During the 1982–83 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. The high point of a mid-table season was a run to the fourth round of the League Cup, then the furthest the club had then progressed in the competition. The 107 goals scored during the season is a club record.
Season summary After many failed attempts, Brentford manager Fred Callaghan finally signed what would prove to be a potent strike partnership during the 1982 off-season – Francis Joseph from Wimbledon and Tony Mahoney from Fulham.White, p. 318–320. Goalkeeper David McKellar's contract was terminated after a serious breach of club discipline and he was replaced by former Chelsea goalkeeper Petar Borota. Barota only appeared in three Football League Group Cup fixtures before being in turn replaced by Paddy Roche. The defensive ranks were cleared out, with Pat Kruse, Mark Hill, Robbie Johnson, Paul Shrubb and Kevin Teer all released.Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 65. Experienced former Chelsea defender Graham Wilkins arrived on a free transfer.
Brentford had a busy first half of the season, reaching the fourth round of the League Cup for the first time in club history. Higher-division clubs Blackburn Rovers and Swansea City were knocked out in the second and third rounds before the Bees fell to First Division club Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. Brentford advanced to the second round of the FA Cup, before suffering a disappointing replay defeat to Fourth Division club Swindon Town. Forward Tony Mahoney, who had up until that point scored 15 goals in 28 appearances, broke his leg in three places during the defeat.
Despite heavy scoring from forwards Francis Joseph, Tony Mahoney and winger Gary Roberts early season, Brentford's league form was patchy mid-season. 10 defeats from 14 matches between late December 1982 and early March 1983 ultimately killed hopes of a promotion challenge. Manager Fred Callaghan signed Southampton forward Keith Cassells in a bid to replace Tony Mahoney's goals and while there was an upturn in form during the final two months of the season, Brentford finished in 9th place. The Bees finished the season with the best overall and best away attacking records in the Third Division.
Four club records were set or equalled during the season: Most goals scored in a season (all competitions): 107 Record Football League away win: 7–1 versus Exeter City, 23 April 1983Haynes, p. 17. Most goals scored in an away Football League win: 7 (7–1 versus Exeter City, 23 April 1983) Three goalscorers with 10 or more goals by Christmas Day (all competitions): Francis Joseph, Gary Roberts, Tony Mahoney
League table
Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend WinDrawLoss
Pre-season and friendlies DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)5 August 1982HayesA0–3n/a6 August 1982Walton & HershamA2–0n/aRoberts, Johnson12 August 1982KingstonianA2–0n/aJohnson, Tonge13 October 1982Flackwell HeathA2–1n/aRoberts, Mahoney10 May 1983SouthamptonH0–22,048
Football League Third Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)128 August 1982Bristol RoversH5–15,542Mahoney, Joseph (2), Roberts (2)24 September 1982Wigan AthleticA2–35,019Mahoney, Joseph38 September 1982ReadingA1–13,790Joseph411 September 1982Southend UnitedH4–25,604Mahoney (2), Joseph, Roberts518 September 1982OrientA3–33,458Mahoney, Roberts, Booker625 September 1982MillwallH1–16,455McNichol728 September 1982Newport CountyH2–05,706Joseph, Mahoney82 October 1982WalsallA1–22,723Kamara99 October 1982ChesterfieldH4–25,706Hurlock, Joseph (2), Bowles (pen)1016 October 1982Doncaster RoversA4–43,266Mahoney, McNichol, Roberts, Booker1120 October 1982Oxford UnitedA2–26,324Joseph, Mahoney1223 October 1982Lincoln CityH2–08,017Joseph, Bowen1330 October 1982Plymouth ArgyleA0–24,036142 November 1982Preston North EndH3–16,142McNichol, Kamara, Roberts156 November 1982Bradford CityH0–26,6691613 November 1982Huddersfield TownA0–210,0341727 November 1982Sheffield UnitedA2–110,202Booker, Joseph184 December 1982WrexhamH4–15,606Kamara, Mahoney, Joseph (2)1918 December 1982Exeter CityH4–05,580Bowles, Walker, Whitehead, Booker2027 December 1982PortsmouthA1–214,476Joseph2128 December 1982GillinghamH1–17,796Joseph221 January 1983BournemouthA3–45,593Roberts, Joseph (2)233 January 1983Cardiff CityH1–37,602Bowles (pen)248 January 1983Wigan AthleticH1–34,939Roberts2515 