1983–84 Brentford F.C. season

English football team season December 2024 Brentford 1983–84 Fred Callaghan (until 2 February 1984)Frank Blunstone (2–9 February 1984)Frank McLintock (from 9 February 1984) Martin Lange Griffin Park Third Division 20th FA Cup Third round League Cup Second round Football League Trophy Second round Joseph (18) Joseph (24) 17,859 2,301 4,735 _brentford_home_83-84 _brentford_home_83-84 _brentford_home_83-84 _brentford_home_85-86 ffffff Home (Aug–Dec) _brentford_home_83-84 _brentford_home_83-84 _brentford_home_83-84 _brentford_home_85-86 000000 Home (Dec–May) _000000 000000 000000 _brentford_home_83-84a 000000 Away 1982–83 1984–85 During the 1983–84 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. A season of transition ended with a narrow escape from relegation. Season summary thumb|upright|Frank McLintock took over as Brentford manager on 9 February 1984. After two seasons in which, were it not for bad mid-season form, strong run-ins may have yielded a promotion challenge, Brentford manager Fred Callaghan kept his squad together. Save for the retirement of key midfielder Stan Bowles, Bowles' replacement Terry Bullivant was the only significant piece of transfer activity at Griffin Park during the 1983 off-season.White, p. 321-323. Goalkeeper Trevor Swinburne arrived to provide competition for Paddy Roche. With forward Tony Mahoney still not fully fit after recovering from a broken leg, Bill Garner was brought in from non-League football on non-contract terms. Brentford showed poor form between the beginning of the season and Christmas Eve 1983 (as of , the 4–3 defeat to Wimbledon was the final Football League match played on that date).Smyth Rob 24 December 2023 Santa stops play: how Brentford’s Christmas plan proved cold turkey en-GB The Observer https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/dec/24/santa-stops-play-how-brentfords-christmas-plan-proved-cold-turkey 25 December 2023 0029-7712 Two wins and 10 defeats from the opening 19 Third Division matches left the club just above the foot of the table.Brentford results for the 1983–1984 season http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1983-1984/results live https://web.archive.org/web/20160403194011/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1983-1984/results 3 April 2016 20 February 2017 Statto.com en-GB In the midst of the barren run in the league, a two-legged tie with then-First Division champions Liverpool in the second round of the League Cup failed to produce much cheer, with the Bees suffering an 8–1 aggregate defeat. A reduction in size of Griffin Park in the intervening years meant that the 17,858 crowd which attended the first leg was not bettered prior to the club's final first team match at the ground in July 2020.Dean Sam 29 July 2020 Brentford sting Swansea in Griffin Park farewell to claim place in Championship play-off final en-GB The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/07/29/brentford-sting-swansea-griffin-park-farewell-claim-place-championship/ subscription 2 September 2023 0307-1235 Player/assistant manager Ron Harris was replaced with former Brentford manager Frank Blunstone in October 1983 and Harris later remarked that it had been an acrimonious parting. An ever-increasing list of injuries and suspensions led manager Fred Callaghan to make a number of signings during the final two months of 1983, including new captain Ian Bolton for £2,000 and previously on-loan defender Paul Roberts from Millwall for a £10,000 fee. Stan Bowles came