1981–82 Brentford F.C. season
During the 1981–82 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. After losing ground in January and February 1982, just one win from the final five matches of the season ended the Bees' hopes of promotion.
Season summary
Aside from the club record signing of £65,000 central defender Alan Whitehead, Brentford manager Fred Callaghan presided over a quiet 1981 off-season at Griffin Park.[2] Goalkeeper Paul Priddy returned to the club for a third spell on a part-time contract as cover for David McKellar, but the club went into the season understaffed in the striking department, having lost Gary Johnson to injury in a car crash and a suitable replacement could not be found in time.[1] Bids for midfielders John Beck, Jeff Chandler, forward David Kemp and former Brentford player Andrew McCulloch had failed to yield any transfers.[1]
Despite going unbeaten in the first four Third Division matches of the season, a bad run of results in September and October 1981 dropped the club to just above the relegation places.[3] Manager Callaghan acted swiftly in the transfer market, signing midfielders Stan Bowles, Chris Kamara and finally bolstering the forward line with the acquisition of Keith Bowen.[1] The upturn in form was immediate and seven wins and one draw from a 10-match spell lifted the Bees from 18th place on 17 October to 4th on 28 December.[3] The run included five consecutive away league wins, which equalled the club record.[4]
Brentford began 1982 with a run in which the team took just two points from a possible 24, which dropped the club back into mid-table.[3] Former player Gordon Sweetzer briefly returned to Griffin Park in January, but scored just one goal in 9 appearances before returning to his native Canada.[2] The team recovered in March and things further improved after forward David Kemp was finally signed on loan in March,[3] but he succumbed to injury after just three appearances.[2] A 2–1 win over Chester on 24 April put the Bees in 7th position,[3] four points behind 3rd-place Lincoln City with five matches to play.[5] Brentford's outside chances of promotion were killed off in the following match versus Wimbledon at Griffin Park, losing 3–2, having been leading 2–0.[2] The Bees finished the season in 8th position.[2]
League table
P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
Key | |
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Division Champions, promoted |
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Promoted |
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Relegated |
Results
- Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend
No. |
Date | Opponent | Venue | Result |
Attendance | Scorer(s) |
1 |
29 August 1981 | Fulham | A | 2–1 |
7,632 | Tucker (pen), Brown (og) |
2 |
5 September 1981 | Walsall | H | 0–0 |
5,353 | |
3 |
12 September 1981 | Portsmouth | A | 2–2 |
10,364 | Crown, Booker |
4 |
19 September 1981 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 0–0 |
4,943 | |
5 |
21 September 1981 | Gillingham | H | 0–1 |
5,425 | |
6 |
26 September 1981 | Doncaster Rovers |
A | 0–1 |
5,494 | |
7 |
29 September 1981 | Newport County | A | 1–0 |
4,040 | Tucker |
8 |
3 October 1981 | Carlisle United | H | 1–2 |
4,587 | G. Johnson |
9 |
10 October 1981 | Exeter City | A | 1–3 |
3,589 | Crown |
10 |
17 October 1981 | Lincoln City | H | 3–1 |
4,187 | Booker, Whitehead, Tucker |
11 |
19 October 1981 | Southend United | H | 0–1 |
5,043 | |
12 |
24 October 1981 | Chesterfield | A | 2–0 |
5,525 | Bowen, Roberts |
13 |
31 October 1981 | Burnley | H | 0–0 |
6,929 | |
14 |
3 November 1981 | Swindon Town | A | 3–0 |
6,649 | G. Johnson, Bowen, Kamara |
15 |
7 November 1981 | Bristol City | H | 0–1 |
6,758 | |
16 |
14 November 1981 | Oxford United |
A | 2–1 |
5,693 | G. Johnson (2) |
17 |
28 November 1981 | Chester | H | 1–0 |
5,201 | McNichol |
18 |
5 December 1981 | Preston North End | A | 3–1 |
4,171 | Bowen (2), G. Johnson |
19 |
28 December 1981 | Millwall | A | 1–0 |
7,474 | Roberts |
20 |
2 January 1982 | Huddersfield Town | H | 0–1 |
5,438 | |
21 |
19 January 1982 | Walsall |
A | 0–3 |
3,853 | |
22 |
23 January 1982 | Fulham |
H | 0–1 |
10,834 | |
23 |
27 January 1982 | Reading |
A | 1–4 |
3,710 | Sweetzer |
24 |
30 January 1982 |
Plymouth Argyle |
A |
0–1 |
5,008 |
|
25 |
6 February 1982 | Portsmouth | H | 2–2 |
5,947 | Tucker (pen), Bowles |
26 |
9 February 1982 | Gillingham | A | 1–1 |
3,931 | Bowles |
27 |
13 February 1982 | Carlisle United |
A | 0–1 |
4,942 | |
28 |
20 February 1982 | Newport County | H | 2–0 |
4,297 | Roberts, Kamara |
29 |
27 February 1982 | Exeter City | H | 2–0 |
4,934 | Whitehead, Bowen |
30 |
6 March 1982 | Lincoln City | A | 0–1 |
2,880 | |
31 |
8 March 1982 | Southend United | A | 1–1 |
4,058 | Kemp |
32 |
13 March 1982 | Chesterfield | H | 2–0 |
5,374 | Roberts, Kamara |
33 |
20 March 1982 | Burnley | A | 0–0 |
7,906 | |
34 |
22 March 1982 |
Bristol Rovers |
H |
1–0 |
5,840 |
Bowles (pen) |
35 |
27 March 1982 | Bristol City |
A | 1–0 |
6,243 | Bowen |
36 |
3 April 1982 | Oxford United | H | 1–2 |
5,786 | Booker |
37 |
9 April 1982 |
Millwall |
H |
4–1 |
7,460 |
G. Johnson, Booker, McNichol, Roberts |
38 |
12 April 1982 | Wimbledon | A | 2–1 |
4,513 | Hurlock, Roberts |
39 |
17 April 1982 | Preston North End | H | 0–0 |
5,627 | |
40 |
19 April 1982 | Swindon Town | H | 4–2 |
5,374 | Hurlock, Bowen, Bowles, McNichol |
41 |
24 April 1982 | Chester |
A | 2–1 |
1,484 | Kamara, G. Johnson |
42 |
26 April 1982 | Wimbledon | H | 2–3 |
6,612 | Bowles, G. Johnson |
