# 1982–83 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1982–83 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. The high point of a mid-table season was a run to the fourth round of the League Cup, then the furthest the club had then progressed in the competition. The 107 goals scored during the season is a club record.

## Season summary

After many failed attempts, Brentford manager Fred Callaghan finally signed what would prove to be a potent strike partnership during the 1982 off-season – Francis Joseph from Wimbledon and Tony Mahoney from Fulham. Goalkeeper David McKellar's contract was terminated after a serious breach of club discipline and he was replaced by former Chelsea goalkeeper Petar Borota. Barota only appeared in three Football League Group Cup fixtures before being in turn replaced by Paddy Roche. The defensive ranks were cleared out, with Pat Kruse, Mark Hill, Robbie Johnson, Paul Shrubb and Kevin Teer all released. Experienced former Chelsea defender Graham Wilkins arrived on a free transfer.
Brentford had a busy first half of the season, reaching the fourth round of the League Cup for the first time in club history. Higher-division clubs Blackburn Rovers and Swansea City were knocked out in the second and third rounds before the Bees fell to First Division club Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. Brentford advanced to the second round of the FA Cup, before suffering a disappointing replay defeat to Fourth Division club Swindon Town. Forward Tony Mahoney, who had up until that point scored 15 goals in 28 appearances, broke his leg in three places during the defeat.
Despite heavy scoring from forwards Francis Joseph, Tony Mahoney and winger Gary Roberts early season, Brentford's league form was patchy mid-season. 10 defeats from 14 matches between late December 1982 and early March 1983 ultimately killed hopes of a promotion challenge. Manager Fred Callaghan signed Southampton forward Keith Cassells in a bid to replace Tony Mahoney's goals and while there was an upturn in form during the final two months of the season, Brentford finished in 9th place. The Bees finished the season with the best overall and best away attacking records in the Third Division.
Four club records were set or equalled during the season:
* Most goals scored in a season (all competitions): 107
* Record Football League away win: 7–1 versus Exeter City, 23 April 1983
* Most goals scored in an away Football League win: 7 (7–1 versus Exeter City, 23 April 1983)
* Three goalscorers with 10 or more goals by Christmas Day (all competitions): Francis Joseph, Gary Roberts, Tony Mahoney

## League table

| Pos | Team v t e | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 7 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 22 | 9 | 15 | 84 | 58 | +26 | 75 |
| 8 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 19 | 8 | 19 | 61 | 66 | −5 | 65 |
| 9 | Brentford | 46 | 18 | 10 | 18 | 88 | 77 | +11 | 64 |
| 10 | Walsall | 46 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 64 | 63 | +1 | 64 |
| 11 | Sheffield United | 46 | 19 | 7 | 20 | 62 | 64 | −2 | 64 |

## Results

    Brentford's goal tally listed first.

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Pre-season and friendlies

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
| 5 August 1982 | Hayes | A | 0–3 | n/a | |
| 6 August 1982 | Walton & Hersham | A | 2–0 | n/a | Roberts, Johnson |
| 12 August 1982 | Kingstonian | A | 2–0 | n/a | Johnson, Tonge |
| 13 October 1982 | Flackwell Heath | A | 2–1 | n/a | Roberts, Mahoney |
| 10 May 1983 | Southampton | H | 0–2 | 2,048 | |

