During the 1985–86 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. Inferior home form and a number of key player departures meant that the Bees could finish no higher than 10th position.
Season summary
After the recent Heysel Stadium disaster and the Bradford City stadium fire, the financial implications of the work needed to bring Griffin Park up to standard hampered Brentford manager Frank McLintock's movement in the transfer market during the 1985 off-season.[1] The core of the previous season's Football League Trophy final team would be sold off,[1] with midfielder Chris Kamara and forward Keith Cassells leaving before the beginning of the season and captain Terry Hurlock would later be sold for a club-record £95,000 fee in February 1986.[2] Goalkeeper Trevor Swinburne and defender Paul Roberts were released and the mid-season retirement of goalscoring winger Gary Roberts also compounded the break-up of the team.[2] McLintock re-signed bit-part goalkeeper Richard Key and midfielder Terry Bullivant on free transfers and also brought in 20-year-old centre back Terry Evans from non-league Hillingdon, a transfer which would go on to be an important contributor the club's success in the early 1990s.[2]
The 1985–86 season proved to be one of consolidation in the Third Division for Brentford, with the team briefly challenging for promotion in August and for a three-month period in late 1985, but otherwise being rooted in mid-table.[3] There was little cheer to be had in the cup competitions,[3] but manager Frank McLintock was able to make some incoming mid-season transfers, bringing in midfielder Andy Sinton for a £25,000 fee and loaning wingers Steve Burke and Ian Holloway from Queens Park Rangers and Wimbledon respectively.[4] Forward Francis Joseph, top scorer during the 1982–83 season, returned from a long injury layoff in April 1986 and boosting the attack,[4] which had been led alone by Robbie Cooke.[5] Brentford finished the season in 10th place, with an away record superior to that of at Griffin Park.[6]
League table
Source:
Results
- Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend
Pre-season and friendlies
No.
|
Date |
Opponent |
Venue |
Result
|
Attendance |
Scorer(s)
|
1
|
17 August 1985 |
Wolverhampton Wanderers |
H |
2–1
|
5,576 |
Bullivant, Murray
|
2
|
24 August 1985 |
Bristol Rovers |
A |
1–0
|
4,140 |
Lynch
|
3
|
26 August 1985 |
Bournemouth |
H |
1–0
|
4,283 |
Cooke
|
4
|
31 August 1985 |
Wigan Athletic |
A |
0–4
|
2,871 |
|
5
|
7 September 1985 |
Plymouth Argyle |
H |
1–1
|
3,927 |
Lynch
|
6
|
13 September 1985 |
Doncaster Rovers |
A |
0–1
|
2,831 |
|
7
|
17 September 1985 |
Reading |
H |
1–2
|
6,351 |
Booker
|
8
|
21 September 1985 |
Lincoln City |
A |
0–3
|
1,856 |
|
9
|
28 September 1985 |
Rotherham United |
H |
1–1
|
3,257 |
Alexander
|
10
|
1 October 1985 |
Darlington
|
A |
5–3
|
2,447 |
Alexander (3), Booker, Lynch
|
11
|
5 October 1985 |
Swansea City |
H |
1–0
|
3,508 |
Lynch
|
12
|
12 October 1985 |
Bolton Wanderers |
A |
2–1
|
4,106 |
Wignall, Cooke
|
13
|
19 October 1985 |
Newport County |
A |
0–0
|
3,646 |
|
14
|
22 October 1985 |
Walsall |
A |
2–1
|
4,318 |
Wignall, Hurlock
|
15
|
26 October 1985 |
Blackpool |
A |
0–4
|
5,448 |
|
16
|
2 November 1985 |
Cardiff City
|
H |
3–0
|
3,934 |
Hurlock, Cooke, Lynch
|
17
|
6 November 1985 |
Derby County |
H |
3–3
|
4,707 |
Murray, Cooke, Butler
|
18
|
9 November 1985 |
Bristol City |
A |
0–0
|
6,598 |
|
19
|
23 November 1985 |
Chesterfield |
H |
1–0
|
3,502 |
Roberts
|
20
|
30 November 1985 |
York City |
A |
0–1
|
3,674 |
|
21
|
14 December 1985 |
Bury |
H |
1–0
|
4,038 |
Sinton (pen)
|
22
|
22 December 1985 |
Bristol Rovers |
H |
1–0
|
5,724 |
Cooke
|
23
|
28 December 1985 |
Bournemouth |
A |
0–0
|
4,006 |
|
24
|
4 January 1986 |
Cardiff City
|
A |
0–1
|
3,398 |
|
25
|
11 January 1986 |
Wigan Athletic
|
H |
1–3
|
4,048 |
Booker
|
26
|
18 January 1986 |
Wolverhampton Wanderers |
A |
4–1
|
3,420 |
Cooke (2), Sinton (2)
|
27
|
21 January 1986 |
Notts County |
H |
1–1
|
4,002 |
Evans
|
28
|
24 January 1986 |
Doncaster Rovers
|
H |
1–3
|
3,568 |
Cooke
|
29
|
1 February 1986
|
Plymouth Argyle
|
A
|
0–2
|
4,873
|
|
30
|
4 February 1986 |
Walsall
|
H |
1–3
|
3,015 |
Alexander
|
31
|
1 March 1986
|
Rotherham United
|
A
|
2–1
|
3,260
|
Booker, Cooke
|
32
|
8 March 1986 |
Swansea City |
A |
0–2
|
3,683 |
|
33
|
11 March 1986 |
Newport County
|
A |
2–1
|
1,508 |
Lynch, Cooke
|
34
|
14 March 1986 |
Bolton Wanderers |
H |
1–1
|
3,284 |
Booker
|
35
|
18 March 1986
|
Gillingham
|
A
|
2–1
|
3,558
|
Booker, Cooke
|
36
|
22 March 1986 |
Blackpool |
H |
1–1
|
3,528 |
Cooke
|
37
|
29 March 1986 |
Notts County |
A |
4–0
|
3,857 |
Burke, Cooke (2), Holloway
|
38
|
31 March 1986 |
Gillingham |
H |
1–2
|
4,702 |
Cooke
|
39
|
5 April 1986
|
Derby County
|
A
|
1–1
|
11,026
|
Holloway
|
40
|
13 April 1986 |
