1967–68 Brentford F.C. season

Brentford
1967–68 season
Chairman Ron Blindell
Manager Jimmy Sirrel
Stadium Griffin Park
Fourth Division 14th
FA Cup First round
League Cup First round
Top goalscorer League: Docherty,
Lawther (11)
All: Docherty (12)
Highest home attendance 10,050
Lowest home attendance 3,740
Average home league attendance 6,211

During the 1967–68 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Fourth Division. In the midst of a severe financial crisis for the second successive season, the threadbare squad managed a mid-table finish.

Season summary

The positive outcome of the events of 19 January 1967 meant that Brentford would stay in business long enough to compete in the 1967–68 Fourth Division season.[1] A syndicate headed by Ron Blindell had taken over the shares of former chairman Jack Dunnett and assumed control of the club, with Blindell as chairman.[2] With a £100,000 debt needing to be paid by 30 June 1968, drastic cost-cutting measures were enacted at Griffin Park.[2] Brentford's reserve and youth teams were scrapped and a mass clearout of the squad led to just 16 professionals being retained.[2] Having been installed in the role full-time, manager Jimmy Sirrel was permitted to sign a small number of players, including Chelsea youth product Alan Nelmes and Charlton Athletic's inside forward Cliff Myers.[2]

Injuries to John Richardson and George Thomson prior to the opening match of the season left Brentford with just 15 fit players and a lack of personnel would be a running saga during the campaign.[2] Regular goals from John Docherty and Ian Lawther in the early months of the season helped Brentford tread water in mid-table and then slowly rise towards the promotion places, coming as high as 6th place by early December 1967.[3] Hopes of money-raising runs in the FA Cup and League Cup were extinguished with first round defeats in each competition, but chairman Blindell had revealed the positive news in November that the club was more or less breaking even.[2] 9 defeats and just one victory in a 12-match spell between December 1967 and February 1968 undid all the good early-season work and dropped the Bees back into mid-table.[3] Manager Sirrel was permitted to spend £12,000 on attackers Ron Fenton and Allan Mansley in January 1968, but was forced to sell Cliff Myers and top-scorer John Docherty to balance the books.[2]

By March 1968, spiralling debts and the "Brentford Borough" saga threatened the club's existence for the second time in a year.[2] With £70,000 of the £135,000 debt needed to be paid in June 1968, former director Walter Wheatley stepped in and provided the club with a £69,000 interest-fee loan, repayable in 12 months.[2] On the pitch, the team had experienced something of a revival, winning five matches and drawing two of a 9-match spell between late February and early April,[3] but the retirement of George Thomson and the departure of Eddie Reeve left manager Jimmy Sirrel with just 14 players with which to complete the season.[2] Brentford finished in 14th place,[4] having used just 18 outfield players during the course of the season.[2]

League table

Pos
 Team
 Pld
 W
 D
 L
 GF
 GA
 GD
 Pts
Promotion or relegation
1 Luton Town (C) (P) 46 27 12 7 87 441.977 66 Promotion to 1968–69 Third Division
2 Barnsley (P) 46 24 13 9 68 461.478 61
3 Hartlepools United (P) 46 25 10 11 60 461.304 60
4 Crewe Alexandra (P) 46 20 18 8 74 491.510 58
5 Bradford City 46 23 11 12 72 511.412 57
6 Southend United 46 20 14 12 77 581.328 54
7 Chesterfield 46 21 11 14 71 501.420 53
8 Wrexham 46 20 13 13 72 531.358 53
9 Aldershot 46 18 17 11 70 551.273 53
10 Doncaster Rovers 46 18 15 13 66 561.179 51
11 Halifax Town 46 15 16 15 52 491.061 46
12 Newport County 46 16 13 17 58 630.921 45
13 Lincoln City 46 17 9 20 71 681.044 43
14 Brentford 46 18 7 21 61 640.953 43
15 Swansea Town 46 16 10 20 63 770.818 42
16 Darlington 46 12 17 17 47 530.887 41
17 Notts County 46 15 11 20 53 790.671 41
18 Port Vale 46 12 15 19 61 720.847 39 Re-elected
19 Rochdale 46 12 14 20 51 720.708 38
20 Exeter City 46 11 16 19 45 650.692 38
21 York City 46 11 14 21 65 680.956 36 Re-elected
22 Chester 46 9 14 23 57 780.731 32
23 Workington 46 10 11 25 54 870.621 31
24 Bradford Park Avenue 46 4 15 27 30 820.366 23

Source: rsssf.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.

  • NOTE: Due to financial irregularities, Port Vale were made to apply for re-election to the Football League despite not finishing in the bottom four.

