1974–75 Brentford F.C. season

English football team season November 2021 Brentford 1974–75 Mike Everitt (until 16 January 1975)Jess Willard (16–20 January 1975)John Docherty (from 20 January 1975) Les Davey (until November 1974)Dan Tana (from November 1974) Griffin Park Fourth Division 8th FA Cup Second round League Cup Second round Simmons (12) Simmons (13) 6,485 3,983 5,172 _red_stripes _brentford_home_7375 _red_stripes _white stripes _redtop_2whitestripes 000000 000000 _brentford_away_74-75 fff600 fff600 072cb3 _brentford_away_74-75 1973–74 1975–76 During the 1974–75 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Fourth Division. After a poor first half of the season, manager Mike Everitt was sacked and replaced by John Docherty, who produced a strong run of results to finish the campaign in 8th place. Season summary Off the back of Brentford's lowest finish in the Football League since the 1925–26 season, only three players were signed – defender Keith Lawrence on a permanent deal from Chelsea, goalkeeper Steve Sherwood on a season-long loan from Chelsea and Wimbledon midfield trialist Graham Smith. Two long-serving players were released, winger John Docherty and full back Alan Hawley.White, p. 295-297. New chairman Les Davey announced that the club would move to a new stadium in West London and that there was talk of a £1,000,000 takeover bid by local firm Brentford Nylons, but nothing came of either plan. Brentford began the season poorly and after eight league matches were just two points above the Fourth Division re-election zone,Brentford results for the 1974–1975 season http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1974-1975/results live https://web.archive.org/web/20160321215533/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1974-1975/results 21 March 2016 9 February 2017 Statto.com though one early season highlight was a League Cup second round tie versus First Division giants Liverpool at Anfield, where Roger Cross scored the opener in a 2–1 defeat. The Liverpool match was also notable for it being the final appearance made by centre half Peter Gelson, then the club's second-highest appearance-maker, who had his contract cancelled and departed the club shortly afterwards. Under recently appointed chairman Dan Tana, manager Mike Everitt was given a vote of confidence in November 1974 and strengthened the team by signing forward Willie Brown on loan from Newport County (and later permanently for £4,000) and midfielder Terry Johnson from Southend United for £15,000. The signings had the desired effect and Brentford rose into mid-table after winning four and drawing one of a seven-match spell from late November through to mid-January 1975, but on 16 January, manager Mike Everitt was sacked. Trainer Jess Willard took over as caretaker manager for the following match, before the appointment of former player John Docherty on 20 January. Docherty turned Brentford's season around, losing just four of the remaining 19 matches of the season to finish in 8th place. Four wins, two draws and just one defeat in April won Docherty the Football League Manager of the Month award. League table 1974–75 Football League Fourth Division Fourth Division y BRE Results Brentford's goal tally listed first. Legend WinDrawLoss Pre-season and friendlies DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)3 August 1974PortsmouthH0–41,7906 August 1974AldershotH1–31,440Simmons9 August 1974MillwallH2–01,190Woon, untraced (og)12 August 1974Stevenage BoroughA3–0n/aWoon, Cross16 March 1975Guernsey XIA1–0n/aLawrence28 April 1975MillwallH0–02,262 Football League Fourth Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)117 August 1974Northampton TownH1–05,147Woon224 August 1974SouthportA0–31,285331 August 1974Swansea CityH1–04,908Cross47 September 1974ChesterA0–22,625514 September 1974Cambridge UnitedH1–05,313Simmons616 September 1974Rotherham UnitedH3–45,979Simmons, Metchick, Bence721 September 1974Newport CountyA0–13,022823 September 1974RochdaleA0–01,587928 September 1974Crewe AlexandraH1–05,442Simmons1030 September 1974Stockport CountyA1–11,982Woon115 October 1974Doncaster RoversA1–21,692Simmons1212 October 1974Lincoln CityH1–14,973Lawrence1319 October 1974Shrewsbury TownA0–14,0991423 October 1974Bradford CityA0–12,9321526 October 1974Torquay UnitedH3–14,496Simmons (2), Graham162 November 