1978–79 Brentford F.C. season

Brentford
1978–79 season
Chairman Dan Tana
Manager Bill Dodgin Jr.
Stadium Griffin Park
Third Division 10th
FA Cup First round
League Cup First round
Top goalscorer League: McCulloch,
Phillips (14)
All: McCulloch,
Phillips (14)
Highest home attendance 13,873
Lowest home attendance 5,140
Average home league attendance 7,455
← 1977–78 1979–80 →

During the 1978–79 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. After a rude awakening to third-tier football, the Bees ended the season strongly to finish in 10th position.

Season summary

After Brentford's promotion to the Third Division at the end of the previous season, manager Bill Dodgin Jr. stated that his squad would only need one or two more new players to be able to compete during the club's first season in the third tier since 1972–73.[1] He managed to keep prolific forwards Steve Phillips and Andrew McCulloch at Griffin Park, but aside from goalkeeping trialist Trevor Porter (brought in to cover for car crash-victim Len Bond and the suspended Graham Cox),[2] Dodgin made no significant signings.[3]

Fears that Brentford's largely-unchanged squad would be out of its depth in the Third Division were heightened after the season began with a 7–1 aggregate defeat to fellow third-tier side Watford in the first round of the League Cup.[3] A dire start to the league season, which had seen Brentford sink into the relegation places by the end of September 1978,[4] led manager Bill Dodgin Jr. to act in the transfer market.[3] Potentially club-record breaking bids for Watford's Alan Mayes, Queens Park Rangers' Tony Hazell and Bristol City's John Bain were all rejected, but Dodgin did manage to sign defender Jim McNichol and forward Dean Smith, with McNichol's transfer from Luton Town setting a new club-record incoming fee of £30,000.[3] While McNichol would instantly impress and go on to be voted the Supporters' Player of the Year,[5] Smith (who had been signed to support the misfiring Steve Phillips and Andrew McCulloch) would only score sporadically during the rest of the season.[6]

Between late-October 1978 and mid-March 1979, the Bees stabilised with a run of just two defeats in 17 league matches.[4] The run ended with the club's biggest win of the season – a 6–0 thrashing of Chester at Griffin Park, with Steve Phillips scoring a hattrick to boost his tally to six goals in four matches.[6] A failure to win any of the following four matches dropped the Bees back to 18th position, but a strong run of 9 wins in 12 matches to close out the season elevated the club to a 10th-place finish.[4]

League table

Pos Team Pld Home Away F A GD Pts Notes
W D L F A W D L F A
1Shrewsbury Town 4614903611710625306141+2061 [notes3 1]
2 Watford 461553472297736308352+3160
3 Swansea City 461661573286926298361+2260
4 Gillingham 4615713915610726276542+2359
5 Swindon Town 4617244414851030387452+2257
6 Carlisle United 46111023113412722295342+1152
7 Colchester United 4613913519481125366055+551
8 Hull City 4612923614721430476661+549
9 Exeter City 4614633818391123386156+549
10 Brentford 4614453519551318305349+447
11 Oxford United 4610852720410917304450–646
12 Blackpool 4612563819641323406159+245
13 Southend United 4611663017491021325149+245
14 Sheffield Wednesday 469863022411823315353+045
15 Plymouth Argyle 4611934027451427416768–144
16 Chester 4611934221371315405761–444
17 Rotherham United 4613373023471219324955–644
18 Mansfield Town 4671153024581021285152–143
19 Bury 466116353259924335965–642
20 Chesterfield 4610583534391116315165–1440
21 Peterborough United 468782624371318394463–1936
22 Walsall 4676103432361422395671–1532
23 Tranmere Rovers 4641272631241719474578–3328
24 Lincoln City 4657112638241715504188–4725

P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

  1. ↑ Shrewsbury Town were winners of the Welsh Cup winners this season, but as they are an English club, they did not earn a place in the Cup Winners' Cup.
Key
Division Champions, promoted; Welsh Cup winners, did not qualify for Cup Winners' Cup
Promoted
Relegated

