1996–97 Brentford F.C. season

English football team season April 2023 Brentford 1996–97 David Webb Martin Lange Griffin Park Second Division 4th Play-offs Runners-up FA Cup Third round League Cup Second round Football League Trophy Quarter-final Asaba (23) Asaba (24) 12,019 1,455 5,920 _brentford_home_96-98. _brentford_home_96-98 _brentford_home_96-98. _brentford_home_96-98 _brentford_home_96-98 000000 _brentford_away_96-98. _brentford_away_96-98 _brentford_away_96-98. _brentford_home_96-98 _brentford_away_96-98 FFD700 1995–96 1997–98 During the 1996–97 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Second Division. Despite having led the division for most of the season, a collapse in the final 13 matches dropped the Bees into the playoffs, where they were defeated by Crewe Alexandra in the 1997 Second Division playoff Final. Season summary Despite a hangover in the 1995–96 season, Brentford entered 1996–97 with largely the same core of players which reached the 1995 Second Division playoff semi-finals. That said, central defender Barry Ashby and midfielders Paul Smith and Carl Hutchings all rejected new contracts in favour of monthly agreements, but the trio signed new deals during the opening two months of the season. Manager David Webb's only significant signing of the 1996 off-season was that of midfielder Scott Canham, paying West Ham United a £25,000 fee to turn his loan from the previous season into a permanent deal. Brentford began the Second Division season with an 11-match unbeaten run and firmly held on to top spot in the table.Brentford results for the 1996–1997 season http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1996-1997/results live https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053824/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1996-1997/results 4 March 2016 12 November 2016 Statto.com The four-pronged attack of Carl Asaba, Nicky Forster, Robert Taylor and Marcus Bent proved fruitful and Asaba's 7-minute hat-trick versus Shrewsbury Town on 31 August 1996 was the quickest ever in a league match by a Brentford player.Croxford Lane Waterman 2013 208-229Brentford's Official Matchday Magazine versus AFC Bournemouth 16 November 1996 2 One win in eight matches from mid-October through to mid-November dropped the Bees back into the playoff positions, but the club returned to the summit early in the following 13-match unbeaten run. Forward Nicky Forster, who was in the final year of his contract, was sold to Birmingham City for a £700,000 fee on 31 January 1997, but he was not replaced. Despite the loss of Forster, the unbeaten run continued until defeat away to Preston North End on 8 March. In the aftermath of the match, manager David Webb tendered his resignation,9 March 1997 Furious Webb set to quit http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Furious+Webb+is+set+to+quit.-a061121343 25 June 2015 Sunday Mirror citing verbal abuse of himself, the coaching staff and the players and "undisclosed sensitive issues" as the reason. Chairman Martin Lange refused to accept Webb's resignation. The fallout from the Preston match gave way to a run of eight defeats in the final 13 matches of the season, in which just six goals were scored and the team failed to find the net at all during the final four matches. Things went from bad to worse when central defender Barry Ashby suffered an injury on 19 April and Carl Asaba was sent off in the penultimate match of the season. The run dropped Brentford from 1st to 4th place and into a two-legged tie with Bristol City in the playoff semi-finals. Brentford rallied in the playoff semi-finals, seeing off Bristol City (who had finished the regular season with five consecutive wins) 4–2 on aggregate, winning 2–1 home and away.Moment in time: Bristol City en-gb https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/moment-in-time-bristol-city_195470 18 August 2017 The Bees were "exposed and outclassed" in the final at Wembley Stadium versus Crewe Alexandra, losing 1–0 in a match which saw the Railwaymen hit the woodwork on three occasions and have two goalbound efforts cleared off the line by Carl Hutchings.Croxford Lane Waterman 2013 208-229 In addition, Bees defender Brian