1978–79 Brentford F.C. season

English football team season January 2023 Brentford 1978–79 Bill Dodgin Jr. Dan Tana Griffin Park Third Division 10th FA Cup First round League Cup First round McCulloch,Phillips (14) McCulloch,Phillips (14) 13,873 5,140 7,455 _red_stripes _brentford_home_7779 _red_stripes _redtop_2whitestripes 000000 000000 a6d0f1 _brentford_third_7980 a6d0f1 FFFFFF FFFFFF 1977–78 1979–80 During the 1978–79 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. After a rude awakening to third-tier football, the Bees ended the season strongly to finish in 10th position. Season summary After Brentford's promotion to the Third Division at the end of the previous season, manager Bill Dodgin Jr. stated that his squad would only need one or two more new players to be able to compete during the club's first season in the third tier since 1972–73.Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 175. He managed to keep prolific forwards Steve Phillips and Andrew McCulloch at Griffin Park, with the former turning down a £120,000 transfer to Tottenham Hotspur.Kings of the Castle: Steve Phillips https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/kings-of-the-castle-steve-phillips 15 August 2022 www.brentfordfc.com en-gb Aside from goalkeeping trialist Trevor Porter (brought in to cover for car crash-victim Len Bond and the suspended Graham Cox),They played for both: Bristol City en-gb Brentford FC https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/they-played-for-both-bristol-city_66563 9 July 2017 Dodgin made no significant signings.White, p. 309-311. Fears that Brentford's largely-unchanged squad would be out of its depth in the Third Division were heightened after the season began with a 7–1 aggregate defeat to fellow third-tier side Watford in the first round of the League Cup. A dire start to the league season, which had seen Brentford sink into the relegation places by the end of September 1978,Brentford results for the 1978–1979 season http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1978-1979/results live https://web.archive.org/web/20160913001150/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1978-1979/results 13 September 2016 12 February 2017 Statto.com en-GB led manager Bill Dodgin Jr. to act in the transfer market. Potentially club-record breaking bids for Watford's Alan Mayes, Queens Park Rangers' Tony Hazell and Bristol City's John Bain were all rejected. Dodgin managed to sign defender Jim McNichol from Luton Town for a new club-record incoming fee of £30,000. While McNichol went on to be voted the Brentford Supporters' Player of the Year, Dodgin's other signing, forward Dean Smith (signed to support the misfiring Steve Phillips and Andrew McCulloch), only scored sporadically during the remainder of the season. Between late-October 1978 and mid-March 1979, the Bees stabilised with a run of just two defeats in 17 league matches. The run ended with the club's biggest win of the season – a 6–0 thrashing of Chester at Griffin Park, with Steve Phillips scoring a hat-trick to boost his tally to six goals in four matches. The signing of Jim McNichol made an immediate impact on the defensive line, with a record of two clean sheets prior to his arrival being turned around to 14 in the following 31 matches, equivalent to a clean sheet nearly every other match.Kings of the Castle: Jim McNichol https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/kings-of-the-castle-jim-mcnichol 10 January 2023 www.brentfordfc.com en-gb A failure to win any of the following four matches dropped the Bees back to 18th position, but a strong run of 9 wins in 12 matches to close out the season elevated the club to a 10th-place finish. League table 1978–79 Football League Third Division Third Division y BRE Results Brentford's goal tally listed first. Legend WinDrawLoss Pre-season and friendlies DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)1 August 1978Charlton AthleticH1–12,500Phillips3 August 1978Chesham UnitedA0–0n/a7 August 1978Brighton & Hove AlbionH1–42,800J. Graham8 August 1978WokingA0–3n/a9 August 1978AldershotA2–1n/aPhillips, Kruse15 December 1978Northampton TownA0–3n/a Football League