Brentford 1990–91 football season
During the 1990–91 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division . Five wins in the final six matches of the season propelled the Bees from mid-table into the play-offs , where the club was defeated by Tranmere Rovers in the semi-finals.
Season summary [ ]
Third Division Brentford conducted little transfer business during the 1990 off-season, buying only Sheffield United goalkeeper Graham Benstead and selling full back Roger Stanislaus to Bury .[1] Midfielder Eddie May was transfer-listed at his own request, while midfielders Keith Jones , Kevin Godfrey and forward Richard Cadette rejected new contracts and instead signed weekly deals. 10 days before the first match of the season, the club was rocked by the resignation of manager Steve Perryman ,[1] who had been in charge since February 1987.[3] Perryman's assistant Phil Holder took over and began his first job in football management .
Just two defeats from the opening 12 league matches of the season had Brentford flirting with automatic promotion, before successive defeats in late October and early November dropped the club into the play-off places.[4] Aided by the goalscoring of fit-again Gary Blissett , the Bees showed good league form through November and December and ended 1990 in the automatic promotion places.[4] After loss to Oldham Athletic in the third round of the FA Cup , attention turned to the Football League Trophy , in which the Bees went all the way to the Southern Area finals before being defeated over two legs by league rivals Birmingham City .[4] The run in the Trophy affected Brentford's promotion-chasing form, with the team having won just seven of 17 matches since the turn of the year.[4] A draw and a defeat in the wake of the Trophy exit gave way to improved form for the remainder of the season, with five wins from six matches sealing a 6th-place finish and a two-legged tie with Tranmere Rovers in the play-off semi-finals.[4] A 3–2 defeat on aggregate ended Brentford's season.[4]
League table [ ]
4
Bolton Wanderers
46
24
11
11
64
50
+14
83
Participated in play-offs
5
Tranmere Rovers
46
23
9
14
64
46
+18
78
Promoted through play-offs[a]
6
Brentford
46
21
13
12
59
47
+12
76
Participated in play-offs
7
Bury
46
20
13
13
67
56
+11
73
8
Bradford City
46
20
10
16
62
54
+8
70
Source:[citation needed ] Notes:
^ Tranmere Rovers won the play-offs and were promoted.
Results [ ]
Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend [ ]
Pre-season [ ]
31 July 1990
Kingstonian
A
2–2
n/a
Smillie , May
7 August 1990
Chesham United
A
1–1
n/a
Cadette
11 August 1990
Chelsea
H
0–6
4,915
14 August 1990
Oxford United
H
1–1
5,775
Holdsworth
17 August 1990
Charlton Athletic
H
1–2
1,231
Smillie
[ ]
1
25 August 1990
Bournemouth
H
0–0
6,156
2
1 September 1990
Mansfield Town
A
2–0
3,518
Smilie , Godfrey
3
8 September 1990
Chester City
H
0–1
5,459
4
15 September 1990
Swansea City
A
2–2
3,660
Bates , Jones (pen )
5
18 September 1990
Rotherham United
A
2–2
5,775
Holdsworth , Smilie
6
22 September 1990
Bolton Wanderers
H
4–2
4,586
May , Brooke , Jones , Holdsworth
7
29 September 1990
Grimsby Town
H
1–0
3,900
Jones
8
2 October 1990
Preston North End
A
1–1
5,658
Godfrey
9
6 October 1990
Bradford City
A
1–0
7,710
Godfrey
10
14 October 1990
Cambridge United
H
0–3
