1971–72 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1971–72 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Fourth Division. The club led the division for much of the first half of the season and 10 wins in the final 14 matches secured automatic promotion with a 3rd-place finish.

Brentford
1971–72 season
ChairmanEric Radley-Smith
(until January 1972)
Les Davey & Walter Wheatley
(from January 1972)
ManagerFrank Blunstone
StadiumGriffin Park
Fourth Division3rd (promoted)
FA CupFirst round
League CupFirst round
Top goalscorerLeague: O'Mara (25)
All: O'Mara (27)
Highest home attendance18,521
Lowest home attendance8,712
Average home league attendance11,738

Season summary

Despite the reduction of the club's debt to a manageable level and an average attendance higher than all but the top three finishers in the Third Division, Fourth Division Brentford went into the 1971–72 season with a squad of just 14 professionals.[1] Long-time goalkeeper Chic Brodie was released, as was bit-part winger Brian Tawse and in came two defensive youngsters on free transfers – Terry Scales and Steven Tom.[1]

Despite the club record £30,000 departure of Roger Cross to rivals Fulham and Alan Hawley also moving to Craven Cottage on loan, Brentford's 12-man squad met pre-season expectations in the early part of the season,[1] holding onto top spot intermittently until a minor blip in October and November 1971.[2] Utility player Michael Allen was signed from Middlesbrough for an £8,000 fee in October and proved to be a vital cog in the midfield.[1] The team owed much of its success to prolific goalscoring from John O'Mara, with the centre forward reaching 20 goals for the season after a 6–2 thrashing of Darlington on 8 January 1972, a result which made Brentford the top scorers in the Football League and was also notable for a 13-minute hattrick from John Docherty.[1]

After another blip caused by the suspension of John O'Mara for five weeks dropped Brentford out of the promotion places,[3] the team was buoyed by the loan signing of winger Stewart Houston and entered the final five weeks of the season strongly,[1] winning five matches in a row in March.[2] Two draws and a defeat over Easter threatened to drop the Bees out of the promotion places,[2] but four successive wins meant that automatic promotion was assured with two matches to play, when captain Bobby Ross' penalty was enough to beat Exeter City at Griffin Park on 22 April.[1] Despite going top of the Fourth Division after victory over Barrow in the following match, a 3–0 defeat away to Workington in the final match of the season dropped the Bees to a 3rd-place finish.[2]

Two club records were set during the season:

Brentford finished top of the Fourth Division charts in the following statistical categories:

  • Best away record[6]
  • Highest overall goal difference[6]
  • Highest away goal difference[6]
  • Highest average attendance[7]

League table
Main article: 1971–72 Football League Fourth Division

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Grimsby Town 46 28 7 11 88 56 1.571 63 Division Champions, promoted
2 Southend United 46 24 12 10 81 55 1.473 60 Promoted
3 Brentford 46 24 11 11 76 44 1.727 59
4 Scunthorpe United 46 22 13 11 56 37 1.514 57
5 Lincoln City 46 21 14 11 77 59 1.305 56 Qualified for 1972 Watney Cup[lower-alpha 1]
Source: rsssf.com
Notes:
  1. 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
    DateOpponentVenueResultScorer(s)
    31 July 1971SouthamptonH1–3Untraced (og)
    4 August 1971Hillingdon BoroughA2–1O'Mara, Scales
    7 August 1971Oxford United H2–4O'Mara, Cross
    2 May 1972 Guernsey XI A 6–0 O'Mara (4), Houston, Bence
    4 May 1972 Guernsey XI A 7–1 O'Mara (2), Houston (2), Ross, Graham, Docherty
    9 May 1972 Wimbledon A 2–2 Docherty, Graham