Third Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)119 August 1978Shrewsbury TownA0–12,346221 August 1978Colchester UnitedH1–06,802Kruse326 August 1978ChesterfieldH0–36,16242 September 1978Exeter CityA2–23,645McCulloch (2)59 September 1978Hull CityH1–06,528Phillips612 September 1978Swindon TownA0–26,902716 September 1978Peterborough UnitedA1–35,884Kruse823 September 1978GillinghamH0–26,977925 September 1978Lincoln CityH2–16,107J. Graham, Eames1030 September 1978Swansea CityA1–211,370McCulloch117 October 1978BuryH0–15,8551214 October 1978WatfordA0–215,1801317 October 1978Rotherham UnitedA0–13,8811421 October 1978Tranmere RoversH2–15,883McCulloch (2)1528 October 1978ChesterA1–34,495McCulloch164 November 1978Oxford UnitedH3–06,863McCulloch, D. Smith (2)1711 November 1978Exeter CityH0–06,3871818 November 1978ChesterfieldA0–04,584192 December 1978WalsallH1–05,140McCulloch209 December 1978Mansfield TownA1–24,003McCulloch2123 December 1978Southend UnitedA1–113,703Phillips2226 December 1978Plymouth ArgyleH2–17,367D. Smith (2)2330 December 1978Carlisle UnitedH0–06,4772420 January 1979Peterborough UnitedH0–05,7602527 January 1979GillinghamA0–06,8992610 February 1979Swansea CityH1–07,264Carlton2724 February 1979WatfordH3–313,873D. Smith, Phillips (2, 1 pen)283 March 1979Tranmere RoversA1–01,882Phillips296 March 1979Hull CityA0–13,4183010 March 1979ChesterH6–06,421Phillips (3), Glover (2), McCulloch3113 March 1979Sheffield WednesdayA0–110,3833221 March 1979Lincoln CityA0–12,0603324 March 1979Colchester UnitedA1–13,528Shrubb3426 March 1979Shrewsbury TownH2–37,756McCulloch, D. Smith3531 March 1979BlackpoolH3–26,364McNichol (2), Phillips364 April 1979Oxford UnitedA1–05,242Shrubb377 April 1979WalsallA3–23,840Kruse, Phillips (2)3813 April 1979Southend UnitedH3–211,509McCulloch, Kruse, Salman3914 April 1979Plymouth ArgyleA1–26,344Carlton4017 April 1979Sheffield WednesdayH2–19,050McNichol (2)4121 April 1979Carlisle UnitedA0–13,9674223 April 1979Rotherham UnitedH1–06,758D. Smith4328 April 1979Mansfield TownH1–06,838Phillips445 May 1979BlackpoolA1–03,464McCulloch458 May 1979Swindon TownH1–213,320D. Smith4615 May 1979BuryA3–22,512Phillips (2), McCulloch FA Cup 1978–79 FA Cup RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance1R25 November 1978Exeter CityA0–13,810 Football League Cup 1978–79 Football League Cup RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer1R (1st leg)12 August 1978WatfordA0–49,2921R (2nd leg)12 August 1978WatfordH1–3 (lost 7–1 on aggregate)7,414Rolph Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies,Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 158-169.Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 314. Statto Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1978–79 season. Pos.NameNat.Date of birth (age)Signed fromSigned inNotesGoalkeepersGKLen BondENG1978 8 12 1954 1 12 yBristol City1977GKTrevor PorterENG1978 8 12 1956 10 16 ySlough Town1978DefendersDFMichael AllenENG1978 8 12 1949 3 30 yMiddlesbrough1971DFJohn FraserENG1978 8 12 1953 7 12 yFulham1976DFPat KruseENG1978 8 12 1953 11 30 yTorquay United1977DFJim McNicholSCO1978 8 12 1958 6 9 yLuton Town1978DFDanis SalmanENG1978 8 12 1960 3 12 yYouth1975DFDavid SilmanENG1978 8 12 1959 10 28 yUnattached1978DFBarry TuckerWAL1978 8 12 1952 8 28 yNorthampton Town1978MidfieldersMFDoug AllderENG1978 8 12 1951 12 30 yUnattached1977MFBob BookerENG1978 8 12 1958 1 25 yBedmond Sports & Social1978MFDave CarltonENG1978 8 12 1952 11 24 yNorthampton Town1976MFAllan GloverENG1978 8 12 1950 10 21 yOrient1978MFJackie Graham (c)SCO1978 8 12 1946 7 16 yGuildford City1970MFWillie GrahamNIR1978 8 12 1959 2 14 yNorthampton Town1977MFPaul ShrubbENG1978 8 12 1955 8 1 yHellenic1977MFPaul WalkerENG1978 8 12 1960 12 17 yYouth1976ForwardsFWTommy BaldwinENG1978 8 12 1945 6 10 yUnattached1977Assistant managerFWAndrew McCullochENG1978 8 12 1950 1 3 yOxford United1976Loaned to Oakland StompersFWGary RolphENG1978 8 12 1960 2 24 yYouth1976FWSteve PhillipsENG1978 8 12 1954 8 4 yNorthampton Town1977FWDean SmithENG1978 8 12 1958 11 28 yLeicester City1977Players who left the club mid-seasonDFNigel SmithENG1978 8 12 1958 7 3 yQueens Park Rangers1975ReleasedDFStephen WilkinsENG1978 8 12 1959 8 31 yChelsea1978ReleasedFWBilly EamesENG1978 