1994–95 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1994–95 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Second Division. After a runners-up finish in the league, club's season ended after defeat in the 1995 play-off semi-finals.

Brentford
1994–95 season
ChairmanMartin Lange
ManagerDavid Webb
StadiumGriffin Park
Second Division2nd
Play-offsSemi-finals
FA CupFirst round
League CupSecond round
Football League TrophySecond round
Top goalscorerLeague: Forster (24)
All: Forster (26)
Highest home attendance9,562
Lowest home attendance4,031
Average home league attendance6,076

Season summary

Brentford entered the 1994–95 Second Division season with the nucleus of a new squad, built since the breakup of the team which was relegated from the First Division at the end of the 1992–93 season.[1] Forward Nicky Forster was manager David Webb's only significant summer signing, a £200,000 buy from Third Division Gillingham.[2]

Eight wins and four defeats from the opening 12 games saw the Bees placed 4th in the league, before four defeats in the next five matches dropped the club into mid-table.[3] First and second round exits from the three cup competitions lightened the fixture load by early December and Brentford set off on a 14-match unbeaten run, winning 10 matches and racking up notable 7–0 and 6–0 victories over Plymouth Argyle and Cambridge United respectively.[3] The victory over Cambridge United in late January 1995 returned the Bees to the top of the table for the first time since the opening day of the season, when five goals were put past Plymouth Argyle.[3] Twin strikers Nicky Forster and Robert Taylor were in imperious form, scoring over half the team's goals and forming a partnership that came to be known as the 'FT Index'.[4] The pair would ensure Brentford finished the 1994–95 season as the only club in the top four divisions with two players scoring 20 league goals or more.[5]

The unbeaten run came to an end with defeat to Shrewsbury Town on 25 February, but another 11-match unbeaten sequence kept Brentford in top spot going into late April.[3] Brentford's good form ran in tandem with that of Birmingham City's and the Blues topped the table for the first time in eight weeks on 19 April,[6] with the Bees returning to the summit three days later after a 2–0 victory over Cardiff City.[3] The two clubs faced off in a "winner takes all" match at St Andrew's on 26 April,[2] with just first place in the Second Division offering automatic promotion, due to a restructuring of the English league system.[7] A 2–0 defeat for Brentford in front of 25,81 (the division's record attendance for the season), plus a home defeat to Bournemouth and a draw away with Bristol Rovers led to the team to a runners-up finish and a place in the play-offs.[2] The Bees met fifth-placed Huddersfield Town in the play-off semi-finals and were knocked out on penalties after a 2–2 draw on aggregate, with captain Jamie Bates seeing his decisive spot kick saved.[8]

A number of club records were set or equalled during the season:

  • Fewest Football League goals conceded in a season: 39 (equalled club record)[8][9]
  • Most clean sheets kept in a Football League season: 22 (equalled club record)[10]
  • Most goalscorers in a Football League match: 6 – Darren Annon, Paul Smith, Robert Taylor, Nicky Forster, Denny Mundee and Lee Harvey (versus Plymouth Argyle, 17 December 1994)[11]

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Birmingham City 46 25 14 7 84 37 +47 89 Division Champions, promoted
2 Brentford 46 25 10 11 81 39 +42 85 Participated in play-offs
3 Crewe Alexandra 46 25 8 13 80 68 +12 83
4 Bristol Rovers 46 22 16 8 70 40 +30 82
5 Huddersfield Town 46 22 15 9 79 49 +30 81 Promoted through play-offs
Source: [12]

Results
Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Pre-season
DateOpponentVenueResultScorer(s)
18 July 1994BournemouthA4–1Mundee (2), Smith, McGhee
20 July 1994Dulwich HamletA5–0Forster (2), Taylor (2), Annon
23 July 1994Chertsey Town A3–2Harvey, Forster, Mundee
25 July 1994Hampton A7–1Benjamin (3), Forster, Ashby, Smith, Ratcliffe
27 July 1994Welling United A4–0Forster, Taylor, Mundee (pen), Annon
29 July 1994PortsmouthH1–2Taylor
3 August 1994Queens Park RangersH0–0
6 August 1994Kettering Town A2–0Annon, Grainger (pen)
9 August 1994Bromley A2–0McGhee, Benjamin