### Football League Third Division

| No. | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
| 1 | 28 August 1982 | Bristol Rovers | H | 5–1 | 5,542 | Mahoney, Joseph (2), Roberts (2) |
| 2 | 4 September 1982 | Wigan Athletic | A | 2–3 | 5,019 | Mahoney, Joseph |
| 3 | 8 September 1982 | Reading | A | 1–1 | 3,790 | Joseph |
| 4 | 11 September 1982 | Southend United | H | 4–2 | 5,604 | Mahoney (2), Joseph, Roberts |
| 5 | 18 September 1982 | Orient | A | 3–3 | 3,458 | Mahoney, Roberts, Booker |
| 6 | 25 September 1982 | Millwall | H | 1–1 | 6,455 | McNichol |
| 7 | 28 September 1982 | Newport County | H | 2–0 | 5,706 | Joseph, Mahoney |
| 8 | 2 October 1982 | Walsall | A | 1–2 | 2,723 | Kamara |
| 9 | 9 October 1982 | Chesterfield | H | 4–2 | 5,706 | Hurlock, Joseph (2), Bowles (pen) |
| 10 | 16 October 1982 | Doncaster Rovers | A | 4–4 | 3,266 | Mahoney, McNichol, Roberts, Booker |
| 11 | 20 October 1982 | Oxford United | A | 2–2 | 6,324 | Joseph, Mahoney |
| 12 | 23 October 1982 | Lincoln City | H | 2–0 | 8,017 | Joseph, Bowen |
| 13 | 30 October 1982 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 0–2 | 4,036 | |
| 14 | 2 November 1982 | Preston North End | H | 3–1 | 6,142 | McNichol, Kamara, Roberts |
| 15 | 6 November 1982 | Bradford City | H | 0–2 | 6,669 | |
| 16 | 13 November 1982 | Huddersfield Town | A | 0–2 | 10,034 | |
| 17 | 27 November 1982 | Sheffield United | A | 2–1 | 10,202 | Booker, Joseph |
| 18 | 4 December 1982 | Wrexham | H | 4–1 | 5,606 | Kamara, Mahoney, Joseph (2) |
| 19 | 18 December 1982 | Exeter City | H | 4–0 | 5,580 | Bowles, Walker, Whitehead, Booker |
| 20 | 27 December 1982 | Portsmouth | A | 1–2 | 14,476 | Joseph |
| 21 | 28 December 1982 | Gillingham | H | 1–1 | 7,796 | Joseph |
| 22 | 1 January 1983 | Bournemouth | A | 3–4 | 5,593 | Roberts, Joseph (2) |
| 23 | 3 January 1983 | Cardiff City | H | 1–3 | 7,602 | Bowles (pen) |
| 24 | 8 January 1983 | Wigan Athletic | H | 1–3 | 4,939 | Roberts |
| 25 | 15 January 1983 | Bristol Rovers | A | 0–2 | 5,450 | |
| 26 | 22 January 1983 | Orient | H | 5–2 | 5,209 | Booker (2), Bowles (pen), Roberts, Hurlock |
| 27 | 29 January 1983 | Southend United | A | 2–4 | 3,310 | Kamara, Roberts |
| 28 | 6 February 1983 | Newport County | A | 0–0 | 3,401 | |
| 29 | 12 February 1983 | Reading | H | 1–2 | 6,273 | Bowles (pen) |
| 30 | 19 February 1983 | Chesterfield | A | 1–2 | 2,291 | Cassells |
| 31 | 26 February 1983 | Doncaster Rovers | H | 1–0 | 4,413 | Bowles (pen) |
| 32 | 1 March 1983 | Preston North End | A | 0–3 | 3,663 | |
| 33 | 5 March 1983 | Lincoln City | A | 1–2 | 3,698 | Cassells |
| 34 | 11 March 1983 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 2–0 | 4,967 | Joseph, Kamara |
| 35 | 19 March 1983 | Bradford City | A | 1–0 | 3,828 | Cassells |
| 36 | 22 March 1983 | Oxford United | H | 1–1 | 5,086 | Bowles |
| 37 | 26 March 1983 | Huddersfield Town | H | 1–0 | 6,277 | Bowles (pen) |
| 38 | 1 April 1983 | Portsmouth | H | 1–1 | 12,593 | Joseph |
| 39 | 2 April 1983 | Gillingham | A | 2–2 | 4,168 | Kamara (2) |
| 40 | 8 April 1983 | Wrexham | A | 4–3 | 2,104 | Kamara, Cassells, Joseph (2) |
| 41 | 16 April 1983 | Walsall | H | 2–3 | 4,868 | Bowles (pen), Cassells |
| 42 | 23 April 1983 | Exeter City | A | 7–1 | 2,759 | Joseph (2), Kamara (2), Cassells (2), Roberts |
| 43 | 30 April 1983 | Sheffield United | H | 2–1 | 4,987 | Hurlock, Roberts |
| 44 | 2 May 1983 | Cardiff City | A | 1–3 | 9,112 | Kamara |
| 45 | 8 May 1983 | Millwall | A | 0–1 | 9,097 | |
| 46 | 14 May 1983 | Bournemouth | H | 2–1 | 6,191 | Joseph, Bowles (pen) |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
| 1R | 20 November 1982 | Windsor & Eton | A | 7–0 | 6,309 | Mahoney (3), McNichol, Joseph, Hurlock (2) |
| 2R | 11 December 1982 | Swindon Town | A | 2–2 | 7,176 | Bowen, Roberts |
| 2R (replay) | 14 December 1982 | Swindon Town | H | 1–3 (a.e.t.) | 7,883 | Roberts |

