1994–95 Brentford F.C. season

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Brentford
1994–95 season
ChairmanMartin Lange
ManagerDavid Webb
StadiumGriffin Park
Second Division2nd
Play-offsSemi-finals
FA CupFirst round
League CupSecond round
Football League TrophySecond round
Top goalscorerLeague: Forster (24)
All: Forster (26)
Highest home attendance9,562
Lowest home attendance4,031
Average home league attendance6,076
Away colours

During the 1994–95 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Second Division. After a runners-up finish in the league, club's season ended with defeat in the 1995 play-off semi-finals.

Season summary[]

Brentford entered the 1994–95 Second Division season with the nucleus of a new squad, built since the breakup of the team which was relegated from the First Division at the end of the 1992–93 season.[1] Forward Nicky Forster was manager David Webb's only significant summer signing, a £200,000 buy from Third Division Gillingham.[2]

Eight wins and four defeats from the opening 12 games saw the Bees placed 4th in the league, before four defeats in the next five matches dropped the club into mid-table.[3] By early December 1994, first and second round exits from the three cup competitions lightened the fixture load and Brentford set off on a 14-match unbeaten run, winning 10 matches and racking up notable 7–0 and 6–0 victories over Plymouth Argyle and Cambridge United respectively.[3] The victory over Cambridge United in late January 1995 returned the Bees to the top of the table for the first time since the opening day of the season, when five goals were put past Plymouth Argyle at Home Park.[3] Twin strikers Nicky Forster and Robert Taylor were in imperious form, scoring over half the team's goals and forming a partnership that came to be known as the 'FT Index'.[4] The pair saw to it that Brentford finished the 1994–95 season as the only club in the top four divisions with two players scoring 20 league goals or more.[5]

The unbeaten run came to an end with defeat to Shrewsbury Town on 25 February, but another 11-match unbeaten sequence kept Brentford in top spot going into late April.[3] Brentford's good form ran in tandem with that of Birmingham City's and the Blues topped the table for the first time in eight weeks on 19 April,[6] with the Bees returning to the summit three days later after a 2–0 victory over Cardiff City.[3] Due to a restructuring of the English league system, only top spot in the 1994–95 Second Division offered automatic promotion,[7] which placed heavy emphasis on a "winner takes all" fixture between Birmingham City and Brentford on at St Andrew's on 26 April.[2] A 2–0 defeat for Brentford in front of a 25,581 crowd (the Second Division's record attendance for the season), plus a home defeat to Bournemouth and a draw away with Bristol Rovers in the final two matches, led to a runners-up finish and a place in the play-offs.[2] The Bees met fifth-placed Huddersfield Town in the play-off semi-finals and were knocked out on penalties at Griffin Park after a 2–2 draw on aggregate, with captain Jamie Bates seeing his decisive spot kick saved.[8]

A number of club records were set or equalled during the season:

  • Fewest Football League goals conceded in a season: 39 (equalled club record)[8][9]
  • Most clean sheets kept in a Football League season: 22 (equalled club record)[10]
  • Most goalscorers in a Football League match: 6 – Darren Annon, Paul Smith, Robert Taylor, Nicky Forster, Denny Mundee and Lee Harvey (versus Plymouth Argyle, 17 December 1994)[11]

League table[]

Main article: 1994–95 Football League Second Division
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Birmingham City 46 25 14 7 84 37 +47 89 Division Champions, promoted
2 Brentford 46 25 10 11 81 39 +42 85 Participated in play-offs
3 Crewe Alexandra 46 25 8 13 80 68 +12 83
4 Bristol Rovers 46 22 16 8 70 40 +30 82
5 Huddersfield Town 46 22 15 9 79 49 +30 81 Promoted through play-offs
Source: [12]

Results[]

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend[]

Win Draw Loss

Pre-season and friendlies[]

Date Opponent Venue Result Scorer(s)
18 July 1994 Bournemouth A 4–1 Mundee (2), Smith, McGhee
20 July 1994 Dulwich Hamlet A 5–0 Forster (2), Taylor (2), Annon
23 July 1994 Chertsey Town A 3–2 Harvey, Forster, Mundee
25 July 1994 Hampton A 7–1 Benjamin (3), Forster, Ashby, Smith, Ratcliffe
27 July 1994 Welling United A 4–0 Forster, Taylor, Mundee (pen), Annon
29 July 1994 Portsmouth H 1–2 Taylor
3 August 1994 Queens Park Rangers H 0–0
6 August 1994 Kettering Town A 2–0 Annon, Grainger (pen)
9 August 1994 Bromley A 2–0 McGhee, Benjamin
29 October 1994 Windsor & Eton A 7–0 Taylor (5), Asaba, Ansah
8 May 1995 Barnet A 5–4 Forster (2), Taylor (2), Hurdle

