2003–04 season of Brentford F.C.
Brentford 2003–04 football season
During the 2003–04 English football season, Brentford competed in Football League Second Division . After mid-season spell of one win in 18 matches and relegation looking definite, manager Wally Downes was sacked in mid-March 2004. Martin Allen took over and immediately turned things around, pulling off "The Great Escape " to secure safety on the final day of the season.
Season summary [ ]
Cash-strapped Brentford began the 2003–04 season with a threadbare squad, depleted through injuries and propped up with youngsters,[1] with manager Wally Downes admitting that the club's "immediate goal is keeping ourselves afloat for a period that shows the bank we can manage ourselves".[2] Five defeats in the opening six games left the club second-from-bottom, before the integration of loanees Ben May , Tommy Wright and Joel Kitamirike yielded an improvement in form in September,[3] [4] [5] going unbeaten and winning three of five matches.[6] In October, amidst speculation that former Brentford manager Steve Perryman would return to the club as director of football , manager Wally Downes was assured that his role would not be affected.[7] Perryman eventually turned the offer down.[7]
Despite a morale-boosting 7–1 FA Cup first round victory over Gainsborough Trinity and four wins from six matches in October and November lifting the Bees to mid-table, the rot soon set in.[6] After the goalkeeping position weakened by the £500,000 sale of Paul Smith in January 2004 and with just one win from 19 matches in all competitions,[8] Wally Downes was sacked after a 2–0 home defeat to Stockport County on 13 March 2004,[9] which was Brentford's fifth consecutive defeat.[6] Caretaker manager Garry Thompson took charge for the away match versus Blackpool on 16 March,[10] with a 1–1 draw securing the first point won for a month.[6]
Former Barnet manager Martin Allen took over on 18 March 2004 and was tasked with retaining Brentford's Second Division status.[11] Allen released a number of players,[12] installed his own backroom team and immediately galvanised the squad,[2] winning three and drawing three of his first six matches to lift the Bees above the relegation places.[6] A priceless point salvaged at already-relegated Wycombe Wanderers on 24 April kept the Bees above the relegation places,[6] but a 1–0 defeat away to fellow strugglers Grimsby Town in the penultimate match of the season meant the club would need to secure safety on the final day with a victory over Bournemouth or favourable results elsewhere.[13] The match versus Bournemouth at Griffin Park remained scoreless until seven minutes from time, when substitute Alex Rhodes "coolly slotted" past Cherries' goalkeeper Neil Moss for a 1–0 win that completed Brentford's escape from relegation.[14]
League table [ ]
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
15
Oldham Athletic
46
12
21
13
66
60
+6
57
16
Sheffield Wednesday
46
13
14
19
48
64
−16
53
17
Brentford
46
14
11
21
52
69
−17
53
18
Peterborough United
46
12
16
18
58
58
0
52
19
Stockport County
46
11
19
16
62
70
−8
52
Source: 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 [ ]
Date
Opponent
Venue
Result
Attendance
Scorer(s)
15 July 2003
Reading
H
3–2
n/a
Peters , Tabb , Blackman
19 July 2003
Yeovil Town
A
0–2
1,936
22 July 2003
Exeter City
A
0–0
1,101
26 July 2003
Dorchester Town
A
0–1
427
29 July 2003
Staines Town
A
2–1
n/a
Somner , Peters
2 August 2003
Farnborough Town
A
3–1
550
Beadle , Peters (2, 1 pen )
5 August 2003
Portsmouth
H
0–1
3,080
[ ]
No.
