1965–66 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1965–66 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. After an awful first half of the season, Brentford dropped into the relegation places in January 1966 and failed to recover, ending the club's three-season spell in the Third Division.

Brentford
1965–66 season
ChairmanJack Dunnett
ManagerTommy Cavanagh
(until 18 April 1966)
Ian Black
(18 April–2 May 1966)
Billy Gray
(from 2 May 1966)
StadiumGriffin Park
Third Division23rd (relegated)
FA CupSecond round
League CupSecond round
Top goalscorerLeague: Lawther (10)
All: Lawther (11)
Highest home attendance15,000
Lowest home attendance4,450
Average home league attendance8,416

Season summary
Future captain Bobby Ross transferred to Brentford from Shrewsbury Town in March 1966.

The lack of incoming transfer activity during the 1965 off-season served to highlight the view at Griffin Park that Brentford's squad was strong enough to secure promotion to the Second Division during the 1965–66 season.[1] The campaign began with a rousing 6–1 victory over local rivals Queens Park Rangers at Griffin Park, courtesy of goals from John Fielding, Joe Bonson, Ian Lawther and a Micky Block hat-trick.[1] The win gave way to three defeats and a draw in the following four matches, but consecutive victories over Shrewsbury Town and Swansea Town in mid-September proved to be a false drawn.[2] Brentford would win just one more league match before the end of 1965 and the team's plight was worsened by the departures of influential attackers Jimmy Bloomfield, Mark Lazarus and John Fielding after disputes with manager Tommy Cavanagh.[1] Outside forward John Docherty was bought back from Sheffield United for his second spell at Griffin Park in December 1965,[1] but Brentford began 1966 entrenched in the relegation places.[2]

Misfiring forward Joe Bonson was sold in January 1966 and though manager Cavanagh was provided with the funds to purchase replacement forwards Brian Etheridge, John Regan and Bobby Ross,[1] the new signings failed to help the team convert draws into all-important wins, with four matches being drawn in March.[2] Three consecutive defeats in early April left the supporters clamouring for Cavanagh's head and despite a brief respite after a 2–0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, a 5–0 defeat away to Exeter City on 16 April led chairman Jack Dunnett to dispense with Cavanagh's services.[1] Youth team manager Ian Black won, drew and lost each of the following three matches in a caretaker capacity, before Billy Gray was appointed as manager.[1]

Gray began his reign with Brentford in 23rd place and three points from safety with five matches remaining.[3] A 3–0 home defeat to Mansfield Town in his first match in charge effectively ended all survival hopes after the gap to safety opened up to five points.[4] A draw and a win versus Watford and Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic respectively in the following two matches put the Bees back within two points of safety,[5] but defeats in the final two matches of the season sealed the club's relegation to the Fourth Division.[2]

Three club records were set or equalled during the season:

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Promotion or relegation
20 Oldham Athletic 46 12 13 21 55 81 0.679 37
21 Southend United 46 16 4 26 54 83 0.651 36 Relegated
22 Exeter City 46 12 11 23 53 79 0.671 35
23 Brentford 46 10 12 24 48 69 0.696 32
24 York City 46 9 9 28 53 106 0.500 27
Source:

