1969–70 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1969–70 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Fourth Division. Despite staying in the promotion places throughout much of the campaign, three-late season defeats cost the Bees promotion to the Third Division.

Season summary There was the perception around Griffin Park during the 1969 off-season that after the financial austerity of the previous two-and-a-half years, the extreme cost-cutting measures enacted by former chairman Ron Blindell had reduced Brentford's target to merely staying in business, rather than challenging for promotion to the Third Division. Former director Walter Wheatley's loans to the club had taken its debts down to a manageable proportion, but after being installed as chairman (Blindell had died in January 1969), Wheatley carried on the austerity into the 1969–70 season. Manager Jimmy Sirrel once again had his hands tied in the transfer market, releasing experienced campaigners Denis Hunt, Pat Terry and Ron Foster and bringing in three attackers, two on free transfers (Bill Brown and Micky Cook) and one on trial (Roger Frude).

From the point of view of manpower, Brentford began the season in the worst possible way, with just 14 fit players. Despite the early-season transfer of the versatile John Richardson to rivals Fulham for £10,000, Brentford had an excellent start to the season, with goals from Allan Mansley, Bobby Ross and Micky Cook helping the club stabilise its position in the promotion places. The number of fit players dropped to 13 by October 1969, with the lack of a recognised centre forward being the problem. On 10 November, manager Jimmy Sirrel dropped the bombshell that he was leaving the club to take up the manager's position at Notts County. Forward Ron Fenton took over as caretaker manager and though the Bees exited the FA Cup in the first round (quickly ending any chances of a money-spinning cup run), Fenton managed to keep the club in and around the promotion places before Frank Blunstone was installed as manager just prior to Christmas 1969.

Despite an inconsistent first month under new manager Frank Blunstone, Brentford continued to keep pace with the promotion race. Blunstone was able to expand the squad slightly, with midfielders Brian Turner and Brian Tawse signing on a permanent basis and forward Alan Cocks coming in on loan to replace departed loanee Gerry Baker. Ever-present goalkeeper Chic Brodie had his best season so far at Griffin Park and kept 20 clean sheets. The Bees moved as high as 2nd position in late January and early February 1970 and manager Blunstone went for broke, finally signing a recognised centre forward (Roger Cross from West Ham United for £10,000) and bringing winger John Docherty back for a third spell with the club. Three defeats in four matches in late March and early April effectively ended the promotion charge, with the three-point gap to 4th-place Port Vale proving to be insurmountable.

Two records were set during the season, which as of have never been bettered: Least Football League goals conceded in a season: 39 Least home Football League goals conceded in a season: 11

League table

Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League Fourth Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)19 August 1969HartlepoolA0–03,020216 August 1969Notts CountyH1–06,364Mansley (2)323 August 1969Crewe AlexandraA2–13,051Renwick, Cook427 August 1969ChesterA2–14,426Dobson, Ross530 August 1969DarlingtonH1–17,442Dobson66 September 1969Newport CountyA0–13,219713 September 1969Swansea CityH2–27,139Mansley, Ross (pen)815 September 1969Southend UnitedH3–17,446Mansley, Neilson, Fenton920 September 1969Bradford Park AvenueA1–02,887Ross1027 September 1969WrexhamH0–08,6101129 September 1969Lincoln CityH2–18,210Gelson, Cook124 October 1969WorkingtonA2–11,882Mansley, Ross138 October 1969Notts CountyA0–14,6641411 October 1969Scunthorpe UnitedH3–07,493Cook, Mansley (2)1518 October 1969Oldham AthleticH1–18,674Cook1625 October 1969ChesterfieldA0–111,212171 November 1969Peterborough UnitedH5–28,650Baker, Wile (og), Ross, Higginson, Fenton188 November 1969Exeter CityA2–24,897Renwick (2)1922 November 1969Northampton TownA1–15,315Dobson2024 November 1969Grimsby TownH3–07,647Baker, Ross, Mansley2113 December 1969Swansea CityA0–17,4232220 December 1969Newport CountyH1–04,383Ross2326 December 1969Crewe AlexandraH1–19,307Ross2427 December 1969DarlingtonA2–12,507Fenton, Ross253 January 1970Lincoln CityA0–14,9912610 January 1970Bradford Park AvenueH1–15,847Fenton2717 January 1970WrexhamA0–18,4512824 January 1970Port ValeH1–08,661Boulton (og)2931 January 1970WorkingtonH1–07,756Dobson3010 February 1970Scunthorpe UnitedA1–15,316Gelson3121 February 1970ChesterfieldH0–110,5403223 February 1970HartlepoolH3–07,352Gelson, Turner, Hawley3328 February 1970Peterborough UnitedA0–07,512347 March 1970Northampton TownH1–07,292Cocks359 March 1970York CityH0–08,1243614 March 1970Colchester UnitedA1–14,878Ross3716 March 1970Port ValeA0–07,9473821 March 1970AldershotH0–012,2613927 March 1970Exeter CityH2–010,110Cross, Ross (pen)4028 March 1970York CityA2–42,496Docherty, Neilson4131 March 1970Oldham AthleticA1–45,078Cocks424 April 1970ChesterH2–04,750Gelson, Docherty437 April 1970Grimsby TownA1–23,582Cross4413 April 1970Southend UnitedA2–26,433Neilson, Ross4518 April 1970Colchester UnitedH2–04,720Renwick, Docherty4624 April 1970AldershotA2–17,492Cross (2)

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance1R15 November 1969Plymouth ArgyleH0–09,9631R (replay)19 November 1969Plymouth ArgyleA0–211,554

