1970–71 Brentford F.C. season
First round | ||
Top goalscorer | League: Ross (15) All: Ross (16) | |
---|---|---|
Highest home attendance | 10,058 | |
Lowest home attendance | 4,176 | |
Average home league attendance | 6,776 | |
| ||
During the 1970–71 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Fourth Division. A forgettable league season was chiefly remembered for a run to the fifth round of the FA Cup, the furthest the Bees had progressed in the competition since 1948–49.
Season summary
After taking over halfway through an encouraging
A failure to win any of the opening 9 matches of the season in all competitions set a new post-war club record.[4] The loan signing of former Busby Babe Alex Dawson from Brighton & Hove Albion in September 1970 helped improve matters, with the forward scoring 7 goals in 11 appearances and inspiring a five-match winning streak in October and November.[5] Frustratingly, a £7,000 deal to buy him fell through and he left the club after his loan expired.[6] While the team slowly pulled itself away from the relegation zone and finished comfortably in mid-table, the FA Cup gradually became the main focus of the season.[7]
Third Division clubs Gillingham Walsall were beaten in the second round, but the third round draw failed to produce a money-spininng tie and instead an away trip to fellow Fourth Division club Workington.[7] A John Docherty goal was enough to see off Workington and the fourth round draw produced another away tie, this time to Second Division club Cardiff City.[5] Over 23,000 watched Brentford run out 2–0 winners at Ninian Park, courtesy of goals from Jackie Graham and John Docherty.[5] Brentford also faced Second Division opponents in the fifth round, Hull City.[8] Victory would have made Brentford the second Fourth Division club to reach the last-eight of the FA Cup.[8] Brentford took the lead through Bobby Ross at Boothferry Park, but two late goals from the Tigers ended the Bees' run.[8]
Significantly for the long-term future of Brentford, the FA Cup run generated £8,000, which helped boost the profit on the season to £20,000 and enabled the final instalment of the club's 1967 £104,000 loan (equivalent to £1,856,800 in 2024) to be paid off.
League table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
12 | Darlington | 46 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 58 | 57 | 1.018 | 45 | |
13 | Aldershot | 46 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 66 | 71 | 0.930 | 45 | |
14 | Brentford | 46 | 18 | 8 | 20 | 66 | 62 | 1.065 | 44 | |
15 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 18 | 8 | 20 | 75 | 76 | 0.987 | 44 | Qualified for 1971 Watney Cup[a] |
16 | Peterborough United | 46 | 18 | 7 | 21 | 70 | 71 | 0.986 | 43 |
Notes:
- ^ The two teams who scored the most goals in each division, and did not qualify for Europe and were not promoted, qualified for the Watney Cup.
Results
- Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend
Win | Draw | Loss |
Pre-season and friendlies
Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 August 1970 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 0–2 | n/a | |
3 August 1970 | Yeovil Town | A | 2–2 | n/a | Docherty, Hawley |
8 August 1970 | Hillingdon Borough | A | 1–1 | n/a | Cross |
10 August 1970 | Bristol Rovers | H | 1–1 | 3,900 | Docherty |
11 November 1970 | West Ham United | H | 0–3 | 5,950 | |
21 April 1971 | Guildford City | A | 1–0 | n/a | Moore |
Football League Fourth Division
No. | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 15 August 1970 | Chester | H | 1–2 | 6,477 | Docherty |
2 | 22 August 1970 | Lincoln City | A | 0–2 | 6,813 | |
3 | 29 August 1970 | Southport | H | 0–1 | 5,324 | |
