1990–91 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1990–91 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. Five wins in the final six matches of the season propelled the Bees from mid-table into the play-offs, where the club was defeated by Tranmere Rovers in the semi-finals.

Brentford
1990–91 season
ChairmanMartin Lange
ManagerPhil Holder
StadiumGriffin Park
Third Division6th
Play-offsSemi-final
FA CupThird round
League CupSecond round
Football League TrophySouthern Area final
Top goalscorerLeague: Blissett (10)
All: Blissett (15)
Highest home attendance8,021
Lowest home attendance4,812
Average home league attendance6,144

Season summary
Steve Perryman resigned as manager on the eve of the season.

Third Division Brentford conducted little transfer business during the 1990 off-season, buying only Sheffield United goalkeeper Graham Benstead and selling full back Roger Stanislaus to Bury.[1] Midfielder Eddie May was transfer-listed at his own request, while midfielders Keith Jones, Kevin Godfrey and forward Richard Cadette rejected new contracts and instead signed weekly deals.[2] 10 days before the first match of the season, the club was rocked by the resignation of manager Steve Perryman,[1] who had been in charge since February 1987.[3] Perryman's assistant Phil Holder took over and began his first job in football management.[2]

Just two defeats from the opening 12 league matches of the season had Brentford flirting with automatic promotion, before successive defeats in late October and early November dropped the club into the play-off places.[4] Aided by the goalscoring of fit-again Gary Blissett, the Bees showed good league form through November and December and ended 1990 in the automatic promotion places.[4] After loss to Oldham Athletic in the third round of the FA Cup, attention turned to the Football League Trophy, in which the Bees went all the way to the Southern Area finals before being defeated over two legs by league rivals Birmingham City.[4] The run in the Trophy affected Brentford's promotion-chasing form, with the team having won just seven of 17 matches since the turn of the year.[4] A draw and a defeat in the wake of the Trophy exit gave way to improved form for the remainder of the season, with five wins from six matches sealing a 6th-place finish and a two-legged tie with Tranmere Rovers in the play-off semi-finals.[4] A 3–2 defeat on aggregate ended Brentford's season.[4]

League table
Main article: 1990–91 Football League § Third Division
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
4 Bolton Wanderers 46 24 11 11 64 50 +14 83 Participated in play-offs
5 Tranmere Rovers 46 23 9 14 64 46 +18 78 Promoted through play-offs[lower-alpha 1]
6 Brentford 46 21 13 12 59 47 +12 76 Participated in play-offs
7 Bury 46 20 13 13 67 56 +11 73
8 Bradford City 46 20 10 16 62 54 +8 70
Source:
Notes:
  1. Tranmere Rovers won the play-offs and were promoted.

Results
Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Pre-season
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)
31 July 1990KingstonianA2–2n/aSmillie, May
7 August 1990Chesham UnitedA1–1n/aCadette
11 August 1990ChelseaH0–64,915
14 August 1990Oxford United H1–15,775Holdsworth
17 August 1990Charlton AthleticH1–21,231Smillie

