1991–92 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1991–92 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. The club finished the season as champions to seal second-tier football for the first time since 1953–54. In 2013, it was voted as Brentford's best ever season by the club's supporters.[1]

Brentford
1991–92 season
ChairmanMartin Lange
ManagerPhil Holder
StadiumGriffin Park
Third Division1st (promoted)
FA CupSecond round
League CupThird round
Football League TrophyFirst round
Top goalscorerLeague: Holdsworth (24)
All: Holdsworth (38)
Highest home attendance12,071
Lowest home attendance4,586
Average home league attendance7,156

Season summary
Dean Holdsworth's 38 goals during the season was one shy of Jack Holliday's club record.

After defeat to Tranmere Rovers in the 1991 Third Division play-offs, Brentford manager Phil Holder made just one addition to his squad prior to the beginning of the 1991–92 season, in the shape of £60,000 defender Billy Manuel from Gillingham.[2] Two wins from the opening two league matches of the season put Brentford in the automatic promotion places, but three successive defeats dropped the club back to 16th by early September 1991.[3] Aided by on-fire forward Dean Holdsworth, the Bees won 13, drew three and lost three of the following 19 matches, losing just once in the league.[2] Having reached the top spot in the Third Division after a 4–0 victory over Wigan Athletic on 9 November, the club stayed at the summit until 8 February 1992, when a fifth defeat in 9 matches dropped the club back to third.[3]

Brentford vied with Birmingham City and Stoke City in the automatic promotion places between mid-February and mid-March, but four successive defeats and two draws dropped the Bees back to 4th.[3] Six wins in the final six matches of the season (which included a 4–0 victory over West London rivals Fulham at Griffin Park) saw Brentford claim the Third Division championship on the final day,[4] after a Gary Blissett goal was enough to beat Peterborough United at London Road.[2] Dean Holdsworth's 24 league goals tied him with Huddersfield Town's Iwan Roberts as the top scorer in the Third Division and Holdsworth's total of 38 in all competitions was one goal short of Jack Holliday's club record,[5] set during the 1932–33 season, when Brentford had last been promoted out of the Third Division.[6][7]

League table
Main article: 1991–92 Football League § Third Division
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Brentford 46 25 7 14 81 55 +26 82 Division Champions, promoted
2 Birmingham City 46 23 12 11 69 52 +17 81 Promoted
3 Huddersfield Town 46 22 12 12 59 38 +21 78 Participated in play-offs
4 Stoke City 46 21 14 11 69 49 +20 77
5 Stockport County 46 22 10 14 75 51 +24 76
Source:

Results
Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Pre-season
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)
27 July 1991Staines TownA2–0n/aGodfrey, Holdsworth (pen)
30 July 1991PortsmouthH0–21,231
3 August 1991EnfieldA1–1n/aSmilie
6 August 1991Chelsea H4–34,923Cadette (2), Holdsworth, Smilie
7 August 1991Maidenhead UnitedA2–3n/aLine, untraced (og)
10 August 1991Colchester United A3–1n/aLuscombe, Godfrey, Gayle
12 August 1991Chesham United A4–3n/aCadette (2), Blissett (pen), Ratcliffe

