1983–84 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1983–84 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. A season of transition ended with a narrow escape from relegation.

Brentford
1983–84 season
ChairmanMartin Lange
ManagerFred Callaghan
(until 2 February 1984)
Frank Blunstone
(2–9 February 1984)
Frank McLintock
(from 9 February 1984)
StadiumGriffin Park
Third Division20th
FA CupThird round
League CupSecond round
Football League TrophySecond round
Top goalscorerLeague: Joseph (18)
All: Joseph (24)
Highest home attendance17,859
Lowest home attendance2,301
Average home league attendance4,735
Home (Aug–Dec) colours
Home (Dec–May) colours
Away colours

Season summary
Frank McLintock took over as Brentford manager on 9 February 1984.

After two seasons in which, were it not for bad mid-season form, strong run-ins may have yielded a promotion challenge, Brentford manager Fred Callaghan kept his squad together.[1] Save for the retirement of key midfielder Stan Bowles, Bowles' replacement Terry Bullivant was the only significant piece of transfer activity at Griffin Park during the 1983 off-season.[1] Goalkeeper Trevor Swinburne arrived to provide competition for Paddy Roche.[2] With forward Tony Mahoney still not fully fit after recovering from a broken leg, Bill Garner was brought in from non-League football on non-contract terms.[2]

Brentford showed poor form between the beginning of the season and Christmas Eve 1983, winning just two and losing 10 of the opening 19 Third Division and sitting just above the foot of the table.[3] In the midst of the barren run in the league, a two-legged tie with then-First Division champions Liverpool in the second round of the League Cup failed to produce much cheer, with the Bees suffering an 8–1 aggregate defeat.[3] A reduction in size of Griffin Park in the intervening years meant that the 17,858 crowd which attended the first leg was not bettered prior to the club's final first team match at the ground in July 2020.[4][5]

Player/assistant manager Ron Harris was replaced with former Brentford manager Frank Blunstone in October 1983 and Harris later remarked that it had been an acrimonious parting.[2] An ever-increasing list of injuries and suspensions led manager Fred Callaghan to make a number of signings during the final two months of 1983, including new captain Ian Bolton for £2,000 and previously on-loan defender Paul Roberts from Millwall for a £10,000 fee.[2] Stan Bowles came out of retirement to assist the team on a non-contract basis.[2] The signings had an effect, with the Bees going four matches undefeated in late December 1983 and early January 1984 to rise out of the relegation places.[3] Defeats in the following two matches led chairman Martin Lange to act and sack manager Fred Callaghan on 2 February.[2] Lange paid tribute to Callaghan by stating that Callaghan could "leave the club proud in the knowledge that he leaves the club far better equipped than when he arrived".[2]

Assistant Frank Blunstone took caretaker charge of the team for one match before the appointment of former Leicester City manager Frank McLintock on 9 February.[2] McLintock installed former Brentford player John Docherty as his assistant.[2] McLintock took over a club in 21st position with 20 matches to play and conducted an overhaul of the playing staff, selling central defender Alan Whitehead and bringing in right back Bobby Fisher and midfielder Tommy Finney from Cambridge United, plus Nigel Gray and Bill Roffey on loan.[2] Attacker Bob Booker was recalled to the starting lineup, Ian Bolton and Tony Mahoney were dropped,[1] Terry Bullivant and Graham Wilkins departed on loan and Stan Bowles retired for a second time.[2]

A slight upturn in form meant that Brentford went into their final match of the season versus Walsall perched atop the relegation zone in 20th place and needing a victory, but a 1–1 draw was all that could be mustered.[1] Circumstances transpired that 21st-place Scunthorpe United's 1–1 draw on the same day, in their penultimate match of the season, meant that the Iron would need to win their final match by seven goals, which effectively guaranteed the Bees' safety.[1] Brentford's Third Division status was retained when Scunthorpe United lost in their season finale on the following Tuesday night.[1]

League table
Main article: 1983–84 Football League Third Division

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
18 Rotherham United 46 15 9 22 57 64 −7 54
19 Plymouth Argyle 46 13 12 21 56 62 −6 51
20 Brentford 46 11 16 19 69 79 −10 49
21 Scunthorpe United 46 9 19 18 54 73 −19 46 Relegated
22 Southend United 46 10 14 22 55 76 −21 44
Source:

