1967–68 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1967–68 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Fourth Division. Weathering the storm of a severe financial crisis for the second successive season, the threadbare squad managed a mid-table finish.

Brentford
1967–68 season
ChairmanRon Blindell
ManagerJimmy Sirrel
StadiumGriffin Park
Fourth Division14th
FA CupFirst round
League CupFirst round
Top goalscorerLeague: Docherty,
Lawther (11)
All: Docherty (12)
Highest home attendance9,440
Lowest home attendance3,740
Average home league attendance6,211

Season summary

The positive outcome of the events of 19 January 1967 meant that Brentford would stay in business long enough to compete in the 1967–68 Fourth Division season.[1] A syndicate headed by Ron Blindell had taken over the shares of former chairman Jack Dunnett and assumed control of the club, with Blindell as chairman.[2] With a £100,000 debt (equivalent to £1,828,400 in 2021) needing to be paid by 30 June 1968, drastic cost-cutting measures were enacted at Griffin Park.[2] Brentford's reserve and youth teams were scrapped and a mass clear-out of the squad led to just 16 professionals being retained.[2] Having been installed in the role full-time, manager Jimmy Sirrel was permitted to sign a small number of players, including Chelsea youth product Alan Nelmes and Charlton Athletic's inside forward Cliff Myers.[2]

Injuries to John Richardson and George Thomson prior to the opening match of the season left Brentford with just 15 fit players and a lack of personnel would be a running saga during the campaign.[2] Regular goals from John Docherty and Ian Lawther in the early months of the season helped Brentford tread water in mid-table and then slowly rise towards the promotion places, coming as high as 6th place by early December 1967.[3] Hopes of money-raising runs in the FA Cup and League Cup were extinguished with first round defeats in each competition, but chairman Blindell had revealed the positive news in November that the club was more or less breaking even.[2] 9 defeats and just one victory in a 12-match spell between December 1967 and February 1968 undid all the good early-season work and dropped the Bees back into mid-table.[3] Manager Sirrel was permitted to spend £12,000 on attackers Ron Fenton and Allan Mansley in January 1968, but was forced to sell Cliff Myers and top-scorer John Docherty to balance the books.[2]

By March 1968, spiralling debts and the "Brentford Borough" saga threatened the club's existence for the second time in a year.[2] With £70,000 of the £135,000 debt needed to be paid in June 1968, former director Walter Wheatley stepped in and provided the club with a £69,000 interest-fee loan, repayable in 12 months.[2] On the pitch, the team had experienced something of a revival, winning five matches and drawing two of a 9-match spell between late February and early April,[3] but the retirement of George Thomson and the departure of Eddie Reeve left manager Jimmy Sirrel with just 14 players with which to complete the season.[2] Brentford finished in 14th place and used just 18 outfield players during the course of the season.[2][4]

League table
Main article: 1967–68 Football League § Fourth Division
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
12 Newport County 46 16 13 17 58 63 0.921 45
13 Lincoln City 46 17 9 20 71 68 1.044 43
14 Brentford 46 18 7 21 61 64 0.953 43
15 Swansea Town 46 16 10 20 63 77 0.818 42
16 Darlington 46 12 17 17 47 53 0.887 41
Source: rsssf.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal average; 3) number of goals scored.