Results

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Fourth Division

No. DateOpponentVenueResultScorer(s)
1 19 August 1967Hartlepools United A0–2
2 26 August 1967Newport CountyH3–1Docherty, Lawther, Dobson
3 2 September 1967York CityA1–0Docherty
4 5 September 1967Swansea TownA1–2Docherty (pen)
5 9 September 1967Rochdale H4–0Ross, Docherty, Lawther, Melledew (og)
6 16 September 1967Halifax TownH0–0
7 23 September 1967Bradford Park AvenueA0–1
8 26 September 1967Swansea TownH2–1Lawther, Docherty
9 30 September 1967Doncaster RoversH4–2Lawther, Edwards, Jones, Thomson
10 2 October 1967WrexhamA2–1Smith (og), Docherty
11 7 October 1967Crewe AlexandraA0–2
12 14 October 1967Notts County H2–1Edwards, Lawther
13 21 October 1967Port ValeA1–4Higginson
14 24 October 1967WrexhamH0–0
15 28 October 1967ChesterH3–1Hooker, Thomson, Hawley
16 4 November 1967Chesterfield A1–2Higginson
17 11 November 1967Exeter CityH5–1Lawther (2), Ross, Wilkinson (og), Docherty
18 14 November 1967York CityH3–1Lawther, Gelson, Dobson
19 18 November 1967DarlingtonA3–2Gelson, Dobson, Albeson (og)
20 25 November 1967AldershotH1–1Docherty
21 2 December 1967WorkingtonA0–2
22 16 December 1967Hartlepools United H0–1
23 23 December 1967Newport CountyA2–2Docherty (2)
24 26 December 1967Southend UnitedH1–2Richardson
25 30 December 1967Southend United A0–1
26 6 January 1968BarnsleyH0–1
27 20 January 1968Halifax TownA0–3
28 27 January 1968 Bradford City H 0–1
29 3 February 1968Bradford Park AvenueH2–1Dobson, Fenton
30 10 February 1968Doncaster RoversA0–2
31 17 February 1968Luton TownH0–2
32 24 February 1968DarlingtonH2–0Lawther (2)
33 2 March 1968 Notts County A 1–2 Nelmes
34 9 March 1968Bradford CityA3–2Fenton (2), Gelson (pen)
35 16 March 1968Port Vale H3–1Fenton, Hawley, Mansley
36 18 March 1968RochdaleA1–1Cockcroft (og)
37 23 March 1968ChesterA0–3
38 30 March 1968ChesterfieldH1–1Lawther
39 6 April 1968Exeter City A3–0Higginson, Fenton (2)
40 13 April 1968Crewe AlexandraH2–1Mansley (2)
41 15 April 1968BarnsleyA0–3
42 20 April 1968 Aldershot A 0–0
43 23 April 1968Lincoln City H1–3Gelson (pen)
44 27 April 1968 Workington H 2–1 Mansley, Gelson
45 4 May 1968Lincoln CityA0–1
46 11 May 1968Luton Town A1–2Moore (og)

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Scorer(s)
1R 13 December 1967 Guildford City H 2–2 Docherty, Myers
1R (replay)18 December 1967Guildford City A1–2 Myers

Football League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResult
1R23 August 1967Southend United A0–1

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1967–68 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Chic Brodie Scotland 22 February 1937 (aged 30) Northampton Town 1963
GK Gordon Phillips England 17 November 1946 (aged 20) Hayes 1963
Defenders
DF Peter Gelson (c) England 18 October 1941 (aged 25) Youth 1961
DF Alan Hawley England 7 June 1946 (aged 21) Youth 1962
DF Tommy Higginson Scotland 6 January 1937 (aged 30) Kilmarnock 1959
DF Allan Jones Wales 6 January 1940 (aged 27) Liverpool 1963
DF Alan Nelmes England 20 October 1948 (aged 18) Chelsea 1967
Midfielders
MF George Dobson England 24 August 1949 (aged 17) Youth 1966
MF Allan Mansley England 31 August 1946 (aged 20) Blackpool 1968
MF John Richardson England 5 February 1949 (aged 18) Millwall 1966
MF Bobby Ross Scotland 10 May 1942 (aged 25) Shrewsbury Town 1966
Forwards
FW Ron Fenton England 21 September 1940 (aged 26) Birmingham City 1968
FW Keith Hooker England 31 January 1950 (aged 17) Youth 1965
FW Ian Lawther Northern Ireland 20 October 1939 (aged 27) Scunthorpe United 1964
Players who left the club mid-season
MF John Docherty Scotland 29 April 1940 (aged 27) Sheffield United 1966 Transferred to Reading
MF Cliff Myers England 23 September 1946 (aged 20) Charlton Athletic 1967 Transferred to Yeovil Town
MF George Thomson Scotland 19 October 1936 (aged 30) Everton 1963 Retired
FW Dennis Edwards England 19 January 1937 (aged 30) Portsmouth 1967 Returned to Portsmouth after loan
FW Eddie Reeve England 3 December 1947 (aged 19) Youth 1964 Loaned to Lincoln City, released
FW Ron Still Scotland 20 June 1943 (aged 24) Notts County 1967 Released