out of retirement to assist the team on a non-contract basis. The signings had an effect, with the Bees going four matches undefeated in late December 1983 and early January 1984 to rise out of the relegation places. Defeats in the following two matches led chairman Martin Lange to act and sack manager Fred Callaghan on 2 February. Lange paid tribute to Callaghan by stating that Callaghan could "leave the club proud in the knowledge that he leaves the club far better equipped than when he arrived". Assistant Frank Blunstone took caretaker charge of the team for one match before the appointment of former Leicester City manager Frank McLintock on 9 February. McLintock installed former Brentford player John Docherty as his assistant. McLintock took over a club in 21st position with 20 matches to play and conducted an overhaul of the playing staff, selling central defender Alan Whitehead and bringing in right back Bobby Fisher and midfielder Tommy Finney from Cambridge United, plus Nigel Gray and Bill Roffey on loan. Attacker Bob Booker was recalled to the starting lineup, Ian Bolton and Tony Mahoney were dropped, Terry Bullivant and Graham Wilkins departed on loan and Stan Bowles retired for a second time. A slight upturn in form meant that Brentford went into their final match of the season versus Walsall perched atop the relegation zone in 20th place and needing a victory, but a 1–1 draw was all that could be mustered. Circumstances transpired that 21st-place Scunthorpe United's 1–1 draw on the same day, in their penultimate match of the season, meant that the Iron needed to win their final match by a margin of seven goals to secure their safety. Brentford's Third Division status was retained when Scunthorpe United lost in their season finale on the following Tuesday night. League table 1983–84 Football League Third Division Third Division BRE y Results Brentford's goal tally listed first. Legend WinDrawLoss Pre-season and friendlies DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)3 August 1983KingstonianA6–0n/aCassells (3), Joseph, Spencer, Greenaway6 August 1983Tottenham HotspurH2–46,405Hurlock (2)8 August 1983Staines TownA2–1n/aHopson, Tully9 August 1983St Albans CityA2–3n/aHopson (2)10 August 1983West Ham UnitedH2–03,104G. Roberts, Joseph11 August 1983Walton & HershamA7–2 n/aCassells (2), Greenaway (2), Lynch (2), Garner13 August 1983AldershotA2–0n/aGarner, Cassells15 August 1983HayesA0–6n/a16 August 1983ReadingA2–5n/aKamara, Joseph20 August 1983Bristol CityA0–11,111Smith23 August 1983Bracknell TownA0–0n/a15 November 1983Queens Park RangersH3–21,414Mahoney (2), Davies14 May 1984ChelseaH3–63,461Cassells, McNichol, G. Roberts Football League Third Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)127 August 1983MillwallH2–26,224Joseph, Kamara23 September 1983Preston North EndA3–33,957Joseph, G. Roberts, Cassells36 September 1983Bristol RoversA1–35,148Joseph410 September 1983Lincoln CityH3–04,777Kamara, Joseph (2)517 September 1983Wigan AthleticA1–23,034Garner624 September 1983BurnleyH0–08,04271 October 1983GillinghamA2–43,268Kamara, McNichol88 October 1983Oxford UnitedA1–27,326Kamara915 October 1983Hull CityH1–14,258Joseph1018 October 1983Port ValeH3–13,903Bullivant, G. Roberts, McNichol1122 October 1983Sheffield UnitedA0–09,8481229 October 1983BournemouthH1–14,630Joseph1331 October 1983Southend UnitedA0–63,182145 November 1983Plymouth ArgyleH2–24,183Mahoney, Cassells1512 November 1983OrientA0–23,6501626 November 1983Bradford CityH1–43,738G. Roberts173 December 1983Bolton WanderersA0–15,4161817 