4 | 31 August 1970 | Cambridge United | A | 0–1 | 6,654 | |
5 | 5 September 1970 | Oldham Athletic | A | 1–5 | 4,866 | Tawse |
6 | 12 September 1970 | Peterborough United | H | 1–1 | 4,176 | Ross |
7 | 19 September 1970 | Notts County | A | 0–0 | 10,281 | |
8 | 23 September 1970 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 3–5 | 1,909 | Cross, Gater (og), Turner |
9 | 26 September 1970 | Darlington | H | 1–0 | 4,841 | Docherty |
10 | 28 September 1970 | Stockport County | A | 0–1 | 4,387 | |
11 | 3 October 1970 | Northampton Town | A | 0–1 | 6,282 | |
12 | 10 October 1970 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic |
H | 1–2 | 5,965 | Graham |
13 | 17 October 1970 | Chester | A | 2–1 | 5,834 | Dawson, Cross |
14 | 19 October 1970 | Aldershot | H | 2–3 | 7,648 | Dawson, Ross |
15 | 24 October 1970 | Southend United | A | 3–4 | 6,052 | Docherty, Dawson, Ross |
16 | 31 October 1970 | Exeter City | H | 5–0 | 5,267 | Docherty (2), Cross, Graham, Ross |
17 | 7 November 1970 | Newport County | A | 1–0 | 2,407 | Dawson |
18 | 9 November 1970 | York City | H | 6–4 | 5,955 | Dawson, Cross (2), Docherty (3) |
19 | 14 November 1970 | Grimsby Town | H | 2–0 | 5,497 | Dawson, Ross (pen) |
20 | 28 November 1970 | Colchester United | A | 0–4 | 4,673 | |
21 | 5 December 1970 | Barrow | H | 2–1 | 5,632 | Cross, Ross |
22 | 19 December 1970 | Lincoln City | H | 2–1 | 5,966 | Graham, Bence |
23 | 26 December 1970 | Scunthorpe United | A | 1–1 | 4,736 | Cross |
24 | 9 January 1971 | Stockport County | H | 3–0 | 7,340 | Docherty, Ross, Cross |
25 | 16 January 1971 | Aldershot | A | 0–1 | 7,533 | |
26 | 6 February 1971 | Barrow | A | 1–0 | 2,338 | Bence |
27 | 20 February 1971 | York City | A | 0–0 | 3,366 | |
28 | 24 February 1971 | Hartlepool |
H | 1–0 | 9,246 | Graham |
29 | 27 February 1971 | Exeter City | A | 0–1 | 3,892 | |
30 | 6 March 1971 | Southend United | H | 4–2 | 6,348 | Cross, Ross (2, 1 pen) |
31 | 8 March 1971 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 3–1 | 7,631 | Bence, Neilson, Ross |
32 | 13 March 1971 | Grimsby Town | A | 5–1 | 3,336 | Cross, Bence, Ross (2) |
33 | 15 March 1971 | Hartlepool |
A | 0–0 | 2,936 | |
34 | 20 March 1971 | Newport County | H | 0–3 | 8,421 | |
35 | 24 March 1971 | Workington | A | 1–1 | 1,731 | Docherty |
36 | 27 March 1971 | Oldham Athletic | H | 1–1 | 7,207 | Renwick |
37 | 29 March 1971 | Colchester United | H | 1–0 | 9,209 | Neilson |
38 | 3 April 1971 | Southport | A | 0–2 | 2,026 | |
39 | 9 April 1971 | Northampton Town | H | 3–0 | 10,058 | Ross (2), Turner |
40 | 10 April 1971 | Scunthorpe United | H | 0–1 | 7,561 | |
41 | 12 April 1971 | Peterborough United | A | 2–1 | 3,841 | Neilson, Ross |
42 | 17 April 1971 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic
|
A | 0–1 | 11,206 | |
43 | 24 April 1971 | Notts County | H | 2–2 | 9,229 | Cross, Graham |
44 | 26 April 1971 | Cambridge United | H | 1–2 | 5,994 | O'Mara |
45 | 1 May 1971 | Darlington | A | 1–2 | 1,629 | Cross |
46 | 7 May 1971 | Workington | H | 3–0 | 4,781 | Neilson, Graham, O'Mara |
FA Cup
Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1R | 21 November 1970 | Gillingham | H | 2–1 | 8,000 | Docherty, Dawson |
2R | 11 December 1970 | Walsall | H | 1–0 | 8,500 | Cross |
3R | 2 January 1971 | Workington | A | 1–0 | 5,953 | Docherty |
4R | 23 January 1971 | Cardiff City | A | 2–0 | 23,335 | Graham, Docherty |
5R | 13 February 1971 | Hull City | A | 1–2 | 29,709 | Ross |
Football League Cup
Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1R | 18 August 1970 | Aldershot | A | 0–1 | 6,899 |
Playing squad
- Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1970–71 season.