Results
Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Pre-season and friendlies
DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
3 August 1983KingstonianA6–0 n/aCassells (3), Joseph, Spencer, Greenaway
6 August 1983Tottenham HotspurH2–4 6,405Hurlock (2)
8 August 1983Staines TownA2–1 n/aHopson, Tully
9 August 1983St Albans City A2–3 n/aHopson (2)
10 August 1983West Ham UnitedH2–0 3,104G. Roberts, Joseph
11 August 1983Walton & HershamA7–2 n/aCassells (2), Greenaway (2), Lynch (2), Garner
13 August 1983AldershotA2–0 n/aGarner, Cassells
15 August 1983HayesA0–6 n/a
16 August 1983ReadingA2–5 n/aKamara, Joseph
20 August 1983Bristol CityA0–1 1,111Smith
23 August 1983Bracknell TownA0–0 n/a
15 November 1983 Queens Park Rangers H 3–2 1,414 Mahoney (2), Davies
14 May 1984 Chelsea H 3–6 3,461 Cassells, McNichol, G. Roberts

Football League Third Division
No. DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
1 27 August 1983MillwallH2–2 6,224Joseph, Kamara
2 3 September 1983Preston North EndA3–3 3,957Joseph, G. Roberts, Cassells
3 6 September 1983Bristol RoversA1–3 5,148Joseph
4 10 September 1983Lincoln CityH3–0 4,777Kamara, Joseph (2)
5 17 September 1983Wigan Athletic A1–2 3,034Garner
6 24 September 1983BurnleyH0–0 8,042
7 1 October 1983GillinghamA2–4 3,268Kamara, McNichol
8 8 October 1983Oxford UnitedA1–2 7,326Kamara
9 15 October 1983Hull CityH1–1 4,258Joseph
10 18 October 1983Port ValeH3–1 3,903Bullivant, G. Roberts, McNichol
11 22 October 1983Sheffield UnitedA0–0 9,848
12 29 October 1983BournemouthH1–1 4,630Joseph
13 31 October 1983Southend UnitedA0–6 3,182
14 5 November 1983Plymouth ArgyleH2–2 4,183Mahoney, Cassells
15 12 November 1983OrientA0–2 3,650
16 26 November 1983Bradford CityH1–4 3,738G. Roberts
17 3 December 1983Bolton WanderersA0–1 5,416
18 17 December 1983Walsall A0–1 3,965
19 24 December 1983Wimbledon H3–4 6,689Kamara, McNichol, Hurlock
20 27 December 1983Exeter CityA2–1 4,303Cassells, G. Roberts
21 31 December 1983Newport County H2–1 4,631Hurlock, G. Roberts
22 2 January 1984Scunthorpe UnitedA4–4 2,239Mahoney, Cassells (pen), McNichol, Joseph
23 15 January 1984MillwallA2–1 5,370Joseph (2)
24 21 January 1984Wigan Athletic H0–1 3,972
25 1 February 1984 Lincoln City A 0–2 2,266
26 4 February 1984Gillingham H2–3 4,317Joseph, Bolton
27 11 February 1984BurnleyA2–2 7,027Cassells, Kamara
28 14 February 1984Southend UnitedH0–0 3,961
29 18 February 1984BournemouthA3–0 4,308Cassells (3)
30 25 February 1984Sheffield UnitedH1–3 5,100G. Roberts
31 3 March 1984Port ValeA3–4 3,704G. Roberts, Gray, Joseph
32 6 March 1984 Plymouth Argyle A 1–1 4,322 Hurlock
33 10 March 1984OrientH1–1 4,358Joseph
34 17 March 1984Oxford UnitedH1–2 5,936G. Roberts
35 20 March 1984Rotherham UnitedH2–1 3,391Booker, Mahoney (pen)
36 24 March 1984Hull CityA0–2 5,572
37 31 March 1984Bristol RoversH2–2 4,067Booker, Hurlock
38 3 April 1984Preston North EndH4–1 3,446Kamara, Finney, G. Roberts, Booker
39 7 April 1984Rotherham UnitedA0–4 3,705
40 14 April 1984 Bolton Wanderers H 3–0 3,831 Joseph, Deakin (og)
41 20 April 1984Exeter City H3–0 5,620Joseph, Booker, Finney
42 21 April 1984Wimbledon A1–2 5,487Joseph
43 28 April 1984 Bradford City A 1–1 3,755 Cassells
44 5 May 1984Scunthorpe UnitedH3–0 4,561Rowe, Joseph, Roffey
45 7 May 1984Newport County A1–1 2,154G. Roberts
46 12 May 1984Walsall H1–1 5,281Caswell (og)

