During the 1979–80 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. Despite challenging for promotion in the first half of the season, a barren run between December 1979 and March 1980 meant that the Bees' Third Division status was only preserved on the final day of the season.
Season summary
Brentford manager Bill Dodgin Jr. oversaw one of the quietest off-seasons in recent years, with the only change being in the striking department – Andrew McCulloch departed for a club record £60,000 fee and in came Lee Holmes and Billy Holmes,[1] the latter for a £10,000 fee.[2] In direct contrast to the previous two seasons, Brentford started strongly, winning six and drawing three of the first 11 league matches of the season to rise to 3rd position in the Third Division on 10 October 1979.[3] Continued good results and a boost from the loan signing of winger Keith Fear put the Bees in 2nd place behind leaders Sheffield United one month later,[4] but after a 7–2 victory over Hull City on 8 December, the Bees' biggest win of the season, the team's form collapsed.[3]
Between 15 December 1979 and 29 March 1980, Brentford won just 7 of a possible 36 points and dropped down from 3rd to 18th place.[3] A 1–0 home defeat to Rotherham United at Griffin Park on 29 March left the Bees just two points above the relegation zone and the result spelt the end for manager Bill Dodgin Jr, who was given a paid leave of absence until the end of the season by the club's board.[1] Former Woking manager Fred Callaghan was appointed to the position and oversaw something of a revival, though Brentford went into the final match of the season versus Millwall needing at least a point to guarantee safety.[1] A goal from Tony Funnell (whom Bill Dodgin Jr. had signed for a £56,000 club record fee in March 1980)[5] was enough to preserve Brentford's Third Division status.[1]
One club record was equalled 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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Relegated |
Results
- Brentford's goal tally listed first.
No. |
Date | Opponent | Venue | Result |
Attendance | Scorer(s) |
1 |
18 August 1979 | Reading | A | 2–2 |
8,140 | Henderson (og), Fraser |
2 |
25 August 1979 | Swindon Town | A | 0–4 |
7,204 | |
3 |
1 September 1979 | Chesterfield | H | 3–1 |
5,762 | Carlton, Fraser, W. Holmes |
4 |
8 September 1979 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 2–0 |
11,778 | L. Holmes, Phillips |
5 |
15 September 1979 | Grimsby Town | H | 1–0 |
7,121 | Salman |
6 |
17 September 1979 | Exeter City |
H | 0–2 |
7,809 | |
7 |
22 September 1979 | Wimbledon | A | 0–0 |
5,524 | |
8 |
29 September 1979 | Southend United | H | 2–0 |
6,928 | McNichol, Phillips |
9 |
3 October 1979 | Exeter City | A | 0–0 |
3,297 | |
10 |
6 October 1979 | Barnsley | H | 3–1 |
7,292 | Kruse, L. Holmes, Smith |
11 |
10 October 1979 | Oxford United |
A | 2–0 |
6,362 | McNichol, Phillips |
12 |
13 October 1979 | Blackpool | A | 4–5 |
5,386 | Carlton, Phillips, W. Holmes, McNichol |
13 |
20 October 1979 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 2–0 |
7,970 | McNichol, Phillips |
14 |
22 October 1979 | Sheffield United | H | 1–2 |
13,764 | Smith |
15 |
27 October 1979 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 1–0 |
5,203 | J. Graham |
16 |
3 November 1979 | Reading | H | 2–2 |
10,011 | Smith (2) |
17 |
6 November 1979 | Sheffield United | A | 2–0 |
14,808 | Tibbott (og), Smith |
18 |
10 November 1979 | Colchester United | H | 1–0 |
9,070 | McNichol |
19 |
17 November 1979 | Rotherham United | A | 2–4 |
4,709 | McNichol (2, 1 pen) |
20 |
1 December 1979 | Carlisle United | A | 1–3 |
4,275 | L. Holmes |
21 |
8 December 1979 | Hull City | H | 7–2 |
6,793 | Phillips (2), Booker (3), Fear, Kruse |
22 |
15 December 1979 | Oxford United | H | 1–1 |
7,592 | Salman |
23 |
21 December 1979 | Bury | A | 2–4 |
2,443 | Fraser, Booker |
24 |
26 December 1979 | Chester | H | 2–2 |
10,139 | McNichol, Fear |
25 |
29 December 1979 | Swindon Town |
H | 1–3 |
12,122 | Fraser |
26 |
5 January 1980 | Gillingham |
H | 0–2 |
7,849 | |
27 |
12 January 1980 | Chesterfield |
A | 0–1 |
5,529 | |
28 |
19 January 1980 | Sheffield Wednesday |
H | 2–2 |
8,389 | Phillips, L. Holmes |
29 |
2 February 1980 |
Grimsby Town |
A |
1–5 |
9,817 |
Phillips |
30 |
9 February 1980 | Wimbledon | H | 0–1 |
7,383 | |
31 |
16 February 1980 | Southend United | A | 2–3 |
4,198 | Shrubb, Phillips |
