1994–95 Brentford F.C. season

Brentford
1994–95 season
Chairman Martin Lange
Manager David Webb
Stadium Griffin Park
Second Division 2nd
Play-offs Semi-finals
FA Cup First round
League Cup Second round
Football League Trophy Second round
Top goalscorer League: Forster (24)
All: Forster (26)
Highest home attendance 9,562
Lowest home attendance 4,031
Average home league attendance 6,076

During the 1994–95 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Second Division. After a runners-up finish in the league, club's season ended after defeat in the 1995 play-off semi-finals.

Season summary

Brentford entered the 1994–95 Second Division season with the nucleus of a new squad, built since the breakup of the side which was relegated from the First Division at the end of the 1992–93 season.[1] Forward Nicky Forster was manager David Webb's only significant summer signing, a £200,000 buy from Third Division Gillingham.[2] Eight wins and four defeats from the opening 12 games saw the Bees placed 4th in the league, before four defeats in the next five matches dropped the club into mid-table.[3] First and second round exits from the three cup competitions lightened the fixture load by early December and Brentford set off on a 14-match unbeaten run, winning 10 matches and racking up notable 7–0 and 6–0 victories over Plymouth Argyle and Cambridge United respectively.[3] The victory over Cambridge United in late January 1995 returned the Bees to the top of the table for the first time since the opening day of the season, when five goals were put past Plymouth Argyle.[3] Twin strikers Nicky Forster and Robert Taylor were in imperious form, scoring over half the team's goals and forming a partnership that came to be known as the 'FT Index'.[4]

The unbeaten run came to an end with defeat to Shrewsbury Town on 25 February, but another 11-match unbeaten sequence kept Brentford in top spot going into late April.[3] Brentford's good form ran in tandem with that of Birmingham City's and the Blues topped the table for the first time in eight weeks on 19 April,[5] with the Bees returning to the summit three days later after a 2–0 victory over Cardiff City.[3] The two clubs faced off in a "winner takes all" match at St Andrew's on 26 April,[2] with just first place in the Second Division offering automatic promotion due to a restructuring of the English league system.[6] A 2–0 defeat for Brentford in front of 25,81 (the division's record attendance for the season) led to the team entering the play-offs on the back of a home defeat to Bournemouth and an away draw with Bristol Rovers.[2] The Bees met fifth-placed Huddersfield Town in the play-off semi-finals and were knocked out on penalties after a 2–2 draw on aggregate, with captain Jamie Bates seeing his decisive spot kick saved.[7]

League table

Pos. Team Pld Home Away F A GD Pts
W D L F A W D L F A
1 Birmingham City 4615625318108531198437+4789
2 Brentford 4614454415116637248139+4285
3 Crewe Alexandra 4614364633115734358068+1283
4 Bristol Rovers 461571482079722207040+3082
5 Huddersfield Town 4614544521810534287949+3081
6 Wycombe Wanderers 461373361988724276046+1478
7 Oxford United 461364301886936346652+1475
8 Hull City 4613644018851030397057+1374
9 York City 4613463721851030306751+1672
10 Swansea City 461085231396834325745+1271
11 Stockport County 4612384029751123316360+365
12 Blackpool 4611484036761024346470–664
13 Wrexham 461076382768927376564+163
14 Bradford City 46869293286928325764–760
15 Peterborough United 467115262977928405469–1560
16 Brighton & Hove Albion 4691042515571129385453+159
17 Rotherham United 4612653626281321355761–456
18 Shrewsbury Town 469953427451420355462–853
19 Bournemouth 4694103034471219354969–2050
20 Cambridge United 468963328361419415269–1748
21 Plymouth Argyle 4676102236541423474583–3846
22 Cardiff City 4656122531451421434674–2838
23 Chester 4656122342151714423784–4729
24 Leyton Orient 466611212902219463075–4526
Key
Division Champions, promoted
Promoted
Participated in play-offs
Promoted through play-offs
Welsh Cup winners, qualified for the Cup Winners' Cup
Relegated