Results

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Third Division

No. DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
1 19 August 1978Shrewsbury TownA0–1 2,346
2 21 August 1978Colchester UnitedH1–0 6,802Kruse
3 26 August 1978Chesterfield H0–3 6,162
4 2 September 1978Exeter CityA2–2 3,645McCulloch (2)
5 9 September 1978Hull CityH1–0 6,528Phillips
6 12 September 1978Swindon TownA0–2 6,902
7 16 September 1978Peterborough UnitedA1–3 5,884Kruse
8 23 September 1978GillinghamH0–2 6,977
9 25 September 1978Lincoln CityH2–1 6,107J. Graham, Eames
10 30 September 1978Swansea CityA1–2 11,370McCulloch
11 7 October 1978BuryH0–1 5,855
12 14 October 1978Watford A0–2 15,180
13 17 October 1978Rotherham United A0–1 3,881
14 21 October 1978Tranmere RoversH2–1 5,883McCulloch (2)
15 28 October 1978Chester A1–3 4,495McCulloch
16 4 November 1978Oxford UnitedH3–0 6,863McCulloch, D. Smith (2)
17 11 November 1978Exeter CityH0–0 6,387
18 18 November 1978ChesterfieldA0–0 4,584
19 2 December 1978Walsall H1–0 5,140McCulloch
20 9 December 1978 Mansfield Town A 1–2 4,003 McCulloch
21 23 December 1978Southend UnitedA1–1 13,703Phillips
22 26 December 1978Plymouth ArgyleH2–1 7,367D. Smith (2)
23 30 December 1978Carlisle UnitedH0–0 6,477
24 20 January 1979Peterborough UnitedH0–0 5,760
25 27 January 1979Gillingham A0–0 6,899
26 10 February 1979Swansea CityH1–0 7,264Carlton
27 24 February 1979WatfordH3–3 13,873D. Smith, Phillips (2, 1 pen)
28 3 March 1979Tranmere RoversA1–0 1,882Phillips
29 6 March 1979Hull CityA0–1 3,418
30 10 March 1979ChesterH6–0 6,421Phillips (3), Glover (2), McCulloch
31 13 March 1979Sheffield WednesdayA0–1 10,383
32 21 March 1979 Lincoln City A 0–1 2,060
33 24 March 1979Colchester UnitedA1–1 3,528Shrubb
34 26 March 1979Shrewsbury Town H2–3 7,756McCulloch, D. Smith
35 31 March 1979BlackpoolH3–2 6,364McNichol (2), Phillips
36 4 April 1979Oxford UnitedA1–0 5,242Shrubb
37 7 April 1979WalsallA3–2 3,840Kruse, Phillips (2)
38 13 April 1979Southend UnitedH3–2 11,509McCulloch, Kruse, Salman
39 14 April 1979Plymouth ArgyleA1–2 6,344Carlton
40 17 April 1979Sheffield WednesdayH2–1 9,050McNichol (2)
41 21 April 1979 Carlisle United A 0–1 3,967
42 23 April 1979Rotherham United H1–0 6,758D. Smith
43 28 April 1979Mansfield Town H1–0 6,838Phillips
44 5 May 1979 Blackpool A 1–0 3,464 McCulloch
45 8 May 1979Swindon TownH1–2 13,320D. Smith
46 15 May 1979Bury A3–2 2,512Phillips (2), McCulloch

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance
1R25 November 1978Exeter City A0–1 3,810

Football League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer
1R (1st leg) 12 August 1978 Watford A 0–4 9,292
1R (2nd leg)12 August 1978Watford H1–3 (lost 7–1 on aggregate) 7,414 Rolph