December 1983WalsallA0–13,9651924 December 1983WimbledonH3–46,689Kamara, McNichol, Hurlock2027 December 1983Exeter CityA2–14,303Cassells, G. Roberts2131 December 1983Newport CountyH2–14,631Hurlock, G. Roberts222 January 1984Scunthorpe UnitedA4–42,239Mahoney, Cassells (pen), McNichol, Joseph2315 January 1984MillwallA2–15,370Joseph (2)2421 January 1984Wigan AthleticH0–13,972251 February 1984Lincoln CityA0–22,266264 February 1984GillinghamH2–34,317Joseph, Bolton2711 February 1984BurnleyA2–27,027Cassells, Kamara2814 February 1984Southend UnitedH0–03,9612918 February 1984BournemouthA3–04,308Cassells (3)3025 February 1984Sheffield UnitedH1–35,100G. Roberts313 March 1984Port ValeA3–43,704G. Roberts, Gray, Joseph326 March 1984Plymouth ArgyleA1–14,322Hurlock3310 March 1984OrientH1–14,358Joseph3417 March 1984Oxford UnitedH1–25,936G. Roberts3520 March 1984Rotherham UnitedH2–13,391Booker, Mahoney (pen)3624 March 1984Hull CityA0–25,5723731 March 1984Bristol RoversH2–24,067Booker, Hurlock383 April 1984Preston North EndH4–13,446Kamara, Finney, G. Roberts, Booker397 April 1984Rotherham UnitedA0–43,7054014 April 1984Bolton WanderersH3–03,831Joseph, Deakin (og)4120 April 1984Exeter CityH3–05,620Joseph, Booker, Finney4221 April 1984WimbledonA1–25,487Joseph4328 April 1984Bradford CityA1–13,755Cassells445 May 1984Scunthorpe UnitedH3–04,561Rowe, Joseph, Roffey457 May 1984Newport CountyA1–12,154G. Roberts4612 May 1984WalsallH1–15,281Caswell (og) FA Cup 1983–84 FA Cup RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)1R19 November 1983DagenhamA2–22,146Joseph, P. Roberts1R (replay)22 November 1983DagenhamH2–13,936Mahoney, G. Roberts2R10 December 1983WimbledonH3–25,666Kamara, G. Roberts, Joseph3R7 January 1984GillinghamA3–56,509G. Roberts, Hurlock, Cassells Football League Cup 1983–84 Football League Cup RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)1R (1st leg)30 August 1983Charlton AthleticH3–04,858G. Roberts, Joseph, Berry (og)1R (2nd leg)13 September 1983Charlton AthleticA1–2 (won 4–2 on aggregate)3,6222R (1st leg)5 October 1983LiverpoolH1–417,859G. Roberts2R (2nd leg)25 October 1983LiverpoolA0–4 (lost 8–1 on aggregate)9,092 Football League Trophy 1983–84 Football League Trophy RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)SR121 February 1984OrientH3–22,301Finney, Joseph (2)SR226 March 1983Plymouth ArgyleA0–2 2,308 Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,100 Years Of Brentford Brentford FC 1989 0951526200 White Eric 397 The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties,Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 98-111.Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 394-396. Statto Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1983–84 season. Pos.NameNat.Date of birth (age)Signed fromSigned inNotesGoalkeepersGKPaddy RocheIRE1983 8 27 1951 1 4 yManchester United1982GKTrevor SwinburneENG1983 8 27 1953 6 20 yCarlisle United1983DefendersDFIan BoltonENG1983 8 27 1953 7 13 yWatford1983DFBobby FisherENG1983 8 27 1956 8 3 yCambridge United1984DFNigel GrayENG1983 8 27 1956 11 2 ySwindon Town1984On loan from Swindon TownDFJim McNicholSCO1983 8 27 1958 6 9 yLuton Town1978DFPaul RobertsENG1983 8 27 1962 4 27 yMillwall1983Loaned from Millwall before transferring permanentlyDFBill RoffeyENG1983 8 27 1954 2 6 yOrient1984On loan from OrientDFTerry RoweENG1983 8 27 1964 6 8 yYouth1982DFDanis SalmanENG1983 8 27 1960 3 12 yYouth1975DFTony SpencerENG1983 8 27 1965 4 23 yYouth1982DFGraham WilkinsENG1983 8 27 1955 6 28 yBury1982Loaned to Southend UnitedMidfieldersMFBob