During the 1974–75 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Fourth Division. After a poor first half of the season, manager Mike Everitt was sacked and replaced by John Docherty, who produced a strong run of results to finish the campaign in 8th place.
Season summary Off the back of Brentford's lowest finish in the Football League since the 1925–26 season, only three players were signed – defender Keith Lawrence on a permanent deal from Chelsea, goalkeeper Steve Sherwood on a season-long loan from Chelsea and Wimbledon midfield trialist Graham Smith. Two long-serving players were released, winger John Docherty and full back Alan Hawley.White, p. 295-297. New chairman Les Davey announced that the club would move to a new stadium in West London and that there was talk of a £1,000,000 takeover bid by local firm Brentford Nylons, but nothing came of either plan.
Brentford began the season poorly and after eight league matches were just two points above the Fourth Division re-election zone, though one early season highlight was a League Cup second round tie versus First Division giants Liverpool at Anfield, where Roger Cross scored the opener in a 2–1 defeat. The Liverpool match was also notable for it being the final appearance made by centre half Peter Gelson, then the club's second-highest appearance-maker, who had his contract cancelled and departed the club shortly afterwards. Under recently appointed chairman Dan Tana, manager Mike Everitt was given a vote of confidence in November 1974 and strengthened the team by signing forward Willie Brown on loan from Newport County (and later permanently for £4,000) and midfielder Terry Johnson from Southend United for £15,000.
The signings had the desired effect and Brentford rose into mid-table after winning four and drawing one of a seven-match spell from late November through to mid-January 1975, but on 16 January, manager Mike Everitt was sacked. Trainer Jess Willard took over as caretaker manager for the following match, before the appointment of former player John Docherty on 20 January. Docherty turned Brentford's season around, losing just four of the remaining 19 matches of the season to finish in 8th place. Four wins, two draws and just one defeat in April won Docherty the Football League Manager of the Month award.
League table
Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend WinDrawLoss
Pre-season and friendlies DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)3 August 1974PortsmouthH0–41,7906 August 1974AldershotH1–31,440Simmons9 August 1974MillwallH2–01,190Woon, untraced (og)12 August 1974Stevenage BoroughA3–0n/aWoon, Cross16 March 1975Guernsey XIA1–0n/aLawrence28 April 1975MillwallH0–02,262
Football League Fourth Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)117 August 1974Northampton TownH1–05,147Woon224 August 1974SouthportA0–31,285331 August 1974Swansea CityH1–04,908Cross47 September 1974ChesterA0–22,625514 September 1974Cambridge UnitedH1–05,313Simmons616 September 1974Rotherham UnitedH3–45,979Simmons, Metchick, Bence721 September 1974Newport CountyA0–13,022823 September 1974RochdaleA0–01,587928 September 1974Crewe AlexandraH1–05,442Simmons1030 September 1974Stockport CountyA1–11,982Woon115 October 1974Doncaster RoversA1–21,692Simmons1212 October 1974Lincoln CityH1–14,973Lawrence1319 October 1974Shrewsbury TownA0–14,0991423 October 1974Bradford CityA0–12,9321526 October 1974Torquay UnitedH3–14,496Simmons (2), Graham162 November 1974BarnsleyA1–14,158Simmons174 November 1974Bradford CityH0–05,131189 November 1974Mansfield TownH2–35,553Foster (og), Simmons1916 November 1974HartlepoolA2–32,864Simmons, Johnson2030 November 1974WorkingtonA1–01,325Brown217 December 1974DarlingtonH3–04,925Johnson, Brown (2)2221 December 1974Scunthorpe UnitedH2–04,364Brown (2)2326 December 1974Cambridge UnitedA0–23,9592428 December 1974Exeter CityH2–05,608Simmons, Johnson254 January 1975Northampton TownA0–04,7352611 January 1975DarlingtonA1–22,095Johnson2718 January 1975WorkingtonH2–29,983Brown, Simmons2825 January 1975ReadingH1–06,485Brown291 February 1975Mansfield TownA1–111,362Graham304 February 1975Rotherham UnitedA0–34,541318 February 1975BarnsleyH3–05,080Simmons, French, Brown3215 February 1975ReadingA0–16,0133322 February 1975HartlepoolH1–05,516Johnson3428 February 1975Swansea CityA1–01,706Brown358 March 1975RochdaleH3–04,460Johnson, Graham, Cross3615 March 1975Crewe AlexandraA1–12,356Johnson3722 March 1975ChesterH1–15,827Cross3831 March 1975Exeter CityA0–13,301391 April 1975Newport CountyH0–05,569405 April 1975Torquay UnitedA2–32,555Cross, Scales417 April 1975Stockport CountyH3–04,434Riddick, French (2)4212 April 1975Doncaster RoversH1–15,147French4315 April 1975Scunthorpe UnitedA2–11,556Cross, Johnson4419 April 1975Lincoln CityA1–16,956Cross4521 April 1975SouthportH1–04,796Cross4626 April 1975Shrewsbury TownH2–15,810Graham, Cross
FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)Notes1R23 November 1974Slough TownA4–13,394Graham, Simmons, Woon (2)Match played at The Sports Ground, Walton-on-Thames.2R14 December 1974Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–113,287
Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)1R21 August 1974AldershotH3–05,702Cross (pen), Scales, Woon2R10 September 1974LiverpoolA1–221,413Cross Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies,Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 98-107.Croxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 306. Statto
Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1974–75 season. Pos.NameNat.Date of birth (age)Signed fromSigned inNotesGoalkeepersGKSteve SherwoodChelsea1974On loan from ChelseaDefendersDFMichael AllenMiddlesbrough1971DFPaul BenceReading1970DFKevin HardingYouth1974DFKeith LawrenceChelsea1974DFAlan NelmesChelsea1967DFTerry ScalesWest Ham United1971DFGraham SmithWimbledon1974Loaned to WimbledonDFNigel SmithQueens Park Rangers1975MidfieldersMFJackie GrahamGuildford City1970MFTerry JohnsonSouthend United1974MFDave MetchickAtlanta Apollos1973MFGordon Riddick (c)Northampton Town1973MFBarry SalvageQueens Park Rangers1973ForwardsFWRoger CrossFulham1973FWMicky FrenchQueens Park Rangers1975Loaned from Queens Park Rangers before transferring permanentlyFWRichard PooleYouth1974FWDave SimmonsCambridge United1974FWBilly StaggYouth1974Players who left the club mid-seasonDFPeter GelsonYouth1961ReleasedDFGary SmithYouth1974Loaned to Wimbledon, transferred to WimbledonMFIan FilbyOrient1974Returned to Orient after loanFWWillie BrownNewport County1974Loaned from Newport County before transferring permanentlyTransferred to Torquay UnitedFWAndy WoonBognor Regis Town1973Released Sources: The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies, Timeless Bees
Coaching staff
Mike Everitt (17 August 1974 – 16 January 1975) NameRole Mike EverittManager Jess WillardTrainer Alan HumphriesChief Scout
Jess Willard (16 – 20 January 1975) NameRole Jess WillardCaretaker Manager Alan HumphriesChief Scout
John Docherty (20 January – 26 April 1975) NameRole John DochertyManager Eddie LyonsTrainer Bob PearsonChief Scout
Statistics
Appearances and goals Substitute appearances in brackets. PosNatNameLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsDFMichael Allen3201020350DFPaul Bence4312020471DFPeter Gelson30—1040DFKevin Harding30000030DFKeith Lawrence4312020471DFAlan Nelmes10 (3)0000010 (3)0DFTerry Scales4012021442DFGary Smith30000030DFGraham Smith70000070DFNigel Smith20——20MFJackie Graham4342110465MFTerry Johnson28820—308MFDave Metchick24 (3)1102027 (3)1MFGordon Riddick4212020461MFBarry Salvage3402020380FWWillie Brown16910—179FWRoger Cross25 (2)8002227 (2)10FWMicky French14 (1)4——14 (1)4FWRichard Poole5 (3)000005 (3)0FWDave Simmons25 (5)121 (1)11027 (6)13FWBilly Stagg40000040FWAndy Woon13 (4)2221 (1)116 (5)5Players loaned in during the seasonGKSteve Sherwood4602020500MFIan Filby1 (2)0——1 (2)0 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford
Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL4FACFLCTotalFWDave Simmons121013FWRoger Cross80210FWWillie Brown90—9MFTerry Johnson8008MFJackie Graham4105FWAndy Woon2215FWMicky French4——4DFTerry Scales1012DFPaul Bence1001DFKeith Lawrence1001MFDave Metchick1001MFGordon Riddick1001Opponents1001Total534461 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford
Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Mike Everitt17 August 197411 January 1975Jess Willard (caretaker)18 January 197518 January 1975John Docherty25 January 197526 April 1975
Summary Games played 50 (46 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)Games won 20 (18 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)Games drawn 13 (13 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)Games lost 17 (15 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)Goals scored 61 (53 Fourth Division, 4 FA Cup, 4 League Cup)Goals conceded 49 (45 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)Clean sheets 20 (19 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)Biggest league win 3–0 on four occasionsWorst league defeat 3–0 on two occasionsMost appearances 50, Steve Sherwood (46 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)Top scorer (league) 12, Dave SimmonsTop scorer (all competitions) 13, Dave Simmons
Transfers & loans Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.May 1974DF Keith Lawrence ChelseaFreeCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 108-111.August 1974MF Graham Smith WimbledonTrialOctober 1974GK Barry Gordine Southend Unitedn/aNovember 1974MF Terry Johnson Southend United£15,000December 1974FW Willie Brown Newport County£4,000March 1975FW Micky French Queens Park Rangers£2,000April 1975DF Nigel Smith Queens Park Rangersn/aPlayers loaned inDate fromPos.NameFromDate toRef.August 1974GK Steve Sherwood ChelseaEnd of seasonSeptember 1974MF Ian Filby Leicester CityOctober 1974November 1974FW Willie Brown Newport CountyDecember 1974February 1975FW Micky French Queens Park RangersMarch 1975Players transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.March 1975FW Willie Brown Torquay United£5,000Players loaned outDate fromPos.NameToDate toRef.February 1975MF Graham Smith Wimbledonn/aApril 1975DF Gary Smith WimbledonApril 1975Players releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.October 1974GK Paul Priddy Wimbledon1974February 1975FW Andy Woon Maidstone United1975April 1975DF Gary Smith WimbledonApril 1975May 1975GK Barry GordineRetiredMay 1975MF Dave Metchick Barnet1975May 1975DF Kevin Harding Hayes1975May 1975MF Graham Smith Wimbledon1975May 1975FW Billy Stagg Wealdstonen/aCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 128.
Awards Supporters' Player of the Year: Steve SherwoodCroxford, Lane & Waterman, p. 295. Players' Player of the Year: Jackie Graham Football League Manager of the Month: John Docherty (April 1975)
Notes
References