Brentford 1991–92 football season
During the 1991–92 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division . The club finished the season as champions to seal second-tier football for the first time since 1953–54 . In 2013, it was voted as Brentford's best ever season by the club's supporters.[1]
Season summary [ ]
Dean Holdsworth 's 38 goals during the season was one shy of
Jack Holliday 's club record.
After defeat to Tranmere Rovers in the 1991 Third Division play-offs , Brentford manager Phil Holder made just one addition to his squad prior to the beginning of the 1991–92 season, in the shape of £60,000 defender Billy Manuel from Gillingham .[2] Two wins from the opening two league matches of the season put Brentford in the automatic promotion places, but three successive defeats dropped the club back to 16th by early September 1991.[3] Aided by on-fire forward Dean Holdsworth , the Bees won 13, drew three and lost three of the following 19 matches, losing just once in the league.[2] Having reached the top spot in the Third Division after a 4–0 victory over Wigan Athletic on 9 November, the club stayed at the summit until 8 February 1992, when a fifth defeat in 9 matches dropped the club back to third.[3]
Brentford vied with Birmingham City and Stoke City in the automatic promotion places between mid-February and mid-March, but four successive defeats and two draws dropped the Bees back to 4th.[3] Six wins in the final six matches of the season (which included a 4–0 victory over West London rivals Fulham at Griffin Park ) saw Brentford claim the Third Division championship on the final day,[4] after a Gary Blissett goal was enough to beat Peterborough United at London Road .[2] Dean Holdsworth's 24 league goals tied him with Huddersfield Town 's Iwan Roberts as the top scorer in the Third Division and Holdsworth's total of 38 in all competitions was one goal short of Jack Holliday 's club record,[5] set during the 1932–33 season, when Brentford had last been promoted out of the Third Division.[7]
League table [ ]
1
Brentford
46
25
7
14
81
55
+26
82
Division Champions, promoted
2
Birmingham City
46
23
12
11
69
52
+17
81
Promoted
3
Huddersfield Town
46
22
12
12
59
38
+21
78
Participated in play-offs
4
Stoke City
46
21
14
11
69
49
+20
77
5
Stockport County
46
22
10
14
75
51
+24
76
Source:[citation needed ]
Results [ ]
Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend [ ]
Pre-season [ ]
27 July 1991
Staines Town
A
2–0
n/a
Godfrey , Holdsworth (pen )
30 July 1991
Portsmouth
H
0–2
1,231
3 August 1991
Enfield
A
1–1
n/a
Smilie
6 August 1991
Chelsea
H
4–3
4,923
Cadette (2), Holdsworth , Smilie
7 August 1991
Maidenhead United
A
2–3
n/a
Line , untraced (og )
10 August 1991
Colchester United
A
3–1
n/a
Luscombe , Godfrey , Gayle
12 August 1991
Chesham United
A
4–3
n/a
Cadette (2), Blissett (pen ), Ratcliffe
[ ]
1
17 August 1991
Leyton Orient
H
4–3
6,156
Holdsworth (3), Evans
2
24 August 1991
Exeter City
A
2–1
3,518
Gayle , Blissett
3
31 August 1991
Huddersfield Town
H
2–3
5,459
Jones , Godfrey
4
3 September 1991
Hartlepool United
A
0–1
3,660
5
7 September 1991
Shrewsbury Town
A
0–1
3,139
6
14 September 1991
Reading
H
1–0
5,775
Cadette
7
17 September 1991
Hull City
H
4–1
4,586
Evans , Smilie , untraced (og ), Holdsworth
8
21 September 1991
Darlington
A
2–1
3,900
Smilie , Holdsworth