Statham was sent off for committing a second bookable offence 15 minutes from time.Croxford Lane Waterman 2013 208-229 League table 1996–97 Football League Second Division Second Division BRE y Results Brentford's goal tally listed first. Legend WinDrawLoss Pre-season and friendlies DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)22 July 1996HamptonA3–0n/aAsaba (pen), Taylor (pen), Forster25 July 1996Carshalton AthleticA1–0n/aOmigie27 July 1996Chertsey TownA1–0n/aTaylor29 July 1996Southend UnitedH3–0n/aBent, Forster, Asaba31 July 1996Tottenham HotspurH0–33,1752 August 1996Queens Park RangersH2–13,793Taylor (pen), Abrahams5 August 1996Stevenage BoroughA2–2n/aDennis, Asaba7 August 1996Derby CountyH0–21,93612 August 1996HayesA7–0n/aDennis (2), Taylor, Forster, Bent, Myall, untraced (og)14 February 1997SouthamptonH2–0n/aAsaba (2) Football League Second Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)1 17 August 1996 BuryA1–13,373Taylor2 24 August 1996 Luton TownH3–25,404Asaba, Bates, Taylor3 27 August 1996 GillinghamH2–05,384Abrahams (2)4 31 August 1996 Shrewsbury TownA3–03,530Asaba (3)5 7 September 1996 ChesterfieldA2–03,643Bates, Forster6 10 September 1996 Plymouth ArgyleH3–25,377Smith, Asaba, Bent7 14 September 1996 BlackpoolH1–15,908Asaba8 21 September 1996 Wycombe WanderersA1–05,330Bent9 28 September 1996 York CityH3–35,243Taylor, Asaba (2)10 1 October 1996 Bristol CityA2–19,520Asaba, Forster11 5 October 1996 Rotherham UnitedH4–26,137Asaba (2), Taylor, Forster12 12 October 1996 Crewe AlexandraA0–24,31313 15 October 1996 Peterborough UnitedA1–05,037Taylor14 19 October 1996 WalsallH1–15,419Hutchings15 26 October 1996 MillwallH0–07,69116 29 October 1996 Bristol RoversA1–25,163Hutchings17 2 November 1996 WatfordA0–211,44818 9 November 1996 Stockport CountyH2–25,076Canham, Forster19 19 November 1996 BournemouthA1–23,464Anderson20 23 November 1996 WrexhamH2–04,885Forster, Asaba21 29 November 1996 MillwallA0–07,84522 3 December 1996 Notts CountyH2–03,675Bent, Asaba23 14 December 1996 BurnleyA2–110,575Asaba, Forster24 21 December 1996 Preston North EndH0–05,36525 26 December 1996 Plymouth ArgyleA4–19,525Forster (2), Asaba, Omigie26 11 January 1997 York CityA4–23,085Asaba (2), Forster (2)27 18 January 1997 Bristol CityH0–07,60628 21 January 1997 Bristol RoversH0–04,19129 1 February 1997 Stockport CountyA2–18,650McGhee, Taylor30 8 February 1997 WatfordH1–18,679Asaba31 22 February 1997 BournemouthH1–06,071Asaba32 1 March 1997 Notts CountyA1–14,323Ashby33 4 March 1997 Wycombe WanderersH0–05,37534 8 March 1997 Preston North EndA0–19,48935 15 March 1997 BurnleyH0–36,62436 21 March 1997 Luton TownA0–18,16437 25 March 1997 WrexhamA2–04,053Asaba (2, 1 pen)38 29 March 1997 BuryH0–27,82339 31 March 1997 GillinghamA2–17,361Janney, Asaba40 5 April 1997 Shrewsbury TownH0–05,35541 11 April 1997 Rotherham UnitedA1–01,797Taylor42 15 April 1997 ChesterfieldH1–05,216Asaba43 19 April 1997 Crewe AlexandraH0–26,18344 22 April 1997 BlackpoolA0–14,03045 26 April 1997 WalsallA0–15,35946 3 May 1997 Peterborough UnitedH0–15,274 Football League Second Division play-offs +RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)NotesSF (1st leg)11 May 1997 Bristol CityA2–115,581Smith, TaylorSF (2nd leg)14 May 1997 Bristol CityH2–1 (won 4–2 on aggregate)9,496Taylor, BentF25 May 1997 Crewe AlexandraN0–134,149Match played at Wembley Stadium, London. FA Cup 1996–97 FA Cup +RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)NotesR116 November 1996 BournemouthH2–04,509Smith, ForsterR27 December 1996 Sudbury TownA3–13,973McGhee, Taylor (2)Match played at Layer Road, Colchester.R325 January 1997 Manchester CityH0–112,019 League Cup 1996–97 Football League Cup +RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorerR1 (1st leg)20 August 1996 Plymouth ArgyleH1–03,034TaylorR1 (2nd leg)3 September 1996 Plymouth ArgyleA0–0 (won 1–0 on aggregate)5,180R2 (1st leg)17 September 1996 Blackburn RoversH1–28,938ForsterR2 (2nd leg)24 September 1996 Blackburn RoversA0–2 (lost 4–1 on aggregate)9,599 Football League Trophy 1996–97 Football League Trophy +RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)SR110 December 1996 Bristol RoversA2–12,752Omigie, AsabaSR27 January 1997 BarnetH2–1 