1995–96 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1995–96 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Second Division. Despite spending over two months in the relegation places, the club achieved a mid-table finish in the league. A bright spot was a run to the fourth round of the FA Cup, falling to First Division high-flyers Charlton Athletic.

Brentford
1995–96 season
ChairmanMartin Lange
ManagerDavid Webb
StadiumGriffin Park
Second Division15th
FA CupFourth round
League CupSecond round
Football League TrophyFirst round
Top goalscorerLeague: Taylor (11)
All: Taylor (16)
Highest home attendance7,878
Lowest home attendance3,104
Average home league attendance4,768

Season summary

Brentford began the 1995–96 season the majority of the squad that finished runners-up the previous season still intact, with Shane Westley,[1] Simon Ratcliffe and Paul Stephenson the only players to depart.[2][3] Manager David Webb's only addition to the squad during the off-season was Southend United youngster Ijah Anderson.[4] Top scorer Nicky Forster looked set to depart for First Division Crystal Palace for a £2,000,000 fee, but the Eagles' interest cooled.[5]

A win and a draw from the opening two games of the league season saw Brentford reach their highest league position of the season (6th), but a run of only four wins from the following 21 games left the club second-from-bottom after the first league match of 1996.[6] A memorable 2–1 victory over First Division club Norwich City at Carrow Road on in the FA Cup third round on 6 January provided the spark needed for a revival of the team's league form,[5][7] with 19 of a possible 30 points being won between mid-January and mid-March to climb to 13th in the table.[6] With Nicky Forster damaging knee ligaments in October 1995 and his subsequent goalscoring form faltering,[8] Robert Taylor was burdened with leading the team's strikeforce,[9] scoring 16 goals to finish top scorer.[10] Four wins from the final seven matches of the season led Brentford to a 15th-place finish in the Second Division.[6]

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
13 Bristol City 46 15 15 16 55 60 −5 60
14 Bournemouth 46 16 10 20 51 70 −19 58
15 Brentford 46 15 13 18 43 49 −6 58
16 Rotherham United 46 14 14 18 54 62 −8 56
17 Burnley 46 14 13 19 56 68 −12 55
Source:

Results
Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Pre-season
DateOpponentVenueResultScorer(s)
19 July 1995HamptonA7–0Forster (3), Ashby (2), Statham, Grainger (pen)
20 July 1995Basingstoke TownA1–1Ravenscroft
22 July 1995St Albans CityA5–1Grainger (2, 1 pen), Taylor, Forster, Stephenson
24 July 1995Hitchin Town A3–1Omigie (2), Annon
26 July 1995Kingstonian A2–1Forster, Grainger
28 July 1995Colchester UnitedA1–1Taylor
1 August 1995BarnetA2–3Abrahams, Forster
5 August 1995Yeading A5–2Ravenscroft (2), Annon, Hooker, Omigie
7 August 1995Walton & Hersham A4–0Forster, Smith, Taylor, Grainger (pen)

