# 1984–85 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1984–85 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. The season is best remembered for the club's first appearance in a Football League Trophy final, which was lost 3–1 to Wigan Athletic.

## Season summary

Frank McLintock prepared for his first full season as Brentford manager by trimming his squad, releasing goalkeeper Paddy Roche, defenders Jim McNichol, Ian Bolton, Graham Wilkins and forward Tony Mahoney. His only significant signings were left back Jamie Murray from Cambridge United for £27,500 and centre back Steve Wignall from Colchester United for a £18,000 fee.
Manager McLintock presided over a season of transition in the Third Division, treading water in mid-table through to the end of 1984 and then dropping further in the early months of 1985. The goals of £20,000 signing Robbie Cooke allayed any fears that the club would be sucked into a relegation battle for the second successive season. The Bees repeated the previous season's feats in the League Cup and FA Cup, reaching the second and third rounds respectively. McLintock gave teenage defenders Keith Millen and Roger Joseph their debuts late in the season and both of whom would go on to become key players for the club. Brentford finished in 13th place in the Third Division.
Brentford's 1984–85 season is chiefly remembered for the club's run to the final of the Football League Trophy. The competition had been established in the 1982–83 season as the Football League Group Cup, but by 1984–85 the tournament had gained prestige, with sponsorship from Freight Rover and Wembley Stadium was announced as the venue for the final. The Bees won six matches in a row to reach the final, scoring 17 goals and conceding just three. The final was reached after an emphatic 6–0 Southern Area Final win over Newport County at Griffin Park, in which winger Gary Roberts scored four goals in a four-minute spell either side of half-time. The final versus Wigan Athletic at Wembley Stadium on 1 June 1985 was Brentford's first appearance at the ground since the 1942 London War Cup final. A disappointing defensive performance led to a 3–1 defeat, with Robbie Cooke scoring what proved to be the consolation goal.
Two club records were set or equalled during the season:
* Most Football League games without a clean sheet: 20 (29 September 1984 – 26 January 1985)
* Fastest hattrick (all competitions): 3 minutes – Gary Roberts (versus Newport County, Football League Trophy Southern Area final, 17 May 1985)

## League table

| Pos | Team v t e | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 11 | Walsall | 46 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 58 | 52 | +6 | 67 |
| 12 | Rotherham United | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 55 | 55 | 0 | 65 |
| 13 | Brentford | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 62 | 64 | −2 | 62 |
| 14 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 17 | 8 | 21 | 72 | 74 | −2 | 59 |
| 15 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 62 | 65 | −3 | 59 |

## Results

    Brentford's goal tally listed first.

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Pre-season

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
| 1 August 1984 | Wembley | A | 1–1 | n/a | Hurlock |
| 4 August 1984 | West Ham United | H | 1–0 | 2,109 | Cassells |
| 7 August 1984 | Baldock Town | A | 1–2 | n/a | Myers |
| 11 August 1984 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 0–3 | 3,612 | |
| 15 August 1984 | Chelsea | H | 0–3 | 2,775 | |
| 20 August 1984 | Luton Town | H | 0–2 | 893 | |

