During the 1984–85 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. The season is best remembered for the club's first appearance in a Football League Trophy final, which was lost 3–1 to Wigan Athletic.
Season summary Frank McLintock prepared for his first full season as Brentford manager by trimming his squad, releasing goalkeeper Paddy Roche, defenders Jim McNichol, Ian Bolton, Graham Wilkins and forward Tony Mahoney.White, p. 324-326. His only significant signings were left back Jamie Murray from Cambridge United for £27,500 and centre back Steve Wignall from Colchester United for a £18,000 fee.
Manager McLintock presided over a season of transition in the Third Division, treading water in mid-table through to the end of 1984 and then dropping further in the early months of 1985. The goals of £20,000 signing Robbie Cooke allayed any fears that the club would be sucked into a relegation battle for the second successive season. The Bees repeated the previous season's feats in the League Cup and FA Cup, reaching the second and third rounds respectively. McLintock gave teenage defenders Keith Millen and Roger Joseph their debuts late in the season and both of whom would go on to become key players for the club. Brentford finished in 13th place in the Third Division.
Brentford's 1984–85 season is chiefly remembered for the club's run to the final of the Football League Trophy. The competition had been established in the 1982–83 season as the Football League Group Cup, but by 1984–85 the tournament had gained prestige, with sponsorship from Freight Rover and Wembley Stadium was announced as the venue for the final. The Bees won six matches in a row to reach the final, scoring 17 goals and conceding just three. The final was reached after an emphatic 6–0 Southern Area Final win over Newport County at Griffin Park, in which winger Gary Roberts scored four goals in a four-minute spell either side of half-time. The final versus Wigan Athletic at Wembley Stadium on 1 June 1985 was Brentford's first appearance at the ground since the 1942 London War Cup final. A disappointing defensive performance led to a 3–1 defeat, with Robbie Cooke scoring what proved to be the consolation goal.
Two club records were set or equalled during the season: Most Football League games without a clean sheet: 20 (29 September 1984 – 26 January 1985) Fastest hattrick (all competitions): 3 minutes – Gary Roberts (versus Newport County, Football League Trophy Southern Area final, 17 May 1985)
League table
Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend WinDrawLoss
Pre-season DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)1 August 1984WembleyA1–1n/aHurlock4 August 1984West Ham UnitedH1–02,109Cassells7 August 1984Baldock TownA1–2n/aMyers11 August 1984Tottenham HotspurH0–33,61215 August 1984ChelseaH0–32,77520 August 1984Luton TownH0–2893
Football League Third Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)125 August 1984OrientH0–14,17121 September 1984WalsallA1–04,747Booker38 September 1984Wigan AthleticH2–03,724Cassells, Salman418 September 1984Rotherham UnitedA1–13,644Hurlock522 September 1984Swansea CityH3–04,298Hurlock, Cassells (2)629 September 1984Cambridge UnitedA2–12,580Kamara, Cassells72 October 1984Doncaster RoversH1–14,901Harle (og)86 October 1984Bradford CityH0–14,196913 October 1984MillwallA0–25,3851020 October 1984GillinghamH5–24,053G. Roberts (3), Alexander, Cassells1123 October 1984BurnleyA1–32,916Malley (og)1227 October 1984York CityH2–14,261Salman, G. Roberts133 November 1984Bristol CityA1–17,674Kamara147 November 1984Derby CountyA0–110,5301510 November 1984Lincoln CityH2–24,115Cassells, Booker1624 November 1984BournemouthA0–14,1131727 November 1984Newport CountyA0–21,589181 December 1984Bolton WanderersH2–13,668Cassells, Kamara1915 December 1984Preston North EndA1–12,818G. Roberts2022 December 1984Hull