Football League Third Division
No. DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)
1 25 August 1990BournemouthH0–06,156
2 1 September 1990Mansfield TownA2–03,518Smilie, Godfrey
3 8 September 1990Chester CityH0–15,459
4 15 September 1990Swansea CityA2–23,660Bates, Jones (pen)
5 18 September 1990Rotherham United A2–25,775Holdsworth, Smilie
6 22 September 1990Bolton Wanderers H4–24,586May, Brooke, Jones, Holdsworth
7 29 September 1990Grimsby Town H1–03,900Jones
8 2 October 1990Preston North EndA1–15,658Godfrey
9 6 October 1990Bradford City A1–07,710Godfrey
10 14 October 1990Cambridge UnitedH0–33,139
11 20 October 1990Huddersfield Town H1–07,705May
12 23 October 1990ReadingA2–12,280Gayle, Holdsworth
13 26 October 1990Tranmere RoversA1–28,575Holdsworth (pen)
14 4 November 1990Southend United H0–110,605
15 10 November 1990BuryH2–28,798Blissett, Cockram
16 24 November 1990Exeter CityA1–14,764Blissett
17 2 December 1990Leyton OrientA1–05,359Godfrey
18 16 December 1990Stoke CityA2–22,475Cadette, Smilie
19 23 December 1990Wigan AthleticH1–06,675Blissett (pen)
20 26 December 1990Birmingham CityA2–06,669Blissett (2)
21 29 December 1990Crewe Alexandra A3–31,447Blissett, Cadette, Cockram
22 1 January 1991Shrewsbury TownH3–07,226Blissett, Gayle, Cockram
23 12 January 1991Mansfield TownH0–03,582
24 19 January 1991BournemouthA0–24,421
25 26 January 1991Swansea CityH2–07,102Blissett, Jones
26 2 February 1991Rotherham UnitedH1–27,333Jones
27 5 February 1991Bolton WanderersA0–115,984
28 16 February 1991Exeter City H1–09,004Millen
29 23 February 1991BuryH1–17,559Cadette
30 3 March 1991Leyton OrientA2–16,079Cadette, Holdsworth
31 9 March 1991Stoke CityH0–46,789
32 12 March 1991Preston North EndH2–07,484Bates, Blissett
33 16 March 1991Grimsby TownA0–216,417
34 19 March 1991Cambridge UnitedA0–07,605
35 23 March 1991Bradford CityH6–16,869og, Evans, Jones, Cadette (2), Gayle
36 30 March 1991Birmingham CityH2–25,660Ratcliffe, Blissett
37 1 April 1991Wigan AthleticA0–13,548
38 6 April 1991Crewe AlexandraH1–05,561Fleming
39 13 April 1991Shrewsbury TownA1–113,290Ratcliffe
40 16 April 1991FulhamH1–26,791Rostron
41 20 April 1991Huddersfield TownA2–13,770Jones, Peters
42 23 April 1991FulhamA1–08,383Rostron
43 27 April 1991Reading H1–04,382Millen
44 30 April 1991Chester CityA2–112,071Gayle, Holdsworth
45 4 May 1991Tranmere Rovers H0–22,371
46 11 May 1991 Southend United A 1–0 14,539 Gayle

Football League Third Division play-offs
Main article: 1991 Football League play-offs
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance Scorer(s)
SF (1st leg)19 May 1991Tranmere RoversH2–214,160Evans, Godfrey
SF (2nd leg)22 May 1991Tranmere Rovers A0–1 (lost 3–2 on aggregate)11,161

FA Cup
Main article: 1990–91 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance Scorer(s)
R1 17 November 1990 Yeovil Town H 5–0 5,830 Blissett, Holdsworth (2), May, Jones
R212 December 1990Birmingham CityA3–17,328Blissett, Millen, Jones
R35 January 1991Oldham Athletic A1–36,538Holdsworth

Football League Cup
Main article: 1990–91 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance Scorer(s)
R1 (1st leg) 28 August 1990 Hereford United H 2–0 5,583 Bates, Godfrey
R1 (2nd leg) 5 September 1990 Hereford United A 0–1 (won 2–1 on aggregate) 4,927
R2 (1st leg) 26 September 1990 Sheffield Wednesday A 1–2 4,502 Evans
R2 (2nd leg)9 October 1990Sheffield WednesdayH1–2 (lost 4–2 on aggregate)7,394Jones (pen)

Football League Trophy
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance Scorer(s)
SPR 27 November 1990 Fulham A 1–1 2,761 Blissett
SPR29 January 1991Leyton OrientH2–01,348Blissett (2)
SR1 21 February 1991 Wrexham H 0–0 (a.e.t.), won 3–0 on pens) 2,247
SQF 28 February 1991 Hereford United A 2–0 2,207 Smilie, Holdsworth
SSF 5 March 1991 Southend United A 3–0 3,937 Smilie, Jones, Cadette
SAF (1st leg)26 March 1991Birmingham CityA1–21,871Gayle
SAF (2nd leg) 9 April 1991 Birmingham City H 0–1 (lost 3–1 on aggregate) 1,861

Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1990–91 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Graham Benstead (1963-08-20)20 August 1963 (aged 27) Sheffield United 1990
Defenders
DF Jamie Bates (1968-02-24)24 February 1968 (aged 22) Youth 1986
DF Jason Cousins (1970-10-04)4 October 1970 (aged 19) Youth 1989
DF Terry Evans (c) (1965-04-12)12 April 1965 (aged 25) Hillingdon 1985
DF Mark Fleming (1969-08-11)11 August 1969 (aged 21) Queens Park Rangers 1989
DF Clive Goodyear (1961-01-15)15 January 1961 (aged 29) Wimbledon 1990
DF Keith Millen (1966-09-26)26 September 1966 (aged 23) Youth 1985
Midfielders
MF Paul Buckle (1970-12-16)16 December 1970 (aged 19) Youth 1988
MF Allan Cockram (1963-10-08)8 October 1963 (aged 26) St Albans City 1988
MF Kevin Godfrey (1960-02-24)24 February 1960 (aged 30) Leyton Orient 1988
MF Keith Jones (1965-10-14)14 October 1965 (aged 24) Chelsea 1987
MF Robbie Peters (1971-05-18)18 May 1971 (aged 19) Youth 1989 Loaned to St Albans City
MF Simon Ratcliffe (1967-02-08)8 February 1967 (aged 23) Norwich City 1989
MF Wilf Rostron (1956-09-29)29 September 1956 (aged 33) Sheffield United 1991 Assistant manager
MF Neil Smilie (1958-07-19)19 July 1958 (aged 32) Reading 1988
Forwards
FW Gary Blissett (1964-06-29)29 June 1964 (aged 26) Crewe Alexandra 1987
FW Richard Cadette (1965-03-21)21 March 1965 (aged 25) Sheffield United 1988
FW Marcus Gayle (1970-09-27)27 September 1970 (aged 19) Youth 1988 Loaned to KuPS
FW Dean Holdsworth (1968-11-08)8 November 1968 (aged 21) Watford 1989
Players who left the club mid-season
GK Tony Parks (1963-01-26)26 January 1963 (aged 27) Tottenham Hotspur 1988 Loaned to Queens Park Rangers and Fulham, transferred to Fulham
DF Jim Carstairs (1971-01-29)29 January 1971 (aged 19) Arsenal 1991 Returned to Arsenal after loan
DF Stuart Cash (1965-09-05)5 September 1965 (aged 24) Nottingham Forest 1990 Returned to Nottingham Forest after loan
MF Garry Brooke (1960-11-24)24 November 1960 (aged 29) Wimbledon 1990 Released
MF Eddie May (1967-08-30)30 August 1967 (aged 22) Hibernian 1989 Transferred to Falkirk
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties[6]

Coaching staff
Name Role
Phil Holder Manager
Wilf Rostron Assistant Manager
Graham Pearce First Team Coach
Roy Clare Physiotherapist

Statistics

Appearances and goals
Substitute appearances in brackets.
Pos Nat Name League FA Cup League Cup FL Trophy Play-offs Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Graham Benstead 450304070 2 0610
GK Tony Parks 1 0 0 0 — 0 0 — 1 0
DF Jamie Bates 30 (2)2004140 2 040 (2)3
DF Jason Cousins 800 03 01 (1) 0 0 012 (1)0
DF Terry Evans 3623 01 (1) 16 0 2 148 (1)4
DF Mark Fleming 1813 02 04 0 0 0271
DF Clive Goodyear 100——10 0 0110
DF Keith Millen 31 (1)2314030 2 041 (1)3
MF Garry Brooke 8 (3)10 (1)020— —10 (4)1
MF Paul Buckle 24 (2)02 02 04 (1) 0 0 032 (3)0
MF Allan Cockram 7 (13) 3 1 (2) 0 0 0 4 (2) 0 0 0 12 (17) 3
MF Kevin Godfrey 26 (6)42 (1) 04 13 (2) 0 1 (1) 136 (10)6
MF Keith Jones 4563 2416 1 2 06010
MF Eddie May 16 (1)21 14 0 1 0 —22 (1)3
MF Robbie Peters 6 1 — 0 0 — 0 (1) 0 6 (1) 1
MF Simon Ratcliffe 34 (4)2300 (2)060 2 045 (6)2
MF Wilf Rostron 18 (4)2——2 (2)0 2 022 (6)2
MF Neil Smilie 33 (3)31 04 0 52 2 045 (3)5
FW Gary Blissett 22 (4)10320 (1)03 (1)3 2 030 (6)15
FW Richard Cadette 19 (9)61 02 (2)06 1 0 028 (11)7
FW Marcus Gayle 23 (10) 6 2 (1) 0 — 4 (2) 1 1 (1) 0 30 (14) 7
FW Dean Holdsworth 27 (3)523204 (1)1 2 037 (4)9
Players loaned in during the season
DF Jim Carstairs 80——3 0 —110
DF Stuart Cash 11 0 — 2 0 0 (1) 0 — 13 (1) 0
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties[6]