Results
Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Football League Third Division
No. DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
1 21 August 1965Queens Park RangersH6–1 15,000Fielding, (Block 3, 1 pen), Bonson, Lawther
2 24 August 1965Grimsby Town A2–3 5,002Block, Gelson
3 28 August 1965Bristol RoversA1–1 12,160Cobb
4 4 September 1965York CityH0–1 10,850
5 11 September 1965Oxford UnitedA0–2 10,003
6 14 September 1965Shrewsbury TownH4–0 10,950Lazarus (2), Lawther, Cobb
7 18 September 1965Swansea Town H2–0 10,300Lawther, Block
8 25 September 1965WalsallA1–1 8,384Cobb
9 2 October 1965WorkingtonH0–1 8,700
10 6 October 1965Shrewsbury TownA0–0 4,982
11 9 October 1965Scunthorpe UnitedH0–1 7,720
12 16 October 1965WatfordA1–1 12,337Lawther
13 23 October 1965Oldham AthleticH0–0 8,110
14 30 October 1965GillinghamA0–1 8,669
15 6 November 1965MillwallH1–2 14,800Higginson
16 20 November 1965Exeter CityH1–2 5,940Cobb
17 23 November 1965Grimsby TownH3–2 5,180Cobb, Thomson, Lawther
18 27 November 1965Reading A0–2 6,128
19 11 December 1965Mansfield Town A0–2 3,637
20 1 January 1966Scunthorpe UnitedA2–3 5,568Block, Docherty
21 8 January 1966Peterborough UnitedH1–0 7,380Lawther
22 15 January 1966Oldham AthleticA1–1 12,029Cobb
23 29 January 1966Queens Park Rangers A0–1 14,493
24 5 February 1966Bristol RoversH0–5 6,240
25 12 February 1966Swindon Town A1–2 12,376Docherty
26 26 February 1966Oxford UnitedH5–1 7,100Docherty, Cobb, Etheridge, Lawther (2)
27 1 March 1966Southend UnitedH2–0 9,000Lawther, Curley
28 5 March 1966Swindon TownH0–1 9,900
29 7 March 1966Southend UnitedA0–1 7,029
30 12 March 1966 Swansea Town A 1–1 7,925 Regan
31 19 March 1966WalsallH2–2 7,900Regan, Docherty (pen)
32 26 March 1966WorkingtonA1–1 2,207Docherty
33 28 March 1966 York City A 1–1 2,598 Etheridge
34 2 April 1966MillwallA0–1 13,385
35 8 April 1966Brighton & Hove Albion A0–2 17,176
36 9 April 1966Hull City H2–4 9,920Lawther, Docherty
37 11 April 1966Brighton & Hove AlbionH2–0 7,670Regan, Curley
38 16 April 1966Exeter CityA0–5 4,975
39 23 April 1966ReadingH1–1 7,800Gelson
40 26 April 1966Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticH1–0 5,790Regan
41 30 April 1966Hull CityA1–4 24,318Regan
42 7 May 1966Mansfield Town H0–3 7,970
43 10 May 1966 Watford H 1–1 5,580 Thomson
44 17 May 1966 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic H 1–0 5,130 Docherty
45 21 May 1966Peterborough UnitedA0–3 3,936
46 28 May 1966Gillingham H0–2 4,450

FA Cup
Main article: 1965–66 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer(s)
1R 13 November 1965 Yeovil Town H 2–1 9,320 Fielding (2)
2R4 December 1965Reading A0–5 10,582

Football League Cup
Main article: 1965–66 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer(s)
2R 22 November 1965 Workington A 0–0 3,374
2R (replay)30 November 1965Workington H1–2 4,720 Lawther

Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1965–66 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Chic Brodie (1937-02-22)22 February 1937 (aged 28) Northampton Town 1963
GK Gordon Phillips (1946-11-17)17 November 1946 (aged 18) Hayes 1963
Defenders
DF Peter Gelson (1941-10-18)18 October 1941 (aged 23) Youth 1961
DF Alan Hawley (1946-06-07)7 June 1946 (aged 19) Youth 1962
DF Allan Jones (1940-01-06)6 January 1940 (aged 25) Liverpool 1963
DF Hamish MacKenzie (1945-03-11)11 March 1945 (aged 20) Dunfermline Athletic 1964
DF George Thomson (1936-10-19)19 October 1936 (aged 28) Everton 1963
Midfielders
HB Ron Crisp (1938-09-24)24 September 1938 (aged 26) Watford 1965
HB Tommy Higginson (1937-01-06)6 January 1937 (aged 28) Kilmarnock 1959
HB Hugh McLaughlin (1943-09-02)2 September 1943 (aged 21) St Roch's 1961
HB Eddie Reeve (1947-12-03)3 December 1947 (aged 17) Youth 1964
HB Mel Scott (c) (1939-09-26)26 September 1939 (aged 25) Chelsea 1963
HB Willie Smith (1943-12-06)6 December 1943 (aged 21) Celtic 1963
Forwards
FW Micky Block (1940-01-28)28 January 1940 (aged 25) Chelsea 1962
FW Billy Cobb (1940-09-29)29 September 1940 (aged 24) Plymouth Argyle 1964
FW Tom Curley (1945-06-11)11 June 1945 (aged 20) Celtic 1965
FW John Docherty (1940-04-29)29 April 1940 (aged 25) Sheffield United 1966
FW Brian Etheridge (1944-03-04)4 March 1944 (aged 21) Northampton Town 1966
FW Ian Lawther (1939-10-20)20 October 1939 (aged 25) Scunthorpe United 1964
FW John Regan (1944-06-18)18 June 1944 (aged 21) Shrewsbury Town 1966
FW Bobby Ross (1942-05-10)10 May 1942 (aged 23) Shrewsbury Town 1966
FW Barry Thornley (1948-02-11)11 February 1948 (aged 17) Gravesend & Northfleet 1965
Players who left the club mid-season
FW Jimmy Bloomfield (1934-02-15)15 February 1934 (aged 31) Birmingham City 1964 Transferred to West Ham United
FW Joe Bonson (1936-06-09)9 June 1936 (aged 29) Newport County 1964 Transferred to Lincoln City
FW John Fielding (1939-09-02)2 September 1939 (aged 25) Southport 1963 Transferred to Grimsby Town
FW Mark Lazarus (1938-12-05)5 December 1938 (aged 26) Queens Park Rangers 1964 Transferred to Queens Park Rangers
  • Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford,[8] Timeless Bees[9]

Coaching staff

Tommy Cavanagh (21 August 1965 – 18 April 1966)
Name Role
Tommy Cavanagh Manager
Jimmy Sirrel Trainer
Eddie Lyons Physiotherapist

Ian Black (18 April – 2 May 1966)
Name Role
Ian Black Caretaker Manager
Jimmy Sirrel Trainer
Eddie Lyons Physiotherapist

Billy Gray (3–28 May 1966)
Name Role
Billy Gray Manager
Jimmy Sirrel Trainer
Eddie Lyons Physiotherapist

Statistics

Appearances and goals
Brentford's highest appearance-makers in each position during the Football League season.
Substitute appearances in brackets.
Pos Nat Name League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Chic Brodie 35 0 1 0 2 0 38 0
GK Gordon Phillips 11 0 1 0 0 0 12 0
DF Peter Gelson 34 2 2 0 0 0 36 2
DF Allan Jones 44 0 2 0 2 0 48 0
DF Alan Hawley 36 0 2 0 2 0 40 0
DF Hamish MacKenzie 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
DF George Thomson 44 2 1 0 2 0 47 2
HB Ron Crisp 10 (1) 0 1 0 0 0 11 (1) 0
HB Tommy Higginson 30 1 2 0 2 0 34 1
HB Hugh McLaughlin 0 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1) 0
HB Eddie Reeve 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
HB Mel Scott 38 0 1 0 2 0 41 0
HB Willie Smith 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
FW Micky Block 29 6 2 0 2 0 33 6
FW Jimmy Bloomfield 2 0 — 0 0 2 0
FW Joe Bonson 12 1 1 0 2 0 15 1
FW Billy Cobb 27 (2) 7 2 0 2 0 31 (2) 7
FW Tom Curley 14 2 0 0 0 0 14 2
FW John Docherty 26 7 — — 26 7
FW Brian Etheridge 16 2 — — 16 2
FW John Fielding 9 1 2 2 0 0 11 3
FW Ian Lawther 37 10 2 0 2 1 41 11
FW Mark Lazarus 92— 2 0 112
FW John Regan 12 5 — — 12 5
FW Bobby Ross 17 0 — — 17 0
FW Barry Thornley 7 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[8]

