1993–94 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1993–94 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Second Division. In a season of transition, a failure to win any of the final 16 league matches ended all hopes of a finish in the play-off places.

Brentford
1993–94 season
ChairmanMartin Lange
ManagerDavid Webb
StadiumGriffin Park
Second Division16th
FA CupSecond round
League CupFirst round
Football League TrophyQuarter-final
Top goalscorerLeague: Allon (13)
All: Allon (17)
Highest home attendance6,848
Lowest home attendance4,305
Average home league attendance5,611

Season summary

The 1993–94 season saw Brentford back in the Second Division after suffering relegation from the First Division at the first attempt.[1] Former Chelsea manager David Webb replaced Phil Holder and immediately set about overhauling the squad, releasing 11 players and cancelling the contracts of Murray Jones, Neil Smilie and Detzi Kruszyński.[2][3][4] 1992–93 top-scorer Gary Blissett left the club for a £350,000 fee settled by a tribunal, goalkeeper Graham Benstead and defender Terry Evans rejected new contracts and were made available for loan, while forward Joe Allon was transfer-listed.[4] In came midfielder Paul Smith, forward Denny Mundee and youngster Scott Morgan from Bournemouth and non-League players Dean A. Williams and Dean P. Williams.[4] Professional contracts were given to youth products Carl Hutchings, Craig Ravenscroft and Tamer Fernandes.[4] Manager David Webb continued to strengthen the squad during the early months of the season, bringing in goalkeeper Kevin Dearden, defenders Martin Grainger and Gus Hurdle, midfielder Lee Harvey and forwards Ian Benjamin and Matthew Metcalf, with Terry Evans and Grant Chalmers leaving the club.[5]

Brentford began the season with two wins from the first three matches to rise as high as 5th, before losing five of the next six to drop into the relegation places.[6] Transfer-listed forward Joe Allon provided the catalyst for a revival, returning from a loan spell with Southend United to score 9 goals in eight games in all competitions and fire the Bees back up to 12th position by early November.[6][7] His run was ended by a broken jaw suffered at the hands of teammate Mickey Bennett, who was immediately sacked by the club.[8] Forward Denny Mundee stepped into the breach and scored 9 goals in as many games in all competitions to help elevate Brentford back into the play-off positions and the Football League Trophy quarter-finals.[6][9] The run prompted Premier League club Southampton to offer David Webb their vacant manager's job, which Webb turned down.[10] Two club records were set during the run – 11 consecutive away matches unbeaten in all competitions and 10 consecutive away league matches undefeated.[10]

Brentford had risen to 5th in the table after a 4–1 win over Bristol Rovers on 12 February 1994, but a winless run of 16 matches to close out the season dropped the Bees to 16th.[6] Webb had continued his rebuilding of the squad through the second half of the season, selling transfer-listed players Marcus Gayle, Joe Allon and Keith Millen, while bringing in defenders David Thompson and Barry Ashby, winger Darren Annon and forward Robert Taylor.[10] Season-ending injuries to Taylor, Shane Westley, Ian Benjamin and suspensions incurred by Martin Grainger, David Thompson, Kevin Dearden and Brian Statham further hindered Webb's ability to pick a settled team.[10]

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
14 Brighton & Hove Albion 46 15 14 17 60 67 −7 59
15 Rotherham United 46 15 13 18 63 60 +3 58
16 Brentford 46 13 19 14 57 55 +2 58
17 Bournemouth 46 14 15 17 51 59 −8 57
18 Leyton Orient 46 14 14 18 57 71 −14 56
Source:

Results
Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Pre-season
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)
20 July 1993Fareham TownA3–0n/aAllon (2), Gayle
22 July 1993St Albans CityA4–1n/aAllon (2), Ravenscroft, Buckle
24 July 1993Hampton A2–1n/aRatcliffe, Chalmers
26 July 1993Havant Town A3–1n/aBennett, Westley, Millen
28 July 1993Chesham United A2–1n/aAllon (2)
31 July 1993Crystal PalaceH1–3n/aRatcliffe
3 August 1993Farnborough TownA3–0n/aAllon (2), Bennett
3 August 1993Welling UnitedA0–1n/a
6 August 1993Tottenham HotspurH0–04,535
8 August 1993Colchester UnitedA1–2n/aRavenscroft

