1968–69 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1968–69 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Fourth Division. Off the back of 18 months of extreme financial problems, the club finished in mid-table.

Brentford
1968–69 season
ChairmanRon Blindell
ManagerJimmy Sirrel
StadiumGriffin Park
Fourth Division11th
FA CupSecond round
League CupThird round
Top goalscorerLeague: Mansley (14)
All: Mansley (17)
Highest home attendance17,425
Lowest home attendance3,361
Average home league attendance6,419

Season summary

After two tumultuous seasons off the pitch, a continued cash crisis meant that during the 1968 off-season, Brentford manager Jimmy Sirrel would not be provided with the funds to buy players who could guarantee a lasting run at promotion from the Fourth Division.[1] He was able to plug the gaps in his threadbare squad, bringing in full back Denis Hunt and journeyman forwards Pat Terry and Peter Deakin.[1] A need to balance the books led to Ian Lawther (one of the club's most consistent goalscorers since the 1964–65 season) being sold for a £3,000 fee a matter of days before the beginning of the season.[1]

Manager Sirrel's young team began the season in promising form, losing just two of the first 15 league matches to consolidate a position in the top six.[2] Brentford's position belied the club's personnel problems, with a growing catalogue of injuries, illness and suspensions.[1] £10,000 was spent on Arsenal winger Gordon Neilson in October 1968, an extravagant amount given Brentford's financial problems.[1] An inconsistent spell between November 1968 and April 1969 dropped the Bees as low as 19th, two places above the re-election zone, but six wins in the final seven matches of the season lifted the club to an 11th-place finish.[2]

League table
Main article: 1968–69 Football League § Fourth Division
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
9 Wrexham 46 18 14 14 61 52 1.173 50
10 Swansea Town 46 19 11 16 58 54 1.074 49
11 Brentford 46 18 12 16 64 65 0.985 48
12 Workington 46 15 17 14 40 43 0.930 47
13 Port Vale 46 16 14 16 46 46 1.000 46
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 10 August 1968Colchester UnitedH4–0 7,586Deakin, Moughton (og), Terry, Ross
2 17 August 1968Scunthorpe UnitedA1–1 3,685Terry
3 24 August 1968Port ValeH3–1 7,443Mansley, Fenton (2)
4 26 August 1968RochdaleH1–1 9,149Deakin
5 31 August 1968Exeter CityA2–2 8,835Terry, Richardson
6 7 September 1968Chesterfield H1–0 9,703Fenton
7 14 September 1968Peterborough United A1–2 6,435Dobson
8 18 September 1968ChesterA2–2 8,410Terry, Ross
9 21 September 1968York CityH5–1 8,360Carr (og), Terry (3), Ross
10 28 September 1968Bradford CityA0–3 6,491
11 5 October 1968Newport CountyH1–1 7,825Mansley
12 7 October 1968RochdaleA0–0 5,181
13 12 October 1968Swansea TownA3–2 6,912Neilson, Terry, Fenton
14 19 October 1968Wrexham H1–1 7,791Mansley
15 26 October 1968Notts CountyA2–0 4,173Mansley (2)
16 2 November 1968AldershotH2–4 9,806Mansley, Higginson
17 4 November 1968Darlington H0–1 8,550
18 9 November 1968Lincoln CityA0–1 6,121
19 23 November 1968Bradford Park Avenue A2–0 2,341Fenton, Kirby
20 30 November 1968Halifax Town H1–1 6,002Mansley
21 14 December 1968Swansea TownH2–1 4,321Terry, Hawley
22 21 December 1968WrexhamA0–2 4,867
23 26 December 1968Newport CountyA1–1 3,750Gelson
24 4 January 1969WorkingtonH0–3 6,081
25 11 January 1969AldershotA2–1 9,280Mansley (2)
26 18 January 1969Lincoln CityH2–2 6,572Terry, Ross
27 25 January 1969 Darlington A 1–3 5,184 Dobson
28 31 January 1969Southend UnitedA0–4 10,969
29 22 February 1969Grimsby TownH4–2 5,697Richardson, Neilson (2), Terry
30 28 February 1969Colchester UnitedA1–2 7,268Neilson
31 5 March 1969 Workington A 0–1 2,318
32 8 March 1969Scunthorpe UnitedH2–1 5,456Neilson, Nelmes
33 10 March 1969Southend UnitedH1–1 6,030Terry
34 15 March 1969Port ValeA1–4 4,478Ross (pen)
35 22 March 1969Exeter CityH0–1 5,242
36 26 March 1969 Notts County H 0–0 3,361
37 29 March 1969ChesterfieldA2–1 3,261Mansley, Neilson
38 8 April 1969Doncaster Rovers A0–5 11,561
39 12 April 1969York CityA1–2 3,767Mansley
40 14 April 1969Doncaster RoversH1–0 4,222Richardson
41 19 April 1969Peterborough UnitedH2–0 4,492Fenton, Mansley
42 21 April 1969Bradford Park Avenue H3–0 4,137Fenton (2), Ross (pen)
43 28 April 1969Halifax Town A0–2 6,948
44 30 April 1969Chester H2–1 4,090Mansley, Fenton
45 3 May 1969Grimsby TownA2–0 1,672Gelson, Dobson
46 5 May 1969 Bradford City H 2–1 5,720 Richardson, Mansley

