During the 1978–79 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. After a rude awakening to third-tier football, the Bees ended the season strongly to finish in 10th position.
Season summary After Brentford's promotion to the Third Division at the end of the previous season, manager Bill Dodgin Jr. stated that his squad would only need one or two more new players to be able to compete during the club's first season in the third tier since 1972–73.Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 175. He managed to keep prolific forwards Steve Phillips and Andrew McCulloch at Griffin Park, with the former turning down a £120,000 transfer to Tottenham Hotspur. Aside from goalkeeping trialist Trevor Porter (brought in to cover for car crash-victim Len Bond and the suspended Graham Cox), Dodgin made no significant signings.White, p. 309-311.
Fears that Brentford's largely-unchanged squad would be out of its depth in the Third Division were heightened after the season began with a 7–1 aggregate defeat to fellow third-tier side Watford in the first round of the League Cup. A dire start to the league season, which had seen Brentford sink into the relegation places by the end of September 1978, led manager Bill Dodgin Jr. to act in the transfer market. Potentially club-record breaking bids for Watford's Alan Mayes, Queens Park Rangers' Tony Hazell and Bristol City's John Bain were all rejected. Dodgin managed to sign defender Jim McNichol from Luton Town for a new club-record incoming fee of £30,000. While McNichol went on to be voted the Brentford Supporters' Player of the Year, Dodgin's other signing, forward Dean Smith (signed to support the misfiring Steve Phillips and Andrew McCulloch), only scored sporadically during the remainder of the season.
Between late-October 1978 and mid-March 1979, the Bees stabilised with a run of just two defeats in 17 league matches. The run ended with the club's biggest win of the season – a 6–0 thrashing of Chester at Griffin Park, with Steve Phillips scoring a hat-trick to boost his tally to six goals in four matches. The signing of Jim McNichol made an immediate impact on the defensive line, with a record of two clean sheets prior to his arrival being turned around to 14 in the following 31 matches, equivalent to a clean sheet nearly every other match. A failure to win any of the following four matches dropped the Bees back to 18th position, but a strong run of 9 wins in 12 matches to close out the season elevated the club to a 10th-place finish.
League table
Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend WinDrawLoss
Pre-season and friendlies DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)1 August 1978Charlton AthleticH1–12,500Phillips3 August 1978Chesham UnitedA0–0n/a7 August 1978Brighton & Hove AlbionH1–42,800J. Graham8 August 1978WokingA0–3n/a9 August 1978AldershotA2–1n/aPhillips, Kruse15 December 1978Northampton TownA0–3n/a
Football League Third Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)119 August 1978Shrewsbury TownA0–12,346221 August 1978Colchester UnitedH1–06,802Kruse326 August 1978ChesterfieldH0–36,16242 September 1978Exeter CityA2–23,645McCulloch (2)59 September 1978Hull CityH1–06,528Phillips612 September 1978Swindon TownA0–26,902716 September 1978Peterborough UnitedA1–35,884Kruse823 September 1978GillinghamH0–26,977925 September 1978Lincoln CityH2–16,107J. Graham, Eames1030 September 1978Swansea CityA1–211,370McCulloch117 October 1978BuryH0–15,8551214 October 1978WatfordA0–215,1801317 October 1978Rotherham UnitedA0–13,8811421 October 1978Tranmere RoversH2–15,883McCulloch (2)1528 October 1978ChesterA1–34,495McCulloch164 November 1978Oxford UnitedH3–06,863McCulloch, D. Smith (2)1711 November 1978Exeter CityH0–06,3871818 November 1978ChesterfieldA0–04,584192 December 1978WalsallH1–05,140McCulloch209 December 1978Mansfield TownA1–24,003McCulloch2123 December 1978Southend UnitedA1–113,703Phillips2226 December 1978Plymouth ArgyleH2–17,367D. Smith (2)2330 December 1978Carlisle UnitedH0–06,4772420 January 1979Peterborough UnitedH0–05,7602527 January 1979GillinghamA0–06,8992610 February 1979Swansea CityH1–07,264Carlton2724 February 1979WatfordH3–313,873D. Smith, Phillips (2, 1 pen)283 March 1979Tranmere RoversA1–01,882Phillips296 March 1979Hull CityA0–13,4183010 March 1979ChesterH6–06,421Phillips (3), Glover (2), McCulloch3113 March 1979Sheffield WednesdayA0–110,3833221 March 1979Lincoln CityA0–12,0603324 March 1979Colchester UnitedA1–13,528Shrubb3426 March 1979Shrewsbury TownH2–37,756McCulloch, D. Smith3531 March 1979BlackpoolH3–26,364McNichol (2), Phillips364 April 1979Oxford UnitedA1–05,242Shrubb377 April 1979WalsallA3–23,840Kruse, Phillips (2)3813 April 1979Southend UnitedH3–211,509McCulloch, Kruse, Salman3914 April 1979Plymouth ArgyleA1–26,344Carlton4017 April 1979Sheffield WednesdayH2–19,050McNichol (2)4121 April 1979Carlisle UnitedA0–13,9674223 April 1979Rotherham UnitedH1–06,758D. Smith4328 April 1979Mansfield TownH1–06,838Phillips445 May 1979BlackpoolA1–03,464McCulloch458 May 1979Swindon TownH1–213,320D. Smith4615 May 1979BuryA3–22,512Phillips (2), McCulloch
FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance1R25 November 1978Exeter CityA0–13,810
Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer1R (1st leg)12 August 1978WatfordA0–49,2921R (2nd leg)12 August 1978WatfordH1–3 (lost 7–1 on aggregate)7,414Rolph Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies,Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 158-169.Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 314. Statto
Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1978–79 season. Pos.NameNat.Date of birth (age)Signed fromSigned inNotesGoalkeepersGKLen BondBristol City1977GKTrevor PorterSlough Town1978DefendersDFMichael AllenMiddlesbrough1971DFJohn FraserFulham1976DFPat KruseTorquay United1977DFJim McNicholLuton Town1978DFDanis SalmanYouth1975DFDavid SilmanUnattached1978DFBarry TuckerNorthampton Town1978MidfieldersMFDoug AllderUnattached1977MFBob BookerBedmond Sports & Social1978MFDave CarltonNorthampton Town1976MFAllan GloverOrient1978MFJackie Graham (c)Guildford City1970MFWillie GrahamNorthampton Town1977MFPaul ShrubbHellenic1977MFPaul WalkerYouth1976ForwardsFWTommy BaldwinUnattached1977Assistant managerFWAndrew McCullochOxford United1976Loaned to Oakland StompersFWGary RolphYouth1976FWSteve PhillipsNorthampton Town1977FWDean SmithLeicester City1977Players who left the club mid-seasonDFNigel SmithQueens Park Rangers1975ReleasedDFStephen WilkinsChelsea1978ReleasedFWBilly EamesWaterlooville1978ReleasedFWLee FrostChelsea1978Returned to Chelsea after loan Sources: The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies, Timeless Bees
Coaching staff NameRole Bill Dodgin Jr.Manager Tommy BaldwinAssistant Manager Eddie LyonsPhysiotherapist Gordon QuinnChief Scout
Statistics
Appearances and goals Substitute appearances in brackets. PosNatNameLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKLen Bond3501000360GKTrevor Porter1100020130DFMichael Allen5 (2)000005 (2)0DFJohn Fraser21 (2)0000 (1)021 (3)0DFPat Kruse4441020474DFJim McNichol32410—334DFDanis Salman39 (1)1102042 (1)1DFDavid Silman10000010DFNigel Smith2 (1)000002 (1)0DFBarry Tucker4301020460DFStephen Wilkins00—0 (1)00 (1)0MFDoug Allder18 (12)0002020 (12)0MFBob Booker2 (1)000—2 (1)0MFDave Carlton36 (1)2102039 (1)2MFAllan Glover18 (1)210—19 (1)2MFJackie Graham3511020381MFWillie Graham8 (3)0002010 (3)0MFPaul Shrubb3921020422MFPaul Walker2 (5)000002 (5)0FWTommy Baldwin00001010FWBilly Eames21—0021FWAndrew McCulloch391410004014FWGary Rolph10001121FWSteve Phillips461410204914FWDean Smith22 (3)80 (1)0—22 (4)8Players loaned in during the seasonFWLee Frost5 (1)0——5 (1)0 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford
Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL3FACFLCTotalFWAndrew McCulloch140—14FWSteve Phillips140014FWDean Smith80—8DFPat Kruse4004DFJim McNichol4004MFDave Carlton2002MFAllan Glover2002MFPaul Shrubb2002FWBilly Eames1—01MFJackie Graham1001FWGary Rolph0011DFDanis Salman1001Total530154 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford
Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Bill Dodgin, Jr.12 August 197815 May 1979
Summary Games played 49 (46 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)Games won 19 (19 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)Games drawn 9 (9 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)Games lost 21 (18 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)Goals scored 54 (53 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)Goals conceded 57 (49 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 7 League Cup)Clean sheets 16 (16 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)Biggest league win 6–0 versus Chester, 10 March 1979Worst league defeat 3–0 versus Chesterfield, 26 August 1978Most appearances 49, Steve Phillips (46 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)Top scorer (league) 14, Andrew McCulloch, Steve PhillipsTop scorer (all competitions) 14, Andrew McCulloch, Steve Phillips
Transfers & loans Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.August 1978FW Billy Eames PortsmouthTrialAugust 1978GK Trevor Porter Slough TownTrialSeptember 1978MF Bob Booker Bedmond Sports & SocialNon-contractOctober 1978DF Jim McNichol Luton Town£30,000October 1978FW Dean Smith Leicester City£20,000Haynes & Coumbe, p. 147.November 1978MF Allan Glover OrientFree1978DF Stephen Wilkins Chelsean/aCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 190-194.April 1979FW Bradley Walshn/aNon-contractPlayers loaned inDate fromPos.NameFromDate toRef.October 1978FW Lee Frost ChelseaNovember 1978Players loaned outDate fromPos.NameToDate toRef.May 1978FW Andrew McCulloch Oakland StompersAugust 1978October 1978GK Graham Cox Margaten/aPlayers releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.August 1978DF Stephen Wilkins Dagenham1978October 1978FW Billy Eamesn/an/aOctober 1978DF Nigel Smith Cambridge UnitedNovember 1978December 1978FW John MurrayRetiredMay 1979DF Michael Allen Whitby Town1979May 1979GK Graham Cox Wokingham Town1979Haynes & Coumbe, p. 41-42.May 1979FW Gary Rolph Woking1979May 1979DF David Silman Walthamstow Avenue1979
Awards Supporters' Player of the Year: Jim McNicholCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 295. Players' Player of the Year: Len Bond
References