BookerENG1983 8 27 1958 1 25 yBedmond Sports & Social1978MFTerry BullivantENG1983 8 27 1956 9 23 yCharlton Athletic1983Loaned to ReadingMFTommy FinneyNIR1983 8 27 1952 11 6 yCambridge United1984MFMark HopsonENGMay 1966 (aged 17)Youth1982MFTerry Hurlock (c)ENG1983 8 27 1958 11 22 yLeytonstone/Ilford1980MFChris KamaraENG1983 8 27 1957 12 25 yPortsmouth1981MFTony LynchENG1983 8 27 1966 1 20 yYouth1983MFGary RobertsWAL1983 8 27 1960 4 5 yWembley1980ForwardsFWKeith CassellsENG1983 8 27 1957 7 10 ySouthampton1983FWFrancis JosephENG1983 8 27 1960 3 6 yWimbledon1982FWTony MahoneyENG1983 8 27 1958 9 29 yFulham1982Players who left the club mid-seasonDFIan DaviesWAL1983 8 27 1957 3 29 yManchester City1983Returned to Manchester City after loanDFAndy RollingsENG1983 8 27 1954 12 14 yTorquay United1983ReleasedDFAlan WhiteheadENG1983 8 27 1956 11 20 yBury1981Loaned to Scunthorpe United, transferred to Scunthorpe UnitedMFStan BowlesENG1983 8 27 1948 12 24 yUnattached1983ReleasedMFRon HarrisENG1983 8 27 1944 11 13 yChelsea1980ReleasedFWBill GarnerENG1983 8 27 1947 12 14 yChelmsford City1983Released Sources: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties,Croxford Mark The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties Lane David Waterman Greville Legends Publishing 2011 978-1906796716 Sunbury, Middlesex Timeless BeesHaynes Graham Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006 Coumbe Frank Yore Publications 2006 978-0955294914 Coaching staff Fred Callaghan (27 August 1983 – 2 February 1984) NameRoleENG Fred CallaghanManagerENG Frank BlunstoneAssistant ManagerENG Eddie LyonsPhysiotherapist Frank Blunstone (2 – 9 February 1984) NameRoleENG Frank BlunstoneCaretaker ManagerENG Eddie LyonsPhysiotherapist Frank McLintock (9 February – 12 May 1984) NameRoleSCO Frank McLintockManagerSCO John DochertyAssistant ManagerENG Eddie LyonsPhysiotherapist Statistics Appearances and goals Substitute appearances in brackets. PosNatNameLeagueFA CupLeague CupFL TrophyTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKIREPaddy Roche250300000280GKENGTrevor Swinburne210104020280DFENGIan Bolton14110—20171DFENGBobby Fisher170——20190DFSCOJim McNichol19 (1)440300026 (1)4DFENGPaul Roberts34041—10391DFENGAndy Rollings10———10DFENGTerry Rowe18 (3)1202 (1)01023 (4)1DFENGDanis Salman210203010270DFENGTony Spencer5 (1)00020007 (1)0DFENGAlan Whitehead1803040—250DFENGGraham Wilkins12 (1)00 (1)0100013 (2)0MFENGBob Booker26 (3)40 (1)03 (1)02031 (5)4MFENGStan Bowles7 (1)010——8 (1)0MFENGTerry Bullivant241304000311MFNIRTommy Finney14 (1)2——1115 (1)3MFENGRon Harris30—20—50MFENGTerry Hurlock324412020400MFENGChris Kamara37 (1)731401045 (1)8MFENGTony Lynch2000002040MFWALGary Roberts40 (1)1043321 (1)048 (2)15FWENGKeith Cassells26 (4)911200 (2)029 (6)10FWENGBill Garner2 (1)1———2 (1)1FWENGFrancis Joseph42 (1)1842422252 (1)24FWENGTony Mahoney15 (8)341101021 (8)4Players loaned in during the seasonDFWALIan Davies20———20DFENGNigel Gray161——10171DFENGBill Roffey131———131 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: The Big Brentford Book of the EightiesCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 425. Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL3FACFLCFLTTotalFWENGFrancis Joseph1822224MFWALGary Roberts1032015FWENGKeith Cassells910010MFENGChris Kamara71008MFENGBob Booker40004DFSCOJim McNichol40004FWENGTony Mahoney31004MFNIRTommy Finney2——13FWENGBill Garner1———1DFENGBill Roffey1———1DFENGNigel Gray1——01DFENGIan Bolton10—01DFENGPaul Roberts01—01MFENGTerry Bullivant10001DFENGTerry Rowe10001Opponents20103Total69105387 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Fred CallaghanENG27 August 19831 February 1984 33 8 9 16 25 5 8 12Frank Blunstone (caretaker)ENG4 February 19844 February 1984 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1Frank McLintockSCO11 February 198412 May 1984 22 7 8 7 20 6 8 6 Summary Games played 56 (46 Third Division, 4 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)Games won 15 (11 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)Games drawn 17 (16 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy)Games lost 24 (19 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 3 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)Goals scored 87 (69 Third Division, 10 FA Cup, 5 League Cup, 3 Football League Trophy)Goals conceded 103 (79 Third Division, 10 FA Cup, 10 League Cup, 4 Football League Trophy)Clean sheets 9 (8 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy)Biggest league win 3–0 on five occasions; 4–1 versus Preston North End, 3 April 1984Worst league defeat 6–0 versus Southend United, 31 October 1983Most appearances 53, Francis Joseph (43 Third Division, 4 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)Top scorer (league) 18, Francis JosephTop scorer (all competitions) 24, Francis Joseph Transfers & loans Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.July 1983MFENG Terry BullivantENG Charlton AthleticFreeAugust 1983FWENG Bill GarnerENG Chelmsford CityNon-contractCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 112-119.August 1983GKENG Trevor SwinburneENG Carlisle United£12,000September 1983MFENG Tony LynchENG Maidstone Unitedn/aSeptember 1983DFENG Keith MillenENG Crystal Palacen/aNovember 1983DFENG Paul RobertsENG Millwall£10,000November 1983DFENG Andy RollingsENG Torquay UnitedTrialDecember 1983DFENG Ian BoltonENG Watford£2,000December 1983MFENG Stan BowlesUnattachedNon-contractFebruary 1984MFNIR Tommy FinneyENG Cambridge Unitedn/aFebruary 1984DFENG Bobby FisherENG Cambridge United£5,000Players loaned inDate fromPos.NameFromDate toRef.1 September 1983DFENG Paul RobertsENG MillwallOctober 1983Transfer Out http://www.millwall-history.org.uk/Millwall-Transfers-out.htm 25 June 2022 www.millwall-history.org.uk11 November 1983DFWAL Ian DaviesENG Manchester CityDecember 19831 March 1984DFENG Nigel GrayENG Swindon TownEnd of seasonSwindon Town FC – Profile – Nigel Gray https://townenders.com/profile.php?person_code=GRAYNIGE 26 December 2024 TownEnders.comMarch 1984DFENG Bill RoffeyENG OrientEnd of seasonPlayers transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.August 1983GKSCO David McKellarENG Carlisle United£4,000March 1984DFENG Alan WhiteheadENG Scunthorpe United£40,000Players loaned outDate fromPos.NameToDate toRef.January 1984DFENG Alan WhiteheadENG Scunthorpe UnitedMarch 1984March 1984MFENG Terry BullivantENG Readingn/aMarch 1984DFENG Graham WilkinsENG Southend Unitedn/aPlayers releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.October 1983MFENG Ron HarrisENG Aldershot1984December 1983DFENG Andy RollingsENG Maidstone Unitedn/a1983FWENG Bill Garnern/an/aFebruary 1984MFENG Stan BowlesRetiredMay 1984FWENG Tony MahoneyENG Crystal PalaceJune 1984May 1984DFSCO Jim McNicholENG Exeter CityJuly 1984May 1984GKIRL Paddy RocheENG Halifax TownJuly 1984May 1984DFENG Graham WilkinsENG Southall1984 Awards Supporters' Player of the Year: Chris KamaraCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 383. Players' Player of the Year: Chris Kamara References Category:Brentford F.C. seasons Brentford Brentford