1979–80 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1979–80 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. Despite challenging for promotion in the first half of the season, a barren run between December 1979 and March 1980 meant that the Bees' Third Division status was only preserved on the final day of the season.

Season summary Brentford manager Bill Dodgin Jr. oversaw one of the quietest off-seasons in recent years, with the only change being in the striking department – Andrew McCulloch departed for a club record £60,000 fee and in came Lee Holmes and Billy Holmes,White, p. 312-313. the latter for a £10,000 fee. In direct contrast to the previous two seasons, Brentford started strongly, winning six and drawing three of the first 11 league matches of the season to rise to 3rd position in the Third Division on 10 October 1979. Continued good results and a boost from the loan signing of winger Keith Fear put the Bees in 2nd place behind leaders Sheffield United one month later, but after a 7–2 victory over Hull City on 8 December (the Bees' biggest win of the season), the team's form collapsed.

Between 15 December 1979 and 29 March 1980, Brentford won just 7 of a possible 36 points and dropped from 3rd to 18th place. A 1–0 home defeat to Rotherham United at Griffin Park on 29 March left the Bees just two points above the relegation zone and the result spelt the end for manager Bill Dodgin Jr, who was given a paid leave of absence until the end of the season by the Brentford board. Former Woking manager Fred Callaghan was appointed to the position and oversaw something of a revival, though Brentford went into the final match of the season versus Millwall needing at least a point to guarantee safety. A goal from one of Bill Dodgin Jr.'s final signings, Tony Funnell, was enough to preserve Brentford's Third Division status.Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 198.

One club record was equalled during the season: Most consecutive away Football League clean sheets: 4 (8 September – 10 October 1979)

League table

Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend WinDrawLoss

Pre-season and friendlies DateOpponentVenueResultScorer(s)31 July 1979WrexhamH5–1Phillips (3), Shrubb, Fraser3 August 1979Charlton AthleticH2–1McNichol, L. Holmes7 August 1979St Albans CityA1–0McNichol8 August 1979Epson & EwellA2–0L. Holmes, Glover14 April 1980Slough TownA2–1Booker6 May 1980Tooting & Mitcham UnitedA1–2Phillips

Football League Third Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)118 August 1979ReadingA2–28,140Henderson (og), Fraser225 August 1979Swindon TownA0–47,20431 September 1979ChesterfieldH3–15,762Carlton, Fraser, W. Holmes48 September 1979Sheffield WednesdayA2–011,778L. Holmes, Phillips515 September 1979Grimsby TownH1–07,121Salman617 September 1979Exeter CityH0–27,809722 September 1979WimbledonA0–05,524829 September 1979Southend UnitedH2–06,928McNichol, Phillips93 October 1979Exeter CityA0–03,297106 October 1979BarnsleyH3–17,292Kruse, L. Holmes, Smith1110 October 1979Oxford UnitedA2–06,362McNichol, Phillips1213 October 1979BlackpoolA4–55,386Carlton, Phillips, W. Holmes, McNichol1320 October 1979Blackburn RoversH2–07,970McNichol, Phillips1422 October 1979Sheffield UnitedH1–213,764Smith1527 October 1979Plymouth ArgyleA1–05,203J. Graham163 November 1979ReadingH2–210,011Smith (2)176 November 1979Sheffield UnitedA2–014,808Tibbott (og), Smith1810 November 1979Colchester UnitedH1–09,070McNichol1917 November 1979Rotherham UnitedA2–44,709McNichol (2, 1 pen)201 December 1979Carlisle UnitedA1–34,275L. Holmes218 December 1979Hull CityH7–26,793Phillips (2), Booker (3), Fear, Kruse2215 December 1979Oxford UnitedH1–17,592Salman2321 December 1979BuryA2–42,443Fraser, Booker2426 December 1979ChesterH2–210,139McNichol, Fear2529 December 1979Swindon TownH1–312,122Fraser265 January 1980GillinghamH0–27,8492712 January 1980ChesterfieldA0–15,5292819 January 1980Sheffield WednesdayH2–28,389Phillips, L. Holmes292 February 1980Grimsby TownA1–59,817Phillips309 February 1980WimbledonH0–17,3833116 February 1980Southend UnitedA2–34,198Shrubb, Phillips3223 February 1980BlackpoolH2–16,403Booker, Salman331 March 1980Blackburn RoversA0–310,227348 March 1980Plymouth ArgyleH0–06,4623510 March 1980Mansfield TownA0–03,4613615 March 1980BarnsleyA0–19,3683718 March 1980MillwallA1–36,107Kruse3823 March 1980Colchester UnitedA1–63,821Funnell3929 March 1980Rotherham UnitedH0–14,992405 April 1980ChesterA1–12,930Phillips417 April 1980Mansfield TownH2–06,057L. Holmes, Phillips428 April 1980BuryH0–06,7514312 April 1980GillinghamA1–05,889Booker4419 April 1980Carlisle UnitedH0–36,1304526 April 1980Hull CityA1–25,382L. Holmes463 May 1980MillwallH1–07,033Funnell

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer1R24 November 1979Swindon TownA1–49,472Smith

Football League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer1R (1st leg)15 August 1979Southend UnitedA1–24,780L. Holmes1R (2nd leg)21 August 1979Southend UnitedH1–4 (lost 6–2 on aggregate)7,818Allder Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies,Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 158-169.Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 315. Statto

Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1979–80 season. Pos.NameNat.Date of birth (age)Signed fromSigned inNotesGoalkeepersGKLen BondBristol City1977GKTrevor PorterSlough Town1978DefendersDFIori JenkinsChelsea1979DFPat KruseTorquay United1977DFJim McNicholLuton Town1978DFDanis SalmanYouth1975DFPaul ShrubbHellenic1977DFBarry TuckerNorthampton Town1978MidfieldersMFDoug AllderUnattached1977MFDave CarltonNorthampton Town1976MFJohn FraserFulham1976MFAllan GloverOrient1978MFJackie Graham (c)Guildford City1970MFWillie GrahamNorthampton Town1977MFPaul WalkerYouth1976ForwardsFWBob BookerBedmond Sports & Social1978Loaned to BarnetFWTony FunnellGillingham1980FWBilly HolmesHereford United1979FWLee HolmesHaringey Borough1979FWSteve PhillipsNorthampton Town1977FWDean SmithLeicester City1977Players who left the club mid-seasonDFSteve HardingBristol Rovers1980Returned to Bristol Rovers after loanMFNoel ParkinsonIpswich Town1980Returned to Ipswich Town from loanFWKeith FearPlymouth Argyle1979Returned to Plymouth Argyle after loan Sources: The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies, Timeless Bees

Coaching staff

Bill Dodgin Jr. (15 August 1979 – 15 March 1980) NameRole Bill Dodgin Jr.Manager Tommy BaldwinAssistant Manager Eddie LyonsPhysiotherapist

Fred Callaghan (15 March – 3 May 1980) NameRole Fred CallaghanManager Eddie LyonsPhysiotherapist

Statistics

Appearances and goals Substitute appearances in brackets. PosNatNameLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKLen Bond4201020450GKTrevor Porter40000040DFIori Jenkins10——10DFPat Kruse4431020473DFJim McNichol3181020348DFDanis Salman39 (2)3101041 (2)3DFPaul Shrubb34 (5)10 (1)02036 (6)1DFBarry Tucker41 (1)0100042 (1)0MFDoug Allder19 (8)0101 (1)121 (9)1MFDave Carlton3821020412MFJohn Fraser4241020454MFAllan Glover3 (1)000205 (1)0MFJackie Graham30 (1)1100031 (1)1MFWillie Graham10000010MFPaul Walker2 (1)000002 (1)0FWBob Booker9 (3)6—009 (3)6FWTony Funnell8 (1)2——8 (1)2FWBilly Holmes8 (7)200008 (7)2FWLee Holmes26 (2)6002128 (2)7FWSteve Phillips45 (1)12102048 (1)12FWDean Smith20 (2)5112023 (2)6Players loaned in during the seasonDFSteve Harding3 (1)0——3 (1)0MFKeith Fear7 (1)2——7 (1)2MFNoel Parkinson9 (1)0——9 (1)0 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford

Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL3FACFLCTotalFWSteve Phillips120012DFJim McNichol8008FWLee Holmes7007FWBob Booker6006FWDean Smith5106MFJohn Fraser4004DFPat Kruse3003DFDanis Salman3003MFKeith Fear2——2FWTony Funnell2——2MFDave Carlton2002FWBilly Holmes2002MFDoug Allder1001MFJackie Graham1001DFPaul Shrubb1001Opponents2002Total591262 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford

Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Bill Dodgin, Jr.15 August 197929 March 1980Fred Callaghan29 March 19803 May 1980

Summary Games played 49 (46 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)Games won 15 (15 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)Games drawn 11 (11 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)Games lost 23 (20 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)Goals scored 62 (59 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)Goals conceded 83 (73 Third Division, 4 FA Cup, 6 League Cup)Clean sheets 16 (16 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)Biggest league win 7–2 versus Hull City, 8 December 1979Worst league defeat 6–1 versus Colchester United, 23 March 1980Most appearances 49, Steve Phillips (46 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)Top scorer (league) 12, Steve PhillipsTop scorer (all competitions) 12, Steve Phillips

Transfers & loans Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.June 1979FW Lee Holmes Haringey Boroughn/aAugust 1979FW Billy Holmes Hereford United£10,000September 1979DF Dave O'Mahoneyn/an/aNovember 1979DF Iori Jenkins ChelseaFree1979MF Terry Benning Watfordn/aCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 212-216.January 1980n/a Barry Bowenn/aNon-contractMarch 1980FW Tony Funnell Gillingham£56,000Players loaned inDate fromPos.NameFromDate toRef.November 1979MF Keith Fear Plymouth ArgyleJanuary 198017 January 1980DF Steve Harding Bristol RoversFebruary 198019 February 1980MF Noel Parkinson Ipswich TownApril 1980Players transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.June 1979FW Andrew McCulloch Sheffield Wednesday£60,000Players loaned outDate fromPos.NameToDate toRef.October 1979FW Bob Booker BarnetDecember 1979Players releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.May 1980MF Doug Allder Tooting & Mitcham United1980May 1980MF Terry Benningn/an/aMay 1980MF Allan Glover Staines Town1980May 1980MF Jackie Graham Addlestone & Weybridge Town1980May 1980FW Billy Holmes Aylesbury United1980May 1980GK Trevor PorterRetiredWhite, p. 314.

Awards Supporters' Player of the Year: Pat KruseCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 295. Players' Player of the Year: Pat Kruse

References