During the 1995–96 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Second Division. After spending over two mid-season months in the relegation places, the club achieved a 15th-place finish. A bright spot was a run to the fourth round of the FA Cup, falling to First Division high-flyers Charlton Athletic.
Season summary Brentford began the 1995–96 season with the majority of the squad that finished runners-up in the previous season still intact, with Shane Westley, Simon Ratcliffe and Paul Stephenson the only players to depart. Manager David Webb's only addition to the squad during the off-season was Southend United's teenage left-sided midfielder and full back Ijah Anderson. 1994–95 top scorer Nicky Forster looked set to depart for First Division club Crystal Palace for a £2,000,000 fee, but the Eagles' interest cooled after multiple rejections by Brentford.
A win and a draw from the opening two games of the league season put Brentford in its 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 at the mid-point of the season. With Nicky Forster damaging knee ligaments in October 1995 and his subsequent goalscoring form faltering amid "distracting" transfer speculation, Robert Taylor was burdened with leading the team's strikeforce. Taylor ended the season as the club's top scorer, with 16 goals.
A memorable 2–1 victory over First Division club Norwich City at Carrow Road on in the FA Cup third round on 6 January 1996 provided the spark needed for a revival of the team's league form, with 19 of a possible 30 points being won between mid-January and mid-March to climb to 13th in the table. Four wins from the final seven matches of the season led Brentford to a 15th-place finish in the Second Division. The FA Cup run ended with a 3–2 defeat at the hands of high-flying First Division club Charlton Athletic in the fourth round.
League table
Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend WinDrawLoss
Pre-season and friendlies DateOpponentVenueResultScorer(s)19 July 1995HamptonA7–0Forster (3), Ashby (2), Statham, Grainger (pen)20 July 1995Basingstoke TownA1–1Ravenscroft22 July 1995St Albans CityA5–1Grainger (2, 1 pen), Taylor, Forster, Stephenson24 July 1995Hitchin TownA3–1Omigie (2), Annon26 July 1995KingstonianA2–1Forster, Grainger28 July 1995Colchester UnitedA1–1Taylor1 August 1995BarnetA2–3Abrahams, Forster5 August 1995YeadingA5–2Ravenscroft (2), Annon, Hooker, Omigie7 August 1995Walton & HershamA4–0Forster, Smith, Taylor, Grainger (pen)30 August 1995Harrow BoroughA5–0Annon (2, 1 pen), Hutchings, Hooker, Omigie
Football League Second Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)1 12 August 1995 York CityA2–23,239Smith, Forster2 19 August 1995 Oxford UnitedH1–05,516Taylor3 26 August 1995 BurnleyA0–19,5864 29 August 1995 Hull CityH1–04,535Taylor52 September 1995Swindon TownH0–27,87869 September 1995Rotherham UnitedA0–13,0617 12 September 1995 Bristol CityA0–05,0548 16 September 1995 WalsallH1–04,717Taylor923 September 1995Bristol RoversA0–25,1311030 September 1995ChesterfieldH1–24,734McGhee117 October 1995BlackpoolH1–25,313McGhee1214 October 1995Stockport CountyA1–16,228Smith1321 October 1995Peterborough UnitedH3–04,865Bates (2), Grainger (pen)1428 October 1995Crewe AlexandraA1–33,835Forster151 November 1995Notts CountyA0–44,005164 November 1995Shrewsbury TownH0–24,1041718 November 1995BournemouthA0–13,8941825 November 1995Bradford CityH2–14,237Taylor (2)199 December 1995Bristol RoversH0–05,6792016 December 1996ChesterfieldA2–24,016Smith, Ansah2122 December 1996WrexhamA2–23,670Taylor, Martin2226 December 1995Brighton & Hove AlbionH0–15,7942313 January 1996Oxford UnitedA1–25,574Ashby2420 January 1996York CityH2–03,915Bates, Taylor2530 January 1996Wycombe