During the 1985–86 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. Inferior home form and a number of key player departures meant that the Bees could finish no higher than 10th position.
Season summary
After the recent Heysel Stadium disaster and the Bradford City stadium fire, the financial implications of the work needed to bring Griffin Park up to standard hampered Brentford manager Frank McLintock's movement in the transfer market during the 1985 off-season.Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 150. The core of the previous season's Football League Trophy final team would be sold off, with midfielder Chris Kamara and forward Keith Cassells leaving before the beginning of the season and captain Terry Hurlock would later be sold for a club-record £95,000 fee in February 1986. Goalkeeper Trevor Swinburne and defender Paul Roberts were released and the mid-season retirement of goalscoring winger Gary Roberts also compounded the break-up of the team. McLintock re-signed bit-part goalkeeper Richard Key and midfielder Terry Bullivant on free transfers and also brought in 20-year-old centre back Terry Evans from non-league Hillingdon, a transfer which would go on to be an important contributor the club's success in the early 1990s.
The 1985–86 season proved to be one of consolidation in the Third Division for Brentford, with the team briefly challenging for promotion in August and for a three-month period in late 1985, but otherwise being rooted in mid-table. There was little cheer to be had in the cup competitions, but manager Frank McLintock was able to make some incoming mid-season transfers, bringing in midfielder Andy Sinton for a £25,000 fee and loaning wingers Steve Burke and Ian Holloway from Queens Park Rangers and Wimbledon respectively.White, p. 328-331. Forward Francis Joseph, top scorer during the 1982–83 season, returned from a long injury layoff in April 1986 and boosting the attack, which had been led alone by Robbie Cooke. Brentford finished the season in 10th place, with an away record superior to that of at Griffin Park.
League table
Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend WinDrawLoss
Pre-season and friendlies DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)27 July 1985WembleyA0–0n/a30 July 1985Wokingham TownA2–1n/aHurlock, Cooke7 August 1985SouthamptonH1–0962Butler10 August 1985Oxford UnitedH4–21,480Hurlock, Cooke, Lynch, Evans9 May 1986Tottenham HotspurH4–32,129Cassells, Holloway, F. Joseph, Roberts
Football League Third Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)117 August 1985Wolverhampton WanderersH2–15,576Bullivant, Murray224 August 1985Bristol RoversA1–04,140Lynch326 August 1985BournemouthH1–04,283Cooke431 August 1985Wigan AthleticA0–42,87157 September 1985Plymouth ArgyleH1–13,927Lynch613 September 1985Doncaster RoversA0–12,831717 September 1985ReadingH1–26,351Booker821 September 1985Lincoln CityA0–31,856928 September 1985Rotherham UnitedH1–13,257Alexander101 October 1985DarlingtonA5–32,447Alexander (3), Booker, Lynch115 October 1985Swansea CityH1–03,508Lynch1212 October 1985Bolton WanderersA2–14,106Wignall, Cooke1319 October 1985Newport CountyH0–03,6461422 October 1985WalsallA2–14,318Wignall, Hurlock1526 October 1985BlackpoolA0–45,448162 November 1985Cardiff CityH3–03,934Hurlock, Cooke, Lynch176 November 1985Derby CountyH3–34,707Murray, Cooke, Butler189 November 1985Bristol CityA0–06,5981923 November 1985ChesterfieldH1–03,502Roberts2030 November 1985York CityA0–13,6742114 December 1985BuryH1–04,038Sinton (pen)2222 December 1985Bristol RoversH1–05,724Cooke2328 December 1985BournemouthA0–04,006244 January 1986Cardiff CityA0–13,3982511 January 1986Wigan AthleticH1–34,048Booker2618 January 1986Wolverhampton WanderersA4–13,420Cooke (2), Sinton (2)2721 January 1986Notts CountyH1–14,002Evans2824 January 1986Doncaster RoversH1–33,568Cooke291 February 1986Plymouth ArgyleA0–24,873304 February 1986WalsallH1–33,015Alexander311 March 1986Rotherham UnitedA2–13,260Booker, Cooke328 March 1986Swansea CityA0–23,6833311 March 1986Newport CountyA2–11,508Lynch, Cooke3414 March 1986Bolton WanderersH1–13,284Booker3518 March 1986GillinghamA2–13,558Booker, Cooke3622 March 1986BlackpoolH1–13,528Cooke3729 March 1986Notts CountyA4–03,857Burke, Cooke (2), Holloway3831 March 1986GillinghamH1–24,702Cooke395 April 1986Derby CountyA1–111,026Holloway4013 April 1986Bristol CityH1–23,701Millen4116 April 1986ReadingA1–36,855Murray4219 April 1986ChesterfieldA3–12,344Cooke, Butler, Booker4322 April 1986Lincoln CityH0–13,0114426 April 1986York CityH3–32,864Hood (og), R. Joseph, F. Joseph453 May 1986BuryA0–02,953465 May 1986DarlingtonH2–12,824Millen, Cooke
FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)1R16 November 1985Bristol RoversH1–34,716Evans
Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)1R (1st leg)20 August 1985Cambridge UnitedA1–11,794Booker1R (2nd leg)3 September 1985Cambridge UnitedH2–0 (won 3–1 on aggregate)2,512Cooke (pen), Hurlock2R (1st leg)25 September 1985Sheffield WednesdayH2–25,352Alexander (2)2R (2nd leg)15 October 1985Sheffield WednesdayA0–2 (lost 2–4 on aggregate)11,132
Football League Trophy
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorerSR1 (match 1)15 January 1986Derby CountyH0–02,531SR1 (match 2)29 January 1986GillinghamA1–11,464Murray Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties,Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 152-164, 399. Statto
Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1985–86 season. Pos.NameNat.Date of birth (age)Signed fromSigned inNotesGoalkeepersGKRichard KeySwindon Town1985Non-contractGKGary PhillipsBarnet1984DefendersDFJamie BatesYouth1986Loaned to Maidstone UnitedDFTerry EvansHillingdon1985DFRoger JosephSouthall1984DFKeith MillenYouth1985DFJamie MurrayCambridge United1984DFDanis SalmanYouth1975DFSteve Wignall (c)Colchester United1984MidfieldersMFTerry BullivantUnattached1985MFSteve BurkeQueens Park Rangers1986On loan from Queens Park RangersMFIan HollowayWimbledon1986On loan from WimbledonMFTony LynchYouth1983MFAndy SintonCambridge United1985MFGeorge TorranceWokingham Town1984Loaned to Maidstone UnitedForwardsFWRowan AlexanderSt Mirren1984FWBob BookerBedmond Sports & Social1978FWSteve ButlerWindsor & Eton1984Loaned to Maidstone UnitedFWRobbie CookeCambridge United1984FWFrancis JosephWimbledon1982Players who left the club mid-seasonDFBobby FisherCambridge United1984ReleasedMFGary CooperQueens Park Rangers1985Returned to Queens Park Rangers after loanMFTerry HurlockLeytonstone/Ilford1980Transferred to ReadingMFGary RobertsWembley1980Released Sources: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties, Timeless Bees
Coaching staff NameRole Frank McLintockManager John DochertyAssistant Manager Ron WoolnoughPhysiotherapist
Statistics
Appearances and goals Substitute appearances in brackets. PosNatNameLeagueFA CupLeague CupFL TrophyTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKRichard Key30—000030GKGary Phillips430104020500DFTerry Evans18 (1)111102022 (1)2DFRoger Joseph27 (1)100302032 (1)1DFKeith Millen30 (2)200401035 (2)2DFJamie Murray453104021524DFDanis Salman400102020450DFSteve Wignall282103000322MFTerry Bullivant7 (1)11010009 (1)1MFTerry Hurlock272004110323MFTony Lynch28 (5)510402035 (5)5MFGary Roberts310000—31MFAndy Sinton263——20283MFGeorge Torrance18 (3)010401024 (3)0FWRowan Alexander24 (4)6102 (1)21 (1)028 (6)8FWBob Booker447104110508FWSteve Butler101000000101FWRobbie Cooke43 (1)1710412050 (1)18FWFrancis Joseph5 (3)10000005 (3)1Players loaned in during the seasonMFSteve Burke101———101MFGary Cooper9 (1)0———9 (1)0MFIan Holloway132———132 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: The Big Brentford Book of the EightiesCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 427.
Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL3FACFLCFLTTotalFWRobbie Cooke1701018FWBob Booker70108FWRowan Alexander60208MFTony Lynch50005DFJamie Murray30014MFAndy Sinton3——03MFTerry Hurlock20103MFIan Holloway2———2DFKeith Millen20002DFSteve Wignall20002DFTerry Evans11002MFSteve Burke1———1MFGary Roberts100—1MFTerry Bullivant10001FWSteve Butler10001FWFrancis Joseph10001DFRoger Joseph10001Opponents10001Total5815165 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties
Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Frank McLintock17 August 19855 May 1986
Summary Games played 53 (46 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)Games won 19 (18 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy)Games drawn 16 (12 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)Games lost 18 (16 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy)Goals scored 65 (58 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 5 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)Goals conceded 70 (61 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 5 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)Clean sheets 14 (12 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)Biggest league win 4–0 versus Notts County, 29 March 1986Worst league defeat 4–0 on two occasionsMost appearances 52, Jamie Murray (45 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)Top scorer (league) 17, Robbie CookeTop scorer (all competitions) 18, Robbie Cooke
Transfers & loans Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.July 1985DF Terry Evans Hillingdonn/aAugust 1985MF Terry BullivantUnattachedFreeAugust 1985GK Richard Key Swindon TownNon-contract29 November 1985GK Richard Key Swindon TownNon-contractDecember 1985MF Andy Sinton Cambridge United£25,000Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 168-173.1985MF Robbie Petersn/an/aCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 390.Players loaned inDate fromPos.NameFromDate toRef.September 1985MF Gary Cooper Queens Park RangersNovember 198512 March 1986MF Ian Holloway WimbledonEnd of seasonMarch 1986MF Steve Burke Queens Park RangersEnd of seasonPlayers transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.21 August 1985MF Chris Kamara Swindon Town£14,500August 1985FW Keith Cassells Mansfield Town£17,00027 October 1985GK Richard Key Swindon TownNon-contractFebruary 1986MF Terry Hurlock Reading£95,000Players loaned outDate fromPos.NameToDate toRef.September 1985FW Steve Butler Maidstone UnitedNovember 1985March 1986DF Jamie Bates Maidstone Unitedn/aMarch 1986MF George Torrance Maidstone Unitedn/aPlayers releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.October 1985DF Bobby Fisher Maidstone United1985January 1986MF Gary Roberts Barnet1986May 1986FW Rowan Alexander Greenock Morton1986May 1986MF Terry BullivantRetiredMay 1986FW Steve Butler Maidstone United1986May 1986MF Tony Lynch Maidstone United1986May 1986MF George Torrance Maidstone United1986
Awards Supporters' Player of the Year: Gary PhillipsCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 383. Players' Player of the Year: Gary Phillips
References