FA Cup
Main article: 1968–69 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer(s) Notes
1R 16 November 1968 Woking H 2–0 5,990 Fenton, Ross [nb 1]
2R7 December 1968Watford A0–1 12,883

Football League Cup
Main article: 1968–69 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer(s)
1R 14 August 1968 Aldershot A 4–2 5,977 Rafferty (og), Deakin, Mansley, Terry
2R 4 September 1969 Hull City H 3–0 11,485 Mansley (2), Fenton
3R24 September 1969Norwich City H0–2 17,425

Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1968–69 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Chic Brodie (1937-02-22)22 February 1937 (aged 31) Northampton Town 1963
GK Gordon Phillips (1946-11-17)17 November 1946 (aged 21) Hayes 1963 Loaned to Queens Park Rangers
Defenders
DF Peter Gelson (1941-10-18)18 October 1941 (aged 26) Youth 1961
DF Alan Hawley (1946-06-07)7 June 1946 (aged 22) Youth 1962
DF Tommy Higginson (1937-01-06)6 January 1937 (aged 31) Kilmarnock 1959
DF Denis Hunt (1937-09-08)8 September 1937 (aged 30) Gillingham 1968
DF Allan Jones (1940-01-06)6 January 1940 (aged 28) Liverpool 1963
DF Alan Nelmes (1948-10-20)20 October 1948 (aged 19) Chelsea 1967
DF Dick Renwick (1942-11-27)27 November 1942 (aged 25) Aldershot 1969
Midfielders
MF George Dobson (1949-08-24)24 August 1949 (aged 18) Youth 1966
MF Allan Mansley (1946-08-31)31 August 1946 (aged 21) Blackpool 1968
MF Gordon Neilson (1947-05-28)28 May 1947 (aged 21) Arsenal 1968
MF John Richardson (1949-02-05)5 February 1949 (aged 19) Millwall 1966
MF Bobby Ross (1942-05-10)10 May 1942 (aged 26) Shrewsbury Town 1966
Forwards
FW Ron Fenton (c) (1940-09-21)21 September 1940 (aged 27) Birmingham City 1968 Assistant manager
FW Ron Foster (1938-11-22)22 November 1938 (aged 29) Dallas Tornado 1969
FW Pat Terry (1933-10-02)2 October 1933 (aged 34) Swindon Town 1968
Players who left the club mid-season
GK Ron Willis (1947-12-27)27 December 1947 (aged 20) Charlton Athletic 1968 Returned to Charlton Athletic after loan
MF Brian Caterer (1943-01-31)31 January 1943 (aged 25) Leatherhead 1968 Amateur, released
FW Peter Deakin (1938-03-25)25 March 1938 (aged 30) Peterborough United 1968 Released
FW Keith Hooker (1950-01-31)31 January 1950 (aged 18) Youth 1965 Loaned to Brentwood Town, released
FW George Kirby (1933-12-20)20 December 1933 (aged 34) New York Generals 1968 Transferred to Worcester City
  • Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford,[3] Timeless Bees[4]