### Football League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
| 1R (1st leg) | 30 August 1982 | Wimbledon | A | 1–1 | 2,907 | Roberts |
| 1R (2nd leg) | 14 September 1982 | Wimbledon | H | 2–0 (won 3–1 on aggregate) | 5,747 | Mahoney (2) |
| 2R (1st leg) | 5 October 1982 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 3–2 | 6,201 | Joseph, Hurlock, Bowles (pen) |
| 2R (2nd leg) | 27 October 1982 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 0–0 (won 3–2 on aggregate) | 4,137 | |
| 3R | 9 November 1982 | Swansea City | H | 1–1 | 15,262 | Roberts |
| 3R (replay) | 17 November 1982 | Swansea City | A | 2–1 | 6,676 | Roberts, Mahoney |
| 4R | 30 November 1982 | Nottingham Forest | A | 0–2 | 16,479 | |

### Football League Group Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
| R1 (match 1) | 14 August 1982 | Crystal Palace | H | 2–2 | 3,397 | Joseph, Roberts |
| R1 (match 2) | 17 August 1982 | Millwall | A | 0–3 | 2,105 | |
| R1 (match 3) | 21 August 1982 | Wimbledon | A | 3–1 | 2,019 | Johnson, Roberts, Mahoney |
* Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties, Statto

## Playing squad

    Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1982–83 season.
| Pos. | Name | Date of birth (age) | Signed from | Signed in | Notes |
| Goalkeepers |||||||
| GK | Paddy Roche | (1951-01-04)4 January 1951 (aged 31) | Manchester United | 1982 | |
| Defenders |||||||
| DF | Bob Booker | (1958-01-25)25 January 1958 (aged 24) | Bedmond Sports & Social | 1978 | |
| DF | Ron Harris | (1944-11-13)13 November 1944 (aged 37) | Chelsea | 1980 | Assistant manager |
| DF | Jim McNichol | (1958-06-09)9 June 1958 (aged 24) | Luton Town | 1978 | |
| DF | Terry Rowe | (1964-06-08)8 June 1964 (aged 18) | Youth | 1982 | |
| DF | Danis Salman | (1960-03-12)12 March 1960 (aged 22) | Youth | 1975 | |
| DF | Tony Spencer | (1965-04-23)23 April 1965 (aged 17) | Youth | 1982 | |
| DF | Barry Tucker | (1952-08-28)28 August 1952 (aged 30) | Northampton Town | 1978 | Loaned to Northampton Town |
| DF | Alan Whitehead | (1956-11-20)20 November 1956 (aged 25) | Bury | 1981 | |
| DF | Graham Wilkins | (1955-06-28)28 June 1955 (aged 27) | Chelsea | 1982 | |
| Midfielders |||||||
| MF | Stan Bowles | (1948-12-24)24 December 1948 (aged 33) | Orient | 1981 | |
| MF | Terry Hurlock | (1958-11-22)22 November 1958 (aged 23) | Leytonstone/Ilford | 1980 | |
| MF | Chris Kamara (c) | (1957-12-25)25 December 1957 (aged 24) | Portsmouth | 1981 | |
| MF | Gary Roberts | (1960-04-05)5 April 1960 (aged 22) | Wembley | 1980 | |
| MF | Keith Tonge | (1964-11-06)6 November 1964 (aged 17) | Youth | 1982 | |
| MF | Paul Walker | (1960-12-17)17 December 1960 (aged 21) | Youth | 1976 | |
| Forwards |||||||
| FW | Keith Cassells | (1957-07-10)10 July 1957 (aged 25) | Southampton | 1983 | |
| FW | Gary Johnson | (1959-09-14)14 September 1959 (aged 22) | Chelsea | 1980 | |
| FW | Francis Joseph | (1960-03-06)6 March 1960 (aged 22) | Wimbledon | 1982 | |
| FW | Tony Mahoney | (1958-09-29)29 September 1958 (aged 23) | Fulham | 1982 | |
| Players who left the club mid-season |||||||
| GK | Petar Borota | (1952-03-05)5 March 1952 (aged 30) | Chelsea | 1982 | Released |
| DF | Jimmy Holmes | (1953-11-11)11 November 1953 (aged 28) | Leicester City | 1983 | Released |
| DF | Les Strong | (1953-07-03)3 July 1953 (aged 29) | Fulham | 1982 | Returned to Fulham after loan |
| FW | Keith Bowen | (1958-02-26)26 February 1958 (aged 24) | Northampton Town | 1981 | Loaned to Colchester United, transferred to Colchester United |
* Sources: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties, Timeless Bees

