1974–75 Brentford F.C. season
During the 1974–75 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Fourth Division. After a poor first half of the season, manager Mike Everitt was sacked and replaced by John Docherty, who produced a strong run of results to finish the campaign in 8th place.
Season summary
Off the back of Brentford's lowest finish in the Football League since the 1925–26 season, only three players were signed – defender Keith Lawrence on a permanent deal from Chelsea, goalkeeper Steve Sherwood on a season-long loan from Chelsea and Wimbledon midfield trialist Graham Smith.[1] Two long-serving players were released, winger John Docherty and full back Alan Hawley.[2] New chairman Les Davey announced that the club would move to a new stadium in West London and that there was talk of a £1,000,000 takeover bid by local firm Brentford Nylons, but nothing came of either plan.[2]
Brentford began the season poorly and after eight league matches were just two points above the Fourth Division re-election zone,[3] though one early season highlight was a League Cup second round tie versus First Division giants Liverpool at Anfield, where Roger Cross scored the opener in a 2–1 defeat.[2] The Liverpool match was also notable for it being the final appearance made by centre half Peter Gelson,[2] then the club's second-highest appearance-maker, who had his contract cancelled and departed the club shortly afterwards.[1] Under recently appointed chairman Dan Tana, manager Mike Everitt was given a vote of confidence in November 1974 and strengthened the team by signing forward Willie Brown on loan from Newport County (and later permanently for £4,000) and midfielder Terry Johnson from Southend United for £15,000.[1]
The signings had the desired effect and Brentford rose into mid-table after winning four and drawing one of a seven-match spell from late November through to mid-January 1975,[3] but on 16 January, manager Mike Everitt was sacked.[2] Trainer Jess Willard took over as caretaker manager for the following match, before the appointment of former player John Docherty on 20 January.[2] Docherty turned Brentford's season around, losing just four of the remaining 19 matches of the season to finish in 8th place.[2] Four wins, two draws and just one defeat in April won Docherty the Football League Manager of the Month award.[2]
League table
P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
Key | |
|
Division Champions, promoted |
|
Promoted |
|
Re-elected |
Results
- Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend
No. |
Date | Opponent | Venue | Result |
Attendance | Scorer(s) |
1 |
17 August 1974 | Northampton Town | H | 1–0 |
5,147 | Woon |
2 |
24 August 1974 | Southport | A | 0–3 |
1,285 | |
3 |
31 August 1974 | Swansea City | H | 1–0 |
4,908 | Cross |
4 |
7 September 1974 | Chester |
A | 0–2 |
2,625 | |
5 |
14 September 1974 | Cambridge United | H | 1–0 |
5,313 | Simmons |
6 |
16 September 1974 | Rotherham United | H | 3–4 |
5,979 | Simmons, Metchick, Bence |
7 |
21 September 1974 | Newport County | A | 0–1 |
3,022 | |
8 |
23 September 1974 | Rochdale | A | 0–0 |
1,587 | |
9 |
28 September 1974 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 1–0 |
5,442 | Simmons |
10 |
30 September 1974 | Stockport County | A | 1–1 |
1,982 | Woon |
11 |
5 October 1974 | Doncaster Rovers | A | 1–2 |
1,692 | Simmons |
12 |
12 October 1974 | Lincoln City | H | 1–1 |
4,973 | Lawrence |
13 |
19 October 1974 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 0–1 |
4,099 | |
14 |
23 October 1974 | Bradford City | A | 0–1 |
2,932 | |
15 |
26 October 1974 | Torquay United | H | 3–1 |
4,496 | Simmons (2), Graham |
16 |
2 November 1974 | Barnsley | A | 1–1 |
4,158 | Simmons |
17 |
4 November 1974 | Bradford City | H | 0–0 |
5,131 | |
18 |
9 November 1974 | Mansfield Town |
H | 2–3 |
5,553 | Foster (og), Simmons |
19 |
16 November 1974 | Hartlepool |
A | 2–3 |
2,864 | Simmons, Johnson |
20 |
30 November 1974 | Workington |
A | 1–0 |
1,325 | Brown |
21 |
7 December 1974 | Darlington | H | 3–0 |
4,925 | Johnson, Brown (2) |
22 |
21 December 1974 | Scunthorpe United | H | 2–0 |
4,364 | Brown (2) |
23 |
26 December 1974 | Cambridge United |
A | 0–2 |
3,959 | |
24 |
28 December 1974 | Exeter City | H | 2–0 |
5,608 | Simmons, Johnson |
25 |
4 January 1975 |
Northampton Town |
A |
0–0 |
4,735 |
|
26 |
11 January 1975 |
Darlington |
A |
1–2 |
2,095 |
Johnson |
27 |
18 January 1975 | Workington |
H | 2–2 |
9,983 | Brown, Simmons |
28 |
25 January 1975 | Reading | H | 1–0 |
6,485 | Brown |
29 |
1 February 1975 | Mansfield Town | A | 1–1 |
