During the 1981–82 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. After losing ground in January and February 1982, just one win from the final five matches of the season ended the Bees' hopes of promotion.
Season summary
Aside from the club record signing of £65,000 central defender Alan Whitehead, Brentford manager Fred Callaghan presided over a quiet 1981 off-season at Griffin Park.White, p. 316-317. Goalkeeper Paul Priddy returned to the club for a third spell on a part-time contract as cover for David McKellar, but the club went into the season understaffed in the striking department, having lost Gary Johnson to injury in a car crash and a suitable replacement could not be found in time. Bids for midfielders John Beck, Jeff Chandler, forward David Kemp and former Brentford player Andrew McCulloch had failed to yield any transfers.
Despite going unbeaten in the first four Third Division matches of the season, a bad run of results in September and October 1981 dropped the club to just above the relegation places. Manager Callaghan acted swiftly in the transfer market, signing midfielders Stan Bowles, Chris Kamara and finally bolstering the forward line with the acquisition of Keith Bowen. The upturn in form was immediate and seven wins and one draw from a 10-match spell lifted the Bees from 18th place on 17 October to 4th on 28 December. The run included five consecutive away league wins, which equalled the club record.
Brentford began 1982 with a run in which the team took just two points from a possible 24, which dropped the club back into mid-table. Former player Gordon Sweetzer briefly returned to Griffin Park in January, but scored just one goal in 9 appearances before returning to his native Canada. The team recovered in March and things further improved after forward David Kemp was finally signed on loan in March, but he succumbed to injury after just three appearances. A 2–1 win over Chester on 24 April put the Bees in 7th position, four points behind 3rd-place Lincoln City with five matches to play. Brentford's outside chances of promotion were killed off in the following match versus Wimbledon at Griffin Park, losing 3–2, having been leading 2–0. The Bees finished the season in 8th position.
League table
Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend WinDrawLoss
Pre-season and friendlies DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)5 August 1981WembleyA5–0n/aCrown, Walker, Booker, Rowe, B. Bowen8 August 1981Hillingdon BoroughA2–0n/aBooker, Roberts11 August 1981WokingA3–0n/aTonge (2), Roberts15 August 1981Cambridge UnitedH5–01,195Crown (3), Whitehead, Booker18 August 1981Brighton & Hove AlbionH1–3n/aBooker12 October 1981San Jose EarthquakesH8–23,970Roberts (3), K. Bowen (3), G. Johnson, Booker10 May 1982WatfordH1–22,098Roberts
Football League Third Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)129 August 1981FulhamA2–17,632Tucker (pen), Brown (og)25 September 1981WalsallH0–05,353312 September 1981PortsmouthA2–210,364Crown, Booker419 September 1981Plymouth ArgyleH0–04,943521 September 1981GillinghamH0–15,425626 September 1981Doncaster RoversA0–15,494729 September 1981Newport CountyA1–04,040Tucker83 October 1981Carlisle UnitedH1–24,587G. Johnson910 October 1981Exeter CityA1–33,589Crown1017 October 1981Lincoln CityH3–14,187Booker, Whitehead, Tucker1119 October 1981Southend UnitedH0–15,0431224 October 1981ChesterfieldA2–05,525K. Bowen, Roberts1331 October 1981BurnleyH0–06,929143 November 1981Swindon TownA3–06,649G. Johnson, K. Bowen, Kamara157 November 1981Bristol CityH0–16,7581614 November 1981Oxford UnitedA2–15,693G. Johnson (2)1728 November 1981ChesterH1–05,201McNichol185 December 1981Preston North EndA3–14,171K. Bowen (2), G. Johnson1928 December 1981MillwallA1–07,474Roberts202 January 1982Huddersfield TownH0–15,4382119 January 1982WalsallA0–33,8532223 January 1982FulhamH0–110,8342327 January 1982ReadingA1–43,710Sweetzer2430 January 1982Plymouth ArgyleA0–15,008256 February 1982PortsmouthH2–25,947Tucker (pen), Bowles269 February 1982GillinghamA1–13,931Bowles2713 February 1982Carlisle UnitedA0–14,9422820 February 1982Newport CountyH2–04,297Roberts, Kamara2927 February 1982Exeter CityH2–04,934Whitehead, K. Bowen306 March 1982Lincoln CityA0–12,880318 March 1982Southend UnitedA1–14,058Kemp3213 March 1982ChesterfieldH2–05,374Roberts, Kamara3320 March 1982BurnleyA0–07,9063422 March 1982Bristol RoversH1–05,840Bowles (pen)3527 March 1982Bristol CityA1–06,243K. Bowen363 April 1982Oxford UnitedH1–25,786Booker379 April 1982MillwallH4–17,460G. Johnson, Booker, McNichol, Roberts3812 April 1982WimbledonA2–14,513Hurlock, Roberts3917 April 1982Preston North EndH0–05,6274019 April 1982Swindon TownH4–25,374Hurlock, K. Bowen, Bowles, McNichol4124 April 1982ChesterA2–11,484Kamara, G. Johnson4226 April 1982WimbledonH2–36,612Bowles, G. Johnson431 May 1982Doncaster RoversH2–24,124K. Bowen, Whitehead443 May 1982Bristol RoversA2–14,314Roberts, Kamara458 May 1982Huddersfield TownA1–14,542Bowles (pen)4615 May 1982ReadingH1–24,502Roberts
FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)1R21 November 1981Exeter CityH2–06,416K. Bowen (2)2R16 December 1981Colchester UnitedH1–15,448Roberts2R (replay)30 December 1981Colchester UnitedA0–15,532
Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance1R (1st leg)2 September 1981Oxford UnitedA0–13,6211R (2nd leg)15 September 1981Oxford UnitedH0–2 (lost 3–0 on aggregate)5,490 Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties,Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 48-59.Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 390-391. Statto
Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1981–82 season. Pos.NameNat.Date of birth (age)Signed fromSigned inNotesGoalkeepersGKDavid McKellarDerby County1980GKPaul PriddyHayes1981DefendersDFMark HillQueens Park Rangers1980DFRobbie JohnsonArsenal1981DFJim McNicholLuton Town1978DFTerry RoweYouth1982DFDanis SalmanYouth1975DFTony SpencerYouth1982DFBarry TuckerNorthampton Town1978DFAlan WhiteheadBury1981MidfieldersMFStan BowlesOrient1981MFRon HarrisChelsea1980Assistant managerMFTerry HurlockLeytonstone/Ilford1980MFChris Kamara (c)Portsmouth1981MFGary RobertsWembley1980MFPaul ShrubbHellenic1977MFKeith TongeYouth1982MFPaul WalkerYouth1976ForwardsFWBob BookerBedmond Sports & Social1978FWKeith BowenNorthampton Town1981FWGary JohnsonChelsea1980Players who left the club mid-seasonDFPat KruseTorquay United1977Loaned to Northampton Town, releasedMFDavid CrownWalthamstow Avenue1980Transferred to PortsmouthFWDavid KempPlymouth Argyle1982Returned to Plymouth Argyle after loanFWGordon SweetzerToronto Blizzard1982Released Sources: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties, Timeless Bees
Coaching staff NameRole Fred CallaghanManager Ron HarrisAssistant manager Eddie LyonsPhysiotherapist
Statistics
Appearances and goals Substitute appearances in brackets. PosNatNameLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKDavid McKellar4503020500GKPaul Priddy10000010DFMark Hill17 (1)0002019 (1)0DFRobbie Johnson10000010DFPat Kruse10000010DFJim McNichol2633000293DFTerry Rowe1000000100DFDanis Salman4002020440DFTony Spencer30——30DFBarry Tucker3843020434DFAlan Whitehead42 (1)3302047 (1)3MFStan Bowles31620—336MFDavid Crown7 (1)2—209 (1)2MFRon Harris19 (1)0102022 (1)0MFTerry Hurlock4023020452MFChris Kamara31530—345MFGary Roberts39 (1)8212043 (1)9MFPaul Shrubb40001050MFKeith Tonge0 (1)000000 (1)0MFPaul Walker7 (2)000108 (2)0FWBob Booker27 (11)4202031 (11)4FWKeith Bowen37 (1)832—40 (1)10FWGary Johnson29 (1)8300032 (1)8FWGordon Sweetzer8 (1)1——8 (1)1Players loaned in during the seasonFWDavid Kemp31——31 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: The Big Brentford Book of the EightiesCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 423.
Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL3FACFLCTotalFWKeith Bowen82—10MFGary Roberts8109FWGary Johnson8008MFStan Bowles60—6MFChris Kamara50—5FWBob Booker4004DFBarry Tucker4004DFJim McNichol3003DFAlan Whitehead3003MFDavid Crown2—02MFTerry Hurlock2002FWDavid Kemp1——1FWGordon Sweetzer1——1Opponents1001Total563059 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties
Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Fred Callaghan29 August 198115 May 1982
Summary Games played 51 (46 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)Games won 20 (19 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)Games drawn 12 (11 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)Games lost 19 (16 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)Goals scored 59 (56 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)Goals conceded 52 (47 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 3 League Cup)Clean sheets 16 (15 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)Biggest league win 3–0 versus Swindon Town, 3 November 1981; 4–1 versus Millwall, 9 April 1982Worst league defeat 3–0 versus Walsall, 19 January 1982; 4–1 versus Reading, 27 January 1982Most appearances 50, David McKellar (45 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)Top scorer (league) 8, Keith Bowen, Gary Johnson, Gary RobertsTop scorer (all competitions) 10, Keith Bowen
Transfers & loans Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.August 1981GK Paul Priddy Hayesn/aAugust 1981DF Alan Whitehead Bury£65,000Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 60-65.September 1981FW Keith Bowen Northampton Townn/aOctober 1981MF Stan Bowles Orient£25,000October 1981MF Chris Kamara PortsmouthExchange1981MF Keith Tongen/an/aJanuary 1982FW Gordon Sweetzer Toronto BlizzardTrialMarch 1982DF Tony Spencern/an/aPlayers loaned inDate fromPos.NameFromDate toRef.March 1982FW David Kemp Plymouth ArgyleMarch 1982Players transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.September 1981FW Tony Funnell Bournemouth£5,000October 1981MF David Crown PortsmouthExchangePlayers loaned outDate fromPos.NameToDate toRef.February 1982DF Pat Kruse Northampton TownApril 1982Players releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.March 1982FW Gordon Sweetzer Edmonton Drillers1982April 1982DF Pat Kruse Barnet1982May 1982DF Mark Hill Wycombe Wanderers1982May 1982DF Robbie Johnson Hayes1982May 1982GK Paul PriddyRetiredMay 1982MF Paul Shrubb AldershotAugust 1982May 1982DF Kevin Teern/an/a
Awards Supporters' Player of the Year: Stan BowlesCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 383. Players' Player of the Year: Alan Whitehead
References