Brentford 1997–98 football season
During the 1997–98 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Second Division . Just 11 wins in 46 matches saw the club relegated to the Third Division on the final day of the season.
Season summary [ ]
After defeat in the 1997 Second Division play-off Final , David Webb , Brentford manager since the beginning of the 1993–94 season, moved "upstairs" to become the club's new chief executive, having acquired a majority shareholding of the club as part of a consortium with Tony Swaisland (chairman) and John Herting (director) in August 1997.[1] Within days of the takeover and still without a manager, the spine of the previous season's team (Carl Asaba , Barry Ashby and Paul Smith ) were sold for six-figure fees, with Brian Statham sold later in the month and promising youngster Marcus Bent transfer-listed.[1] Replacements were found in the lower divisions, non-league and in Premier League reserve teams , with Paul Barrowcliff , Derek Bryan , Leon Townley , Ricky Reina and Charlie Oatway arriving for five-figure fees.[1] First team coach Kevin Lock took caretaker charge of the club until the appointment of Eddie May just four days before the season began, with Clive Walker installed as May's assistant.[1]
A 3–0 defeat to Millwall on the opening day saw Brentford begin the season bottom of the Second Division and despite registering two wins in late-August and early-September to move into mid-table, just two wins in the following 13 matches in all competitions saw May and Walker removed from their posts on 4 November. Amidst rumours that David Webb had fallen out with chairman Swaisland, Webb resigned as chief executive, but remained on the board of directors. Former Swansea City manager Micky Adams was installed as manager and fared little better, failing to win until mid-December.[3] In a bid to strengthen the team, Adams sought experienced players, signing Glenn Cockerill as player/assistant manager, Warren Aspinall and loanee Nigel Gleghorn . Injuries soon began to mount, with first-choice right back Ijah Anderson and summer signings Derek Bryan and Ricky Reina succumbing. Continuing player sales and bad results led some Bees supporters to call for the removal of David Webb, staging multiple protests over a disparity between the incoming and outgoing transfer fees and questioning where the incoming money was going.
It wasn't until late-January 1998 that the team found some form, losing just once in 12 matches, but registering seven draws.[3] Brentford went into the final day of the season one place above the relegation zone, having won just one of the previous four matches.[3] A win away to play-off contenders Bristol Rovers (themselves needing to win) or other favourable results were required for the Bees to regain their Second Division status, but a 2–1 defeat and victory for 22nd-place Burnley relegated the club to the Third Division for the first time in 20 years.[5]
League table [ ]
19
Walsall
46
14
12
20
43
52
−9
54
20
Burnley
46
13
13
20
55
65
−10
52
21
Brentford
46
11
17
18
50
71
−21
50
Relegated
22
Plymouth Argyle
46
12
13
21
55
70
−15
49
23
Carlisle United
46
12
8
26
57
73
−16
44
Source:[citation needed ] Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).
Results [ ]
Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend [ ]
Pre-season [ ]
[ ]
1
9 August 1997
Millwall
A
0–3
8,951
2
16 August 1997
Chesterfield
H
0–0
4,000
3
23 August 1997
Watford