Football League Second Division
No. DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)
1 14 August 1993Exeter CityH2–15,537Allon, Gayle
2 21 August 1993BlackpoolA1–14,024Allon
3 28 August 1993ReadingH1–06,848Allon
4 31 August 1993Hull CityA0–14,517
5 4 September 1993Rotherham UnitedA0–24,333
6 11 September 1993Swansea CityH1–15,042Ratcliffe
7 14 September 1993Leyton OrientH0–15,149
8 18 September 1993Brighton & Hove AlbionA1–25,734D.A. Williams
9 25 September 1993Port Vale H1–25,106Gayle
10 2 October 1993Cambridge UnitedA1–13,612Benjamin
11 9 October 1993Hartlepool United A1–01,802Benjamin
12 16 October 1993Wrexham H2–15,801Ratcliffe, Allon
13 23 October 1993York City A2–03,513Smith, Allon
14 30 October 1993BarnetH1–05,873Allon
15 2 November 1993Cardiff CityH1–14,756Allon
16 6 November 1993Plymouth Argyle A1–16,407Allon
17 20 November 1993Burnley A0–06,085
18 27 November 1993Huddersfield Town A3–14,544Mundee (2 pens), Ravenscroft
19 11 December 1993Blackpool H3–04,769Gayle, Mundee (2)
20 18 December 1993Exeter CityA2–24,250Gayle, Mundee (pen)
21 27 December 1993BournemouthA3–05,744Mundee (pen), Harvey, og
22 29 December 1993Bradford CityH2–06,059Ratcliffe, Smith
23 1 January 1994FulhamA0–09,797
24 3 January 1994Stockport CountyH1–16,410og
25 8 January 1994Bristol RoversH3–46,841Mundee (3)
26 15 January 1994WrexhamA2–13,701Gayle, Bates
27 22 January 1994Hartlepool UnitedH1–06,334Bates
28 29 January 1994BarnetA0–02,502
29 5 February 1994York CityA1–15,710Mundee
30 12 February 1994Bristol RoversA4–15,685Gayle, Allon (3)
31 19 February 1994ReadingA1–29,056Thompson
32 22 February 1994Hull CityH0–34,361
33 26 February 1994Rotherham UnitedH2–24,980Mundee, Allon
34 5 March 1994Swansea CityA1–13,187Harvey
35 12 March 1994Brighton & Hove AlbionH1–16,728Ratcliffe
36 15 March 1994Leyton OrientA1–13,185Allon
37 19 March 1994Port ValeA0–18,269
38 26 March 1994Cambridge UnitedH3–35,052Taylor, Statham, Grainger
39 29 March 1994Stockport CountyA1–34,361Annon
40 2 April 1994Bournemouth H1–14,305Grainger
41 4 April 1994Bradford CityA0–16,703
42 9 April 1994FulhamH1–26,638Taylor
43 16 April 1994Cardiff CityA1–15,268Harvey
44 23 April 1994 Plymouth Argyle H 1–1 6,173 Smith
45 30 April 1994BurnleyA1–411,363Ashby
46 7 May 1994Huddersfield Town H1–24,483Harvey

FA Cup
Main article: 1993–94 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance Scorer(s)
R113 November 1993VS RugbyA3–03,006Allon (2, 1 pen), Gayle
R24 December 1993Cardiff City H1–34,845Gayle

League Cup
Main article: 1993–94 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance Scorer(s)
R1 (1st leg)17 August 1993Watford H2–2 4,527Peters, Westley
R1 (2nd leg)24 August 1993WatfordA1–3 (lost 5–3 on aggregate)4,937Westley

Football League Trophy
Main article: 1993–94 Football League Trophy
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance Scorer(s)
SR1 (match 1) 19 October 1993 Barnet A 2–2 1,269 Allon (2)
SR1 (match 2)9 November 1993Wycombe WanderersH2–33,165Ratcliffe, Smith
SR230 November 1993Hereford UnitedA2–11,049Mundee (2)
SQF 11 January 1994 Leyton Orient A 0–1 3,683

Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1993–94 season.
No. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
1 GK Dean P. Williams (1972-01-05)5 January 1972 (aged 21) Tamworth 1993
20 GK Tamer Fernandes (1974-12-07)7 December 1974 (aged 18) Youth 1993 Loaned to Wealdstone
28 GK Kevin Dearden (1970-03-08)8 March 1970 (aged 23) Tottenham Hotspur 1993
Defenders
2 DF Brian Statham (1969-05-21)21 May 1969 (aged 24) Tottenham Hotspur 1992
3 DF Billy Manuel (c) (1969-06-28)28 June 1969 (aged 24) Gillingham 1991
4 DF Barry Ashby (1970-11-21)21 November 1970 (aged 22) Watford 1994
5 DF Shane Westley (1965-06-16)16 June 1965 (aged 28) Wolverhampton Wanderers 1992
6 DF Martin Grainger (1972-08-23)23 August 1972 (aged 20) Colchester United 1993
12 DF Jamie Bates (1968-02-24)24 February 1968 (aged 25) Youth 1986
14 DF David Thompson (1968-11-20)20 November 1968 (aged 24) Bristol City 1994
18 DF Carl Hutchings (1974-09-24)24 September 1974 (aged 18) Youth 1993
19 DF Gus Hurdle (1973-10-14)14 October 1973 (aged 19) Dorchester Town 1993 Loaned to Dorchester Town
21 DF Scott Morgan (1975-03-22)22 March 1975 (aged 18) Bournemouth 1993
Midfielders
8 MF Paul Smith (1971-09-18)18 September 1971 (aged 21) Southend United 1993
9 MF Lee Harvey (1966-12-21)21 December 1966 (aged 26) Nottingham Forest 1993
10 MF Paul Stephenson (1968-01-02)2 January 1968 (aged 25) Millwall 1993
16 MF Robbie Peters (1971-05-18)18 May 1971 (aged 22) Youth 1989 Loaned to Slough Town
17 MF Simon Ratcliffe (1967-02-08)8 February 1967 (aged 26) Norwich City 1989
22 MF Kevin Watson (1974-01-03)3 January 1974 (aged 19) Tottenham Hotspur 1994 On loan from Tottenham Hotspur
24 MF Darren Annon (1972-02-17)17 February 1972 (aged 21) Carshalton Athletic 1994
Forwards
11 FW Robert Taylor (1971-04-30)30 April 1971 (aged 22) Leyton Orient 1994
13 FW Craig Ravenscroft (1974-12-20)20 December 1974 (aged 18) Youth 1993
15 FW Dean A. Williams (1970-11-14)14 November 1970 (aged 22) St Albans City 1993
23 FW Denny Mundee (1968-10-10)10 October 1968 (aged 24) Bournemouth 1993
26 FW Matthew Metcalf (1969-07-28)28 July 1969 (aged 24) Diss Town 1993
27 FW Ian Benjamin (1961-12-11)11 December 1961 (aged 31) Luton Town 1993
Players who left the club mid-season
4 DF Keith Millen (1966-09-26)26 September 1966 (aged 26) Youth 1985 Transferred to Watford
6 MF Grant Chalmers (1969-09-12)12 September 1969 (aged 23) Northerners 1992 Released
7 FW Joe Allon (1966-01-12)12 January 1966 (aged 27) Chelsea 1992 Loaned to Southend United, transferred to Port Vale
9 FW Mickey Bennett (1969-07-27)27 July 1969 (aged 24) Wimbledon 1992 Released
11 FW Marcus Gayle (1970-09-27)27 September 1970 (aged 22) Youth 1988 Transferred to Wimbledon
14 MF Paul Buckle (1970-12-16)16 December 1970 (aged 22) Youth 1988 Transferred to Torquay United
22 GK Graham Benstead (1963-08-20)20 August 1963 (aged 29) Sheffield United 1990 Loaned to Kettering Town, transferred to Kettering Town
24 MF Steve Tilson (1966-07-27)27 July 1966 (aged 27) Southend United 1993 Returned to Southend United after loan
25 MF John Cornwell (1964-10-13)13 October 1964 (aged 28) Southend United 1993 Returned to Southend United after loan
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties[12]

Coaching staff
Name Role
David Webb Manager
Kevin Lock First Team Coach
Roy Johnson Physiotherapist

