1985–86 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1985–86 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. Inferior home form and a number of key player departures meant that the Bees could finish no higher than 10th position.

Brentford
1985–86 season
ChairmanMartin Lange
ManagerFrank McLintock
StadiumGriffin Park
Third Division10th
FA CupFirst round
League CupSecond round
Football League TrophyFirst round
Top goalscorerLeague: Cooke (17)
All: Cooke (18)
Highest home attendance6,351
Lowest home attendance2,512
Average home league attendance3,957

Season summary
Wimbledon winger Ian Holloway was signed on loan late in the season to invigorate the attack.

After the recent Heysel Stadium disaster and the Bradford City stadium fire, the financial implications of the work needed to bring Griffin Park up to standard hampered Brentford manager Frank McLintock's movement in the transfer market during the 1985 off-season.[1] The core of the previous season's Football League Trophy final team would be sold off,[1] with midfielder Chris Kamara and forward Keith Cassells leaving before the beginning of the season and captain Terry Hurlock would later be sold for a club-record £95,000 fee in February 1986.[2] Goalkeeper Trevor Swinburne and defender Paul Roberts were released and the mid-season retirement of goalscoring winger Gary Roberts also compounded the break-up of the team.[2] McLintock re-signed bit-part goalkeeper Richard Key and midfielder Terry Bullivant on free transfers and also brought in 20-year-old centre back Terry Evans from non-league Hillingdon, a transfer which would go on to be an important contributor the club's success in the early 1990s.[2]

The 1985–86 season proved to be one of consolidation in the Third Division for Brentford, with the team briefly challenging for promotion in August and for a three-month period in late 1985, but otherwise being rooted in mid-table.[3] There was little cheer to be had in the cup competitions,[3] but manager Frank McLintock was able to make some incoming mid-season transfers, bringing in midfielder Andy Sinton for a £25,000 fee and loaning wingers Steve Burke and Ian Holloway from Queens Park Rangers and Wimbledon respectively.[4] Forward Francis Joseph, top scorer during the 1982–83 season, returned from a long injury layoff in April 1986 and boosting the attack,[4] which had been led alone by Robbie Cooke.[5] Brentford finished the season in 10th place, with an away record superior to that of at Griffin Park.[6]

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
8 Notts County 46 19 14 13 71 60 +11 71
9 Bristol City 46 18 14 14 69 60 +9 68
10 Brentford 46 18 12 16 58 61 −3 66
11 Doncaster Rovers 46 16 16 14 45 52 −7 64
12 Blackpool 46 17 12 17 66 55 +11 63
Source:

Results
Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Pre-season
DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
27 July 1985WembleyA0–0 n/a
30 July 1985Wokingham TownA2–1 n/aHurlock, Cooke
7 August 1985SouthamptonH1–0 962Butler
10 August 1985Oxford United H4–2 1,480Hurlock, Cooke, Lynch, Evans

Football League Third Division
No. DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
1 17 August 1985Wolverhampton WanderersH2–1 5,576Bullivant, Murray
2 24 August 1985Bristol RoversA1–0 4,140Lynch
3 26 August 1985BournemouthH1–0 4,283Cooke
4 31 August 1985Wigan AthleticA0–4 2,871
5 7 September 1985Plymouth ArgyleH1–1 3,927Lynch
6 13 September 1985Doncaster RoversA0–1 2,831
7 17 September 1985ReadingH1–2 6,351Booker
8 21 September 1985Lincoln CityA0–3 1,856
9 28 September 1985Rotherham UnitedH1–1 3,257Alexander
10 1 October 1985Darlington A5–3 2,447Alexander (3), Booker, Lynch
11 5 October 1985Swansea CityH1–0 3,508Lynch
12 12 October 1985Bolton WanderersA2–1 4,106Wignall, Cooke
13 19 October 1985Newport CountyA0–0 3,646
14 22 October 1985WalsallA2–1 4,318Wignall, Hurlock
15 26 October 1985BlackpoolA0–4 5,448
16 2 November 1985Cardiff City H3–0 3,934Hurlock, Cooke, Lynch
17 6 November 1985Derby CountyH3–3 4,707Murray, Cooke, Butler
18 9 November 1985Bristol CityA0–0 6,598
19 23 November 1985ChesterfieldH1–0 3,502Roberts
20 30 November 1985York CityA0–1 3,674
21 14 December 1985BuryH1–0 4,038Sinton (pen)
22 22 December 1985Bristol RoversH1–0 5,724Cooke
23 28 December 1985BournemouthA0–0 4,006
24 4 January 1986Cardiff City A0–1 3,398
25 11 January 1986Wigan Athletic H1–3 4,048Booker
26 18 January 1986Wolverhampton WanderersA4–1 3,420Cooke (2), Sinton (2)
27 21 January 1986Notts CountyH1–1 4,002Evans
28 24 January 1986Doncaster Rovers H1–3 3,568Cooke
29 1 February 1986 Plymouth Argyle A 0–2 4,873
30 4 February 1986Walsall H1–3 3,015Alexander
31 1 March 1986 Rotherham United A 2–1 3,260 Booker, Cooke
32 8 March 1986Swansea CityA0–2 3,683
33 11 March 1986Newport County A2–1 1,508Lynch, Cooke
34 14 March 1986Bolton WanderersH1–1 3,284Booker
35 18 March 1986 Gillingham A 2–1 3,558 Booker, Cooke
36 22 March 1986BlackpoolH1–1 3,528Cooke
37 29 March 1986Notts CountyA4–0 3,857Burke, Cooke (2), Holloway
38 31 March 1986GillinghamH1–2 4,702Cooke
39 5 April 1986 Derby County A 1–1 11,026 Holloway
40 13 April 1986Bristol CityH1–2 3,701Millen
41 16 April 1986ReadingA1–3 6,855Murray
42 19 April 1986ChesterfieldA3–1 2,344Cooke, Butler, Booker
43 22 April 1986Lincoln CityH0–1 3,011
44 26 April 1986York City H3–3 2,864Hood (og), R. Joseph, F. Joseph
45 3 May 1986Bury A0–0 2,953
46 5 May 1986Darlington H2–1 2,824Millen, Cooke