1,455Taylor, ForsterSQF28 January 1997 Colchester UnitedH0–12,253 Source: Statto, The Big Brentford Book of the NinetiesCroxford Lane Waterman 2013 208-229, 464–467 Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1996–97 season. Position Name Nationality Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepers GK Kevin Dearden ENG 1996 8 17 1970 3 8 y Tottenham Hotspur1993 GK Tamer Fernandes ENG 1996 8 17 1974 12 7 yYouth1993 DefendersDFIjah AndersonENG1996 8 17 1975 12 30 ySouthend United1995DF Barry Ashby ENG 1996 8 17 1970 11 21 y Watford1994DF Jamie Bates (c) ENG 1996 8 17 1968 2 24 yYouth1986DF Carl Hutchings ENG 1996 8 17 1974 9 24 yYouth1993DF Brian Statham ENG 1996 8 17 1969 5 21 y Tottenham Hotspur1992MidfieldersMFScott CanhamENG1996 8 17 1974 11 11 yWest Ham United1996MFKevin DennisENG1996 8 17 1976 12 14 yArsenal1996MFRichard GoddardENG1996 8 17 1978 3 31 yArsenal1996MFLee HarveyENG1996 8 17 1966 12 21 yNottingham Forest1993MF Gus Hurdle BAR 1996 8 17 1973 10 14 y Carshalton Athletic1993MFDavid McGheeENG1996 8 17 1976 6 19 yYouth1994MF Paul Smith ENG 1996 8 17 1971 9 18 y Southend United1993 ForwardsFW Carl Asaba ENG 1996 8 17 1973 1 28 y Dulwich Hamlet1994 FW Marcus Bent ENG 1996 8 17 1978 5 19 yYouth1995FWMalcolm McPhersonSCO1996 8 17 1974 12 9 yWest Ham United1996 FW Joe Omigie ENG 1996 8 17 1972 6 13 y Donna1994FWKevin RapleyENG1996 8 17 1977 9 21 yYouth1997FW Robert Taylor ENG 1996 8 17 1971 4 30 y Leyton Orient1994 Players who left the club mid-seasonMFPaul AbrahamsENG1996 8 17 1973 10 31 yColchester United1995Transferred to Colchester UnitedMFMark JanneyENG1996 8 17 1977 12 2 y Tottenham Hotspur1997Returned to Tottenham Hotspur after loanFWNicky ForsterENG1996 8 17 1973 9 8 yGillingham1994Transferred to Birmingham CityFWSteve SladeENG1996 8 17 1975 10 6 yQueens Park Rangers1997Returned to Queens Park Rangers after loan Source: Soccerbase Coaching staff NameRoleENG David WebbManagerENG Kevin LockFirst Team CoachENG Roy JohnsonPhysiotherapistENG Fergus DignanMedical Officer Statistics Appearances and goals Substitute appearances in brackets. PosNatNameLeagueFA CupLeague CupFL TrophyPlayoffsTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKENGKevin Dearden44030402030560GKENGTamer Fernandes200000100030DFENGIjah Anderson46120401030561DFENGBarry Ashby4013040300 (1)050 (1)1DFENGJamie Bates37230403030502DFBARGus Hurdle28 (3)02040103038 (3)0DFENGBrian Statham11 (8)01000203017 (8)0MFENGPaul Abrahams5 (3)2—1 (2)0——6 (5)2MFENGMarcus Bent29 (5)320401 (1)03139 (6)4MFENGScott Canham1311020000 (2)016 (2)1MFENGKevin Dennis9 (3)00000201012 (3)0MFENGRichard Goddard0 (1)0000000000 (1)0MFENGLee Harvey2 (12)00 (2)00 (2)010003 (16)0MFENGCarl Hutchings23 (5)2100 (1)0103028 (6)2MFENGDavid McGhee44 (1)1312 (1)0303055 (2)2MFENGPaul Smith46131402031583FWENGCarl Asaba4423304031205624FWENGNicky Forster2510313111—3213FWSCOMalcolm McPherson2 (1)000001 (1)0003 (2)0FWENGJoe Omigie7 (6)10 (3)0002 (1)1009 (10)2FWENGKevin Rapley1 (1)0000000001 (1)0FWENGRobert Taylor437324131325613Players loaned in during the seasonMFENGMark Janney1 (1)1————1 (1)1MFENGSteve Slade40————40 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: The Big Brentford Book of the NinetiesCroxford Lane Waterman 2013 482 Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL2FACFLCFLTFLPTotalFWENGCarl Asaba23001024FWENGNicky Forster10111—13FWENGRobert Taylor7211213MFENGMarcus Bent300014MFENGPaul Smith110013MFENGPaul Abrahams2—0——2DFENGJamie Bates200002MFENGCarl Hutchings200002MFENGDavid McGhee110002FWENGJoe Omigie100102MFENGMark Janney1————1DFENGIjah Anderson100001DFENGBarry Ashby100001MFENGScott Canham100001Total56524471 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: The Big Brentford Book of the NinetiesCroxford Lane Waterman 2013 482 Discipline PosNatPlayerFL2FACFLCFLTFLPTotalPtsFWENGCarl Asaba60002000119112DFENGBarry Ashby40002000006212DFENGIjah Anderson7000100000808DFBARGus Hurdle6000100000707DFENGBrian Statham2000000011316FWENGNicky Forster40100000—505DFENGJamie Bates3000100000404MFENGMarcus Bent3000000000303MFENGPaul Smith3000000000303MFENGSteve Slade20————202MFENGKevin Dennis2000000000202MFENGCarl Hutchings2000000000202MFENGScott Canham1010000000202GKENGKevin Dearden1000000000101FWENGRobert