32 |
23 February 1980 | Blackpool | H | 2–1 |
6,403 | Booker, Salman |
33 |
1 March 1980 |
Blackburn Rovers |
A |
0–3 |
10,227 |
|
34 |
8 March 1980 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 0–0 |
6,462 | |
35 |
10 March 1980 | Mansfield Town | A | 0–0 |
3,461 | |
36 |
15 March 1980 | Barnsley |
A | 0–1 |
9,368 | |
37 |
18 March 1980 | Millwall | A | 1–3 |
6,107 | Kruse |
38 |
23 March 1980 |
Colchester United |
A |
1–6 |
3,821 |
Funnell |
39 |
29 March 1980 | Rotherham United | H | 0–1 |
4,992 | |
40 |
5 April 1980 | Chester | A | 1–1 |
2,930 | Phillips |
41 |
7 April 1980 | Mansfield Town | H | 2–0 |
6,057 | L. Holmes, Phillips |
42 |
8 April 1980 | Bury | H | 0–0 |
6,751 | |
43 |
12 April 1980 | Gillingham |
A | 1–0 |
5,889 | Booker |
44 |
19 April 1980 | Carlisle United |
H | 0–3 |
6,130 | |
45 |
26 April 1980 |
Hull City |
A |
1–2 |
5,382 |
L. Holmes |
46 |
3 May 1980 | Millwall |
H | 1–0 |
7,033 | Funnell |
FA Cup
Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result |
Attendance |
Scorer |
1R | 24 November 1979 | Swindon Town |
A | 1–4 |
9,472 |
Smith |
- Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[7] The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies,[8] Statto
Playing squad
- Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1979–80 season.
Coaching staff
Bill Dodgin Jr. (15 August 1979 – 15 March 1980)
Fred Callaghan (15 March – 3 May 1980)
Statistics
Appearances and goals
- Substitute appearances in brackets.
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: 100 Years of Brentford[7]
Goalscorers
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: 100 Years of Brentford[7]
Management
Name |
Nat |
From |
To |
Record All Comps |
Record League |
P | W | D | L | W % | P | W | D | L | W % |
Bill Dodgin, Jr. |
|
15 August 1979 |
29 March 1980 |
7001420000000000000♠42 |
7001120000000000000♠12 |
7000900000000000000♠9 |
7001210000000000000♠21 |
07001285700000000000♠28.57 |
7001390000000000000♠39 |
7001120000000000000♠12 |
7000900000000000000♠9 |
7001180000000000000♠18 |
07001307700000000000♠30.77 |
Fred Callaghan |
|
29 March 1980 |
3 May 1980 |
7000700000000000000♠7 |
7000300000000000000♠3 |
7000200000000000000♠2 |
7000200000000000000♠2 |
07001428600000000000♠42.86 |
7000700000000000000♠7 |
7000300000000000000♠3 |
7000200000000000000♠2 |
7000200000000000000♠2 |
07001428600000000000♠42.86 |
Summary
Games played | 49 (46 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup) |
Games won | 15 (15 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup) |
Games drawn | 11 (11 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup) |
Games lost | 23 (20 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup) |
Goals scored | 62 (59 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup) |
Goals conceded | 83 (73 Third Division, 4 FA Cup, 6 League Cup) |
Clean sheets | 16 (16 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup) |
Biggest league win | 7–2 versus Hull City, 8 December 1979 |
Worst league defeat | 6–1 versus Colchester United, 23 March 1980 |
Most appearances | 49, Steve Phillips (46 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup) |
Top scorer (league) | 12, Steve Phillips |
Top scorer (all competitions) | 12, Steve Phillips |
References
- 1 2 3 4 White, p. 312-313.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 212-216.
- 1 2 3 Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1979-1980 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 6 April 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
- ↑ Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford Table on Saturday 10th November 1979 - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 2017-04-06. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
- ↑ Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 198.
- ↑ Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford scoring and sequence records - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
- 1 2 3 White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 395. ISBN 0951526200.
- ↑ Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 158-169.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Barry Hugman's Footballers – Lee Holmes". hugmansfootballers.com. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 White, p. 314.
- 1 2 Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 295.
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