1969–70 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1969–70 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Fourth Division. Despite staying in the promotion places throughout much of the campaign, three-late season defeats cost the Bees promotion to the Third Division.

Brentford
1969–70 season
ChairmanWalter Wheatley
ManagerJimmy Sirrel
(until 10 November 1969)
Ron Fenton
(10 November 1969 – December 1969)
Frank Blunstone
(from December 1969)
StadiumGriffin Park
Fourth Division5th
FA CupFirst round
League CupFirst round
Top goalscorerLeague: Ross (13)
All: Ross (13)
Highest home attendance12,261
Lowest home attendance4,383
Average home league attendance7,773

Season summary

There was the perception around Griffin Park during the 1969 off-season that after the financial austerity of the previous two-and-a-half years, the extreme cost-cutting measures enacted by former chairman Ron Blindell had reduced Brentford's target to merely staying in business, rather than challenging for promotion to the Third Division.[1] Former director Walter Wheatley's loans to the club had taken its debts down to a manageable proportion, but after being installed as chairman (Blindell had died in January 1969), Wheatley carried on the austerity into the 1969–70 season.[1] Manager Jimmy Sirrel once again had his hands tied in the transfer market, releasing experienced campaigners Denis Hunt, Pat Terry and Ron Foster and bringing in three attackers, two on free transfers (Bill Brown and Micky Cook) and one on trial (Roger Frude).[1]

From the point of view of manpower, Brentford began the season in the worst possible way, with just 14 fit players.[1] Despite the early-season transfer of the versatile John Richardson to rivals Fulham for £10,000, Brentford had an excellent start to the season,[1] with goals from Allan Mansley, Bobby Ross and Micky Cook helping the club stabilise its position in the promotion places.[2] The number of fit players dropped to 13 by October 1969, with the lack of a recognised centre forward being the problem.[1] On 10 November, manager Jimmy Sirrel dropped the bombshell that he was leaving the club to take up the manager's position at Notts County.[1] Forward Ron Fenton took over as caretaker manager and though the Bees exited the FA Cup in the first round (quickly ending any chances of a money-spinning cup run), Fenton managed to keep the club in and around the promotion places before Frank Blunstone was installed as manager just prior to Christmas 1969.[1]

Despite an inconsistent first month under new manager Frank Blunstone, Brentford continued to keep pace with the promotion race.[2] Blunstone was able to expand the squad slightly, with midfielders Brian Turner and Brian Tawse signing on a permanent basis and forward Alan Cocks coming in on loan to replace departed loanee Gerry Baker.[1] Ever-present goalkeeper Chic Brodie had his best season so far at Griffin Park and kept 20 clean sheets.[3] The Bees moved as high as 2nd position in late January and early February 1970 and manager Blunstone went for broke, finally signing a recognised centre forward (Roger Cross from West Ham United for £10,000) and bringing winger John Docherty back for a third spell with the club.[1] Three defeats in four matches in late March and early April effectively ended the promotion charge,[2] with the three-point gap to 4th-place Port Vale proving to be insurmountable.[4]

Two records were set during the season, which as of the end of the 2015–16 season have never been bettered:[5]

  • Least Football League goals conceded in a season: 39
  • Least home Football League goals conceded in a season: 11

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Promotion or relegation
3 Swansea City 46 21 18 7 66 45 1.467 60 Promoted
4 Port Vale 46 20 19 7 61 33 1.848 59
5 Brentford 46 20 16 10 58 39 1.487 56
6 Aldershot 46 20 13 13 78 65 1.200 53
7 Notts County 46 22 8 16 73 62 1.177 52
Source: rsssf.com