FA Cup
Main article: 1985–86 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer(s)
1R16 November 1985Bristol Rovers H1–3 4,716 Evans

Football League Cup
Main article: 1985–86 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer(s)
1R (1st leg) 20 August 1985 Cambridge United A 1–1 1,794 Booker
1R (2nd leg) 3 September 1985 Cambridge United H 2–0 (won 3–1 on aggregate) 2,512 Cooke (pen), Hurlock
2R (1st leg) 25 September 1985 Sheffield Wednesday H 2–2 5,352 Alexander (2)
2R (2nd leg)15 October 1985Sheffield Wednesday A0–2 (lost 2–4 on aggregate) 11,132

Football League Trophy
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer
SR1 (match 1) 15 January 1986 Derby County H 0–0 2,531
SR1 (match 2) 29 January 1986 Gillingham A 1–1 1,464 Murray
  • Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[5] The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties,[7] Statto

Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1985–86 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Richard Key (1956-04-13)13 April 1956 (aged 29) Swindon Town 1985
GK Gary Phillips (1961-09-20)20 September 1961 (aged 23) Barnet 1984
Defenders
DF Jamie Bates (1968-02-24)24 February 1968 (aged 17) Youth 1986 Loaned to Maidstone United
DF Terry Evans (1965-04-12)12 April 1965 (aged 20) Hillingdon 1985
DF Roger Joseph (1965-12-24)24 December 1965 (aged 19) Southall 1984
DF Keith Millen (1966-09-26)26 September 1966 (aged 18) Youth 1985
DF Jamie Murray (1958-12-27)27 December 1958 (aged 26) Cambridge United 1984
DF Danis Salman (1960-03-12)12 March 1960 (aged 25) Youth 1975
DF Steve Wignall (c) (1954-09-17)17 September 1954 (aged 30) Colchester United 1984
Midfielders
MF Terry Bullivant (1956-09-23)23 September 1956 (aged 28) Unattached 1985
MF Steve Burke (1960-09-29)29 September 1960 (aged 24) Queens Park Rangers 1986 On loan from Queens Park Rangers
MF Ian Holloway (1963-03-12)12 March 1963 (aged 22) Wimbledon 1986 On loan from Wimbledon
MF Tony Lynch (1966-01-20)20 January 1966 (aged 19) Youth 1983
MF Andy Sinton (1966-03-19)19 March 1966 (aged 19) Cambridge United 1985
MF George Torrance (1957-09-17)17 September 1957 (aged 27) Wokingham Town 1984 Loaned to Maidstone United
Forwards
FW Rowan Alexander (1961-01-28)28 January 1961 (aged 24) St Mirren 1984
FW Bob Booker (1958-01-25)25 January 1958 (aged 27) Bedmond Sports & Social 1978
FW Steve Butler (1962-01-27)27 January 1962 (aged 23) Windsor & Eton 1984 Loaned to Maidstone United
FW Robbie Cooke (1957-02-16)16 February 1957 (aged 28) Cambridge United 1984
FW Francis Joseph (1960-03-06)6 March 1960 (aged 25) Wimbledon 1982
Players who left the club mid-season
DF Bobby Fisher (1956-08-03)3 August 1956 (aged 29) Cambridge United 1984 Released
MF Gary Cooper (1965-11-20)20 November 1965 (aged 19) Queens Park Rangers 1985 Returned to Queens Park Rangers after loan
MF Terry Hurlock (1958-11-22)22 November 1958 (aged 26) Leytonstone/Ilford 1980 Transferred to Reading
MF Gary Roberts (1960-04-05)5 April 1960 (aged 25) Wembley 1980 Released
  • Sources: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties,[8] Timeless Bees[9]

Coaching staff
Name Role
Frank McLintock Manager
John Docherty Assistant Manager
Ron Woolnough Physiotherapist