Coaching staff
Name Role
Jimmy Sirrel Manager
Ron Fenton Assistant 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 22 0 2 0 1 0 25 0
GK Gordon Phillips 23 0 0 0 2 0 25 0
DF Peter Gelson 42 2 2 0 3 0 47 2
DF Alan Hawley 8 (2) 1 2 0 0 0 10 (2) 1
DF Tommy Higginson 37 (2) 1 1 0 3 0 41 (2) 1
DF Denis Hunt 12 0 0 0 2 0 14 0
DF Allan Jones 45 0 2 0 3 0 50 0
DF Alan Nelmes 44 1 2 0 2 (1) 0 48 (1) 1
DF Dick Renwick 17 0 — — 17 0
MF Brian Caterer 1 0 — — 1 0
MF George Dobson 22 (6) 3 0 0 3 0 25 (6) 3
MF Allan Mansley 41 14 2 0 3 3 46 17
MF Gordon Neilson 23 (4) 6 2 0 — 25 (4) 6
MF John Richardson 41 (1) 4 2 0 2 0 45 (1) 4
MF Bobby Ross 43 (1) 6 2 1 3 0 48 (1) 7
FW Peter Deakin 7 (1) 2 — 2 1 9 (1) 3
FW Ron Fenton 39 (2) 9 2 1 2 1 43 (2) 11
FW Ron Foster 3 (1) 0 — — 3 (1) 0
FW Keith Hooker 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
FW George Kirby 5 1 1 (1) 0 — 6 (1) 1
FW Pat Terry 29 12 0 0 2 1 31 13
Players loaned in during the season
GK Ron Willis 1 0 — — 1 0
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[3]

Goalscorers
Pos. Nat Player FL4 FAC FLC Total
MF Allan Mansley 14 0 3 17
FW Pat Terry 12 0 1 13
FW Ron Fenton 9 1 1 11
MF Bobby Ross 6 1 0 7
MF Gordon Neilson 6 0 — 6
MF John Richardson 4 0 0 4
MF George Dobson 3 0 0 3
FW Peter Deakin 2 — 1 3
DF Peter Gelson 2 0 0 2
FW George Kirby 1 0 — 1
DF Alan Hawley 1 0 0 1
DF Tommy Higginson 1 0 0 1
DF Alan Nelmes 1 0 0 1
Opponents 2 0 1 3
Total642 773
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[3]

Management
Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Jimmy Sirrel 10 August 1968 5 May 1969 51 21 12 18 041.18 46 18 12 16 039.13

Summary
Games played51 (46 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 3 League Cup)
Games won21 (18 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)
Games drawn12 (12 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Games lost18 (16 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Goals scored73 (64 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 7 League Cup)
Goals conceded70 (65 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 4 League Cup)
Clean sheets12 (10 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Biggest league win4–0 versus Colchester United, 10 August 1968; 5–1 versus York City, 21 September 1968
Worst league defeat5–0 versus Doncaster Rovers, 8 April 1969
Most appearances50, Allan Jones (45 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 3 League Cup)
Top scorer (league)14, Allan Mansley
Top scorer (all competitions)17, Allan Mansley

Transfers & loans
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
June 1968 DF Denis Hunt Gillingham Free [5]
June 1968 FW Pat Terry Swindon Town n/a [6]
July 1968 MF Peter Deakin Peterborough United n/a [7]
October 1968 FW Brian Caterer Leatherhead Amateur [8]
October 1968 FW George Kirby New York Generals n/a [9]
October 1968 MF Gordon Neilson Arsenal £10,000 [10]
February 1969 DF Dick Renwick Aldershot £1,500 [11]
March 1969 FW Ron Foster Dallas Tornado Trial [12]
Players loaned in
Date from Pos. Name From Date to Ref.
September 1968 GK Ron Willis Charlton Athletic September 1968 [13]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
August 1968 FW Ian Lawther Halifax Town £3,000 [14]
1968 FW George Kirby Worcester City n/a [9]
Players loaned out
Date from Pos. Name To Date to Ref.
1969 GK Gordon Phillips Queens Park Rangers 1969 [1]
n/a FW Keith Hooker Brentwood Town n/a [15]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
October 1968 FW Brian Caterer Leatherhead October 1968 [8]
October 1968 FW Peter Deakin Nuneaton Borough October 1968 [7]
May 1969 FW Ron Foster Retired [12]
May 1969 DF Denis Hunt Folkestone 1969 [5]
May 1969 FW Pat Terry Hillingdon Borough 1969 [6]
1969 FW Keith Hooker Durban Spurs 1969 [15]

Notes
  1. Both teams played in change colours, with Brentford borrowing Watford's home shirts for the match.

References
  1. White 1989, p. 271-273.
  2. "Brentford results for the 1968-1969 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 12 September 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  3. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 390. ISBN 0951526200.
  4. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  5. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 83-84.
  6. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 159.
  7. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 46.
  8. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 35.
  9. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 92-93.
  10. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 114.
  11. Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2011). The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. pp. 357–358. ISBN 978-1906796709.
  12. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 59.
  13. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 170.
  14. "Ian Lawther". nifootball.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  15. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 80.
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