Football League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)Notes1R12 August 1969Southend UnitedA2–29,256Mansley (2)1R (replay)18 August 1969Southend UnitedH0–0 7,9411R (2nd replay)21 August 1969Southend UnitedN2–3 2,068Mansley, GelsonMatch played at The Den, London. Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford, Statto

Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1969–70 season. Pos.NameNat.Date of birth (age)Signed fromSigned inNotesGoalkeepersGKChic BrodieNorthampton Town1963DefendersDFPeter GelsonYouth1961DFAlan HawleyYouth1962DFTommy HigginsonKilmarnock1959DFAllan JonesLiverpool1963DFAlan NelmesChelsea1967DFDick RenwickAldershot1969MidfieldersMFGeorge DobsonYouth1966MFJohn DochertyReading1970MFAllan MansleyBlackpool1968MFGordon NeilsonArsenal1968MFBobby RossShrewsbury Town1966MFBrian TawseBrighton & Hove Albion1970MFBrian TurnerPortsmouth1970ForwardsFWMicky CookCrystal Palace1969FWRoger CrossWest Ham United1970FWRon Fenton (c)Birmingham City1968Assistant managerPlayers who left the club mid-seasonFWGerry BakerCoventry City1969Returned to Coventry City after loanFWBill BrownPortsmouth1969ReleasedFWAlan CocksChelsea1969Returned to Chelsea after loanFWRoger FrudeMansfield Town1969ReleasedFWDavid HarneyScunthorpe United1969ReleasedFWJohn RichardsonMillwall1966Transferred to Fulham Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford, Timeless Bees

Coaching staff

Jimmy Sirrel (10 August – 10 November 1969) NameRole Jimmy SirrelManager Ron FentonAssistant Manager Eddie LyonsPhysiotherapist

Ron Fenton (10 November – December 1969) NameRole Ron FentonCaretaker Manager Eddie LyonsPhysiotherapist

Frank Blunstone (December 1969 – 24 April 1970) NameRole Frank BlunstoneManager Ron FentonAssistant Manager Eddie LyonsPhysiotherapist

Statistics

Appearances and goals Substitute appearances in brackets. PosNatNameLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKChic Brodie4602030510DFPeter Gelson4342031485DFAlan Hawley4611030501DFTommy Higginson39 (1)1203044 (1)0DFAllan Jones9 (3)0100010 (3)0DFAlan Nelmes4502030500DFDick Renwick3942030444MFGeorge Dobson15 (5)40 (1)01 (1)016 (7)4MFJohn Docherty113——113MFAllan Mansley2662033319MFGordon Neilson33 (1)3203038 (1)3MFBobby Ross461320305113MFBrian Tawse130——130MFBrian Turner14 (2)1——14 (2)1FWBill Brown40——40FWMicky Cook17 (3)4203022 (3)4FWRoger Cross114——114FWRon Fenton29 (2)4200031 (2)4FWRoger Frude1 (1)0—1 (1)02 (2)0FWDavid Harney0 (1)0——0 (1)0FWJohn Richardson20—2040Players loaned in during the seasonFWGerry Baker82——82FWAlan Cocks112——112 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years Of Brentford

Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL4FACFLCTotalMFBobby Ross130013MFAllan Mansley6039DFPeter Gelson4015FWRoger Cross4——4FWMicky Cook4004MFGeorge Dobson4004FWRon Fenton4004DFDick Renwick4004MFJohn Docherty3——3MFGordon Neilson3003FWGerry Baker2——2FWAlan Cocks2——2MFBrian Turner1——1DFAlan Hawley1001Opponents2002Total580462 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years Of Brentford

Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Jimmy Sirrel9 August 19698 November 1969Ron Fenton (caretaker)15 November 196920 December 1969Frank Blunstone26 December 196924 April 1970

Summary Games played 51 (46 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 3 League Cup)Games won 20 (20 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)Games drawn 19 (16 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)Games lost 12 (10 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)Goals scored 62 (58 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 4 League Cup)Goals conceded 46 (39 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 5 League Cup)Clean sheets 20 (18 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)Biggest league win 3–0 on three occasions; 5–2 versus Peterborough United, 1 November 1969Worst league defeat 4–1 versus Oldham Athletic, 31 March 1970Most appearances 51, Chic Brodie, Bobby Ross (46 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 3 League Cup)Top scorer (league) 13, Bobby RossTop scorer (all competitions) 13, Bobby Ross

Transfers & loans Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.July 1969FW Bill Brown PortsmouthFreeJuly 1969FW Roger Frude Mansfield TownTrialAugust 1969FW Micky Cook Crystal PalaceFreeOctober 1969FW Brian Caterer LeatherheadAmateurOctober 1969FW David Harney Scunthorpe UnitedTrial1969MF Alan Gane Slough Townn/aJanuary 1970MF Brian Turner Portsmouthn/aFebruary 1970MF Brian Tawse Brighton & Hove Albionn/aMarch 1970FW Roger Cross Crystal Palace£10,000March 1970MF John Docherty Readingn/aPlayers loaned inDate fromPos.NameFromDate toRef.October 1969FW Gerry Baker Coventry CityJanuary 197029 January 1970FW Alan Cocks ChelseaMarch 1970Players transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.August 1969FW John Richardson Fulham£10,000Players releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.August 1969FW Roger Frude Falmouth Town3 October 1969October 1969FW Bill Brown Margate1969October 1969FW Brian Caterer LeatherheadOctober 1969October 1969FW David Harney Wimbledon1969April 1970FW Micky Cook Folkestone1970April 1970MF George Dobson Guildford City1970April 1970FW Ron FentonRetiredApril 1970DF Tommy Higginson Hillingdon Borough1970April 1970DF Allan Jones Croatia1970

Notes

References