During the 1989–90 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. After showing relegation form during the first three months of the season, a revival between November 1989 and February 1990 ensured a mid-table finish.
Season summary
After a long season in which the sheer amount of cup fixtures ultimately affected Brentford's hopes of a finish in the Third Division play-offs, manager Steve Perryman saw fit to make only minor changes to his squad.Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 260. Released were bit-part players and late-season signings Andy Feeley, Graham Pearce, Jon Purdie, Jeremy Roberts and Tony Sealy and in came just two players – club record £167,000 midfielder Eddie May from Hibernian (as a direct replacement for March 1989 departee Andy Sinton) and left back Mark Fleming on a free transfer from Queens Park Rangers.
Aside from progressing to the second round of the League Cup, Brentford had a torrid start to the Third Division season and dropped into the relegation places on 9 September 1989. Manager Perryman entered the transfer market to bring Watford forward Dean Holdsworth back to Griffin Park, after a one-month loan spell during the previous season.Haynes & Coumbe, p. 78. The £125,000 paid for Holdsworth made him the club's most expensive forward at the time. The signing of Holdsworth had little immediate impact and the Bees' slump continued from September into mid-November, when the club occupied bottom place in the division for three weeks in a row. A 2–0 win over Northampton Town at the County Ground on 25 November provided the spark that changed the team's fortunes, with Holdsworth coming into form and inspiring a run of 10 wins and 1 draw from a 13-match spell, which lifted Brentford from 24th to 9th place. The Bees stumbled through to the end of the season and the products of Colin Lee's youth team were given game time. Brentford ended the campaign in 13th place.
League table
Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend WinDrawLoss
Pre-season and friendlies DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)19 July 1989Ashford Town (Middlesex)A3–0n/aHaag, Gayle, Cronk22 July 1989Farnborough TownA2–3n/aBlissett, Cockram24 July 1989Crewe UnitedA1–0n/aGayle29 July 1989St Albans CityA6–0n/aHaag (2), Godfrey (2), May, Buttigieg1 August 1989FullyA3–1n/aJones (2, 1 pen), Smillie7 August 1989YeadingH2–2n/aJenkins, Funnell9 August 1989Queens Park RangersH1–04,667Gayle12 August 1989WimbledonH0–12,20014 August 1989DartfordA1–2n/aMoabi18 October 1989HayesA0–3n/a11 May 1990Sheffield UnitedH4–21,531Driscoll, Holdsworth, Godfrey, Booker (pen)
Football League Third Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)119 August 1989Bristol RoversA0–15,851226 August 1989Chester CityH1–15,153Evans32 September 1989Cardiff CityA2–23,499May (2)49 September 1989BuryH0–15,010516 September 1989Huddersfield TownA0–15,578623 September 1989Birmingham CityH0–15,386726 September 1989Crewe AlexandraA3–23,496Smillie, Jones, Godfrey830 September 1989Wigan AthleticH3–14,647Blissett, Holdsworth, May97 October 1989Bristol CityH0–27,4211014 October 1989Preston North EndA2–45,956May, Holdsworth1117 October 1989Bolton WanderersH1–24,537Holdsworth1221 October 1989Shrewsbury TownA0–13,0731328 October 1989FulhamH2–07,962Evans, Smillie1431 October 1989Notts CountyA1–34,586Moncur154 November 1989Tranmere RoversH2–45,720May, Ratcliffe1611 November 1989BlackpoolA0–42,5121725 November 1989Northampton TownA2–03,165May, Holdsworth183 December 1989Leyton OrientH4–36,434Smillie, May, Holdsworth (pen), Blissett1917 December 1989Mansfield TownH2–15,022Holdsworth (2)2026 December 1989ReadingA0–15,5902130 December 1989Swansea CityA1–24,537Blissett221 January 1990WalsallH4–05,259Blissett, Smillie, Holdsworth, Jones236 January 1990Rotherham UnitedH4–25,624Holdsworth (3), Stanislaus2412 January 1990Chester CityA1–12,302Cockram2520 January 1990Bristol RoversH2–17,414Ratcliffe, Cadette2627 January 1990BuryA2–02,963May, Holdsworth2710 February 1990Huddersfield TownH2–16,774Holdsworth (2)2818 February 1990Leyton OrientA1–06,572Holdsworth2921 February 1990Cardiff CityH0–15,1743025 February 1990Northampton TownH3–26,391Blissett (2), Holdsworth313 March 1990Rotherham UnitedA1–25,603Blissett326 March 1990Wigan AthleticA1–21,938Blissett3310 March 1990Crewe AlexandraH0–25,8153413 March 1990Birmingham CityA1–08,169Holdsworth3517 March 1990Bristol CityA0–210,8133620 March 1990Preston North EndH2–24,673Holdsworth, Blissett3724 March 1990Bolton WanderersA1–06,156Holdsworth3831 March 1990Shrewsbury TownH1–15,387Smillie397 April 1990Notts CountyH0–15,1054010 April 1990FulhamA0–16,7294114 April 1990WalsallA1–22,903Sparham4216 April 1990ReadingH1–15,594Driscoll4321 April 1990Mansfield TownA3–22,347Holdsworth (2, 1 pen), Blissett4428 April 1990BlackpoolH5–04,784Evans, Cockram, Holdsworth, Driscoll, Blissett452 May 1990Swansea CityH2–14,950Holdsworth (2)465 May 1990Tranmere RoversA2–25,379Godfrey, Evans
FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance1R18 November 1989Colchester UnitedH0–14,171
Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)R1 (1st leg)23 August 1989Brighton & Hove AlbionA3–06,405Millen, Godfrey, MayR1 (2nd leg)29 August 1989Brighton & Hove AlbionH1–1 (won 4–1 on aggregate)4,306BlissettR2 (2nd leg)19 September 1989Manchester CityH2–16,065Evans, BlissettR2 (1st leg)4 October 1989Manchester CityA1–4 (lost 5–3 on aggregate)17,864May
Football League Trophy
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorerSPR (match 1)7 November 1989Leyton OrientH3–02,544Holdsworth (2), MaySPR (match 2)9 December 1989Mansfield TownA1–21,445HoldsworthSR123 January 1990ReadingH2–13,928May, CadetteSQF6 February 1990Bristol RoversH2–2 , lost 4–3 on pens)4,409Smillie, Holdsworth Sources: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties,Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 262-275.Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 412-415. Statto
Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1989–90 season. Pos.NameNat.Date of birth (age)Signed fromSigned inNotesGoalkeepersGKAshley BayesYouth1990GKTony ParksTottenham Hotspur1988DefendersDFJamie BatesYouth1986DFJohn ButtigiegSliema Wanderers1988DFJason CousinsYouth1989DFTerry EvansHillingdon1985DFMark FlemingQueens Park Rangers1989DFKeith MillenYouth1985DFSteve PerrymanOxford United1986ManagerDFRobbie PetersYouth1989DFSean SparhamMillwall1990On loan from MillwallDFRoger StanislausArsenal1987MidfieldersMFPaul BuckleYouth1989MFAllan CockramSt Albans City1988MFAndy DriscollYouth1989MFMarcus GayleYouth1988Loaned to KuPSMFKevin GodfreyLeyton Orient1988MFKeith Jones (c)Chelsea1987MFEddie MayHibernian1989MFSimon RatcliffeNorwich City1989MFNeil SmillieReading1988ForwardsFWGary BlissettCrewe Alexandra1987FWRichard CadetteSheffield United1988Loaned to BournemouthFWKelly HaagYouth1989FWDean HoldsworthWatford1989Players who left the club mid-seasonGKKeith BranaganMillwall1989Returned to Millwall after loanGKColin ScottRangers1990Returned to Rangers after loanDFPaul MillerBournemouth1989Returned to Bournemouth after loanMFJohn MoncurTottenham Hotspur1989Returned to Tottenham Hotspur after loanFWAndy AnsahDorking1989Transferred to Southend United Sources: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties, Timeless Bees
Coaching staff NameRole Steve PerrymanManager Phil HolderAssistant Manager Roy ClarePhysiotherapist
Statistics