Coaching staff

Name Role
Scotland Jimmy Sirrel Manager
England Eddie Lyons Physiotherapist

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Substitute appearances in brackets.
Pos Nat Name League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Scotland Chic Brodie 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
GK England Gordon Phillips 45 0 2 0 1 0 48 0
DF England Peter Gelson 43 5 2 0 1 0 46 5
DF England Alan Hawley 46 2 2 0 1 0 49 2
DF Scotland Tommy Higginson 41 (1) 3 2 0 1 0 44 (1) 3
DF Wales Allan Jones 42 (1) 1 2 0 1 0 45 (1) 1
DF England Alan Nelmes 24 1 2 0 0 (1) 0 26 (1) 1
MF England George Dobson 36 3 0 0 1 0 37 3
MF Scotland John Docherty 28 11 2 1 1 0 31 12
MF England Allan Mansley 19 4 — — 19 4
MF England Cliff Myers 9 (1) 0 1 (1) 2 1 0 11 (2) 2
MF England John Richardson 20 (1) 1 1 0 0 0 21 (1) 1
MF Scotland Bobby Ross 39 (2) 2 2 0 1 0 42 (2) 2
MF Scotland George Thomson 29 2 2 0 0 0 31 2
FW England Ron Fenton 19 6 — — 19 6
FW England Keith Hooker 16 (5) 1 1 0 1 0 18 (5) 1
FW Northern Ireland Ian Lawther 40 11 1 0 1 0 42 11
FW England Eddie Reeve 1 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 1 (1) 0
FW Scotland Ron Still 1 0 — — 1 0
Players loaned in during the season
FW England Dennis Edwards 11 2 — — 11 2
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[5]

Goalscorers

Pos. Nat Player FL4 FAC FLC Total
MF Scotland John Docherty 11 1 0 12
FW Northern Ireland Ian Lawther 11 0 0 11
FW England Ron Fenton 6 — — 6
DF England Peter Gelson 5 0 0 5
MF England Allan Mansley 4 — — 4
MF England George Dobson 3 0 0 3
DF Scotland Tommy Higginson 3 0 0 3
FW England Dennis Edwards 2 — — 2
DF England Alan Hawley 2 0 0 2
MF Scotland Bobby Ross 2 0 0 2
MF Scotland George Thomson 2 0 0 2
MF England Cliff Myers 0 2 0 2
FW England Keith Hooker 1 0 0 1
DF Wales Allan Jones 1 0 0 1
DF England Alan Nelmes 1 0 0 1
MF England John Richardson 1 0 0 1
Opponents 6 0 0 6
Total613 064
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[5]

Management

Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Jimmy Sirrel Scotland 19 August 1967 11 May 1968 49 18 8 23 036.73 46 18 7 21 039.13

Summary

Games played49 (46 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Games won18 (18 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Games drawn8 (7 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Games lost23 (21 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Goals scored64 (61 Fourth Division, 3 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Goals conceded69 (64 Fourth Division, 4 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Clean sheets7 (7 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Biggest league win4–0 versus Rochdale, 9 September 1967; 5–1 versus Exeter City, 11 November 1967
Worst league defeat3–0 on three occasions; 4–1 versus Port Vale, 21 October 1967
Most appearances49, Alan Hawley (46 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Top scorer (league)11, John Docherty, Ian Lawther
Top scorer (all competitions)12, John Docherty

Transfers & loans

Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
June 1967 MF England Cliff Myers England Charlton Athletic n/a [7]
July 1967 DF England Alan Nelmes England Chelsea n/a [7]
July 1967 FW Scotland Ron Still England Notts County Trial [8]
August 1967 MF England Geoff Anderson England Lincoln City n/a [9]
January 1968 FW England Ron Fenton England Birmingham City n/a [10]
January 1968 MF England Allan Mansley England Blackpool n/a [11]
Players loaned in
Date from Pos. Name From Date to Ref.
September 1967 FW England Dennis Edwards England Portsmouth December 1967 [12]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
November 1967 MF England Geoff Anderson England Port Vale n/a [9]
February 1968 MF Scotland John Docherty England Reading n/a [13]
1968 MF England Cliff Myers England Yeovil Town n/a [7]
Players loaned out
Date from Pos. Name To Date to Ref.
n/a FW England Eddie Reeve England Lincoln City n/a [14]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
August 1967 FW Scotland Ron Still England Margate 1967 [8]
March 1968 FW England Eddie Reeve United States Los Angeles Wolves March 1968 [14]
March 1968 MF Scotland George Thomson Retired [15]

References

  1. ↑ White 1989, p. 262-266.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 White 1989, p. 266-270.
  3. 1 2 3 Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1967-1968 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 29 August 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  4. ↑ Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford League Table 1967-1968 - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 4 White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 389. ISBN 0951526200.
  6. ↑ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  7. 1 2 3 Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 114-115.
  8. 1 2 Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 155.
  9. 1 2 "Barry Hugman's Footballers – Geoff Anderson". hugmansfootballers.com. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  10. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 55.
  11. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 100.
  12. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 52-53.
  13. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 49.
  14. 1 2 Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 132.
  15. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 160.
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