Statistics

Appearances and goals
Substitute appearances in brackets.
Pos Nat Name League FA Cup League Cup FL Trophy Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Richard Key 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
GK Gary Phillips 43 0 1 0 4 0 2 0 50 0
DF Terry Evans 18 (1) 1 1 1 1 0 2 0 22 (1) 2
DF Roger Joseph 27 (1) 1 0 0 3 0 2 0 32 (1) 1
DF Keith Millen 30 (2) 2 0 0 4 0 1 0 35 (2) 2
DF Jamie Murray 45 3 1 0 4 0 2 1 52 4
DF Danis Salman 40 0 1 0 2 0 2 0 45 0
DF Steve Wignall 28 2 1 0 3 0 0 0 32 2
MF Terry Bullivant 7 (1) 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 9 (1) 1
MF Terry Hurlock 27 2 0 0 4 1 1 0 32 3
MF Tony Lynch 28 (5) 5 1 0 4 0 2 0 35 (5) 5
MF Gary Roberts 3 1 0 0 0 0 — 3 1
MF Andy Sinton 26 3 — — 2 0 28 3
MF George Torrance 18 (3) 0 1 0 4 0 1 0 24 (3) 0
FW Rowan Alexander 24 (4) 6 1 0 2 (1) 2 1 (1) 0 28 (6) 8
FW Bob Booker 44 7 1 0 4 1 1 0 50 8
FW Steve Butler 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 1
FW Robbie Cooke 43 (1) 17 1 0 4 1 2 0 50 (1) 18
FW Francis Joseph 5 (3) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 (3) 1
Players loaned in during the season
MF Steve Burke 10 1 — — — 10 1
MF Gary Cooper 9 (1) 0 — — — 9 (1) 0
MF Ian Holloway 13 2 — — — 13 2
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties[10]

Goalscorers
Pos. Nat Player FL3 FAC FLC FLT Total
FW Robbie Cooke 17 0 1 0 18
FW Bob Booker 7 0 1 0 8
FW Rowan Alexander 6 0 2 0 8
MF Tony Lynch 5 0 0 0 5
DF Jamie Murray 3 0 0 1 4
MF Andy Sinton 3 — — 0 3
MF Terry Hurlock 2 0 1 0 3
MF Ian Holloway 2 — — — 2
DF Keith Millen 2 0 0 0 2
DF Steve Wignall 2 0 0 0 2
DF Terry Evans 1 1 0 0 2
MF Steve Burke 1 — — — 1
MF Gary Roberts 1 0 0 — 1
MF Terry Bullivant 1 0 0 0 1
FW Steve Butler 1 0 0 0 1
FW Francis Joseph 1 0 0 0 1
DF Roger Joseph 1 0 0 0 1
Opponents 1 0 0 0 1
Total581 5 165
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties[10]

Management
Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Frank McLintock 17 August 1985 5 May 1986 53 19 16 18 035.85 46 18 12 16 039.13

Summary
Games played53 (46 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)
Games won19 (18 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy)
Games drawn16 (12 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)
Games lost18 (16 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy)
Goals scored65 (58 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 5 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Goals conceded70 (61 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 5 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Clean sheets14 (12 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Biggest league win4–0 versus Notts County, 29 March 1986
Worst league defeat4–0 on two occasions
Most appearances52, Jamie Murray (45 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)
Top scorer (league)17, Robbie Cooke
Top scorer (all competitions)18, Robbie Cooke

Transfers & loans
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
July 1985 DF Terry Evans Hillingdon n/a [2]
August 1985 MF Terry Bullivant Unattached Free [2]
August 1985 GK Richard Key Swindon Town Free [2]
December 1985 MF Andy Sinton Cambridge United £25,000 [2]
1985 MF Robbie Peters n/a n/a [11]
Players loaned in
Date from Pos. Name From Date to Ref.
September 1985 MF Gary Cooper Queens Park Rangers November 1985 [2]
March 1986 MF Steve Burke Queens Park Rangers End of season [2]
March 1986 MF Ian Holloway Wimbledon End of season [2]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
August 1985 FW Keith Cassells Mansfield Town £17,000 [2]
August 1985 MF Chris Kamara Swindon Town £14,500 [2]
February 1986 MF Terry Hurlock Reading £95,000 [2]
Players loaned out
Date from Pos. Name To Date to Ref.
September 1985 FW Steve Butler Maidstone United November 1985 [2]
March 1986 DF Jamie Bates Maidstone United n/a [2]
March 1986 MF George Torrance Maidstone United n/a [2]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
October 1985 DF Bobby Fisher Maidstone United 1985 [2]
January 1986 MF Gary Roberts Barnet 1986 [2]
May 1986 FW Rowan Alexander Greenock Morton 1986 [2]
May 1986 MF Terry Bullivant Retired [2]
May 1986 FW Steve Butler Maidstone United 1986 [2]
May 1986 MF Tony Lynch Maidstone United 1986 [2]
May 1986 MF George Torrance Maidstone United 1986 [2]

Awards

References
  1. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 150.
  2. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 168-173.
  3. Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1985-1986 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  4. White, p. 328-331.
  5. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 398. ISBN 0951526200.
  6. Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford League Table 1985-1986 - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 25 February 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  7. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 152-164.
  8. Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2011). The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. ISBN 978-1906796716.
  9. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  10. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 427.
  11. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 390.
  12. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 383.
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