    Football League Fourth Division
    No. DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
    1 14 August 1971BuryA2–0 2,957Gelson, Tom
    2 21 August 1971AldershotH1–1 8,920Turner
    3 28 August 1971DarlingtonA0–0 2,514
    4 30 August 1971BarrowH4–0 8,866O'Mara, Cross, Turner, Ross
    5 4 September 1971HartlepoolH6–0 8,712Turner (2), O'Mara (3), Cross
    6 11 September 1971Grimsby Town A1–3 11,683O'Mara
    7 18 September 1971Peterborough UnitedH5–1 8,770Neilson, Graham, Docherty, O'Mara, Ross
    8 25 September 1971ChesterA0–0 4,088
    9 27 September 1971Stockport CountyH2–0 10,445Ross (2)
    10 2 October 1971Northampton TownH6–1 11,004Gelson, Docherty, O'Mara (3), Neilson
    11 8 October 1971Southport A0–0 5,371
    12 16 October 1971BuryH2–0 9,851O'Mara, Graham
    13 20 October 1971ReadingA1–2 10,473O'Mara
    14 23 October 1971Southend UnitedH1–2 14,001O'Mara
    15 30 October 1971Scunthorpe United A0–0 6,121
    16 6 November 1971Newport County H3–1 10,484Docherty, Ross (2, 1 pen)
    17 13 November 1971Colchester UnitedA1–1 6,898O'Mara
    18 27 November 1971GillinghamH1–3 10,945Ross
    19 4 December 1971Exeter CityA1–0 3,809O'Mara
    20 11 December 1971Southport H1–0 9,624Peat (og)
    21 18 December 1971HartlepoolA2–1 2,199Allen (2)
    22 27 December 1971Crewe AlexandraH1–0 18,237O'Mara
    23 1 January 1972Peterborough UnitedA2–2 7,027O'Mara (2)
    24 8 January 1972DarlingtonH6–2 10,582Ross (pen), O'Mara (2), Docherty (3)
    25 15 January 1972Lincoln City A1–4 7,552O'Mara
    26 25 January 1972Stockport CountyA1–0 3,247Ross
    27 29 January 1972ReadingH1–2 12,144Docherty
    28 5 February 1972 Cambridge United A 1–1 6,861 Graham
    29 12 February 1972 Southend United A 1–3 9,841 Ross (pen)
    30 19 February 1972Scunthorpe UnitedH0–3 11,912
    31 26 February 1972 Newport County A 0–0 3,271
    32 4 March 1972Colchester UnitedH0–2 9,210
    33 13 March 1972Lincoln CityH2–0 12,065O'Mara, Scales
    34 18 March 1972AldershotA2–1 6,989O'Mara, Ross
    35 21 March 1972Doncaster RoversA3–0 5,256Graham (2), Ross
    36 25 March 1972Grimsby TownH2–0 14,635Docherty, O'Mara
    37 27 March 1972Workington H2–0 13,972Docherty, Houston
    38 31 March 1972ChesterH1–1 18,521Docherty
    39 1 April 1972Crewe AlexandraA1–2 2,072Docherty
    40 3 April 1972Northampton Town A0–0 5,314
    41 8 April 1972Cambridge UnitedH2–1 9,061Docherty, Graham
    42 15 April 1972Gillingham A1–0 5,819Docherty
    43 17 April 1972Doncaster RoversH2–1 13,484O'Mara (2)
    44 22 April 1972Exeter CityH1–0 14,540Ross (pen)
    45 24 April 1972 Barrow A 3–0 2,646 Houston, Allen, Graham
    46 29 April 1972Workington A0–3 1,751

    FA Cup
    Main article: 1971–72 FA Cup
    RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer(s)
    1R 20 November 1971 Swansea City A 1–1 7,915 O'Mara
    1R (replay)22 November 1971Swansea City H2–3 15,000 Ross, O'Mara

    Football League Cup
    Main article: 1971–72 Football League Cup
    RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer
    1R18 August 1971Colchester United A1–3 6,125 Ross
    • Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[8] The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies,[9][10] Statto

    Playing squad
    Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1971–72 season.
    Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
    Goalkeepers
    GK Gordon Phillips England (1946-11-17)17 November 1946 (aged 24) Hayes 1963
    Defenders
    DF Paul Bence England (1948-12-21)21 December 1948 (aged 22) Reading 1970
    DF Peter Gelson England (1941-10-18)18 October 1941 (aged 29) Youth 1961
    DF Alan Hawley England (1946-06-07)7 June 1946 (aged 25) Youth 1962 Loaned to Fulham
    DF Alan Nelmes England (1948-10-20)20 October 1948 (aged 22) Chelsea 1967
    DF Terry Scales England (1951-01-18)18 January 1951 (aged 20) West Ham United 1971
    DF Steven Tom England (1951-05-01)1 May 1951 (aged 20) Queens Park Rangers 1971
    Midfielders
    MF Michael Allen England (1949-03-30)30 March 1949 (aged 22) Middlesbrough 1971
    MF John Docherty Scotland (1940-04-29)29 April 1940 (aged 31) Reading 1970
    MF Jackie Graham Scotland (1946-07-16)16 July 1946 (aged 25) Guildford City 1970
    MF Gordon Neilson Scotland (1947-05-28)28 May 1947 (aged 24) Arsenal 1968
    MF Brian Turner New Zealand (1949-07-31)31 July 1949 (aged 22) Portsmouth 1970
    Forwards
    FW Stewart Houston Scotland (1949-08-20)20 August 1949 (aged 21) Chelsea 1972 On loan from Chelsea
    FW John O'Mara England (1947-03-19)19 March 1947 (aged 24) Wimbledon 1971
    FW Bobby Ross (c) Scotland (1942-05-10)10 May 1942 (aged 29) Shrewsbury Town 1966
    Players who left the club mid-season
    FW Roger Cross England (1948-10-20)20 October 1948 (aged 22) West Ham United 1970 Transferred to Fulham
    FW Trevor Dawkins England (1945-10-17)17 October 1945 (aged 25) Crystal Palace 1971 Returned to Crystal Palace after loan
    FW Ken Wallace England (1952-06-08)8 June 1952 (aged 19) West Ham United 1972 Returned to West Ham United after loan
    • Sources: The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies,[11] Timeless Bees[12]