A
1–3
10,125
Taylor (pen )
4
30 August 1997
Grimsby Town
H
3–1
3,875
Rapley , Taylor (2)
5
2 September 1997
Gillingham
H
2–0
4,903
Bent , Taylor (pen )
6
5 September 1997
Southend United
A
1–3
3,387
Rapley
7
13 September 1997
Plymouth Argyle
A
0–0
4,394
8
19 September 1997
Wycombe Wanderers
H
1–1
3,755
Taylor
9
27 September 1997
Burnley
H
2–1
4,317
Hutchings , Rapley
10
4 October 1997
Preston North End
A
1–2
8,954
Bent
11
11 October 1997
York City
A
1–3
2,831
Taylor
12
18 October 1997
Walsall
H
3–0
4,874
Taylor , Denys , Bent
13
21 October 1997
Bristol Rovers
H
2–3
3,967
Bent , Rapley
14
25 October 1997
Luton Town
A
0–2
6,494
15
1 November 1997
Bournemouth
A
0–0
4,772
16
4 November 1997
Carlisle United
H
0–1
3,424
17
8 November 1997
Bristol City
H
1–4
6,162
Reina
18
18 November 1997
Northampton Town
A
0–4
5,227
19
22 November 1997
Oldham Athletic
A
1–1
5,012
Scott
20
29 November 1997
Wrexham
H
1–1
3,748
Aspinall
21
2 December 1997
Fulham
A
1–1
10,783
Gleghorn
22
13 December 1997
Blackpool
H
3–1
3,725
Taylor , Townley (2)
23
20 December 1997
Wigan Athletic
A
0–4
3,301
24
26 December 1997
Southend United
H
1–1
5,341
Taylor
25
29 December 1997
Gillingham
A
1–3
5,786
Taylor
26
3 January 1998
Chesterfield
A
0–0
4,049
27
10 January 1998
Millwall
H
2–1
5,529
Taylor , Aspinall
28
17 January 1998
Grimsby Town
A
0–4
4,886
29
24 January 1998
Watford
H
1–2
6,969
Rapley
30
31 January 1998
Plymouth Argyle
H
3–1
4,783
Bates , Scott , Hogg
31
7 February 1998
Wycombe Wanderers
A
0–0
6,328
32
14 February 1998
Preston North End
H
0–0
4,952
33
21 February 1998
Burnley
A
1–1
10,097
Taylor
34
24 February 1998
Walsall
A
0–0
3,166
35
28 February 1998
York City
H
1–2
4,490
McGhee
36
3 March 1998
Bristol City
A
2–2
10,398
Bryan , Rapley
37
7 March 1998
Bournemouth
H
3–2
4,973
Hutchings , Bryan , Rapley
38
14 March 1998
Carlisle United
A
2–1
6,021
Hogg , Scott
39
21 March 1998
Northampton Town
H
0–0
5,746
40
28 March 1998
Oldham Athletic
H
2–1
4,547
Scott , Taylor
41
4 April 1998
Wrexham
A
2–2
3,654
Rapley , Hutchings
42
11 April 1998
Fulham
H
0–2
10,510
43
13 April 1996
Blackpool
A
2–1
3,926
Hutchings , Aspinall (pen )
44
18 April 1998
Wigan Athletic
H
0–2
4,480
45
25 April 1998
Luton Town
H
2–2
6,598
Scott , Hutchings
46
2 May 1998
Bristol Rovers
A
1–2
9,043
Rapley
FA Cup [ ]
[ ]
R1 (1st leg)
12 August 1997
Shrewsbury Town
H
1–1
2,040
Denys
R1 (2nd leg)
26 August 1997
Shrewsbury Town
A
5–3 (won 6–4 on aggregate)
2,136
Rapley (2), Taylor (2), Bent
R2 (1st leg)
17 September 1997
Southampton
A
1–3
8,004
Taylor
R2 (2nd leg)
30 September 1997
Southampton
H
0–2 (lost 5–1 on aggregate)
3,957
[ ]
SR2
13 January 1998
Luton Town
A
1–2
3,106
Townley
Playing squad [ ]
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1997–98 season.
Position
Name
Nationality
Date of birth (age)
Signed from
Signed in
Notes
Goalkeepers
GK
Kevin Dearden
(1970-03-08 ) 8 March 1970 (aged 27)
Tottenham Hotspur
1993
Defenders
DF
Micky Adams
(1961-11-08 ) 8 November 1961 (aged 35)
Swansea City
1997
Manager
DF
Ijah Anderson
(1975-12-30 ) 30 December 1975 (aged 21)
Southend United
1995
DF
Jamie Bates (c )
(1968-02-24 ) 24 February 1968 (aged 29)
Youth
1986
DF
Danny Cullip
(1976-09-17 ) 17 September 1976 (aged 20)
Fulham
1998
DF
Graeme Hogg
(1964-06-17 ) 17 June 1964 (aged 33)
Notts County
1998
MF
Carl Hutchings
(1974-09-24 ) 24 September 1974 (aged 22)
Youth
1993
DF
Leon Townley
(1976-02-16 ) 16 February 1976 (aged 21)
Tottenham Hotspur
1997
DF
Paul Watson