FA Cup
Main article: 1983–84 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer(s)
1R 19 November 1983 Dagenham A 2–2 2,146 Joseph, P. Roberts
1R (replay) 22 November 1983 Dagenham H 2–1 3,936 Mahoney, G. Roberts
2R 10 December 1983 Wimbledon H 3–2 5,666 Kamara, G. Roberts, Joseph
3R7 January 1984Gillingham A3–5 6,509 G. Roberts, Hurlock, Cassells

Football League Cup
Main article: 1983–84 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer(s)
1R (1st leg) 30 August 1983 Charlton Athletic H 3–0 4,858 G. Roberts, Joseph, Berry (og)
1R (2nd leg) 13 September 1983 Charlton Athletic A 1–2 (won 4–2 on aggregate) 3,622
2R (1st leg) 5 October 1983 Liverpool H 1–4 17,859 G. Roberts
2R (2nd leg)25 October 1983Liverpool A0–4 (lost 8–1 on aggregate) 9,092

Football League Trophy
Main article: 1983–84 Football League Trophy
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer(s)
SR1 21 February 1984 Orient H 3–2 2,301 Finney, Joseph (2)
SR2 26 March 1983Plymouth Argyle A0–2 (a.e.t.) 2,308
  • Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[6] The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties,[4][7] Statto

Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1983–84 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Paddy Roche Republic of Ireland (1951-01-04)4 January 1951 (aged 32) Manchester United 1982
GK Trevor Swinburne England (1953-06-20)20 June 1953 (aged 30) Carlisle United 1983
Defenders
DF Ian Bolton England (1953-07-13)13 July 1953 (aged 30) Watford 1983
DF Bobby Fisher England (1956-08-03)3 August 1956 (aged 27) Cambridge United 1984
DF Nigel Gray England (1956-11-02)2 November 1956 (aged 26) Swindon Town 1984 On loan from Swindon Town
DF Jim McNichol Scotland (1958-06-09)9 June 1958 (aged 25) Luton Town 1978
DF Paul Roberts England (1962-04-27)27 April 1962 (aged 21) Millwall 1983 Loaned from Millwall before transferring permanently
DF Bill Roffey England (1954-02-06)6 February 1954 (aged 29) Orient 1984 On loan from Orient
DF Terry Rowe England (1964-06-08)8 June 1964 (aged 19) Youth 1982
DF Danis Salman England (1960-03-12)12 March 1960 (aged 23) Youth 1975
DF Tony Spencer England (1965-04-23)23 April 1965 (aged 18) Youth 1982
DF Graham Wilkins England (1955-06-28)28 June 1955 (aged 28) Bury 1982 Loaned to Southend United
Midfielders
MF Bob Booker England (1958-01-25)25 January 1958 (aged 25) Bedmond Sports & Social 1978
MF Terry Bullivant England (1956-09-23)23 September 1956 (aged 26) Charlton Athletic 1983 Loaned to Reading
MF Tommy Finney Northern Ireland (1952-11-06)6 November 1952 (aged 30) Cambridge United 1984
MF Mark Hopson England May 1966 (aged 17) Youth 1982
MF Terry Hurlock (c) England (1958-11-22)22 November 1958 (aged 24) Leytonstone/Ilford 1980
MF Chris Kamara England (1957-12-25)25 December 1957 (aged 25) Portsmouth 1981
MF Tony Lynch England (1966-01-20)20 January 1966 (aged 17) Youth 1983
MF Gary Roberts Wales (1960-04-05)5 April 1960 (aged 23) Wembley 1980
Forwards
FW Keith Cassells England (1957-07-10)10 July 1957 (aged 26) Southampton 1983
FW Francis Joseph England (1960-03-06)6 March 1960 (aged 23) Wimbledon 1982
FW Tony Mahoney England (1958-09-29)29 September 1958 (aged 24) Fulham 1982
Players who left the club mid-season
DF Ian Davies Wales (1957-03-29)29 March 1957 (aged 26) Manchester City 1983 Returned to Manchester City after loan
DF Andy Rollings England (1954-12-14)14 December 1954 (aged 28) Torquay United 1983 Released
DF Alan Whitehead England (1956-11-20)20 November 1956 (aged 26) Bury 1981 Loaned to Scunthorpe United, transferred to Scunthorpe United
MF Stan Bowles England (1948-12-24)24 December 1948 (aged 34) Unattached 1983 Released
MF Ron Harris England (1944-11-13)13 November 1944 (aged 38) Chelsea 1980 Released
FW Bill Garner England (1947-12-14)14 December 1947 (aged 35) Chelmsford City 1983 Released
  • Sources: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties,[8] Timeless Bees[9]

