During the 1993–94 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Second Division. In a season of transition, a failure to win any of the final 16 league matches ended all hopes of a finish in the play-off places.
Season summary The 1993–94 season saw Brentford back in the Second Division after suffering relegation from the First Division at the first attempt. Former Chelsea manager David Webb replaced Phil Holder and immediately set about overhauling the squad, releasing 11 players and cancelling the contracts of Murray Jones, Neil Smilie and Detzi Kruszyński. 1992–93 top-scorer Gary Blissett left the club for a £350,000 fee settled by a tribunal, goalkeeper Graham Benstead and defender Terry Evans rejected new contracts and were made available for loan, while forward Joe Allon was transfer-listed. In came midfielder Paul Smith, forward Denny Mundee and youngster Scott Morgan from Bournemouth and non-League players Dean A. Williams and Dean P. Williams. Professional contracts were given to youth products Carl Hutchings, Craig Ravenscroft and Tamer Fernandes. Manager David Webb continued to strengthen the squad during the early months of the season, bringing in goalkeeper Kevin Dearden, defenders Martin Grainger and Gus Hurdle, midfielder Lee Harvey and forwards Ian Benjamin and Matthew Metcalf, with Terry Evans and Grant Chalmers leaving the club.
Brentford began the season with two wins from the first three matches to rise as high as 5th, before losing five of the next six to drop into the relegation places. Transfer-listed forward Joe Allon provided the catalyst for a revival, returning from a loan spell with Southend United to score 9 goals in eight games in all competitions and fire the Bees back up to 12th position by early November. His run was ended by a broken jaw suffered at the hands of teammate Mickey Bennett, who was immediately sacked by the club. Forward Denny Mundee stepped into the breach and scored 9 goals in as many games in all competitions to help elevate Brentford back into the play-off positions and the Football League Trophy quarter-finals. The run prompted Premier League club Southampton to offer David Webb their vacant manager's job, which Webb turned down. Two club records were set during the run – 11 consecutive away matches unbeaten in all competitions and 10 consecutive away league matches undefeated.
Brentford had risen to 5th in the table after a 4–1 win over Bristol Rovers on 12 February 1994, but a winless run of 16 matches to close out the season dropped the Bees to 16th. Webb had continued his rebuilding of the squad through the second half of the season, selling transfer-listed players Marcus Gayle, Joe Allon and Keith Millen, while bringing in defenders David Thompson and Barry Ashby, winger Darren Annon and forward Robert Taylor. Season-ending injuries to Taylor, Shane Westley, Ian Benjamin and suspensions incurred by Martin Grainger, David Thompson, Kevin Dearden and Brian Statham further hindered Webb's ability to pick a settled team.
League table
Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend WinDrawLoss
Pre-season and friendlies DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)20 July 1993Fareham TownA3–0n/aAllon (2), Gayle22 July 1993St Albans CityA4–1n/aAllon (2), Ravenscroft, Buckle24 July 1993HamptonA2–1n/aRatcliffe, Chalmers26 July 1993Havant TownA3–1n/aM. Bennett, Westley, Millen28 July 1993Chesham UnitedA2–1n/aAllon (2)31 July 1993Crystal PalaceH1–3n/aRatcliffe3 August 1993Farnborough TownA3–0n/aAllon (2), M. Bennett4 August 1993Welling UnitedA0–1n/a6 August 1993Tottenham HotspurH0–04,5358 August 1993Colchester UnitedA1–2n/aRavenscroft18 August 1993TamworthA2–2n/aD.A. Williams, Evans1 September 1993Walton & HershamA4–0n/aMillen, Ravenscroft, D.A. Williams21 September 1993Chesham UnitedA1–2n/aPeters7 December 1993Hailsham TownA10–3n/aMetcalf (4), Stephenson (3), Benjamin, Millen, G. Bennett22 March 1994ZambiaH0–21,16826 April 1994HayesA2–2n/aGrainger, Peters12 May 1994Crystal PalaceH5–3n/aMundee, Peters, Metcalf