Statistics

Appearances and goals
Substitute appearances in brackets.
No. Pos Nat Name League FA Cup League Cup FL Trophy Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK Dean P. Williams 6 (1)00000006 (1)0
2 DF Brian Statham 311102020361
3 DF Billy Manuel 17 (1)000200 (1)019 (2)0
4 DF Keith Millen 0000001010
4 DF Barry Ashby 81———81
5 DF Shane Westley 310202240392
6 DF Martin Grainger 31220——332
7 FW Joe Allon 21131 22 0 222617
8 MF Paul Smith 323200041384
9 FW Mickey Bennett 6 (2)0—2 0—8 (2)0
9 MF Lee Harvey 23 (3)410—2026 (3)4
10 MF Paul Stephenson 2501 (1)02 0 2030 (1)0
11 FW Marcus Gayle 3562 21 02 0408
11 FW Robert Taylor 52———52
12 DF Jamie Bates 452202030522
13 FW Craig Ravenscroft 4 (3)100001 (1)05 (4)1
14 MF Paul Buckle 0000100010
14 DF David Thompson 9 (1) 1 — — — 9 (1) 1
15 FW Dean A. Williams 2 (1) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 (1) 1
16 MF Robbie Peters 8 (4) 0 0 0 1 (1) 1 2 (1) 0 11 (6) 1
17 MF Simon Ratcliffe 41 (2)410204148 (2)5
18 DF Carl Hutchings 20 (9)0201 (1)04027 (10)0
20 GK Tamer Fernandes 0 (1)00000000 (1)0
21 DF Scott Morgan 1000002030
22 GK Graham Benstead 5 0 — 2 0 — 7 0
23 MF Denny Mundee 37 (2)112 00 (2)02 (2)241 (6)13
24 FW Darren Annon 5 (4)1———5 (4)1
26 FW Matthew Metcalf 3 (4) 0 0 0 0 0 1 (1) 0 4 (5) 0
27 FW Ian Benjamin 12 (2)21 0—2 0 15 (2)2
28 GK Kevin Dearden 35 0 2 0 — 4 0 41 0
Players loaned in during the season
22 MF Kevin Watson 2 (1)0——— 2 (1)0
24 MF Steve Tilson 20——— 20
25 MF John Cornwell 4 0 — — — 4 0
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties[12]

Goalscorers
No. Pos. Nat Player FL2 FAC FLC FLT Total
7 FW Joe Allon 13 2 0 2 17
23 FW Denny Mundee 11 0 0 2 13
11 FW Marcus Gayle 6 2 0 0 8
17 MF Simon Ratcliffe 4 0 0 1 5
9 MF Lee Harvey 4 0 — 0 4
8 MF Paul Smith 3 0 0 1 4
18 MF Paul Stephenson 2 0 1 0 3
11 FW Robert Taylor2—— —2
6 DF Martin Grainger 2 0 — — 2
27 FW Ian Benjamin 2 0 — 0 2
12 DF Jamie Bates 2 0 0 0 2
5 DF Shane Westley 0 0 2 0 2
24 MF Darren Annon 1 — — — 1
4 DF Barry Ashby 1 — — — 1
14 DF David Thompson 1 — — — 1
13 FW Craig Ravenscroft 1 0 0 0 1
2 DF Brian Statham 1 0 0 0 1
15 FW Dean A. Williams 1 0 0 0 1
16 MF Robbie Peters 0 0 1 0 1
Opponents 2 0 0 0 2
Total5743670
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties[12]

Management
Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
David Webb 14 August 1993 7 May 1994 54 15 21 18 027.78|46 13 19 14 028.26

Summary
Games played54 (46 Second Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 4 Football League Trophy)
Games won15 (13 Second Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Games drawn21 (19 Second Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Games lost18 (14 Second Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)
Goals scored70 (57 Second Division, 4 FA Cup, 3 League Cup, 6 Football League Trophy)
Goals conceded70 (55 Second Division, 3 FA Cup, 5 League Cup, 7 Football League Trophy)
Clean sheets12 (11 Second Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy)
Biggest league win3–0 on 2 occasions, 4–1 versus Bristol Rovers, 12 February 1994
Worst league defeat3–0 versus Hull City, 22 February 1994; 4–1 versus Burnley, 30 April 1994
Most appearances52, Jamie Bates (45 Second Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 3 Football League Trophy)
Top scorer (league)13, Joe Allon
Top scorer (all competitions)17, Joe Allon

