1966–67 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1966–67 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Fourth Division. In a season overshadowed by the events of 19 January 1967, a promotion charge was derailed by five defeats in the final six matches of the campaign.

Brentford
1966–67 season
ChairmanJack Dunnett
(until 24 February 1967)
Ron Blindell
(from 24 February 1967)
ManagerBilly Gray
(until March 1967)
Jimmy Sirrel
(from March 1967)
StadiumGriffin Park
Fourth Division9th
FA CupThird round
League CupSecond round
Top goalscorerLeague: Docherty (13)
All: Docherty (19)
Highest home attendance10,650
Lowest home attendance3,600
Average home league attendance6,727

Season summary

In a bid to buy Brentford out of the bottom two divisions of the Football League, the large transfer funds made available by chairman Jack Dunnett to previous managers Malky MacDonald and Tommy Cavanagh had left the club with mounting debts.[1] Cavanagh had spent £30,000 on seven players since being appointed to the manager's job in January 1965, with five key attacking players (Bloomfield, Lazarus, Ward, Bonson and Fielding) being sold on for a total less than half that sum during the course of the 1965–66 Third Division season, towards the end of which he was sacked.[1] New manager Billy Gray failed to halt Brentford's relegation slide, which meant that the club would be members of the Fourth Division for the 1966–67 season.[1] An average home attendance of 11,000 would be needed to break even,[1] a record which had been falling year on year since the 1963–64 season.[2] A net loss on the previous season of £19,823 on the previous season (equivalent to £392,800 in 2023) meant that manager Gray had no money to buy established players and so brought in a number of youngsters, including his nephew John Richardson.[1]

The Bees had a good start to the season, winning the first two matches to sit top of the Fourth Division, but despite the strikeforce being bolstered by experienced Brian Bedford,[3] a winless run of five defeats in eight matches dropped the club into the relegation places in mid-October 1966.[4] Manager Billy Gray then made wholesale changes to the starting XI, introducing a number of youngsters, with the new-look team going on to win five consecutive matches.[1] The establishment of the new lineup led to a clearout of players, with out-of-favour Micky Block, Billy Cobb, John Regan, Mel Scott and Ron Crisp all exiting Griffin Park before the end of the season.[1] The Bees failed to keep up their good form through November and December and dropped back into mid-table.[1] The team weathered the storm caused by the tumultuous events of 19 January 1967, which resulted in the departure of chairman Jack Dunnett and manager Billy Gray.[1] Trainer Jimmy Sirrel took over as acting manager and built on the improved January form under Gray and led the team on a 16-match unbeaten league run, which equalled the club record at the time.[1] The run left Brentford within three points of the promotion places,[5] but an inexplicable five consecutive defeats in the final six matches of the season ended any chances of promotion.[4]

The Brentford reserve team had a successful season, beating local rivals Fulham in a replay to win the 1966–67 London Challenge Cup.[6]

League table
Main article: 1966–67 Football League § Fourth Division

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
7 Wrexham 46 16 20 10 76 62 1.226 52
8 Hartlepools United 46 22 7 17 66 64 1.031 51
9 Brentford 46 18 13 15 58 56 1.036 49
10 Aldershot 46 18 12 16 72 57 1.263 48
11 Bradford City 46 19 10 17 74 62 1.194 48
Source: rsssf.com