9
28 September 1991
Bolton Wanderers
H
3–2
5,658
Holdsworth (2), Gayle
10
5 October 1991
Fulham
A
1–0
7,710
Evans
11
12 October 1991
Peterborough United
H
2–1
7,705
Evans , Smilie
12
19 October 1991
West Bromwich Albion
H
1–2
8,575
Gayle
13
26 October 1991
Bury
A
3–0
2,280
Holdsworth (2), Gayle
14
2 November 1991
Bradford City
A
1–0
5,359
Smilie
15
6 November 1991
Birmingham City
H
2–2
8,798
Smilie , Blissett
16
9 November 1991
Wigan Athletic
H
4–0
6,675
Blissett (2), Holdsworth (2)
17
22 November 1991
Bournemouth
A
0–0
4,764
18
30 November 1991
Swansea City
H
3–2
6,669
Holdsworth , Ratcliffe , Blissett
19
14 December 1991
Torquay United
A
1–1
2,475
Godfrey
20
22 December 1991
Exeter City
H
3–0
7,226
Blissett (2), Gayle
21
26 December 1991
Huddersfield Town
A
1–2
10,605
Blissett (pen )
22
28 December 1991
Leyton Orient
A
2–4
7,333
Luscombe (2)
23
1 January 1992
Hartlepool United
H
1–0
7,102
Holdsworth
24
4 January 1992
Stockport County
A
1–2
4,421
Untraced (og )
25
11 January 1992
Stoke City
H
2–0
9,004
Luscombe , Holdsworth
26
18 January 1992
Chester City
A
1–1
1,447
Booker
27
25 January 1992
Preston North End
H
1–0
7,559
Evans
28
1 February 1992
West Bromwich Albion
A
0–2
15,984
29
8 February 1992
Bury
H
0–3
6,789
30
11 February 1992
Swansea City
A
1–1
3,582
Millen
31
15 February 1992
Torquay United
H
3–2
6,079
Booker , Blissett , Bates
32
22 February 1992
Stoke City
A
1–2
16,417
Blissett
33
29 February 1992
Stockport County
H
2–1
7,484
Smilie , Holdsworth
34
3 March 1992
Chester City
H
2–0
6,869
Blissett , Holdsworth (pen )
35
7 March 1992
Preston North End
A
2–3
3,548
Smilie , Buckle
36
10 March 1992
Birmingham City
A
0–1
13,290
37
14 March 1992
Bradford City
H
3–4
6,791
Evans , Blissett , Holdsworth
38
20 March 1992
Wigan Athletic
A
1–2
2,371
Holdsworth
39
29 March 1992
Bournemouth
H
2–2
7,605
Godfrey , Blissett
40
1 April 1992
Reading
A
0–0
5,660
41
4 April 1992
Shrewsbury Town
H
2–0
5,561
Holdsworth , Evans
42
11 April 1992
Hull City
A
3–0
3,770
Holdsworth (2), Blissett
43
17 April 1992
Darlington
H
4–1
8,383
Holdsworth (2), Blissett , untraced (og )
44
20 April 1992
Bolton Wanderers
A
2–1
4,382
Evans , untraced (og )
45
26 April 1992
Fulham
H
4–0
12,071
Holdsworth , Gayle , Blissett , Ratcliffe
46
2 May 1992
Peterborough United
A
1–0
14,539
Blissett
FA Cup [ ]
R1
18 November 1991
Gillingham
H
3–3
5,830
Holdsworth (2), Blissett
R1 (replay)
26 November 1991
Gillingham
A
3–1
7,328
Holdsworth (2), Sealy
R2
7 December 1991
Bournemouth
A
1–2
6,538
Bates
League Cup [ ]
R1 (1st leg)
20 August 1991
Barnet
A
5–5
2,416
Cadette (2), Godfrey , Holdsworth (2)
R1 (2nd leg)
27 August 1991
Barnet
H
3–1 (won 8–6 on aggregate)
5,583
Holdsworth , Godfrey , Evans
R2 (1st leg)
24 September 1991
Brighton & Hove Albion
H
4–1
4,927
Godfrey , Cadette , Holdsworth (2)
R2 (2nd leg)
9 October 1991
Brighton & Hove Albion
A
2–4 (a.e.t. ), won 6–5 on aggregate)
4,502
Cadette , Holdsworth
R3
30 October 1991
Norwich City
A
1–4
7,394
Manuel
[ ]
PR
22 October 1991
Aldershot
A
2–0
1,348
Sealy (2)
PR
17 December 1991
Barnet
H
3–6
1,871
Luscombe , Holdsworth (2)
SR1
21 January 1992
Leyton Orient
A
2–3
1,861
Holdsworth (2)
Source: Statto , 11v11 , The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties
Playing squad [ ]
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1991–92 season.
Pos.
Name
Nat.
