1975–76 Brentford F.C. season

Brentford
1975–76 season
Chairman Dan Tana
Manager John Docherty
Stadium Griffin Park
Fourth Division 18th
FA Cup Third round
League Cup Second round
Top goalscorer League: Cross (14)
All: Cross (16)
Highest home attendance 12,452
Lowest home attendance 3,453
Average home league attendance 5,096

During the 1975–76 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Fourth Division. A poor middle third of the season led to an 18th-place finish, just three points above the re-election zone.

Season summary

Forward Andrew McCulloch joined Brentford for a club-record £25,000 fee in March 1976.

Despite a strong finish to the previous campaign, only one incoming transfer (veteran goalkeeper Bill Glazier for £4,000) did not raise the belief around Griffin Park that Brentford would challenge for promotion from the Fourth Division during the 1975–76 season.[1] Instead, manager John Docherty made up the numbers with members of the club's youth team,[1] with teenagers Gordon Sweetzer, Danis Salman, Paul Walker and Graham Cox all joining the club.[2]

Brentford had a strong start to the season, winning three and drawing three of the first six league matches of the season and advancing to the second round of the League Cup, where the run was brought to an end at Old Trafford by Manchester United.[3] With goalkeeper Bill Glazier quitting the club after just 12 appearances,[4] Brentford would tread water in the lower reaches of mid-table throughout the season, in which a run to the third round of the FA Cup became the focus.[1] Having reached that stage of the competition for the first time since the 1970–71 season,[1] the Bees took Second Division club Bolton Wanderers to a replay before losing 2–0 at Burnden Park.[3] A slight upturn in form towards the end of the season was inspired by the signing of Oxford United forward Andrew McCulloch for a club record £25,000 fee.[4]

Two club records were set during the season:

  • Youngest Football League debutant: Danis Salman, 15 years, 8 months, 3 days (versus Watford, 15 November 1975)[5]
  • Lowest away Football League attendance: 894 versus Rochdale, 27 March 1976[5]

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GA GD Pts
1Lincoln City 462120711511844024111392.846+7274
2Northampton Town46185062201157252087402.175+3768
3Reading461931429599284270511.373+1960
4Tranmere Rovers461931429599284289551.618+3458
5Huddersfield Town46116628171085282456411.366+1556
6Bournemouth46155339165711183257481.188+952
7Exeter City46137337175711193056471.191+950
8Watford46164338186215244462621.000±050
9Torquay United4612653124689243955630.873–850
10Doncaster Rovers4610674231959333875691.087+649
11Swansea City46148151212714153666571.158+947
12Barnsley46128334162813183252481.083+444
13Cambridge United46710636287511223458620.935–443
14Hartlepool46106737296413254962780.795–1642
15Rochdale46711527235711133140540.741–1442
16Crewe Alexandra46107636213812223658571.018+141
17Bradford City46977352631010283963650.969–241
18Brentford46127437182615194256600.933–441
19Scunthorpe United46113931243713193550590.847–938
20Darlington46117530143317184348570.842–938
21Stockport County4687823235513205343760.566–3338
22Newport County4687835335216225757900.633–3335
23Southport46661127312417144641770.532–3626
24Workington46541419432318114430870.345–5721

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
New club in the league (none)
Re-elected
Failed re-election (none)