Date
Opponent
Venue
Result
Attendance
Scorer(s)
1
9 August 2003
Tranmere Rovers
A
1–4
7,307
Hunt (pen )
2
16 August 2003
Peterborough United
H
0–3
4,463
3
23 August 2003
Wrexham
A
0–1
4,048
4
25 August 2003
Oldham Athletic
H
2–1
4,073
Hutchinson , Rougier
5
30 August 2003
Port Vale
A
0–1
5,257
6
6 September 2003
Plymouth Argyle
H
1–3
5,688
May
7
13 September 2003
Rushden & Diamonds
A
1–0
4,396
Hunt
8
16 September 2003
Blackpool
H
0–0
3,818
9
20 September 2003
Hartlepool United
H
2–1
4,501
Sonko , Wright
10
27 September 2003
Chesterfield
A
2–1
3,257
Hunt , Wright
11
30 September 2003
Colchester United
A
1–1
3,343
Rougier
12
4 October 2003
Sheffield Wednesday
H
0–3
8,631
13
18 October 2003
Luton Town
H
4–2
5,579
Hunt , Tabb (2), May
14
21 October 2003
Brighton & Hove Albion
H
4–0
6,532
Hunt (2 pens ), Tabb , May
15
25 October 2003
Notts County
A
0–2
4,145
16
1 November 2003
Barnsley
H
2–1
4,789
Hutchinson , Rougier
17
11 November 2003
Queens Park Rangers
A
0–1
15,865
18
15 November 2003
Wycombe Wanderers
A
2–1
6,445
Hutchinson , Tabb
19
22 November 2003
Grimsby Town
H
1–3
4,685
Hunt (pen )
20
29 November 2003
Bournemouth
A
0–1
6,674
21
13 December 2003
Stockport County
A
1–1
4,081
Jackman (og )
22
20 December 2003
Swindon Town
H
0–2
5,077
23
26 December 2003
Bristol City
H
1–2
5,912
May
24
28 December 2003
Plymouth Argyle
A
0–2
17,882
25
3 January 2004
Oldham Athletic
A
1–1
4,990
May
26
10 January 2004
Tranmere Rovers
H
2–2
4,105
Hunt , May
27
17 January 2004
Peterborough United
A
0–0
4,658
28
24 January 2004
Wrexham
H
0–1
4,567
Hunt
29
31 January 2004
Port Vale
H
3–2
4,306
Tabb , Hunt , Rougier
30
7 February 2004
Bristol City
A
1–3
13,029
Hutchinson
31
14 February 2004
Queens Park Rangers
H
1–1
8,418
O'Connor
32
21 February 2004
Luton Town
A
1–4
6,273
Wright
33
28 February 2004
Notts County
H
2–3
4,478
Evans , Hutchinson
34
2 March 2004
Brighton & Hove Albion
A
0–1
6,007
35
6 March 2004
Swindon Town
A
1–2
7,649
May
36
13 March 2004
Stockport County
H
0–2
6,615
McCammon
37
16 March 2004
Blackpool
A
1–1
4,617
Hunt (pen )
38
20 March 2004
Rushden & Diamonds
H
3–2
4,616
Tabb , Hunt , Talbot
39
27 March 2004
Hartlepool United
A
2–1
5,206
Tabb , Dobson
40
3 April 2004
Chesterfield
H
1–1
4,962
Evans
41
10 April 2004
Sheffield Wednesday
A
1–1
20,004
Sonko
42
12 April 2004
Colchester United
H
3–2
5,017
Tabb , Sonko , Harrold
43
17 April 2004
Barnsley
A
2–0
9,824
Talbot , Tabb
44
24 April 2004
Wycombe Wanderers
H
1–1
7,145
Harrold
45
1 May 2004
Grimsby Town
A
0–1
6,856
46
8 May 2004
Bournemouth
H
1–0
9,485
Rhodes
FA Cup [ ]
[ ]
Round
Date
Opponent
Venue
Result
Attendance
R1
12 August 2003
West Bromwich Albion
H
0–4
10,440
[ ]
Round
Date
Opponent
Venue
Result
Attendance
Scorer(s)
SR1
14 October 2003
Barnet
A
3–3 (a.e.t. ), won 3–1 on pens )
1,248
Tabb (2), Hunt (pen )
SR2
4 November 2003
Peterborough United
A
2–3
1,821
Dobson , Hunt
Playing squad [ ]
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 2003–04 season.