Transfers & loans
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
July 1993FW Dean A. Williams St Albans City£14,000[4]
6 August 1993MF Paul Smith Southend UnitedFree[13]
8 August 1993 GK Dean P. Williams Tamworth £2,000 [13]
12 August 1993 MF Denny Mundee Bournemouth Free [4]
August 1993DF Scott Morgan BournemouthFree[14]
24 September 1993 FW Ian Benjamin Luton Town £35,000 [5]
30 September 1993 GK Kevin Dearden Tottenham Hotspur Free [13]
September 1993 FW Matthew Metcalf Diss Town £10,000 [5]
21 October 1993 DF Martin Grainger Colchester United £60,000 [13]
October 1993 DF Gus Hurdle Dorchester Town Free [5]
18 November 1993 MF Lee Harvey Nottingham Forest Free [13]
December 1993 MF Tony Sorrell Barnet Free [10]
1 February 1994 DF David Thompson Bristol City Free [10]
8 March 1994 MF Darren Annon Carshalton Athletic £20,000 [13]
22 March 1994 DF Barry Ashby Watford £65,000 [10]
24 March 1994 FW Robert Taylor Leyton Orient £100,000 [13]
Players loaned in
Date from Pos. Name From Date to Ref.
16 September 1993MF John Cornwell Southend United9 November 1993[5]
16 September 1993MF Steve Tilson Southend United16 October 1993[13]
24 March 1994 MF Kevin Watson Tottenham Hotspur End of season [13]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
1993 FW Murray Jones Sittingbourne Free [4]
1993 GK Gerry Peyton West Ham United Free [4]
23 July 1993 FW Gary Blissett Wimbledon £350,000 [4]
August 1993 MF Neil Smilie Gillingham Free [4]
September 1993 MF Detzi Kruszyński Coventry City Free [15]
October 1993 DF Terry Evans Wycombe Wanderers £40,000 [5]
December 1993 GK Graham Benstead Kettering Town Free [10]
3 February 1994 MF Paul Buckle Torquay United Free [16]
22 March 1994 DF Keith Millen Watford £100,000 [16]
24 March 1994 FW Joe Allon Port Vale £150,000 [10]
24 March 1994 FW Marcus Gayle Wimbledon £250,000 [16]
Players loaned out
Date from Pos. Name To Date to Ref.
26 August 1993 DF Terry Evans Wycombe Wanderers October 1993 [5]
16 September 1993 FW Joe Allon Southend United October 1993 [5]
October 1993 GK Graham Benstead Kettering Town December 1993 [5]
October 1993 GK Tamer Fernandes Wealdstone November 1993 [5]
January 1994 MF Robbie Peters Slough Town February 1993 [10]
January 1994 MF Tony Sorrell Dagenham & Redbridge Free [10]
February 1994DF Gus Hurdle Dorchester TownApril 1994[10]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
October 1993MF Grant Chalmers Doncaster Rovers1993[5]
17 November 1993 MF Mickey Bennett Charlton Athletic 24 March 1994 [8]
30 June 1994 DF Scott Morgan Dorchester Town 1994 [17]

Kit

Supplier: Hummel International
Sponsor(s): KLM

Home
Away
Goalkeeper
Goalkeeper

Source: Historical Kits

Awards

References
  1. Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2013). The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. p. 124. ISBN 9781906796723.
  2. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 397.
  3. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 121.
  4. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 142.
  5. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 143-144.
  6. Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1993–1994 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  7. "Played for both: Newcastle United". Brentford FC. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  8. "Football: Player sacked after Allon's jaw broken". The Independent. 18 November 1993. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  9. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 131-134.
  10. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 146-147.
  11. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 380-409.
  12. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 479.
  13. "Premier and Football League transfers". www.11v11.com. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  14. "Denny Mundee". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  15. "Detzi Kruszyński". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  16. "Premier and Football League transfers". www.11v11.com. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  17. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 172.
  18. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 445.
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