Results

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Fourth Division

No. DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
1 16 August 1975Bradford CityA1–1 2,385Johnson
2 23 August 1975HartlepoolH1–1 4,948Cross
3 30 August 1975Torquay UnitedA3–2 3,179Cross, Allen, Graham
4 6 September 1975BarnsleyH1–0 5,605Cross
5 15 September 1975Doncaster RoversA1–1 6,353Johnson
6 20 September 1975Stockport CountyH2–1 6,282Simmons, Riddick
7 24 September 1975BournemouthA0–3 4,113
8 27 September 1975Huddersfield Town A1–2 4,160Sweetzer
9 4 October 1975Newport CountyH1–3 5,678Graham
10 11 October 1975Lincoln CityA1–3 6,312Graham
11 18 October 1975SouthportH1–0 4,515Johnson
12 21 October 1975Northampton TownA1–3 6,225Scales
13 25 October 1975Cambridge UnitedA1–2 2,596French
14 1 November 1975Scunthorpe UnitedH5–2 4,227French, Johnson, Cross (2), Graham
15 3 November 1975Workington H4–0 5,379French, Sweetzer, Johnson (pen), Cross
16 7 November 1975Tranmere RoversA1–5 4,326Cross
17 15 November 1975WatfordH1–0 6,934Scales
18 29 November 1975Crewe Alexandra A0–1 2,248
19 6 December 1975RochdaleH3–0 4,853Johnson (pen), Cross, Riddick
20 20 December 1975DarlingtonH3–0 4,193Sweetzer (2), Cross
21 26 December 1975Exeter CityA0–0 4,912
22 27 December 1975ReadingH2–2 10,612Johnson, Scales
23 10 January 1976 Torquay United H 1–1 5,687 Johnson
24 16 January 1976Stockport County A0–2 2,267
25 24 January 1976Doncaster Rovers H0–1 4,885
26 31 January 1976Northampton TownH2–1 4,114Johnson (pen), Cross
27 7 February 1976Workington A1–1 1,231French
28 14 February 1976 Tranmere Rovers H 0–1 4,725
29 21 February 1976WatfordA2–3 6,223Bristow (og), Sweetzer
30 23 February 1976BournemouthH1–2 4,585Graham
31 28 February 1976Cambridge UnitedH0–0 4,095
32 6 March 1976Scunthorpe UnitedA1–2 3,377Sharp
33 8 March 1976Newport County A0–1 1,150
34 13 March 1976Lincoln CityH1–0 5,386Cross
35 16 March 1976SouthportA0–2 1,506
36 20 March 1976Crewe AlexandraH0–0 3,851
37 27 March 1976RochdaleA2–1 894McCulloch, French
38 29 March 1976 Darlington A 0–2 1,758
39 3 April 1976Bradford City H2–2 3,453McCulloch, Cross
40 5 April 1976Huddersfield TownH0–0 4,413
41 10 April 1976Barnsley A1–1 3,877Cross
42 16 April 1976Swansea CityH1–0 4,623Johnson
43 17 April 1976Exeter CityH5–1 4,175Bence, French (2), McCulloch, Cross
44 19 April 1976ReadingA0–1 12,972
45 24 April 1976Hartlepool A0–1 1,276
46 26 April 1976 Swansea City A 2–2 1,480 French, Johnson

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer(s)
1R 22 November 1975 Northampton Town H 2–0 6,645 Sweetzer (2)
2R 13 December 1975 Wimbledon A 2–1 8,375 Johnson (2, 1 pen)
3R 3 January 1976 Bolton Wanderers H 0–0 12,452
3R (replay)6 January 1976Bolton Wanderers A0–2 18,538

Football League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer(s)
1R (1st leg) 19 August 1975 Brighton & Hove Albion H 2–1 5,360 Johnson (pen), Cross
1R (2nd leg) 27 August 1975 Brighton & Hove Albion A 1–1 (won 3–2 on aggregate) 11,016 Cross
2R10 September 1974Manchester United A1–2 25,286 Lawrence
  • Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[6] The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies,[7] Statto

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1975–76 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Paul Priddy England 11 January 1953 (aged 22) Walton & Hersham 1975
Defenders
DF Michael Allen England 30 March 1949 (aged 26) Middlesbrough 1971
DF Paul Bence (c) England 21 December 1948 (aged 26) Reading 1970
DF Keith Lawrence England 25 March 1954 (aged 21) Chelsea 1974
DF Alan Nelmes England 20 October 1948 (aged 26) Chelsea 1967
DF Gordon Riddick England 6 November 1943 (aged 31) Northampton Town 1973
DF Tom Sharp Scotland 30 July 1957 (aged 18) Everton 1976 Loaned from Everton before transferring permanently
DF Nigel Smith England 3 July 1958 (aged 17) Queens Park Rangers 1975
Midfielders
MF Jackie Graham Scotland 16 July 1946 (aged 29) Guildford City 1970
MF Terry Johnson England 30 August 1949 (aged 25) Southend United 1974
MF Danis Salman England 12 March 1960 (aged 15) Youth 1975
MF Terry Scales England 18 January 1951 (aged 24) West Ham United 1971
Forwards
FW Roger Cross England 20 October 1948 (aged 26) Fulham 1973
FW Micky French England 7 May 1955 (aged 20) Queens Park Rangers 1975
FW Andrew McCulloch England 3 January 1950 (aged 25) Oxford United 1976
FW Richard Poole England 3 July 1957 (aged 18) Youth 1972
FW Gordon Sweetzer Canada 27 January 1957 (aged 18) Queens Park Rangers 1975
Players who left the club mid-season
GK Bill Glazier England 2 August 1943 (aged 32) Coventry City 1975 Released
GK Graham Horn England 23 August 1954 (aged 20) Luton Town 1975 Returned to Luton Town after loan
FW Dave Simmons England 24 October 1948 (aged 26) Cambridge United 1974 Transferred to Cambridge United

Coaching staff

Name Role
Scotland John Docherty Manager
England Eddie Lyons Trainer
England Bob Pearson Chief Scout