43 |
1 May 1982 | Doncaster Rovers | H | 2–2 |
4,124 | Bowen, Whitehead |
44 |
3 May 1982 | Bristol Rovers |
A | 2–1 |
4,314 | Roberts, Kamara |
45 |
8 May 1982 |
Huddersfield Town |
A |
1–1 |
4,542 |
Bowles (pen) |
46 |
15 May 1982 | Reading |
H | 1–2 |
4,502 | Roberts |
FA Cup
Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result |
Attendance |
1R (1st leg) |
2 September 1981 |
Oxford United |
A |
0–1 |
3,621 |
1R (2nd leg) | 15 September 1981 | Oxford United |
H | 0–2 (lost 3–0 on aggregate) |
5,490 |
- Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[6] The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties,[7] Statto
Playing squad
- Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1981–82 season.
Coaching staff
Statistics
Appearances and goals
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties[10]
Goalscorers
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties[10]
Management
Name |
Nat |
From |
To |
Record All Comps |
Record League |
P | W | D | L | W % | P | W | D | L | W % |
Fred Callaghan |
|
29 August 1981 |
15 May 1982 |
7001510000000000000♠51 |
7001200000000000000♠20 |
7001120000000000000♠12 |
7001190000000000000♠19 |
07001392200000000000♠39.22 |
7001460000000000000♠46 |
7001190000000000000♠19 |
7001110000000000000♠11 |
7001160000000000000♠16 |
07001413009999900000♠41.30 |
Summary
Games played | 51 (46 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 2 League Cup) |
Games won | 20 (19 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup) |
Games drawn | 12 (11 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup) |
Games lost | 19 (16 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup) |
Goals scored | 59 (56 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 0 League Cup) |
Goals conceded | 52 (47 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 3 League Cup) |
Clean sheets | 16 (15 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup) |
Biggest league win | 3–0 versus Swindon Town, 3 November 1981; 4–1 versus Millwall, 9 April 1982 |
Worst league defeat | 3–0 versus Walsall, 19 January 1982; 4–1 versus Reading, 27 January 1982 |
Most appearances | 50, David McKellar (45 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 2 League Cup) |
Top scorer (league) | 8, Keith Bowen, Gary Johnson, Gary Roberts |
Top scorer (all competitions) | 10, Keith Bowen |
Transfers & loans
Awards
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 60-65.
- 1 2 3 4 5 White, p. 316-317.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1981-1982 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
- ↑ Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford scoring and sequence records - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
- ↑ Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford Table on Saturday 24th April 1982 - Statto.com". Statto.com. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
- ↑ White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 396. ISBN 0951526200.
- ↑ Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 48-59.
- ↑ Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2011). The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. ISBN 978-1906796716.
- ↑ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
- 1 2 Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 423.
- 1 2 Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 383.
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General | |
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History | |
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Grounds | |
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Affiliated clubs | |
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Players | |
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Rivalries | |
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FA competitions | |
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Football League | |
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Lower leagues | |
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European competitions | |
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Related to national team | |
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Club seasons | First Division | |
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Second Division |
- Barnsley
- Blackburn Rovers
- Bolton Wanderers
- Cambridge United
- Cardiff City
- Charlton Athletic
- Chelsea
- Crystal Palace
- Derby County
- Grimsby Town
- Leicester City
- Leyton Orient
- Luton Town
- Newcastle United
- Norwich City
- Oldham Athletic
- Queens Park Rangers
- Rotherham United
- Sheffield Wednesday
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Third Division |
- Brentford
- Bristol City
- Bristol Rovers
- Burnley
- Carlisle United
- Chester
- Chesterfield
- Doncaster Rovers
- Exeter City
- Fulham
- Gillingham
- Huddersfield Town
- Lincoln City
- Millwall
- Newport County
- Oxford United
- Plymouth Argyle
- Portsmouth
- Preston North End
- Reading
- Southend United
- Swindon Town
- Walsall
- Wimbledon
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Fourth Division |
- Aldershot
- Blackpool
- Bournemouth
- Bradford City
- Bury
- Colchester United
- Crewe Alexandra
- Darlington
- Halifax Town
- Hartlepool United
- Hereford United
- Hull City
- Mansfield Town
- Northampton Town
- Peterborough United
- Port Vale
- Rochdale
- Scunthorpe United
- Sheffield United
- Southport
- Stockport County
- Torquay United
- Tranmere Rovers
- York City
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