1978–79 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1978–79 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. After a rude awakening to third-tier football, the Bees ended the season strongly to finish in 10th position.

Brentford
1978–79 season
ChairmanDan Tana
ManagerBill Dodgin Jr.
StadiumGriffin Park
Third Division10th
FA CupFirst round
League CupFirst round
Top goalscorerLeague: McCulloch,
Phillips (14)
All: McCulloch,
Phillips (14)
Highest home attendance13,873
Lowest home attendance5,140
Average home league attendance7,455

Season summary

After Brentford's promotion to the Third Division at the end of the previous season, manager Bill Dodgin Jr. stated that his squad would only need one or two more new players to be able to compete during the club's first season in the third tier since 1972–73.[1] He managed to keep prolific forwards Steve Phillips and Andrew McCulloch at Griffin Park,[2] with the former turning down a £120,000 transfer to Tottenham Hotspur.[3] Aside from goalkeeping trialist Trevor Porter (brought in to cover for car crash-victim Len Bond and the suspended Graham Cox),[4] Dodgin made no significant signings.[2]

Fears that Brentford's largely-unchanged squad would be out of its depth in the Third Division were heightened after the season began with a 7–1 aggregate defeat to fellow third-tier side Watford in the first round of the League Cup.[2] A dire start to the league season, which had seen Brentford sink into the relegation places by the end of September 1978,[5] led manager Bill Dodgin Jr. to act in the transfer market.[2] Potentially club-record breaking bids for Watford's Alan Mayes, Queens Park Rangers' Tony Hazell and Bristol City's John Bain were all rejected.[2] Dodgin managed to sign defender Jim McNichol from Luton Town for a new club-record incoming fee of £30,000.[2] While McNichol went on to be voted the Brentford Supporters' Player of the Year,[6] Dodgin's other signing, forward Dean Smith (signed to support the misfiring Steve Phillips and Andrew McCulloch), only scored sporadically during the remainder of the season.[7]

Between late-October 1978 and mid-March 1979, the Bees stabilised with a run of just two defeats in 17 league matches.[5] The run ended with the club's biggest win of the season – a 6–0 thrashing of Chester at Griffin Park, with Steve Phillips scoring a hat-trick to boost his tally to six goals in four matches.[7] The signing of Jim McNichol made an immediate impact on the defensive line, with a record of two clean sheets prior to his arrival being turned around to 14 in the following 31 matches, equivalent to a clean sheet nearly every other match.[8] A failure to win any of the following four matches dropped the Bees back to 18th position, but a strong run of 9 wins in 12 matches to close out the season elevated the club to a 10th-place finish.[5]

League table
Main article: 1978–79 Football League Third Division

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
8 Hull City 46 19 11 16 66 61 +5 49
9 Exeter City 46 17 15 14 61 56 +5 49
10 Brentford 46 19 9 18 53 49 +4 47
11 Oxford United 46 14 18 14 44 50 −6 46
12 Blackpool 46 18 9 19 61 59 +2 45
Source: rsssf.com

Results
Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Pre-season and friendlies
DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
1 August 1978Charlton AthleticH1–1 2,500Phillips
3 August 1978Chesham UnitedA0–0 n/a
7 August 1978Brighton & Hove AlbionH1–4 2,800J. Graham
8 August 1978WokingA0–3 n/a
9 August 1978AldershotA2–1 n/aPhillips, Kruse
15 December 1978 Northampton Town A 0–3 n/a