Results

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Second Division

No. DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)
1 13 August 1994 Plymouth ArgyleA5–17,976Smith, Forster (2), Stephenson, Taylor
2 20 August 1994Peterborough UnitedH0–15,561
3 27 August 1994Stockport CountyA1–04,399Taylor
4 30 August 1994Rotherham UnitedH2–04,031Taylor, Forster
5 3 September 1994WrexhamH0–25,820
6 10 September 1994Wycombe WanderersA3–46,847Taylor, Stephenson, Cousins (og)
7 13 September 1994York CityA1–22,836Taylor
8 17 September 1994Blackpool H3–24,157Forster, Smith, Grainger (pen)
9 24 September 1994Crewe Alexandra A2–03,839Forster, Taylor
10 1 October 1994Shrewsbury Town H1–04,556Taylor
11 8 October 1994Bristol RoversH3–05,330Forster (2), Taylor
12 15 October 1994Bournemouth A1–04,411Forster
13 22 October 1994Birmingham CityH1–27,779Ward (og)
14 29 October 1994Cambridge UnitedA0–03,102
15 2 November 1994Bradford City A0–14,105
16 5 November 1994Hull CityH0–15,455
17 19 November 1994Huddersfield TownA0–110,889
18 26 November 1994Brighton & Hove Albion H2–14,728Ashby, Ansah
19 10 December 1994Peterborough UnitedA2–24,102Taylor, Forster
20 17 December 1994Plymouth ArgyleH7–04,492Annon, Smith, Taylor (2), Forster, Mundee, Harvey
21 26 December 1994Leyton OrientH3–06,125Mundee, Ratcliffe, Forster
22 27 December 1994Chester CityA4–12,261Forster (3), Grainger
23 31 December 1994Oxford UnitedH2–07,125Forster, Taylor
24 2 January 1995Cardiff CityA3–25,235Harvey, Forster, Taylor
25 14 January 1995Swansea City H0–07,211
26 21 January 1995Hull CityA2–13,823Mundee, Grainger
27 28 January 1995Cambridge UnitedH6–06,390Forster, Taylor (2), Grainger, Bailey (2)
28 4 February 1995Brighton & Hove Albion A1–19,499Bailey
29 11 February 1995Bradford CityH4–36,019Mundee, Taylor, Grainger, Forster
30 17 February 1995Swansea CityA2–03,935Forster (2)
31 21 February 1995Huddersfield TownH0–09,562
32 25 February 1995Shrewsbury TownA1–24,570Forster
33 4 March 1995Crewe AlexandraH2–07,143Mundee, Taylor
34 7 March 1995WrexhamA0–02,834
35 11 March 1995Stockport CountyH1–06,513Taylor
36 18 March 1995Rotherham UnitedA2–02,968Forster, Abrahams
37 21 March 1995Wycombe WanderersH0–09,530
38 25 March 1995Blackpool A2–14,663Bates, Taylor
39 1 April 1995York CityH3–06,474Grainger, Forster, Taylor
40 8 April 1995Oxford UnitedA1–17,800Taylor
41 15 April 1995Chester CityH1–18,020Abrahams
42 17 April 1995Leyton OrientA2–04,459Bates, Forster
43 22 April 1995Cardiff CityH2–08,268Grainger (pen), Taylor
44 26 April 1995Birmingham CityA0–225,581
45 29 April 1995Bournemouth H1–210,079Abrahams
46 6 May 1995 Bristol Rovers A 2–2 8,501 n/a

Football League Second Division play-offs

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance Scorer(s)
SF (1st leg)14 May 1995Huddersfield TownA1–114,160Forster
SF (2nd leg) 17 May 1995Huddersfield Town H1–1 (a.e.t, drew 2–2 on aggregate, lost 4–3 on penalties)11,161Grainger (pen)

FA Cup

Main article: 1994–95 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance Scorer(s)
R112 November 1994Cambridge UnitedA2–23,353Annon, Taylor
R1 (replay)22 November 1994Cambridge United H1–24,096Grainger