Goalscorers
Pos. Nat Player FL3 FAC FLC FLT FLP Total
FW Gary Blissett 10 2 0 3 0 15
MF Keith Jones621 1 010
FW Dean Holdsworth 5 3 0 1 0 9
FW Marcus Gayle 6 0 — 1 0 7
FW Richard Cadette 6 0 0 1 0 7
MF Kevin Godfrey 4 0 1 0 1 5
MF Neil Smilie 3 0 0 2 0 5
DF Terry Evans 2 0 1 0 1 4
MF Allan Cockram 3 0 0 0 0 3
MF Eddie May 2 1 0 0 — 3
DF Jamie Bates 2 0 1 0 0 3
DF Keith Millen 2 1 0 0 0 3
MF Wilf Rostron 2 — — 0 0 2
MF Simon Ratcliffe 2 0 0 0 0 2
MF Garry Brooke 1 0 0 — — 1
MF Robbie Peters 1 — 0 — 0 1
DF Mark Fleming 1 0 0 0 0 1
Opponents 1 0 0 0 0 1
Total59949 283
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties[6]

Management
Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Phil Holder 25 August 1990 22 May 1991 62 27 16 19 043.55|46 21 13 12 045.65

Summary
Games played62 (46 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 7 Football League Trophy, 2 Football League play-offs)
Games won27 (21 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 3 Football League Trophy, 0 Football League play-offs)
Games drawn16 (13 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy, 1 Football League play-offs)
Games lost19 (12 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 3 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy, 1 Football League play-offs)
Goals scored83 (59 Third Division, 9 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 9 Football League Trophy, 2 Football League play-offs)
Goals conceded63 (47 Third Division, 4 FA Cup, 5 League Cup, 4 Football League Trophy, 3 Football League play-offs)
Clean sheets24 (18 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 4 Football League Trophy, 0 Football League play-offs)
Biggest league win6–1 versus Bradford City, 23 March 1991
Worst league defeat4–0 versus Stoke City, 9 March 1991
Most appearances61, Graham Benstead (45 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 7 Football League Trophy, 2 Football League play-offs)
Top scorer (league)10, Gary Blissett
Top scorer (all competitions)15, Gary Blissett

Transfers & loans
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
July 1990GK Graham Benstead Sheffield United£70,000[7]
August 1990MF Garry Brooke WimbledonFree[2]
January 1991 MF Wilf Rostron Sheffield United Free [8]
March 1991 DF Clive Goodyear Wimbledon Free [9]
April 1991 GK Laurence Batty Fulham Free [9]
Players loaned in
Date from Pos. Name From Date to Ref.
September 1990 DF Stuart Cash Nottingham Forest December 1990 [2]
February 1991 DF Jim Carstairs Arsenal April 1991 [8]
February 1991 GK Laurence Batty Fulham April 1991 [8]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
30 July 1990 DF Roger Stanislaus Bury £90,000 [10]
15 March 1991 MF Eddie May Falkirk £75,000 [9]
April 1991 GK Tony Parks Fulham Free [9]
Players loaned out
Date from Pos. Name To Date to Ref.
March 1990 FW Marcus Gayle KuPS October 1990 [2]
August 1990 GK Tony Parks Queens Park Rangers September 1990 [10]
September 1990DF John Buttigieg Swindon TownOctober 1990[2]
November 1990 MF Khotso Moabi St Albans City January 1991 [11]
November 1990 DF Fergus Moore Yeading December 1990 [11]
November 1990 MF Robbie Peters St Albans City April 1991 [11]
February 1991 GK Tony Parks Fulham April 1991 [8]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
December 1990 MF Garry Brooke Baldock Town 1990 [11]
January 1991 MF Khotso Moabi St Albans City January 1991 [8]
February 1991 DF Fergus Moore Staines Town n/a [8]
30 June 1991 GK Laurence Batty Woking 1991 [12]
30 June 1991 DF John Buttigieg Floriana 1991 [12]
30 June 1991 MF Allan Cockram Woking 1991 [12]
30 June 1991 DF Clive Goodyear Ernest Borel 1991 [12]

Kit

Supplier: Chad
Sponsor(s): KLM

Home
Away

Source: Brentford F.C.

Awards

References
  1. Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2013). The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. p. 40. ISBN 9781906796723.
  2. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 41.
  3. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. p. 182. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  4. "Brentford results for the 1990-1991 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 1 June 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  5. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 22-39.
  6. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 476.
  7. "Graham Benstead". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  8. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 44.
  9. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 45.
  10. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 40.
  11. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 42.
  12. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 46.
  13. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 445.
  14. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 43.
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