Football League Second Division
No. DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)
1 13 August 1994Plymouth ArgyleA5–17,976Smith, Forster (2), Stephenson, Taylor
2 20 August 1994Peterborough UnitedH0–15,561
3 27 August 1994Stockport CountyA1–04,399Taylor
4 30 August 1994Rotherham UnitedH2–04,031Taylor, Forster
5 3 September 1994WrexhamH0–25,820
6 10 September 1994Wycombe WanderersA3–46,847Taylor, Stephenson, Cousins (og)
7 13 September 1994York CityA1–22,836Taylor
8 17 September 1994Blackpool H3–24,157Forster, Smith, Grainger (pen)
9 24 September 1994Crewe Alexandra A2–03,839Forster, Taylor
10 1 October 1994Shrewsbury Town H1–04,556Taylor
11 8 October 1994Bristol RoversH3–05,330Forster (2), Taylor
12 15 October 1994Bournemouth A1–04,411Forster
13 22 October 1994Birmingham CityH1–27,779Ward (og)
14 29 October 1994Cambridge UnitedA0–03,102
15 2 November 1994Bradford City A0–14,105
16 5 November 1994Hull CityH0–15,455
17 19 November 1994Huddersfield TownA0–110,889
18 26 November 1994Brighton & Hove Albion H2–14,728Ashby, Ansah
19 10 December 1994Peterborough UnitedA2–24,102Taylor, Forster
20 17 December 1994Plymouth ArgyleH7–04,492Annon, Smith, Taylor (2), Forster, Mundee, Harvey
21 26 December 1994Leyton OrientH3–06,125Mundee, Ratcliffe, Forster
22 27 December 1994Chester CityA4–12,261Forster (3), Grainger
23 31 December 1994Oxford UnitedH2–07,125Forster, Taylor
24 2 January 1995Cardiff CityA3–25,235Harvey, Forster, Taylor
25 14 January 1995Swansea City H0–07,211
26 21 January 1995Hull CityA2–13,823Mundee, Grainger
27 28 January 1995Cambridge UnitedH6–06,390Forster, Taylor (2), Grainger, Bailey (2)
28 4 February 1995Brighton & Hove Albion A1–19,499Bailey
29 11 February 1995Bradford CityH4–36,019Mundee, Taylor, Grainger, Forster
30 17 February 1995Swansea CityA2–03,935Forster (2)
31 21 February 1995Huddersfield TownH0–09,562
32 25 February 1995Shrewsbury TownA1–24,570Forster
33 4 March 1995Crewe AlexandraH2–07,143Mundee, Taylor
34 7 March 1995WrexhamA0–02,834
35 11 March 1995Stockport CountyH1–06,513Taylor
36 18 March 1995Rotherham UnitedA2–02,968Forster, Abrahams
37 21 March 1995Wycombe WanderersH0–09,530
38 25 March 1995Blackpool A2–14,663Bates, Taylor
39 1 April 1995York CityH3–06,474Grainger, Forster, Taylor
40 8 April 1995Oxford UnitedA1–17,800Taylor
41 15 April 1995Chester CityH1–18,020Abrahams
42 17 April 1995Leyton OrientA2–04,459Bates, Forster
43 22 April 1995Cardiff CityH2–08,268Grainger (pen), Taylor
44 26 April 1995Birmingham CityA0–225,581
45 29 April 1995Bournemouth H1–210,079Abrahams
46 6 May 1995 Bristol Rovers A 2–2 8,501 n/a

Football League Second Division play-offs
Main article: 1995 Football League play-offs
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance Scorer(s)
SF (1st leg)14 May 1995Huddersfield TownA1–114,160Forster
SF (2nd leg)17 May 1995Huddersfield Town H1–1 (a.e.t.), (drew 2–2 on aggregate, lost 4–3 on penalties)11,161Grainger (pen)

FA Cup
Main article: 1994–95 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance Scorer(s)
R112 November 1994Cambridge UnitedA2–23,353Annon, Taylor
R1 (replay)22 November 1994Cambridge United H1–24,096Grainger