1974BarnsleyA1–14,158Simmons174 November 1974Bradford CityH0–05,131189 November 1974Mansfield TownH2–35,553Foster (og), Simmons1916 November 1974HartlepoolA2–32,864Simmons, Johnson2030 November 1974WorkingtonA1–01,325Brown217 December 1974DarlingtonH3–04,925Johnson, Brown (2)2221 December 1974Scunthorpe UnitedH2–04,364Brown (2)2326 December 1974Cambridge UnitedA0–23,9592428 December 1974Exeter CityH2–05,608Simmons, Johnson254 January 1975Northampton TownA0–04,7352611 January 1975DarlingtonA1–22,095Johnson2718 January 1975WorkingtonH2–29,983Brown, Simmons2825 January 1975ReadingH1–06,485Brown291 February 1975Mansfield TownA1–111,362Graham304 February 1975Rotherham UnitedA0–34,541318 February 1975BarnsleyH3–05,080Simmons, French, Brown3215 February 1975ReadingA0–16,0133322 February 1975HartlepoolH1–05,516Johnson3428 February 1975Swansea CityA1–01,706Brown358 March 1975RochdaleH3–04,460Johnson, Graham, Cross3615 March 1975Crewe AlexandraA1–12,356Johnson3722 March 1975ChesterH1–15,827Cross3831 March 1975Exeter CityA0–13,301391 April 1975Newport CountyH0–05,569405 April 1975Torquay UnitedA2–32,555Cross, Scales417 April 1975Stockport CountyH3–04,434Riddick, French (2)4212 April 1975Doncaster RoversH1–15,147French4315 April 1975Scunthorpe UnitedA2–11,556Cross, Johnson4419 April 1975Lincoln CityA1–16,956Cross4521 April 1975SouthportH1–04,796Cross4626 April 1975Shrewsbury TownH2–15,810Graham, Cross FA Cup 1974–75 FA Cup RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)Notes1R23 November 1974Slough TownA4–13,394Graham, Simmons, Woon (2)Match played at The Sports Ground, Walton-on-Thames.2R14 December 1974Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–113,287 Football League Cup 1974–75 Football League Cup RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)1R21 August 1974AldershotH3–05,702Cross (pen), Scales, Woon2R10 September 1974LiverpoolA1–221,413Cross Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies,Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 98-107.Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 306. Statto Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1974–75 season. Pos.NameNat.Date of birth (age)Signed fromSigned inNotesGoalkeepersGKSteve SherwoodENG1974 8 17 1953 12 10 yChelsea1974On loan from ChelseaDefendersDFMichael AllenENG1974 8 17 1949 3 30 yMiddlesbrough1971DFPaul BenceENG1974 8 17 1948 12 21 yReading1970DFKevin HardingENG1974 8 17 1957 3 19 yYouth1974DFKeith LawrenceENG1974 8 17 1954 3 25 yChelsea1974DFAlan NelmesENG1974 8 17 1948 10 20 yChelsea1967DFTerry ScalesENG1974 8 17 1951 1 18 yWest Ham United1971DFGraham SmithENG1974 8 17 1951 8 8 yWimbledon1974Loaned to WimbledonDFNigel SmithENG1974 8 17 1958 7 3 yQueens Park Rangers1975MidfieldersMFJackie GrahamSCO1974 8 17 1946 7 16 yGuildford City1970MFTerry JohnsonENG1974 8 17 1949 8 30 ySouthend United1974MFDave MetchickENG1974 8 17 1943 8 14 yAtlanta Apollos1973MFGordon Riddick (c)ENG1974 8 17 1943 11 6 yNorthampton Town1973MFBarry SalvageENG1974 8 17 1946 12 21 yQueens Park Rangers1973ForwardsFWRoger CrossENG1974 8 17 1948 10 20 yFulham1973FWMicky FrenchENG1974 8 17 1955 5 7 yQueens Park Rangers1975Loaned from Queens Park Rangers before transferring permanentlyFWRichard PooleENG1974 8 17 1957 7 3 yYouth1974FWDave SimmonsENG1974 8 17 1948 10 24 yCambridge United1974FWBilly StaggENG1974 8 17 1957 10 17 yYouth1974Players who left the club mid-seasonDFPeter GelsonENG1974 8 17 1941 10 18 yYouth1961ReleasedDFGary SmithENG1974 8 17 1955 11 4 yYouth1974Loaned to Wimbledon, transferred to WimbledonMFIan FilbyENG1974 8 17 1954 10 9 yOrient1974Returned to Orient after loanFWWillie BrownSCO1974 8 17 1950 2 5 yNewport County1974Loaned from Newport County before transferring permanentlyTransferred to Torquay UnitedFWAndy WoonENG1974 8 17 1952 6 26 yBognor Regis Town1973Released Sources: The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies,Croxford Mark The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies Lane David Waterman Greville Legends Publishing 2011 978-1906796709 Sunbury, Middlesex Timeless BeesHaynes Graham Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006 Coumbe Frank Yore Publications 2006 978-0955294914 Coaching staff Mike Everitt (17 August 1974 – 16 January 1975) NameRoleENG Mike EverittManagerENG Jess WillardTrainerENG Alan HumphriesChief Scout Jess Willard (16 – 20 January 1975) NameRoleENG