April 2004Wycombe WanderersH1–17,145Harrold451 May 2004Grimsby TownA0–16,856468 May 2004BournemouthH1–09,485Rhodes
FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)R18 November 2003Gainsborough TrinityH7–13,041Harrold (3), Rougier, Purkiss (og), Frampton, O'ConnorR26 December 2003Telford UnitedA0–32,996
Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceR112 August 2003West Bromwich AlbionA0–410,440
Football League Trophy
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)SR114 October 2003BarnetA3–3 , won 3–1 on pens)1,248Tabb (2), Hunt (pen)SR24 November 2003Peterborough UnitedA2–31,821Dobson, Hunt Sources: Soccerbase, 11v11
Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 2003–04 season. No Position Name Nationality Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepers13GKAlan JulianYouth200129GKJosh LennieYouth199932GKStuart NelsonHucknall Town2004Defenders2DF Michael Dobson (c) Youth19993DFMatt SomnerYouth20016DFIbrahima SonkoGrenoble Foot 38200212DFAndy FramptonCrystal Palace200216DFLee FieldwickYouth2000Loaned to Swansea City24DFRonnie Bull Millwall2004Loaned from Millwall before transferring permanently27DFJoel KitamirikeChelsea2003On loan from Chelsea28DFDean WellsYouth200333DFScott FitzgeraldColchester United2004On loan from Colchester UnitedMidfielders4MFJay Smith Youth20015MFStewart Talbot Rotherham United20047MFStephen EvansCrystal Palace20028MFJay Tabb Crystal Palace20009MFKevin O'ConnorYouth200010MFStephen Hunt Crystal Palace200115MFDanny Thomas Youth2003Loaned to Staines Town17MFEddie HutchinsonSutton United200020MFStephen HughesYouth2002Loaned to Basingstoke Town31MFAlex RhodesNewmarket Town2003Forwards14FWMatt Harrold Harlow Town200318FWBen MayMillwall2003On loan from Millwall22 FWLloyd Blackman Youth2002Loaned to Scarborough, Chelmsford City and Cambridge CityPlayers who left the club mid-season1GKPaul SmithCarshalton Athletic2000Transferred to Southampton5DFLeo RogetStockport County2002Transferred to Rushden & Diamonds11FWMark Peters Southampton2002Released19MFTommy WrightLeicester City2003Returned to Leicester City after loan21DFDanny Allen-PageYouth2002Released23FWBobby TraynorYouth2003Loaned to Chelmsford City and Crawley Town, released24FWPeter BeadleBristol City2003Released24FWJide OlugbodiAustria Lustenau2003Released25MFTony RougierReading2003Transferred to Bristol City26GKJim StannardYouth2003First team coach, non-contract30GKDanny NaisbittBishop Auckland2003Non-contract32GKJani VianderPlymouth Argyle2004Non-contract Source: Soccerbase
Coaching staff
Wally Downes (9 August 2003 – 14 March 2004) NameRole Wally DownesManager Garry ThompsonAssistant Manager Jim StannardFirst Team Coach John GriffinChief Scout Phil McLoughlinPhysiotherapist Colin MartinMedical Officer
Garry Thompson (14 – 18 March 2004) NameRole Garry ThompsonCaretaker Manager Jim StannardFirst Team Coach John GriffinChief Scout Phil McLoughlinPhysiotherapist Colin MartinMedical Officer
Martin Allen (18 March – 8 May 2004) NameRole Martin AllenManager Adrian WhitbreadFirst Team Coach Jim StannardGoalkeeping Coach John GriffinChief Scout Damien DoyleSports Therapist Matt HironsPhysiotherapist Colin MartinMedical Officer
Statistics
Appearances and goals Substitute appearances in brackets. NoPosNatNameLeagueFA CupLeague CupFL TrophyTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals1GKPaul Smith2402010202902DFMichael Dobson4211010204613DFMatt Somner30 (9)020101034 (9)04MFJay Smith12 (5)020101 (1)016 (6)05DFLeo Roget1500000101605MFStewart Talbot152———1526DFIbrahima Sonko42 (1)320100045 (1)37MFStephen Evans14 (11)20 (2)0002016 (13)28MFJay Tabb22 (14)920101226 (14)119FWKevin O'Connor36 (7)121101 (1)040 (8)210MFStephen Hunt38 (2)1120102143 (2)1211FWMark Peters2 (7)00 (1)010104 (8)012DFAndy Frampton10 (6)011102014 (6)113GKAlan Julian130000 (1)00013 (1)014FWMatt Harrold5 (8)21300107 (8)516DFLee Fieldwick4 (1)00000004 (1)017MFEddie Hutchinson36510100 (1)038 (1)520MFStephen Hughes1 (8)00 (2)00 (1)00 (1)01 (12)021DFDanny Allen-Page0000000 (1)00 (1)022FWLloyd Blackman0 (3)0—0 (1)0—0 (4)024FWPeter Beadle10—00—1024FWJide Olugbodi0 (2)00 (1)0—1 (1)01 (4)025MFTony Rougier29 (2)421001032 (2)528DFDean Wells0 (1)00000000 (1)031MFAlex Rhodes0 (3)1———0 (3)132GKStuart Nelson90———90Players loaned in during the season18FWBen May38 (3)710—1040 (3)719MFTommy Wright18 (7)300—0018 (7)324DFRonnie Bull200———20027DFJoel Kitamirike21 (1)010—2024 (1)033DFScott Fitzgerald90———90 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: Soccerbase
Goalscorers NoPosNatPlayerFL2FACFLCFLTTotal10MFStephen Hunt11001128MFJay Tabb90021118FWBen May70—0717MFEddie Hutchinson5000525DFTony Rougier4100514FWMatt Harrold2300519MFTommy Wright30—036DFIbrahima Sonko300035MFStewart Talbot2———27MFStephen Evans200029MFKevin O'Connor1100231MFAlex Rhodes1———12DFMichael Dobson1000112DFAndy Frampton01001Opponents11002Total5260361 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: Soccerbase
Discipline NoPosNatPlayerFL2FACFLCFLTTotalPts18FWBen May7000000171105DFLeo Roget2200001032910MFStephen Hunt701000008087MFStephen Evans4110000051819MFTommy Wright4100—0041727DFJoel Kitamirike3100—104173DFMatt Somner6000000060624DFRonnie Bull31———3169MFKevin O'Connor401000005056DFIbrahima Sonko1011000021525DFTony Rougier400000004041GKPaul Smith100001001142DFMichael Dobson3000000030317MFEddie Hutchinson2000001030324FWPeter Beadle01—00—01332GKStuart Nelson01———0135MFStewart Talbot20———20216DFLee Fieldwick2000000020212DFAndy Frampton2000000020213GKAlan Julian200000002024MFJay Smith200000002028MFJay Tabb0010001020233DFScott Fitzgerald10———10120MFStephen Hughes1000000010111FWMark Peters10000000101Total6485101417311106 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: ESPN FC
Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Wally Downes9 August 200314 March 2004 |Garry Thompson (caretaker)14 March 200418 March 2004 |Martin Allen18 March 20048 May 2004 |
Summary