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1978–79 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Len Bond England 12 January 1954 (aged 24) Bristol City 1977
GK Trevor Porter England 16 October 1956 (aged 21) Slough Town 1978
Defenders
DF Michael Allen England 30 March 1949 (aged 29) Middlesbrough 1971
DF John Fraser England 12 July 1953 (aged 25) Fulham 1976
DF Pat Kruse England 30 November 1953 (aged 24) Torquay United 1977
DF Jim McNichol Scotland 9 June 1958 (aged 20) Luton Town 1978
DF Danis Salman England 12 March 1960 (aged 18) Youth 1975
DF David Silman England 28 October 1959 (aged 18) Unattached 1978
DF Barry Tucker Wales 28 August 1952 (aged 25) Northampton Town 1978
Midfielders
MF Doug Allder England 30 December 1951 (aged 26) Unattached 1977
MF Bob Booker England 25 January 1958 (aged 20) Bedmond Sports & Social 1978
MF Dave Carlton England 24 November 1952 (aged 25) Northampton Town 1976
MF Allan Glover England 21 October 1950 (aged 27) Orient 1978
MF Jackie Graham (c) Scotland 16 July 1946 (aged 32) Guildford City 1970
MF Willie Graham Northern Ireland 14 February 1959 (aged 19) Northampton Town 1977
MF Paul Shrubb England 1 August 1955 (aged 23) Hellenic 1977
MF Paul Walker England 17 December 1960 (aged 17) Youth 1976
Forwards
FW Tommy Baldwin England 10 June 1945 (aged 33) Unattached 1977 Assistant manager
FW Andrew McCulloch England 3 January 1950 (aged 28) Oxford United 1976 Loaned to Oakland Stompers
FW Gary Rolph England 24 February 1960 (aged 18) Youth 1976
FW Steve Phillips England 4 August 1954 (aged 24) Northampton Town 1977
FW Dean Smith England 28 November 1958 (aged 19) Leicester City 1977
Players who left the club mid-season
DF Nigel Smith England 3 July 1958 (aged 20) Queens Park Rangers 1975 Released
DF Stephen Wilkins England 31 August 1959 (aged 18) Chelsea 1978 Released
FW Billy Eames England 20 September 1957 (aged 20) Waterlooville 1978 Released
FW Lee Frost England 4 December 1957 (aged 20) Chelsea 1978 Returned to Chelsea after loan

Coaching staff

Name Role
England Bill Dodgin Jr. Manager
England Tommy Baldwin Assistant Manager
England Eddie Lyons Physiotherapist
England Gordon Quinn Chief Scout

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Pos Nat Name League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England Len Bond 35 0 1 0 0 0 36 0
GK England Trevor Porter 11 0 0 0 2 0 13 0
DF England Michael Allen 5 (2) 0 0 0 0 0 5 (2) 0
DF England John Fraser 21 (2) 0 0 0 0 (1) 0 21 (3) 0
DF England Pat Kruse 44 4 1 0 2 0 47 4
DF Scotland Jim McNichol 32 4 1 0 — 33 4
DF England Danis Salman 39 (1) 1 1 0 2 0 42 (1) 1
DF England David Silman 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
DF England Nigel Smith 2 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 2 (1) 0
DF Wales Barry Tucker 43 0 1 0 2 0 46 0
DF England Stephen Wilkins 0 0 — 0 (1) 0 0 (1) 0
MF England Doug Allder 18 (12) 0 0 0 2 0 20 (12) 0
MF England Bob Booker 2 (1) 0 0 0 — 2 (1) 0
MF England Dave Carlton 36 (1) 2 1 0 2 0 39 (1) 2
MF England Allan Glover 18 (1) 2 1 0 — 19 (1) 2
MF Scotland Jackie Graham 35 1 1 0 2 0 38 1
MF Northern Ireland Willie Graham 8 (3) 0 0 0 2 0 10 (3) 0
MF England Paul Shrubb 39 2 1 0 2 0 42 2
MF England Paul Walker 2 (5) 0 0 0 0 0 2 (5) 0
FW England Tommy Baldwin 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
FW England Billy Eames 2 1 — 0 0 2 1
FW England Andrew McCulloch 39 14 1 0 0 0 40 14
FW England Gary Rolph 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 1
FW England Steve Phillips 46 14 1 0 2 0 49 14
FW England Dean Smith 22 (3) 8 0 (1) 0 — 22 (4) 8
Players loaned in during the season
FW England Lee Frost 5 (1) 0 — — 5 (1) 0