Football League Second Division[]

No. Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s)
1 13 August 1994 Plymouth Argyle A 5–1 7,976 Smith, Forster (2), Stephenson, Taylor
2 20 August 1994 Peterborough United H 0–1 5,561
3 27 August 1994 Stockport County A 1–0 4,399 Taylor
4 30 August 1994 Rotherham United H 2–0 4,031 Taylor, Forster
5 3 September 1994 Wrexham H 0–2 5,820
6 10 September 1994 Wycombe Wanderers A 3–4 6,847 Taylor, Stephenson, Cousins (og)
7 13 September 1994 York City A 1–2 2,836 Taylor
8 17 September 1994 Blackpool H 3–2 4,157 Forster, Smith, Grainger (pen)
9 24 September 1994 Crewe Alexandra A 2–0 3,839 Forster, Taylor
10 1 October 1994 Shrewsbury Town H 1–0 4,556 Taylor
11 8 October 1994 Bristol Rovers H 3–0 5,330 Forster (2), Taylor
12 15 October 1994 Bournemouth A 1–0 4,411 Forster
13 22 October 1994 Birmingham City H 1–2 7,779 Ward (og)
14 29 October 1994 Cambridge United A 0–0 3,102
15 2 November 1994 Bradford City A 0–1 4,105
16 5 November 1994 Hull City H 0–1 5,455
17 19 November 1994 Huddersfield Town A 0–1 10,889
18 26 November 1994 Brighton & Hove Albion H 2–1 4,728 Ashby, Ansah
19 10 December 1994 Peterborough United A 2–2 4,102 Taylor, Forster
20 17 December 1994 Plymouth Argyle H 7–0 4,492 Annon, Smith, Taylor (2), Forster, Mundee, Harvey
21 26 December 1994 Leyton Orient H 3–0 6,125 Mundee, Ratcliffe, Forster
22 27 December 1994 Chester City A 4–1 2,261 Forster (3), Grainger
23 31 December 1994 Oxford United H 2–0 7,125 Forster, Taylor
24 2 January 1995 Cardiff City A 3–2 5,235 Harvey, Forster, Taylor
25 14 January 1995 Swansea City H 0–0 7,211
26 21 January 1995 Hull City A 2–1 3,823 Mundee, Grainger
27 28 January 1995 Cambridge United H 6–0 6,390 Forster, Taylor (2), Grainger, Bailey (2)
28 4 February 1995 Brighton & Hove Albion A 1–1 9,499 Bailey
29 11 February 1995 Bradford City H 4–3 6,019 Mundee, Taylor, Grainger, Forster
30 17 February 1995 Swansea City A 2–0 3,935 Forster (2)
31 21 February 1995 Huddersfield Town H 0–0 9,562
32 25 February 1995 Shrewsbury Town A 1–2 4,570 Forster
33 4 March 1995 Crewe Alexandra H 2–0 7,143 Mundee, Taylor
34 7 March 1995 Wrexham A 0–0 2,834
35 11 March 1995 Stockport County H 1–0 6,513 Taylor
36 18 March 1995 Rotherham United A 2–0 2,968 Forster, Abrahams
37 21 March 1995 Wycombe Wanderers H 0–0 9,530
38 25 March 1995 Blackpool A 2–1 4,663 Bates, Taylor
39 1 April 1995 York City H 3–0 6,474 Grainger, Forster, Taylor
40 8 April 1995 Oxford United A 1–1 7,800 Taylor
41 15 April 1995 Chester City H 1–1 8,020 Abrahams
42 17 April 1995 Leyton Orient A 2–0 4,459 Bates, Forster
43 22 April 1995 Cardiff City H 2–0 8,268 Grainger (pen), Taylor
44 26 April 1995 Birmingham City A 0–2 25,581
45 29 April 1995 Bournemouth H 1–2 10,079 Abrahams
46 6 May 1995 Bristol Rovers A 2–2 8,501 McGhee, Taylor

Football League Second Division play-offs[]

Main article: 1995 Football League play-offs
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s)
SF (1st leg) 14 May 1995 Huddersfield Town A 1–1 14,160 Forster
SF (2nd leg) 17 May 1995 Huddersfield Town H 1–1 (a.e.t.), (drew 2–2 on aggregate, lost 4–3 on penalties) 11,161 Grainger (pen)

