Season summary
After Brentford's lowest-ever finish in the Fourth Division at the end of the previous season, manager John Docherty released defenders Alan Nelmes and Keith Lawrence and replaced them with John Fraser and Bobby Goldthorpe respectively.[2] Also arriving at Griffin Park were defender Keith Pritchett and midfielder Steve Aylott, while teenagers Danis Salman, Gary Rolph, Graham Cox and Paul Walker all signed apprentice professional contracts.[2] A catalogue of injuries to Fraser, Aylott, Riddick, Sweetzer, McCulloch, Allen and Johnson and a failure to win any of the first six games of the season led to manager Docherty quitting the club,[2] after failing to win a vote of confidence from chairman Dan Tana.[1] Physiotherapist Eddie Lyons was put in caretaker charge of the team for one match before Bill Dodgin Jr. was appointed manager on 16 September 1976, who followed in his father's footsteps by taking over the role.[2]
While Brentford were entrenched in the re-election places the first five months of Bill Dodgin Jr.'s reign,[3] behind the scenes he overhauled the squad and sought players who would meld with his attacking philosophy.[2] Between September 1976 and February 1977, Dodgin brought in midfielder Dave Carlton from his previous club Northampton Town and a number of players on loan – goalkeeper Tony Burns and midfielders Allan Glover, Steve Scrivens, Neil Smillie and John Bain.[1] The sales of defender Keith Pritchett and forwards Roger Cross and Micky French generated over £20,000 in transfer fees, a small portion of which was spent on midfielders Paul Shrubb and Steve Phillips.[1] Most significantly, teenage forward Gordon Sweetzer was promoted through the ranks and began to establish himself in the starting lineup in the New Year.[4]
By January 1977, manager Dodgin's new-look squad was starting to produce results on the field, with Gordon Sweetzer scoring a hattrick in a 4–0 victory over Stockport County in the middle of the month.[4] In late February, Brentford set off on a run which would see the club become one of the Fourth Division's form teams,[5] winning 14 and drawing two of the final 18 matches of the season.[3] Gordon Sweetzer established a strike partnership with fit-again Andrew McCulloch and showed prolific form, finishing the season with 23 goals from 28 appearances.[2] In March, despite a shaky start, the £20,000 purchase of central defender Pat Kruse would prove to be an important signing for the future.[2] Brentford finished the season in 15th place.[6]
Two club records were set during the season:
League table
P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
Key | |
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Division Champions, promoted |
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Promoted |
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Re-elected |
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Failed re-election |
Results
- Brentford's goal tally listed first.
No. |
Date | Opponent | Venue | Result |
Attendance | Scorer(s) |
1 |
21 August 1976 | Barnsley | H | 0–1 |
3,903 | |
2 |
23 August 1976 | Stockport County |
A | 0–2 |
3,191 | |
3 |
28 August 1976 | Huddersfield Town | A | 0–1 |
4,559 | |
4 |
4 September 1976 | Doncaster Rovers | H | 2–2 |
3,804 | Johnson, French |
5 |
10 September 1976 | Aldershot | A | 1–1 |
5,129 | French |
6 |
18 September 1976 | Southport | H | 3–0 |
4,185 | Graham, Johnson, Cross |
7 |
25 September 1976 | Torquay United | A | 1–1 |
2,456 | Cross |
8 |
2 October 1976 | Bradford City | A | 2–3 |
4,809 | Cross (2) |
9 |
9 October 1976 | Newport County | H | 1–1 |
5,894 | Goldthorpe |
10 |
15 October 1976 | Swansea City | A | 3–5 |
3,656 | Allen, Pritchett, Goldthorpe |
11 |
23 October 1976 | Darlington | H | 0–3 |
4,303 | |
12 |
25 October 1976 | Workington | H | 5–0 |
3,158 | Cross, Sweetzer, McCulloch (2), Fraser |
13 |
30 October 1976 | Colchester United | A | 1–2 |
3,607 | Cross |
14 |
3 November 1976 | Exeter City |
A | 2–3 |
2,779 | McCulloch, Graham |
15 |
6 November 1976 | Bournemouth | H | 3–2 |
4,254 | Cross, French, McCulloch |
16 |
13 November 1976 | Hartlepool |
A | 0–2 |
1,888 | |
17 |
27 November 1976 | Cambridge United |
H | 0–2 |
5,040 | |
18 |
27 December 1976 |
Southend United |
A |
1–2 |
9,239 |
Cross (pen) |
19 |
1 January 1977 | Bournemouth | A | 1–3 |
4,268 | Cross |
20 |
3 January 1977 | Colchester United | H | 1–4 |
4,629 | McCulloch |
21 |
8 January 1977 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 2–3 |
2,198 | McCulloch, Sweetzer |
22 |
15 January 1977 | Stockport County | H | 4–0 |
3,981 | Fraser, Sweetzer (3) |
23 |
22 January 1977 | Barnsley | A | 0–2 |
4,095 | |
24 |
25 January 1977 |
Scunthorpe United |
A |
1–2 |
2,867 |
Sweetzer |
25 |
29 January 1977 | Halifax Town | H | 2–1 |
4,517 | Sweetzer, French |
26 |
5 February 1977 | Huddersfield Town |
H | 1–3 |
4,833 | Salman |
27 |
12 February 1977 | Doncaster Rovers | A | 0–5 |
4,095 | |
28 |
19 February 1977 |
Aldershot |
H |
0–1 |
4,542 |
|
29 |
22 February 1977 | Rochdale |
H | 3–2 |
3,307 | Johnson, Phillips, Sweetzer |
30 |
5 March 1977 | Torquay United | H | 3–2 |
4,172 | Sweetzer (3, 1 pen) |
31 |
