During the 1990–91 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. Five wins in the final six matches of the season propelled the Bees from mid-table into the play-offs, where the club was defeated by Tranmere Rovers in the semi-finals.
Season summary
Third Division Brentford conducted little transfer business during the 1990 off-season, buying only Sheffield United goalkeeper Graham Benstead and selling full back Roger Stanislaus to Bury. Midfielder Eddie May was transfer-listed at his own request, while midfielders Keith Jones, Kevin Godfrey and forward Richard Cadette rejected new contracts and instead signed weekly deals. 10 days before the first match of the season, the club was rocked by the resignation of manager Steve Perryman, who had been in charge since February 1987. Perryman's assistant Phil Holder took over and began his first job in football management.
Just two defeats from the opening 12 league matches of the season had Brentford flirting with automatic promotion, before successive defeats in late October and early November dropped the club into the play-off places. Aided by the goalscoring of fit-again Gary Blissett, the Bees showed good league form through November and December and ended 1990 in the automatic promotion places. After loss to Oldham Athletic in the third round of the FA Cup, attention turned to the Football League Trophy, in which the Bees went all the way to the Southern Area finals before being defeated over two legs by league rivals Birmingham City. The run in the Trophy affected Brentford's promotion-chasing form, with the team having won just seven of 17 matches since the turn of the year. A draw and a defeat in the wake of the Trophy exit gave way to improved form for the remainder of the season, with five wins from six matches sealing a 6th-place finish and a two-legged tie with Tranmere Rovers in the play-off semi-finals. A 3–2 defeat on aggregate ended Brentford's season.
League table
Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend WinDrawLoss
Pre-season and friendlies DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)31 July 1990KingstonianA2–2n/aSmillie, May7 August 1990Chesham UnitedA1–1n/aCadette11 August 1990ChelseaH0–64,91514 August 1990Oxford UnitedH1–15,775Holdsworth17 August 1990Charlton AthleticH1–21,231Smillie29 October 1990BedfontA5–1n/aBlissett (2), Brooke (pen), Moabi, og
Football League Third Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)125 August 1990BournemouthH0–05,66921 September 1990Mansfield TownA2–02,513Smilie, Godfrey38 September 1990Chester CityH0–14,812415 September 1990Swansea CityA2–24,127Bates, Jones (pen)518 September 1990Rotherham UnitedA2–24,288Holdsworth, Smilie622 September 1990Bolton WanderersH4–25,077May, Brooke, Jones, Holdsworth729 September 1990Grimsby TownH1–05,951Jones82 October 1990Preston North EndA1–15,025Godfrey96 October 1990Bradford CityA1–06,402Godfrey1014 October 1990Cambridge UnitedH0–33,1391120 October 1990Huddersfield TownH1–05,509May1223 October 1990ReadingA2–16,562Gayle, Holdsworth1326 October 1990Tranmere RoversA1–28,575Holdsworth (pen)144 November 1990Southend UnitedH0–110,6051510 November 1990BuryH2–25,303Blissett, Cockram1624 November 1990Exeter CityA1–14,764Blissett172 December 1990Leyton OrientA1–05,359Godfrey1816 December 1990Stoke CityA2–210,995Cadette, Smilie1923 December 1990Wigan AthleticH1–06,495Blissett (pen)2026 December 1990Birmingham CityA2–06,669Blissett (2)2129 December 1990Crewe AlexandraA3–33,636Blissett, Cadette, Cockram221 January 1991Shrewsbury TownH3–07,064Blissett, Gayle, Cockram2312 January 1991Mansfield TownH0–06,0642419 January 1991BournemouthA0–24,4212526 January 1991Swansea CityH2–07,102Blissett, Jones262 February 1991Rotherham UnitedH1–25,540Jones275 February 1991Bolton WanderersA0–16,7312816 February 1991Exeter CityH1–05,118Millen2923 February 1991BuryA1–12,956Cadette303 March 1991Leyton OrientA2–15,136Cadette, Holdsworth319 March 1991Stoke CityH0–47,2493212 March 