FA Cup[]

Main article: 1994–95 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s)
R1 12 November 1994 Cambridge United A 2–2 3,353 Annon, Taylor
R1 (replay) 22 November 1994 Cambridge United H 1–2 4,096 Grainger

League Cup[]

Main article: 1994–95 Football League Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s)
R1 (1st leg) 16 August 1994 Colchester United A 2–0 2,521 Stephenson, Taylor
R2 (2nd leg) 23 August 1994 Colchester United H 2–0 (won 4–0 on aggregate) 2,315 Parris, Smith
R2 (1st leg) 20 September 1994 Tranmere Rovers A 0–1 3,754
R2 (2nd leg) 27 September 1994 Tranmere Rovers H 0–0 (lost 1–0 on aggregate) 4,076

Football League Trophy[]

Main article: 1994–95 Football League Trophy
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s)
SR1 (match 1) 19 October 1994 Brighton & Hove Albion A 1–0 1,104 Forster
SR1 (match 2) 8 November 1994 Gillingham H 3–1 1,795 Annon, Asaba, Ansah
SR2 3 December 1994 Oxford United H 1–2 2,410 Grainger (pen)
  • Source: Statto, The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties[8]

Playing squad[]

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1994–95 season.
No. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
1 GK Kevin Dearden England (1970-03-08)8 March 1970 (aged 24) Tottenham Hotspur 1993
20 GK Tamer Fernandes England (1974-12-07)7 December 1974 (aged 19) Youth 1993
25 GK Neil Mason England (1973-10-29)29 October 1973 (aged 20) — — Assistant physiotherapist
Defenders
2 DF Brian Statham England (1969-05-21)21 May 1969 (aged 25) Tottenham Hotspur 1992
3 DF Martin Grainger England (1972-08-23)23 August 1972 (aged 21) Colchester United 1993
4 DF Barry Ashby England (1970-11-21)21 November 1970 (aged 23) Watford 1994
5 DF Shane Westley England (1965-06-16)16 June 1965 (aged 29) Wolverhampton Wanderers 1992 Loaned to Southend United
6 DF Carl Hutchings England (1974-09-24)24 September 1974 (aged 19) Youth 1993
12 DF Jamie Bates (c) England (1968-02-24)24 February 1968 (aged 26) Youth 1986
19 DF Gus Hurdle Barbados (1973-10-14)14 October 1973 (aged 20) Carshalton Athletic 1993
21 DF Corey Campbell England (1976-03-06)6 March 1976 (aged 18) Youth 1994
Midfielders
7 MF Lee Harvey England (1966-12-21)21 December 1966 (aged 27) Nottingham Forest 1993
8 MF Paul Smith England (1971-09-18)18 September 1971 (aged 22) Southend United 1993
10 MF Darren Annon England (1972-02-17)17 February 1972 (aged 22) Carshalton Athletic 1994
14 MF Denny Mundee England (1968-10-10)10 October 1968 (aged 25) Bournemouth 1993
17 MF Simon Ratcliffe England (1967-02-08)8 February 1967 (aged 27) Norwich City 1989
18 MF Paul Stephenson England (1968-01-02)2 January 1968 (aged 26) Millwall 1993
22 MF Jon Hooker England (1972-03-31)31 March 1972 (aged 22) Gillingham 1994
23 MF Paul Abrahams England (1973-10-31)31 October 1973 (aged 20) Colchester United 1995
Forwards
9 FW Nicky Forster England (1973-09-08)8 September 1973 (aged 20) Gillingham 1994
11 FW Robert Taylor England (1971-04-30)30 April 1971 (aged 23) Leyton Orient 1994
13 FW Craig Ravenscroft England (1974-12-20)20 December 1974 (aged 19) Youth 1993 Loaned to Woking
16 FW David McGhee England (1976-06-19)19 June 1976 (aged 18) Youth 1994
27 FW Carl Asaba England (1973-01-28)28 January 1973 (aged 21) Dulwich Hamlet 1994 Loaned to Colchester United
Players who left the club mid-season
15 FW Ian Benjamin England (1961-12-11)11 December 1961 (aged 32) Luton Town 1993 Released
23 FW Dennis Bailey England (1965-12-13)13 December 1965 (aged 28) Queens Park Rangers 1995 Returned to Queens Park Rangers after loan
23 FW Andy Ansah England (1969-03-19)19 March 1969 (aged 25) Southend United 1994 Returned to Southend United after loan
24 DF George Parris England (1964-09-11)11 September 1964 (aged 29) Birmingham City 1994 Returned to Birmingham City after loan
  • Source:The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties[13]

