During the 1977–78 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Fourth Division. 58 goals from Steve Phillips and Andrew McCulloch helped the club to a 4th-place finish and promotion to the Third Division. Phillips' 36 goals was the most in English league football by any player during the season.
Season summary Having spent much of the previous season rebuilding the unbalanced squad left by his predecessor John Docherty, Brentford manager Bill Dodgin Jr. shrugged off two off-season disappointments (failing to agree a fee with Bristol City for John Bain and Terry Johnson's refusal to sign a new contract) by bringing in goalkeeper Len Bond for £8,000 and midfielders Barry Lloyd and Willie Graham.White, p. 305-308. Expectations were high going into the 1977–78 Fourth Division season, with Dodgin's attractive brand of attacking football having led to 14 wins from the final 18 matches of the previous season.
After a what was then becoming traditional first round exit of the League Cup, Brentford had a strong start to the league season, going top on 22 August 1977 after a 4–1 victory over Fourth Division newcomers Wimbledon. The three-pronged attack of forwards Gordon Sweetzer, Andrew McCulloch and midfielder Steve Phillips proved fruitful after 10 league matches and Phillips and Sweetzer topped the Fourth Division goalscoring chart with eight apiece. Injuries to Gordon Sweetzer, Dave Carlton, John Fraser, captain Jackie Graham and a suspension suffered by Andrew McCulloch nullified Brentford's threat through the Christmas period and the club dropped back into the upper reaches of mid-table.
By mid-January 1978, Brentford began to recover and the £10,000 signing of full back Barry Tucker would prove to be the final piece of the jigsaw in manager Bill Dodgin Jr.'s starting XI. A 4–0 win over Rochdale at Griffin Park on 6 March put the Bees back on the cusp of the promotion places for the first time since mid-December, but the shock transfer of forward Gordon Sweetzer to Cambridge United two days later for a £30,000 fee was seen as a massive risk. Sweetzer had scored 40 goals from his 72 appearances for the club over 18 months, but manager Dodgin felt that with Steve Phillips having scored 16 goals from midfield so far in the season, Phillips could move up to the forward line to partner Andrew McCulloch. In addition, Phillips was allowed to play a free role in matches, roaming between midfield, the wings and the forward line. Dodgin's decision proved to be a masterstroke, with Phillips scoring 16 goals in the final 15 matches of the season and promotion to the Third Division was secured with two matches still to play.
Phillips' 36 goals meant that he finished the season as the top scorer in English league football, while Andrew McCulloch and the departed Gordon Sweetzer supported ably with 22 and 14 goals respectively. The 58 goals Phillips' and McCulloch's strike partnership yielded equated to just under 63% of the club's total scored in league matches.
One club record was equalled during the season: Highest away Football League aggregate score: 10 (6–4 versus Crewe Alexandra, 3 September 1977)
League table
Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend WinDrawLoss
Pre-season and friendlies DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)2 August 1977Brighton & Hove AlbionH2–32,501Sweetzer, Phillips8 August 1977Charlton AthleticH2–22,260Sweetzer (2)10 August 1977BarnetA4–1n/aGlynn (2), McCulloch, Phillips30 August 1977KuwaitH0–2n/a2 May 1978Staines TownA2–1n/aRolph, Walker3 May 1978FolkestoneA0–0n/a9 May 1978ChelseaH2–87,400Allder, Kruse
