Brentford
1993–94 season
ChairmanMartin Lange
ManagerDavid Webb
StadiumGriffin Park
Second Division16th
FA CupSecond round
League CupFirst round
Football League TrophyQuarter-final
Top goalscorerLeague: Allon (13)
All: Allon (17)
Highest home attendance6,848
Lowest home attendance4,305
Average home league attendance5,611

During the 1993–94 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Second Division. In a season of transition, a failure to win any of the final 16 league matches ended all hopes of a finish in the play-off places.

Season summary

The 1993–94 season saw Brentford back in the Second Division after suffering relegation from the First Division at the first attempt.[1] Former Chelsea manager David Webb replaced Phil Holder and immediately set about overhauling the squad, releasing 11 players and cancelling the contracts of Murray Jones, Neil Smilie and Detzi Kruszyński.[2][3][4] 1992–93 top-scorer Gary Blissett left the club for a £350,000 fee settled by a tribunal, goalkeeper Graham Benstead and defender Terry Evans rejected new contracts and were made available for loan, while forward Joe Allon was transfer-listed.[4] In came midfielder Paul Smith, forward Denny Mundee and youngster Scott Morgan from Bournemouth and non-League players Dean A. Williams and Dean P. Williams.[4] Professional contracts were given to youth products Carl Hutchings, Craig Ravenscroft and Tamer Fernandes.[4] Manager David Webb continued to strengthen the squad during the early months of the season, bringing in goalkeeper Kevin Dearden, defenders Martin Grainger and Gus Hurdle, midfielder Lee Harvey and forwards Ian Benjamin and Matthew Metcalf, with Terry Evans and Grant Chalmers leaving the club.[5]

Brentford began the season with two wins from the first three matches to rise as high as 5th, before losing five of the next six to drop into the relegation places.[6] Transfer-listed forward Joe Allon provided the catalyst for a revival, returning from a loan spell with Southend United to score 9 goals in eight games in all competitions and fire the Bees back up to 12th position by early November.[6][7] His run was ended by a broken jaw suffered at the hands of teammate Mickey Bennett, who was immediately sacked by the club.[8] Forward Denny Mundee stepped into the breach and scored 9 goals in as many games in all competitions to help elevate Brentford back into the play-off positions and the Football League Trophy quarter-finals.[6][9] The run prompted Premier League club Southampton to offer David Webb their vacant manager's job, which Webb turned down.[10] Two club records were set during the run – 11 consecutive away matches unbeaten in all competitions and 10 consecutive away league matches undefeated.[10]

Brentford had risen to 5th in the table after a 4–1 win over Bristol Rovers on 12 February 1994, but a winless run of 16 matches to close out the season dropped the Bees to 16th.[6] Webb had continued his rebuilding of the squad through the second half of the season, selling transfer-listed players Marcus Gayle, Joe Allon and Keith Millen, while bringing in defenders David Thompson and Barry Ashby, winger Darren Annon and forward Robert Taylor.[10] Season-ending injuries to Taylor, Shane Westley, Ian Benjamin and suspensions incurred by Martin Grainger, David Thompson, Kevin Dearden and Brian Statham further hindered Webb's ability to pick a settled team.[10]

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
14 Brighton & Hove Albion 46 15 14 17 60 67 −7 59
15 Rotherham United 46 15 13 18 63 60 +3 58
16 Brentford 46 13 19 14 57 55 +2 58
17 Bournemouth 46 14 15 17 51 59 −8 57
18 Leyton Orient 46 14 14 18 57 71 −14 56
Source:

Results

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Pre-season and friendlies

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)
20 July 1993Fareham TownA3–0n/aAllon (2), Gayle
22 July 1993St Albans CityA4–1n/aAllon (2), Ravenscroft, Buckle
24 July 1993Hampton A2–1n/aRatcliffe, Chalmers
26 July 1993Havant Town A3–1n/aM. Bennett, Westley, Millen
28 July 1993Chesham United A2–1n/aAllon (2)
31 July 1993Crystal PalaceH1–3n/aRatcliffe
3 August 1993Farnborough TownA3–0n/aAllon (2), M. Bennett
4 August 1993Welling UnitedA0–1n/a
6 August 1993Tottenham HotspurH0–04,535
8 August 1993Colchester UnitedA1–2n/aRavenscroft
18 August 1993 Tamworth A 2–2 n/a D.A. Williams, Evans
1 September 1993 Walton & Hersham A 4–0 n/a Millen, Ravenscroft, D.A. Williams
21 September 1993 Chesham United A 1–2 n/a Peters
7 December 1993 Hailsham Town A 10–3 n/a Metcalf (4), Stephenson (3), Benjamin, Millen, G. Bennett
22 March 1994 Zambia H 0–2 1,168
26 April 1994 Hayes A 2–2 n/a Grainger, Peters
12 May 1994 Crystal Palace H 5–3 n/a Mundee, Peters, Metcalf