Results
Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Football League Fourth Division
No. DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
1 19 August 1967Hartlepools United A0–2 5,343
2 26 August 1967Newport CountyH3–1 4,500Docherty, Lawther, Dobson
3 2 September 1967York CityA1–0 4,529Docherty
4 5 September 1967Swansea TownA1–2 6,559Docherty (pen)
5 9 September 1967Rochdale H4–0 5,630Ross, Docherty, Lawther, Melledew (og)
6 16 September 1967Halifax TownH0–0 6,890
7 23 September 1967Bradford Park AvenueA0–1 3,403
8 26 September 1967Swansea TownH2–1 7,570Lawther, Docherty
9 30 September 1967Doncaster RoversH4–2 7,300Lawther, Edwards, Jones, Thomson
10 2 October 1967WrexhamA2–1 8,000Smith (og), Docherty
11 7 October 1967Crewe AlexandraA0–2 6,246
12 14 October 1967Notts County H2–1 7,430Edwards, Lawther
13 21 October 1967Port ValeA1–4 5,944Higginson
14 24 October 1967WrexhamH0–0 7,960
15 28 October 1967ChesterH3–1 6,290Hooker, Thomson, Hawley
16 4 November 1967Chesterfield A1–2 9,644Higginson
17 11 November 1967Exeter CityH5–1 7,215Lawther (2), Ross, Wilkinson (og), Docherty
18 14 November 1967York CityH3–1 7,910Lawther, Gelson, Dobson
19 18 November 1967DarlingtonA3–2 4,789Gelson, Dobson, Albeson (og)
20 25 November 1967AldershotH1–1 9,440Docherty
21 2 December 1967WorkingtonA0–2 1,764
22 16 December 1967Hartlepools United H0–1 6,200
23 23 December 1967Newport CountyA2–2 2,700Docherty (2)
24 26 December 1967Southend UnitedH1–2 8,360Richardson
25 30 December 1967Southend United A0–1 9,059
26 6 January 1968BarnsleyH0–1 5,180
27 20 January 1968Halifax TownA0–3 4,610
28 27 January 1968 Bradford City H 0–1 5,550
29 3 February 1968Bradford Park AvenueH2–1 4,310Dobson, Fenton
30 10 February 1968Doncaster RoversA0–2 7,183
31 17 February 1968Luton TownH0–2 7,710
32 24 February 1968DarlingtonH2–0 4,155Lawther (2)
33 2 March 1968 Notts County A 1–2 4,486 Nelmes
34 9 March 1968Bradford CityA3–2 7,118Fenton (2), Gelson (pen)
35 16 March 1968Port Vale H3–1 4,700Fenton, Hawley, Mansley
36 18 March 1968RochdaleA1–1 1,722Cockcroft (og)
37 23 March 1968ChesterA0–3 2,861
38 30 March 1968ChesterfieldH1–1 3,845Lawther
39 6 April 1968Exeter City A3–0 3,900Higginson, Fenton (2)
40 13 April 1968Crewe AlexandraH2–1 5,390Mansley (2)
41 15 April 1968BarnsleyA0–3 12,174
42 20 April 1968 Aldershot A 0–0 5,183
43 23 April 1968Lincoln City H1–3 4,890Gelson (pen)
44 27 April 1968 Workington H 2–1 3,740 Mansley, Gelson
45 4 May 1968Lincoln CityA0–1 8,701
46 11 May 1968Luton Town A1–2 14,643Moore (og)

FA Cup
Main article: 1967–68 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer(s) Notes
1R 13 December 1967 Guildford City H 2–2 6,725 Docherty, Myers [nb 1]
1R (replay)18 December 1967Guildford City A1–2 10,050 Myers [nb 1]

Football League Cup
Main article: 1967–68 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance
1R23 August 1967Southend United A0–1 7,905

Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1967–68 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Chic Brodie (1937-02-22)22 February 1937 (aged 30) Northampton Town 1963
GK Gordon Phillips (1946-11-17)17 November 1946 (aged 20) Hayes 1963
Defenders
DF Peter Gelson (c) (1941-10-18)18 October 1941 (aged 25) Youth 1961
DF Alan Hawley (1946-06-07)7 June 1946 (aged 21) Youth 1962
DF Tommy Higginson (1937-01-06)6 January 1937 (aged 30) Kilmarnock 1959
DF Allan Jones (1940-01-06)6 January 1940 (aged 27) Liverpool 1963
DF Alan Nelmes (1948-10-20)20 October 1948 (aged 18) Chelsea 1967
Midfielders
MF George Dobson (1949-08-24)24 August 1949 (aged 17) Youth 1966
MF Allan Mansley (1946-08-31)31 August 1946 (aged 20) Blackpool 1968
MF John Richardson (1949-02-05)5 February 1949 (aged 18) Millwall 1966
MF Bobby Ross (1942-05-10)10 May 1942 (aged 25) Shrewsbury Town 1966
MF George Thomson (1936-10-19)19 October 1936 (aged 30) Everton 1963
Forwards
FW Ron Fenton (1940-09-21)21 September 1940 (aged 26) Birmingham City 1968
FW Keith Hooker (1950-01-31)31 January 1950 (aged 17) Youth 1965
FW Ian Lawther (1939-10-20)20 October 1939 (aged 27) Scunthorpe United 1964
Players who left the club mid-season
MF John Docherty (1940-04-29)29 April 1940 (aged 27) Sheffield United 1966 Transferred to Reading
MF Cliff Myers (1946-09-23)23 September 1946 (aged 20) Charlton Athletic 1967 Transferred to Yeovil Town
FW Dennis Edwards (1937-01-19)19 January 1937 (aged 30) Portsmouth 1967 Returned to Portsmouth after loan
FW Eddie Reeve (1947-12-03)3 December 1947 (aged 19) Youth 1964 Loaned to Lincoln City, released
FW Ron Still (1943-06-20)20 June 1943 (aged 24) Notts County 1967 Released
  • Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford,[5] Timeless Bees[6]