Football League Second Division
No. DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)
1 12 August 1995York CityA2–23,239Smith, Forster
2 19 August 1995Oxford UnitedH1–05,516Taylor
3 26 August 1995BurnleyA0–19,586
4 29 August 1995Hull CityH1–04,535Taylor
5 2 September 1995Swindon TownH0–27,878
6 9 September 1995Rotherham UnitedA0–13,061
7 12 September 1995Bristol CityA0–05,054
8 16 September 1995WalsallH1–04,717Taylor
9 23 September 1995Bristol RoversA0–25,131
10 30 September 1995ChesterfieldH1–24,734McGhee
11 7 October 1995BlackpoolH1–25,313McGhee
12 14 October 1995Stockport CountyA1–16,228Smith
13 21 October 1995Peterborough UnitedH3–04,865Bates (2), Grainger (pen)
14 28 October 1995Crewe AlexandraA1–33,835Forster
15 1 November 1995Notts CountyA0–44,005
16 4 November 1995Shrewsbury TownH0–24,104
17 18 November 1995BournemouthA0–13,894
18 25 November 1995Bradford CityH2–14,237Taylor (2)
19 9 December 1995Bristol RoversH0–05,679
20 16 December 1996ChesterfieldA2–24,016Smith, Ansah
21 22 December 1996WrexhamA2–23,670Taylor, Martin
22 26 December 1995Brighton & Hove AlbionH0–15,794
23 13 January 1996Oxford UnitedA1–25,574Ashby
24 20 January 1996York CityH2–03,915Bates, Taylor
25 30 January 1996Wycombe WanderersH1–04,616Taylor
26 3 February 1996BurnleyH1–05,195Forster
27 10 February 1996Carlisle UnitedA1–25,143Bates
28 17 February 1996Bristol CityH2–25,213McGhee, Taylor
29 21 February 1996Swindon TownA2–28,814Abrahams (2)
30 24 February 1996WalsallA1–03,506Abrahams
31 27 February 1996Rotherham UnitedH1–13,446Grainger
32 2 March 1996Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–05,914
33 5 March 1996Hull CityA1–02,284Anderson
34 9 March 1996WrexhamH1–04,579Anderson
35 12 March 1996Swansea CityA1–23,538Forster
36 16 March 1996Wycombe WanderersA1–24,912Forster
37 19 March 1996Carlisle UnitedH1–13,104Grainger
38 23 March 1996Swansea CityH0–04,378
39 30 March 1996BlackpoolA0–15,899
40 2 April 1996Stockport CountyH1–03,274Smith
41 6 April 1996Crewe AlexandraH2–14,408Taylor (2)
42 8 April 1996Peterborough UnitedA1–04,343McGhee
43 13 April 1996Notts CountyH0–04,588
44 20 April 1996Shrewsbury TownA1–22,711McGhee
45 27 April 1996Bradford CityA1–27,730Bent
46 4 May 1996 Bournemouth H 2–0 6,091 Asaba (2)

FA Cup
Main article: 1995–96 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance Scorer(s)
R111 November 1995Farnborough TownH1–14,711Bent
R1 (replay)22 November 1995Farnborough TownA4–03,581Smith, Taylor (2), Bent
R2 2 December 1995 Bournemouth A 1–0 4,451 Taylor
R3 6 January 1996 Norwich City A 2–1 10,082 Newsome (og), Bent
R47 February 1996Charlton AthleticA2–315,000Ashby, Smith

League Cup
Main article: 1995–96 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance Scorer(s)
R1 (1st leg)15 August 1995WalsallA2–22,405Harvey, Forster
R1 (2nd leg)22 August 1995WalsallH3–2 (won 5–4 on aggregate)3,549Taylor, Anderson, McGhee
R2 (1st leg)19 September 1995Bolton WanderersA0–15,243
R2 (2nd leg)3 October 1995Bolton WanderersH2–3 (lost 4–2 on aggregate)4,861Forster, Grainger (pen)

Football League Trophy
Main article: 1995–96 Football League Trophy
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance Scorer(s)
SR1 (match 1)27 September 1995BournemouthA1–01,092Taylor
SR1 (match 2)17 October 1995Exeter CityH1–11,431Forster
  • Source: Statto, The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties[11]

Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1995–96 season.
Position Name Nationality Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Kevin Dearden (1970-03-08)8 March 1970 (aged 25) Tottenham Hotspur 1993
GK Tamer Fernandes (1974-12-07)7 December 1974 (aged 20) Youth 1993
Defenders
DF Ijah Anderson (1975-12-30)30 December 1975 (aged 19) Southend United 1995
DF Barry Ashby (1970-11-21)21 November 1970 (aged 24) Watford 1994
DF Jamie Bates (c) (1968-02-24)24 February 1968 (aged 27) Youth 1986
DF Paul Davis (1961-12-09)9 December 1961 (aged 33) Arsenal 1995
DF Lee Harvey (1966-12-21)21 December 1966 (aged 28) Nottingham Forest 1993
DF Carl Hutchings (1974-09-24)24 September 1974 (aged 20) Youth 1993
DF Brian Statham (1969-05-21)21 May 1969 (aged 26) Tottenham Hotspur 1992
Midfielders
MF Paul Abrahams (1973-10-31)31 October 1973 (aged 21) Colchester United 1995 Loaned to Colchester United
MF Jon Hooker (1972-03-31)31 March 1972 (aged 23) Gillingham 1994 Loaned to Bishop's Stortford
MF Gus Hurdle (1973-10-14)14 October 1973 (aged 21) Carshalton Athletic 1993
MF Dean Martin (1972-08-31)31 August 1972 (aged 22) KA 1995
MF David McGhee (1976-06-19)19 June 1976 (aged 19) Youth 1994
MF Craig Ravenscroft (1974-12-20)20 December 1974 (aged 20) Youth 1993
MF Paul Smith (1971-09-18)18 September 1971 (aged 23) Southend United 1993
Forwards
FW Carl Asaba (1973-01-28)28 January 1973 (aged 22) Dulwich Hamlet 1994
FW Marcus Bent (1978-05-19)19 May 1978 (aged 17) Youth 1995
FW Nicky Forster (1973-09-08)8 September 1973 (aged 21) Gillingham 1994
FW Joe Omigie (1972-06-13)13 June 1972 (aged 23) Donna 1994 Loaned to Woking
FW Robert Taylor (1971-04-30)30 April 1971 (aged 24) Leyton Orient 1994
Players who left the club mid-season
DF Martin Grainger (1972-08-23)23 August 1972 (aged 22) Colchester United 1993 Transferred to Birmingham City
MF Darren Annon (1972-02-17)17 February 1972 (aged 23) Carshalton Athletic 1994 Released
MF Andy Ansah (1969-03-19)19 March 1969 (aged 26) Southend United 1995 Returned to Southend United after loan
MF Scott Canham (1974-11-11)11 November 1974 (aged 20) West Ham United 1996 Returned to West Ham United after loan
MF David Greene (1973-10-26)26 October 1973 (aged 21) Luton Town 1996 Returned to Luton Town after loan
MF Denny Mundee (1968-10-10)10 October 1968 (aged 26) Bournemouth 1993 Released
FW Andy Sussex (1964-11-23)23 November 1964 (aged 30) Southend United 1995 Returned to Southend United after loan
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties[12]

Coaching staff
Name Role
David Webb Manager
Kevin Lock First Team Coach
Graham Benstead Goalkeeping Coach
Roy Johnson Physiotherapist
Fergus Dignan Medical Officer

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 Kevin Dearden 410303010480
GK Tamer Fernandes 5020001070
DF Ijah Anderson 2521 (2)0210 (1)028 (3)3
DF Barry Ashby 31 (2)141402041 (2)2
DF Jamie Bates 364504020474
DF Paul Davis 5000201080
DF Martin Grainger 333504120444
DF Lee Harvey 38 (2)04 (1)02 (1)11045 (4)1
DF Carl Hutchings 20 (3)050000 (1)025 (4)0
DF Brian Statham 170104020240
MF Paul Abrahams 14 (3)300000014 (3)3
MF Darren Annon 0 (1)00000000 (1)0
MF Marcus Bent 8 (4)143000012 (4)4
MF Jon Hooker 400 (2)010005 (2)0
MF Gus Hurdle 11 (3)000200013 (3)0
MF Dean Martin 14 (5)14 (1)0— 1018 (6)1
MF David McGhee 31 (5)5402 (1)11 (1)038 (7)6
MF Denny Mundee 5 (1)0—1 (1)0006 (2)0
MF Craig Ravenscroft 1000000010
MF Paul Smith 464524020576
FW Carl Asaba 5 (5)21010108 (5)2
FW Nicky Forster 37 (1)530422146 (1)8
FW Joe Omigie 3 (8)00000003 (8)0
FW Robert Taylor 42114341215216
Players loaned in during the season
MF Andy Ansah 61———61
MF Scott Canham 140——— 140
MF David Greene 110——— 110
FW Andy Sussex 30———30
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties[12]

Goalscorers
Pos. Nat Player FL2 FAC FLC FLT Total
FW Robert Taylor1131 116
FW Nicky Forster 5 0 2 1 8
MF David McGhee 5 0 1 0 6
MF Paul Smith 4 2 0 0 6
DF Jamie Bates 4 0 0 0 4
DF Martin Grainger 3 0 1 0 4
MF Marcus Bent 1 3 0 0 4
MF Paul Abrahams 3 0 0 0 3
DF Ijah Anderson 2 0 1 0 3
FW Carl Asaba 2 0 0 1 2
DF Barry Ashby 1 1 0 0 2
FW Andy Ansah 1 — — — 1
FW Dean Martin 1 0 — 0 1
MF Lee Harvey 0 0 1 0 1
Opponents 0 1 0 0 1
Total43117263
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties[12]