Football League Second Division

No. DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)
1 14 August 1993Exeter CityH2–15,537Allon, Gayle
2 21 August 1993BlackpoolA1–14,024Allon
3 28 August 1993ReadingH1–06,848Allon
4 31 August 1993Hull CityA0–14,517
5 4 September 1993Rotherham UnitedA0–24,333
6 11 September 1993Swansea CityH1–15,042Ratcliffe
7 14 September 1993Leyton OrientH0–15,149
8 18 September 1993Brighton & Hove AlbionA1–25,734D.A. Williams
9 25 September 1993Port Vale H1–25,106Gayle
10 2 October 1993Cambridge UnitedA1–13,612Benjamin
11 9 October 1993Hartlepool United A1–01,802Benjamin
12 16 October 1993Wrexham H2–15,801Ratcliffe, Allon
13 23 October 1993York City A2–03,513Smith, Allon
14 30 October 1993BarnetH1–05,873Allon
15 2 November 1993Cardiff CityH1–14,756Allon
16 6 November 1993Plymouth Argyle A1–16,407Allon
17 20 November 1993Burnley A0–06,085
18 27 November 1993Huddersfield Town A3–14,544Mundee (2 pens), Ravenscroft
19 11 December 1993Blackpool H3–04,769Gayle, Mundee (2)
20 18 December 1993Exeter CityA2–24,250Gayle, Mundee (pen)
21 27 December 1993BournemouthA3–05,744Mundee (pen), Harvey, og
22 29 December 1993Bradford CityH2–06,059Ratcliffe, Smith
23 1 January 1994FulhamA0–09,797
24 3 January 1994Stockport CountyH1–16,410og
25 8 January 1994Bristol RoversH3–46,841Mundee (3)
26 15 January 1994WrexhamA2–13,701Gayle, Bates
27 22 January 1994Hartlepool UnitedH1–06,334Bates
28 29 January 1994BarnetA0–02,502
29 5 February 1994York CityA1–15,710Mundee
30 12 February 1994Bristol RoversA4–15,685Gayle, Allon (3)
31 19 February 1994ReadingA1–29,056Thompson
32 22 February 1994Hull CityH0–34,361
33 26 February 1994Rotherham UnitedH2–24,980Mundee, Allon
34 5 March 1994Swansea CityA1–13,187Harvey
35 12 March 1994Brighton & Hove AlbionH1–16,728Ratcliffe
36 15 March 1994Leyton OrientA1–13,185Allon
37 19 March 1994Port ValeA0–18,269
38 26 March 1994Cambridge UnitedH3–35,052Taylor, Statham, Grainger
39 29 March 1994Stockport CountyA1–34,361Annon
40 2 April 1994Bournemouth H1–14,305Grainger
41 4 April 1994Bradford CityA0–16,703
42 9 April 1994FulhamH1–26,638Taylor
43 16 April 1994Cardiff CityA1–15,268Harvey
44 23 April 1994 Plymouth Argyle H 1–1 6,173 Smith
45 30 April 1994BurnleyA1–411,363Ashby
46 7 May 1994Huddersfield Town H1–24,483Harvey

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance Scorer(s)
R113 November 1993VS RugbyA3–03,006Allon (2, 1 pen), Gayle
R24 December 1993Cardiff City H1–34,845Gayle

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance Scorer(s)
R1 (1st leg)17 August 1993Watford H2–2 4,527Peters, Westley
R1 (2nd leg)24 August 1993WatfordA1–3 (lost 5–3 on aggregate)4,937Westley

Football League Trophy

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance Scorer(s)
SR1 (match 1) 19 October 1993 Barnet A 2–2 1,269 Allon (2)
SR1 (match 2)9 November 1993Wycombe WanderersH2–33,165Ratcliffe, Smith
SR230 November 1993Hereford UnitedA2–11,049Mundee (2)
SQF 11 January 1994 Leyton Orient A 0–1 3,683