Coaching staff
Name Role
Jimmy Sirrel Manager
Eddie Lyons Physiotherapist

Statistics

Appearances and goals
Substitute appearances in brackets.
Pos Nat Name League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Chic Brodie 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
GK Gordon Phillips 45 0 2 0 1 0 48 0
DF Peter Gelson 43 5 2 0 1 0 46 5
DF Alan Hawley 46 2 2 0 1 0 49 2
DF Tommy Higginson 41 (1) 3 2 0 1 0 44 (1) 3
DF Allan Jones 42 (1) 1 2 0 1 0 45 (1) 1
DF Alan Nelmes 24 1 2 0 0 (1) 0 26 (1) 1
MF George Dobson 36 3 0 0 1 0 37 3
MF John Docherty 28 11 2 1 1 0 31 12
MF Allan Mansley 19 4 — — 19 4
MF Cliff Myers 9 (1) 0 1 (1) 2 1 0 11 (2) 2
MF John Richardson 20 (1) 1 1 0 0 0 21 (1) 1
MF Bobby Ross 39 (2) 2 2 0 1 0 42 (2) 2
MF George Thomson 29 2 2 0 0 0 31 2
FW Ron Fenton 19 6 — — 19 6
FW Keith Hooker 16 (5) 1 1 0 1 0 18 (5) 1
FW Ian Lawther 40 11 1 0 1 0 42 11
FW Eddie Reeve 1 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 1 (1) 0
FW Ron Still 1 0 — — 1 0
Players loaned in during the season
FW Dennis Edwards 11 2 — — 11 2
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[5]

Goalscorers
Pos. Nat Player FL4 FAC FLC Total
MF John Docherty 11 1 0 12
FW Ian Lawther 11 0 0 11
FW Ron Fenton 6 — — 6
DF Peter Gelson 5 0 0 5
MF Allan Mansley 4 — — 4
MF George Dobson 3 0 0 3
DF Tommy Higginson 3 0 0 3
FW Dennis Edwards 2 — — 2
DF Alan Hawley 2 0 0 2
MF Bobby Ross 2 0 0 2
MF George Thomson 2 0 0 2
MF Cliff Myers 0 2 0 2
FW Keith Hooker 1 0 0 1
DF Allan Jones 1 0 0 1
DF Alan Nelmes 1 0 0 1
MF John Richardson 1 0 0 1
Opponents 6 0 0 6
Total613 064
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[5]

Management
Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Jimmy Sirrel 19 August 1967 11 May 1968 49 18 8 23 036.73 46 18 7 21 039.13

Summary
Games played49 (46 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Games won18 (18 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Games drawn8 (7 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Games lost23 (21 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Goals scored64 (61 Fourth Division, 3 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Goals conceded69 (64 Fourth Division, 4 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Clean sheets7 (7 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Biggest league win4–0 versus Rochdale, 9 September 1967; 5–1 versus Exeter City, 11 November 1967
Worst league defeat3–0 on three occasions; 4–1 versus Port Vale, 21 October 1967
Most appearances49, Alan Hawley (46 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Top scorer (league)11, John Docherty, Ian Lawther
Top scorer (all competitions)12, John Docherty

Transfers & loans
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
June 1967 MF Cliff Myers Charlton Athletic n/a [7]
July 1967 DF Alan Nelmes Chelsea n/a [7]
July 1967 FW Ron Still Notts County Trial [8]
August 1967 MF Geoff Anderson Lincoln City n/a [9]
January 1968 FW Ron Fenton Birmingham City n/a [10]
January 1968 MF Allan Mansley Blackpool n/a [11]
Players loaned in
Date from Pos. Name From Date to Ref.
September 1967 FW Dennis Edwards Portsmouth December 1967 [12]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
November 1967 MF Geoff Anderson Port Vale n/a [9]
February 1968 MF John Docherty Reading n/a [13]
1968 MF Cliff Myers Yeovil Town n/a [7]
Players loaned out
Date from Pos. Name To Date to Ref.
n/a FW Eddie Reeve Lincoln City n/a [14]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
August 1967 FW Ron Still Margate 1967 [8]
March 1968 FW Eddie Reeve Los Angeles Wolves March 1968 [14]
May 1968 MF George Thomson Retired [15]

Notes
  1. Both teams wore change colours.

References
  1. White 1989, p. 262-266.
  2. White 1989, p. 266-270.
  3. "Brentford results for the 1967–1968 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 29 August 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  4. "Brentford League Table 1967-1968". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  5. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 389. ISBN 0951526200.
  6. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  7. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 114-115.
  8. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 155.
  9. "Geoff Anderson". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  10. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 55.
  11. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 100.
  12. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 52-53.
  13. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 49.
  14. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 132.
  15. Sands, George (24 May 1968). "End of a frustrating season. December–January slump kills Bees' chances of promotion". Middlesex Chronicle.
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