CityA0–46,3542126 December 1984Bristol RoversH0–35,2542229 December 1984ReadingH2–15,161Booker, Richardson (og)231 January 1985Plymouth ArgyleA1–16,926Alexander2419 January 1985Wigan AthleticA1–13,358Cooke2526 January 1985Newport CountyH2–53,962Kamara (pen), Cooke262 February 1985Cambridge UnitedH2–03,254Cooke, Torrance279 February 1985Swansea CityA2–34,440Kamara, Cooke2816 February 1985Doncaster RoversA2–23,129Cooke, Salman2923 February 1985Bristol CityH1–24,526Booker302 March 1985York CityA0–14,288315 March 1985BurnleyH2–13,267Cooke, Butler329 March 1985GillinghamA0–25,7993323 March 1985Bradford CityA4–56,038Cooke (3), Booker3427 March 1985WalsallH3–13,021G. Roberts, Hurlock, Cooke3530 March 1985Derby CountyH1–14,423G. Roberts366 April 1985Bristol RoversA0–34,419378 April 1985Plymouth ArgyleH3–14,043Cassells (2, 1 pen), G. Roberts3813 April 1985Lincoln CityA1–11,980Cooke3916 April 1985OrientA1–03,164Booker4020 April 1985BournemouthH0–03,5594123 April 1985Rotherham UnitedH3–03,019G. Roberts (2), Cassells4227 April 1985Bolton WanderersA1–14,230Kamara434 May 1985Preston North EndH3–13,476Booker, G. Roberts, Cooke446 May 1985ReadingA0–03,8984511 May 1985Hull CityH2–14,309Skipper (og), Cassells (pen)4619 May 1985MillwallH1–15,050Cassells
FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)1R17 November 1984Bishop's StortfordH4–03,948Alexander (2), Cassells (2)2R8 December 1984Northampton TownH2–24,449Alexander, Cassells (pen)2R (replay)17 December 1984Northampton TownA2–03,610Hurlock, Cassells3R5 January 1985Oldham AthleticA1–24,163Kamara
Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)1R (1st leg)28 August 1984Cambridge UnitedH2–03,037G. Roberts (2)1R (2nd leg)4 September 1984Cambridge UnitedA0–1 (won 2–1 on aggregate)2,3472R (1st leg)26 September 1984Leicester CityA2–47,638Alexander, Kamara2R (2nd leg)9 October 1984Leicester CityH0–2 (lost 6–2 on aggregate)6,291
Football League Trophy
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)NotesSR1 (1st leg)6 February 1985ReadingA3–12,500Torrance (2), P. RobertsSR1 (2nd leg)26 February 1985ReadingH2–0 (won 5–1 on aggregate)2,011Wignall, G. RobertsSR219 March 1985Cambridge UnitedH1–02,003CookeSQF11 April 1985Swansea CityA2–01,653Booker (2)SSF30 April 1985BournemouthA3–24,657Cooke (2), KamaraSF17 May 1985Newport CountyH6–08,214Cassells (2, 1 pen), G. Roberts (4)F1 June 1985Wigan AthleticN1–339,897CookeMatch played at Wembley Stadium, London. Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties,Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 124-136. Statto
Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1984–85 season. Pos.NameNat.Date of birth (age)Signed fromSigned inNotesGoalkeepersGKGary PhillipsBarnet1984GKTrevor SwinburneCarlisle United1983DefendersDFBobby FisherCambridge United1984DFRoger JosephSouthall1984DFKeith MillenYouth1985DFJamie MurrayCambridge United1984DFPaul RobertsMillwall1983DFDanis SalmanYouth1975DFSteve WignallColchester United1984MidfieldersMFBob BookerBedmond Sports & Social1978MFTerry BullivantCharlton Athletic1983MFTerry Hurlock (c)Leytonstone/Ilford1980MFChris KamaraPortsmouth1981MFTony LynchYouth1983MFGary RobertsWembley1980MFGeorge TorranceWokingham Town1984ForwardsFWRowan AlexanderSt Mirren1984FWSteve ButlerWindsor & Eton1984FWKeith CassellsSouthampton1983FWRobbie CookeCambridge United1984Loaned from Cambridge United before transferring permanentlyFWFrancis JosephWimbledon1982Players who left the club mid-seasonGKRichard KeyOrient1984ReleasedMFTommy FinneyCambridge United1984ReleasedMFTerry RoweYouth1982Released Sources: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties, Timeless Bees
Coaching staff NameRole Frank McLintockManager John DochertyAssistant Manager Ron WoolnoughPhysiotherapist Ted DaviesChief Scout
Statistics
