During the 1983–84 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. A season of transition ended with a narrow escape from relegation.
Season summary
After two seasons in which, were it not for bad mid-season form, strong run-ins may have yielded a promotion challenge, Brentford manager Fred Callaghan kept his squad together. Save for the retirement of key midfielder Stan Bowles, Bowles' replacement Terry Bullivant was the only significant piece of transfer activity at Griffin Park during the 1983 off-season.White, p. 321-323. Goalkeeper Trevor Swinburne arrived to provide competition for Paddy Roche. With forward Tony Mahoney still not fully fit after recovering from a broken leg, Bill Garner was brought in from non-League football on non-contract terms.
Brentford showed poor form between the beginning of the season and Christmas Eve 1983 (as of , the 4–3 defeat to Wimbledon was the final Football League match played on that date). Two wins and 10 defeats from the opening 19 Third Division matches left the club just above the foot of the table. In the midst of the barren run in the league, a two-legged tie with then-First Division champions Liverpool in the second round of the League Cup failed to produce much cheer, with the Bees suffering an 8–1 aggregate defeat. A reduction in size of Griffin Park in the intervening years meant that the 17,858 crowd which attended the first leg was not bettered prior to the club's final first team match at the ground in July 2020.
Player/assistant manager Ron Harris was replaced with former Brentford manager Frank Blunstone in October 1983 and Harris later remarked that it had been an acrimonious parting. An ever-increasing list of injuries and suspensions led manager Fred Callaghan to make a number of signings during the final two months of 1983, including new captain Ian Bolton for £2,000 and previously on-loan defender Paul Roberts from Millwall for a £10,000 fee. Stan Bowles came out of retirement to assist the team on a non-contract basis. The signings had an effect, with the Bees going four matches undefeated in late December 1983 and early January 1984 to rise out of the relegation places. Defeats in the following two matches led chairman Martin Lange to act and sack manager Fred Callaghan on 2 February. Lange paid tribute to Callaghan by stating that Callaghan could "leave the club proud in the knowledge that he leaves the club far better equipped than when he arrived".
Assistant Frank Blunstone took caretaker charge of the team for one match before the appointment of former Leicester City manager Frank McLintock on 9 February. McLintock installed former Brentford player John Docherty as his assistant. McLintock took over a club in 21st position with 20 matches to play and conducted an overhaul of the playing staff, selling central defender Alan Whitehead and bringing in right back Bobby Fisher and midfielder Tommy Finney from Cambridge United, plus Nigel Gray and Bill Roffey on loan. Attacker Bob Booker was recalled to the starting lineup, Ian Bolton and Tony Mahoney were dropped, Terry Bullivant and Graham Wilkins departed on loan and Stan Bowles retired for a second time.
A slight upturn in form meant that Brentford went into their final match of the season versus Walsall perched atop the relegation zone in 20th place and needing a victory, but a 1–1 draw was all that could be mustered. Circumstances transpired that 21st-place Scunthorpe United's 1–1 draw on the same day, in their penultimate match of the season, meant that the Iron needed to win their final match by a margin of seven goals to secure their safety. Brentford's Third Division status was retained when Scunthorpe United lost in their season finale on the following Tuesday night.
