1993–94 Brentford F.C. season
During the 1993–94 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Second Division. A failure to win any of the final 16 league matches of the season ended all hopes of a finish in the play-off places.
Season summary
The 1993–94 season would see Brentford back in the Second Division after suffering relegation from the First Division at the first attempt.[1] Former Chelsea manager David Webb replaced Phil Holder and immediately set about overhauling the squad, releasing 11 players and cancelling the contracts of Murray Jones, Neil Smilie and Detzi Kruszyński. 1992–93 top-scorer Gary Blissett left the club for a £350,000 fee settled by a tribunal, goalkeeper Graham Benstead and defender Terry Evans rejected new contracts and were made available for loan and forward Joe Allon was transfer-listed. In came midfielder Paul Smith, forward Denny Mundee and youngster Scott Morgan from Bournemouth and non-league players Dean A. Williams and Dean P. Williams. Professional contracts were given to youth products Carl Hutchings, Craig Ravenscroft and Tamer Fernandes.
Brentford began the season with two wins from the first three matches to rise as high as 5th, before losing five of the next six to drop into the relegation places.[5] Transfer-listed striker Joe Allon provided the catalyst for a revival, returning from a loan spell with Southend United to score seven goals in seven games in all competitions and fire the Bees back up to 12th position by early November.[5] During the first three months of the season, manager David Webb continued to strengthen the squad, bringing in goalkeeper Kevin Dearden, defenders Martin Grainger and Gus Hurdle, midfielder Lee Harvey and forwards Ian Benjamin and Matthew Metcalf, with Terry Evans and Grant Chalmers leaving the club. Forward Denny Mundee came into form in late November, scoring 9 goals in as many games in all competitions to help Brentford back into the play-off positions and the Football League Trophy quarter-finals.[5] The run prompted Premier League club Southampton to offer David Webb their vacant manager's job, which Webb turned down. Two club records were set during the run - 11 consecutive away matches unbeaten in all competitions and 10 consecutive away league matches undefeated.
Brentford had risen to 5th in the table after a 4–1 win over Bristol Rovers on 12 February 1994, but a winless run of 16 matches to close out the season saw the Bees drop down to 16th.[5] Webb had continued his rebuilding of the squad through the second half of the season, selling transfer-listed players Marcus Gayle, Joe Allon and Keith Millen, while bringing in defenders David Thompson and Barry Ashby, winger Darren Annon and forward Robert Taylor. Season-ending injuries to Taylor, Shane Westley, Ian Benjamin and red cards picked up by Martin Grainger, David Thompson, Kevin Dearden and Brian Statham further hindered Webb's ability to pick a settled team.
League table
- Pld = Matches ; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
Key | |
|
Division Champions, promoted |
|
Promoted |
|
Participated in play-offs |
|
Promoted through play-offs |
|
Relegated |
Results
- Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend
Football League Second Division
No. |
Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
1 |
14 August 1993 | Exeter City | H | 2–1 | 5,537 | Allon, Gayle |
2 |
21 August 1993 | Blackpool | A | 1–1 | 4,024 | Allon |