League Cup
Main article: 1994–95 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance Scorer(s)
R1 (1st leg)16 August 1994Colchester UnitedA2–02,521Stephenson, Taylor
R2 (2nd leg)23 August 1994Colchester United H2–0 (won 4–0 on aggregate) 2,315Parris, Smith
R2 (1st leg)20 September 1994Tranmere RoversA0–13,754
R2 (2nd leg)27 September 1994Tranmere Rovers H0–0 (lost 1–0 on aggregate) 4,076

Football League Trophy
Main article: 1994–95 Football League Trophy
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance Scorer(s)
SR1 (match 1)19 October 1994Brighton & Hove AlbionA1–01,104Forster
SR1 (match 2)8 November 1994GillinghamH3–11,795Annon, Asaba, Ansah
SR2 3 December 1994 Oxford United H 1–2 2,410 Grainger (pen)
  • Source: Statto, The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties[8]

Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1994–95 season.
No. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
1 GK Kevin Dearden (1970-03-08)8 March 1970 (aged 24) Tottenham Hotspur 1993
20 GK Tamer Fernandes (1974-12-07)7 December 1974 (aged 19) Youth 1993
25 GK Neil Mason (1973-10-29)29 October 1973 (aged 20) — — Assistant physiotherapist
Defenders
2 DF Brian Statham (1969-05-21)21 May 1969 (aged 25) Tottenham Hotspur 1992
3 DF Martin Grainger (1972-08-23)23 August 1972 (aged 21) Colchester United 1993
4 DF Barry Ashby (1970-11-21)21 November 1970 (aged 23) Watford 1994
5 DF Shane Westley (1965-06-16)16 June 1965 (aged 29) Wolverhampton Wanderers 1992 Loaned to Southend United
6 DF Carl Hutchings (1974-09-24)24 September 1974 (aged 19) Youth 1993
12 DF Jamie Bates (c) (1968-02-24)24 February 1968 (aged 26) Youth 1986
19 DF Gus Hurdle (1973-10-14)14 October 1973 (aged 20) Carshalton Athletic 1993
21 DF Corey Campbell (1976-03-06)6 March 1976 (aged 18) Youth 1994
Midfielders
7 MF Lee Harvey (1966-12-21)21 December 1966 (aged 27) Nottingham Forest 1993
8 MF Paul Smith (1971-09-18)18 September 1971 (aged 22) Southend United 1993
10 MF Darren Annon (1972-02-17)17 February 1972 (aged 22) Carshalton Athletic 1994
14 MF Denny Mundee (1968-10-10)10 October 1968 (aged 25) Bournemouth 1993
17 MF Simon Ratcliffe (1967-02-08)8 February 1967 (aged 27) Norwich City 1989
18 MF Paul Stephenson (1968-01-02)2 January 1968 (aged 26) Millwall 1993
22 MF Jon Hooker (1972-03-31)31 March 1972 (aged 22) Gillingham 1994
23 MF Paul Abrahams (1973-10-31)31 October 1973 (aged 20) Colchester United 1995
Forwards
9 FW Nicky Forster (1973-09-08)8 September 1973 (aged 20) Gillingham 1994
11 FW Robert Taylor (1971-04-30)30 April 1971 (aged 23) Leyton Orient 1994
13 FW Craig Ravenscroft (1974-12-20)20 December 1974 (aged 19) Youth 1993 Loaned to Woking
16 FW David McGhee (1976-06-19)19 June 1976 (aged 18) Youth 1994
27 FW Carl Asaba (1973-01-28)28 January 1973 (aged 21) Dulwich Hamlet 1994 Loaned to Colchester United
Players who left the club mid-season
15 FW Ian Benjamin (1961-12-11)11 December 1961 (aged 32) Luton Town 1993 Released
23 FW Dennis Bailey (1965-12-13)13 December 1965 (aged 28) Queens Park Rangers 1995 Returned to Queens Park Rangers after loan
23 FW Andy Ansah (1969-03-19)19 March 1969 (aged 25) Southend United 1994 Returned to Southend United after loan
24 DF George Parris (1964-09-11)11 September 1964 (aged 29) Birmingham City 1994 Returned to Birmingham City after loan
  • Source:The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties[13]