Date of birth (age)
Signed from
Signed in
Notes
Goalkeepers
GK
Ashley Bayes
(1972-04-19 ) 19 April 1972 (aged 19)
Youth
1990
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 23)
Youth
1986
DF
Terry Evans (c )
(1965-04-12 ) 12 April 1965 (aged 26)
Hillingdon
1985
DF
Chris Hughton
(1958-12-11 ) 11 December 1958 (aged 32)
West Ham United
1992
Coach
DF
Billy Manuel
(1969-06-28 ) 28 June 1969 (aged 22)
Gillingham
1991
DF
Keith Millen
(1966-09-26 ) 26 September 1966 (aged 24)
Youth
1985
DF
Brian Statham
(1969-05-21 ) 21 May 1969 (aged 22)
Tottenham Hotspur
1992
Loaned from Tottenham Hotspur before transferring permanently
Midfielders
MF
Bob Booker
(1958-01-25 ) 25 January 1958 (aged 33)
Sheffield United
1991
MF
Paul Buckle
(1970-12-16 ) 16 December 1970 (aged 20)
Youth
1988
MF
Andy Driscoll
(1971-10-21 ) 21 October 1971 (aged 19)
Youth
1989
Loaned to Staines Town
MF
Tony Finnigan
(1962-10-17 ) 17 October 1962 (aged 28)
Swindon Town
1991
MF
Kevin Godfrey
(1960-02-24 ) 24 February 1960 (aged 31)
Leyton Orient
1988
MF
Detzi Kruszyński
(1960-10-14 ) 14 October 1960 (aged 30)
Wimbledon
1992
On loan from Wimbledon
MF
Robbie Peters
(1971-05-18 ) 18 May 1971 (aged 20)
Youth
1989
MF
Simon Ratcliffe
(1967-02-08 ) 8 February 1967 (aged 24)
Norwich City
1989
MF
Wilf Rostron
(1956-09-29 ) 29 September 1956 (aged 34)
Sheffield United
1991
Assistant manager
MF
Neil Smilie
(1958-07-19 ) 19 July 1958 (aged 33)
Reading
1988
Forwards
FW
Gary Blissett
(1964-06-29 ) 29 June 1964 (aged 27)
Crewe Alexandra
1987
FW
Marcus Gayle
(1970-09-27 ) 27 September 1970 (aged 20)
Youth
1988
FW
Dean Holdsworth
(1968-11-08 ) 8 November 1968 (aged 22)
Watford
1989
FW
Simon Line
(1971-11-01 ) 1 November 1971 (aged 19)
Crystal Palace
1991
FW
Lee Luscombe
(1971-07-16 ) 16 July 1971 (aged 20)
Southampton
1991
FW
Tony Sealy
(1959-05-07 ) 7 May 1959 (aged 32)
MYPA
1991
Players who left the club mid-season
GK
Perry Suckling
(1965-10-12 ) 12 October 1965 (aged 25)
Crystal Palace
1991
Returned to Crystal Palace after loan
MF
Keith Jones
(1965-10-14 ) 14 October 1965 (aged 25)
Chelsea
1987
Transferred to Southend United
FW
Richard Cadette
(1965-03-21 ) 21 March 1965 (aged 26)
Sheffield United
1988
Transferred to Falkirk
Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties
Coaching staff [ ]
Statistics [ ]
Appearances and goals [ ]
Substitute appearances in brackets.
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
17 August 1991
2 May 1992
57
29
9
19
0 50.88
46
25
7
14
0 54.35
Summary [ ]
Games played
57 (46 Third Division , 3 FA Cup , 5 League Cup , 3 Football League Trophy )
Games won
29 (25 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Games drawn
9 (7 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy)
Games lost
19 (14 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)
Goals scored
110 (81 Third Division, 7 FA Cup, 15 League Cup, 7 Football League Trophy)
Goals conceded
85 (55 Third Division, 6 FA Cup, 15 League Cup, 9 Football League Trophy)
Clean sheets
12 (15 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Biggest league win
4–0 on 2 occasions
Worst league defeat
3–0 versus Bury , 8 February 1992
Most appearances
54, Terry Evans (44 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 5 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)
Top scorer (league)
24, Dean Holdsworth
Top scorer (all competitions)
38, Dean Holdsworth
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 , Three )
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