WanderersH1–04,616Taylor263 February 1996BurnleyH1–05,195Forster2710 February 1996Carlisle UnitedA1–25,143Bates2817 February 1996Bristol CityH2–25,213McGhee, Taylor2921 February 1996Swindon TownA2–28,814Abrahams (2)3024 February 1996WalsallA1–03,506Abrahams3127 February 1996Rotherham UnitedH1–13,446Grainger322 March 1996Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–05,914335 March 1996Hull CityA1–02,284Anderson349 March 1996WrexhamH1–04,579Anderson3512 March 1996Swansea CityA1–23,538Forster3616 March 1996Wycombe WanderersA1–24,912Forster3719 March 1996Carlisle UnitedH1–13,104Grainger3823 March 1996Swansea CityH0–04,3783930 March 1996BlackpoolA0–15,899402 April 1996Stockport CountyH1–03,274Smith416 April 1996Crewe AlexandraH2–14,408Taylor (2)428 April 1996Peterborough UnitedA1–04,343McGhee4313 April 1996Notts CountyH0–04,5884420 April 1996Shrewsbury TownA1–22,711McGhee4527 April 1996Bradford CityA1–27,730Bent464 May 1996BournemouthH2–06,091Asaba (2)
FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)R111 November 1995Farnborough TownH1–14,711BentR1 (replay)22 November 1995Farnborough TownA4–03,581Smith, Taylor (2), BentR22 December 1995BournemouthA1–04,451TaylorR36 January 1996Norwich CityA2–110,082Newsome (og), BentR47 February 1996Charlton AthleticA2–315,000Ashby, Smith
League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)R1 (1st leg)15 August 1995WalsallA2–22,405Harvey, ForsterR1 (2nd leg) 22 August 1995WalsallH3–2 (won 5–4 on aggregate)3,549Taylor, Anderson, McGheeR2 (1st leg) 19 September 1995Bolton WanderersA0–15,243R2 (2nd leg) 3 October 1995Bolton WanderersH2–3 (lost 4–2 on aggregate)4,861Forster, Grainger (pen)
Football League Trophy
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)SR1 (match 1)27 September 1995BournemouthA1–01,092TaylorSR1 (match 2)17 October 1995Exeter CityH1–11,431Forster Source: Statto, The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties
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 NotesGoalkeepers GK Kevin Dearden Tottenham Hotspur1993 GK Tamer Fernandes Youth1993DefendersDFIjah AndersonSouthend United1995DF Barry Ashby Watford1994DF Jamie Bates (c) Youth1986DFPaul DavisArsenal1995DFLee HarveyNottingham Forest1993DF Carl Hutchings Youth1993DF Brian Statham Tottenham Hotspur1992MidfieldersMF Paul Abrahams Colchester United1995 Loaned to Colchester UnitedMFJon HookerGillingham1994Loaned to Bishop's StortfordMF Gus Hurdle Carshalton Athletic1993MF Dean Martin KA1995MFDavid McGheeYouth1994MF Craig Ravenscroft Youth1993MF Paul Smith Southend United1993ForwardsFW Carl Asaba Dulwich Hamlet1994 FW Marcus Bent Youth1995 FW Nicky Forster Gillingham1994 FW Joe Omigie Donna1994Loaned to WokingFW Robert Taylor Leyton Orient1994Players who left the club mid-seasonDF Martin Grainger Colchester United1993Transferred to Birmingham CityMFDarren AnnonCarshalton Athletic1994ReleasedMFAndy AnsahSouthend United1995Returned to Southend United after loanMFScott CanhamWest Ham United1996Returned to West Ham United after loanMFDavid GreeneLuton Town1996Returned to Luton Town after loanMFDenny MundeeBournemouth1993ReleasedFWAndy SussexSouthend United1995Returned to Southend United after loan Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties
Coaching staff NameRole David WebbManager Kevin LockFirst Team Coach Graham BensteadGoalkeeping Coach Roy JohnsonPhysiotherapist Fergus DignanMedical Officer
Statistics