Coaching staff

Fred Callaghan (27 August 1983 – 2 February 1984)
Name Role
England Fred Callaghan Manager
England Frank Blunstone Assistant Manager
England Eddie Lyons Physiotherapist

Frank Blunstone (2 – 9 February 1984)
Name Role
England Frank Blunstone Caretaker Manager
England Eddie Lyons Physiotherapist

Frank McLintock (9 February – 12 May 1984)
Name Role
Scotland Frank McLintock Manager
Scotland John Docherty Assistant Manager
England Eddie Lyons Physiotherapist

Statistics

Appearances and goals
Substitute appearances in brackets.
Pos Nat Name League FA Cup League Cup FL Trophy Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Republic of Ireland Paddy Roche 25 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 28 0
GK England Trevor Swinburne 21 0 1 0 4 0 2 0 28 0
DF England Ian Bolton 14 1 1 0 — 2 0 17 1
DF England Bobby Fisher 17 0 — — 2 0 19 0
DF Scotland Jim McNichol 19 (1) 4 4 0 3 0 0 0 26 (1) 4
DF England Paul Roberts 34 0 4 1 — 1 0 39 1
DF England Andy Rollings 1 0 — — — 1 0
DF England Terry Rowe 18 (3) 1 2 0 2 (1) 0 1 0 23 (4) 1
DF England Danis Salman 21 0 2 0 3 0 1 0 27 0
DF England Tony Spencer 5 (1) 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 7 (1) 0
DF England Alan Whitehead 18 0 3 0 4 0 — 25 0
DF England Graham Wilkins 12 (1) 0 0 (1) 0 1 0 0 0 13 (2) 0
MF England Bob Booker 26 (3) 4 0 (1) 0 3 (1) 0 2 0 31 (5) 4
MF England Stan Bowles 7 (1) 0 1 0 — — 8 (1) 0
MF England Terry Bullivant 24 1 3 0 4 0 0 0 31 1
MF Northern Ireland Tommy Finney 14 (1) 2 — — 1 1 15 (1) 3
MF England Ron Harris 3 0 — 2 0 — 5 0
MF England Terry Hurlock 32 4 4 1 2 0 2 0 40 0
MF England Chris Kamara 37 (1) 7 3 1 4 0 1 0 45 (1) 8
MF England Tony Lynch 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 4 0
MF Wales Gary Roberts 40 (1) 10 4 3 3 2 1 (1) 0 48 (2) 15
FW England Keith Cassells 26 (4) 9 1 1 2 0 0 (2) 0 29 (6) 10
FW England Bill Garner 2 (1) 1 — — — 2 (1) 1
FW England Francis Joseph 42 (1) 18 4 2 4 2 2 2 52 (1) 24
FW England Tony Mahoney 15 (8) 3 4 1 1 0 1 0 21 (8) 4
Players loaned in during the season
DF Wales Ian Davies 2 0 — — — 2 0
DF England Nigel Gray 16 1 — — 1 0 17 1
DF England Bill Roffey 13 1 — — — 13 1
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties[10]