Appearances and goals Substitute appearances in brackets. PosNatNameLeagueFA CupLeague CupFL TrophyTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKAshley Bayes1000000010GKTony Parks370104030450DFJamie Bates10 (5)0001 (2)03014 (7)0DFJohn Buttigieg12 (10)0003 (1)00 (2)015 (13)0DFJason Cousins12 (1)000001 (1)013 (2)0DFTerry Evans444104130525DFMark Fleming15 (2)000001016 (2)0DFKeith Millen320104100371DFSteve Perryman3010001050DFRobbie Peters1 (1)01000002 (1)0DFRoger Stanislaus311004030381MFPaul Buckle6 (4)00000006 (4)0MFAllan Cockram21 (5)2000 (2)03024 (7)2MFAndy Driscoll10 (2)200000010 (2)2MFMarcus Gayle1 (8)00000001 (8)0MFKevin Godfrey16 (11)20 (1)0210 (3)018 (15)3MFKeith Jones422104030502MFEddie May3081042423912MFSimon Ratcliffe352104040442MFNeil Smillie435104041526FWAndy Ansah0 (1)0000 (1)0000 (2)0FWGary Blissett36 (1)1110421 (1)045 (2)13FWRichard Cadette7 (9)1001 (1)03111 (10)2FWKelly Haag1 (4)00 (1)00 (1)0001 (6)0FWDean Holdsworth39241010444528Players loaned in during the seasonGKKeith Branagan20——1030GKColin Scott60———60DFPaul Miller30——1040DFSean Sparham51———51MFJohn Moncur51——1061 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: The Big Brentford Book of the EightiesCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 431.
Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL3FACFLCFLTTotalFWDean Holdsworth2400428FWGary Blissett1102013MFEddie May802212MFNeil Smillie50016DFTerry Evans40105MFKevin Godfrey20103MFAllan Cockram20002MFAndy Driscoll20002MFKeith Jones20002MFSimon Ratcliffe20002FWRichard Cadette10012DFSean Sparham1———1MFJohn Moncur1——01DFRoger Stanislaus10001DFKeith Millen00101Total6607881 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties
Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Steve Perryman19 August 19895 May 1990
Summary Games played 55 (46 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 4 Football League Trophy)Games won 22 (18 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)Games drawn 9 (7 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)Games lost 24 (21 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)Goals scored 81 (66 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 7 League Cup, 8 Football League Trophy)Goals conceded 78 (66 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 6 League Cup, 5 Football League Trophy)Clean sheets 10 (8 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)Biggest league win 5–0 versus Blackpool, 28 April 1990Worst league defeat 4–0 versus Blackpool, 11 November 1989Most appearances 52, Terry Evans (44 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 3 Football League Trophy), Neil Smillie (43 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 4 Football League Trophy)Top scorer (league) 24, Dean HoldsworthTop scorer (all competitions) 28, Dean Holdsworth
Transfers & loans Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.26 July 1989MF Eddie May Hibernian£167,000July 1989DF Mark Fleming Queens Park RangersFreeCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 276-281.29 September 1989FW Dean Holdsworth Watford£125,000Players loaned inDate fromPos.NameFromDate toRef.19 October 1989MF John Moncur Tottenham HotspurNovember 198924 November 1989GK Keith Branagan MillwallDecember 1989November 1989DF Paul Miller BournemouthDecember 198922 March 1990GK Colin Scott RangersApril 199022 March 1990DF Sean Sparham MillwallEnd of seasonPlayers transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.29 March 1990FW Andy Ansah Southend UnitedFreePlayers loaned outDate fromPos.NameToDate toRef.October 1989MF Matthew Howard St Albans CityJanuary 199022 March 1990FW Richard Cadette BournemouthEnd of seasonMarch 1990MF Marcus Gayle KuPSSeptember 1990Players releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.January 1990MF Matthew Howard St Albans CityJanuary 1990May 1990FW Kelly Haag FulhamAugust 1990
Kit
Awards Supporters' Player of the Year: Terry EvansCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 383. Players' Player of the Year: Terry Evans
References