3,139
11
20 October 1990
Huddersfield Town
H
1–0
7,705
May
12
23 October 1990
Reading
A
2–1
2,280
Gayle , Holdsworth
13
26 October 1990
Tranmere Rovers
A
1–2
8,575
Holdsworth (pen )
14
4 November 1990
Southend United
H
0–1
10,605
15
10 November 1990
Bury
H
2–2
8,798
Blissett , Cockram
16
24 November 1990
Exeter City
A
1–1
4,764
Blissett
17
2 December 1990
Leyton Orient
A
1–0
5,359
Godfrey
18
16 December 1990
Stoke City
A
2–2
2,475
Cadette , Smilie
19
23 December 1990
Wigan Athletic
H
1–0
6,675
Blissett (pen )
20
26 December 1990
Birmingham City
A
2–0
6,669
Blissett (2)
21
29 December 1990
Crewe Alexandra
A
3–3
1,447
Blissett , Cadette , Cockram
22
1 January 1991
Shrewsbury Town
H
3–0
7,226
Blissett , Gayle , Cockram
23
12 January 1991
Mansfield Town
H
0–0
3,582
24
19 January 1991
Bournemouth
A
0–2
4,421
25
26 January 1991
Swansea City
H
2–0
7,102
Blissett , Jones
26
2 February 1991
Rotherham United
H
1–2
7,333
Jones
27
5 February 1991
Bolton Wanderers
A
0–1
15,984
28
16 February 1991
Exeter City
H
1–0
9,004
Millen
29
23 February 1991
Bury
H
1–1
7,559
Cadette
30
3 March 1991
Leyton Orient
A
2–1
6,079
Cadette , Holdsworth
31
9 March 1991
Stoke City
H
0–4
6,789
32
12 March 1991
Preston North End
H
2–0
7,484
Bates , Blissett
33
16 March 1991
Grimsby Town
A
0–2
16,417
34
19 March 1991
Cambridge United
A
0–0
7,605
35
23 March 1991
Bradford City
H
6–1
6,869
og , Evans , Jones , Cadette (2), Gayle
36
30 March 1991
Birmingham City
H
2–2
5,660
Ratcliffe , Blissett
37
1 April 1991
Wigan Athletic
A
0–1
3,548
38
6 April 1991
Crewe Alexandra
H
1–0
5,561
Fleming
39
13 April 1991
Shrewsbury Town
A
1–1
13,290
Ratcliffe
40
16 April 1991
Fulham
H
1–2
6,791
Rostron
41
20 April 1991
Huddersfield Town
A
2–1
3,770
Jones , Peters
42
23 April 1991
Fulham
A
1–0
8,383
Rostron
43
27 April 1991
Reading
H
1–0
4,382
Millen
44
30 April 1991
Chester City
A
2–1
12,071
Gayle , Holdsworth
45
4 May 1991
Tranmere Rovers
H
0–2
2,371
46
11 May 1991
Southend United
A
1–0
14,539
Gayle
[ ]
SF (1st leg)
19 May 1991
Tranmere Rovers
H
2–2
14,160
Evans , Godfrey
SF (2nd leg)
22 May 1991
Tranmere Rovers
A
0–1 (lost 3–2 on aggregate)
11,161
FA Cup [ ]
R1
17 November 1990
Yeovil Town
H
5–0
5,830
Blissett , Holdsworth (2), May , Jones
R2
12 December 1990
Birmingham City
A
3–1
7,328
Blissett , Millen , Jones
R3
5 January 1991
Oldham Athletic
A
1–3
6,538
Holdsworth
[ ]
R1 (1st leg)
28 August 1990
Hereford United
H
2–0
5,583
Bates , Godfrey
R1 (2nd leg)
5 September 1990
Hereford United
A
0–1 (won 2–1 on aggregate)
4,927
R2 (1st leg)
26 September 1990
Sheffield Wednesday
A
1–2
4,502
Evans
R2 (2nd leg)
9 October 1990
Sheffield Wednesday
H
1–2 (lost 4–2 on aggregate)
7,394
Jones (pen )
[ ]
SPR
27 November 1990
Fulham
A
1–1
2,761
Blissett
SPR
29 January 1991
Leyton Orient
H
2–0
1,348
Blissett (2)
SR1
21 February 1991
Wrexham
H
0–0 (a.e.t. ), won 3–0 on pens )
2,247
SQF
28 February 1991
Hereford United
A
2–0
2,207
Smilie , Holdsworth
SSF
5 March 1991
Southend United
A
3–0
3,937
Smilie , Jones , Cadette
SAF (1st leg)
26 March 1991
Birmingham City
A
1–2
1,871
Gayle
SAF (2nd leg)
9 April 1991
Birmingham City
H
0–1 (lost 3–1 on aggregate)
1,861
Source: Statto , 11v11 , The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties
Playing squad [ ]
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1990–91 season.