No
Position
Name
Nationality
Date of birth (age)
Signed from
Signed in
Notes
Goalkeepers
13
GK
Alan Julian
(1983-03-11 ) 11 March 1983 (aged 20)
Youth
2001
29
GK
Josh Lennie
(1986-03-26 ) 26 March 1986 (aged 17)
Youth
1999
32
GK
Stuart Nelson
(1981-09-17 ) 17 September 1981 (aged 21)
Hucknall Town
2004
Defenders
2
DF
Michael Dobson (c )
(1981-04-09 ) 9 April 1981 (aged 22)
Youth
1999
3
DF
Matt Somner
(1982-12-08 ) 8 December 1982 (aged 20)
Youth
2001
6
DF
Ibrahima Sonko
(1981-01-22 ) 22 January 1981 (aged 22)
Grenoble Foot 38
2002
12
DF
Andy Frampton
(1979-09-03 ) 3 September 1979 (aged 23)
Crystal Palace
2002
16
DF
Lee Fieldwick
(1982-01-01 ) 1 January 1982 (aged 21)
Youth
2000
Loaned to Swansea City
24
DF
Ronnie Bull
(1980-12-26 ) 26 December 1980 (aged 22)
Millwall
2004
Loaned from Millwall before transferring permanently
27
DF
Joel Kitamirike
(1984-04-05 ) 5 April 1984 (aged 19)
Chelsea
2003
On loan from Chelsea
28
DF
Dean Wells
(1985-05-25 ) 25 May 1985 (aged 18)
Youth
2003
33
DF
Scott Fitzgerald
(1969-08-13 ) 13 August 1969 (aged 33)
Colchester United
2004
On loan from Colchester United
Midfielders
4
MF
Jay Smith
(1981-12-29 ) 29 December 1981 (aged 21)
Youth
2001
5
MF
Stewart Talbot
(1973-06-14 ) 14 June 1973 (aged 30)
Rotherham United
2004
7
MF
Stephen Evans
(1980-09-25 ) 25 September 1980 (aged 22)
Crystal Palace
2002
8
MF
Jay Tabb
(1984-02-21 ) 21 February 1984 (aged 19)
Crystal Palace
2000
9
MF
Kevin O'Connor
(1982-02-24 ) 24 February 1982 (aged 21)
Youth
2000
10
MF
Stephen Hunt
(1981-08-01 ) 1 August 1981 (aged 22)
Crystal Palace
2001
15
MF
Danny Thomas
(1984-06-16 ) 16 June 1984 (aged 19)
Youth
2003
Loaned to Staines Town
17
MF
Eddie Hutchinson
(1982-02-12 ) 12 February 1982 (aged 21)
Sutton United
2000
20
MF
Stephen Hughes
(1984-01-26 ) 26 January 1984 (aged 19)
Youth
2002
Loaned to Basingstoke Town
31
MF
Alex Rhodes
(1982-01-12 ) 12 January 1982 (aged 21)
Newmarket Town
2003
Forwards
14
FW
Matt Harrold
(1984-07-24 ) 24 July 1984 (aged 19)
Harlow Town
2003
18
FW
Ben May
(1984-03-10 ) 10 March 1984 (aged 19)
Millwall
2003
On loan from Millwall
22
FW
Lloyd Blackman
(1983-09-24 ) 24 September 1983 (aged 19)
Youth
2002
Loaned to Scarborough , Chelmsford City and Cambridge City
Players who left the club mid-season
1
GK
Paul Smith
(1979-12-17 ) 17 December 1979 (aged 23)
Carshalton Athletic
2000
Transferred to Southampton
5
DF
Leo Roget
(1977-08-01 ) 1 August 1977 (aged 26)
Stockport County
2002
Transferred to Rushden & Diamonds
11
FW
Mark Peters
(1983-10-04 ) 4 October 1983 (aged 19)
Southampton
2002
Released
19
MF
Tommy Wright
(1984-09-28 ) 28 September 1984 (aged 18)
Leicester City
2003
Returned to Leicester City after loan
21
DF
Danny Allen-Page
(1983-10-30 ) 30 October 1983 (aged 19)
Youth
2002
Released
23
FW
Bobby Traynor
(1983-11-01 ) 1 November 1983 (aged 19)
Youth
2003
Loaned to Chelmsford City and Crawley Town , released
24
FW
Peter Beadle
(1972-05-13 ) 13 May 1972 (aged 31)
Bristol City
2003
Released
24
FW
Jide Olugbodi
(1977-11-29 ) 29 November 1977 (aged 25)
Austria Lustenau
2003
Released
25
MF
Tony Rougier
(1971-07-17 ) 17 July 1971 (aged 32)
Reading
2003
Transferred to Bristol City
26
GK
Jim Stannard
(1962-10-06 ) 6 October 1962 (aged 40)
Youth
2003
First team coach, non-contract
30
GK
Danny Naisbitt
(1978-11-25 ) 25 November 1978 (aged 24)