Results
Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Football League Fourth Division
No. DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
1 9 August 1969HartlepoolA0–0 3,020
2 16 August 1969Notts CountyH1–0 6,364Mansley (2)
3 23 August 1969Crewe AlexandraA2–1 3,051Renwick, Cook
4 27 August 1969Chester A2–1 4,426Dobson, Ross
5 30 August 1969DarlingtonH1–1 7,442Dobson
6 6 September 1969Newport County A0–1 3,219
7 13 September 1969Swansea CityH2–2 7,139Mansley, Ross (pen)
8 15 September 1969Southend UnitedH3–1 7,446Mansley, Neilson, Fenton
9 20 September 1969Bradford Park AvenueA1–0 2,887Ross
10 27 September 1969WrexhamH0–0 8,610
11 29 September 1969Lincoln CityH2–1 8,210Gelson, Cook
12 4 October 1969Workington A2–1 1,882Mansley, Ross
13 8 October 1969Notts CountyA0–1 4,664
14 11 October 1969Scunthorpe UnitedH3–0 7,493Cook, Mansley (2)
15 18 October 1969Oldham AthleticH1–1 8,674Cook
16 25 October 1969ChesterfieldA0–1 11,212
17 1 November 1969Peterborough United H5–2 8,650Baker, Wile (og), Ross, Higginson, Fenton
18 8 November 1969Exeter CityA2–2 4,897Renwick (2)
19 22 November 1969Northampton Town A1–1 5,315Dobson
20 24 November 1969Grimsby TownH3–0 7,647Baker, Ross, Mansley
21 13 December 1969Swansea CityA0–1 7,423
22 20 December 1969Newport CountyH1–0 4,383Ross
23 26 December 1969Crewe Alexandra H1–1 9,307Ross
24 27 December 1969DarlingtonA2–1 2,507Fenton, Ross
25 3 January 1970 Lincoln City A 0–1 4,991
26 10 January 1970Bradford Park AvenueH1–1 5,847Fenton
27 17 January 1970WrexhamA0–1 8,451
28 24 January 1970Port ValeH1–0 8,661Boulton (og)
29 31 January 1970WorkingtonH1–0 7,756Dobson
30 10 February 1970Scunthorpe UnitedA1–1 5,316Gelson
31 21 February 1970ChesterfieldH0–1 10,540
32 23 February 1970HartlepoolH3–0 7,352Gelson, Turner, Hawley
33 28 February 1970Peterborough UnitedA0–0 7,512
34 7 March 1970Northampton TownH1–0 7,292Cocks
35 9 March 1970 York City H 0–0 8,124
36 14 March 1970 Colchester United A 1–1 4,878 Ross
37 16 March 1970Port ValeA0–0 7,947
38 21 March 1970AldershotH0–0 12,261
39 27 March 1970Exeter CityH2–0 10,110Cross, Ross (pen)
40 28 March 1970York City A2–4 2,496Docherty, Neilson
41 31 March 1970Oldham AthleticA1–4 5,078Cocks
42 4 April 1970Chester H2–0 4,750Gelson, Docherty
43 7 April 1970Grimsby Town A1–2 3,582Cross
44 13 April 1970Southend United A2–2 6,433Neilson, Ross
45 18 April 1970Colchester UnitedH2–0 4,720Renwick, Docherty
46 24 April 1970 Aldershot A 2–1 7,492 Cross (2)

FA Cup
Main article: 1969–70 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance
1R 15 November 1969 Plymouth Argyle H 0–0 9,963
1R (replay)19 November 1969Plymouth Argyle A0–2 11,554

Football League Cup
Main article: 1969–70 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer(s) Notes
1R 12 August 1969 Southend United A 2–2 9,256 Mansley (2)
1R (replay) 18 August 1969 Southend United H 0–0 (a.e.t.) 7,941
1R (2nd replay)21 August 1969Southend United N2–3 (a.e.t.) 2,068 Mansley, Gelson [nb 1]

Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1969–70 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Chic Brodie (1937-02-22)22 February 1937 (aged 32) Northampton Town 1963
Defenders
DF Peter Gelson (1941-10-18)18 October 1941 (aged 27) Youth 1961
DF Alan Hawley (1946-06-07)7 June 1946 (aged 23) Youth 1962
DF Tommy Higginson (1937-01-06)6 January 1937 (aged 32) Kilmarnock 1959
DF Allan Jones (1940-01-06)6 January 1940 (aged 29) Liverpool 1963
DF Alan Nelmes (1948-10-20)20 October 1948 (aged 20) Chelsea 1967
DF Dick Renwick (1942-11-27)27 November 1942 (aged 26) Aldershot 1969
Midfielders
MF George Dobson (1949-08-24)24 August 1949 (aged 19) Youth 1966
MF John Docherty (1940-04-29)29 April 1940 (aged 29) Reading 1970
MF Allan Mansley (1946-08-31)31 August 1946 (aged 22) Blackpool 1968
MF Gordon Neilson (1947-05-28)28 May 1947 (aged 22) Arsenal 1968
MF Bobby Ross (1942-05-10)10 May 1942 (aged 27) Shrewsbury Town 1966
MF Brian Tawse (1945-07-30)30 July 1945 (aged 24) Brighton & Hove Albion 1970
MF Brian Turner (1949-07-31)31 July 1949 (aged 20) Portsmouth 1970
Forwards
FW Micky Cook (1950-01-25)25 January 1950 (aged 19) Crystal Palace 1969
FW Roger Cross (1948-10-20)20 October 1948 (aged 20) West Ham United 1970
FW Ron Fenton (c) (1940-09-21)21 September 1940 (aged 28) Birmingham City 1968 Assistant manager
Players who left the club mid-season
FW Gerry Baker (1938-04-11)11 April 1938 (aged 31) Coventry City 1969 Returned to Coventry City after loan
FW Bill Brown (1943-02-07)7 February 1943 (aged 26) Portsmouth 1969 Released
FW Alan Cocks (1951-05-07)7 May 1951 (aged 18) Chelsea 1969 Returned to Chelsea after loan
FW Roger Frude (1946-11-19)19 November 1946 (aged 22) Mansfield Town 1969 Released
FW David Harney (1947-03-02)2 March 1947 (aged 22) Scunthorpe United 1969 Released
FW John Richardson (1949-02-05)5 February 1949 (aged 20) Millwall 1966 Transferred to Fulham
  • Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford,[3] Timeless Bees[6]

Coaching staff

Jimmy Sirrel (10 August – 10 November 1969)
Name Role
Jimmy Sirrel Manager
Ron Fenton Assistant Manager
Eddie Lyons Physiotherapist

Ron Fenton (10 November – December 1969)
Name Role
Ron Fenton Caretaker Manager
Eddie Lyons Physiotherapist

Frank Blunstone (December 1969 – 24 April 1970)
Name Role
Frank Blunstone Manager
Ron Fenton Assistant Manager
Eddie Lyons Physiotherapist

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 Chic Brodie 46 0 2 0 3 0 51 0
DF Peter Gelson 43 4 2 0 3 1 48 5
DF Alan Hawley 46 1 1 0 3 0 50 1
DF Tommy Higginson 39 (1) 1 2 0 3 0 44 (1) 0
DF Allan Jones 9 (3) 0 1 0 0 0 10 (3) 0
DF Alan Nelmes 45 0 2 0 3 0 50 0
DF Dick Renwick 39 4 2 0 3 0 44 4
MF George Dobson 15 (5) 4 0 (1) 0 1 (1) 0 16 (7) 4
MF John Docherty 11 3 — — 11 3
MF Allan Mansley 26 6 2 0 3 3 31 9
MF Gordon Neilson 33 (1) 3 2 0 3 0 38 (1) 3
MF Bobby Ross 46 13 2 0 3 0 51 13
MF Brian Tawse 13 0 — — 13 0
MF Brian Turner 14 (2) 1 — — 14 (2) 1
FW Bill Brown 4 0 — — 4 0
FW Micky Cook 17 (3) 4 2 0 3 0 22 (3) 4
FW Roger Cross 11 4 — — 11 4
FW Ron Fenton 29 (2) 4 2 0 0 0 31 (2) 4
FW Roger Frude 1 (1) 0 — 1 (1) 0 2 (2) 0
FW David Harney 0 (1) 0 — — 0 (1) 0
FW John Richardson 2 0 — 2 0 4 0
Players loaned in during the season
FW Gerry Baker 8 2 — — 8 2
FW Alan Cocks 11 2 — — 11 2
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[3]