Coaching staff[]

Name Role
England David Webb Manager
England Kevin Lock First Team Coach
England Roy Johnson Physiotherapist
England Neil Mason Assistant Physiotherapist
England Fergus Dignan Medical Officer

Statistics[]

Appearances and goals[]

Substitute appearances in brackets.
No. Pos Nat Name League FA Cup League Cup FL Trophy Playoffs Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK England Kevin Dearden 43 0 2 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 54 0
2 DF England Brian Statham 26 (10) 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 34 (10) 0
3 DF England Martin Grainger 36 (1) 7 2 1 2 0 3 1 2 1 45 (1) 10
4 DF England Barry Ashby 40 1 2 0 3 0 3 0 2 0 50 1
5 DF England Shane Westley 15 (1) 0 2 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 22 (1) 0
6 DF England Carl Hutchings 38 (1) 0 1 (1) 0 4 0 2 (1) 0 0 (1) 0 45 (4) 0
7 MF England Lee Harvey 24 (1) 2 2 0 4 0 2 0 0 0 32 (1) 2
8 MF England Paul Smith 35 3 2 0 4 1 1 0 2 0 44 4
9 FW England Nicky Forster 46 24 2 0 4 0 2 (1) 1 2 1 56 (1) 26
10 MF England Darren Annon 9 (1) 2 1 1 0 0 1 (1) 1 0 0 11 (2) 4
11 FW England Robert Taylor 43 23 2 1 4 1 2 0 2 0 53 25
12 DF England Jamie Bates 38 2 1 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 45 2
13 MF England Craig Ravenscroft 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1) 0 0 0 1 (1) 0
14 MF England Denny Mundee 22 (17) 5 1 0 0 (1) 0 2 0 1 (1) 0 26 (19) 5
15 MF England Ian Benjamin 1 0 — 0 (1) 0 — — 1 (1) 0
16 MF England David McGhee 1 (6) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 (6) 1
17 MF England Simon Ratcliffe 24 (1) 1 0 0 0 (1) 0 1 0 2 0 27 (2) 1
18 MF England Paul Stephenson 34 2 0 0 4 1 1 0 2 0 41 3
19 MF Barbados Gus Hurdle 7 (2) 0 0 (1) 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 10 (3) 0
20 GK England Tamer Fernandes 3 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1) 0 0 0 3 (2) 0
22 MF England Jon Hooker 0 (1) 0 — — 0 0 0 0 0 (1) 0
23 MF England Paul Abrahams 7 (3) 3 — — — 1 0 8 (3) 3
27 FW England Carl Asaba 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1
Players loaned in during the season
23 MF England Andy Ansah 2 (1) 1 — — 2 1 — 4 (1) 2
23 FW England Dennis Bailey 6 3 — — — — 6 3
24 MF England George Parris 5 0 — 2 1 — — 7 1
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties[13]

Goalscorers[]

No. Pos. Nat Player FL2 FAC FLC FLT FLP Total
9 FW England Nicky Forster 24 0 0 1 1 26
11 FW England Robert Taylor 23 1 1 0 0 25
3 DF England Martin Grainger 7 1 0 1 1 10
14 MF England Denny Mundee 5 0 0 0 0 5
8 MF England Paul Smith 3 0 1 0 0 4
10 MF England Darren Annon 2 1 0 1 0 4
23 FW England Dennis Bailey 3 — — — — 3
23 MF England Paul Abrahams 3 — — — 0 3
18 MF England Paul Stephenson 2 0 1 0 0 3
12 DF England Jamie Bates 2 0 0 0 0 2
7 MF England Lee Harvey 2 0 0 0 0 2
23 FW England Andy Ansah 1 — — 1 — 2
4 DF England Barry Ashby 1 0 0 0 0 1
16 MF England David McGhee 1 0 0 0 0 1
17 MF England Simon Ratcliffe 1 0 0 0 0 1
24 MF England George Parris 0 — 1 — — 1
27 FW England Carl Asaba 0 0 0 1 0 1
Opponents 2 0 0 0 0 2
Total 83 3 4 5 2 97
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties[13]

Management[]

Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
P W D L W % P W D L W %
David Webb England 13 August 1994 17 May 1995 57 29 14 14 050.88 46 25 10 11 054.35

Summary[]