Football League Fourth Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)120 August 1977Northampton TownH3–05,492Lloyd, McCulloch, Phillips222 August 1977WimbledonH4–111,001McCulloch, Phillips, Sweetzer, Lloyd327 August 1977ReadingH1–18,176Sweetzer (pen)43 September 1977Crewe AlexandraA6–41,837Collier (og), Carlton (2), Sweetzer (3)510 September 1977BournemouthH1–17,702Phillips613 September 1977RochdaleA2–11,164McCulloch, Kruse717 September 1977Doncaster RoversA1–33,044Phillips824 September 1977Scunthorpe UnitedH2–06,115McCulloch, Phillips926 September 1977Stockport CountyA1–14,121Sweetzer101 October 1977Halifax TownH4–16,239Phillips (2, 1 pen), J. Graham, Lloyd113 October 1977WatfordH0–314,496128 October 1977Torquay UnitedA1–22,538McCulloch1315 October 1977SouthportH0–06,1411422 October 1977Hartlepool UnitedA1–32,470Phillips1529 October 1977Southend UnitedH1–07,435McCulloch165 November 1977York CityH1–05,985Phillips1712 November 1977BarnsleyA0–04,2091819 November 1977Swansea CityH0–26,337192 December 1977DarlingtonA3–12,058McCulloch, Phillips, Rolph2010 December 1977Grimsby TownH3–15,762McCulloch (2), Phillips2126 December 1977AldershotA0–18,1752227 December 1977Newport CountyH3–38,972Phillips (pen), Allder, Baldwin2331 December 1977York CityA2–32,329McCulloch, Phillips242 January 1978Huddersfield TownH1–19,475Shrubb257 January 1978WimbledonA1–15,411Sweetzer2614 January 1978Northampton TownA2–24,050McCulloch (2)2728 January 1978Crewe AlexandraH5–16,871McCulloch, Phillips (2, 1 pen), W. Graham, Sweetzer284 February 1978BournemouthA2–33,417McCulloch, Sweetzer2925 February 1978Halifax TownA1–11,764Carlton304 March 1978Torquay UnitedH3–06,551Sweetzer (2, 1 pen), Darke (og)316 March 1978RochdaleH4–07,215McCulloch, Phillips (2, 1 pen), Sweetzer, Lloyd3211 March 1978SouthportA3–11,691Phillips (2), McCulloch3314 March 1978Scunthorpe UnitedA1–13,053Murray3418 March 1978Hartlepool UnitedH2–07,499McCulloch, Phillips3524 March 1978Southend UnitedA1–211,810Phillips3625 March 1978Newport CountyA2–14,953J. Graham, McCulloch3727 March 1978AldershotH2–012,579Phillips (2, 1 pen)381 April 1978Huddersfield TownA3–16,345Phillips (3)393 April 1978Stockport CountyH4–011,674Phillips (2), McCulloch (2)408 April 1978BarnsleyH2–012,139Allder, Phillips (pen)4112 April 1978ReadingA0–07,3844215 April 1978Swansea CityA1–216,152W. Graham4318 April 1978Doncaster RoversH2–211,512Phillips (2)4422 April 1978DarlingtonH2–011,934McCulloch, Phillips (pen)4525 April 1978WatfordA1–116,544McCulloch4629 April 1978Grimsby TownA1–24,712Phillips
FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)1R26 November 1977Folkestone & ShepwayH2–05,981Phillips (2)2R17 December 1977Swindon TownA1–28,447Phillips (pen)
Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)1R (1st leg)13 August 1977Crystal PalaceH2–18,929Sweetzer (2)1R (2nd leg)16 August 1977Crystal PalaceA1–5 (lost 6–3 on aggregate)11,586Phillips Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies,Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 158-169.Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 312. Statto
Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1977–78 season. Pos.NameNat.Date of birth (age)Signed fromSigned inNotesGoalkeepersGKLen BondBristol City1977GKGraham CoxYouth1975DefendersDFMichael AllenMiddlesbrough1971DFJohn FraserFulham1976DFPat KruseTorquay United1977DFDanis SalmanYouth1975DFNigel SmithQueens Park Rangers1975DFBarry TuckerNorthampton Town1978MidfieldersMFDoug AllderUnattached1977MFSteve AylottOxford United1976MFDave CarltonNorthampton Town1976MFJackie Graham (c)Guildford City1970MFWillie GrahamNorthampton Town1977MFBarry LloydHereford United1977MFGary RolphYouth1976MFPaul ShrubbHellenic1977MFPaul WalkerYouth1976ForwardsFWTommy BaldwinUnattached1977FWAndrew McCullochOxford United1976FWJohn MurrayReading1978FWSteve PhillipsNorthampton Town1977Players who left the club mid-seasonMFTerry GlynnOrient1977ReleasedFWGordon SweetzerQueens Park Rangers1975Transferred to Cambridge United Sources: The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies, Timeless Bees