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1993–94 season.
No. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
1 GK Dean P. Williams England 5 January 1972 (aged 21) Tamworth 1993
20 GK Tamer Fernandes England 7 December 1974 (aged 18) Youth 1993 Loaned to Wealdstone
28 GK Kevin Dearden England 8 March 1970 (aged 23) Tottenham Hotspur 1993
Defenders
2 DF Brian Statham England 21 May 1969 (aged 24) Tottenham Hotspur 1992
3 DF Billy Manuel (c) England 28 June 1969 (aged 24) Gillingham 1991
4 DF Barry Ashby England 21 November 1970 (aged 22) Watford 1994
5 DF Shane Westley England 16 June 1965 (aged 28) Wolverhampton Wanderers 1992
6 DF Martin Grainger England 23 August 1972 (aged 20) Colchester United 1993
12 DF Jamie Bates England 24 February 1968 (aged 25) Youth 1986
14 DF David Thompson England 20 November 1968 (aged 24) Bristol City 1994
18 DF Carl Hutchings England 24 September 1974 (aged 18) Youth 1993
19 DF Gus Hurdle Barbados 14 October 1973 (aged 19) Dorchester Town 1993 Loaned to Dorchester Town
21 DF Scott Morgan England 22 March 1975 (aged 18) Bournemouth 1993
Midfielders
8 MF Paul Smith England 18 September 1971 (aged 21) Southend United 1993
9 MF Lee Harvey England 21 December 1966 (aged 26) Nottingham Forest 1993
10 MF Paul Stephenson England 2 January 1968 (aged 25) Millwall 1993
16 MF Robbie Peters England 18 May 1971 (aged 22) Youth 1989 Loaned to Slough Town
17 MF Simon Ratcliffe England 8 February 1967 (aged 26) Norwich City 1989
22 MF Kevin Watson England 3 January 1974 (aged 19) Tottenham Hotspur 1994 On loan from Tottenham Hotspur
24 MF Darren Annon England 17 February 1972 (aged 21) Carshalton Athletic 1994
Forwards
11 FW Robert Taylor England 30 April 1971 (aged 22) Leyton Orient 1994
13 FW Craig Ravenscroft England 20 December 1974 (aged 18) Youth 1993
15 FW Dean A. Williams England 14 November 1970 (aged 22) St Albans City 1993
23 FW Denny Mundee England 10 October 1968 (aged 24) Bournemouth 1993
26 FW Matthew Metcalf England 28 July 1969 (aged 24) Diss Town 1993
27 FW Ian Benjamin England 11 December 1961 (aged 31) Luton Town 1993
Players who left the club mid-season
4 DF Keith Millen England 26 September 1966 (aged 26) Youth 1985 Transferred to Watford
6 MF Grant Chalmers England 12 September 1969 (aged 23) Northerners 1992 Released
7 FW Joe Allon England 12 January 1966 (aged 27) Chelsea 1992 Loaned to Southend United, transferred to Port Vale
9 FW Mickey Bennett England 27 July 1969 (aged 24) Wimbledon 1992 Released
11 FW Marcus Gayle Jamaica 27 September 1970 (aged 22) Youth 1988 Transferred to Wimbledon
14 MF Paul Buckle England 16 December 1970 (aged 22) Youth 1988 Transferred to Torquay United
22 GK Graham Benstead England 20 August 1963 (aged 29) Sheffield United 1990 Loaned to Kettering Town, transferred to Kettering Town
24 MF Steve Tilson England 27 July 1966 (aged 27) Southend United 1993 Returned to Southend United after loan
25 MF John Cornwell England 13 October 1964 (aged 28) Southend United 1993 Returned to Southend United after loan
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties[12]

Coaching staff

Name Role
England David Webb Manager
England Kevin Lock First Team Coach
England Roy Johnson Physiotherapist

