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.[1] Two long-serving players were released, winger John Docherty and full back Alan Hawley.[2] 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.[2]
Brentford began the season poorly and after eight league matches were just two points above the Fourth Division re-election zone,[3] 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.[2] The Liverpool match was also notable for it being the final appearance made by centre half Peter Gelson,[2] then the club's second-highest appearance-maker, who had his contract cancelled and departed the club shortly afterwards.[1] 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.[1]
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,[3] but on 16 January, manager Mike Everitt was sacked.[2] Trainer Jess Willard took over as caretaker manager for the following match, before the appointment of former player John Docherty on 20 January.[2] Docherty turned Brentford's season around, losing just four of the remaining 19 matches of the season to finish in 8th place.[2] Four wins, two draws and just one defeat in April won Docherty the Football League Manager of the Month award.[2]
League table
P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
Key | |
|
Division Champions, promoted |
|
Promoted |
|
Re-elected |
Results
- Brentford's goal tally listed first.
No. |
Date | Opponent | Venue | Result |
Attendance | Scorer(s) |
1 |
17 August 1974 | Northampton Town | H | 1–0 |
5,147 | Woon |
2 |
24 August 1974 | Southport | A | 0–3 |
1,285 | |
3 |
31 August 1974 | Swansea City | H | 1–0 |
4,908 | Cross |
4 |
7 September 1974 | Chester |
A | 0–2 |
2,625 | |
5 |
14 September 1974 | Cambridge United | H | 1–0 |
5,313 | Simmons |
6 |
16 September 1974 | Rotherham United | H | 3–4 |
5,979 | Simmons, Metchick, Bence |
7 |
21 September 1974 | Newport County | A | 0–1 |
3,022 | |
8 |
23 September 1974 | Rochdale | A | 0–0 |
1,587 | |
9 |
28 September 1974 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 1–0 |
5,442 | Simmons |
10 |
30 September 1974 | Stockport County | A | 1–1 |
1,982 | Woon |
11 |
5 October 1974 | Doncaster Rovers | A | 1–2 |
1,692 | Simmons |
12 |
12 October 1974 | Lincoln City | H | 1–1 |
4,973 | Lawrence |
13 |
19 October 1974 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 0–1 |
4,099 | |
14 |
23 October 1974 | Bradford City | A | 0–1 |
2,932 | |
15 |
26 October 1974 | Torquay United | H | 3–1 |
4,496 | Simmons (2), Graham |
16 |
2 November 1974 | Barnsley | A | 1–1 |
4,158 | Simmons |
17 |
4 November 1974 | Bradford City | H | 0–0 |
5,131 | |
18 |
9 November 1974 | Mansfield Town |
H | 2–3 |
5,553 | Foster (og), Simmons |
19 |
16 November 1974 | Hartlepool |
A | 2–3 |
2,864 | Simmons, Johnson |
20 |
30 November 1974 | Workington |
A | 1–0 |
1,325 | Brown |
21 |
7 December 1974 | Darlington | H | 3–0 |
4,925 | Johnson, Brown (2) |
22 |
21 December 1974 | Scunthorpe United | H | 2–0 |
4,364 | Brown (2) |
23 |
26 December 1974 | Cambridge United |
A | 0–2 |
3,959 | |
24 |
28 December 1974 | Exeter City | H | 2–0 |
5,608 | Simmons, Johnson |
25 |
4 January 1975 |
Northampton Town |
A |
0–0 |
4,735 |
|
26 |
11 January 1975 |
Darlington |
A |
1–2 |
2,095 |
Johnson |
27 |
18 January 1975 | Workington |
H | 2–2 |
9,983 | Brown, Simmons |
28 |
25 January 1975 | Reading | H | 1–0 |
6,485 | Brown |
29 |
1 February 1975 | Mansfield Town | A | 1–1 |
11,362 | Graham |
30 |
4 February 1975 | Rotherham United | A | 0–3 |
4,541 | |
31 |
8 February 1975 | Barnsley | H | 3–0 |
5,080 | Simmons, French, Brown |
32 |
15 February 1975 | Reading | A | 0–1 |
6,013 | |
33 |
22 February 1975 | Hartlepool | H | 1–0 |
5,516 | Johnson |
34 |
28 February 1975 | Swansea City | A | 1–0 |
1,706 | Brown |
35 |
8 March 1975 |