    Coaching staff
    Name Role
    England Frank Blunstone Manager
    England 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 England Gordon Phillips 46 0 2 0 1 0 49 0
    DF England Paul Bence 32 (2) 0 2 0 1 0 35 (2) 0
    DF England Peter Gelson 36 (1) 2 0 0 1 0 37 (1) 2
    DF England Alan Hawley 20 0 0 0 0 0 20 0
    DF England Alan Nelmes 46 0 2 0 1 0 49 0
    DF England Terry Scales 43 1 2 0 1 0 46 1
    DF England Steven Tom 13 (5) 1 2 0 1 0 16 (5) 1
    MF England Michael Allen 29 (1) 3 2 0 — 31 (1) 3
    MF Scotland John Docherty 44 13 2 0 0 0 46 13
    MF Scotland Jackie Graham 45 7 2 0 1 0 48 7
    MF Scotland Gordon Neilson 8 (4) 2 0 0 0 (1) 0 8 (5) 2
    MF New Zealand Brian Turner 34 (1) 4 2 0 1 0 37 (1) 4
    FW England Roger Cross 5 2 — 1 0 6 2
    FW England John O'Mara 40 25 2 2 1 0 43 27
    FW Scotland Bobby Ross 44 (1) 13 2 1 1 1 47 (1) 15
    Players loaned in during the season
    FW England Trevor Dawkins 3 (1) 0 — — 3 (1) 0
    FW Scotland Stewart Houston 15 2 — — 15 2
    FW England Ken Wallace 3 0 — — 3 0
    • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
    • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[8]

    Goalscorers
    Pos. Nat Player FL4 FAC FLC Total
    FW England John O'Mara 25 2 0 27
    FW Scotland Bobby Ross 13 1 1 15
    MF Scotland John Docherty 13 0 0 13
    MF Scotland Jackie Graham 7 0 0 7
    MF New Zealand Brian Turner 4 0 0 4
    MF England Michael Allen 3 0 — 3
    FW Scotland Stewart Houston 2 — — 2
    FW England Roger Cross 2 — 0 2
    DF England Peter Gelson 2 0 0 2
    MF Scotland Gordon Neilson 2 0 0 2
    DF England Terry Scales 1 0 0 1
    DF England Steven Tom 1 0 0 1
    Opponents 1 0 0 1
    Total763 180
    • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
    • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[8]

    Management
    Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
    PWDLW %PWDLW %
    Frank Blunstone England 14 August 1971 29 April 1972 49 24 12 13 048.98 46 24 11 11 052.17

    Summary
    Games played49 (46 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
    Games won24 (24 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
    Games drawn12 (11 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
    Games lost13 (11 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
    Goals scored80 (76 Fourth Division, 3 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
    Goals conceded51 (44 Fourth Division, 4 FA Cup, 3 League Cup)
    Clean sheets22 (22 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
    Biggest league win6–0 versus Hartlepool, 4 September 1971
    Worst league defeat3–0 on two occasions; 4–1 versus Lincoln City, 15 January 1972
    Most appearances49, Alan Nelmes, Gordon Phillips (46 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
    Top scorer (league)25, John O'Mara
    Top scorer (all competitions)27, John O'Mara

    Transfers & loans
    Players transferred in
    Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
    June 1971 DF England Steven Tom England Crystal Palace Free [13]
    July 1971 DF England Terry Scales England West Ham United Free [13]
    October 1971 MF England Michael Allen England Middlesbrough £8,000 [13]
    Players loaned in
    Date from Pos. Name From Date to Ref.
    September 1971 FW England Trevor Dawkins England Crystal Palace October 1971 [13]
    February 1972 FW England Ken Wallace England West Ham United March 1972 [13]
    March 1972 FW Scotland Stewart Houston England Chelsea End of season [13]
    Players transferred out
    Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
    September 1971 FW England Roger Cross England Fulham £30,000 [13]
    Players loaned out
    Date from Pos. Name To Date to Ref.
    September 1971 MF England Alan Hawley England Fulham October 1971 [13]
    Players released
    Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
    May 1972 MF Scotland Gordon Neilson England Hillingdon Borough 1972 [13]
    May 1972 DF England Steven Tom England Barnet 1972 [13]
    May 1972 MF New Zealand Brian Turner New Zealand Mount Wellington 1972 [13]

    Awards

    References
    1. White, p. 284-287.
    2. "Brentford results for the 1971–1972 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 9 November 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
    3. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 34.
    4. Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Yore Publications. p. 30. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
    5. Haynes & Coumbe, p. 179.
    6. "Brentford Home Page for the 1971–1972 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
    7. Haynes, p. 13.
    8. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 391. ISBN 0951526200.
    9. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 36-48.
    10. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 300.
    11. Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2011). The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. ISBN 978-1906796709.
    12. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
    13. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 50-53.
    14. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 295.
    15. Haynes & Coumbe, p. 118.
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