Football League Third Division
No. DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)
1 17 August 1991Leyton OrientH4–36,156Holdsworth (3), Evans
2 24 August 1991Exeter CityA2–13,518Gayle, Blissett
3 31 August 1991Huddersfield TownH2–35,459Jones, Godfrey
4 3 September 1991Hartlepool UnitedA0–13,660
5 7 September 1991Shrewsbury TownA0–13,139
6 14 September 1991Reading H1–05,775Cadette
7 17 September 1991Hull City H4–14,586Evans, Smilie, untraced (og), Holdsworth
8 21 September 1991Darlington A2–13,900Smilie, Holdsworth
9 28 September 1991Bolton WanderersH3–25,658Holdsworth (2), Gayle
10 5 October 1991Fulham A1–07,710Evans
11 12 October 1991Peterborough United H2–17,705Evans, Smilie
12 19 October 1991West Bromwich AlbionH1–28,575Gayle
13 26 October 1991BuryA3–02,280Holdsworth (2), Gayle
14 2 November 1991Bradford CityA1–05,359Smilie
15 6 November 1991Birmingham CityH2–28,798Smilie, Blissett
16 9 November 1991Wigan AthleticH4–06,675Blissett (2), Holdsworth (2)
17 22 November 1991BournemouthA0–04,764
18 30 November 1991Swansea CityH3–26,669Holdsworth, Ratcliffe, Blissett
19 14 December 1991Torquay UnitedA1–12,475Godfrey
20 22 December 1991Exeter CityH3–07,226Blissett (2), Gayle
21 26 December 1991Huddersfield Town A1–210,605Blissett (pen)
22 28 December 1991Leyton OrientA2–47,333Luscombe (2)
23 1 January 1992Hartlepool UnitedH1–07,102Holdsworth
24 4 January 1992Stockport CountyA1–24,421Untraced (og)
25 11 January 1992Stoke City H2–09,004Luscombe, Holdsworth
26 18 January 1992Chester City A1–11,447Booker
27 25 January 1992Preston North EndH1–07,559Evans
28 1 February 1992West Bromwich AlbionA0–215,984
29 8 February 1992BuryH0–36,789
30 11 February 1992Swansea CityA1–13,582Millen
31 15 February 1992Torquay UnitedH3–26,079Booker, Blissett, Bates
32 22 February 1992Stoke CityA1–216,417Blissett
33 29 February 1992Stockport CountyH2–17,484Smilie, Holdsworth
34 3 March 1992Chester CityH2–06,869Blissett, Holdsworth (pen)
35 7 March 1992Preston North EndA2–33,548Smilie, Buckle
36 10 March 1992Birmingham CityA0–113,290
37 14 March 1992Bradford CityH3–46,791Evans, Blissett, Holdsworth
38 20 March 1992Wigan Athletic A1–22,371Holdsworth
39 29 March 1992BournemouthH2–27,605Godfrey, Blissett
40 1 April 1992ReadingA0–05,660
41 4 April 1992Shrewsbury TownH2–05,561Holdsworth, Evans
42 11 April 1992Hull CityA3–03,770Holdsworth (2), Blissett
43 17 April 1992DarlingtonH4–18,383Holdsworth (2), Blissett, untraced (og)
44 20 April 1992Bolton Wanderers A2–14,382Evans, untraced (og)
45 26 April 1992FulhamH4–012,071Holdsworth, Gayle, Blissett, Ratcliffe
46 2 May 1992 Peterborough United A 1–0 14,539 Blissett

FA Cup
Main article: 1991–92 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance Scorer(s)
R1 18 November 1991 Gillingham H 3–3 5,830 Holdsworth (2), Blissett
R1 (replay)26 November 1991GillinghamA3–17,328Holdsworth (2), Sealy
R27 December 1991Bournemouth A1–26,538Bates

League Cup
Main article: 1991–92 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance Scorer(s)
R1 (1st leg)20 August 1991Barnet A5–5 2,416Cadette (2), Godfrey, Holdsworth (2)
R1 (2nd leg) 27 August 1991 Barnet H 3–1 (won 8–6 on aggregate) 5,583 Holdsworth, Godfrey, Evans
R2 (1st leg) 24 September 1991 Brighton & Hove Albion H 4–1 4,927 Godfrey, Cadette, Holdsworth (2)
R2 (2nd leg) 9 October 1991 Brighton & Hove Albion A 2–4 (a.e.t.), won 6–5 on aggregate) 4,502 Cadette, Holdsworth
R330 October 1991Norwich CityA1–47,394Manuel

Football League Trophy
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance Scorer(s)
PR22 October 1991AldershotA2–01,348Sealy (2)
PR17 December 1991BarnetH3–61,871Luscombe, Holdsworth (2)
SR1 21 January 1992 Leyton Orient A 2–3 1,861 Holdsworth (2)

Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1991–92 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Ashley Bayes (1972-04-19)19 April 1972 (aged 19) Youth 1990
GK Graham Benstead (1963-08-20)20 August 1963 (aged 27) Sheffield United 1990
Defenders
DF Jamie Bates (1968-02-24)24 February 1968 (aged 23) Youth 1986
DF Terry Evans (c) (1965-04-12)12 April 1965 (aged 26) Hillingdon 1985
DF Chris Hughton (1958-12-11)11 December 1958 (aged 32) West Ham United 1992 Coach
DF Billy Manuel (1969-06-28)28 June 1969 (aged 22) Gillingham 1991
DF Keith Millen (1966-09-26)26 September 1966 (aged 24) Youth 1985
DF Brian Statham (1969-05-21)21 May 1969 (aged 22) Tottenham Hotspur 1992 Loaned from Tottenham Hotspur before transferring permanently
Midfielders
MF Bob Booker (1958-01-25)25 January 1958 (aged 33) Sheffield United 1991
MF Paul Buckle (1970-12-16)16 December 1970 (aged 20) Youth 1988
MF Andy Driscoll (1971-10-21)21 October 1971 (aged 19) Youth 1989 Loaned to Staines Town
MF Tony Finnigan (1962-10-17)17 October 1962 (aged 28) Swindon Town 1991
MF Kevin Godfrey (1960-02-24)24 February 1960 (aged 31) Leyton Orient 1988
MF Detzi Kruszyński (1960-10-14)14 October 1960 (aged 30) Wimbledon 1992 On loan from Wimbledon
MF Robbie Peters (1971-05-18)18 May 1971 (aged 20) Youth 1989
MF Simon Ratcliffe (1967-02-08)8 February 1967 (aged 24) Norwich City 1989
MF Wilf Rostron (1956-09-29)29 September 1956 (aged 34) Sheffield United 1991 Assistant manager
MF Neil Smilie (1958-07-19)19 July 1958 (aged 33) Reading 1988
Forwards
FW Gary Blissett (1964-06-29)29 June 1964 (aged 27) Crewe Alexandra 1987
FW Marcus Gayle (1970-09-27)27 September 1970 (aged 20) Youth 1988
FW Dean Holdsworth (1968-11-08)8 November 1968 (aged 22) Watford 1989
FW Simon Line (1971-11-01)1 November 1971 (aged 19) Crystal Palace 1991
FW Lee Luscombe (1971-07-16)16 July 1971 (aged 20) Southampton 1991
FW Tony Sealy (1959-05-07)7 May 1959 (aged 32) MYPA 1991
Players who left the club mid-season
GK Perry Suckling (1965-10-12)12 October 1965 (aged 25) Crystal Palace 1991 Returned to Crystal Palace after loan
MF Keith Jones (1965-10-14)14 October 1965 (aged 25) Chelsea 1987 Transferred to Southend United
FW Richard Cadette (1965-03-21)21 March 1965 (aged 26) Sheffield United 1988 Transferred to Falkirk
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties[9]

Coaching staff
Name Role
Phil Holder Manager
Wilf Rostron Assistant Manager
Graham Pearce Coach
Chris Hughton Coach
Gordon Phillips Goalkeeping Coach
Roy Clare 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 Ashley Bayes 1 0 2 0 3 0 0 0 6 0
GK Graham Benstead 370102020420
DF Jamie Bates 41 (1)131502051 (1)2
DF Terry Evans 4483 05 12 0549
DF Chris Hughton 120———120
DF Billy Manuel 27 (8)030512037 (8)1
DF Keith Millen 341302020411
DF Brian Statham 180———180
MF Bob Booker 14 (2)2—— —14 (2)2
MF Paul Buckle 8 (7)11 (1) 02 (1) 02 (1) 013 (10)1
MF Andy Driscoll 0 (1)00000000 (1)0
MF Tony Finnigan 3 0 — — 1 0 4 0
MF Kevin Godfrey 26 (5)32 (1) 05 32 035 (6)6
MF Keith Jones 61—30—91
MF Robbie Peters 1 (8) 0 0 0 1 (2) 0 1 (1) 0 3 (11) 0
MF Simon Ratcliffe 31 (3)230302 (1)039 (4)2
MF Wilf Rostron 15 (3)0002 (1) 01018 (4)0
MF Neil Smilie 4473 05 0 30557
FW Gary Blissett 31 (6)17312 (2)03039 (8)18
FW Richard Cadette 10 (1)1—34—13 (1)5
FW Marcus Gayle 28 (10) 6 1 (1) 0 3 (1) 0 2 (1) 0 34 (13) 6
FW Dean Holdsworth 40 (1)24344 (1)62 (1)449 (3)38
FW Simon Line 00000 (1)0000 (1)0
FW Lee Luscombe 10 (3) 3 — — 2 1 12 (3) 4
FW Tony Sealy 9 (9)02 (1)1—1212 (10)0
Players loaned in during the season
GK Perry Suckling 8 0 — — 1 0 9 0
MF Detzi Kruszyński 80———80
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties[9]