Pos. | Name | Nat. | Date of birth (age) | Signed from | Signed in | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Goalkeepers | ||||||
GK | Chic Brodie | 22 February 1937 (aged 33) | Northampton Town | 1963 | ||
GK | Gordon Phillips | 17 November 1946 (aged 23) | Hayes | 1963 | ||
Defenders | ||||||
DF | Paul Bence | 21 December 1948 (aged 21) | Reading | 1970 | ||
DF | Peter Gelson | 18 October 1941 (aged 28) | Youth | 1961 | ||
DF | Alan Hawley | 7 June 1946 (aged 24) | Youth | 1962 | ||
DF | Alan Nelmes | 20 October 1948 (aged 21) | Chelsea | 1967 | ||
DF | Dick Renwick | 27 November 1942 (aged 27) | Aldershot | 1969 | ||
Midfielders | ||||||
MF | John Docherty | 29 April 1940 (aged 30) | Reading | 1970 | ||
MF | Alan Gane | 11 June 1950 (aged 20) | Slough Town | 1971 | Amateur | |
MF | Jackie Graham | 16 July 1946 (aged 24) | Guildford City | 1970 | ||
MF | Allan Mansley | 31 August 1946 (aged 23) | Blackpool | 1968 | Loaned to Fulham and Notts County | |
MF | Gordon Neilson | 28 May 1947 (aged 23) | Arsenal | 1968 | ||
MF | Bobby Ross (c) | 10 May 1942 (aged 28) | Shrewsbury Town | 1966 | ||
MF | Brian Tawse | 30 July 1945 (aged 25) | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1970 | Loaned to Folkestone | |
MF | Brian Turner | 31 July 1949 (aged 21) | Portsmouth | 1970 | ||
Forwards | ||||||
FW | Roger Cross | 20 October 1948 (aged 21) | West Ham United | 1970 | ||
FW | Mick Heath | 9 January 1953 (aged 17) | Walton & Hersham | 1971 | Amateur | |
FW | John O'Mara | 19 March 1947 (aged 23) | Wimbledon | 1971 | ||
Players who left the club mid-season | ||||||
DF | Michael Maskell | 25 January 1952 (aged 18) | Chelsea | 1970 | Released | |
FW | Alex Dawson | 21 February 1940 (aged 30) | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1970 | Returned to Brighton & Hove Albion after loan |
Coaching staff
Name | Role |
---|---|
Frank Blunstone | Manager |
Eddie Lyons | Trainer |
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 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 0 | |
GK | Gordon Phillips | 29 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0 | |
DF | Paul Bence | 44 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50 | 4 | |
DF | Peter Gelson | 45 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 51 | 0 | |
DF | Alan Hawley | 25 (1) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 29 (1) | 0 | |
DF | Michael Maskell | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
DF | Alan Nelmes | 46 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 0 | |
DF | Dick Renwick | 40 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 1 | |
MF | John Docherty | 35 (1) | 10 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 41 (1) | 13 | |
MF | Jackie Graham | 42 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 7 | |
MF | Allan Mansley | 7 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 (2) | 0 | |
MF | Gordon Neilson | 16 (3) | 4 | 2 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 19 (4) | 4 | |
MF | Bobby Ross | 46 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 16 | |
MF | Brian Tawse | 7 (2) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 (2) | 1 | |
MF | Brian Turner | 40 (2) | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45 (2) | 2 | |
FW | Roger Cross | 46 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 15 | |
FW | Mick Heath | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
FW | John O'Mara | 9 | 2 | — | — | 9 | 2 | |||
Players loaned in during the season | ||||||||||
FW | Alex Dawson | 10 | 6 | 1 | 1 | — | 11 | 7 |
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: 100 Years of Brentford[5]
Goalscorers
Pos. | Nat | Player | FL4 | FAC | FLC | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MF | Bobby Ross | 15 | 1 | 0 | 16 | |
FW | Roger Cross | 14 | 1 | 0 | 15 | |
MF | John Docherty | 10 | 3 | 0 | 13 | |
FW | Alex Dawson | 6 | 1 | — | 7 | |
MF | Jackie Graham | 6 | 1 | 0 | 7 | |
DF | Paul Bence | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
MF | Gordon Neilson | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
FW | John O'Mara | 2 | — | — | 2 | |