Pos.
Name
Nat.
Date of birth (age)
Signed from
Signed in
Notes
Goalkeepers
GK
Graham Benstead
(1963-08-20 ) 20 August 1963 (aged 27)
Sheffield United
1990
Defenders
DF
Jamie Bates
(1968-02-24 ) 24 February 1968 (aged 22)
Youth
1986
DF
Jason Cousins
(1970-10-04 ) 4 October 1970 (aged 19)
Youth
1989
DF
Terry Evans (c )
(1965-04-12 ) 12 April 1965 (aged 25)
Hillingdon
1985
DF
Mark Fleming
(1969-08-11 ) 11 August 1969 (aged 21)
Queens Park Rangers
1989
DF
Clive Goodyear
(1961-01-15 ) 15 January 1961 (aged 29)
Wimbledon
1990
DF
Keith Millen
(1966-09-26 ) 26 September 1966 (aged 23)
Youth
1985
Midfielders
MF
Paul Buckle
(1970-12-16 ) 16 December 1970 (aged 19)
Youth
1988
MF
Allan Cockram
(1963-10-08 ) 8 October 1963 (aged 26)
St Albans City
1988
MF
Kevin Godfrey
(1960-02-24 ) 24 February 1960 (aged 30)
Leyton Orient
1988
MF
Keith Jones
(1965-10-14 ) 14 October 1965 (aged 24)
Chelsea
1987
MF
Robbie Peters
(1971-05-18 ) 18 May 1971 (aged 19)
Youth
1989
Loaned to St Albans City
MF
Simon Ratcliffe
(1967-02-08 ) 8 February 1967 (aged 23)
Norwich City
1989
MF
Wilf Rostron
(1956-09-29 ) 29 September 1956 (aged 33)
Sheffield United
1991
Assistant manager
MF
Neil Smilie
(1958-07-19 ) 19 July 1958 (aged 32)
Reading
1988
Forwards
FW
Gary Blissett
(1964-06-29 ) 29 June 1964 (aged 26)
Crewe Alexandra
1987
FW
Richard Cadette
(1965-03-21 ) 21 March 1965 (aged 25)
Sheffield United
1988
FW
Marcus Gayle
(1970-09-27 ) 27 September 1970 (aged 19)
Youth
1988
Loaned to KuPS
FW
Dean Holdsworth
(1968-11-08 ) 8 November 1968 (aged 21)
Watford
1989
Players who left the club mid-season
GK
Tony Parks
(1963-01-26 ) 26 January 1963 (aged 27)
Tottenham Hotspur
1988
Loaned to Queens Park Rangers and Fulham , transferred to Fulham
DF
Jim Carstairs
(1971-01-29 ) 29 January 1971 (aged 19)
Arsenal
1991
Returned to Arsenal after loan
DF
Stuart Cash
(1965-09-05 ) 5 September 1965 (aged 24)
Nottingham Forest
1990
Returned to Nottingham Forest after loan
MF
Garry Brooke
(1960-11-24 ) 24 November 1960 (aged 29)
Wimbledon
1990
Released
MF
Eddie May
(1967-08-30 ) 30 August 1967 (aged 22)
Hibernian
1989
Transferred to Falkirk
Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties
Coaching staff [ ]
Statistics [ ]
Appearances and goals [ ]
Substitute appearances in brackets.