Goalscorers

Pos. Nat Player FL3 FAC FLC Total
FW England Andrew McCulloch 14 0 — 14
FW England Steve Phillips 14 0 0 14
FW England Dean Smith 8 0 — 8
DF England Pat Kruse 4 0 0 4
DF Scotland Jim McNichol 4 0 0 4
MF England Dave Carlton 2 0 0 2
MF England Allan Glover 2 0 0 2
MF England Paul Shrubb 2 0 0 2
FW England Billy Eames 1 — 0 1
MF Scotland Jackie Graham 1 0 0 1
FW England Gary Rolph 0 0 1 1
DF England Danis Salman 1 0 0 1
Total530 154

Management

Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Bill Dodgin, Jr. England 12 August 1978 15 May 1979 49 19 9 21 038.78 46 19 9 18 041.30

Summary

Games played 49 (46 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)
Games won 19 (19 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Games drawn 9 (9 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Games lost 21 (18 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)
Goals scored 54 (53 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Goals conceded 57 (49 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 7 League Cup)
Clean sheets 16 (16 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Biggest league win 6–0 versus Chester, 10 March 1979
Worst league defeat 3–0 versus Chesterfield, 26 August 1978
Most appearances 49, Steve Phillips (46 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)
Top scorer (league) 14, Andrew McCulloch, Steve Phillips
Top scorer (all competitions) 14, Andrew McCulloch, Steve Phillips

Transfers & loans

Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
August 1978 FW England Billy Eames England Portsmouth Trial [10]
August 1978 GK England Trevor Porter England Slough Town Trial [10]
September 1978 MF England Bob Booker England Bedmond Sports & Social Non-contract [10]
October 1978 DF Scotland Jim McNichol England Luton Town £30,000 [10]
October 1978 FW England Dean Smith England Leicester City £20,000 [11]
November 1978 MF England Allan Glover England Orient Free [10]
1978 DF England Stephen Wilkins England Chelsea n/a [10]
April 1979 FW England Bradley Walsh n/a Non-contract [10]
Players loaned in
Date from Pos. Name From Date to Ref.
October 1978 FW England Lee Frost England Chelsea November 1978 [10]
Players loaned out
Date from Pos. Name To Date to Ref.
May 1978 FW England Andrew McCulloch United States Oakland Stompers August 1978 [10]
October 1978 GK England Graham Cox England Margate n/a [12]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
August 1978 DF England Stephen Wilkins England Dagenham 1978 [10]
October 1978 FW England Billy Eames n/a n/a [10]
October 1978 DF England Nigel Smith England Cambridge United November 1978 [10]
December 1978 FW England John Murray Retired [10]
May 1979 DF England Michael Allen England Whitby Town 1979 [10]
May 1979 GK England Graham Cox England Wokingham Town 1979 [13]
May 1979 FW England Gary Rolph England Woking 1979 [10]
May 1979 DF England David Silman England Walthamstow Avenue 1979 [10]

Awards

References

  1. ↑ Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 175.
  2. ↑ "Brentford FC They played for both: Bristol City". Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 White, p. 309-311.
  4. 1 2 3 Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1978-1979 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 295.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 395. ISBN 0951526200.
  7. ↑ Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 158-169.
  8. ↑ Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2011). The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. ISBN 978-1906796709.
  9. ↑ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 190-194.
  11. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe, p. 147.
  12. ↑ "Graham Cox". 2014-07-29. Archived from the original on 29 July 2014. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  13. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe, p. 41-42.
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