During the 1986–87 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. Frank McLintock resigned as manager in January 1987 and his replacement Steve Perryman saved the club's season, elevating the Bees to an 11th-place finish.
Season summary It was all change at Griffin Park during the 1986 off-season.White, p. 331-333. Assistant manager John Docherty left the club to become manager of Millwall and took long-serving defender Danis Salman with him, for a "ridiculous" £20,000 fee which was settled by tribunal. Manager Frank McLintock released midfielders Terry Bullivant, Tony Lynch, George Torrance and forwards Rowan Alexander and Steve Butler.Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 173. Wimbledon winger Ian Holloway's loan was made permanent for a £28,000 fee and also arriving at Griffin Park were defender Phil Bater, midfielder Paul Maddy and forward Gary Stevens. The marquee signing of Chelsea winger Paul Canoville was set to be decided by tribunal, but fell through after Reading won the day with a £60,000 bid.
A poor start to the season led manager Frank McLintock to continue to act in the transfer market during the opening months. £35,000 midfielder Wayne Turner was installed as the new captain, Tony Obi arrived on loan and Henry Hughton and Robbie Carroll joined on non-contract terms. Brentford continued to tread water in the lower reaches of mid-table through November and December 1986 and McLintock attempted to remedy the situation by signing experienced defenders Steve Perryman and Micky Droy. By January 1987, the Brentford supporters were calling for the sacking of McLintock and after a 4–1 defeat to Port Vale on 24 January, the club's board announced that his contract would not be renewed at the end of the season. McLintock immediately left the club.
After Frank McLintock's departure, player Steve Perryman was announced as caretaker manager. An immediate turnaround in the team's form led the board, who had reportedly shown interest in Wimbledon's Dave Bassett, to appoint Perryman to the role on a permanent basis in late-February 1987. He made two important additions to the club's staff, appointing Phil Holder as assistant manager and signing forward Gary Blissett for a £60,000 fee from Crewe Alexandra. Perryman lost just five of his first 23 games in the job and steered Brentford to an 11th-place finish.
League table
Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend WinDrawLoss
Pre-season and friendlies DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)29 July 1986Ashford Town (Middlesex)A5–0n/aF. Joseph, Maddy, Allen, untraced (og)2 August 1986Baldock TownA1–1n/aBater5 August 1986West Ham UnitedH1–21,970F. Joseph9 August 1986Oxford UnitedH1–21,144Maddy13 August 1986Queens Park RangersH0–12,24516 August 1986OrientA1–1540Stevens28 October 1986Arsenal XIH6–3412F. Joseph (2), Carroll, og (2)15 May 1987Queens Park RangersH2–37,049Bowles, og
Football League Third Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)123 August 1986BournemouthH1–13,856Cooke (pen)230 August 1986Doncaster RoversA0–21,67536 September 1986Port ValeH0–23,150413 September 1986FulhamA3–14,820Stevens, Cooke, R. Joseph516 September 1986Carlisle UnitedA0–02,904620 September 1986DarlingtonH5–33,265Stevens (2), Bater, Cooke (pen)727 September 1986GillinghamA0–24,710830 September 1986BuryH0–23,23894 October 1986Newport CountyH2–03,231Sinton, Maddy1011 October 1986Mansfield TownA0–13,4561118 October 1986York CityH3–13,457Cooke, Stevens (2)1225 October 1986WalsallA2–54,495Cooke, Millen131 November 1986Bolton WanderersH1–23,522Maddy144 November 1986Notts CountyH1–03,057Carroll158 November 1986Chester CityA1–12,055Cooke1622 November 1986BlackpoolH1–14,471Stevens1730 November 1986Rotherham UnitedA3–23,148Sinton, Cooke (2)1813 December 1986Wigan AthleticA1–12,411Cooke1921 December 1986MiddlesbroughH0–15,5042026 December 1986Swindon TownA0–28,0862128 December 1986Bristol RoversH1–24,500Cooke221 January 1987ChesterfieldH2–23,622Cooke, Bater233 January 1987BlackpoolA0–24,3842410 January 1987BournemouthA1–14,682Millen2524 January 1987Port ValeA1–43,062Cooke261 February 1987FulhamH3–35,340Stevens, Sinton, Bates277 February 1987Carlisle UnitedH3–13,032Maddy, F. Joseph, Wright (og)2815 February 1987DarlingtonA1–12,303Droy2921 February 1987GillinghamH3–24,015Maddy, Stevens, Cooke3028 February 1987BuryA1–12,317Stevens313 March 1987Bolton WanderersA2–03,465Stevens, Cooke (pen)327 March 1987WalsallH0–13,4423314 March 1987York CityA1–22,426Cooke3417 March 1987Bristol CityH1–14,051Maddy3521 March 1987Mansfield TownH3–13,336Carroll (2), Cooke364 April 1987Chester CityH3–13,496Droy (2), Blissett (pen)377 April 1987Newport CountyA2–21,596Nogan, Blissett3811 April 1987Notts CountyA1–14,358Priest3914 April 1987Doncaster RoversH1–13,426Blissett4018 April 1987ChesterfieldA2–12,116Cooke, Williamson (og)4120 April 1987Swindon TownH1–17,443Cooke4225 April 1987MiddlesbroughA0–29,9424328 April 1987Bristol CityA2–09,050Carroll, Blissett442 May 1987Rotherham UnitedH2–03,425Cooke, Nogan454 May 1987Bristol RoversA1–03,513Sinton469 May 1987Wigan AthleticH2–34,235Sinton, Blissett (pen)
FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer1R3 December 1986Bristol RoversA0–03,0351R (replay)6 December 1986Bristol RoversH2–03,848Stevens (2)2R9 December 1986Cardiff CityA0–22,531
Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)1R (1st leg)26 August 1986Southend UnitedA0–11,5391R (2nd leg)2 September 1986Southend UnitedH2–3 (lost 2–4 on aggregate)2,632F. Joseph, Cooke
Football League Trophy
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)SPR (match 1)15 December 1986OrientA5–1749Cooke (4), GeddisSPR (match 2)6 January 1987Swindon TownH4–21,110Stevens, Sinton (2), CarrollSR126 January 1987WalsallH4–21,774F. Joseph (2), Stevens, MaddySQF10 February 1987Bristol CityA0–37,425 Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties,Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 178-193.Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 400-403. Statto
Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1986–87 season. Pos.NameNat.Date of birth (age)Signed fromSigned inNotesGoalkeepersGKRichard KeySwindon Town1985GKGary PhillipsBarnet1984GKJohn PowerKingstonian1987On loan from KingstonianDefendersDFPhil BaterBristol Rovers1986DFJamie BatesYouth1986DFMicky DroyCrystal Palace1986DFTerry EvansHillingdon1985DFRoger JosephSouthall1984DFKeith MillenYouth1985DFJamie MurrayCambridge United1984DFSteve PerrymanOxford United1986ManagerMidfieldersMFBob BookerBedmond Sports & Social1978MFRobbie CarrollGosport Borough1986MFIan HollowayWimbledon1986Loaned to Torquay UnitedMFPaul MaddyHereford United1986MFAndy SintonCambridge United1985MFWayne Turner (c)Coventry City1986ForwardsFWGary BlissettCrewe Alexandra1987FWRobbie CookeCambridge United1984FWFrancis JosephWimbledon1982Loaned to WimbledonFWLee NoganOxford United1987On loan from Oxford UnitedPlayers who left the club mid-seasonDFHenry HughtonCrystal Palace1986ReleasedDFSteve WignallColchester United1984Transferred to AldershotMFPaul MersonArsenal1987Returned to Arsenal after loanMFTony ObiOxford United1986Returned to Oxford United after loanMFPhilip PriestChelsea1987Returned to Chelsea after loanFWDavid GeddisBirmingham City1986Returned to Birmingham City after loanFWGary StevensShrewsbury Town1986Transferred to Hereford United Sources: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties, Timeless Bees
Coaching staff
Frank McLintock (23 August 1986 – 24 January 1987) NameRole Frank McLintockManager Steve PerrymanAssistant Manager Terry ManciniCoach Ron WoolnoughPhysiotherapist Sammy ChungChief Scout
Steve Perryman (24 January – 9 May 1987) NameRole Steve PerrymanPlayer-Manager Phil HolderAssistant Manager
Statistics
Appearances and goals Substitute appearances in brackets. PosNatNameLeagueFA CupLeague CupFL TrophyTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKRichard Key0000001010GKGary Phillips440302030520DFPhil Bater192301 (1)01024 (1)2DFJamie Bates20 (4)100003023 (4)1DFMicky Droy19330—20243DFTerry Evans1000001020DFHenry Hughton5 (3)00 (2)0—106 (5)0DFRoger Joseph3210 (1)0203037 (1)1DFKeith Millen39230201 (1)045 (1)2DFJamie Murray390301040470DFSteve Perryman23 (1)030—0026 (1)0DFSteve Wignall30—20—50MFBob Booker2000200040MFRobbie Carroll16 (6)410—2 (1)119 (7)5MFIan Holloway13 (3)030200 (1)018 (4)0MFPaul Maddy29 (2)520203136 (2)6MFAndy Sinton465302042557MFWayne Turner32000—40360FWGary Blissett105———105FWRobbie Cooke4020301 (1)12 (1)446 (2)25FWFrancis Joseph10 (3)100213215 (3)4FWGary Stevens29 (3)10321 (1)04237 (4)14Players loaned in during the seasonGKJohn Power20———20MFPaul Merson6 (1)0——1 (1)07 (2)0MFTony Obi100———100MFPhilip Priest3 (2)1———3 (2)1FWDavid Geddis40——1151FWLee Nogan10 (1)2———10 (1)2 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: The Big Brentford Book of the EightiesCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 428.
Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL3FACFLCFLTTotalFWRobbie Cooke2001425FWGary Stevens1020214MFAndy Sinton50027MFPaul Maddy50016FWGary Blissett5———5MFRobbie Carroll40—15FWFrancis Joseph10124DFMicky Droy30—03FWLee Nogan2———2DFPhil Bater20002DFKeith Millen20002MFPhilip Priest1———1DFJamie Bates10001DFRoger Joseph10001FWDavid Geddis0——11Opponents20002Total64221381 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties
Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Frank McLintock23 August 198624 January 1987Steve Perryman26 January 19879 May 1987
Summary Games played 55 (46 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 4 Football League Trophy)Games won 19 (15 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 3 Football League Trophy)Games drawn 16 (15 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy)Games lost 20 (16 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)Goals scored 81 (64 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 13 Football League Trophy)Goals conceded 80 (66 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 8 Football League Trophy)Clean sheets 9 (7 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy)Biggest league win 2–0 on two occasions; 3–1 on five occasions; 5–3 versus Darlington, 20 September 1986Worst league defeat 4–1 versus Port Vale, 24 January 1987; 5–2 versus Walsall, 25 October 1986Most appearances 55, Andy Sinton (46 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 4 Football League Trophy)Top scorer (league) 20, Robbie CookeTop scorer (all competitions) 25, Robbie Cooke
Transfers & loans