8 March 1977 | Southport | A | 2–1 |
969 | Johnson (pen), Sweetzer |
32 |
12 March 1977 | Bradford City | H | 4–0 |
5,742 | Shrubb, Johnson, Bain, Phillips |
33 |
18 March 1977 | Newport County | A | 1–3 |
1,747 | Sweetzer |
34 |
23 March 1977 | Watford | H | 3–0 |
7,602 | Sweetzer (2), Graham |
35 |
26 March 1977 | Swansea City | H | 4–0 |
6,201 | Johnson (2, 1 pen), Sweetzer, Phillips |
36 |
2 April 1977 | Darlington |
A | 2–2 |
1,681 | Johnson, Sweetzer |
37 |
8 April 1977 | Southend United | H | 1–0 |
8,951 | Phillips |
38 |
9 April 1977 | Watford | A | 1–0 |
9,382 | McCulloch |
39 |
12 April 1977 | Exeter City | H | 1–0 |
7,641 | Sweetzer |
40 |
16 April 1977 | Workington | A | 3–1 |
1,032 | Sweetzer, McCulloch, Phillips |
41 |
19 April 1977 | Halifax Town | A | 0–0 |
1,464 | |
42 |
23 April 1977 | Hartlepool |
H | 3–1 |
5,978 | Kruse, McCulloch, Sweetzer (pen) |
43 |
30 April 1977 | Cambridge United |
A | 2–3 |
5,617 | Sweetzer, Graham |
44 |
2 May 1977 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 0–0 |
5,842 | |
45 |
7 May 1977 | Scunthorpe United |
H | 4–2 |
5,298 | Kruse, Sweetzer (2), Phillips |
46 |
14 May 1977 |
Rochdale |
A |
3–2 |
977 |
Shrubb, McCulloch, Phillips |
Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result |
Attendance |
Scorer |
1R (1st leg) |
14 August 1976 |
Watford |
A |
1–1 |
4,827 |
Cross |
1R (2nd leg) | 17 August 1976 | Watford |
H | 0–2 (lost 3–1 on aggregate) |
5,542 |
|
- Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[4] The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies,[9] Statto
Playing squad
- Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1976–77 season.
Coaching staff
John Docherty (14 August – 7 September 1976)
Eddie Lyons (7 – 16 September 1976)
Name |
Role |
Eddie Lyons |
Caretaker Manager |
Bob Pearson |
Chief Scout |
Bill Dodgin Jr. (16 September 1976 – 14 May 1977)
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 % |
John Docherty |
|
14 August 1976 |
7 September 1976 |
7000600000000000000♠6 |
5000000000000000000♠0 |
7000200000000000000♠2 |
7000400000000000000♠4 |
005000000000000000000♠0.00 |
7000400000000000000♠4 |
5000000000000000000♠0 |
7000100000000000000♠1 |
7000300000000000000♠3 |
005000000000000000000♠0.00 |
Eddie Lyons (caretaker) |
|
7 September 1976 |
16 September 1976 |
7000100000000000000♠1 |
5000000000000000000♠0 |
7000100000000000000♠1 |
5000000000000000000♠0 |
005000000000000000000♠0.00 |
7000100000000000000♠1 |
5000000000000000000♠0 |
7000100000000000000♠1 |
5000000000000000000♠0 |
005000000000000000000♠0.00 |
Bill Dodgin, Jr. |
|
16 September 1976 |
14 May 1977 |
7001430000000000000♠43 |
7001190000000000000♠19 |
7000500000000000000♠5 |
7001190000000000000♠19 |
07001441900000000000♠44.19 |
7001410000000000000♠41 |
7001180000000000000♠18 |
7000500000000000000♠5 |
7001180000000000000♠18 |
07001439000000000000♠43.90 |
Summary
Games played | 50 (46 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup) |
Games won | 19 (18 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup) |
Games drawn | 8 (7 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup) |
Games lost | 23 (21 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup) |
Goals scored | 82 (77 Fourth Division, 4 FA Cup, 1 League Cup) |
Goals conceded | 82 (76 Fourth Division, 3 FA Cup, 3 League Cup) |
Clean sheets | 12 (11 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup) |
Biggest league win | 5–0 versus Workington, 25 October 1976 |
Worst league defeat | 5–0 versus Doncaster Rovers, 12 February 1977 |
Most appearances | 46, Jackie Graham (42 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup) |
Top scorer (league) | 23, Gordon Sweetzer |
Top scorer (all competitions) | 23, Gordon Sweetzer |
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 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 146-151.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 White, p. 301-304.
- 1 2 "Brentford results for the 1976-1977 season - Statto.com". Archived from the original on 20 March 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 5 White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 394. ISBN 0951526200.
- ↑ "English Division Four (old) 1976-1977 Form Table : 10 Games - Statto.com". Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
- ↑ "Brentford League Table 1976-1977 - Statto.com". Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
- ↑ Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Yore Publications. p. 139. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
- ↑ Haynes & Coumbe, p. 137.
- ↑ Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 136-145.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Haynes & Coumbe, p. 15.
- ↑ "Slough Town FC". www.sloughtownfc.net. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
- 1 2 Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 295.
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Club seasons | First Division | |
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Second Division |
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Third Division |
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Fourth Division |
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