MF | Brian Turner | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
DF | Dick Renwick | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
MF | Brian Tawse | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
Opponents | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
Total | 66 | 7 | 0 | 73 |
- 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 | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
P | W | D | L | W % | P | W | D | L | W % | ||||
Frank Blunstone | 15 August 1970 | 7 May 1971 | 52 | 22 | 8 | 22 | 42.31 | 46 | 18 | 8 | 20 | 39.13 |
Summary
Games played | 52 (46 League Cup )
|
Games won | 22 (18 Fourth Division, 4 FA Cup, 0 League Cup) |
Games drawn | 8 (8 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup) |
Games lost | 22 (20 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup) |
Goals scored | 73 (66 Fourth Division, 7 FA Cup, 0 League Cup) |
Goals conceded | 66 (62 Fourth Division, 3 FA Cup, 1 League Cup) |
Clean sheets | 16 (13 Fourth Division, 3 FA Cup, 0 League Cup) |
Biggest league win | 5–0 versus Exeter City, 31 October 1970 |
Worst league defeat | 4–0 versus Colchester United, 28 November 1970; 5–1 versus Oldham Athletic, 5 September 1970 |
Most appearances | 52, Roger Cross, Alan Nelmes, Bobby Ross (46 Fourth Division, 5 FA Cup, 1 League Cup) |
Top scorer (league) | 15, Bobby Ross |
Top scorer (all competitions) | 16, Bobby Ross |
Transfers & loans
Players transferred in | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date | Pos. | Name | Previous Club | Fee | Ref. |
July 1970 | DF | Paul Bence | Reading | Free | [6] |
July 1970 | MF | Jackie Graham | Guildford City | £2,500 | [12] |
July 1970 | DF | Michael Maskell | Chelsea | Free | [6] |
1970 | DF | Richard Poole | n/a | n/a | [13] |
1970 | DF | Kevin Harding | n/a | n/a | [13] |
March 1971 | FW | John O'Mara | Wimbledon | £1,000 | [6] |
April 1971 | FW | Mick Heath | Walton & Hersham | Amateur | [14] |
Players loaned in | |||||
Date from | Pos. | Name | From | Date to | Ref. |
September 1970 | FW | Alex Dawson | Brighton & Hove Albion | November 1970 | [15] |
Players loaned out | |||||
Date from | Pos. | Name | To | Date to | Ref. |
November 1970 | MF | Allan Mansley | Fulham | December 1970 | [6] |
February 1971 | MF | Brian Tawse | Folkestone | n/a | [6] |
March 1971 | MF | Allan Mansley | Notts County | n/a | [6] |
Players released | |||||
Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Join date | Ref. |
October 1970 | DF | Michael Maskell | Stevenage Athletic | 1970 | [6] |
May 1971 | GK | Chic Brodie | Margate | July 1971 | [16] |
May 1971 | MF | Allan Mansley | Notts County | May 1971 | [6] |
May 1971 | MF | Brian Tawse | Durban City | 1971 | [17] |
June 1971 | DF | Dick Renwick | Stockport County | October 1971 | [18] |
Awards
- Supporters' Player of the Year: Bobby Ross[19]
- Players' Player of the Year: Alan Nelmes[19]
Notes
References
- ^ a b c d White 1989, p. 277-283.
- ^ White 1989, p. 276.
- ^ Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2011, p. 357.
- ^ Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2011, p. 14.
- ^ ISBN 0951526200.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2011, p. 28-31.
- ^ a b "Brentford results for the 1970–1971 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 17 March 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
- ^ a b c "Moment in Time: Hull City". Brentford FC. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
- ^ "Brentford scoring and sequence records". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
- ^ ISBN 978-1906796709.
- ISBN 978-0955294914.
- ^ Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2011, p. 259-260.
- ^ a b Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2011, p. 358.
- ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 74.
- ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 46.
- ^ "Chic Brodie". 20 September 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
- ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 158.
- ^ Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2011, p. 257-258.
- ^ a b Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2011, p. 295.