1981–82_Brentford_F.C._season

1981–82 Brentford F.C. season

1981–82 Brentford F.C. season

1981–82 season of Brentford F.C.


During the 1981–82 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. After losing ground in January and February 1982, just one win from the final five matches of the season ended the Bees' hopes of promotion.

Quick Facts Chairman, Manager ...

Season summary

Midfielder Chris Kamara was signed from Portsmouth in an exchange deal in October 1981 and was named captain of Brentford in March 1982.[1]

Aside from the club record signing of £65,000 central defender Alan Whitehead, Brentford manager Fred Callaghan presided over a quiet 1981 off-season at Griffin Park.[2] Goalkeeper Paul Priddy returned to the club for a third spell on a part-time contract as cover for David McKellar, but the club went into the season understaffed in the striking department, having lost Gary Johnson to injury in a car crash and a suitable replacement could not be found in time.[1] Bids for midfielders John Beck, Jeff Chandler, forward David Kemp and former Brentford player Andrew McCulloch had failed to yield any transfers.[1]

Despite going unbeaten in the first four Third Division matches of the season, a bad run of results in September and October 1981 dropped the club to just above the relegation places.[3] Manager Callaghan acted swiftly in the transfer market, signing midfielders Stan Bowles, Chris Kamara and finally bolstering the forward line with the acquisition of Keith Bowen.[1] The upturn in form was immediate and seven wins and one draw from a 10-match spell lifted the Bees from 18th place on 17 October to 4th on 28 December.[3] The run included five consecutive away league wins, which equalled the club record.[4]

Brentford began 1982 with a run in which the team took just two points from a possible 24, which dropped the club back into mid-table.[3] Former player Gordon Sweetzer briefly returned to Griffin Park in January, but scored just one goal in 9 appearances before returning to his native Canada.[2] The team recovered in March and things further improved after forward David Kemp was finally signed on loan in March,[3] but he succumbed to injury after just three appearances.[2] A 2–1 win over Chester on 24 April put the Bees in 7th position,[3] four points behind 3rd-place Lincoln City with five matches to play.[5] Brentford's outside chances of promotion were killed off in the following match versus Wimbledon at Griffin Park, losing 3–2, having been leading 2–0.[2] The Bees finished the season in 8th position.[2]

League table

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Results

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Pre-season and friendlies

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Football League Third Division

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FA Cup

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Football League Cup

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  • Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[6] The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties,[7][8] Statto

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1981–82 season.
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  • Sources: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties,[9] Timeless Bees[10]

Coaching staff

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Statistics

Appearances and goals

Substitute appearances in brackets.
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  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties[11]

Goalscorers

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  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties[11]

Management

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Summary

Games played51 (46 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)
Games won20 (19 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Games drawn12 (11 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Games lost19 (16 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)
Goals scored59 (56 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Goals conceded52 (47 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 3 League Cup)
Clean sheets16 (15 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Biggest league win3–0 versus Swindon Town, 3 November 1981; 4–1 versus Millwall, 9 April 1982
Worst league defeat3–0 versus Walsall, 19 January 1982; 4–1 versus Reading, 27 January 1982
Most appearances50, David McKellar (45 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)
Top scorer (league)8, Keith Bowen, Gary Johnson, Gary Roberts
Top scorer (all competitions)10, Keith Bowen

Transfers & loans

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Awards


References

  1. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 60-65.
  2. White, p. 316-317.
  3. "Brentford results for the 1981–1982 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 17 February 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  4. "Brentford scoring and sequence records". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  5. "English Division Three (old) 1981–1982 Table". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 19 December 2009. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  6. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 396. ISBN 0951526200.
  7. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 48-59.
  8. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 390-391.
  9. Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2011). The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. ISBN 978-1906796716.
  10. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  11. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 423.
  12. Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 383.

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