Bishop Auckland
2003
Non-contract
32
GK
Jani Viander
(1975-08-18 ) 18 August 1975 (aged 27)
Plymouth Argyle
2004
Non-contract
Coaching staff [ ]
Wally Downes (9 August 2003 – 14 March 2004) [ ]
Name
Role
Wally Downes
Manager
Garry Thompson
Assistant Manager
Jim Stannard
First Team Coach
John Griffin
Chief Scout
Phil McLoughlin
Physiotherapist
Colin Martin
Medical Officer
Garry Thompson (14 – 18 March 2004) [ ]
Name
Role
Garry Thompson
Caretaker Manager
Jim Stannard
First Team Coach
John Griffin
Chief Scout
Phil McLoughlin
Physiotherapist
Colin Martin
Medical Officer
Martin Allen (18 March – 8 May 2004) [ ]
Name
Role
Martin Allen
Manager
Adrian Whitbread
First Team Coach
Jim Stannard
Goalkeeping Coach
John Griffin
Chief Scout
Damien Doyle
Sports Therapist
Matt Hirons
Physiotherapist
Colin Martin
Medical Officer
Statistics [ ]
Appearances and goals [ ]
Substitute appearances in brackets.
No
Pos
Nat
Name
League
FA Cup
League Cup
FL Trophy
Total
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
1
GK
Paul Smith
24
0
2
0
1
0
2
0
29
0
2
DF
Michael Dobson
42
1
1
0
1
0
2
0
46
1
3
DF
Matt Somner
30 (9)
0
2
0
1
0
1
0
34 (9)
0
4
MF
Jay Smith
12 (5)
0
2
0
1
0
1 (1)
0
16 (6)
0
5
DF
Leo Roget
15
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
16
0
5
MF
Stewart Talbot
15
2
—
—
—
15
2
6
DF
Ibrahima Sonko
42 (1)
3
2
0
1
0
0
0
45 (1)
3
7
MF
Stephen Evans
14 (11)
2
0 (2)
0
0
0
2
0
16 (13)
2
8
MF
Jay Tabb
22 (14)
9
2
0
1
0
1
2
26 (14)
11
9
FW
Kevin O'Connor
36 (7)
1
2
1
1
0
1 (1)
0
40 (8)
2
10
MF
Stephen Hunt
38 (2)
11
2
0
1
0
2
1
43 (2)
12
11
FW
Mark Peters
2 (7)
0
0 (1)
0
1
0
1
0
4 (8)
0
12
DF
Andy Frampton
10 (6)
0
1
1
1
0
2
0
14 (6)
1
13
GK
Alan Julian
13
0
0
0
0 (1)
0
0
0
13 (1)
0
14
FW
Matt Harrold
5 (8)
2
1
3
0
0
1
0
7 (8)
5
16
DF
Lee Fieldwick
4 (1)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4 (1)
0
17
MF
Eddie Hutchinson
36
5
1
0
1
0
0 (1)
0
38 (1)
5
20
MF
Stephen Hughes
1 (8)
0
0 (2)
0
0 (1)
0
0 (1)
0
1 (12)
0
21
DF
Danny Allen-Page
0
0
0
0
0
0
0 (1)
0
0 (1)
0
22
FW
Lloyd Blackman
0 (3)
0
—
0 (1)
0
—
0 (4)
0
24
FW
Peter Beadle
1
0
—
0
0
—
1
0
24
FW
Jide Olugbodi
0 (2)
0
0 (1)
0
—
1 (1)
0
1 (4)
0
25
MF
Tony Rougier
29 (2)
4
2
1
0
0
1
0
32 (2)
5
28
DF
Dean Wells
0 (1)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0 (1)
0
31
MF
Alex Rhodes
0 (3)
1
—
—
—
0 (3)
1
32
GK
Stuart Nelson
9
0
—
—
—
9
0
Players loaned in during the season
18
FW
Ben May
38 (3)
7
1
0
—
1
0
40 (3)
7
19
MF
Tommy Wright
18 (7)
3
0
0
—
0
0
18 (7)
3
24
DF
Ronnie Bull
20
0
—
—
—
20
0
27
DF
Joel Kitamirike
21 (1)
0
1
0
—
2
0
24 (1)
0
33
DF
Scott Fitzgerald
9
0
—
—
—
9
0
Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
Source: Soccerbase
Goalscorers [ ]
Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
Source: Soccerbase
Discipline [ ]
No
Pos
Nat
Player
FL2
FAC
FLC
FLT
Total
Pts
18
FW
Ben May
7
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
7
1
10
5
DF
Leo Roget
2
2
0
0
0
0
1
0
3
2
9
10
MF
Stephen Hunt
7
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
8
0
8
7
MF
Stephen Evans
4
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
5
1
8
19
MF
Tommy Wright
4
1
0
0
—
0
0
4
1
7
27
DF
Joel Kitamirike
3
1
0
0
—
1
0
4
1
7
3
DF
Matt Somner
6
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
0
6
24
DF
Ronnie Bull
3
1
—
—
—
3
1
6
9
MF
Kevin O'Connor