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance Scorer(s)
R1 (1st leg) 16 August 1994Colchester UnitedA2–02,521Stephenson, Taylor
R2 (2nd leg) 23 August 1994Colchester United H2–0 (won 4–0 on aggregate) 2,315Parris, Smith
R2 (1st leg) 20 September 1994Tranmere RoversA0–13,754
R2 (2nd leg)27 September 1994Tranmere Rovers H0–0 (lost 1–0 on aggregate) 4,076

Football League Trophy

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance Scorer(s)
SR1 (match 1)19 October 1994Brighton & Hove AlbionA1–01,104Forster
SR1 (match 2)8 November 1994GillinghamH3–11,795Annon, Asaba, Ansah
SR2 3 December 1994 Oxford United H 1–2 2,410 Grainger (pen)

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1994–95 season.
No. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
1 GK Kevin Dearden England 8 March 1970 (aged 24) Tottenham Hotspur 1993
20 GK Tamer Fernandes England 7 December 1974 (aged 19) Trainee 1993
25 GK Neil Mason England 29 October 1973 (aged 20) Assistant physiotherapist
Defenders
2 DF Brian Statham England 21 May 1969 (aged 25) Tottenham Hotspur 1992
3 DF Martin Grainger England 23 August 1972 (aged 21) Colchester United 1993
4 DF Barry Ashby England 21 November 1970 (aged 23) Watford 1994
5 DF Shane Westley England 16 June 1965 (aged 29) Wolverhampton Wanderers 1992 Loaned to Southend United
6 DF Carl Hutchings England 24 September 1974 (aged 19) Trainee 1993
12 DF Jamie Bates (c) England 24 February 1968 (aged 26) Trainee 1986
19 DF Gus Hurdle Barbados 14 October 1973 (aged 20) Carshalton Athletic 1993
21 DF Corey Campbell England 6 March 1976 (aged 18) Trainee 1994
Midfielders
7 MF Lee Harvey England 21 December 1966 (aged 27) Nottingham Forest 1993
8 MF Paul Smith England 18 September 1971 (aged 22) Southend United 1993
10 MF Darren Annon England 17 February 1972 (aged 22) Carshalton Athletic 1994
14 MF Denny Mundee England 10 October 1968 (aged 25) Bournemouth 1993
17 MF Simon Ratcliffe England 8 February 1967 (aged 27) Norwich City 1989
18 MF Paul Stephenson England 2 January 1968 (aged 26) Millwall 1993
22 MF Jon Hooker England 31 March 1972 (aged 22) Gillingham 1994
23 MF Paul Abrahams England 31 October 1973 (aged 20) Colchester United 1995
Forwards
9 FW Nicky Forster England 8 September 1973 (aged 20) Gillingham 1994
11 FW Robert Taylor England 30 April 1971 (aged 23) Leyton Orient 1994
13 FW Craig Ravenscroft England 20 December 1974 (aged 19) Trainee 1993 Loaned to Woking
16 FW David McGhee England 19 June 1976 (aged 18) Trainee 1994
27 FW Carl Asaba England 28 January 1973 (aged 21) Dulwich Hamlet 1994 Loaned to Colchester United
Players who left the club mid-season
15 FW Ian Benjamin England 11 December 1961 (aged 32) Luton Town 1993 Released
23 FW Dennis Bailey England 13 December 1965 (aged 28) Queens Park Rangers 1995 Returned to Queens Park Rangers after loan
23 FW Andy Ansah England 19 March 1969 (aged 25) Southend United 1994 Returned to Southend United after loan
24 DF George Parris England 11 September 1964 (aged 29) Birmingham City 1994 Returned to Birmingham City after loan

Coaching staff

Name Role
England David Webb Manager
England Kevin Lock First Team Coach
England Roy Johnson Physiotherapist
England Neil Mason Assistant Physiotherapist
England Fergus Dignan Medical Officer