Goalscorers
Pos. Nat Player FL3 FAC FLC Total
FW Ian Lawther 10 0 1 11
FW Billy Cobb 7 0 0 7
FW John Docherty 7 — — 7
FW Micky Block 6 0 0 6
FW John Regan 5 — — 5
FW John Fielding 1 2 0 3
FW Brian Etheridge 2 — — 2
FW Mark Lazarus 2 — 0 2
FW Tom Curley 2 0 0 2
HB Peter Gelson 2 0 0 2
DF George Thomson 2 0 0 2
FW Joe Bonson 1 0 0 1
HB Tommy Higginson 1 0 0 1
Total482 151
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[8]

Management
Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Tommy Cavanagh 22 August 1964 16 April 1966 42 9 11 22 021.43 38 8 10 20 021.05
Ian Black (caretaker) 23 April 1966 30 April 1966 3 1 1 1 033.33 3 1 1 1 033.33
Billy Gray 7 May 1966 28 May 1966 5 1 1 3 020.00 5 1 1 3 020.00

Summary
Games played50 (46 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)
Games won11 (10 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Games drawn13 (12 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Games lost26 (24 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Goals scored51 (48 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Goals conceded77 (69 Third Division, 6 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)
Clean sheets10 (9 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Biggest league win6–1 versus Queens Park Rangers, 21 August 1965
Worst league defeat5–0 on two occasions
Most appearances48, Allan Jones (44 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)
Top scorer (league)10, Ian Lawther
Top scorer (all competitions)11, Ian Lawther

Transfers & loans
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
May 1965 DF Michael Ogburn Portsmouth n/a [10]
August 1965 HB Ron Crisp Watford £2,000 [11]
August 1965 FW Tom Curley Celtic n/a [12]
October 1965 FW Barry Thornley Gravesend & Northfleet £2,000 [13]
December 1965 FW John Docherty Sheffield United n/a [14]
1965 HB Keith Hooker n/a n/a [10]
February 1966 FW Brian Etheridge Northampton Town £8,000 [15]
March 1966 FW John Regan Shrewsbury Town £4,250 [16]
March 1966 FW Bobby Ross Shrewsbury Town £4,250 [17]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
1965 FW Dai Ward Worcester City £2,000 [10]
October 1965 FW Jimmy Bloomfield West Ham United £6,500 [18]
4 November 1965 FW Mark Lazarus Queens Park Rangers £6,000 [19]
December 1965 FW John Fielding Grimsby Town n/a [20]
January 1966 FW Joe Bonson Lincoln City n/a [21]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
May 1966 FW Joe Gadston Corby Town 1966 [22]
May 1966 HB Hugh McLaughlin Gravesend & Northfleet 1966 [23]
May 1966 HB Willie Smith Hastings United August 1966 [24]
May 1966 FW Tim Soutar Ashford Town (Kent) 1966 [25]

References
  1. White 1989, p. 260-262.
  2. Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1965-1966 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 28 March 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  3. "11v11 league table generator". www.11v11.com. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  4. "11v11 league table generator". www.11v11.com. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  5. "11v11 league table generator". www.11v11.com. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  6. Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford scoring and sequence records - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  7. Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z of Bees : A Brentford Encyclopaedia. Harefield: Yore. p. 121. ISBN 1874427577. OCLC 39504068.
  8. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 388. ISBN 0951526200.
  9. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  10. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 118.
  11. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 42.
  12. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 44.
  13. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 160.
  14. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 49.
  15. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 53.
  16. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 132.
  17. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 138.
  18. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 22-23.
  19. "QPRnet – Seasonal Stats – 1965/66". Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  20. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 56.
  21. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 23-24.
  22. "Joe Gadston". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  23. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 107.
  24. "Busy Time Ahead For Brentford". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 5 August 1966.
  25. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 152.
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