Appearances and goals Substitute appearances in brackets. PosNatNameLeagueFA CupLeague CupFL TrophyTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKKevin Dearden410303010480GKTamer Fernandes5020001070DFIjah Anderson2521 (2)0210 (1)028 (3)3DFBarry Ashby31 (2)141402041 (2)2DFJamie Bates364504020474DFPaul Davis5000201080DFMartin Grainger333504120444DFLee Harvey38 (2)04 (1)02 (1)11045 (4)1DFCarl Hutchings20 (3)050000 (1)025 (4)0DFBrian Statham170104020240MFPaul Abrahams14 (3)300000014 (3)3MFDarren Annon0 (1)00000000 (1)0MFMarcus Bent8 (4)143000012 (4)4MFJon Hooker400 (2)010005 (2)0MFGus Hurdle11 (3)000200013 (3)0MFDean Martin14 (5)14 (1)0—1018 (6)1MFDavid McGhee31 (5)5402 (1)11 (1)038 (7)6MFDenny Mundee5 (1)0—1 (1)0006 (2)0MFCraig Ravenscroft1000000010MFPaul Smith464524020576FWCarl Asaba5 (5)21010108 (5)2FWNicky Forster37 (1)530422146 (1)8FWJoe Omigie3 (8)00000003 (8)0FWRobert Taylor42114341215216Players loaned in during the seasonMFAndy Ansah61———61MFScott Canham140———140MFDavid Greene110———110FWAndy Sussex30———30 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties
Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL2FACFLCFLTTotalFWRobert Taylor1131116FWNicky Forster50218MFDavid McGhee50106MFPaul Smith42006DFJamie Bates40004DFMartin Grainger30104MFMarcus Bent13004MFPaul Abrahams30003DFIjah Anderson20103FWCarl Asaba20012DFBarry Ashby11002FWAndy Ansah1———1FWDean Martin10—01MFLee Harvey00101Opponents01001Total43117263 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties
International caps PosNatPlayerCapsGoalsRefMFGus Hurdle20
Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %David Webb12 August 19954 May 1996
Summary Games played 57 (46 Second Division, 5 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)Games won 20 (15 Second Division, 3 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)Games drawn 16 (13 Second Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)Games lost 21 (18 Second Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy)Goals scored 62 (43 Second Division, 10 FA Cup, 7 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)Goals conceded 63 (49 Second Division, 5 FA Cup, 8 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)Clean sheets 21 (18 Second Division, 2 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)Biggest league win 3–0 versus Peterborough United, 21 October 1995Worst league defeat 4–0 versus Notts County, 1 November 1995Most appearances 63, Paul Smith (46 Second Division, 5 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)Top scorer (league) 11, Robert TaylorTop scorer (all competitions) 16, Robert Taylor
Transfers & loans Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.31 July 1995DF Ijah Anderson Southend UnitedFree12 September 1995MF Paul Davis ArsenalFree12 October 1995MF Dean Martin KAFreePlayers loaned inDate fromPos.NameFromDate toRef.15 November 1995FW Andy Ansah Southend United27 December 199512 December 1995FW Andy Sussex Southend United12 January 199619 January 1996MF Scott Canham West Ham United20 April 19961 March 1996MF David Greene Luton Town13 April 1996Players transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.4 August 1995MF Simon Ratcliffe GillinghamFree7 August 1995MF Paul Stephenson York City£35,00010 August 1995DF Shane Westley Cambridge UnitedFree25 March 1996DF Martin Grainger Birmingham City£400,000Players loaned outDate fromPos.NameToDate toRef.September 1995MF Joe Omigie WokingOctober 199529 December 1995MF Paul Abrahams Colchester United20 February 1996Players releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.18 October 1995MF Denny Mundee Brighton & Hove Albion19 October 199529 February 1996MF Darren Annon KingstonianMarch 199630 June 1996DF Corey Campbell Dover Athletic199630 June 1996MF Paul DavisRetired30 June 1996MF Jon Hooker Bishop's Stortford199630 June 1996MF Dean Martin KA199630 June 1996MF Craig Ravenscroft KingstonianAugust 1996
Kit
Awards Supporters' Player of the Year: Robert Taylor Star Player of the Year: Ijah Anderson Littlewoods Giant Killers Award: FA Cup third round
References