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Substitute appearances in brackets.
No. Pos Nat Name League FA Cup League Cup FL Trophy Playoffs Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK EnglandKevin Dearden 430204030 2 0540
2 DF EnglandBrian Statham 26 (10)0202020 2 034 (10)0
3 DF EnglandMartin Grainger 36 (1)7212031 2 145 (1)10
4 DF EnglandBarry Ashby 401203030 2 0501
5 DF EnglandShane Westley 15 (1)0203020 0 022 (1)0
6 DF EnglandCarl Hutchings 38 (1)01 (1)0402 (1)0 0 (1) 045 (4)0
7 MF EnglandLee Harvey 24 (1)2204020 0 032 (1)2
8 MF EnglandPaul Smith 353204110 2 0444
9 FW EnglandNicky Forster 462420402 (1)1 2 156 (1)26
10 MF EnglandDarren Annon 9 (1)211001 (1)1 0 011 (2)4
11 FW EnglandRobert Taylor 4323214120 2 05325
12 DF EnglandJamie Bates 382102020 2 0452
13 MF EnglandCraig Ravenscroft 1000000 (1)0 0 01 (1)0
14 MF EnglandDenny Mundee 22 (17)51 00 (1)020 1 (1) 026 (19)5
15 MF EnglandIan Benjamin 100 (1) 0 1 (1)0
16 MF EnglandDavid McGhee 1 (6)1000000 0 01 (6)1
17 MF EnglandSimon Ratcliffe 24 (1)1000 (1)010 2 027 (2)1
18 MF EnglandPaul Stephenson 342004 1 10 2 0413
19 MF BarbadosGus Hurdle 7 (2)00 (1)02010 0 010 (3)0
20 GK EnglandTamer Fernandes 3 (1)000000 (1)0 0 03 (2)0
22 MF EnglandJon Hooker 0 (1)0 00 0 00 (1)0
23 MF EnglandPaul Abrahams 7 (3)3 1 08 (3)3
27 FW EnglandCarl Asaba 00000011 0 011
Players loaned in during the season
23 MF EnglandAndy Ansah 2 (1)12 1 4 (1)2
23 FW EnglandDennis Bailey 63 63
24 MF EnglandGeorge Parris 502 1 71

Goalscorers

No. Pos. Nat Player FL2 FAC FLC FLT FLP Total
9 FW England Nicky Forster 24 0 0 1 1 26
11 FW England Robert Taylor2311 0 025
3 DF England Martin Grainger 7 1 0 1 1 10
14 MF England Denny Mundee 5 0 0 0 0 5
8 MF England Paul Smith 3 0 1 0 0 4
10 MF England Darren Annon 2 1 0 1 0 4
23 MF England Paul Abrahams 3 0 3
23 FW England Dennis Bailey 3 3
18 MF England Paul Stephenson 2 0 1 0 0 3
12 DF England Jamie Bates 2 0 0 0 0 2
7 MF England Lee Harvey 2 0 0 0 0 2
23 FW England Andy Ansah 1 1 2
4 DF England Barry Ashby 1 0 0 0 0 1
16 MF England David McGhee 1 0 0 0 0 1
17 MF England Simon Ratcliffe 1 0 0 0 0 1
27 FW England Carl Asaba 0 0 0 1 0 1
24 MF England George Parris 0 1 1
Opponents 2 0 0 0 0 2
Total83345 297

Management

Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
David Webb England 13 August 1994 17 May 1995 57 29 14 14 50.88|46 25 10 11 54.35

Summary

Games played 57 (46 Second Division, 2 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 3 Football League Trophy, 2 Football League play-offs)
Games won 29 (25 Second Division, 0 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy, 0 Football League play-offs)
Games drawn 14 (10 Second Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy, 2 Football League play-offs)
Games lost 14 (11 Second Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy, 0 Football League play-offs)
Goals scored 95 (81 Second Division, 3 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 5 Football League Trophy, 2 Football League play-offs)
Goals conceded 49 (39 Second Division, 4 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 3 Football League Trophy, 2 Football League play-offs)
Clean sheets 21 (22 Second Division, 0 FA Cup, 3 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy, 0 Football League play-offs)
Biggest league win 7–0 versus Plymouth Argyle, 17 December 1994
Worst league defeat 2–0 on 3 occasions
Most appearances 57, Nicky Forster (46 Second Division, 2 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 3 Football League Trophy, 2 Football League play-offs)
Top scorer (league) 24, Nicky Forster
Top scorer (all competitions) 26, Nicky Forster