Football League Third Division
No. DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
1 19 August 1978Shrewsbury TownA0–1 2,346
2 21 August 1978Colchester UnitedH1–0 6,802Kruse
3 26 August 1978Chesterfield H0–3 6,162
4 2 September 1978Exeter CityA2–2 3,645McCulloch (2)
5 9 September 1978Hull CityH1–0 6,528Phillips
6 12 September 1978Swindon TownA0–2 6,902
7 16 September 1978Peterborough UnitedA1–3 5,884Kruse
8 23 September 1978GillinghamH0–2 6,977
9 25 September 1978Lincoln CityH2–1 6,107J. Graham, Eames
10 30 September 1978Swansea CityA1–2 11,370McCulloch
11 7 October 1978BuryH0–1 5,855
12 14 October 1978Watford A0–2 15,180
13 17 October 1978Rotherham United A0–1 3,881
14 21 October 1978Tranmere RoversH2–1 5,883McCulloch (2)
15 28 October 1978Chester A1–3 4,495McCulloch
16 4 November 1978Oxford UnitedH3–0 6,863McCulloch, D. Smith (2)
17 11 November 1978Exeter CityH0–0 6,387
18 18 November 1978ChesterfieldA0–0 4,584
19 2 December 1978Walsall H1–0 5,140McCulloch
20 9 December 1978 Mansfield Town A 1–2 4,003 McCulloch
21 23 December 1978Southend UnitedA1–1 13,703Phillips
22 26 December 1978Plymouth ArgyleH2–1 7,367D. Smith (2)
23 30 December 1978Carlisle UnitedH0–0 6,477
24 20 January 1979Peterborough UnitedH0–0 5,760
25 27 January 1979Gillingham A0–0 6,899
26 10 February 1979Swansea CityH1–0 7,264Carlton
27 24 February 1979WatfordH3–3 13,873D. Smith, Phillips (2, 1 pen)
28 3 March 1979Tranmere RoversA1–0 1,882Phillips
29 6 March 1979Hull CityA0–1 3,418
30 10 March 1979ChesterH6–0 6,421Phillips (3), Glover (2), McCulloch
31 13 March 1979Sheffield WednesdayA0–1 10,383
32 21 March 1979 Lincoln City A 0–1 2,060
33 24 March 1979Colchester UnitedA1–1 3,528Shrubb
34 26 March 1979Shrewsbury Town H2–3 7,756McCulloch, D. Smith
35 31 March 1979BlackpoolH3–2 6,364McNichol (2), Phillips
36 4 April 1979Oxford UnitedA1–0 5,242Shrubb
37 7 April 1979WalsallA3–2 3,840Kruse, Phillips (2)
38 13 April 1979Southend UnitedH3–2 11,509McCulloch, Kruse, Salman
39 14 April 1979Plymouth ArgyleA1–2 6,344Carlton
40 17 April 1979Sheffield WednesdayH2–1 9,050McNichol (2)
41 21 April 1979 Carlisle United A 0–1 3,967
42 23 April 1979Rotherham United H1–0 6,758D. Smith
43 28 April 1979Mansfield Town H1–0 6,838Phillips
44 5 May 1979 Blackpool A 1–0 3,464 McCulloch
45 8 May 1979Swindon TownH1–2 13,320D. Smith
46 15 May 1979Bury A3–2 2,512Phillips (2), McCulloch

FA Cup
Main article: 1978–79 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance
1R25 November 1978Exeter City A0–1 3,810

Football League Cup
Main article: 1978–79 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer
1R (1st leg) 12 August 1978 Watford A 0–4 9,292
1R (2nd leg)12 August 1978Watford H1–3 (lost 7–1 on aggregate) 7,414 Rolph
  • Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[7] The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies,[9][10] Statto

Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1978–79 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Len Bond England (1954-01-12)12 January 1954 (aged 24) Bristol City 1977
GK Trevor Porter England (1956-10-16)16 October 1956 (aged 21) Slough Town 1978
Defenders
DF Michael Allen England (1949-03-30)30 March 1949 (aged 29) Middlesbrough 1971
DF John Fraser England (1953-07-12)12 July 1953 (aged 25) Fulham 1976
DF Pat Kruse England (1953-11-30)30 November 1953 (aged 24) Torquay United 1977
DF Jim McNichol Scotland (1958-06-09)9 June 1958 (aged 20) Luton Town 1978
DF Danis Salman England (1960-03-12)12 March 1960 (aged 18) Youth 1975
DF David Silman England (1959-10-28)28 October 1959 (aged 18) Unattached 1978
DF Barry Tucker Wales (1952-08-28)28 August 1952 (aged 25) Northampton Town 1978
Midfielders
MF Doug Allder England (1951-12-30)30 December 1951 (aged 26) Unattached 1977
MF Bob Booker England (1958-01-25)25 January 1958 (aged 20) Bedmond Sports & Social 1978
MF Dave Carlton England (1952-11-24)24 November 1952 (aged 25) Northampton Town 1976
MF Allan Glover England (1950-10-21)21 October 1950 (aged 27) Orient 1978
MF Jackie Graham (c) Scotland (1946-07-16)16 July 1946 (aged 32) Guildford City 1970
MF Willie Graham Northern Ireland (1959-02-14)14 February 1959 (aged 19) Northampton Town 1977
MF Paul Shrubb England (1955-08-01)1 August 1955 (aged 23) Hellenic 1977
MF Paul Walker England (1960-12-17)17 December 1960 (aged 17) Youth 1976
Forwards
FW Tommy Baldwin England (1945-06-10)10 June 1945 (aged 33) Unattached 1977 Assistant manager
FW Andrew McCulloch England (1950-01-03)3 January 1950 (aged 28) Oxford United 1976 Loaned to Oakland Stompers
FW Gary Rolph England (1960-02-24)24 February 1960 (aged 18) Youth 1976
FW Steve Phillips England (1954-08-04)4 August 1954 (aged 24) Northampton Town 1977
FW Dean Smith England (1958-11-28)28 November 1958 (aged 19) Leicester City 1977
Players who left the club mid-season
DF Nigel Smith England (1958-07-03)3 July 1958 (aged 20) Queens Park Rangers 1975 Released
DF Stephen Wilkins England (1959-08-31)31 August 1959 (aged 18) Chelsea 1978 Released
FW Billy Eames England (1957-09-20)20 September 1957 (aged 20) Waterlooville 1978 Released
FW Lee Frost England (1957-12-04)4 December 1957 (aged 20) Chelsea 1978 Returned to Chelsea after loan
  • Sources: The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies,[11] Timeless Bees[12]

Coaching staff
Name Role
England Bill Dodgin Jr. Manager
England Tommy Baldwin Assistant Manager
England Eddie Lyons Physiotherapist
England Gordon Quinn Chief Scout

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 Len Bond 35 0 1 0 0 0 36 0
GK England Trevor Porter 11 0 0 0 2 0 13 0
DF England Michael Allen 5 (2) 0 0 0 0 0 5 (2) 0
DF England John Fraser 21 (2) 0 0 0 0 (1) 0 21 (3) 0
DF England Pat Kruse 44 4 1 0 2 0 47 4
DF Scotland Jim McNichol 32 4 1 0 — 33 4
DF England Danis Salman 39 (1) 1 1 0 2 0 42 (1) 1
DF England David Silman 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
DF England Nigel Smith 2 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 2 (1) 0
DF Wales Barry Tucker 43 0 1 0 2 0 46 0
DF England Stephen Wilkins 0 0 — 0 (1) 0 0 (1) 0
MF England Doug Allder 18 (12) 0 0 0 2 0 20 (12) 0
MF England Bob Booker 2 (1) 0 0 0 — 2 (1) 0
MF England Dave Carlton 36 (1) 2 1 0 2 0 39 (1) 2
MF England Allan Glover 18 (1) 2 1 0 — 19 (1) 2
MF Scotland Jackie Graham 35 1 1 0 2 0 38 1
MF Northern Ireland Willie Graham 8 (3) 0 0 0 2 0 10 (3) 0
MF England Paul Shrubb 39 2 1 0 2 0 42 2
MF England Paul Walker 2 (5) 0 0 0 0 0 2 (5) 0
FW England Tommy Baldwin 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
FW England Billy Eames 2 1 — 0 0 2 1
FW England Andrew McCulloch 39 14 1 0 0 0 40 14
FW England Gary Rolph 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 1
FW England Steve Phillips 46 14 1 0 2 0 49 14
FW England Dean Smith 22 (3) 8 0 (1) 0 — 22 (4) 8
Players loaned in during the season
FW England Lee Frost 5 (1) 0 — — 5 (1) 0
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[7]