3 |
28 August 1993 | Reading | H | 1–0 | 6,848 | Allon |
4 |
31 August 1993 | Hull City | A | 0–1 | 4,517 | |
5 |
4 September 1993 | Rotherham United | A | 0–2 | 4,333 | |
6 |
11 September 1993 | Swansea City | H | 1–1 | 5,042 | Ratcliffe |
7 |
14 September 1993 | Leyton Orient | H | 0–1 | 5,149 | |
8 |
18 September 1993 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 1–2 | 5,734 | D.A. Williams |
9 |
25 September 1993 | Port Vale |
H | 1–2 | 5,106 | Gayle |
10 |
2 October 1993 | Cambridge United | A | 1–1 | 3,612 | Benjamin |
11 |
9 October 1993 | Hartlepool United |
A | 1–0 | 1,802 | Benjamin |
12 |
16 October 1993 | Wrexham |
H | 2–1 | 5,801 | Ratcliffe, Allon |
13 |
23 October 1993 | York City |
A | 2–0 | 3,513 | Smith, Allon |
14 |
30 October 1993 | Barnet | H | 1–0 | 5,873 | Allon |
15 |
2 November 1993 | Cardiff City | H | 1–1 | 4,756 | Allon |
16 |
6 November 1993 | Plymouth Argyle |
A | 1–1 | 6,407 | Allon |
17 |
20 November 1993 | Burnley |
A | 0–0 | 6,085 | |
18 |
27 November 1993 | Huddersfield Town |
A | 3–1 | 4,544 | Mundee (2 pens), Ravenscroft |
19 |
11 December 1993 | Blackpool |
H | 3–0 | 4,769 | Gayle, Mundee (2) |
20 |
18 December 1993 | Exeter City | A | 2–2 | 4,250 | Gayle, Mundee (pen) |
21 |
27 December 1993 | Bournemouth | A | 3–0 | 5,744 | Mundee (pen), Harvey, og |
22 |
29 December 1993 | Bradford City | H | 2–0 | 6,059 | Ratcliffe, Smith |
23 |
1 January 1994 | Fulham | A | 0–0 | 9,797 | |
24 |
3 January 1994 | Stockport County | H | 1–1 | 6,410 | og |
25 |
8 January 1994 | Bristol Rovers | H | 3–4 | 6,841 | Mundee (3) |
26 |
15 January 1994 | Wrexham | A | 2–1 | 3,701 | Gayle, Bates |
27 |
22 January 1994 | Hartlepool United | H | 1–0 | 6,334 | Bates |
28 |
29 January 1994 | Barnet | A | 0–0 | 2,502 | |
29 |
5 February 1994 | York City | A | 1–1 | 5,710 | Mundee |
30 |
12 February 1994 | Bristol Rovers | A | 4–1 | 5,685 | Gayle, Allon (3) |
31 |
19 February 1994 | Reading | A | 1–2 | 9,056 | Thompson |
32 |
22 February 1994 | Hull City | H | 0–3 | 4,361 | |
33 |
26 February 1994 | Rotherham United | H | 2–2 | 4,980 | Mundee, Allon |
34 |
5 March 1994 | Swansea City | A | 1–1 | 3,187 | Harvey |
35 |
12 March 1994 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 1–1 | 6,728 | Ratcliffe |
36 |
15 March 1994 | Leyton Orient | A | 1–1 | 3,185 | Allon |
37 |
19 March 1994 | Port Vale | A | 0–1 | 8,269 | |
38 |
26 March 1994 | Cambridge United | H | 3–3 | 5,052 | Taylor, Statham, Grainger |
39 |
29 March 1994 | Stockport County | A | 1–3 | 4,361 | Annon |
40 |
2 April 1994 | Bournemouth |
H | 1–1 | 4,305 | Grainger |
41 |
4 April 1994 | Bradford City | A | 0–1 | 6,703 | |
42 |
9 April 1994 | Fulham | H | 1–2 | 6,638 | Taylor |
43 |
16 April 1994 | Cardiff City | A | 1–1 | 5,268 | Harvey |
44 |
23 April 1994 |
Plymouth Argyle |
H |
1–1 |
6,173 |
Smith |
45 |
30 April 1994 | Burnley | A | 1–4 | 11,363 | Ashby |
46 |
7 May 1994 | Huddersfield Town |
H | 1–2 | 4,483 | Harvey |
FA Cup
Main article:
1993–94 FA Cup
League Cup
Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance |
Scorer(s) |
R1 (1st leg) | 17 August 1993 | Watford |
H | 2–2 |
4,527 | Peters, Westley |
R1 (2nd leg) | 24 August 1993 | Watford | A | 1–3 (lost 5–3 on aggregate) | 4,937 | Westley |
Football League Trophy
- Source: Statto, 11v11, The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties
Playing squad
- Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1993–94 season.
- Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties
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 Nineties
Goalscorers
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties
Management
Name |
Nat |
From |
To |
Record All Comps |
Record League |
P | W | D | L | W % | P | W | D | L | W % |
David Webb |
|
14 August 1993 |
7 May 1994 |
7001540000000000000♠54 |
7001150000000000000♠15 |
7001210000000000000♠21 |
7001180000000000000♠18 |
7001277800000000000♠27.78| | 7001460000000000000♠46 |
7001130000000000000♠13 |
7001190000000000000♠19 |
7001140000000000000♠14 |
7001282600000000000♠28.26 |
Summary
Games played | 54 (46 Second Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 4 Football League Trophy) |
Games won | 15 (13 Second Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy) |
Games drawn | 21 (19 Second Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy) |
Games lost | 18 (14 Second Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy) |
Goals scored | 70 (57 Second Division, 4 FA Cup, 3 League Cup, 6 Football League Trophy) |
Goals conceded | 70 (55 Second Division, 3 FA Cup, 5 League Cup, 7 Football League Trophy) |
Clean sheets | 12 (11 Second Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy) |
Biggest league win | 3–0 on 2 occasions, 4–1 versus Bristol Rovers, 12 February 1994 |
Worst league defeat | 3–0 versus Hull City, 22 February 1994; 4–1 versus Burnley, 30 April 1994 |
Most appearances | 52, Jamie Bates (45 Second Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 3 Football League Trophy) |
Top scorer (league) | 13, Joe Allon |
Top scorer (all competitions) | 17, Joe Allon |
Transfers & loans
Players transferred in |
Date |
Pos. |
Name |
Previous Club |
Fee |
Ref. |
1993 | DF | Scott Morgan | Bournemouth | Free | |
1993 | FW | Dean A. Williams | St Albans City | £14,000 | |
6 August 1993 | MF | Paul Smith | Southend United | Free | [14] |
8 August 1993 |
GK |
Dean P. Williams |
Tamworth |
£2,000 |
[14] |
12 August 1993 |
MF |
Denny Mundee |
Bournemouth |
Free |
|
24 September 1993 |
FW |
Ian Benjamin |
Luton Town |
£35,000 |
|
30 September 1993 |
GK |
Kevin Dearden |
Tottenham Hotspur |
Free |
[14] |
September 1993 |
FW |
Matthew Metcalf |
Diss Town |
£10,000 |
|
21 October 1993 |
DF |
Martin Grainger |
Colchester United |
£60,000 |
[14] |
October 1993 |
DF |
Gus Hurdle |
Dorchester Town |
Free |
|
18 November 1993 |
MF |
Lee Harvey |
Nottingham Forest |
Free |
[14] |
1 February 1994 |
DF |
David Thompson |
Bristol City |
Free |
|
8 March 1994 |
MF |
Darren Annon |
Carshalton Athletic |
£20,000 |
[14] |
22 March 1994 |
DF |
Barry Ashby |
Watford |
£65,000 |
|
24 March 1994 |
FW |
Robert Taylor |
Leyton Orient |
£100,000 |
[14] |
Players loaned in |
Date from |
Pos. |
Name |
From |
Date to |
Ref. |
16 September 1993 | MF | John Cornwell | Southend United | 9 November 1993 | |
16 September 1993 | MF | Steve Tilson | Southend United | 16 October 1993 | [14] |
24 March 1994 |
MF |
Kevin Watson |
Tottenham Hotspur |
End of season |
[14] |
Players transferred out |
Date |
Pos. |
Name |
Subsequent club |
Fee |
Ref. |
23 July 1993 |
FW |
Gary Blissett |
Wimbledon |
£350,000 |
|
October 1993 |
DF |
Terry Evans |
Wycombe Wanderers |
£40,000 |
|
December 1993 |
GK |
Graham Benstead |
Kettering Town |
Free |
|
3 February 1994 |
MF |
Paul Buckle |
Torquay United |
Free |
[18] |
22 March 1994 |
DF |
Keith Millen |
Watford |
£100,000 |
[18] |
24 March 1994 |
FW |
Joe Allon |
Port Vale |
£150,000 |
|
24 March 1994 |
FW |
Marcus Gayle |
Wimbledon |
£250,000 |
[18] |
Players loaned out |
Date from |
Pos. |
Name |
To |
Date to |
Ref. |
26 August 1993 |
DF |
Terry Evans |
Wycombe Wanderers |
October 1993 |
|
16 September 1993 |
FW |
Joe Allon |
Southend United |
October 1993 |
|
October 1993 |
GK |
Graham Benstead |
Kettering Town |
December 1993 |
|
October 1993 |
GK |
Tamer Fernandes |
Wealdstone |
November 1993 |
|
January 1994 |
MF |
Robbie Peters |
Slough Town |
February 1993 |
|
February 1994 | DF | Gus Hurdle | Dorchester Town | April 1994 | |
Players released |
Date |
Pos. |
Name |
Subsequent club |
Join date |
Ref. |
October 1993 | MF | Grant Chalmers | Doncaster Rovers | 1993 | |
January 1994 |
MF |
Mickey Bennett |
Charlton Athletic |
24 March 1994 |
|
30 June 1994 |
DF |
Scott Morgan |
Dorchester Town |
1994 |
|
Awards
References
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