Rochdale |
H |
3–0 |
4,460 |
Johnson, Graham, Cross |
36 |
15 March 1975 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 1–1 |
2,356 | Johnson |
37 |
22 March 1975 | Chester |
H | 1–1 |
5,827 | Cross |
38 |
31 March 1975 | Exeter City | A | 0–1 |
3,301 | |
39 |
1 April 1975 | Newport County | H | 0–0 |
5,569 | |
40 |
5 April 1975 | Torquay United |
A | 2–3 |
2,555 | Cross, Scales |
41 |
7 April 1975 | Stockport County | H | 3–0 |
4,434 | Riddick, French (2) |
42 |
12 April 1975 | Doncaster Rovers |
H | 1–1 |
5,147 | French |
43 |
15 April 1975 | Scunthorpe United | A | 2–1 |
1,556 | Cross, Johnson |
44 |
19 April 1975 |
Lincoln City |
A |
1–1 |
6,956 |
Cross |
45 |
21 April 1975 | Southport | H | 1–0 |
4,796 | Cross |
46 |
26 April 1975 | Shrewsbury Town |
H | 2–1 |
5,810 | Graham, Cross |
- Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[4] The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies,[5] Statto
Playing squad
- Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1974–75 season.
Coaching staff
Mike Everitt (17 August 1974 – 16 January 1975)
Jess Willard (16 – 20 January 1975)
Name |
Role |
Jess Willard |
Caretaker Manager |
Alan Humphries |
Chief Scout |
John Docherty (20 January – 26 April 1975)
Statistics
Appearances and goals
- Substitute appearances in brackets.
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: 100 Years of Brentford[4]
Goalscorers
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: 100 Years of Brentford[4]
Management
Name |
Nat |
From |
To |
Record All Comps |
Record League |
P | W | D | L | W % | P | W | D | L | W % |
Mike Everitt |
![England](../I/m/Flag_of_England.svg.png) |
17 August 1974 |
11 January 1975 |
7001300000000000000♠30 |
7001110000000000000♠11 |
7000600000000000000♠6 |
7001130000000000000♠13 |
07001366700000000000♠36.67 |
7001260000000000000♠26 |
7000900000000000000♠9 |
7000600000000000000♠6 |
7001110000000000000♠11 |
07001346209999900000♠34.62 |
Jess Willard (caretaker) |
![England](../I/m/Flag_of_England.svg.png) |
18 January 1975 |
18 January 1975 |
7000100000000000000♠1 |
5000000000000000000♠0 |
7000100000000000000♠1 |
5000000000000000000♠0 |
005000000000000000000♠0.00 |
7000100000000000000♠1 |
5000000000000000000♠0 |
7000100000000000000♠1 |
5000000000000000000♠0 |
005000000000000000000♠0.00 |
John Docherty |
![Scotland](../I/m/Flag_of_Scotland.svg.png) |
25 January 1975 |
26 April 1975 |
7001190000000000000♠19 |
7000900000000000000♠9 |
7000600000000000000♠6 |
7000400000000000000♠4 |
07001473700000000000♠47.37 |
7001190000000000000♠19 |
7000900000000000000♠9 |
7000600000000000000♠6 |
7000400000000000000♠4 |
07001473700000000000♠47.37 |
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 occasions |
Worst league defeat | 3–0 on two occasions |
Most appearances | 50, Steve Sherwood (46 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup) |
Top scorer (league) | 12, Dave Simmons |
Top scorer (all competitions) | 13, Dave Simmons |
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 108-111.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 White, p. 295-297.
- 1 2 "Brentford results for the 1974-1975 season - Statto.com". Archived from the original on 21 March 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
- 1 2 3 White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 393. ISBN 0951526200.
- ↑ Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 98-107.
- ↑ Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2011). The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. ISBN 978-1906796709.
- ↑ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
- ↑ Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 128.
- 1 2 Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 295.
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