Football League Second Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)114 August 1993Exeter CityH2–15,537Allon, Gayle221 August 1993BlackpoolA1–14,024Allon328 August 1993ReadingH1–06,848Allon431 August 1993Hull CityA0–14,51754 September 1993Rotherham UnitedA0–24,333611 September 1993Swansea CityH1–15,042Ratcliffe714 September 1993Leyton OrientH0–15,149818 September 1993Brighton & Hove AlbionA1–25,734D.A. Williams925 September 1993Port ValeH1–25,106Gayle102 October 1993Cambridge UnitedA1–13,612Benjamin119 October 1993Hartlepool UnitedA1–01,802Benjamin1216 October 1993WrexhamH2–15,801Ratcliffe, Allon1323 October 1993York CityA2–03,513Smith, Allon1430 October 1993BarnetH1–05,873Allon152 November 1993Cardiff CityH1–14,756Allon166 November 1993Plymouth ArgyleA1–16,407Allon1720 November 1993BurnleyA0–06,0851827 November 1993Huddersfield TownA3–14,544Mundee (2 pens), Ravenscroft1911 December 1993BlackpoolH3–04,769Gayle, Mundee (2)2018 December 1993Exeter CityA2–24,250Gayle, Mundee (pen)2127 December 1993BournemouthA3–05,744Mundee (pen), Harvey, og2229 December 1993Bradford CityH2–06,059Ratcliffe, Smith231 January 1994FulhamA0–09,797243 January 1994Stockport CountyH1–16,410og258 January 1994Bristol RoversH3–46,841Mundee (3)2615 January 1994WrexhamA2–13,701Gayle, Bates2722 January 1994Hartlepool UnitedH1–06,334Bates2829 January 1994BarnetA0–02,502295 February 1994York CityA1–15,710Mundee3012 February 1994Bristol RoversA4–15,685Gayle, Allon (3)3119 February 1994ReadingA1–29,056Thompson3222 February 1994Hull CityH0–34,3613326 February 1994Rotherham UnitedH2–24,980Mundee, Allon345 March 1994Swansea CityA1–13,187Harvey3512 March 1994Brighton & Hove AlbionH1–16,728Ratcliffe3615 March 1994Leyton OrientA1–13,185Allon3719 March 1994Port ValeA0–18,2693826 March 1994Cambridge UnitedH3–35,052Taylor, Statham, Grainger3929 March 1994Stockport CountyA1–34,361Annon402 April 1994BournemouthH1–14,305Grainger414 April 1994Bradford CityA0–16,703429 April 1994FulhamH1–26,638Taylor4316 April 1994Cardiff CityA1–15,268Harvey4423 April 1994Plymouth ArgyleH1–16,173Smith4530 April 1994BurnleyA1–411,363Ashby467 May 1994Huddersfield TownH1–24,483Harvey
FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)R113 November 1993VS RugbyA3–03,006Allon (2, 1 pen), GayleR24 December 1993Cardiff CityH1–34,845Gayle
League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)R1 (1st leg)17 August 1993WatfordH2–24,527Peters, WestleyR1 (2nd leg)24 August 1993WatfordA1–3 (lost 5–3 on aggregate)4,937Westley
Football League Trophy
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)SR1 (match 1)19 October 1993BarnetA2–21,269Allon (2)SR1 (match 2)9 November 1993Wycombe WanderersH2–33,165Ratcliffe, SmithSR230 November 1993Hereford UnitedA2–11,049Mundee (2)SQF11 January 1994Leyton OrientA0–13,683 Source: Statto, 11v11, The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties
Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1993–94 season. No. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepers1GKDean P. WilliamsTamworth199320 GK Tamer Fernandes Youth1993Loaned to Wealdstone28 GK Kevin Dearden Tottenham Hotspur1993Defenders2DF Brian Statham Tottenham Hotspur19923DFBilly Manuel (c)Gillingham19914DF Barry Ashby Watford19945DFShane WestleyWolverhampton Wanderers19926DF Martin Grainger Colchester United199312DF Jamie Bates Youth198614DFDavid Thompson Bristol City199418DF Carl Hutchings Youth199319DFGus HurdleDorchester Town1993Loaned to Dorchester Town21DFScott Morgan Bournemouth1993Midfielders8MF Paul Smith Southend United1993 9MFLee HarveyNottingham Forest199310MFPaul StephensonMillwall199316MFRobbie PetersYouth1989Loaned to Slough Town17MFSimon RatcliffeNorwich City198922MFKevin WatsonTottenham Hotspur1994On loan from Tottenham