Goalscorers
Pos. Nat Player FL3 FAC FLC FLT Total
FW England Francis Joseph 18 2 2 2 24
MF Wales Gary Roberts 10 3 2 0 15
FW England Keith Cassells 9 1 0 0 10
MF England Chris Kamara 7 1 0 0 8
MF England Bob Booker 4 0 0 0 4
DF Scotland Jim McNichol 4 0 0 0 4
FW England Tony Mahoney 3 1 0 0 4
MF Northern Ireland Tommy Finney 2 — — 1 3
FW England Bill Garner 1 — — — 1
DF England Bill Roffey 1 — — — 1
DF England Nigel Gray 1 — — 0 1
DF England Ian Bolton 1 0 — 0 1
DF England Paul Roberts 0 1 — 0 1
MF England Terry Bullivant 1 0 0 0 1
DF England Terry Rowe 1 0 0 0 1
Opponents 2 0 1 0 3
Total6910 5 387
  • 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
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Fred Callaghan England 27 August 1983 1 February 1984 33 8 9 16 024.24 25 5 8 12 020.00
Frank Blunstone (caretaker) England 4 February 1984 4 February 1984 1 0 0 1 000.00 1 0 0 1 000.00
Frank McLintock Scotland 11 February 1984 12 May 1984 22 7 8 7 031.82 20 6 8 6 030.00

Summary
Games played56 (46 Third Division, 4 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)
Games won15 (11 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Games drawn17 (16 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy)
Games lost24 (19 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 3 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Goals scored87 (69 Third Division, 10 FA Cup, 5 League Cup, 3 Football League Trophy)
Goals conceded103 (79 Third Division, 10 FA Cup, 10 League Cup, 4 Football League Trophy)
Clean sheets9 (8 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy)
Biggest league win3–0 on five occasions; 4–1 versus Preston North End, 3 April 1984
Worst league defeat6–0 versus Southend United, 31 October 1983
Most appearances53, Francis Joseph (43 Third Division, 4 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)
Top scorer (league)18, Francis Joseph
Top scorer (all competitions)24, Francis Joseph

Transfers & loans
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
July 1983 MF England Terry Bullivant England Charlton Athletic Free [2]
August 1983 FW England Bill Garner England Chelmsford City Non-contract [2]
August 1983 GK England Trevor Swinburne England Carlisle United £12,000 [2]
September 1983 MF England Tony Lynch England Maidstone United n/a [2]
September 1983 DF England Keith Millen England Crystal Palace n/a [2]
November 1983 DF England Paul Roberts England Millwall £10,000 [2]
November 1983 DF England Andy Rollings England Torquay United Trial [2]
December 1983 DF England Ian Bolton England Watford £2,000 [2]
December 1983 MF England Stan Bowles Unattached Non-contract [2]
February 1984 MF Northern Ireland Tommy Finney England Cambridge United n/a [2]
February 1984 DF England Bobby Fisher England Cambridge United £5,000 [2]
Players loaned in
Date from Pos. Name From Date to Ref.
1 September 1983 DF England Paul Roberts England Millwall October 1983 [11]
11 November 1983 DF Wales Ian Davies England Manchester City December 1983 [2]
March 1984 DF England Nigel Gray England Swindon Town End of season [2]
March 1984 DF England Bill Roffey England Orient End of season [2]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
August 1983 GK Scotland David McKellar England Carlisle United £4,000 [2]
March 1984 DF England Alan Whitehead England Scunthorpe United £40,000 [2]
Players loaned out
Date from Pos. Name To Date to Ref.
January 1984 DF England Alan Whitehead England Scunthorpe United March 1984 [2]
March 1984 MF England Terry Bullivant England Reading n/a [2]
March 1984 DF England Graham Wilkins England Southend United n/a [2]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
October 1983 MF England Ron Harris England Aldershot 1984 [2]
December 1983 DF England Andy Rollings England Maidstone United n/a [2]
1983 FW England Bill Garner n/a n/a [2]
February 1984 MF England Stan Bowles Retired [2]
May 1984 FW England Tony Mahoney England Crystal Palace June 1984 [2]
May 1984 DF Scotland Jim McNichol England Exeter City July 1984 [2]
May 1984 GK Republic of Ireland Paddy Roche England Halifax Town July 1984 [2]
May 1984 DF England Graham Wilkins England Southall 1984 [2]

Awards

References
  1. White, p. 321-323.
  2. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 112-119.
  3. "Brentford results for the 1983–1984 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  4. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 98-111.
  5. Dean, Sam (29 July 2020). "Brentford sting Swansea in Griffin Park farewell to claim place in Championship play-off final". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  6. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 397. ISBN 0951526200.
  7. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 394-396.
  8. Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2011). The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. ISBN 978-1906796716.
  9. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  10. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 425.
  11. "Transfer Out". www.millwall-history.org.uk. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  12. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 383.
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