Coaching staff NameRole Bill Dodgin Jr.Manager Eddie LyonsPhysiotherapist Gordon QuinnChief Scout
Statistics
Appearances and goals Substitute appearances in brackets. PosNatNameLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKLen Bond4502020490GKGraham Cox10000010DFMichael Allen2102020250DFJohn Fraser1901020220DFPat Kruse4012020441DFDanis Salman36 (1)0202040 (1)0DFNigel Smith8 (1)000008 (1)0DFBarry Tucker180——180MFDoug Allder31220—332MFSteve Aylott1 (1)000001 (1)0MFDave Carlton3330000333MFTerry Glynn00—0 (1)00 (1)0MFJackie Graham35 (1)2202039 (1)2MFWillie Graham28 (3)210—29 (3)2MFBarry Lloyd26 (5)4202030 (5)4MFGary Rolph1 (3)10 (1)0001 (4)1MFPaul Shrubb4512020491MFPaul Walker3 (2)000003 (2)0FWTommy Baldwin4100—41FWAndrew McCulloch452220204922FWJohn Murray2 (3)1——2 (3)1FWSteve Phillips463223215036FWGordon Sweetzer181200222014 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford
Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL4FACFLCTotalFWSteve Phillips323136FWAndrew McCulloch220022FWGordon Sweetzer120214MFBarry Lloyd4004MFDave Carlton3003MFDoug Allder20—2MFWillie Graham20—2MFJackie Graham2002FWJohn Murray1——1FWTommy Baldwin10—1DFPat Kruse1001MFGary Rolph1001MFPaul Shrubb1001Opponents2002Total863392 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford
Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Bill Dodgin, Jr.13 August 197729 April 1978
Summary Games played 50 (46 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)Games won 23 (21 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)Games drawn 14 (14 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)Games lost 13 (11 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)Goals scored 92 (86 Fourth Division, 3 FA Cup, 3 League Cup)Goals conceded 62 (54 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 6 League Cup)Clean sheets 15 (14 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)Biggest league win 4–0 on two occasions; 5–1 versus Crewe Alexandra, 28 January 1978Worst league defeat 3–0 versus Watford, 3 October 1977Most appearances 50, Steve Phillips (42 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)Top scorer (league) 32, Steve PhillipsTop scorer (all competitions) 36, Steve Phillips
Transfers & loans Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.June 1977MF Barry Lloyd Hereford UnitedFreeCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 170-175.August 1977GK Len Bond Bristol City£8,000August 1977MF Willie Graham Northampton TownFreeOctober 1977MF Doug AllderUnattachedTrialOctober 1977FW Tommy BaldwinUnattachedNon-contract1977MF Terry Glynn OrientTrialJanuary 1978MF Dave Metchickn/aNon-contractHaynes & Coumbe, p. 108.February 1978FW John Murray ReadingNominalFebruary 1978DF David SilmanUnattachedTrialFebruary 1978DF Barry Tucker Northampton Town£10,000Players transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.8 March 1978FW Gordon Sweetzer Cambridge United£30,000Players loaned outDate fromPos.NameToDate toRef.May 1978FW Andrew McCulloch Oakland StompersAugust 1978Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 190.Players releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.September 1977MF Terry Glynn Ilford19771977MF Terry Johnson Blyth Spartans1977January 1978MF Dave Metchickn/an/aMay 1978MF Steve AylottRetiredMay 1978MF Barry Lloyd Houston Hurricane1978Haynes & Coumbe, p. 97-98.
Awards Supporters' Player of the Year: Andrew McCullochCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 295. Players' Player of the Year: Andrew McCulloch Adidas Golden Boot: Steve Phillips Evening Standard Player of the Month: Steve Phillips (March 1978) Football League Fourth Division Manager of the Month: Bill Dodgin Jr. (March 1978)
References