1989–90 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1989–90 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. After showing relegation form during the first three months of the season, a revival between November 1989 and February 1990 ensured a mid-table finish.

Brentford
1989–90 season
ChairmanMartin Lange
Player-managerSteve Perryman
StadiumGriffin Park
Third Division13th
FA CupFirst round
League CupSecond round
Football League TrophyQuarter-final
Top goalscorerLeague: Holdsworth (24)
All: Holdsworth (28)
Highest home attendance7,962
Lowest home attendance2,544
Average home league attendance5,662

Season summary

After a long season in which the sheer amount of cup fixtures ultimately affected Brentford's hopes of a finish in the Third Division play-offs, manager Steve Perryman saw fit to make only minor changes to his squad.[1] Released were bit-part players and late-season signings Andy Feeley, Graham Pearce, Jon Purdie, Jeremy Roberts and Tony Sealy and in came just two players – club record £167,000 midfielder Eddie May from Hibernian (as a direct replacement for March 1989 departee Andy Sinton) and left back Mark Fleming on a free transfer from Queens Park Rangers.[1]

Aside from progressing to the second round of the League Cup, Brentford had a torrid start to the Third Division season and dropped into the relegation places on 9 September 1989.[2] Manager Perryman entered the transfer market to bring Watford forward Dean Holdsworth back to Griffin Park, after a one-month loan spell during the previous season.[3] The £125,000 paid for Holdsworth made him the club's most expensive forward at the time.[4] The signing of Holdsworth had little immediate impact and the Bees' slump continued from September into mid-November, when the club occupied bottom place in the division for three weeks in a row.[2] A 2–0 win over Northampton Town at the County Ground on 25 November provided the spark that changed the team's fortunes, with Holdsworth coming into form and inspiring a run of 10 wins and 1 draw from a 13-match spell, which lifted Brentford from 24th to 9th place.[2] The Bees stumbled through to the end of the season and the products of Colin Lee's youth team were given game time.[1] Brentford ended the campaign in 13th place.[2]

League table
Main article: 1989–90 Football League § Third Division
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
11 Shrewsbury Town 46 16 15 15 59 54 +5 63
12 Crewe Alexandra 46 15 17 14 56 53 +3 62
13 Brentford 46 18 7 21 66 66 0 61
14 Leyton Orient 46 16 10 20 52 56 −4 58
15 Mansfield Town 46 16 7 23 50 65 −15 55
Source:

Results
Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Pre-season
DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
19 July 1989Ashford Town (Middlesex)A3–0 n/aHaag, Gayle, Cronk
22 July 1989Farnborough TownA2–3 n/aBlissett, Cockram
24 July 1989Crewe UnitedA1–0 n/aGayle
29 July 1989St Albans CityA6–0 n/aHaag (2), Godfrey (2), May, Buttigieg
1 August 1989FullyA3–1 n/aJones (2, 1 pen), Smillie
7 August 1989YeadingH2–2 n/aJenkins, Funnell
9 August 1989Queens Park RangersH1–0 4,667Gayle
12 August 1989WimbledonH0–1 2,200
14 August 1989DartfordA1–2 n/aMoabi