Hotspur24MFDarren AnnonCarshalton Athletic1994Forwards11FW Robert Taylor Leyton Orient1994 13FW Craig Ravenscroft Youth199315FWDean A. WilliamsSt Albans City199323FWDenny MundeeBournemouth199326FWMatthew MetcalfDiss Town199327FWIan BenjaminLuton Town1993Players who left the club mid-season4DFKeith MillenYouth1985Transferred to Watford6MFGrant ChalmersNortherners1992Released7FWJoe AllonChelsea1992Loaned to Southend United, transferred to Port Vale9FWMickey BennettWimbledon1992Released11FWMarcus GayleYouth1988Transferred to Wimbledon14MFPaul BuckleYouth1988Transferred to Torquay United22GKGraham BensteadSheffield United1990Loaned to Kettering Town, transferred to Kettering Town24MFSteve TilsonSouthend United1993Returned to Southend United after loan25MFJohn CornwellSouthend United1993Returned to Southend United after loan Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties
Coaching staff NameRole David WebbManager Kevin LockFirst Team Coach Roy JohnsonPhysiotherapist
Statistics
Appearances and goals Substitute appearances in brackets. No.PosNatNameLeagueFA CupLeague CupFL TrophyTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals1GKDean P. Williams6 (1)00000006 (1)02DFBrian Statham3111020203613DFBilly Manuel17 (1)000200 (1)019 (2)04DFKeith Millen00000010104DFBarry Ashby81———815DFShane Westley3102022403926DFMartin Grainger31220——3327FWJoe Allon211312202226178MFPaul Smith3232000413849FWMickey Bennett6 (2)0—20—8 (2)09MFLee Harvey23 (3)410—2026 (3)410MFPaul Stephenson2501 (1)0202030 (1)011FWMarcus Gayle35622102040811FWRobert Taylor52———5212DFJamie Bates45220203052213FWCraig Ravenscroft4 (3)100001 (1)05 (4)114MFPaul Buckle000010001014DFDavid Thompson9 (1)1———9 (1)115FWDean A. Williams2 (1)10000002 (1)116MFRobbie Peters8 (4)0001 (1)12 (1)011 (6)117MFSimon Ratcliffe41 (2)410204148 (2)518DFCarl Hutchings20 (9)0201 (1)04027 (10)020GKTamer Fernandes0 (1)00000000 (1)021DFScott Morgan100000203022GKGraham Benstead50—20—7023MFDenny Mundee37 (2)11200 (2)02 (2)241 (6)1324MFDarren Annon5 (4)1———5 (4)126FWMatthew Metcalf3 (4)000001 (1)04 (5)027FWIan Benjamin12 (2)210—2015 (2)228GKKevin Dearden35020—40410Players loaned in during the season22MFKevin Watson2 (1)0———2 (1)024MFSteve Tilson20———2025MFJohn Cornwell40———40 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties
Goalscorers No.Pos.NatPlayerFL2FACFLCFLTTotal7FWJoe Allon132021723FWDenny Mundee110021311FWMarcus Gayle6200817MFSimon Ratcliffe400159MFLee Harvey40—048MFPaul Smith3001411FWRobert Taylor2———26DFMartin Grainger20——227FWIan Benjamin20—0212DFJamie Bates200025DFShane Westley0020224MFDarren Annon1———14DFBarry Ashby1———114DFDavid Thompson1———113FWCraig Ravenscroft100012DFBrian Statham1000115FWDean A. Williams1000116MFRobbie Peters00101Opponents20002Total5743670 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties
Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %David Webb14 August 19937 May 1994 |
Summary Games played 54 (46 Second Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 4 Football League Trophy)Games won 15 (13 Second Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)Games drawn 21 (19 Second Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)Games lost 18 (14 Second Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)Goals scored 70 (57 Second Division, 4 FA Cup, 3 League Cup, 6 Football League Trophy)Goals conceded 70 (55 Second Division, 3 FA Cup, 5 League Cup, 7 Football League Trophy)Clean sheets 12 (11 Second Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy)Biggest league win 3–0 on 2 occasions, 4–1 versus Bristol Rovers, 12 February 1994Worst league defeat 3–0 versus Hull City, 22 February 1994; 4–1 versus Burnley, 30 April 1994Most appearances 52, Jamie Bates (45 Second Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 3 Football League Trophy)Top scorer (league) 13, Joe AllonTop scorer (all competitions) 17, Joe Allon
Transfers & loans