Appearances and goals Substitute appearances in brackets. PosNatNameLeagueFA CupLeague CupFL TrophyTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKRichard Key10———10GKGary Phillips210000070280GKTrevor Swinburne240404000320DFBobby Fisher27 (1)030402036 (1)0DFRoger Joseph1000000010DFKeith Millen16 (1)000005021 (1)0DFJamie Murray460404070610DFPaul Roberts27 (1)030401 (1)135 (2)1DFDanis Salman433404070583DFSteve Wignall360302061471MFBob Booker35 (3)72 (1)0206245 (4)9MFTerry Bullivant5000003 (2)08 (2)0MFTommy Finney501020—80MFTerry Hurlock403414060544MFChris Kamara38 (1)641416152 (1)9MFTony Lynch5 (5)0000 (1)0207 (6)0MFGary Roberts391140425 (1)552 (1)18MFTerry Rowe10—00—10MFGeorge Torrance11 (2)110—1 (2)213 (4)3FWRowan Alexander17 (2)233210 (1)022 (3)6FWSteve Butler3100—1041FWKeith Cassells38 (2)1244205249 (2)18FWRobbie Cooke2412——743116FWFrancis Joseph3000200050 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: The Big Brentford Book of the EightiesCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 426.
Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL3FACFLCFLTTotalFWKeith Cassells1240218MFGary Roberts1102518FWRobbie Cooke12——416MFBob Booker70029MFChris Kamara61119FWRowan Alexander23106MFTerry Hurlock31004DFDanis Salman30003MFGeorge Torrance10—23FWSteve Butler10—01DFPaul Roberts00011DFSteve Wignall00011Opponents40004Total62941893 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties
Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Frank McLintock25 August 19841 June 1985
Summary Games played 61 (46 Third Division, 4 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 7 Football League Trophy)Games won 25 (16 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 6 Football League Trophy)Games drawn 15 (14 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy)Games lost 21 (16 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 3 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)Goals scored 93 (62 Third Division, 9 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 18 Football League Trophy)Goals conceded 81 (64 Third Division, 4 FA Cup, 7 League Cup, 6 Football League Trophy)Clean sheets 15 (8 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 4 Football League Trophy)Biggest league win 3–0 on two occasions; 5–2 versus Gillingham, 20 October 1984Worst league defeat 4–0 versus Hull City, 22 December 1984Most appearances 61, Jamie Murray (46 Third Division, 4 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 7 Football League Trophy)Top scorer (league) 12, Keith Cassells, Robbie CookeTop scorer (all competitions) 18, Keith Cassells, Gary Roberts
Transfers & loans Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.July 1984DF Jamie Murray Cambridge United£27,500August 1984DF Roger Joseph SouthallTrialAugust 1984GK Richard Key Orientn/aAugust 1984DF Steve Wignall Colchester United£18,000Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 138-144.September 1984GK Rowan Alexander St Mirren£25,000December 1984FW Steve Butler Windsor & Etonn/aDecember 1984GK Gary Phillips Barnet£4,000December 1984MF George Torrance Wokingham Townn/aMarch 1985FW Robbie Cooke Cambridge United£20,000April 1985DF Jamie Bates Crystal Palacen/aPlayers loaned inDate fromPos.NameFromDate toRef.January 1985FW Robbie Cooke Cambridge UnitedMarch 1985Players loaned outDate fromPos.NameToDate toRef.December 1984DF Tony Spencer AldershotMarch 1985Players releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.July 1984DF Ian Bolton BarnetJuly 1984September 1984GK Richard Key SunderlandOctober 1984October 1984DF Terry Rowe Wichita Wings1984December 1984MF Tommy Finney Cambridge UnitedDecember 1984April 1985DF Tony SpencerRetiredMay 1985MF Terry BullivantRetiredMay 1985DF Paul Robertsn/aMay 1985GK Trevor Swinburne Leeds UnitedJune 1985
Awards Supporters' Player of the Year: Danis SalmanCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 383. Players' Player of the Year: Danis Salman
Notes
References