11,362 | Graham |
30 |
4 February 1975 | Rotherham United | A | 0–3 |
4,541 | |
31 |
8 February 1975 | Barnsley | H | 3–0 |
5,080 | Simmons, French, Brown |
32 |
15 February 1975 | Reading | A | 0–1 |
6,013 | |
33 |
22 February 1975 | Hartlepool | H | 1–0 |
5,516 | Johnson |
34 |
28 February 1975 | Swansea City | A | 1–0 |
1,706 | Brown |
35 |
8 March 1975 |
Rochdale |
H |
3–0 |
4,460 |
Johnson, Graham, Cross |
36 |
15 March 1975 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 1–1 |
2,356 | Johnson |
37 |
22 March 1975 | Chester |
H | 1–1 |
5,827 | Cross |
38 |
31 March 1975 | Exeter City | A | 0–1 |
3,301 | |
39 |
1 April 1975 | Newport County | H | 0–0 |
5,569 | |
40 |
5 April 1975 | Torquay United |
A | 2–3 |
2,555 | Cross, Scales |
41 |
7 April 1975 | Stockport County | H | 3–0 |
4,434 | Riddick, French (2) |
42 |
12 April 1975 | Doncaster Rovers |
H | 1–1 |
5,147 | French |
43 |
15 April 1975 | Scunthorpe United | A | 2–1 |
1,556 | Cross, Johnson |
44 |
19 April 1975 |
Lincoln City |
A |
1–1 |
6,956 |
Cross |
45 |
21 April 1975 | Southport | H | 1–0 |
4,796 | Cross |
46 |
26 April 1975 | Shrewsbury Town |
H | 2–1 |
5,810 | Graham, Cross |
FA Cup
- Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[4] The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies,[5] Statto
Playing squad
- Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1974–75 season.
Coaching staff
Mike Everitt (17 August 1974 – 16 January 1975)
Jess Willard (16 – 20 January 1975)
Name |
Role |
Jess Willard |
Caretaker Manager |
Alan Humphries |
Chief Scout |
John Docherty (20 January – 26 April 1975)
Statistics
Appearances and goals
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: 100 Years of Brentford[4]
Goalscorers
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: 100 Years of Brentford[4]
Management
Name |
Nat |
From |
To |
Record All Comps |
Record League |
P | W | D | L | W % | P | W | D | L | W % |
Mike Everitt |
|
17 August 1974 |
11 January 1975 |
7001300000000000000♠30 |
7001110000000000000♠11 |
7000600000000000000♠6 |
7001130000000000000♠13 |
07001366700000000000♠36.67 |
7001260000000000000♠26 |
7000900000000000000♠9 |
7000600000000000000♠6 |
7001110000000000000♠11 |
07001346209999900000♠34.62 |
Jess Willard (caretaker) |
|
18 January 1975 |
18 January 1975 |
7000100000000000000♠1 |
5000000000000000000♠0 |
7000100000000000000♠1 |
5000000000000000000♠0 |
005000000000000000000♠0.00 |
7000100000000000000♠1 |
5000000000000000000♠0 |
7000100000000000000♠1 |
5000000000000000000♠0 |
005000000000000000000♠0.00 |
John Docherty |
|
25 January 1975 |
26 April 1975 |
7001190000000000000♠19 |
7000900000000000000♠9 |
7000600000000000000♠6 |
7000400000000000000♠4 |
07001473700000000000♠47.37 |
7001190000000000000♠19 |
7000900000000000000♠9 |
7000600000000000000♠6 |
7000400000000000000♠4 |
07001473700000000000♠47.37 |
Summary
Games played | 50 (46 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup) |
Games won | 20 (18 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup) |
Games drawn | 13 (13 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup) |
Games lost | 17 (15 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup) |
Goals scored | 61 (53 Fourth Division, 4 FA Cup, 4 League Cup) |
Goals conceded | 49 (45 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup) |
Clean sheets | 20 (19 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup) |
Biggest league win | 3–0 on four occasions |
Worst league defeat | 3–0 on two occasions |
Most appearances | 50, Steve Sherwood (46 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup) |
Top scorer (league) | 12, Dave Simmons |
Top scorer (all competitions) | 13, Dave Simmons |
Transfers & loans
Awards
Notes
- ↑ Match played at The Sports Ground, Walton-on-Thames.
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 108-111.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 White, p. 295-297.
- 1 2 "Brentford results for the 1974-1975 season - Statto.com". Retrieved 9 February 2017.
- 1 2 3 White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 393. ISBN 0951526200.
- ↑ Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 98-107.
- ↑ Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2011). The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. ISBN 978-1906796709.
- ↑ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
- ↑ Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 128.
- 1 2 Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 295.
|
---|
|
General | |
---|
History | |
---|
Grounds | |
---|
Affiliated clubs | |
---|
Players | |
---|
Rivalries | |
---|