Goalscorers
Pos. Nat Player FL3 FAC FLC Total
FW England Andrew McCulloch 14 0 — 14
FW England Steve Phillips 14 0 0 14
FW England Dean Smith 8 0 — 8
DF England Pat Kruse 4 0 0 4
DF Scotland Jim McNichol 4 0 0 4
MF England Dave Carlton 2 0 0 2
MF England Allan Glover 2 0 0 2
MF England Paul Shrubb 2 0 0 2
FW England Billy Eames 1 — 0 1
MF Scotland Jackie Graham 1 0 0 1
FW England Gary Rolph 0 0 1 1
DF England Danis Salman 1 0 0 1
Total530 154
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[7]

Management
Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Bill Dodgin, Jr. England 12 August 1978 15 May 1979 49 19 9 21 038.78 46 19 9 18 041.30

Summary
Games played49 (46 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)
Games won19 (19 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Games drawn9 (9 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Games lost21 (18 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)
Goals scored54 (53 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Goals conceded57 (49 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 7 League Cup)
Clean sheets16 (16 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Biggest league win6–0 versus Chester, 10 March 1979
Worst league defeat3–0 versus Chesterfield, 26 August 1978
Most appearances49, Steve Phillips (46 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)
Top scorer (league)14, Andrew McCulloch, Steve Phillips
Top scorer (all competitions)14, Andrew McCulloch, Steve Phillips

Transfers & loans
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
August 1978 FW England Billy Eames England Portsmouth Trial [13]
August 1978 GK England Trevor Porter England Slough Town Trial [13]
September 1978 MF England Bob Booker England Bedmond Sports & Social Non-contract [13]
October 1978 DF Scotland Jim McNichol England Luton Town £30,000 [13]
October 1978 FW England Dean Smith England Leicester City £20,000 [14]
November 1978 MF England Allan Glover England Orient Free [13]
1978 DF England Stephen Wilkins England Chelsea n/a [13]
April 1979 FW England Bradley Walsh n/a Non-contract [13]
Players loaned in
Date from Pos. Name From Date to Ref.
October 1978 FW England Lee Frost England Chelsea November 1978 [13]
Players loaned out
Date from Pos. Name To Date to Ref.
May 1978 FW England Andrew McCulloch United States Oakland Stompers August 1978 [13]
October 1978 GK England Graham Cox England Margate n/a [15]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
August 1978 DF England Stephen Wilkins England Dagenham 1978 [13]
October 1978 FW England Billy Eames n/a n/a [13]
October 1978 DF England Nigel Smith England Cambridge United November 1978 [13]
December 1978 FW England John Murray Retired [13]
May 1979 DF England Michael Allen England Whitby Town 1979 [13]
May 1979 GK England Graham Cox England Wokingham Town 1979 [16]
May 1979 FW England Gary Rolph England Woking 1979 [13]
May 1979 DF England David Silman England Walthamstow Avenue 1979 [13]

Awards

References
  1. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 175.
  2. White, p. 309-311.
  3. "Kings of the Castle: Steve Phillips". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  4. "They played for both: Bristol City". Brentford FC. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  5. "Brentford results for the 1978–1979 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 13 September 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  6. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 295.
  7. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 395. ISBN 0951526200.
  8. "Kings of the Castle: Jim McNichol". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  9. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 158-169.
  10. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 314.
  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. 190-194.
  14. Haynes & Coumbe, p. 147.
  15. "Graham Cox". Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  16. Haynes & Coumbe, p. 41-42.
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