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 England Bill Glazier 19 0 — 3 0 12 0
GK England Paul Priddy 34 0 4 0 — 38 0
DF England Michael Allen 45 1 4 0 3 0 52 1
DF England Paul Bence 46 1 4 0 3 0 53 1
DF England Keith Lawrence 35 0 4 0 3 1 42 1
DF England Alan Nelmes 28 (1) 0 3 (1) 0 3 0 34 (2) 0
DF England Gordon Riddick 23 (3) 2 1 (1) 0 0 (1) 0 24 (5) 2
DF Scotland Tom Sharp 2 (10) 1 — — 2 (10) 1
DF England Nigel Smith 37 0 4 0 3 0 44 0
MF Scotland Jackie Graham 38 5 4 0 3 0 45 5
MF England Terry Johnson 46 11 4 2 3 1 53 14
MF England Danis Salman 3 (3) 0 0 0 0 0 3 (3) 0
MF England Terry Scales 43 3 4 0 3 0 50 3
FW England Roger Cross 37 14 3 0 2 (1) 2 42 (1) 16
FW England Micky French 27 (4) 8 1 (1) 0 2 0 30 (5) 8
FW England Andrew McCulloch 13 3 — — 13 3
FW England Richard Poole 2 (5) 0 0 0 0 0 2 (5) 0
FW England Dave Simmons 10 1 — 2 (1) 0 12 (1) 1
FW Canada Gordon Sweetzer 25 (2) 5 4 2 0 0 29 (2) 7
Players loaned in during the season
GK England Graham Horn 3 0 — — 3 0
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[6]

Goalscorers

Pos. Nat Player FL4 FAC FLC Total
FW England Roger Cross 14 0 2 16
MF England Terry Johnson 11 2 1 14
FW England Micky French 8 0 0 8
FW Canada Gordon Sweetzer 5 2 0 7
MF Scotland Jackie Graham 5 0 0 5
FW England Andrew McCulloch 3 — — 3
MF England Terry Scales 3 0 0 3
DF England Gordon Riddick 2 0 0 2
DF Scotland Tom Sharp 1 — — 1
FW England Dave Simmons 1 0 — 1
DF England Michael Allen 1 0 0 1
DF England Paul Bence 1 0 0 1
DF England Keith Lawrence 0 0 1 1
Opponents 1 0 0 1
Total564 464
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[6]

Management

Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
John Docherty Scotland 16 August 1975 26 April 1976 53 17 15 21 032.08 46 14 13 19 030.43

Summary

Games played53 (46 Fourth Division, 4 FA Cup, 3 League Cup)
Games won17 (14 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Games drawn15 (13 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Games lost21 (19 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Goals scored64 (56 Fourth Division, 4 FA Cup, 4 League Cup)
Goals conceded67 (60 Fourth Division, 3 FA Cup, 4 League Cup)
Clean sheets14 (12 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Biggest league win4–0 versus Workington, 3 November 1975
Worst league defeat5–1 versus Tranmere Rovers, 7 November 1975
Most appearances53, Paul Bence, Terry Johnson (46 Fourth Division, 4 FA Cup, 3 League Cup)
Top scorer (league)14, Roger Cross
Top scorer (all competitions)16, Roger Cross

Transfers & loans

Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
June 1975 GK England Bill Glazier England Coventry City £4,000 [2]
September 1975 GK England Paul Priddy England Walton & Hersham n/a [2]
September 1975 MF England Danis Salman England Queens Park Rangers n/a [1]
September 1975 FW Canada Gordon Sweetzer England Queens Park Rangers Trial [2]
September 1975 MF England Paul Walker n/a n/a [1]
1975 GK England Graham Cox n/a n/a [2]
January 1976 MF England Larry McGettigan Unattached Non-contract [10]
January 1976 n/a Scotland David Oxley Scotland Dundee Trial [2]
March 1976 FW England Andrew McCulloch England Oxford United £25,000 [2]
March 1976 DF Scotland Tom Sharp England Everton n/a [2]
Players loaned in
Date from Pos. Name From Date to Ref.
November 1975 GK England Graham Horn England Luton Town December 1975 [2]
January 1976 DF Scotland Tom Sharp England Everton March 1976 [2]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
November 1975 FW England Dave Simmons England Cambridge United Nominal [2]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
October 1975 GK England Bill Glazier United States St. Louis Stars 1977 [2]
1975 MF England Barry Salvage England Millwall August 1975 [2]
May 1976 DF England Keith Lawrence England Wealdstone 1976 [2]
May 1976 MF England Larry McGettigan England Emeralds n/a [10]
May 1976 DF England Alan Nelmes England Hillingdon Borough 1976 [2]
May 1976 n/a Scotland David Oxley n/a n/a [2]
May 1976 FW England Richard Poole England Watford July 1976 [2]

Awards

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 White, p. 298-300.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 128-130.
  3. 1 2 "Brentford results for the 1975-1976 season - Statto.com". Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  4. 1 2 Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 114.
  5. 1 2 "Celebrating 4,000 EFL Games: 1920–2016" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 April 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 393. ISBN 0951526200.
  7. ↑ Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 116-126.
  8. ↑ Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2011). The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. ISBN 978-1906796709.
  9. ↑ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  10. 1 2 "Watford Football Club archive 1881–2017 » Players – Mackay to McGuire" (PDF). p. 39. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  11. 1 2 Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 295.
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