League table
Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend WinDrawLoss
Pre-season and friendlies DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)3 August 1983KingstonianA6–0n/aCassells (3), Joseph, Spencer, Greenaway6 August 1983Tottenham HotspurH2–46,405Hurlock (2)8 August 1983Staines TownA2–1n/aHopson, Tully9 August 1983St Albans CityA2–3n/aHopson (2)10 August 1983West Ham UnitedH2–03,104G. Roberts, Joseph11 August 1983Walton & HershamA7–2 n/aCassells (2), Greenaway (2), Lynch (2), Garner13 August 1983AldershotA2–0n/aGarner, Cassells15 August 1983HayesA0–6n/a16 August 1983ReadingA2–5n/aKamara, Joseph20 August 1983Bristol CityA0–11,111Smith23 August 1983Bracknell TownA0–0n/a15 November 1983Queens Park RangersH3–21,414Mahoney (2), Davies14 May 1984ChelseaH3–63,461Cassells, McNichol, G. Roberts
Football League Third Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)127 August 1983MillwallH2–26,224Joseph, Kamara23 September 1983Preston North EndA3–33,957Joseph, G. Roberts, Cassells36 September 1983Bristol RoversA1–35,148Joseph410 September 1983Lincoln CityH3–04,777Kamara, Joseph (2)517 September 1983Wigan AthleticA1–23,034Garner624 September 1983BurnleyH0–08,04271 October 1983GillinghamA2–43,268Kamara, McNichol88 October 1983Oxford UnitedA1–27,326Kamara915 October 1983Hull CityH1–14,258Joseph1018 October 1983Port ValeH3–13,903Bullivant, G. Roberts, McNichol1122 October 1983Sheffield UnitedA0–09,8481229 October 1983BournemouthH1–14,630Joseph1331 October 1983Southend UnitedA0–63,182145 November 1983Plymouth ArgyleH2–24,183Mahoney, Cassells1512 November 1983OrientA0–23,6501626 November 1983Bradford CityH1–43,738G. Roberts173 December 1983Bolton WanderersA0–15,4161817 December 1983WalsallA0–13,9651924 December 1983WimbledonH3–46,689Kamara, McNichol, Hurlock2027 December 1983Exeter CityA2–14,303Cassells, G. Roberts2131 December 1983Newport CountyH2–14,631Hurlock, G. Roberts222 January 1984Scunthorpe UnitedA4–42,239Mahoney, Cassells (pen), McNichol, Joseph2315 January 1984MillwallA2–15,370Joseph (2)2421 January 1984Wigan AthleticH0–13,972251 February 1984Lincoln CityA0–22,266264 February 1984GillinghamH2–34,317Joseph, Bolton2711 February 1984BurnleyA2–27,027Cassells, Kamara2814 February 1984Southend UnitedH0–03,9612918 February 1984BournemouthA3–04,308Cassells (3)3025 February 1984Sheffield UnitedH1–35,100G. Roberts313 March 1984Port ValeA3–43,704G. Roberts, Gray, Joseph326 March 1984Plymouth ArgyleA1–14,322Hurlock3310 March 1984OrientH1–14,358Joseph3417 March 1984Oxford UnitedH1–25,936G. Roberts3520 March 1984Rotherham UnitedH2–13,391Booker, Mahoney (pen)3624 March 1984Hull CityA0–25,5723731 March 1984Bristol RoversH2–24,067Booker, Hurlock383 April 1984Preston North EndH4–13,446Kamara, Finney, G. Roberts, Booker397 April 1984Rotherham UnitedA0–43,7054014 April 1984Bolton WanderersH3–03,831Joseph, Deakin (og)4120 April 1984Exeter CityH3–05,620Joseph, Booker, Finney4221 April 1984WimbledonA1–25,487Joseph4328 April 1984Bradford CityA1–13,755Cassells445 May 1984Scunthorpe UnitedH3–04,561Rowe, Joseph, Roffey457 May 1984Newport CountyA1–12,154G. Roberts4612 May 1984WalsallH1–15,281Caswell (og)
FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)1R19 November 1983DagenhamA2–22,146Joseph, P. Roberts1R (replay)22 November 1983DagenhamH2–13,936Mahoney, G. Roberts2R10 December 1983WimbledonH3–25,666Kamara, G. Roberts, Joseph3R7 January 1984GillinghamA3–56,509G. Roberts, Hurlock, Cassells
Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)1R (1st leg)30 August 1983Charlton AthleticH3–04,858G. Roberts, Joseph, Berry (og)1R (2nd leg)13 September 1983Charlton AthleticA1–2 (won 4–2 on aggregate)3,6222R (1st leg)5 October 1983LiverpoolH1–417,859G. Roberts2R (2nd leg)25 October 1983LiverpoolA0–4 (lost 8–1 on aggregate)9,092
Football League Trophy