Jess WillardCaretaker ManagerENG Alan HumphriesChief Scout John Docherty (20 January – 26 April 1975) NameRoleSCO John DochertyManagerENG Eddie LyonsTrainerENG Bob PearsonChief Scout Statistics Appearances and goals Substitute appearances in brackets. PosNatNameLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsDFENGMichael Allen3201020350DFENGPaul Bence4312020471DFENGPeter Gelson30—1040DFENGKevin Harding30000030DFENGKeith Lawrence4312020471DFENGAlan Nelmes10 (3)0000010 (3)0DFENGTerry Scales4012021442DFENGGary Smith30000030DFENGGraham Smith70000070DFENGNigel Smith20——20MFSCOJackie Graham4342110465MFENGTerry Johnson28820—308MFENGDave Metchick24 (3)1102027 (3)1MFENGGordon Riddick4212020461MFENGBarry Salvage3402020380FWSCOWillie Brown16910—179FWENGRoger Cross25 (2)8002227 (2)10FWENGMicky French14 (1)4——14 (1)4FWENGRichard Poole5 (3)000005 (3)0FWENGDave Simmons25 (5)121 (1)11027 (6)13FWENGBilly Stagg40000040FWENGAndy Woon13 (4)2221 (1)116 (5)5Players loaned in during the seasonGKENGSteve Sherwood4602020500MFENGIan Filby1 (2)0——1 (2)0 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford100 Years Of Brentford Brentford FC 1989 0951526200 White Eric 393 Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL4FACFLCTotalFWENGDave Simmons121013FWENGRoger Cross80210FWSCOWillie Brown90—9MFENGTerry Johnson8008MFSCOJackie Graham4105FWENGAndy Woon2215FWENGMicky French4——4DFENGTerry Scales1012DFENGPaul Bence1001DFENGKeith Lawrence1001MFENGDave Metchick1001MFENGGordon Riddick1001Opponents1001Total534461 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Mike EverittENG17 August 197411 January 1975 30 11 6 13 26 9 6 11Jess Willard (caretaker)ENG18 January 197518 January 1975 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0John DochertySCO25 January 197526 April 1975 19 9 6 4 19 9 6 4 Summary Games played 50 (46 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)Games won 20 (18 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)Games drawn 13 (13 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)Games lost 17 (15 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)Goals scored 61 (53 Fourth Division, 4 FA Cup, 4 League Cup)Goals conceded 49 (45 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)Clean sheets 20 (19 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)Biggest league win 3–0 on four occasionsWorst league defeat 3–0 on two occasionsMost appearances 50, Steve Sherwood (46 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)Top scorer (league) 12, Dave SimmonsTop scorer (all competitions) 13, Dave Simmons Transfers & loans Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.May 1974DFENG Keith LawrenceENG ChelseaFreeCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 108-111.August 1974MFENG Graham SmithENG WimbledonTrialOctober 1974GKENG Barry GordineENG Southend Unitedn/aNovember 1974MFENG Terry JohnsonENG Southend United£15,000December 1974FWSCO Willie BrownWAL Newport County£4,000March 1975FWENG Micky FrenchENG Queens Park Rangers£2,000April 1975DFENG Nigel SmithENG Queens Park Rangersn/aPlayers loaned inDate fromPos.NameFromDate toRef.August 1974GKENG Steve SherwoodENG ChelseaEnd of seasonSeptember 1974MFENG Ian FilbyENG Leicester CityOctober 1974November 1974FWSCO Willie BrownWAL Newport CountyDecember 1974February 1975FWENG Micky FrenchENG Queens Park RangersMarch 1975Players transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.March 1975FWSCO Willie BrownENG Torquay United£5,000Players loaned outDate fromPos.NameToDate toRef.February 1975MFENG Graham SmithENG Wimbledonn/aApril 1975DFENG Gary SmithENG WimbledonApril 1975Players releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.October 1974GKENG Paul PriddyENG Wimbledon1974February 1975FWENG Andy WoonENG Maidstone United1975April 1975DFENG Gary SmithENG WimbledonApril 1975May 1975GKENG Barry GordineRetiredMay 1975MFENG Dave MetchickENG Barnet1975May 1975DFENG Kevin HardingENG Hayes1975May 1975MFENG Graham SmithENG Wimbledon1975May 1975FWENG Billy StaggENG Wealdstonen/aCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 128. Awards Supporters' Player of the Year: Steve SherwoodCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 295. Players' Player of the Year: Jackie Graham Football League Manager of the Month: John Docherty (April 1975) Notes nb References Category:Brentford F.C. seasons Brentford