## Coaching staff

| Name | Role |
| Fred Callaghan | Manager |
| Ron Harris | Assistant Manager |
| Eddie Lyons | Physiotherapist |

## Statistics
### Appearances and goals

    Substitute appearances in brackets.
| Pos | Nat | Name | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | FL Grp Cup | FL Grp Cup | Total | Total |
| Pos | Nat | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| GK | | Petar Borota | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| GK | | Paddy Roche | 46 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | — | 56 | 0 |
| DF | | Bob Booker | 31 (8) | 6 | 2 (1) | 0 | 3 (1) | 0 | 1 (2) | 0 | 36 (10) | 6 |
| DF | | Ron Harris | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| DF | | Jimmy Holmes | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 0 |
| DF | | Jim McNichol | 32 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 38 | 4 |
| DF | | Terry Rowe | 34 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 0 |
| DF | | Danis Salman | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| DF | | Tony Spencer | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| DF | | Barry Tucker | 5 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| DF | | Alan Whitehead | 41 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 51 | 1 |
| DF | | Graham Wilkins | 24 (1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 28 (1) | 0 |
| MF | | Stan Bowles | 42 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 52 | 11 |
| MF | | Terry Hurlock | 39 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 47 | 6 |
| MF | | Chris Kamara | 44 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 54 | 11 |
| MF | | Gary Roberts | 45 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 55 | 17 |
| MF | | Paul Walker | 9 (7) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 (7) | 1 |
| FW | | Keith Bowen | 5 (8) | 1 | 0 (2) | 1 | 0 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 (11) | 2 |
| FW | | Keith Cassells | 16 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | 7 |
| FW | | Gary Johnson | 4 (4) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 (4) | 0 |
| FW | | Francis Joseph | 43 | 24 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 53 | 26 |
| FW | | Tony Mahoney | 18 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 28 | 15 |
| Players loaned in during the season |||||||||||||
| DF | | Les Strong | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 0 |
* Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
* Football League Group Cup appearances and goals are not included in overall player totals.
* Source: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties

### Goalscorers

| Pos. | Nat | Player | FL3 | FAC | FLC | GPC | Total |
| FW | | Francis Joseph | 24 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 26 |
| MF | | Gary Roberts | 12 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 17 |
| FW | | Tony Mahoney | 9 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 15 |
| MF | | Chris Kamara | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| MF | | Stan Bowles | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| FW | | Keith Cassells | 7 | — | — | — | 7 |
| DF | | Bob Booker | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| MF | | Terry Hurlock | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| DF | | Jim McNichol | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| FW | | Keith Bowen | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| MF | | Paul Walker | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| DF | | Alan Whitehead | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| FW | | Gary Johnson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
| Total | Total | Total | 88 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 107 |
* Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
* Football League Group Cup appearances and goals are not included in overall player totals.
* Source: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties

### Management

| Name | Nat | From | To | Record All Comps | Record All Comps | Record All Comps | Record All Comps | Record All Comps | Record League | Record League | Record League | Record League | Record League |
| Name | Nat | From | To | P | W | D | L | W % | P | W | D | L | W % |
| Fred Callaghan | | 28 August 1982 | 14 May 1983 | 56 | 22 | 14 | 20 | 039.29 | 46 | 18 | 10 | 18 | 039.13 |

### Summary

| Games played | 56 (46 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 7 League Cup) |
| Games won | 22 (18 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 3 League Cup) |
| Games drawn | 14 (10 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 3 League Cup) |
| Games lost | 20 (18 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup) |
| Goals scored | 107 (88 Third Division, 10 FA Cup, 9 League Cup) |
| Goals conceded | 89 (77 Third Division, 5 FA Cup, 7 League Cup) |
| Clean sheets | 11 (8 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup) |
| Biggest league win | 7–1 versus Exeter City, 23 April 1983 |
| Worst league defeat | 3–0 versus Preston North End, 1 March 1983 |
| Most appearances | 56, Paddy Roche (46 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 7 League Cup) |
| Top scorer (league) | 24, Francis Joseph |
| Top scorer (all competitions) | 26, Francis Joseph |

## Transfers & loans

Players transferred in :
| Date | Pos. | Name | Previous Club | Fee | Ref. |
| July 1982 | FW | Francis Joseph | Wimbledon | Trial | |
| July 1982 | FW | Tony Mahoney | Fulham | Trial | |
| July 1982 | DF | Graham Wilkins | Chelsea | Free | |
| August 1982 | GK | Petar Borota | Chelsea | Free | |
| August 1982 | GK | Paddy Roche | Manchester United | Free | |
| September 1982 | GK | Keith Waterman | Farnborough | n/a | |
| November 1982 | GK | Peter Caswell | Leatherhead | n/a | |
| November 1982 | MF | Mark Hopson | n/a | n/a | |
| February 1983 | FW | Keith Cassells | Southampton | £25,000 | |
| February 1983 | DF | Jimmy Holmes | Leicester City | Non-contract | |
| Players loaned in ||||||
| Date from | Pos. | Name | From | Date to | Ref. |
| December 1982 | DF | Les Strong | Fulham | January 1983 | |
| Players transferred out ||||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Fee | Ref. |
| April 1983 | DF | Keith Bowen | Colchester United | £12,000 | |
| Players loaned out ||||||
| Date from | Pos. | Name | To | Date to | Ref. |
| October 1982 | DF | Barry Tucker | Northampton Town | End of season | |
| March 1983 | DF | Keith Bowen | Colchester United | April 1983 | |
| April 1983 | GK | David McKellar | Happy Valley | July 1983 | |
| Players released ||||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Join date | Ref. |
| August 1982 | GK | Petar Borota | Portimonense | 1982 | |
| November 1982 | GK | Keith Waterman | n/a | n/a | |
| March 1983 | DF | Jimmy Holmes | Torquay United | March 1983 | |
| June 1983 | MF | Stan Bowles | Retired | | |
| June 1983 | FW | Gary Johnson | Johannesburg Rangers | 1983 | |
| June 1983 | MF | Keith Tonge | Leytonstone/Ilford | 1983 | |
| June 1983 | DF | Barry Tucker | Northampton Town | 1983 | |
| June 1983 | MF | Paul Walker | Johannesburg Rangers | 1983 | |
| 1983 | GK | Peter Caswell | n/a | n/a | |

## Awards

* Supporters' Player of the Year: Bob Booker
* Players' Player of the Year: Bob Booker