Results
Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Football League Fourth Division
No. DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
1 20 August 1966BarnsleyA1–0 2,433Ross
2 27 August 1966Luton TownH1–0 6,770Cobb
3 3 September 1966Aldershot A1–3 5,583Docherty
4 7 September 1966Lincoln CityA1–3 4,364Richardson
5 10 September 1966WrexhamH1–1 5,510Docherty
6 17 September 1966Southend UnitedA0–3 8,200
7 24 September 1966Tranmere RoversH1–1 5,620Bedford
8 27 September 1966Lincoln CityH2–2 6,230Grummett (og), Ross
9 1 October 1966Bradford CityA0–2 4,005
10 8 October 1966ChesterfieldA0–3 4,968
11 11 October 1966Aldershot H1–0 6,110Lawther
12 15 October 1966Stockport CountyH2–1 5,710Curley, Docherty
13 18 October 1966Halifax TownH1–0 6,090Docherty (pen)
14 22 October 1966RochdaleA3–1 2,652Lawther (2), Ross
15 29 October 1966Southport H2–1 6,760Ross, Higginson
16 5 November 1966Notts County A2–3 3,883Bedford (2)
17 12 November 1966ChesterH4–0 6,600Docherty, Lawther (2), Bedford
18 15 November 1966Halifax TownA2–3 2,495Jones, Curley
19 19 November 1966Bradford Park AvenueA2–2 4,182Docherty, Curley
20 10 December 1966Barrow H0–3 5,410
21 17 December 1966BarnsleyH3–1 4,250Lawther, Docherty, Bedford
22 26 December 1966Hartlepools UnitedA2–2 8,140Scott, Docherty
23 27 December 1966Hartlepools UnitedH1–2 5,770Docherty
24 31 December 1966Luton Town A0–3 8,531
25 14 January 1967WrexhamA0–0 11,038
26 21 January 1967 Southend United H 1–1 10,650 Lawther
27 3 February 1967Tranmere RoversA0–0 9,836
28 11 February 1967Bradford CityH2–0 7,460Docherty, Ross
29 18 February 1967York CityH1–1 7,620Lawther
30 25 February 1967ChesterfieldH1–0 7,010Docherty
31 3 March 1967Stockport CountyA2–1 8,288Bedford, Docherty
32 11 March 1967 York City A 0–0 1,855
33 18 March 1967RochdaleH4–0 6,340Docherty, Ross (2), Lawther
34 25 March 1967Port ValeA3–1 3,434Richardson, Lawther, Curley
35 27 March 1967Newport CountyH1–1 9,600Ross
36 28 March 1967Newport CountyA1–1 2,546Lawther
37 1 April 1967Notts County H1–0 7,760Hooker
38 8 April 1967Chester A2–1 2,683Bedford, Higginson
39 11 April 1967Exeter CityH3–1 7,800Bedford (3)
40 15 April 1967 Bradford Park Avenue H 1–1 10,000 Ross
41 22 April 1967SouthportA0–2 5,231
42 25 April 1967Exeter CityA0–1 2,934
43 29 April 1967Crewe Alexandra H0–2 5,710
44 6 May 1967BarrowA0–1 8,769
45 10 May 1967Crewe Alexandra A0–1 3,403
46 13 May 1967 Port Vale H 2–0 3,600 James (og), Wilson

FA Cup
Main article: 1966–67 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer(s)
1R 26 November 1966 Chelmsford City H 1–0 8,530 Docherty (pen)
2R 7 January 1967 Orient A 0–0 8,094
2R (replay) 10 January 1967 Orient H 3–1 10,078 Docherty (2), Richardson
3R28 January 1967Sunderland A2–5 36,908 Docherty (2)

Football League Cup
Main article: 1966–67 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer(s)
1R 24 August 1966 Millwall H 0–0 7,350
1R (replay) 29 August 1966 Millwall A 1–0 5,222 Docherty
2R13 September 1966Ipswich Town H2–4 5,860 Crisp, Ross

Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1966–67 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Chic Brodie Scotland (1937-02-22)22 February 1937 (aged 29) Northampton Town 1963
GK Gordon Phillips England (1946-11-17)17 November 1946 (aged 19) Hayes 1963
Defenders
DF Peter Gelson England (1941-10-18)18 October 1941 (aged 24) Youth 1961
DF Alan Hawley England (1946-06-07)7 June 1946 (aged 20) Youth 1962
DF Tommy Higginson Scotland (1937-01-06)6 January 1937 (aged 29) Kilmarnock 1959
DF Allan Jones Wales (1940-01-06)6 January 1940 (aged 26) Liverpool 1963
DF Hamish MacKenzie Scotland (1945-03-11)11 March 1945 (aged 21) Dunfermline Athletic 1964
DF Michael Ogburn England (1948-02-19)19 February 1948 (aged 18) Portsmouth 1965
Midfielders
MF Phil Basey Wales (1948-08-27)27 August 1948 (aged 17) Youth 1966
MF Tom Curley Scotland (1945-06-11)11 June 1945 (aged 21) Celtic 1965
MF George Dobson England (1949-08-24)24 August 1949 (aged 16) Youth 1966
MF John Docherty Scotland (1940-04-29)29 April 1940 (aged 26) Sheffield United 1966
MF Eddie Reeve England (1947-12-03)3 December 1947 (aged 18) Youth 1964
MF Bobby Ross (c) Scotland (1942-05-10)10 May 1942 (aged 24) Shrewsbury Town 1966
MF George Thomson Scotland (1936-10-19)19 October 1936 (aged 29) Everton 1963
Forwards
FW Brian Bedford Wales (1933-12-24)24 December 1933 (aged 32) Scunthorpe United 1966
FW Brian Etheridge England (1944-03-04)4 March 1944 (aged 22) Northampton Town 1966
FW Keith Hooker England (1950-01-31)31 January 1950 (aged 16) Youth 1965
FW Ian Lawther Northern Ireland (1939-10-20)20 October 1939 (aged 26) Scunthorpe United 1964
FW John Richardson England (1949-02-05)5 February 1949 (aged 17) Millwall 1966
FW John South England (1948-04-08)8 April 1948 (aged 18) Fulham 1966
FW Bobby Wilson England (1944-05-29)29 May 1944 (aged 22) Feltham 1967 Amateur
Players who left the club mid-season
DF Ron Crisp England (1938-09-24)24 September 1938 (aged 27) Watford 1965 Released
MF Billy Cobb England (1940-09-29)29 September 1940 (aged 25) Plymouth Argyle 1964 Transferred to Luton Town
MF Mel Scott England (1939-09-26)26 September 1939 (aged 26) Chelsea 1963 Released
FW John Regan England (1944-06-18)18 June 1944 (aged 22) Shrewsbury Town 1966 Transferred to Crewe Alexandra
  • Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford,[7] Timeless Bees[8]

Coaching staff

Billy Gray (20 August 1965 – March 1967)
Name Role
England Billy Gray Manager
Scotland Jimmy Sirrel Trainer
England Eddie Lyons Physiotherapist

Jimmy Sirrel (March – 13 May 1967)
Name Role
Scotland Jimmy Sirrel Manager
England 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 Scotland Chic Brodie 8 0 0 0 3 0 11 0
GK England Gordon Phillips 38 0 4 0 0 0 42 0
DF England Ron Crisp 7 0 0 0 3 1 10 1
DF England Peter Gelson 44 (1) 0 4 0 3 0 51 (1) 0
DF England Alan Hawley 37 0 3 0 3 0 43 0
DF Scotland Tommy Higginson 43 2 4 0 3 0 50 2
DF Wales Allan Jones 23 1 4 0 0 0 27 1
DF Scotland Hamish MacKenzie 17 0 0 0 3 0 20 0
DF England Michael Ogburn 12 0 1 0 0 0 13 0
MF Wales Phil Basey 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
MF England Billy Cobb 7 1 — 2 0 9 1
MF Scotland Tom Curley 26 4 1 0 0 0 27 4
MF England George Dobson 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
MF Scotland John Docherty 43 13 4 5 3 1 50 19
MF England Eddie Reeve 18 (2) 0 1 0 1 0 20 (2) 0
MF Scotland Bobby Ross 46 9 4 0 3 1 53 10
MF England Mel Scott 12 1 0 0 2 0 14 1
MF Scotland George Thomson 25 0 3 0 0 0 28 0
FW WalesBrian Bedford 21101 0 — 2210
FW England Brian Etheridge 6 0 2 0 0 0 8 0
FW England Keith Hooker 9 (1) 1 0 0 0 0 9 (1) 1
FW Northern Ireland Ian Lawther 38 (1) 11 4 0 3 0 45 (1) 11
FW England John Regan 2 0 — 0 0 2 0
FW England John Richardson 20 2 3 1 1 0 24 3
FW England John South 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 0
FW England Bobby Wilson 1 1 — — 1 1
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[7]