Games played 57 (46 Second Division, 2 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 3 Football League Trophy, 2 Football League play-offs)
Games won 29 (25 Second Division, 0 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy, 0 Football League play-offs)
Games drawn 14 (10 Second Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy, 2 Football League play-offs)
Games lost 14 (11 Second Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy, 0 Football League play-offs)
Goals scored 95 (81 Second Division, 3 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 5 Football League Trophy, 2 Football League play-offs)
Goals conceded 49 (39 Second Division, 4 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 3 Football League Trophy, 2 Football League play-offs)
Clean sheets 21 (22 Second Division, 0 FA Cup, 3 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy, 0 Football League play-offs)
Biggest league win 7–0 versus Plymouth Argyle, 17 December 1994
Worst league defeat 2–0 on 3 occasions
Most appearances 57, Nicky Forster (46 Second Division, 2 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 3 Football League Trophy, 2 Football League play-offs)
Top scorer (league) 24, Nicky Forster
Top scorer (all competitions) 26, Nicky Forster

Transfers & loans[]

Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
17 June 1994 FW England Nicky Forster England Gillingham £200,000 [2]
9 August 1994 FW England Carl Asaba England Dulwich Hamlet Free [1]
December 1994 FW England Joe Omigie England Donna Free [14]
14 November 1994 MF England Jon Hooker England Gillingham £5,000 [15]
9 March 1995 MF England Paul Abrahams England Colchester United £30,000 [16]
Players loaned in
Date from Pos. Name From Date to Ref.
8 August 1994 DF England George Parris England Birmingham City September 1994 [17]
November 1994 FW England Andy Ansah England Southend United December 1994 [18]
26 January 1995 FW England Dennis Bailey England Queens Park Rangers 26 February 1995 [19]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
12 August 1994 FW England Dean P. Williams England Doncaster Rovers £2,000 [20]
Players loaned out
Date from Pos. Name To Date to Ref.
9 September 1994 DF England David Thompson England Blackpool November 1994 [21]
December 1994 MF England Craig Ravenscroft England Woking January 1995 [14]
January 1995 DF England Shane Westley England Southend United March 1995 [14]
16 February 1995 FW England Carl Asaba England Colchester United End of season [22]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
n/a FW England Matthew Metcalf England Wroxham n/a [1]
n/a FW England Dean A. Williams England Stevenage Borough August 1994 [14]
August 1994 DF England Billy Manuel England Peterborough United 16 September 1994 [23]
September 1994 MF England Ian Benjamin England Wigan Athletic 30 September 1994 [21]
September 1994 MF England Robbie Peters England Carlisle United November 1994 [21]
November 1994 DF England David Thompson England Blackpool November 1994 [14]

Kit[]

In February 1995, it was announced that Brentford had cancelled its sponsorship deal with KLM.[24] As a result, the Hummel International home shirt was replaced by an unbranded replica, which was devoid of sponsorship.[24]

Supplier: Hummel International (home shirt) / Core (home shorts & socks / away & goalkeeper kit)
Sponsor(s): KLM

Home 1
Home 2
Away
Goalkeeper
Goalkeeper

Source: [24]

Awards[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 172.
  2. ^ a b c d Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2013). The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. p. 150. ISBN 9781906796723.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Brentford results for the 1994–1995 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  4. ^ Street, Tim. "Scott sends warning over Nicky Forster signing". getwestlondon. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  5. ^ Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Harefield, Middlesex: Yore Publications. p. 44. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  6. ^ "Birmingham City results for the 1994–1995 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  7. ^ a b Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 177.
  8. ^ a b c Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 152-171, 459–460.
  9. ^ Haynes 1998, p. 79.
  10. ^ White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 355–400. ISBN 0951526200.
  11. ^ Haynes 1998, p. 115.
  12. ^ "England 1994–95". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  13. ^ a b c Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 480.
  14. ^ a b c d e Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 174.
  15. ^ Jon Hooker at Soccerbase
  16. ^ Paul Abrahams at Soccerbase
  17. ^ George Parris at Soccerbase
  18. ^ "Andy Ansah". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  19. ^ "Dennis Bailey". 11v11.com. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  20. ^ Dean Williams at Soccerbase
  21. ^ a b c Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 173.
  22. ^ Carl Asaba at Soccerbase
  23. ^ Billy Manuel at Soccerbase
  24. ^ a b c Griffin Gazette versus Bradford City. Quay Design of Poole. 11 February 1995. p. 2.
  25. ^ Sewell, Albert, ed. (1995). News Of The World Football Annual 1995–96. Hammersmith, London: Invincible Press. p. 338. ISBN 0855432330.
  26. ^ Lynch, Tony (1995). The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes. Random House. p. 150. ISBN 0-09-179135-9.
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