Bristol City |
H |
1–2
|
3,701 |
Millen
|
41
|
16 April 1986 |
Reading |
A |
1–3
|
6,855 |
Murray
|
42
|
19 April 1986 |
Chesterfield |
A |
3–1
|
2,344 |
Cooke, Butler, Booker
|
43
|
22 April 1986 |
Lincoln City |
H |
0–1
|
3,011 |
|
44
|
26 April 1986 |
York City
|
H |
3–3
|
2,864 |
Hood (og), R. Joseph, F. Joseph
|
45
|
3 May 1986 |
Bury
|
A |
0–0
|
2,953 |
|
46
|
5 May 1986 |
Darlington
|
H |
2–1
|
2,824 |
Millen, Cooke
|
FA Cup
Round |
Date |
Opponent |
Venue |
Result
|
Attendance
|
Scorer(s)
|
1R |
16 November 1985 |
Bristol Rovers
|
H |
1–3
|
4,716
|
Evans
|
Round |
Date |
Opponent |
Venue |
Result
|
Attendance
|
Scorer
|
SR1 (match 1)
|
15 January 1986
|
Derby County
|
H
|
0–0
|
2,531
|
|
SR1 (match 2)
|
29 January 1986
|
Gillingham
|
A
|
1–1
|
1,464
|
Murray
|
- Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[5] The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties,[7] Statto
Playing squad
- Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1985–86 season.
- Sources: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties,[8] Timeless Bees[9]
Coaching staff
Statistics
Appearances and goals
- Substitute appearances in brackets.
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties[10]
Goalscorers
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties[10]
Management
Name
|
Nat
|
From
|
To
|
Record All Comps
|
Record League
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
W % |
P |
W |
D |
L |
W %
|
Frank McLintock
|
|
17 August 1985
|
5 May 1986
|
53
|
19
|
16
|
18
|
035.85
|
46
|
18
|
12
|
16
|
039.13
|
Summary
Games played |
53 (46 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)
|
Games won |
19 (18 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy)
|
Games drawn |
16 (12 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)
|
Games lost |
18 (16 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy)
|
Goals scored |
65 (58 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 5 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
|
Goals conceded |
70 (61 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 5 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
|
Clean sheets |
14 (12 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
|
Biggest league win |
4–0 versus Notts County, 29 March 1986
|
Worst league defeat |
4–0 on two occasions
|
Most appearances |
52, Jamie Murray (45 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)
|
Top scorer (league) |
17, Robbie Cooke
|
Top scorer (all competitions) |
18, Robbie Cooke
|
Transfers & loans
Awards
References
- ^ a b Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 150.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 168-173.
- ^ a b "Brentford results for the 1985–1986 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
- ^ a b White, p. 328-331.
- ^ a b White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 398. ISBN 0951526200.
- ^ "Brentford League Table 1985-1986". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 25 February 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
- ^ Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 152-164, 399.
- ^ Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2011). The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. ISBN 978-1906796716.
- ^ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
- ^ a b Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 427.
- ^ a b c "Swindon Town FC – Profile – Richard Key". TownEnders.com. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
- ^ Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 390.
- ^ a b Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 383.
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National teams | |
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League competitions | Levels 1–4 | |
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Level 5 | |
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Levels 6–7 | |
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Levels 8–9 |
- Isthmian League (Two North, Two South)
- Combined Counties League (level 8 only)
- Eastern Counties League (level 8 only)
- Essex Senior League (level 8 only)
- Hellenic League (Premier, One)
- Kent League (level 8 only)
- London Spartan League (Premier, Senior)
- Midland Football Combination (level 8 only)
- North West Counties League (One, Two)
- Northern Counties East League (Premier, One)
- Northern League (One, Two)
- South Midlands League (Premier, One)
- Sussex County League (One, Two)
- United Counties League (Premier, One)
- West Midlands (Regional) League (level 8 only)
- Western League (Premier, One)
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Cup competitions | FA cups | |
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Football League cups | |
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