During the 1973–74 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Fourth Division. A dreadful season, marred by infighting at boardroom level, resulted in a 19th-place finish, Brentford's lowest in the Football League since the 1925–26 season.
Season summary In the wake of Brentford's relegation straight back to the Fourth Division at the end of the previous season, manager Frank Blunstone, who had come to the end of his contract, left Griffin Park to take over as youth team manager at Manchester United.White, p. 292-294. Despite the relegation, fan support for Blunstone was high and the finger of blame pointed at the board of directors, with one letter to the Middlesex Chronicle summing up the situation that the board's penny-pinching ways since 1967 were "necessary for a couple of years or so, but timidity of this sort prompts me to believe that promotion last year was an unwelcome accident, which has now been rectified". Brentford entered pre-season without a manager and training was taken by full back Alan Hawley and other senior professionals. Eventually former Wimbledon player-manager Mike Everitt was appointed as manager, just seven days before the beginning of the season. Everitt made no signings before the first match of the season and inherited a tiny 14-man squad, with backup goalkeeper Gary Towse being Brentford's only incoming transfer, signed two months earlier.
With Brentford one place above the re-election zone after seven league matches, manager Everitt began recruiting new players, including defender Gordon Riddick for a £4,000 fee and loanees Michael Brown and Hughie Reed. The signings had no immediate impact and Brentford sank to the bottom of the Football League after a 4–1 defeat to Scunthorpe United at the Old Showground. The loss meant that Brentford became the first club to occupy both first and last places in the Football League, having risen to top position during the early months of the 1937–38 season. Behind the scenes, the Brentford board had split into two factions, with one side pushing for a move to a new stadium and the other half wishing to stay at Griffin Park. Joint-chairmen Les Davey and Walter Wheatley were split on the matter and Wheatley became sole chairman of the club in January 1974, though he would be ousted two months later.
With Brentford still struggling on the field, midfielder Stewart Houston was sold to Manchester United in December 1973 for a club-record £55,000 fee, but the money was not immediately reinvested in the squad. The disharmony in the boardroom also spread to the playing squad, with Paul Bence, Alan Nelmes, Jackie Graham, Barry Salvage and Paul Priddy requesting moves away, though ultimately none would depart Griffin Park.Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 78. A 10-match unbeaten run from mid-February through to early-April 1974 finally assured safety and youth products Richard Poole, Kevin Harding and Roy Cotton were able to be blooded, though none of the trio would make more than a handful of senior appearances for the club. Cambridge United forward Dave Simmonds and Bournemouth defender Jimmy Gabriel were brought in on transfer deadline day. Brentford ended the season in 19th place, the club's lowest finish in the Football League since the 1925–26 season. The average home league attendance of 5,063 was the lowest since the club joined the Football League in 1920.White, p. 295.
League table
Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend WinDrawLoss
Pre-season and friendlies DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)11 August 1973Hereford UnitedH2–23,330Webb, Graham18 August 1973AldershotA0–12,36320 August 1973Luton TownH1–12,320Cross29 October 1973Ex-Bees XIH3–41,461Woon, Salvage, Metchick6 May 1974OrientH2–22,550O'Mara, Docherty
Football League Fourth Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)125 August 1973HartlepoolA0–13,44721 September 1973Exeter CityH0–14,81438 September 1973DarlingtonA2–12,287Woon, Cross410 September 1973Torquay UnitedH0–05,581515 September 1973Doncaster RoversH2–04,957Cross (2)617 September 1973ReadingH0–18,717722 September 1973BuryA0–34,329829 September 1973BarnsleyH5–15,010Scales, Woon (2), Docherty, Metchick93 October 1973ReadingA0–111,267106 October 1973Lincoln CityA2–34,056Woon, Cross1113 October 1973Peterborough UnitedH0–16,1411220 October 1973Rotherham UnitedH1–14,419Webb1324 October 1973Torquay UnitedA0–34,4451427 October 1973Scunthorpe UnitedA1–42,523Cross153 November 1973Mansfield TownH4–14,331Houston, Cross (3, 1 pen)1610 November 1973WorkingtonA2–0970Woon, Riddick1712 November 1973Stockport CountyA1–11,948Riddick1817 November 1973ChesterH3–05,166Cross (3)191 December 1973GillinghamH0–35,748208 December 1973Bradford CityA1–13,243Webb2115 December 1973DarlingtonH0–03,1662222 December 1973BarnsleyA1–22,458Cross2326 December 1973Newport CountyH1–15,445Graham241 January 1974Exeter CityA1–25,754Salvage255 January 1974Swansea CityH0–23,5012612 January 1974Doncaster RoversA2–13,009Woon (2)2719 January 1974HartlepoolH1–24,646Allen2826 January 1974Crewe AlexandraA0–01,380292 February 1974Northampton TownA0–04,130309 February 1974BuryH1–24,015Cross3116 February 1974Peterborough UnitedA0–17,6453223 February 1974Lincoln CityH2–14,171Salvage, Cross332 March 1974Newport CountyA1–12,167Salvage349 March 1974Scunthorpe UnitedH2–14,053Salvage, Allen3516 March 1974Rotherham UnitedA1–12,536Metchick3618 March 1974Northampton TownH3–13,686Cross, Simmons, Salvage3723 March 1974WorkingtonH1–15,008Cross3826 March 1974Swansea CityA0–02,2203930 March 1974Mansfield TownA1–11,909Graham401 April 1974Crewe AlexandraH3–05,552Cross, Metchick, Simmons416 April 1974Stockport CountyH0–05,6254212 April 1974Colchester UnitedA1–28,155Simmons4313 April 1974ChesterA0–02,7754416 April 1974Colchester UnitedH0–07,4784520 April 1974Bradford CityH2–05,224Simmons, Poole4627 April 1974GillinghamA0–19,319
FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer1R24 November 1973Plymouth ArgyleA1–211,050Allen
Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer1R28 August 1973OrientH1–26,620Webb Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies,Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 80-87.Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 304-305. Statto
Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1973–74 season. Pos.NameNat.Date of birth (age)Signed fromSigned inNotesGoalkeepersGKPaul PriddyMaidenhead United1972GKSteve SherwoodChelsea1973On loan from ChelseaDefendersDFMichael AllenMiddlesbrough1971DFPaul BenceReading1970Loaned to Hillingdon BoroughDFJimmy GabrielBournemouth1974CoachDFPeter GelsonYouth1961DFAlan HawleyYouth1962Loaned to Hillingdon Borough and AldershotDFGordon Riddick (c)Northampton Town1973DFTerry ScalesWest Ham United1971DFGary SmithYouth1974MidfieldersMFJohn DochertyReading1970Assistant managerMFJackie GrahamGuildford City1970MFDave MetchickAtlanta Apollos1973MFAlan NelmesChelsea1967MFBarry SalvageQueens Park Rangers1973ForwardsFWRoy CottonYouth1973FWRoger CrossFulham1973FWKevin HardingYouth1974FWRichard PooleYouth1974FWDave SimmonsCambridge United1974FWStan WebbCarlisle United1972FWAndy WoonBognor Regis Town1973Players who left the club mid-seasonGKGary TowseCrystal Palace1973ReleasedDFMichael BrownBrighton & Hove Albion1973Returned to Brighton & Hove Albion after loanMFStewart HoustonChelsea1972Transferred to Manchester UnitedMFHughie ReedPlymouth Argyle1973Returned to Plymouth Argyle after loan Sources: The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies, Timeless Bees
Coaching staff NameRole Mike EverittManager John DochertyAssistant manager Jimmy GabrielCoach Jess WillardTrainer, Chief Scout
Statistics
Appearances and goals Substitute appearances in brackets. PosNatNameLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKPaul Priddy2501010270GKGary Towse50000050DFMichael Allen27 (5)20 (1)11026 (8)3DFPaul Bence3000010310DFJimmy Gabriel90——90DFPeter Gelson4001010420DFAlan Hawley2200010230DFGordon Riddick26 (1)210—27 (1)2DFTerry Scales3311010351MFJohn Docherty13 (1)1100014 (1)1MFJackie Graham3121000322MFStewart Houston2311010251MFDave Metchick33 (1)310—34 (1)3MFAlan Nelmes3301010350MFBarry Salvage3750010385FWRoy Cotton1 (1)000001 (1)0FWRoger Cross39 (2)17101041 (2)17FWKevin Harding50000050FWRichard Poole5 (1)100005 (1)1FWDave Simmons124——124FWStan Webb13 (2)2001114 (2)3FWAndy Woon24 (3)7100 (1)025 (4)7Players loaned in during the seasonGKSteve Sherwood160——160DFMichael Brown30——30MFHughie Reed3 (1)0——3 (1)0 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford
Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL4FACFLCTotalFWRoger Cross170017FWAndy Woon7007MFBarry Salvage5005FWDave Simmons4——4MFDave Metchick30—3DFMichael Allen2103FWStan Webb2013DFGordon Riddick20—2MFJackie Graham2002MFJohn Docherty1001MFStewart Houston1001FWRichard Poole1001DFTerry Scales1001Total481150 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford
Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Mike Everitt25 August 197327 April 1974
Summary Games played 48 (46 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)Games won 12 (12 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)Games drawn 16 (16 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)Games lost 20 (18 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)Goals scored 50 (48 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)Goals conceded 54 (50 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)Clean sheets 13 (13 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)Biggest league win 5–1 versus Barnsley, 29 September 1973Worst league defeat 3–0 on three occasions; 4–1 versus Scunthorpe United, 27 October 1973Most appearances 43, Roger Cross (41 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)Top scorer (league) 17, Roger CrossTop scorer (all competitions) 17, Roger Cross
Transfers & loans Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.June 1973GK Gary Towse Crystal PalaceFreeCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 88-92.September 1973MF Dave Metchick Atlanta ApollosTrialOctober 1973DF Gordon Riddick Northampton Town£4,000March 1974DF Jimmy Gabriel BournemouthFreeMarch 1974FW Dave Simmons Cambridge United£12,000Players loaned inDate fromPos.NameFromDate toRef.September 1973DF Michael Brown Brighton & Hove AlbionOctober 1973October 1973MF Hughie Reed Plymouth ArgyleNovember 1973January 1974GK Steve Sherwood ChelseaEnd of seasonPlayers transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.December 1973MF Stewart Houston Manchester United£55,0001973MF David Jenkins Hereford UnitedFreePlayers loaned outDate fromPos.NameToDate toRef.December 1973DF Paul Bence Hillingdon BoroughDecember 1973February 1974DF Alan Hawley Hillingdon BoroughFebruary 1974February 1974DF Alan Hawley AldershotMarch 1974Players releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.January 1974GK Gary Towse Jewish Guild1974May 1974FW Roy Cotton OrientJuly 1974Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 108.May 1974MF John Docherty Queens Park RangersJuly 1974May 1974DF Jimmy Gabriel Seattle Sounders1974May 1974DF Alan Hawley Hillingdon Borough1974May 1974FW Stan Webb DarlingtonJuly 1974
Awards Supporters' Player of the Year: Peter GelsonCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 295. Players' Player of the Year: Peter Gelson
References