Goalscorers
Pos. Nat Player FL3 FAC FLC FLT Total
FW Dean Holdsworth 24 4 6 4 38
FW Gary Blissett 17 1 0 0 18
DF Terry Evans 8 0 1 0 9
MF Neil Smilie 7 0 0 0 7
FW Marcus Gayle 6 0 0 0 6
MF Kevin Godfrey 3 0 3 0 6
FW Richard Cadette 1 — 4 — 5
FW Lee Luscombe 3 — — 1 4
MF Bob Booker 2 — — — 3
MF Simon Ratcliffe 2 0 0 0 2
DF Jamie Bates 1 1 0 0 2
MF Keith Jones1—0 —1
MF Paul Buckle 1 0 0 0 1
DF Keith Millen 1 0 0 0 1
DF Billy Manuel 0 0 1 0 1
Opponents 4 0 0 0 4
Total817157110
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties[9]

Management
Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Phil Holder 17 August 1991 2 May 1992 57 29 9 19 050.88|46 25 7 14 054.35

Summary
Games played57 (46 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 5 League Cup, 3 Football League Trophy)
Games won29 (25 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Games drawn9 (7 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy)
Games lost19 (14 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)
Goals scored110 (81 Third Division, 7 FA Cup, 15 League Cup, 7 Football League Trophy)
Goals conceded85 (55 Third Division, 6 FA Cup, 15 League Cup, 9 Football League Trophy)
Clean sheets12 (15 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Biggest league win4–0 on 2 occasions
Worst league defeat3–0 versus Bury, 8 February 1992
Most appearances54, Terry Evans (44 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 5 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)
Top scorer (league)24, Dean Holdsworth
Top scorer (all competitions)38, Dean Holdsworth

Transfers & loans
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
14 June 1991DF Billy Manuel Gillingham£60,000[10]
October 1991FW Lee Luscombe Southampton£15,000[11]
October 1991 FW Tony Sealy MYPA Free [11]
November 1991 MF Bob Booker Sheffield United Free [11]
17 January 1992 MF Tony Finnigan Swindon Town Free [12]
28 February 1992 DF Brian Statham Tottenham Hotspur £70,000 [13]
February 1992 DF Chris Hughton West Ham United Free [13]
March 1992 DF Tim O'Shea Gillingham Non-contract [14]
Players loaned in
Date from Pos. Name From Date to Ref.
11 October 1991 GK Perry Suckling Crystal Palace November 1991 [11]
16 January 1992 DF Brian Statham Tottenham Hotspur 16 February 1992 [13]
March 1992 MF Detzi Kruszyński Wimbledon End of season [14]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
1 July 1991 DF Jason Cousins Wycombe Wanderers Free [10]
21 October 1991 MF Keith Jones Southend United £175,000 [15]
9 January 1992 FW Richard Cadette Falkirk £50,000 [13]
Players loaned out
Date from Pos. Name To Date to Ref.
November 1991 MF Andy Driscoll Staines Town December 1991 [16]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
30 June 1992MF Andy Driscoll Yeading1992[17]
30 June 1992 MF Tony Finnigan Ernest Borel 1992 [18]
30 June 1992 FW Simon Line Retired [17]
30 June 1992 DF Tim O'Shea Hong Kong Rangers 1992 [17]
30 June 1992 FW Tony Sealy Michelotti 1992 [17]

Kit

Supplier: Chad
Sponsor(s): KLM

Home
Away

Source: Brentford F.C.

Awards

References
  1. League, The Football. "Brentford – Football League 125". www.fl125.co.uk. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  2. Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2013). The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. p. 50. ISBN 9781906796723.
  3. Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1991-1992 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  4. "Moment in Time: Fulham – News – Brentford FC". Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  5. "English League Leading Goalscorers". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  6. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 79.
  7. Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford Complete History - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  8. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 52-72.
  9. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 477.
  10. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 82.
  11. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 83.
  12. Tony Finnigan at Soccerbase
  13. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 86.
  14. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 87.
  15. "Premier and Football League transfers". www.11v11.com. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  16. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 85.
  17. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 89.
  18. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Harefield: Yore Publications. p. 57. ISBN 0955294916.
  19. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 445.
  20. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 88.
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