Football League Third Division
No. DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
1 19 August 1989Bristol RoversA0–1 5,851
2 26 August 1989Chester CityH1–1 5,153Evans
3 2 September 1989Cardiff CityA2–2 3,499May (2)
4 9 September 1989BuryH0–1 5,010
5 16 September 1989Huddersfield TownA0–1 5,578
6 23 September 1989Birmingham CityH0–1 5,386
7 26 September 1989Crewe AlexandraA3–2 3,496Smillie, Jones, Godfrey
8 30 September 1989Wigan AthleticH3–1 4,647Blissett, Holdsworth, May
9 7 October 1989Bristol CityH0–2 7,421
10 14 October 1989Preston North EndA2–4 5,956May, Holdsworth
11 17 October 1989Bolton WanderersH1–2 4,537Holdsworth
12 21 October 1989Shrewsbury TownA0–1 3,073
13 28 October 1989FulhamH2–0 7,962Evans, Smillie
14 31 October 1989Notts County A1–3 4,586Moncur
15 4 November 1989Tranmere RoversH2–4 5,720May, Ratcliffe
16 11 November 1989BlackpoolA0–4 2,512
17 25 November 1989Northampton Town A2–0 3,165May, Holdsworth
18 3 December 1989Leyton OrientH4–3 6,434Smillie, May, Holdsworth (pen), Blissett
19 17 December 1989Mansfield TownH2–1 5,022Holdsworth (2)
20 26 December 1989ReadingA0–1 5,590
21 30 December 1989Swansea CityA1–2 4,537Blissett
22 1 January 1990WalsallH4–0 5,259Blissett, Smillie, Holdsworth, Jones
23 6 January 1990Rotherham United H4–2 5,624Holdsworth (3), Stanislaus
24 12 January 1990Chester CityA1–1 2,302Cockram
25 20 January 1990Bristol RoversH2–1 7,414Ratcliffe, Cadette
26 27 January 1990BuryA2–0 2,963May, Holdsworth
27 10 February 1990Huddersfield TownH2–1 6,774Holdsworth (2)
28 18 February 1990 Leyton Orient A 1–0 6,572 Holdsworth
29 21 February 1990Cardiff City H0–1 5,174
30 25 February 1990 Northampton Town H 3–2 6,391 Blissett (2), Holdsworth
31 3 March 1990Rotherham United A1–2 5,603Blissett
32 6 March 1990 Wigan Athletic A 1–2 1,938 Blissett
33 10 March 1990Crewe Alexandra H0–2 5,815
34 13 March 1990Birmingham CityA1–0 8,169Holdsworth
35 17 March 1990Bristol CityA0–2 10,813
36 20 March 1990Preston North EndH2–2 4,673Holdsworth, Blissett
37 24 March 1990Bolton WanderersA1–0 6,156Holdsworth
38 31 March 1990Shrewsbury Town H1–1 5,387Smillie
39 7 April 1990 Notts County H 0–1 5,105
40 10 April 1990FulhamA0–1 6,729
41 14 April 1990WalsallA1–2 2,903Sparham
42 16 April 1990Reading H1–1 5,594Driscoll
43 21 April 1990Mansfield Town A3–2 2,347Holdsworth (2, 1 pen), Blissett
44 28 April 1990BlackpoolH5–0 4,784Evans, Cockram, Holdsworth, Driscoll, Blissett
45 2 May 1990Swansea CityH2–1 4,950Holdsworth (2)
46 5 May 1990Tranmere Rovers A2–2 5,379Godfrey, Evans

FA Cup
Main article: 1989–90 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance
1R18 November 1989Colchester United H0–1 4,171

Football League Cup
Main article: 1989–90 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer(s)
R1 (1st leg) 23 August 1989 Brighton & Hove Albion A 3–0 6,405 Millen, Godfrey, May
R1 (2nd leg) 29 August 1989 Brighton & Hove Albion H 1–1 (won 4–1 on aggregate) 4,306 Blissett
R2 (2nd leg) 19 September 1989 Manchester City H 2–1 6,065 Evans, Blissett
R2 (1st leg) 4 October 1989 Manchester City A 1–4 (lost 5–3 on aggregate) 17,864 May

Football League Trophy
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer
SPR (match 1) 7 November 1989 Leyton Orient H 3–0 2,544 Holdsworth (2), May
SPR (match 2) 9 December 1989 Mansfield Town A 1–2 1,445 Holdsworth
SR1 23 January 1990 Reading H 2–1 3,928 May, Cadette
SQF 6 February 1990 Bristol Rovers H 2–2 (a.e.t.), lost 4–3 on pens) 4,409 Smillie, Holdsworth
  • Sources: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties,[5] Statto

Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1989–90 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Ashley Bayes (1972-04-19)19 April 1972 (aged 17) Youth 1990
GK Tony Parks (1963-01-26)26 January 1963 (aged 26) Tottenham Hotspur 1988
Defenders
DF Jamie Bates (1968-02-24)24 February 1968 (aged 21) Youth 1986
DF John Buttigieg (1963-10-05)5 October 1963 (aged 25) Sliema Wanderers 1988
DF Jason Cousins (1970-10-04)4 October 1970 (aged 18) Youth 1989
DF Terry Evans (1965-04-12)12 April 1965 (aged 24) Hillingdon 1985
DF Mark Fleming (1969-08-11)11 August 1969 (aged 20) Queens Park Rangers 1989
DF Keith Millen (1966-09-26)26 September 1966 (aged 22) Youth 1985
DF Steve Perryman (1951-12-21)21 December 1951 (aged 37) Oxford United 1986 Manager
DF Robbie Peters (1971-05-18)18 May 1971 (aged 18) Youth 1989
DF Sean Sparham (1968-12-04)4 December 1968 (aged 20) Millwall 1990 On loan from Millwall
DF Roger Stanislaus (1968-11-02)2 November 1968 (aged 20) Arsenal 1987
Midfielders
MF Paul Buckle (1970-12-16)16 December 1970 (aged 18) Youth 1989
MF Allan Cockram (1963-10-08)8 October 1963 (aged 25) St Albans City 1988
MF Andy Driscoll (1971-10-21)21 October 1971 (aged 17) Youth 1989
MF Marcus Gayle (1970-09-27)27 September 1970 (aged 18) Youth 1988 Loaned to KuPS
MF Kevin Godfrey (1960-02-24)24 February 1960 (aged 29) Leyton Orient 1988
MF Keith Jones (c) (1965-10-14)14 October 1965 (aged 23) Chelsea 1987
MF Eddie May (1967-08-30)30 August 1967 (aged 21) Hibernian 1989
MF Simon Ratcliffe (1967-02-08)8 February 1967 (aged 22) Norwich City 1989
MF Neil Smillie (1958-07-19)19 July 1958 (aged 31) Reading 1988
Forwards
FW Gary Blissett (1964-05-29)29 May 1964 (aged 25) Crewe Alexandra 1987
FW Richard Cadette (1965-03-21)21 March 1965 (aged 24) Sheffield United 1988 Loaned to Bournemouth
FW Kelly Haag (1970-10-06)6 October 1970 (aged 18) Youth 1989
FW Dean Holdsworth (1968-11-08)8 November 1968 (aged 20) Watford 1989
Players who left the club mid-season
GK Keith Branagan (1966-07-10)10 July 1966 (aged 23) Millwall 1989 Returned to Millwall after loan
GK Colin Scott (1970-05-19)19 May 1970 (aged 19) Rangers 1990 Returned to Rangers after loan
DF Paul Miller (1959-10-11)11 October 1959 (aged 29) Bournemouth 1989 Returned to Bournemouth after loan
MF John Moncur (1966-09-22)22 September 1966 (aged 22) Tottenham Hotspur 1989 Returned to Tottenham Hotspur after loan
FW Andy Ansah (1969-03-19)19 March 1969 (aged 20) Dorking 1989 Transferred to Southend United
  • Sources: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties,[6] Timeless Bees[7]

Coaching staff
Name Role
Steve Perryman Manager
Phil Holder Assistant Manager
Roy Clare Physiotherapist

Statistics

Appearances and goals
Substitute appearances in brackets.
Pos Nat Name League FA Cup League Cup FL Trophy Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Ashley Bayes 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
GK Tony Parks 37 0 1 0 4 0 3 0 45 0
DF Jamie Bates 10 (5) 0 0 0 1 (2) 0 3 0 14 (7) 0
DF John Buttigieg 12 (10) 0 0 0 3 (1) 0 0 (2) 0 15 (13) 0
DF Jason Cousins 12 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 1 (1) 0 13 (2) 0
DF Terry Evans 44 4 1 0 4 1 3 0 52 5
DF Mark Fleming 15 (2) 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 16 (2) 0
DF Keith Millen 32 0 1 0 4 1 0 0 37 1
DF Steve Perryman 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 5 0
DF Robbie Peters 1 (1) 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 (1) 0
DF Roger Stanislaus 31 1 0 0 4 0 3 0 38 1
MF Paul Buckle 6 (4) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 (4) 0
MF Allan Cockram 21 (5) 2 0 0 0 (2) 0 3 0 24 (7) 2
MF Andy Driscoll 10 (2) 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 (2) 2
MF Marcus Gayle 1 (8) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 (8) 0
MF Kevin Godfrey 16 (11) 2 0 (1) 0 2 1 0 (3) 0 18 (15) 3
MF Keith Jones 42 2 1 0 4 0 3 0 50 2
MF Eddie May 30 8 1 0 4 2 4 2 39 12
MF Simon Ratcliffe 35 2 1 0 4 0 4 0 44 2
MF Neil Smillie 43 5 1 0 4 0 4 1 52 6
FW Andy Ansah 0 (1) 0 0 0 0 (1) 0 0 0 0 (2) 0
FW Gary Blissett 36 (1) 11 1 0 4 2 1 (1) 0 45 (2) 13
FW Richard Cadette 7 (9) 1 0 0 1 (1) 0 3 1 11 (10) 2
FW Kelly Haag 1 (4) 0 0 (1) 0 0 (1) 0 0 0 1 (6) 0
FW Dean Holdsworth 39 24 1 0 1 0 4 4 45 28
Players loaned in during the season
GK Keith Branagan 2 0 — — 1 0 3 0
GK Colin Scott 6 0 — — — 6 0
DF Paul Miller 3 0 — — 1 0 4 0
DF Sean Sparham 5 1 — — — 5 1
MF John Moncur 5 1 — — 1 0 6 1
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties[8]