International caps
Pos Nat Player Caps Goals Ref
MF Gus Hurdle 2 0 [13]

Management
Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
David Webb 12 August 1995 4 May 1996 57 20 16 21 035.09 46 15 13 18 032.61

Summary
Games played57 (46 Second Division, 5 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)
Games won20 (15 Second Division, 3 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Games drawn16 (13 Second Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Games lost21 (18 Second Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy)
Goals scored62 (43 Second Division, 10 FA Cup, 7 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)
Goals conceded63 (49 Second Division, 5 FA Cup, 8 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Clean sheets21 (18 Second Division, 2 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Biggest league win3–0 versus Peterborough United, 21 October 1995
Worst league defeat4–0 versus Notts County, 1 November 1995
Most appearances63, Paul Smith (46 Second Division, 5 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)
Top scorer (league)11, Robert Taylor
Top scorer (all competitions)16, Robert Taylor

Transfers & loans
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
31 July 1995DF Ijah Anderson Southend UnitedFree[4]
12 September 1995MF Paul Davis ArsenalFree[14]
12 October 1995MF Dean Martin KAFree[15]
Players loaned in
Date from Pos. Name From Date to Ref.
15 November 1995FW Andy Ansah Southend United27 December 1995[16]
12 December 1995FW Andy Sussex Southend United12 January 1996[17]
19 January 1996MF Scott Canham West Ham United20 April 1996[18]
1 March 1996MF David Greene Luton Town13 April 1996[19]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
4 August 1995MF Simon Ratcliffe GillinghamFree[2]
7 August 1995MF Paul Stephenson York City£35,000[3]
10 August 1995DF Shane Westley Cambridge UnitedFree[1]
25 March 1996DF Martin Grainger Birmingham City£400,000[20]
Players loaned out
Date from Pos. Name To Date to Ref.
September 1995MF Joe Omigie WokingOctober 1995[21]
29 December 1995MF Paul Abrahams Colchester United20 February 1996[22]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
18 October 1995 MF Denny Mundee Brighton & Hove Albion 19 October 1995 [23]
29 February 1996 MF Darren Annon Kingstonian March 1996 [24]
30 June 1996 DF Corey Campbell Dover Athletic 1996 [25]
30 June 1996 MF Paul Davis Retired [26]
30 June 1996 MF Jon Hooker Bishop's Stortford 1996 [25]
30 June 1996 MF Dean Martin KA 1996 [25]
30 June 1996 MF Craig Ravenscroft Kingstonian August 1996 [25]

Kit

Supplier: Core
Sponsor(s): Ericsson

Home
Away
Goalkeeper

Source: Brentford F.C.

Awards

References
  1. Shane Westley at Soccerbase
  2. Simon Ratcliffe at Soccerbase
  3. Paul Stephenson at Soccerbase
  4. Ijah Anderson at Soccerbase
  5. "Brentford duo back to the fore". The Independent. 8 January 1996. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  6. Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford Home Page for the 1995-1996 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 28 March 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  7. "Brentford FC Moment in Time: Norwich City". Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  8. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 202.
  9. Street, Tim. "Scott sends warning over Nicky Forster signing". getwestlondon. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  10. Sewell, Albert, ed. (1996). News Of The World Football Annual 1996–97. Hammersmith, London: Invincible Press. p. 352. ISBN 000218737X.
  11. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 182-199.
  12. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 481.
  13. "Player x-ray :: Gus Hurdle :: Barbados :: thefinalball.com". www.thefinalball.com. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  14. Paul Davis at Soccerbase
  15. Dean Martin at Soccerbase
  16. Andy Ansah at Soccerbase
  17. "Andy Sussex". 11v11.com. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  18. "Scott Canham". 11v11.com. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  19. "David Greene". 11v11.com. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  20. Martin Grainger at Soccerbase
  21. Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2013). The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. p. 201. ISBN 9781906796723.
  22. Paul Abrahams at Soccerbase
  23. Denny Mundee at Soccerbase
  24. "Darren Annon". Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  25. Griffin Gazette 1996, p. 2.
  26. "Paul Davis | Arsenal.com". www.arsenal.com. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  27. Brentford's Official Matchday Magazine versus Peterborough United. 3 May 1997. p. 3.
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