(1975-01-04 ) 4 January 1975 (aged 22)
Fulham
1997
Loaned from Fulham before transferring permanently
Midfielders
MF
Warren Aspinall
(1967-09-13 ) 13 September 1967 (aged 29)
Carlisle United
1997
MF
Paul Barrowcliff
(1969-06-15 ) 15 June 1969 (aged 28)
Stevenage Borough
1997
Loaned to Stevenage Borough
MF
Steven Blaney
(1977-03-24 ) 24 March 1977 (aged 20)
West Ham United
1993
Loaned from West Ham United
MF
Scott Canham
(1974-11-11 ) 11 November 1974 (aged 22)
West Ham United
1996
MF
Dean Clark
(1980-03-31 ) 31 March 1980 (aged 17)
Youth
1997
MF
Glenn Cockerill
(1959-08-25 ) 25 August 1959 (aged 37)
Fulham
1997
Assistant manager
MF
Kevin Dennis
(1976-12-14 ) 14 December 1976 (aged 20)
Arsenal
1996
MF
Ryan Denys
(1978-08-16 ) 16 August 1978 (aged 18)
Youth
1997
Loaned to Yeovil Town
MF
David McGhee
(1976-06-19 ) 19 June 1976 (aged 21)
Youth
1994
MF
Charlie Oatway
(1973-11-28 ) 28 November 1973 (aged 23)
Torquay United
1997
Forwards
FW
Derek Bryan
(1974-11-11 ) 11 November 1974 (aged 22)
Hampton
1997
FW
Malcolm McPherson
(1974-12-09 ) 9 December 1974 (aged 22)
West Ham United
1996
FW
Kevin Rapley
(1977-09-21 ) 21 September 1977 (aged 19)
Youth
1997
FW
Andy Scott
(1972-08-02 ) 2 August 1972 (aged 25)
Sheffield United
1997
FW
Robert Taylor
(1971-04-30 ) 30 April 1971 (aged 26)
Leyton Orient
1994
FW
Niall Thompson
(1974-04-16 ) 16 April 1974 (aged 23)
Zultse VV
1998
Players who left the club mid-season
GK
Graham Benstead
(1963-08-20 ) 20 August 1963 (aged 33)
Kingstonian
1997
Goalkeeping coach, released
GK
Nick Colgan
(1973-09-19 ) 19 September 1973 (aged 23)
Chelsea
1997
Returned to Chelsea after loan
GK
Tamer Fernandes
(1974-12-07 ) 7 December 1974 (aged 22)
Youth
1993
Loaned to Peterborough United , released
GK
Mike Pollitt
(1972-02-29 ) 29 February 1972 (aged 25)
Notts County
1998
Returned to Notts County after loan
DF
Gareth Hall
(1969-03-20 ) 20 March 1969 (aged 28)
Sunderland
1997
Returned to Sunderland after loan
DF
Gus Hurdle
(1973-10-14 ) 14 October 1973 (aged 23)
Carshalton Athletic
1993
Released
DF
Stuart Myall
(1974-11-12 ) 12 November 1974 (aged 22)
Brighton & Hove Albion
1996
Released
MF
Nigel Gleghorn
(1962-08-12 ) 12 August 1962 (aged 34)
Burnley
1997
Returned to Burnley after loan
MF
Richard Goddard
(1978-03-31 ) 31 March 1978 (aged 19)
Arsenal
1996
Transferred to Woking
MF
Simon Spencer
(1976-09-10 ) 10 September 1976 (aged 20)
Tottenham Hotspur
1997
Released
MF
Simon Wormull
(1976-12-01 ) 1 December 1976 (aged 20)
Tottenham Hotspur
1997
Released
FW
Marcus Bent
(1978-05-19 ) 19 May 1978 (aged 19)
Youth
1995
Transferred to Crystal Palace
FW
Joe Omigie
(1972-06-13 ) 13 June 1972 (aged 23)
Donna
1994
Released
FW
Ricky Reina
(1971-10-02 ) 2 October 1971 (aged 25)
Dover Athletic
1997
Retired
Coaching staff [ ]
Kevin Lock (1 – 12 August 1997) [ ]
Name
Role
Kevin Lock
Caretaker Manager
Graham Benstead
Goalkeeping Coach
Keith Allinson
Physiotherapist
Fergus Dignan
Medical Officer
Eddie May (12 August – 5 November 1997) [ ]
Name
Role
Eddie May
Manager
Clive Walker
Assistant Manager
Graham Benstead
Goalkeeping Coach
Kevin Lock
Football Coordinator
Keith Allinson
Physiotherapist
Fergus Dignan
Medical Officer
Micky Adams (5 November 1997 – 2 May 1998) [ ]
Name
Role
Micky Adams
Manager
Glenn Cockerill
Assistant Manager
Kevin Lock
Football Coordinator
Stuart Bevis
Physiotherapist
Fergus Dignan
Medical Officer
Colin Martin
Medical Officer
Statistics [ ]
Appearances and goals [ ]
Substitute appearances in brackets.
Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
Source: Soccerbase
Goalscorers [ ]
Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
Source: Soccerbase
Discipline [ ]
Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
Source: Soccerbase
International caps [ ]
Management [ ]
Name
Nat
From
To
Record All Comps
Record League
P
W
D
L
W %
P
W
D
L
W %
Kevin Lock (caretaker)
9 August 1997
12 August 1997
1
0
0
1
00 0.00
1
0
0
1
00 0.00
Eddie May
12 August 1997
5 November 1997
19
5
5
9
0 26.32
15
4
4
7
0 26.67
Micky Adams
5 November 1997
2 May 1998
33
7
15
11
0 21.21
30
7
13
10
0 23.33
Summary [ ]
Games played
53 (46 Second Division , 2 FA Cup , 4 League Cup , 1 Football League Trophy )
Games won
12 (11 Second Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy)
Games drawn
20 (17 Second Division, 2 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy)
Games lost
21 (18 Second Division, 0 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Goals scored
60 (50 Second Division, 2 FA Cup, 7 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Goals conceded
84 (71 Second Division, 2 FA Cup, 9 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)
Clean sheets
11 (10 Second Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy)
Biggest league win
3–0 versus Walsall , 18 October 1997
Worst league defeat
4–0 on three occasions
Most appearances
49, Carl Hutchings (43 Second Division, 2 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy)
Top scorer (league)
13, Robert Taylor
Top scorer (all competitions)
18, Robert Taylor
Transfers & loans [ ]
Players transferred in
Date
Pos.
Name
Previous Club
Fee
Ref.
1 August 1997
MF
Paul Barrowcliff
Stevenage Borough
£60,000
[1]
1 August 1997
DF
Graham Benstead
Kingstonian
Free
[8]
1 August 1997
MF
Simon Spencer
Tottenham Hotspur
Free
[9]
1 August 1997
MF
Simon Wormull
Tottenham Hotspur
Free
[10]
22 August 1997
MF
Charlie Oatway
Torquay United
£12,000
[11]
29 August 1997
FW
Derek Bryan
Hampton
£50,000
[12]
1 September 1997
FW
Ricky Reina
Dover Athletic
£50,000
[13]
17 September 1997
DF
Leon Townley
Tottenham Hotspur
£25,000
[14]
7 November 1997
MF
Glenn Cockerill
Fulham
Free
[15]
20 November 1997
MF
Warren Aspinall
Carlisle United
£50,000
[16]
21 November 1997
FW
Andy Scott
Sheffield United
£75,000
[17]
19 December 1997
DF
Paul Watson
Fulham
£55,000
23 January 1998
DF
Graeme Hogg
Notts County
£5,000
18 February 1998
DF
Danny Cullip
Fulham
£75,000
[19]
27 February 1998
FW
Niall Thompson
Zultse VV
Non-contract
[20]
27 March 1998
MF
Steven Blaney
West Ham United
Free
Players loaned in
Date from
Pos.
Name
From
Date to
Ref.
29 August 1997
MF
Michael Black
Arsenal
29 September 1997
[22]
3 October 1997
DF
Gareth Hall
Sunderland
3 November 1997
[23]
16 October 1997
GK
Nick Colgan
Chelsea
4 November 1997
[24]
17 November 1997
MF
Nigel Gleghorn
Burnley
24 January 1998
[25]
12 December 1997
DF
Paul Watson
Fulham
18 December 1997
[26]
21 January 1998
GK
Mike Pollitt
Notts County
21 February 1998
[27]
28 March 1998
GK
David Nurse
Millwall
End of season
Players transferred out
Date
Pos.
Name
Subsequent club
Fee
Ref.
1 August 1997
MF
Paul Smith
Gillingham
£195,000
[1]
7 August 1997
FW
Carl Asaba
Reading
£800,000
[29]
9 August 1997
DF
Barry Ashby
Gillingham
£140,000
[1]
22 August 1997
DF
Brian Statham
Gillingham
£10,000
[11]
8 January 1998
FW
Marcus Bent
Crystal Palace
£300,000
[30]
31 March 1998
MF
Richard Goddard
Woking
£7,500
[6]
Players loaned out
Date from
Pos.