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)SR121 February 1984OrientH3–22,301Finney, Joseph (2)SR226 March 1983Plymouth ArgyleA0–2 2,308 Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties,Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 98-111.Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 394-396. Statto
Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1983–84 season. Pos.NameNat.Date of birth (age)Signed fromSigned inNotesGoalkeepersGKPaddy RocheManchester United1982GKTrevor SwinburneCarlisle United1983DefendersDFIan BoltonWatford1983DFBobby FisherCambridge United1984DFNigel GraySwindon Town1984On loan from Swindon TownDFJim McNicholLuton Town1978DFPaul RobertsMillwall1983Loaned from Millwall before transferring permanentlyDFBill RoffeyOrient1984On loan from OrientDFTerry RoweYouth1982DFDanis SalmanYouth1975DFTony SpencerYouth1982DFGraham WilkinsBury1982Loaned to Southend UnitedMidfieldersMFBob BookerBedmond Sports & Social1978MFTerry BullivantCharlton Athletic1983Loaned to ReadingMFTommy FinneyCambridge United1984MFMark HopsonMay 1966 (aged 17)Youth1982MFTerry Hurlock (c)Leytonstone/Ilford1980MFChris KamaraPortsmouth1981MFTony LynchYouth1983MFGary RobertsWembley1980ForwardsFWKeith CassellsSouthampton1983FWFrancis JosephWimbledon1982FWTony MahoneyFulham1982Players who left the club mid-seasonDFIan DaviesManchester City1983Returned to Manchester City after loanDFAndy RollingsTorquay United1983ReleasedDFAlan WhiteheadBury1981Loaned to Scunthorpe United, transferred to Scunthorpe UnitedMFStan BowlesUnattached1983ReleasedMFRon HarrisChelsea1980ReleasedFWBill GarnerChelmsford City1983Released Sources: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties, Timeless Bees
Coaching staff
Fred Callaghan (27 August 1983 – 2 February 1984) NameRole Fred CallaghanManager Frank BlunstoneAssistant Manager Eddie LyonsPhysiotherapist
Frank Blunstone (2 – 9 February 1984) NameRole Frank BlunstoneCaretaker Manager Eddie LyonsPhysiotherapist
Frank McLintock (9 February – 12 May 1984) NameRole Frank McLintockManager John DochertyAssistant Manager Eddie LyonsPhysiotherapist
Statistics
Appearances and goals Substitute appearances in brackets. PosNatNameLeagueFA CupLeague CupFL TrophyTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKPaddy Roche250300000280GKTrevor Swinburne210104020280DFIan Bolton14110—20171DFBobby Fisher170——20190DFJim McNichol19 (1)440300026 (1)4DFPaul Roberts34041—10391DFAndy Rollings10———10DFTerry Rowe18 (3)1202 (1)01023 (4)1DFDanis Salman210203010270DFTony Spencer5 (1)00020007 (1)0DFAlan Whitehead1803040—250DFGraham Wilkins12 (1)00 (1)0100013 (2)0MFBob Booker26 (3)40 (1)03 (1)02031 (5)4MFStan Bowles7 (1)010——8 (1)0MFTerry Bullivant241304000311MFTommy Finney14 (1)2——1115 (1)3MFRon Harris30—20—50MFTerry Hurlock324412020400MFChris Kamara37 (1)731401045 (1)8MFTony Lynch2000002040MFGary Roberts40 (1)1043321 (1)048 (2)15FWKeith Cassells26 (4)911200 (2)029 (6)10FWBill Garner2 (1)1———2 (1)1FWFrancis Joseph42 (1)1842422252 (1)24FWTony Mahoney15 (8)341101021 (8)4Players loaned in during the seasonDFIan Davies20———20DFNigel Gray161——10171DFBill Roffey131———131 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: The Big Brentford Book of the EightiesCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 425.
Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL3FACFLCFLTTotalFWFrancis Joseph1822224MFGary Roberts1032015FWKeith Cassells910010MFChris Kamara71008MFBob Booker40004DFJim McNichol40004FWTony Mahoney31004MFTommy Finney2——13FWBill Garner1———1DFBill Roffey1———1DFNigel Gray1——01DFIan Bolton10—01DFPaul Roberts01—01MFTerry Bullivant10001DFTerry Rowe10001Opponents20103Total69105387 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties
Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Fred Callaghan27 August 19831 February 1984Frank Blunstone (caretaker)4 February 19844 February 1984Frank McLintock11 February 198412 May 1984
Summary