Goalscorers
Pos. Nat Player FL4 FAC FLC Total
MF Bobby Ross 13 0 0 13
MF Allan Mansley 6 0 3 9
DF Peter Gelson 4 0 1 5
FW Roger Cross 4 — — 4
FW Micky Cook 4 0 0 4
MF George Dobson 4 0 0 4
FW Ron Fenton 4 0 0 4
DF Dick Renwick 4 0 0 4
MF John Docherty 3 — — 3
MF Gordon Neilson 3 0 0 3
FW Gerry Baker 2 — — 2
FW Alan Cocks 2 — — 2
MF Brian Turner 1 — — 1
DF Alan Hawley 1 0 0 1
Opponents 2 0 0 2
Total580 462
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[3]

Management
Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Jimmy Sirrel 9 August 1969 8 November 1969 21 9 8 4 042.86 18 9 6 3 050.00
Ron Fenton (caretaker) 15 November 1969 20 December 1969 6 2 2 2 033.33 4 2 1 1 050.00
Frank Blunstone 26 December 1969 24 April 1970 24 9 9 6 037.50 24 9 9 6 037.50

Summary
Games played51 (46 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 3 League Cup)
Games won20 (20 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Games drawn19 (16 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)
Games lost12 (10 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Goals scored62 (58 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 4 League Cup)
Goals conceded46 (39 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 5 League Cup)
Clean sheets20 (18 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Biggest league win3–0 on three occasions; 5–2 versus Peterborough United, 1 November 1969
Worst league defeat4–1 versus Oldham Athletic, 31 March 1970
Most appearances51, Chic Brodie, Bobby Ross (46 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 3 League Cup)
Top scorer (league)13, Bobby Ross
Top scorer (all competitions)13, Bobby Ross

Transfers & loans
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
July 1969 FW Bill Brown Portsmouth Free [7]
July 1969 FW Roger Frude Mansfield Town Trial [8]
August 1969 FW Micky Cook Crystal Palace Free [9]
October 1969 FW Brian Caterer Leatherhead Amateur [10]
October 1969 FW David Harney Scunthorpe United Trial [11]
1969 MF Alan Gane Slough Town n/a [12]
January 1970 MF Brian Turner Portsmouth n/a [13]
February 1970 MF Brian Tawse Brighton & Hove Albion n/a [14]
March 1970 FW Roger Cross Crystal Palace £10,000 [15]
March 1970 MF John Docherty Reading n/a [16]
Players loaned in
Date from Pos. Name From Date to Ref.
October 1969 FW Gerry Baker Coventry City January 1970 [17]
January 1970 FW Alan Cocks Chelsea March 1970 [18]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
August 1969 FW John Richardson Fulham £10,000 [18]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
August 1969 FW Roger Frude Falmouth Town 1969 [8]
October 1969 FW Bill Brown Margate 1969 [7]
October 1969 FW Brian Caterer Leatherhead October 1969 [10]
October 1969 FW David Harney Wimbledon 1969 [11]
April 1970 FW Micky Cook Folkestone 1970 [9]
April 1970 MF George Dobson Guildford City 1970 [19]
April 1970 FW Ron Fenton Retired [20]
April 1970 DF Tommy Higginson Hillingdon Borough 1970 [21]
April 1970 DF Allan Jones Croatia 1970 [22]

Notes
  1. Match played at The Den, London.

References
  1. White 1989, p. 274-276.
  2. Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1969-1970 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  3. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 390. ISBN 0951526200.
  4. Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford League Table 1969-1970 - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  5. Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Yore Publications. pp. 78–79. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  6. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  7. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 29.
  8. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 61.
  9. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 39.
  10. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 35.
  11. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 72.
  12. White 1989, p. 391.
  13. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 163.
  14. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 158.
  15. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 42-43.
  16. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 49.
  17. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 15.
  18. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 134.
  19. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 48.
  20. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 55.
  21. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 76.
  22. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 88-89.
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