Name
To
Date to
Ref.
3 October 1997
GK
Tamer Fernandes
Peterborough United
3 November 1997
[31]
10 October 1997
MF
Paul Barrowcliff
Stevenage Borough
10 November 1997
[32]
10 October 1997
MF
Richard Goddard
Woking
31 March 1998
[33]
30 January 1998
MF
Ryan Denys
Yeovil Town
28 February 1998
[34]
Players released
Date
Pos.
Name
Subsequent club
Join date
Ref.
1 January 1998
DF
Stuart Myall
Hastings Town
1998
[35]
January 1998
GK
Graham Benstead
Basingstoke Town
January 1998
January 1998
DF
Gus Hurdle
Plymouth Argyle
1998
January 1998
FW
Joe Omigie
Welling United
1998
January 1998
MF
Simon Spencer
Yeovil Town
February 1998
29 January 1998
GK
Tamer Fernandes
Colchester United
29 January 1998
25 February 1998
DF
Lee Harvey
Stevenage Borough
28 February 1998
[36]
25 March 1998
MF
Simon Wormull
Brighton & Hove Albion
25 March 1998
[37]
April 1998
FW
Ricky Reina
Dover Athletic
August 1998
30 June 1998
MF
Paul Barrowcliff
Hendon
1998
[39]
30 June 1998
MF
Steven Blaney
St Albans City
August 1998
[39]
30 June 1998
MF
Scott Canham
Leyton Orient
10 August 1998
[39]
30 June 1998
MF
Glenn Cockerill
Retired
[40]
30 June 1998
DF
Graeme Hogg
Retired
[39]
30 June 1998
FW
Malcolm McPherson
Retired
[39]
Kit [ ]
Supplier: Cobra Sports Sponsor(s): Ericsson
Source: Brentford F.C.
Awards [ ]
References [ ]
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2013). The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties . Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. pp. 258–259. ISBN 9781906796723 .
^ Jump up to: a b c Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1997-1998 season - Statto.com" . Statto.com . Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2016 .
^ Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford Complete History - Statto.com" . Statto.com . Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2016 .
^ Jump up to: a b Brentford Matchday Magazine versus Northampton Town . Quay Design of Poole. 21 March 1998. p. 3.
^ "Canada Soccer" . canadasoccer.com . Retrieved 11 November 2016 .
^ "Graham Benstead" . rdfc1992 . 13 August 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2018 .
^ Simon Spencer at Soccerbase
^ Simon Wormull at Soccerbase
^ Jump up to: a b Brentford Matchday Magazine versus Grimsby Town . Quay Design of Poole. 30 August 1997. p. 2.
^ Derek Bryan at Soccerbase
^ Ricky Reina at Soccerbase
^ Brentford Matchday Magazine versus Burnley . Quay Design of Poole. 27 September 1997. p. 2.
^ Glenn Cockerill at Soccerbase
^ Warren Aspinall at Soccerbase
^ Andy Scott at Soccerbase
^ Danny Cullip at Soccerbase
^ Niall Thompson at Soccerbase
^ Michael Black at Soccerbase
^ Gareth Hall at Soccerbase
^ Nick Colgan at Soccerbase
^ Nigel Gleghorn at Soccerbase
^ Paul Watsn at Soccerbase
^ Mike Pollitt at Soccerbase
^ Carl Asaba at Soccerbase
^ Marcus Bent at Soccerbase
^ Tamer Fernandes at Soccerbase
^ Paul Barrowcliff at Soccerbase
^ Richard Goddard-Crawley at Soccerbase
^ Ryan Denys at Soccerbase
^ "Stuart Myall" . 11v11.com . Retrieved 17 April 2016 .
^ Lee Harvey at Soccerbase
^ "Seagulls in signing blitz" . The Argus . Retrieved 16 April 2016 .
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h "Around the Hive" . 10 June 1998. Archived from the original on 10 June 1998. Retrieved 12 November 2016 .
^ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006 . Harefield: Yore Publications. p. 38. ISBN 0955294916 .
^ Sewell, Albert, ed. (1998). News Of The World Football Annual 1998–99 . Hammersmith, London: Invincible Press. p. 353. ISBN 0002188570 .
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League competitions
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Hellenic League (Premier , One )
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