Goalscorers
Pos. Nat Player FL4 FAC FLC Total
MF Scotland John Docherty 13 5 1 19
FW Northern Ireland Ian Lawther 11 0 0 11
FW Wales Brian Bedford 10 0 — 10
MF Scotland Bobby Ross 9 0 1 10
MF Scotland Tom Curley 4 0 0 4
FW England John Richardson 2 1 0 3
DF Scotland Tommy Higginson 2 0 0 2
FW England Bobby Wilson 1 — — 1
MF England Billy Cobb 1 — 0 1
MF England Mel Scott 1 0 0 1
FW England Keith Hooker 1 0 0 1
DF Wales Allan Jones 1 0 0 1
DF England Ron Crisp 0 0 1 1
Opponents 2 0 0 2
Total586 367
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[7]

Management
Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Billy Gray England 20 August 1966 25 February 1967 37 14 11 12 037.84 30 11 9 10 036.67
Jimmy Sirrel Scotland 3 March 1967 13 May 1967 16 7 4 5 043.75 16 7 4 5 043.75

Summary
Games played53 (46 Fourth Division, 4 FA Cup, 3 League Cup)
Games won21 (18 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Games drawn15 (13 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Games lost17 (15 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Goals scored67 (58 Fourth Division, 6 FA Cup, 3 League Cup)
Goals conceded66 (56 Fourth Division, 6 FA Cup, 4 League Cup)
Clean sheets17 (13 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)
Biggest league win4–0 on two occasions
Worst league defeat3–0 on four occasions
Most appearances52, Peter Gelson (45 Fourth Division, 4 FA Cup, 3 League Cup)
Top scorer (league)13, John Docherty
Top scorer (all competitions)19, John Docherty

Transfers & loans
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
May 1966 FW England John Richardson England Millwall n/a [9]
July 1966 FW Wales Ellis Wyn Jones n/a n/a [10]
15 September 1966 FW Wales Brian Bedford England Scunthorpe United £2,000 [3]
November 1966 MF England Alan Jefferies England Didcot Town n/a [11]
November 1966 FW England John South England Fulham n/a [11]
1966 MF England George Dobson n/a n/a [12]
April 1967 FW England Bobby Wilson England Feltham Amateur [13]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
October 1966 MF England Micky Block England Watford n/a [14]
November 1966 MF England Billy Cobb England Luton Town £2,000 [15]
November 1966 FW England John Regan England Crewe Alexandra £1,000 [16]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
13 December 1966 MF England Ron Crisp United States Los Angeles Toros Free [17]
February 1967 MF England Mel Scott United States Oakland Clippers February 1967 [18]
May 1967 MF Wales Phil Basey England Crawley Town 1967 [19]
May 1967 FW Wales Brian Bedford United States Atlanta Chiefs 1967 [20]
May 1967 MF Scotland Tom Curley England Crewe Alexandra August 1967 [21]
May 1967 FW England Brian Etheridge Belgium Daring Club de Bruxelles 1967 [22]
May 1967 MF England Alan Jefferies n/a [23]
May 1967 DF Scotland Hamish MacKenzie n/a [24]
May 1967 DF England Michael Ogburn n/a [25]
May 1967 FW England John South England Guildford City 1967 [26]
May 1967 FW England Barry Thornley England Oxford United July 1967 [27]
May 1967 FW England Bobby Wilson England Walton & Hersham Amateur [13]

Awards

References
  1. White 1989, p. 262-266.
  2. Haynes 1998, p. 53-54.
  3. "Brentford Capture Bedford". Middlesex County Times. 16 September 1966.
  4. "Brentford results for the 1966–1967 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  5. "11v11 league table generator". www.11v11.com. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  6. Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Yore Publications. p. 82. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  7. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 389. ISBN 0951526200.
  8. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  9. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 134.
  10. "Young Star Is New Bee". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 29 July 1966.
  11. "Father's Footsteps – Almost". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 18 November 1966.
  12. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 48.
  13. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 170.
  14. "Block Joins Watford". Middlesex County Times. 30 September 1966.
  15. "Cobb Leaves". Middlesex County Times. 2 December 1966.
  16. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 132.
  17. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 42.
  18. "Scott Is Off To USA". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 24 February 1967.
  19. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 16.
  20. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 18.
  21. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 44.
  22. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 53.
  23. "Free Transfers For Six Brentford Men". Middlesex Chronicle. 19 May 1967.
  24. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 99.
  25. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 118.
  26. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 152.
  27. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 160.
  28. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 49.
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