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Substitute appearances in brackets.
No. Pos Nat Name League FA Cup League Cup FL Trophy Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK EnglandDean P. Williams 6 (1)00000006 (1)0
2 DF EnglandBrian Statham 311102020361
3 DF EnglandBilly Manuel 17 (1)000200 (1)019 (2)0
4 DF EnglandKeith Millen 0000001010
4 DF EnglandBarry Ashby 81———81
5 DF EnglandShane Westley 310202240392
6 DF EnglandMartin Grainger 31220——332
7 FW EnglandJoe Allon 21131 22 0 222617
8 MF EnglandPaul Smith 323200041384
9 FW EnglandMickey Bennett 6 (2)0—2 0—8 (2)0
9 MF EnglandLee Harvey 23 (3)410—2026 (3)4
10 MF EnglandPaul Stephenson 2501 (1)02 0 2030 (1)0
11 FW JamaicaMarcus Gayle 3562 21 02 0408
11 FW EnglandRobert Taylor 52———52
12 DF EnglandJamie Bates 452202030522
13 FW EnglandCraig Ravenscroft 4 (3)100001 (1)05 (4)1
14 MF EnglandPaul Buckle 0000100010
14 DF England David Thompson 9 (1) 1 — — — 9 (1) 1
15 FW England Dean A. Williams 2 (1) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 (1) 1
16 MF England Robbie Peters 8 (4) 0 0 0 1 (1) 1 2 (1) 0 11 (6) 1
17 MF EnglandSimon Ratcliffe 41 (2)410204148 (2)5
18 DF EnglandCarl Hutchings 20 (9)0201 (1)04027 (10)0
20 GK EnglandTamer Fernandes 0 (1)00000000 (1)0
21 DF EnglandScott Morgan 1000002030
22 GK England Graham Benstead 5 0 — 2 0 — 7 0
23 MF EnglandDenny Mundee 37 (2)112 00 (2)02 (2)241 (6)13
24 MF EnglandDarren Annon 5 (4)1———5 (4)1
26 FW England Matthew Metcalf 3 (4) 0 0 0 0 0 1 (1) 0 4 (5) 0
27 FW EnglandIan Benjamin 12 (2)21 0—2 0 15 (2)2
28 GK England Kevin Dearden 35 0 2 0 — 4 0 41 0
Players loaned in during the season
22 MF EnglandKevin Watson 2 (1)0——— 2 (1)0
24 MF EnglandSteve Tilson 20——— 20
25 MF England John Cornwell 4 0 — — — 4 0
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties[12]

Goalscorers

No. Pos. Nat Player FL2 FAC FLC FLT Total
7 FW England Joe Allon 13 2 0 2 17
23 FW England Denny Mundee 11 0 0 2 13
11 FW Jamaica Marcus Gayle 6 2 0 0 8
17 MF England Simon Ratcliffe 4 0 0 1 5
9 MF England Lee Harvey 4 0 — 0 4
8 MF England Paul Smith 3 0 0 1 4
18 MF England Paul Stephenson 2 0 1 0 3
11 FW England Robert Taylor2—— —2
6 DF England Martin Grainger 2 0 — — 2
27 FW England Ian Benjamin 2 0 — 0 2
12 DF England Jamie Bates 2 0 0 0 2
5 DF England Shane Westley 0 0 2 0 2
24 MF England Darren Annon 1 — — — 1
4 DF England Barry Ashby 1 — — — 1
14 DF England David Thompson 1 — — — 1
13 FW England Craig Ravenscroft 1 0 0 0 1
2 DF England Brian Statham 1 0 0 0 1
15 FW England Dean A. Williams 1 0 0 0 1
16 MF England Robbie Peters 0 0 1 0 1
Opponents 2 0 0 0 2
Total5743670
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties[12]

Management

Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
David Webb England 14 August 1993 7 May 1994 54 15 21 18 027.78|46 13 19 14 028.26

Summary

Games played54 (46 Second Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 4 Football League Trophy)
Games won15 (13 Second Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Games drawn21 (19 Second Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Games lost18 (14 Second Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)
Goals scored70 (57 Second Division, 4 FA Cup, 3 League Cup, 6 Football League Trophy)
Goals conceded70 (55 Second Division, 3 FA Cup, 5 League Cup, 7 Football League Trophy)
Clean sheets12 (11 Second Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy)
Biggest league win3–0 on 2 occasions, 4–1 versus Bristol Rovers, 12 February 1994
Worst league defeat3–0 versus Hull City, 22 February 1994; 4–1 versus Burnley, 30 April 1994
Most appearances52, Jamie Bates (45 Second Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 3 Football League Trophy)
Top scorer (league)13, Joe Allon
Top scorer (all competitions)17, Joe Allon