Transfers & loans

Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
17 June 1994FWEngland Nicky ForsterEngland Gillingham£200,000[2]
9 August 1994 FW England Carl Asaba England Dulwich Hamlet Free [11]
December 1994FWEngland Joe OmigieEngland DonnaFree[12]
14 November 1994MFEngland Jon HookerEngland Gillingham£5,000[13]
9 March 1995 MF England Paul Abrahams England Colchester United £30,000 [14]
Players loaned in
Date from Pos. Name From Date to Ref.
8 August 1994DFEngland George ParrisEngland Birmingham CitySeptember 1994[15]
November 1994FWEngland Andy AnsahEngland Southend UnitedDecember 1994[16]
26 January 1995FWEngland Dennis BaileyEngland Queens Park Rangers26 February 1995[17]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
12 August 1994 FW England Dean P. Williams England Doncaster Rovers £2,000 [18]
Players loaned out
Date from Pos. Name To Date to Ref.
9 September 1994 DF England David Thompson England Blackpool November 1994 [19]
December 1994 MF England Craig Ravenscroft England Woking January 1995 [12]
January 1995 DF England Shane Westley England Southend United March 1995 [12]
16 February 1995FWEngland Carl AsabaEngland Colchester United31 May 1995[20]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
n/a FW England Matthew Metcalf England Wroxham n/a [11]
n/a FW England Dean A. Williams England Stevenage Borough August 1994 [12]
August 1994DFEngland Billy ManuelEngland Peterborough United16 September 1994[21]
September 1994 MF England Ian Benjamin England Wigan Athletic 30 September 1994 [19]
September 1994 MF England Robbie Peters England Carlisle United November 1994 [19]
November 1994 DF England David Thompson England Blackpool November 1994 [12]

    Awards

    References

    1. Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 172.
    2. 1 2 3 4 Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2013). The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. p. 150. ISBN 9781906796723.
    3. 1 2 3 4 5 Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1994-1995 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
    4. Street, Tim. "Scott sends warning over Nicky Forster signing". getwestlondon. Retrieved 2016-04-15.
    5. Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Birmingham City results for the 1994-1995 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Retrieved 2016-04-15.
    6. 1 2 Croxford, Lane, Waterman 2013, p. 177.
    7. Croxford, Lane, Waterman 2013, p. 171.
    8. Griffin Gazette versus AFC Bournemouth 29/04/95. Quay Design of Poole. 1995. pp. 34–35.
    9. Croxford, Lane, Waterman 2013, p. 480.
    10. 1 2 Sewell, Albert, ed. (1995). News Of The World Football Annual 1995-96. Hammersmith, London: Invincible Press. p. 338. ISBN 0855432330.
    11. 1 2 Croxford, Lane, Waterman 2013, p. 172.
    12. 1 2 3 4 5 Croxford, Lane, Waterman 2013, p. 174.
    13. "Jon Hooker | Football Stats | Billericay Town | Age 44 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
    14. "Paul Abrahams | Football Stats | Heybridge Swifts | Age 42 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
    15. "George Parris | Football Stats | No Club | Age 51 | 1982-2006 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
    16. "Barry Hugman's Footballers - Andy Ansah". hugmansfootballers.com. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
    17. "Dennis Bailey". 11v11.com. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
    18. "Dean Williams | Football Stats | No Club | Age 44 | 1990-2007 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
    19. 1 2 3 Croxford, Lane, Waterman 2013, p. 173.
    20. "Carl Asaba | Football Stats | No Club | Age 43 | 1993-2006 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
    21. "Billy Manuel | Football Stats | No Club | Age 46 | 1987-1999 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
    22. Lynch, Tony (1995). The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes. Random House. p. 150. ISBN 0-09-179135-9.
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