8 12 1957 9 20 yWaterlooville1978ReleasedFWLee FrostENG1978 8 12 1957 12 4 yChelsea1978Returned to Chelsea after loan 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 NameRoleENG Bill Dodgin Jr.ManagerENG Tommy BaldwinAssistant ManagerENG Eddie LyonsPhysiotherapistENG Gordon QuinnChief Scout Statistics Appearances and goals Substitute appearances in brackets. PosNatNameLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKENGLen Bond3501000360GKENGTrevor Porter1100020130DFENGMichael Allen5 (2)000005 (2)0DFENGJohn Fraser21 (2)0000 (1)021 (3)0DFENGPat Kruse4441020474DFSCOJim McNichol32410—334DFENGDanis Salman39 (1)1102042 (1)1DFENGDavid Silman10000010DFENGNigel Smith2 (1)000002 (1)0DFWALBarry Tucker4301020460DFENGStephen Wilkins00—0 (1)00 (1)0MFENGDoug Allder18 (12)0002020 (12)0MFENGBob Booker2 (1)000—2 (1)0MFENGDave Carlton36 (1)2102039 (1)2MFENGAllan Glover18 (1)210—19 (1)2MFSCOJackie Graham3511020381MFNIRWillie Graham8 (3)0002010 (3)0MFENGPaul Shrubb3921020422MFENGPaul Walker2 (5)000002 (5)0FWENGTommy Baldwin00001010FWENGBilly Eames21—0021FWENGAndrew McCulloch391410004014FWENGGary Rolph10001121FWENGSteve Phillips461410204914FWENGDean Smith22 (3)80 (1)0—22 (4)8Players loaned in during the seasonFWENGLee Frost5 (1)0——5 (1)0 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford100 Years Of Brentford Brentford FC 1989 0951526200 White Eric 395 Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL3FACFLCTotalFWENGAndrew McCulloch140—14FWENGSteve Phillips140014FWENGDean Smith80—8DFENGPat Kruse4004DFSCOJim McNichol4004MFENGDave Carlton2002MFENGAllan Glover2002MFENGPaul Shrubb2002FWENGBilly Eames1—01MFSCOJackie Graham1001FWENGGary Rolph0011DFENGDanis Salman1001Total530154 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Bill Dodgin, Jr.ENG12 August 197815 May 1979 49 19 9 21 46 19 9 18 Summary Games played 49 (46 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)Games won 19 (19 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)Games drawn 9 (9 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)Games lost 21 (18 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)Goals scored 54 (53 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)Goals conceded 57 (49 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 7 League Cup)Clean sheets 16 (16 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)Biggest league win 6–0 versus Chester, 10 March 1979Worst league defeat 3–0 versus Chesterfield, 26 August 1978Most appearances 49, Steve Phillips (46 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)Top scorer (league) 14, Andrew McCulloch, Steve PhillipsTop scorer (all competitions) 14, Andrew McCulloch, Steve Phillips Transfers & loans Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.August 1978FWENG Billy EamesENG PortsmouthTrialAugust 1978GKENG Trevor PorterENG Slough TownTrialSeptember 1978MFENG Bob BookerENG Bedmond Sports & SocialNon-contractOctober 1978DFSCO Jim McNicholENG Luton Town£30,000October 1978FWENG Dean SmithENG Leicester City£20,000Haynes & Coumbe, p. 147.November 1978MFENG Allan GloverENG OrientFree1978DFENG Stephen WilkinsENG Chelsean/aCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 190-194.April 1979FWENG Bradley Walshn/aNon-contractPlayers loaned inDate fromPos.NameFromDate toRef.October 1978FWENG Lee FrostENG ChelseaNovember 1978Players loaned outDate fromPos.NameToDate toRef.May 1978FWENG Andrew McCullochUSA Oakland StompersAugust 1978October 1978GKENG Graham CoxENG Margaten/aGraham Cox http://www.margatefootballclubhistory.com/grahamcox.shtml 12 February 2017Players releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.August 1978DFENG Stephen WilkinsENG Dagenham1978October 1978FWENG Billy Eamesn/an/aOctober 1978DFENG Nigel SmithENG Cambridge UnitedNovember 1978December 1978FWENG John MurrayRetiredMay 1979DFENG Michael AllenENG Whitby Town1979May 1979GKENG Graham CoxENG Wokingham Town1979Haynes & Coumbe, p. 41-42.May 1979FWENG Gary RolphENG Woking1979May 1979DFENG David SilmanENG Walthamstow Avenue1979 Awards Supporters' Player of the Year: Jim McNicholCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 295. Players' Player of the Year: Len Bond References Category:Brentford F.C. seasons Brentford