Coaching staff
Name Role
David Webb Manager
Kevin Lock First Team Coach
Roy Johnson Physiotherapist
Neil Mason Assistant Physiotherapist
Fergus Dignan Medical Officer

Statistics

Appearances and goals
Substitute appearances in brackets.
No. Pos Nat Name League FA Cup League Cup FL Trophy Playoffs Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK Kevin Dearden 430204030 2 0540
2 DF Brian Statham 26 (10)0202020 2 034 (10)0
3 DF Martin Grainger 36 (1)7212031 2 145 (1)10
4 DF Barry Ashby 401203030 2 0501
5 DF Shane Westley 15 (1)0203020 0 022 (1)0
6 DF Carl Hutchings 38 (1)01 (1)0402 (1)0 0 (1) 045 (4)0
7 MF Lee Harvey 24 (1)2204020 0 032 (1)2
8 MF Paul Smith 353204110 2 0444
9 FW Nicky Forster 462420402 (1)1 2 156 (1)26
10 MF Darren Annon 9 (1)211001 (1)1 0 011 (2)4
11 FW Robert Taylor 4323214120 2 05325
12 DF Jamie Bates 382102020 2 0452
13 MF Craig Ravenscroft 1000000 (1)0 0 01 (1)0
14 MF Denny Mundee 22 (17)51 00 (1)020 1 (1) 026 (19)5
15 MF Ian Benjamin 10—0 (1) 0— — 1 (1)0
16 MF David McGhee 1 (6)1000000 0 01 (6)1
17 MF Simon Ratcliffe 24 (1)1000 (1)010 2 027 (2)1
18 MF Paul Stephenson 342004 1 10 2 0413
19 MF Gus Hurdle 7 (2)00 (1)02010 0 010 (3)0
20 GK Tamer Fernandes 3 (1)000000 (1)0 0 03 (2)0
22 MF Jon Hooker 0 (1)0—— 00 0 00 (1)0
23 MF Paul Abrahams 7 (3)3——— 1 08 (3)3
27 FW Carl Asaba 00000011 0 011
Players loaned in during the season
23 MF Andy Ansah 2 (1)1——2 1 — 4 (1)2
23 FW Dennis Bailey 63——— — 63
24 MF George Parris 50—2 1— — 71
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties[13]

Goalscorers
No. Pos. Nat Player FL2 FAC FLC FLT FLP Total
9 FW Nicky Forster 24 0 0 1 1 26
11 FW Robert Taylor2311 0 025
3 DF Martin Grainger 7 1 0 1 1 10
14 MF Denny Mundee 5 0 0 0 0 5
8 MF Paul Smith 3 0 1 0 0 4
10 MF Darren Annon 2 1 0 1 0 4
23 FW Dennis Bailey 3 — — — — 3
23 MF Paul Abrahams 3 — — — 0 3
18 MF Paul Stephenson 2 0 1 0 0 3
12 DF Jamie Bates 2 0 0 0 0 2
7 MF Lee Harvey 2 0 0 0 0 2
23 FW Andy Ansah 1 — — 1 — 2
4 DF Barry Ashby 1 0 0 0 0 1
16 MF David McGhee 1 0 0 0 0 1
17 MF Simon Ratcliffe 1 0 0 0 0 1
24 MF George Parris 0 — 1 — — 1
27 FW Carl Asaba 0 0 0 1 0 1
Opponents 2 0 0 0 0 2
Total83345 297
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties[13]

Management
Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
David Webb 13 August 1994 17 May 1995 57 29 14 14 050.88|46 25 10 11 054.35