January 1983Bristol RoversA0–25,4502622 January 1983OrientH5–25,209Booker (2), Bowles (pen), Roberts, Hurlock2729 January 1983Southend UnitedA2–43,310Kamara, Roberts286 February 1983Newport CountyA0–03,4012912 February 1983ReadingH1–26,273Bowles (pen)3019 February 1983ChesterfieldA1–22,291Cassells3126 February 1983Doncaster RoversH1–04,413Bowles (pen)321 March 1983Preston North EndA0–33,663335 March 1983Lincoln CityA1–23,698Cassells3411 March 1983Plymouth ArgyleH2–04,967Joseph, Kamara3519 March 1983Bradford CityA1–03,828Cassells3622 March 1983Oxford UnitedH1–15,086Bowles3726 March 1983Huddersfield TownH1–06,277Bowles (pen)381 April 1983PortsmouthH1–112,593Joseph392 April 1983GillinghamA2–24,168Kamara (2)408 April 1983WrexhamA4–32,104Kamara, Cassells, Joseph (2)4116 April 1983WalsallH2–34,868Bowles (pen), Cassells4223 April 1983Exeter CityA7–12,759Joseph (2), Kamara (2), Cassells (2), Roberts4330 April 1983Sheffield UnitedH2–14,987Hurlock, Roberts442 May 1983Cardiff CityA1–39,112Kamara458 May 1983MillwallA0–19,0974614 May 1983BournemouthH2–16,191Joseph, Bowles (pen)
FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)Notes1R20 November 1982Windsor & EtonA7–06,309Mahoney (3), McNichol, Joseph, Hurlock (2)Match played at Griffin Park, Brentford.2R11 December 1982Swindon TownA2–27,176Bowen, Roberts2R (replay)14 December 1982Swindon TownH1–3 7,883Roberts
Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)1R (1st leg)30 August 1982WimbledonA1–12,907Roberts1R (2nd leg)14 September 1982WimbledonH2–0 (won 3–1 on aggregate)5,747Mahoney (2)2R (1st leg)5 October 1982Blackburn RoversH3–26,201Joseph, Hurlock, Bowles (pen)2R (2nd leg)27 October 1982Blackburn RoversA0–0 (won 3–2 on aggregate)4,1373R9 November 1982Swansea CityH1–115,262Roberts3R (replay)17 November 1982Swansea CityA2–16,676Roberts, Mahoney4R30 November 1982Nottingham ForestA0–216,479
Football League Group Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)NotesR1 (match 1)14 August 1982Crystal PalaceH2–23,397Joseph, RobertsMatch not classified as a first team fixture by Brentford.R1 (match 2)17 August 1982MillwallA0–32,105R1 (match 3)21 August 1982WimbledonA3–12,019Johnson, Roberts, Mahoney Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties,Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 70–83.Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 392–393. Statto
Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1982–83 season. Pos.NameNat.Date of birth (age)Signed fromSigned inNotesGoalkeepersGKPaddy RocheManchester United1982DefendersDFBob BookerBedmond Sports & Social1978DFRon HarrisChelsea1980Assistant managerDFJim McNicholLuton Town1978DFTerry RoweYouth1982DFDanis SalmanYouth1975DFTony SpencerYouth1982DFBarry TuckerNorthampton Town1978Loaned to Northampton TownDFAlan WhiteheadBury1981DFGraham WilkinsChelsea1982MidfieldersMFStan BowlesOrient1981MFTerry HurlockLeytonstone/Ilford1980MFChris Kamara (c)Portsmouth1981MFGary RobertsWembley1980MFKeith TongeYouth1982MFPaul WalkerYouth1976ForwardsFWKeith CassellsSouthampton1983FWGary JohnsonChelsea1980FWFrancis JosephWimbledon1982FWTony MahoneyFulham1982Players who left the club mid-seasonGKPetar BorotaChelsea1982ReleasedDFJimmy HolmesLeicester City1983ReleasedDFLes StrongFulham1982Returned to Fulham after loanFWKeith BowenNorthampton Town1981Loaned to Colchester United, transferred to Colchester United 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 CupFL Grp CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKPetar Borota00—003000GKPaddy Roche4603070—560DFBob Booker31 (8)62 (1)03 (1)01 (2)036 (10)6DFRon Harris90104000140DFJimmy Holmes40———40DFJim McNichol323116020384DFTerry Rowe340306010430DFDanis Salman1000000010DFTony Spencer90001010100DFBarry Tucker50—202070DFAlan Whitehead411307030511DFGraham Wilkins24 (1)020203028 (1)0MFStan Bowles42103071205211MFTerry Hurlock393325130476MFChris Kamara44113070305411MFGary Roberts45123273325517MFPaul Walker9 (7)10000009 (7)1FWKeith Bowen5 (8)10 (2)10 (1)0105 (11)2FWKeith Cassells167———167FWGary Johnson4 (4)00000214 (4)0FWFrancis Joseph43243171115326FWTony Mahoney1893373212815Players loaned in during the seasonDFLes Strong50———50 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Football League Group Cup appearances and goals are not included in overall player totals. Source: The Big Brentford Book of the EightiesCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 424.
Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL3FACFLCGPCTotalFWFrancis Joseph2411126MFGary Roberts1223217FWTony Mahoney933115MFChris Kamara1100011MFStan Bowles1001011FWKeith Cassells7———7DFBob Booker60006MFTerry Hurlock32106DFJim McNichol31004FWKeith Bowen11002MFPaul Walker10001DFAlan Whitehead10001FWGary Johnson0001—Total881095107 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Football League Group Cup appearances and goals are not included in overall player totals. Source: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties
Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Fred Callaghan28 August 198214 May 1983
Summary Games played 56 (46 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 7 League Cup)Games won 22 (18 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 3 League Cup)Games drawn 14 (10 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 3 League Cup)Games lost 20 (18 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)Goals scored 107 (88 Third Division, 10 FA Cup, 9 League Cup)Goals conceded 89 (77 Third Division, 5 FA Cup, 7 League Cup)Clean sheets 11 (8 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)Biggest league win 7–1 versus Exeter City, 23 April 1983Worst league defeat 3–0 versus Preston North End, 1 March 1983Most appearances 56, Paddy Roche (46 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 7 League Cup)Top scorer (league) 24, Francis JosephTop scorer (all competitions) 26, Francis Joseph
Transfers & loans Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.July 1982FW Francis Joseph WimbledonTrialJuly 1982FW Tony Mahoney FulhamTrialJuly 1982DF Graham Wilkins ChelseaFreeCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 84–93.August 1982GK Petar Borota ChelseaFreeAugust 1982GK Paddy Roche Manchester UnitedFreeSeptember 1982GK Keith Waterman Farnboroughn/aNovember 1982GK Peter Caswell Leatherheadn/aNovember 1982MF Mark Hopsonn/an/aCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 382.February 1983FW Keith Cassells Southampton£25,000February 1983DF Jimmy Holmes Leicester CityNon-contractPlayers loaned inDate fromPos.NameFromDate toRef.December 1982DF Les Strong FulhamJanuary 1983Players transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.April 1983DF Keith Bowen Colchester United£12,000Players loaned outDate fromPos.NameToDate toRef.October 1982DF Barry Tucker Northampton TownEnd of seasonMarch 1983DF Keith Bowen Colchester UnitedApril 1983April 1983GK David McKellar Happy ValleyJuly 1983Players releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.August 1982GK Petar Borota Portimonense1982November 1982GK Keith Watermann/an/aMarch 1983DF Jimmy Holmes Torquay UnitedMarch 1983June 1983MF Stan BowlesRetiredJune 1983FW Gary Johnson Johannesburg Rangers1983June 1983MF Keith Tonge Leytonstone/Ilford1983June 1983DF Barry Tucker Northampton Town1983June 1983MF Paul Walker Johannesburg Rangers19831983GK Peter Caswelln/an/a
Awards Supporters' Player of the Year: Bob BookerCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 383. Players' Player of the Year: Bob Booker
Notes
References