Goalscorers
Pos. Nat Player FL3 FAC FLC FLT Total
FW Dean Holdsworth 24 0 0 4 28
FW Gary Blissett 11 0 2 0 13
MF Eddie May 8 0 2 2 12
MF Neil Smillie 5 0 0 1 6
DF Terry Evans 4 0 1 0 5
MF Kevin Godfrey 2 0 1 0 3
MF Allan Cockram 2 0 0 0 2
MF Andy Driscoll 2 0 0 0 2
MF Keith Jones 2 0 0 0 2
MF Simon Ratcliffe 2 0 0 0 2
FW Richard Cadette 1 0 0 1 2
DF Sean Sparham 1 — — — 1
MF John Moncur 1 — — 0 1
DF Roger Stanislaus 1 0 0 0 1
DF Keith Millen 0 0 1 0 1
Total660 7 881
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties[8]

Management
Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Steve Perryman 19 August 1989 5 May 1990 55 22 9 24 040.00 46 18 7 21 039.13

Summary
Games played55 (46 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 4 Football League Trophy)
Games won22 (18 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)
Games drawn9 (7 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Games lost24 (21 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Goals scored81 (66 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 7 League Cup, 8 Football League Trophy)
Goals conceded78 (66 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 6 League Cup, 5 Football League Trophy)
Clean sheets10 (8 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Biggest league win5–0 versus Blackpool, 28 April 1990
Worst league defeat4–0 versus Blackpool, 11 November 1989
Most appearances52, Terry Evans (44 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 3 Football League Trophy), Neil Smillie (43 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 4 Football League Trophy)
Top scorer (league)24, Dean Holdsworth
Top scorer (all competitions)28, Dean Holdsworth

Transfers & loans
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
26 July 1989 MF Eddie May Hibernian £167,000 [9]
July 1989 DF Mark Fleming Queens Park Rangers Free [10]
29 September 1989 FW Dean Holdsworth Watford £125,000 [11]
Players loaned in
Date from Pos. Name From Date to Ref.
19 October 1989 MF John Moncur Tottenham Hotspur November 1989 [12]
24 November 1989 GK Keith Branagan Millwall December 1989 [13]
November 1989 DF Paul Miller Bournemouth December 1989 [10]
22 March 1990 GK Colin Scott Rangers April 1990 [14]
March 1990 DF Sean Sparham Millwall End of season [10]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
29 March 1990 FW Andy Ansah Southend United Free [15]
Players loaned out
Date from Pos. Name To Date to Ref.
October 1989 MF Matthew Howard St Albans City January 1990 [10]
22 March 1990 FW Richard Cadette Bournemouth End of season [16]
March 1990 MF Marcus Gayle KuPS September 1990 [10]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
January 1990 MF Matthew Howard St Albans City January 1990 [10]
May 1990 FW Kelly Haag Fulham August 1990 [10]

Kit

Supplier: Hobot
Sponsor(s): KLM

Home
Away

Source: Brentford F.C.

Awards

References
  1. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 260.
  2. Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1989-1990 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 12 September 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  3. Haynes & Coumbe, p. 78.
  4. Brentford Football Club Official Matchday Magazine versus Hull City. 7 May 2005. pp. 46–47.
  5. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 262-275.
  6. Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2011). The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. ISBN 978-1906796716.
  7. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  8. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 431.
  9. Eddie May at Soccerbase
  10. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 276-281.
  11. Dean Holdsworth at Soccerbase
  12. John Moncur at Soccerbase
  13. Keith Branagan at Soccerbase
  14. Colin Scott at Soccerbase
  15. Andy Ansah at Soccerbase
  16. Richard Cadette at Soccerbase
  17. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 383.
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