Transfers & loans

Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
July 1993FWEngland Dean A. WilliamsEngland St Albans City£14,000[4]
6 August 1993MFEngland Paul SmithEngland Southend UnitedFree[13]
8 August 1993 GK England Dean P. Williams England Tamworth £2,000 [13]
12 August 1993 MF England Denny Mundee England Bournemouth Free [4]
August 1993DFEngland Scott MorganEngland BournemouthFree[14]
24 September 1993 FW England Ian Benjamin England Luton Town £35,000 [5]
30 September 1993 GK England Kevin Dearden England Tottenham Hotspur Free [13]
September 1993 FW England Matthew Metcalf England Diss Town £10,000 [5]
21 October 1993 DF England Martin Grainger England Colchester United £60,000 [13]
October 1993 DF Barbados Gus Hurdle England Dorchester Town Free [5]
18 November 1993 MF England Lee Harvey England Nottingham Forest Free [13]
December 1993 MF England Tony Sorrell England Barnet Free [10]
1 February 1994 DF England David Thompson England Bristol City Free [10]
8 March 1994 MF England Darren Annon England Carshalton Athletic £20,000 [13]
22 March 1994 DF England Barry Ashby England Watford £65,000 [10]
24 March 1994 FW England Robert Taylor England Leyton Orient £100,000 [13]
Players loaned in
Date from Pos. Name From Date to Ref.
16 September 1993MFEngland John CornwellEngland Southend United9 November 1993[5]
16 September 1993MFEngland Steve TilsonEngland Southend United16 October 1993[13]
24 March 1994 MF England Kevin Watson England Tottenham Hotspur End of season [13]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
1993 FW England Murray Jones England Sittingbourne Free [4]
1993 GK Republic of Ireland Gerry Peyton England West Ham United Free [4]
23 July 1993 FW England Gary Blissett England Wimbledon £350,000 [4]
August 1993 MF England Neil Smilie England Gillingham Free [4]
September 1993 MF Poland Detzi Kruszyński England Coventry City Free [15]
October 1993 DF England Terry Evans England Wycombe Wanderers £40,000 [5]
December 1993 GK England Graham Benstead England Kettering Town Free [10]
3 February 1994 MF England Paul Buckle England Torquay United Free [16]
22 March 1994 DF England Keith Millen England Watford £100,000 [16]
24 March 1994 FW England Joe Allon England Port Vale £150,000 [10]
24 March 1994 FW Jamaica Marcus Gayle England Wimbledon £250,000 [16]
Players loaned out
Date from Pos. Name To Date to Ref.
26 August 1993 DF England Terry Evans England Wycombe Wanderers October 1993 [5]
16 September 1993 FW England Joe Allon England Southend United October 1993 [5]
October 1993 GK England Graham Benstead England Kettering Town December 1993 [5]
October 1993 GK England Tamer Fernandes England Wealdstone November 1993 [5]
January 1994 MF England Robbie Peters England Slough Town February 1993 [10]
January 1994 MF England Tony Sorrell England Dagenham & Redbridge Free [10]
February 1994DFBarbados Gus HurdleEngland Dorchester TownApril 1994[10]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
October 1993MFEngland Grant ChalmersEngland Doncaster Rovers1993[5]
17 November 1993 MF England Mickey Bennett England Charlton Athletic 24 March 1994 [8]
30 June 1994 DF England Scott Morgan England Dorchester Town 1994 [17]

Kit

Supplier: Hummel International
Sponsor(s): KLM

Home
Away
Goalkeeper
Goalkeeper

Source: Historical Kits

Awards

References

  1. ↑ Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2013). The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. p. 124. ISBN 9781906796723.
  2. ↑ Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 397.
  3. ↑ Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 121.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 142.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 143-144.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Brentford results for the 1993–1994 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  7. ↑ "Played for both: Newcastle United". Brentford FC. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  8. 1 2 "Football: Player sacked after Allon's jaw broken". The Independent. 18 November 1993. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  9. ↑ Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 131-134.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 146-147.
  11. ↑ Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 380-409, 455–458.
  12. 1 2 3 Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 479.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Premier and Football League transfers". www.11v11.com. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  14. ↑ "Denny Mundee". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  15. ↑ "Detzi Kruszyński". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  16. 1 2 3 "Premier and Football League transfers". www.11v11.com. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  17. ↑ Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 172.
  18. ↑ Croxford, Lane & Waterman 2013, p. 445.
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