Taylor1000000000101Total4702070002258264 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: Soccerbase Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %David WebbENG17 August 199625 May 1997 59 27 15 17 46 20 14 12 Summary Games played 59 (46 Second Division, 3 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 3 Football League Trophy, 3 Football League playoffs)Games won 27 (20 Second Division, 2 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy, 2 Football League playoffs)Games drawn 15 (14 Second Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy, 0 Football League playoffs)Games lost 17 (12 Second Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy, 1 Football League playoffs)Goals scored 71 (56 Second Division, 5 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 4 Football League Trophy, 4 Football League playoffs)Goals conceded 55 (43 Second Division, 2 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 3 Football League Trophy, 3 Football League playoffs)Clean sheets 21 (18 Second Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy, 0 Football League playoffs)Biggest league win 3–0 versus Shrewsbury Town, 31 August 1996; 4–1 versus Plymouth Argyle, 26 December 1996Worst league defeat 3–0 versus Burnley, 15 March 1997Most appearances 58, Paul Smith (46 Second Division, 3 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy, 3 Football League playoffs)Top scorer (league) 23, Carl AsabaTop scorer (all competitions) 24, Carl Asaba Transfers & loans Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.July 1996MFENG Kevin DennisENG ArsenalFree5019 12 November 2016 Kevin DennisJuly 1996MFENG Richard GoddardENG ArsenalFree7377 12 November 2016 Richard Goddard-CrawleyJuly 1996FWSCO Malcolm McPhersonENG West Ham UnitedFree12917 12 November 2016 Malcolm McPhersonJuly 1996MFENG Stuart MyallENG Brighton & Hove AlbionFree14352 12 November 2016 Stuart MyallAugust 1996MFENG Scott CanhamENG West Ham United£25,000Croxford Mark The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties Lane David Waterman Greville Legends Publishing 2013 9781906796723 Sunbury, Middlesex 230–234Players loaned inDate fromPos.NameFromDate toRef.13 February 1997FWENG Steve SladeENG Queens Park Rangers8 March 19977341 Steve Slade15 March 1997FWENG Paul MahornENG Tottenham HotspurMarch 199715 March 1997 England's Tournoi de France match against Brazil has been switched to Paris because the stadium in Lens, being rebuilt for the 1998 Cup finals, will not be ready on time https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/no-headline-5576818.html live https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/no-headline-5576818.html 1 May 2022 12 November 2016 The Independent en-GB27 March 1997MFENG Mark JanneyENG Tottenham Hotspur5 April 199710436 Mark JanneyPlayers transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.23 October 1996MFENG Paul AbrahamsENG Colchester United£20,00010 Paul Abrahams31 January 1997FWENG Nicky ForsterENG Birmingham City£700,000Premier and Football League transfers http://www.11v11.com/transfers/1997/f176/ 12 November 2016 www.11v11.comPlayers loaned outDate fromPos.NameToDate toRef.December 1996MFENG Stuart MyallENG Hastings TownJanuary 1997 Kit Cobra Sports Ericsson |_brentford_home_96-98. _brentford_home_96-98 _brentford_home_96-98. _brentford_home_96-98 _brentford_home_96-98 FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF 000000 Home |_brentford_away_96-98. _brentford_away_96-98 _brentford_away_96-98. _brentford_home_96-98 _brentford_away_96-98 FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF 000000 Away |_brentford_gk_96-97a _brentford_GK_96-97a _brentford_gk_96-97a _brentford_GK_96-97a _brentford_GK_96-97a 000000 Goalkeeper Brentford F.C. May 2020 Awards Supporters' Player of the Year: Barry AshbyCroxford Lane Waterman 2013 445 Star Player of the Year: Barry AshbyBrentford's Official Matchday Magazine versus Peterborough United 3 May 1997 3 London Evening Standard Player of the Month: Jamie Bates (December 1996) Ericsson Player of the Month: Kevin Dennis (April 1997) Football League Second Division Manager of the Month: David Webb (August 1996) Notes nb References Category:Brentford F.C. seasons Brentford