1991Preston North EndH2–04,856Bates, Blissett3316 March 1991Grimsby TownA0–26,6853419 March 1991Cambridge UnitedA0–04,9313523 March 1991Bradford CityH6–15,601og, Evans, Jones, Cadette (2), Gayle3630 March 1991Birmingham CityH2–26,757Ratcliffe, Blissett371 April 1991Wigan AthleticA0–12,160386 April 1991Crewe AlexandraH1–05,066Fleming3913 April 1991Shrewsbury TownA1–12,841Ratcliffe4016 April 1991FulhamH1–27,839Rostron4120 April 1991Huddersfield TownA2–16,489Jones, Peters4223 April 1991FulhamA1–06,765Rostron4327 April 1991ReadingH1–06,398Millen4430 April 1991Chester CityA2–11,275Gayle, Holdsworth454 May 1991Tranmere RoversH0–27,3414611 May 1991Southend UnitedA1–09,666Gayle
Football League Third Division play-offs
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)SF (1st leg)19 May 1991Tranmere RoversH2–29,330Evans, GodfreySF (2nd leg) 22 May 1991Tranmere RoversA0–1 (lost 3–2 on aggregate)11,438
FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)R117 November 1990Yeovil TownH5–05,830Blissett, Holdsworth (2), May, JonesR212 December 1990Birmingham CityA3–15,072Blissett, Millen, JonesR35 January 1991Oldham AthleticA1–36,538Holdsworth
Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)R1 (1st leg)28 August 1990Hereford UnitedH2–05,583Bates, GodfreyR1 (2nd leg)5 September 1990Hereford UnitedA0–1 (won 2–1 on aggregate)4,927R2 (1st leg)26 September 1990Sheffield WednesdayA1–24,502EvansR2 (2nd leg)9 October 1990Sheffield WednesdayH1–2 (lost 4–2 on aggregate)7,394Jones (pen)
Football League Trophy
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)SPR27 November 1990FulhamA1–12,761BlissettSPR29 January 1991Leyton OrientH2–01,348Blissett (2)SR121 February 1991WrexhamH0–0 , won 3–0 on pens)2,247SQF28 February 1991Hereford UnitedA2–02,207Smilie, HoldsworthSSF5 March 1991Southend UnitedA3–03,937Smilie, Jones, CadetteSAF (1st leg)26 March 1991Birmingham CityA1–216,219GayleSAF (2nd leg)9 April 1991Birmingham CityH0–1 (lost 3–1 on aggregate)8,745 Source: Statto, 11v11, The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties
Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1990–91 season. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepersGKGraham BensteadSheffield United1990DefendersDF Jamie Bates Youth1986DFJason Cousins Youth1989DFTerry Evans (c) Hillingdon1985DFMark FlemingQueens Park Rangers1989DFClive Goodyear Wimbledon1990DFKeith MillenYouth1985MidfieldersMFPaul BuckleYouth1988MFAllan CockramSt Albans City1988MFKevin GodfreyLeyton Orient1988MFKeith JonesChelsea1987MFRobbie PetersYouth1989Loaned to St Albans CityMFSimon RatcliffeNorwich City1989MFWilf RostronSheffield United1991Assistant managerMFNeil Smilie Reading1988 ForwardsFWGary Blissett Crewe Alexandra1987FWRichard CadetteSheffield United1988FWMarcus GayleYouth1988Loaned to KuPSFWDean Holdsworth Watford1989 Players who left the club mid-seasonGKTony ParksTottenham Hotspur1988Loaned to Queens Park Rangers and Fulham, transferred to FulhamDFJim CarstairsArsenal1991Returned to Arsenal after loanDFStuart CashNottingham Forest1990Returned to Nottingham Forest after loanMFGarry Brooke Wimbledon1990ReleasedMFEddie MayHibernian1989Transferred to Falkirk Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties
Coaching staff NameRole Phil HolderManager Wilf RostronAssistant Manager Graham PearceFirst Team Coach Roy ClarePhysiotherapist
Statistics
Appearances and goals Substitute appearances in brackets. PosNatNameLeagueFA CupLeague CupFL TrophyPlay-offsTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKGraham Benstead45030407020610GKTony Parks1000—00—10DFJamie Bates30 (2)20041402040 (2)3DFJason Cousins8000301 (1)00012 (1)0DFTerry Evans362301 (1)1602148 (1)4DFMark Fleming18130204000271DFClive Goodyear100——1000110DFKeith Millen31 (1)23140302041 (1)3MFGarry Brooke8 (3)10 (1)020——10 (4)1MFPaul Buckle24 (2)020204 (1)00032 (3)0MFAllan Cockram7 (13)31 (2)0004 (2)00012 (17)3MFKevin Godfrey26 (6)42 (1)0413 (2)01 (1)136 (10)6MFKeith Jones456324161206010MFEddie May16 (1)2114010—22 (1)3MFRobbie Peters61—00—0 (1)06 (1)1MFSimon Ratcliffe34 (4)2300 (2)0602045 (6)2MFWilf Rostron18 (4)2——2 (2)02022 (6)2MFNeil Smilie33 (3)31040522045 (3)5FWGary Blissett22 (4)10320 (1)03 (1)32030 (6)15FWRichard Cadette19 (9)6102 (2)0610028 (11)7FWMarcus Gayle23 (10)62 (1)0—4 (2)11 (1)030 (14)7FWDean Holdsworth27 (3)523204 (1)12037 (4)9Players loaned in during the seasonDFJim Carstairs80——30—110DFStuart Cash110—200 (1)0—13 (1)0 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties
Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL3FACFLCFLTFLPTotalFWGary Blissett10203015MFKeith Jones6211010FWDean Holdsworth530109FWMarcus Gayle60—107FWRichard Cadette600107MFKevin Godfrey401015MFNeil Smilie300205DFTerry Evans201014MFAllan Cockram300003MFEddie May2100—3DFJamie Bates201003DFKeith Millen210003MFWilf Rostron2——002MFSimon Ratcliffe200002MFGarry Brooke100——1MFRobbie Peters1—0—01DFMark Fleming100001Opponents100001Total59949283 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties
Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Phil Holder25 August 199022 May 1991 |
Summary Games played 62 (46 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 7 Football League Trophy, 2 Football League play-offs)Games won 27 (21 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 3 Football League Trophy, 0 Football League play-offs)Games drawn 16 (13 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy, 1 Football League play-offs)Games lost 19 (12 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 3 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy, 1 Football League play-offs)Goals scored 83 (59 Third Division, 9 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 9 Football League Trophy, 2 Football League play-offs)Goals conceded 63 (47 Third Division, 4 FA Cup, 5 League Cup, 4 Football League Trophy, 3 Football League play-offs)Clean sheets 24 (18 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 4 Football League Trophy, 0 Football League play-offs)Biggest league win 6–1 versus Bradford City, 23 March 1991Worst league defeat 4–0 versus Stoke City, 9 March 1991Most appearances 61, Graham Benstead (45 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 7 Football League Trophy, 2 Football League play-offs)Top scorer (league) 10, Gary BlissettTop scorer (all competitions) 15, Gary Blissett
Transfers & loans Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.July 1990GK Graham Benstead Sheffield United£70,000August 1990MF Garry Brooke WimbledonFreeJanuary 1991MF Wilf Rostron Sheffield UnitedFreeMarch 1991DF Clive Goodyear WimbledonFreeApril 1991GK Laurence Batty FulhamFreePlayers loaned inDate fromPos.NameFromDate toRef.September 1990DF Stuart Cash Nottingham ForestDecember 1990February 1991DF Jim Carstairs ArsenalApril 1991February 1991GK Laurence Batty FulhamApril 1991Players transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.30 July 1990DF Roger Stanislaus Bury£90,00015 March 1991MF Eddie May Falkirk£75,000April 1991GK Tony Parks FulhamFreePlayers loaned outDate fromPos.NameToDate toRef.March 1990FW Marcus Gayle KuPSOctober 1990August 1990GK Tony Parks Queens Park RangersSeptember 199013 September 1990DF John Buttigieg Swindon Town12 October 1990November 1990MF Khotso Moabi St Albans CityJanuary 1991November 1990DF Fergus Moore YeadingDecember 1990November 1990MF Robbie Peters St Albans CityApril 1991February 1991GK Tony Parks FulhamApril 1991Players releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.December 1990MF Garry Brooke Baldock Town1990January 1991MF Khotso Moabi St Albans CityJanuary 1991February 1991DF Fergus Moore Staines Townn/a30 June 1991GK Laurence Batty Woking199130 June 1991DF John Buttigieg Floriana199130 June 1991MF Allan Cockram Woking199130 June 1991DF Clive Goodyear Ernest Borel1991
Kit
Awards Supporters' Player of the Year: Graham Benstead Players' Player of the Year: Graham Benstead Football League Third Division PFA Team of the Year: Keith Jones