Summary
Games played57 (46 Second Division, 2 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 3 Football League Trophy, 2 Football League play-offs)
Games won29 (25 Second Division, 0 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy, 0 Football League play-offs)
Games drawn14 (10 Second Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy, 2 Football League play-offs)
Games lost14 (11 Second Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy, 0 Football League play-offs)
Goals scored95 (81 Second Division, 3 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 5 Football League Trophy, 2 Football League play-offs)
Goals conceded49 (39 Second Division, 4 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 3 Football League Trophy, 2 Football League play-offs)
Clean sheets21 (22 Second Division, 0 FA Cup, 3 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy, 0 Football League play-offs)
Biggest league win7–0 versus Plymouth Argyle, 17 December 1994
Worst league defeat2–0 on 3 occasions
Most appearances57, Nicky Forster (46 Second Division, 2 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 3 Football League Trophy, 2 Football League play-offs)
Top scorer (league)24, Nicky Forster
Top scorer (all competitions)26, Nicky Forster

Transfers & loans
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
17 June 1994FW Nicky Forster Gillingham£200,000[2]
9 August 1994 FW Carl Asaba Dulwich Hamlet Free [1]
December 1994FW Joe Omigie DonnaFree[14]
14 November 1994MF Jon Hooker Gillingham£5,000[15]
9 March 1995 MF Paul Abrahams Colchester United £30,000 [16]
Players loaned in
Date from Pos. Name From Date to Ref.
8 August 1994DF George Parris Birmingham CitySeptember 1994[17]
November 1994FW Andy Ansah Southend UnitedDecember 1994[18]
26 January 1995FW Dennis Bailey Queens Park Rangers26 February 1995[19]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
12 August 1994 FW Dean P. Williams Doncaster Rovers £2,000 [20]
Players loaned out
Date from Pos. Name To Date to Ref.
9 September 1994 DF David Thompson Blackpool November 1994 [21]
December 1994 MF Craig Ravenscroft Woking January 1995 [14]
January 1995 DF Shane Westley Southend United March 1995 [14]
16 February 1995FW Carl Asaba Colchester UnitedEnd of season[22]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
n/a FW Matthew Metcalf Wroxham n/a [1]
n/a FW Dean A. Williams Stevenage Borough August 1994 [14]
August 1994DF Billy Manuel Peterborough United16 September 1994[23]
September 1994 MF Ian Benjamin Wigan Athletic 30 September 1994 [21]
September 1994 MF Robbie Peters Carlisle United November 1994 [21]
November 1994 DF David Thompson Blackpool November 1994 [14]

Kit

In February 1995, it was announced that Brentford had cancelled its sponsorship deal with KLM.[24] As a result, the Hummel International home shirt was replaced by an unbranded replica, which was devoid of sponsorship.[24]

Supplier: Hummel International (Home shirt) / Core (Home shorts & socks / Away & Goalkeepers kit)
Sponsor(s): KLM

Home kit only until March 1995

Home 1
Home 2
Away
Goalkeeper
Goalkeeper

Source: [24]

Awards

References
  1. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 172.
  2. Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2013). The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. p. 150. ISBN 9781906796723.
  3. Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1994-1995 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  4. Street, Tim. "Scott sends warning over Nicky Forster signing". getwestlondon. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  5. Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Harefield, Middlesex: Yore Publications. p. 44. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  6. Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Birmingham City results for the 1994-1995 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  7. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 177.
  8. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 152-171.
  9. Haynes 1998, p. 79.
  10. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 355–400. ISBN 0951526200.
  11. Haynes 1998, p. 115.
  12. "England 1994–95". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  13. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 480.
  14. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 174.
  15. Jon Hooker at Soccerbase
  16. Paul Abrahams at Soccerbase
  17. George Parris at Soccerbase
  18. "Andy Ansah". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  19. "Dennis Bailey". 11v11.com. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  20. Dean Williams at Soccerbase
  21. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 173.
  22. Carl Asaba at Soccerbase
  23. Billy Manuel at Soccerbase
  24. Griffin Gazette versus Bradford City. Quay Design of Poole. 11 February 1995. p. 2.
  25. Sewell, Albert, ed. (1995). News Of The World Football Annual 1995–96. Hammersmith, London: Invincible Press. p. 338. ISBN 0855432330.
  26. Lynch, Tony (1995). The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes. Random House. p. 150. ISBN 0-09-179135-9.
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