Pos
Nat
Name
League
FA Cup
League Cup
FL Trophy
Play-offs
Total
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
GK
Graham Benstead
45
0
3
0
4
0
7
0
2
0
61
0
GK
Tony Parks
1
0
0
0
—
0
0
—
1
0
DF
Jamie Bates
30 (2)
2
0
0
4
1
4
0
2
0
40 (2)
3
DF
Jason Cousins
8
0
0
0
3
0
1 (1)
0
0
0
12 (1)
0
DF
Terry Evans
36
2
3
0
1 (1)
1
6
0
2
1
48 (1)
4
DF
Mark Fleming
18
1
3
0
2
0
4
0
0
0
27
1
DF
Clive Goodyear
10
0
—
—
1
0
0
0
11
0
DF
Keith Millen
31 (1)
2
3
1
4
0
3
0
2
0
41 (1)
3
MF
Garry Brooke
8 (3)
1
0 (1)
0
2
0
—
—
10 (4)
1
MF
Paul Buckle
24 (2)
0
2
0
2
0
4 (1)
0
0
0
32 (3)
0
MF
Allan Cockram
7 (13)
3
1 (2)
0
0
0
4 (2)
0
0
0
12 (17)
3
MF
Kevin Godfrey
26 (6)
4
2 (1)
0
4
1
3 (2)
0
1 (1)
1
36 (10)
6
MF
Keith Jones
45
6
3
2
4
1
6
1
2
0
60
10
MF
Eddie May
16 (1)
2
1
1
4
0
1
0
—
22 (1)
3
MF
Robbie Peters
6
1
—
0
0
—
0 (1)
0
6 (1)
1
MF
Simon Ratcliffe
34 (4)
2
3
0
0 (2)
0
6
0
2
0
45 (6)
2
MF
Wilf Rostron
18 (4)
2
—
—
2 (2)
0
2
0
22 (6)
2
MF
Neil Smilie
33 (3)
3
1
0
4
0
5
2
2
0
45 (3)
5
FW
Gary Blissett
22 (4)
10
3
2
0 (1)
0
3 (1)
3
2
0
30 (6)
15
FW
Richard Cadette
19 (9)
6
1
0
2 (2)
0
6
1
0
0
28 (11)
7
FW
Marcus Gayle
23 (10)
6
2 (1)
0
—
4 (2)
1
1 (1)
0
30 (14)
7
FW
Dean Holdsworth
27 (3)
5
2
3
2
0
4 (1)
1
2
0
37 (4)
9
Players loaned in during the season
DF
Jim Carstairs
8
0
—
—
3
0
—
11
0
DF
Stuart Cash
11
0
—
2
0
0 (1)
0
—
13 (1)
0
Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties
Goalscorers [ ]
Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties
Management [ ]
Name
Nat
From
To
Record All Comps
Record League
P
W
D
L
W %
P
W
D
L
W %
Phil Holder
25 August 1990
22 May 1991
62
27
16
19
0 43.55
46
21
13
12
0 45.65
Summary [ ]
Games played
62 (46 Third Division , 3 FA Cup , 4 League Cup , 7 Football League Trophy , 2 Football League play-offs )
Games won
27 (21 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 3 Football League Trophy, 0 Football League play-offs)
Games drawn
16 (13 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy, 1 Football League play-offs)
Games lost
19 (12 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 3 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy, 1 Football League play-offs)
Goals scored
83 (59 Third Division, 9 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 9 Football League Trophy, 2 Football League play-offs)
Goals conceded
63 (47 Third Division, 4 FA Cup, 5 League Cup, 4 Football League Trophy, 3 Football League play-offs)
Clean sheets
24 (18 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 4 Football League Trophy, 0 Football League play-offs)
Biggest league win
6–1 versus Bradford City , 23 March 1991
Worst league defeat
4–0 versus Stoke City , 9 March 1991
Most appearances
61, Graham Benstead (45 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 7 Football League Trophy, 2 Football League play-offs)
Top scorer (league)
10, Gary Blissett
Top scorer (all competitions)
15, Gary Blissett
Transfers & loans [ ]
Kit [ ]
Supplier: Chad Sponsor(s): KLM
Source: Brentford F.C.
Awards [ ]
References [ ]
show Brentford F.C. seasons
show National teams
League competitions
Levels 1–4 Level 5 Levels 6–7 Levels 8–9
Isthmian League (Two North , Two South )
Combined Counties League (level 8 only )
Eastern Counties League (Premier , One )
Essex Senior League (level 8 only )
Hellenic League (Premier , One )
Kent League (level 8 only )
Midland Football Combination (level 8 only )
North West Counties League (One , Two )
Northern Counties East League (Premier , One )
Northern League (One , Two )
South Midlands League (Premier , One )
(, )
Sussex County League (One , Two )
United Counties League (Premier , One )
Wessex League (level 8 only )
West Midlands (Regional) League (level 8 only )
Western League (Premier , One )
Cup competitions
FA cups Football League cups
European competitions