1973–74 Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. season
During the 1973–74 English football season, Brighton and Hove Albion competed in the Division Three, the FA Cup and the League Cup.
| 1973–74 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Mike Bamber | ||
| Manager | Pat Saward (until 20 October 1973) Glen Wilson (until 27 October 1973) Brian Clough | ||
| Stadium | Goldstone Ground | ||
| Division Three | 19th | ||
| FA Cup | Fourth round | ||
| League Cup | Second round | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: Beamish (12) All: Beamish (12) | ||
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Season summary
In his second season as chairman Mike Bamber clinched the arrival of manager Brian Clough and his assistant Peter Taylor to the team on 1 November.[1] The move of the 1972 First Division Champion duo shocked the English media[2] and put the Division Three club on the Football map.[3] According to several players, Clough was not very interested in managing the squad and he was rarely seen through weekdays at the facilities.[4]
Meanwhile, the team finished on 19th spot avoiding relegation, being early eliminated in League Cup by Charlton Athletic and lost the FA Cup first series against a non-League club.[5]
Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Results
Division Three
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | HW | HD | HL | HGF | HGA | AW | AD | AL | AGF | AGA | GAv | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 37 | 17 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 22 | 37 | 1.093 | 44 | |
| 18 | Hereford United | 46 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 31 | 25 | 4 | 10 | 9 | 22 | 32 | 0.930 | 43 | |
| 19 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 46 | 10 | 3 | 10 | 31 | 31 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 21 | 27 | 0.897 | 43 | |
| 20 | Port Vale | 46 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 37 | 23 | 2 | 8 | 13 | 15 | 35 | 0.897 | 42 | |
| 21 | Cambridge United | 46 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 36 | 27 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 12 | 54 | 0.593 | 35 | Relegated |
Results by round
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss; = Leader, Promoted to 1974–75 Second Division; = Promoted to 1974–75 Second Division; = Relegation to 1974–75 Division Four
Matches
| 25 August 1973 1 | Rochdale | 1–1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Rochdale |
| Darling |
Report | Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2665 |
| 1 September 1973 2 | Brighton and Hove Albion | 0-2 | AFC Bournemouth | Brighton and Hove |
| Stadium: Goldstone Ground |
| 8 September 1973 3 | Plymouth Argyle | 1-0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Plymouth |
| Stadium: Home Park |
| 10 September 1973 4 | Southport | 1-1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Southport |
| Stadium: Haig Avenue |
| 15 September 1973 5 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1-2 | Charlton Athletic | Brighton and Hove |
| Stadium: Goldstone Ground |
| 19 September 1973 6 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1-2 | Oldham Athletic | Brighton and Hove |
| Stadium: Goldstone Ground |
| 22 September 1973 7 | Grimsby Town | 0-0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Cleethorpes |
| Stadium: Blundell Park |
| 29 September 1973 8 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0-1 | Watford F.C. | Brighton and Hove |
| Stadium: Goldstone Ground |
| 2 October 1973 9 | Oldham Athletic | 1-0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Oldham |
| Stadium: Boundary Park |
| 6 October 1973 10 | Blackburn Rovers | 1-3 | Brighton and Hove Albion | Blackburn |
| Stadium: Ewood Park |
| 13 October 1973 11 | Brighton and Hove Albion | 0-1 | Halifax Town | Brighton and Hove |
| Stadium: Goldstone Ground |
| 20 October 1973 12 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2-0 | Shrewsbury Town | Brighton and Hove |
| Stadium: Goldstone Ground |
| 24 October 1973 13 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 4-0 | Southport F.C. | Brighton and Hove |
| Stadium: Goldstone Ground |
| 27 October 1973 14 | Hereford United | 0-3 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Hereford |
| Stadium: Edgar Street |
| 3 November 1973 15 | Brighton and Hove Albion | 0-0 | York City | Brighton and Hove |
| Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 16,029 |
| 10 November 1973 16 | Huddersfield Town | 2-2 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Huddersfield |
| Terry Dolan Phil Summerill |
Stadium: Leeds Road Attendance: 6,057 |
| 13 November 1973 17 | Walsall | 0-1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Walsall |
| Stadium: Fellows Park Attendance: 5,116 |
| 17 November 1973 18 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0-0 | Chesterfield F.C. | Brighton and Hove |
| Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 14,186 Referee: GC Kew |
| 1 December 1973 19 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2-8 | Bristol Rovers | Brighton and Hove |
| Ronnie Howell Peter O'Sullivan |
Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 10,776 |
| 8 December 1973 20 | Tranmere Rovers | 1-4 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Birkenhead |
| Tommy Young Bobby Tynan Ronnie Moore Paul Crossley |
Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 4,458 |
| 22 December 1973 21 | Watford | 0-1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Watford |
| Billy Jennings |
Stadium: Vicarage Road Attendance: 5,909 |
| 26 December 1973 22 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0-1 | Aldershot F.C. | Brighton and Hove |
| Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 14,831 |
| 29 December 1973 23 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1-0 | Plymouth Argyle | Brighton and Hove |
| Ken Beamish |
Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 11,197 |
| 1 January 1974 24 | Bournemouth | 0-0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Bournemouth |
| Stadium: Dean Court Attendance: 17,079 |
| 12 January 1974 25 | Charlton Athletic | 4-0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | London |
| Stadium: The Valley Attendance: 7,646 |
| 20 January 1974 26 | Brighton and Hove Albion | 2-1 | Rochdale F.C. | Brighton and Hove |
| Ken Beamish Tony Towner |
Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 18,900 |
| 27 January 1974 27 | Cambridge United | 1-1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Cambridge |
| Dave Simmons |
Stadium: Abbey Stadium Attendance: 7,749 |
| 2 February 1974 28 | Port Vale | 2-1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Stoke-on-Trent |
| Brian Horton Ray Williams |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 3,728 |
| 9 February 1974 29 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1-1 | Grimsby Town F.C. | Brighton and Hove |
| Barry Bridges |
Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 10,498 |