4
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
5
0
5
6
DF
Ibrahima Sonko
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
2
1
5
25
DF
Tony Rougier
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
4
1
GK
Paul Smith
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
1
4
2
DF
Michael Dobson
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
3
17
MF
Eddie Hutchinson
2
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
3
0
3
24
FW
Peter Beadle
0
1
—
0
0
—
0
1
3
32
GK
Stuart Nelson
0
1
—
—
—
0
1
3
5
MF
Stewart Talbot
2
0
—
—
—
2
0
2
16
DF
Lee Fieldwick
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
2
12
DF
Andy Frampton
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
2
13
GK
Alan Julian
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
2
4
MF
Jay Smith
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
2
8
MF
Jay Tabb
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
2
0
2
33
DF
Scott Fitzgerald
1
0
—
—
—
1
0
1
20
MF
Stephen Hughes
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
11
FW
Mark Peters
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
Total
64
8
5
1
0
1
4
1
73
11
106
Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
Source: ESPN FC
Management [ ]
Name
Nat
From
To
Record All Comps
Record League
P
W
D
L
W %
P
W
D
L
W %
Wally Downes
9 August 2003
14 March 2004
41
10
8
23
0 24.39
36
9
7
20
0 25.00
Garry Thompson (caretaker)
14 March 2004
18 March 2004
1
0
1
0
00 0.00
1
0
1
0
00 0.00
Martin Allen
18 March 2004
8 May 2004
9
5
3
1
0 55.56
9
5
3
1
0 55.56
Summary [ ]
Games played
51 (46 Second Division, 2 FA Cup , 1 League Cup , 2 Football League Trophy )
Games won
15 (14 Second Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy)
Games drawn
12 (11 Second Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Games lost
24 (21 Second Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Goals scored
64 (52 Second Division, 7 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 5 Football League Trophy)
Goals conceded
83 (69 Second Division, 4 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 6 Football League Trophy)
Clean sheets
6 (6 Second Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy)
Biggest league win
5–0 versus Brighton & Hove Albion , 21 October 2003
Worst league defeat
3–0 on two occasions, 4–1 on two occasions
Most appearances
48, Kevin O'Connor (43 Second Division, 2 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)
Top scorer (league)
11, Stephen Hunt
Top scorer (all competitions)
12, Stephen Hunt
Transfers & loans [ ]
Kit [ ]
Supplier: TFG Sponsor(s): St. George
Source: Brentford F.C.
Awards [ ]
References [ ]
National teams
League competitions
Level 1 Levels 2–4 Level 5 Levels 6–7 Levels 8–9
Isthmian League (Two )
Combined Counties League (Premier , One )
Eastern Counties League (Premier , One )
Essex Senior League (level 8 only )
Hellenic League (Premier , One East , One West )
Kent League (level 8 only )
Midland Alliance (level 8 only )
Midland Football Combination (level 9 only )
North West Counties League (One , Two )
Northern Counties East League (Premier , One )
Northern League (One , Two )
Spartan 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 9 only )
Western League (Premier , One )
Cup competitions
FA cups Football League cups
European competitions