| 16 February 1974 30 | Halifax Town | 2-2 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Halifax |
| Terry Shanahan John Templeman |
Stadium: The Shay Attendance: 2,767 Referee: JB Goggins |
| 23 February 1974 31 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 3-0 | Blackburn Rovers | Brighton and Hove |
| Ronnie Welch Barry Bridges |
Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 12,102 |
| 27 February 1974 32 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2-1 | Wrexham F.C. | Brighton and Hove |
| Ronnie Howell Peter O'Sullivan |
Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 7,524 |
| 3 March 1974 33 | Aldershot | 0-1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Aldershot |
| Stadium: Recreation Ground Attendance: 9,828 |
| 10 March 1974 34 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2-1 | Hereford United | Brighton and Hove |
| Ken Beamish Steve Piper |
Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 17,266 |
| 16 March 1974 35 | Shrewsbury Town | 1-0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Shrewsbury |
| Laurie Calloway |
Stadium: Gay Meadow Attendance: 2,077 |
| 20 March 1974 36 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2-1 | Port Vale F.C. | Brighton and Hove |
| Barry Bridges Billy McEwan |
Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 9,365 |
| 23 March 1974 37 | Brighton and Hove Albion | 1-2 | Huddersfield Town | Brighton and Hove |
| Billy McEwan |
Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 12,444 |
| 25 March 1974 38 | Wrexham | 1-0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Wrexham |
| David Smallman |
Stadium: Racecourse Ground Attendance: 5,925 |
| 30 March 1974 39 | York City | 0-3 | Brighton & Hove Albion | York |
| Phil Burrows Chris Jones |
Stadium: Bootham Crescent Attendance: 7,493 |
| 3 April 1974 40 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 4-1 | Cambridge United | Brighton and Hove |
| Barry Bridges Ronnie Welch Ronnie Howell Billy McEwan |
Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 9,833 |
| 6 April 1974 41 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2-1 | Walsall F.C. | Brighton and Hove |
| Barry Bridges Lammie Robertson |
Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 10,588 |
| 12 April 1974 42 | Southend United | 0-2 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Southend-on-Sea |
| Stadium: Roots Hall Attendance: 10,086 |
| 13 April 1974 43 | Chesterfield | 1-0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Chesterfield |
| Andy Kowalski |
Stadium: Saltergate Recreation Ground Attendance: 6,971 Referee: A Porter |
| 15 April 1974 44 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0-2 | Southend United | Brighton and Hove |
| Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 12,975 Referee: DRG Nippard |
| 20 April 1974 45 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1-3 | Tranmere Rovers | Brighton and Hove |
| Ronnie Howell Bobby Tynan Tommy Veitch |
Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 9,609 |
| 27 April 1974 46 | Bristol Rovers | 1-1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Bristol |
| Bruce Bannister |
Stadium: Eastville Stadium Attendance: 19,205 |
FA Cup
First round
| 24 November 1973 FA Cup (R1) | Walton & Hersham | 0-0 | Brighton and Hove Albion | |
| Note: Walton & Hersham (Non League) | ||||
| 28 November 1973 Replay | Brighton and Hove Albion | 0-4 | Walton & Hersham | Brighton and Hove |
| Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 9,657 |
League Cup
| 29 August 1973 League Cup Round 1 | Brighton and Hove Albion | 1-2 | Charlton Athletic | Brighton and Hove |
| Stadium: Goldstone Ground |
Statistics
Players statistics
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Division Three | FA Cup | League Cup | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| GK | Powney | 30 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| DF | Fuschillo | 40 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| DF | Gall | 40 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| DF | Piper | 36 | 1 | 34 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| DF | Wilson | 25 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| MF | O'Sullivan | 49 | 4 | 46 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| MF | Howell | 30 | 9 | 26+1 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| MF | Robertson | 33 | 5 | 27+3 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | ||
| MF | Templeman | 37 | 2 | 34 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| FW | Beamish | 45 | 12 | 43+1 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| FW | Bridges | 36 | 10 | 31+2 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| GK | Grummitt | 16 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| MF | Spearritt | 26 | 1 | 21+2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| MF | Welch | 21 | 2 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| MF | Towner | 24 | 2 | 20+3 | 2 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| DF | Ley | 19 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| MF | Hilton | 19 | 1 | 15+2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| MF | McEwan | 15 | 3 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| MF | Boyle | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| DF | Howell | 10 | 0 | 8+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| DF | Goodwin | 8 | 0 | 6+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| DF | Brown | 8 | 1 | 5+3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| DF | Goodeve | 6 | 0 | 5+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| GK | Downsborough | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| MF | Bromley | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| MF | Conway | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| MF | Murray | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| FW | Busby | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| GK | Hillyard | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| GK | Sherwood | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
References
- Brian Glanville (21 September 2004). "Obituary: Brian Clough". The Guardian.
- Mike Cobley (18 September 2018). "Bloody Southerners: Brian Clough & Peter Taylor's Brighton & Hove Odyssey". magazine.brighton.co.uk. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- Ian Hart (14 June 2023). "Recalling Brighton and Hove Albion's pivotal summers – and wondering what Brian Clough could have done for us". sussexexpress.co. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- Steven Scragg (9 April 2020). "Brian Clough and the 32-game spell at Brighton that helped shape his future success". thesefootballtimes.com. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- Smart, Andy (8 October 2018). "New book sheds light on Brian Clough's ill-fated spell in charge at Brighton". Nottingham Post. Retrieved 20 September 2022.