### Football League Third Division

| No. | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
| 1 | 25 August 1984 | Orient | H | 0–1 | 4,171 | |
| 2 | 1 September 1984 | Walsall | A | 1–0 | 4,747 | Booker |
| 3 | 8 September 1984 | Wigan Athletic | H | 2–0 | 3,724 | Cassells, Salman |
| 4 | 18 September 1984 | Rotherham United | A | 1–1 | 3,644 | Hurlock |
| 5 | 22 September 1984 | Swansea City | H | 3–0 | 4,298 | Hurlock, Cassells (2) |
| 6 | 29 September 1984 | Cambridge United | A | 2–1 | 2,580 | Kamara, Cassells |
| 7 | 2 October 1984 | Doncaster Rovers | H | 1–1 | 4,901 | Harle (og) |
| 8 | 6 October 1984 | Bradford City | H | 0–1 | 4,196 | |
| 9 | 13 October 1984 | Millwall | A | 0–2 | 5,385 | |
| 10 | 20 October 1984 | Gillingham | H | 5–2 | 4,053 | G. Roberts (3), Alexander, Cassells |
| 11 | 23 October 1984 | Burnley | A | 1–3 | 2,916 | Malley (og) |
| 12 | 27 October 1984 | York City | H | 2–1 | 4,261 | Salman, G. Roberts |
| 13 | 3 November 1984 | Bristol City | A | 1–1 | 7,674 | Kamara |
| 14 | 7 November 1984 | Derby County | A | 0–1 | 10,530 | |
| 15 | 10 November 1984 | Lincoln City | H | 2–2 | 4,115 | Cassells, Booker |
| 16 | 24 November 1984 | Bournemouth | A | 0–1 | 4,113 | |
| 17 | 27 November 1984 | Newport County | A | 0–2 | 1,589 | |
| 18 | 1 December 1984 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 2–1 | 3,668 | Cassells, Kamara |
| 19 | 15 December 1984 | Preston North End | A | 1–1 | 2,818 | G. Roberts |
| 20 | 22 December 1984 | Hull City | A | 0–4 | 6,354 | |
| 21 | 26 December 1984 | Bristol Rovers | H | 0–3 | 5,254 | |
| 22 | 29 December 1984 | Reading | H | 2–1 | 5,161 | Booker, Richardson (og) |
| 23 | 1 January 1985 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 1–1 | 6,926 | Alexander |
| 24 | 19 January 1985 | Wigan Athletic | A | 1–1 | 3,358 | Cooke |
| 25 | 26 January 1985 | Newport County | H | 2–5 | 3,962 | Kamara (pen), Cooke |
| 26 | 2 February 1985 | Cambridge United | H | 2–0 | 3,254 | Cooke, Torrance |
| 27 | 9 February 1985 | Swansea City | A | 2–3 | 4,440 | Kamara, Cooke |
| 28 | 16 February 1985 | Doncaster Rovers | A | 2–2 | 3,129 | Cooke, Salman |
| 29 | 23 February 1985 | Bristol City | H | 1–2 | 4,526 | Booker |
| 30 | 2 March 1985 | York City | A | 0–1 | 4,288 | |
| 31 | 5 March 1985 | Burnley | H | 2–1 | 3,267 | Cooke, Butler |
| 32 | 9 March 1985 | Gillingham | A | 0–2 | 5,799 | |
| 33 | 23 March 1985 | Bradford City | A | 4–5 | 6,038 | Cooke (3), Booker |
| 34 | 27 March 1985 | Walsall | H | 3–1 | 3,021 | G. Roberts, Hurlock, Cooke |
| 35 | 30 March 1985 | Derby County | H | 1–1 | 4,423 | G. Roberts |
| 36 | 6 April 1985 | Bristol Rovers | A | 0–3 | 4,419 | |
| 37 | 8 April 1985 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 3–1 | 4,043 | Cassells (2, 1 pen), G. Roberts |
| 38 | 13 April 1985 | Lincoln City | A | 1–1 | 1,980 | Cooke |
| 39 | 16 April 1985 | Orient | A | 1–0 | 3,164 | Booker |
| 40 | 20 April 1985 | Bournemouth | H | 0–0 | 3,559 | |
| 41 | 23 April 1985 | Rotherham United | H | 3–0 | 3,019 | G. Roberts (2), Cassells |
| 42 | 27 April 1985 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 1–1 | 4,230 | Kamara |
| 43 | 4 May 1985 | Preston North End | H | 3–1 | 3,476 | Booker, G. Roberts, Cooke |
| 44 | 6 May 1985 | Reading | A | 0–0 | 3,898 | |
| 45 | 11 May 1985 | Hull City | H | 2–1 | 4,309 | Skipper (og), Cassells (pen) |
| 46 | 19 May 1985 | Millwall | H | 1–1 | 5,050 | Cassells |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
| 1R | 17 November 1984 | Bishop's Stortford | H | 4–0 | 3,948 | Alexander (2), Cassells (2) |
| 2R | 8 December 1984 | Northampton Town | H | 2–2 | 4,449 | Alexander, Cassells (pen) |
| 2R (replay) | 17 December 1984 | Northampton Town | A | 2–0 | 3,610 | Hurlock, Cassells |
| 3R | 5 January 1985 | Oldham Athletic | A | 1–2 | 4,163 | Kamara |

### Football League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
| 1R (1st leg) | 28 August 1984 | Cambridge United | H | 2–0 | 3,037 | G. Roberts (2) |
| 1R (2nd leg) | 4 September 1984 | Cambridge United | A | 0–1 (won 2–1 on aggregate) | 2,347 | |
| 2R (1st leg) | 26 September 1984 | Leicester City | A | 2–4 | 7,638 | Alexander, Kamara |
| 2R (2nd leg) | 9 October 1984 | Leicester City | H | 0–2 (lost 6–2 on aggregate) | 6,291 | |

### Football League Trophy

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
| SR1 (1st leg) | 6 February 1985 | Reading | A | 3–1 | 2,500 | Torrance (2), P. Roberts |
| SR1 (2nd leg) | 26 February 1985 | Reading | H | 2–0 (won 5–1 on aggregate) | 2,011 | Wignall, G. Roberts |
| SR2 | 19 March 1985 | Cambridge United | H | 1–0 | 2,003 | Cooke |
| SQF | 11 April 1985 | Swansea City | A | 2–0 | 1,653 | Booker (2) |
| SSF | 30 April 1985 | Bournemouth | A | 3–2 | 4,657 | Cooke (2), Kamara |
| SF | 17 May 1985 | Newport County | H | 6–0 | 8,214 | Cassells (2, 1 pen), G. Roberts (4) |
| F | 1 June 1985 | Wigan Athletic | N | 1–3 | 39,897 | Cooke |
* 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 1984–85 season.
| Pos. | Name | Date of birth (age) | Signed from | Signed in | Notes |
| Goalkeepers |||||||
| GK | Gary Phillips | (1961-09-20)20 September 1961 (aged 22) | Barnet | 1984 | |
| GK | Trevor Swinburne | (1953-06-20)20 June 1953 (aged 31) | Carlisle United | 1983 | |
| Defenders |||||||
| DF | Bobby Fisher | (1956-08-03)3 August 1956 (aged 28) | Cambridge United | 1984 | |
| DF | Roger Joseph | (1965-12-24)24 December 1965 (aged 18) | Southall | 1984 | |
| DF | Keith Millen | (1966-09-26)26 September 1966 (aged 17) | Youth | 1985 | |
| DF | Jamie Murray | (1958-12-27)27 December 1958 (aged 25) | Cambridge United | 1984 | |
| DF | Paul Roberts | (1962-04-27)27 April 1962 (aged 22) | Millwall | 1983 | |
| DF | Danis Salman | (1960-03-12)12 March 1960 (aged 24) | Youth | 1975 | |
| DF | Steve Wignall | (1954-09-17)17 September 1954 (aged 29) | Colchester United | 1984 | |
| Midfielders |||||||
| MF | Bob Booker | (1958-01-25)25 January 1958 (aged 26) | Bedmond Sports & Social | 1978 | |
| MF | Terry Bullivant | (1956-09-23)23 September 1956 (aged 27) | Charlton Athletic | 1983 | |
| MF | Terry Hurlock (c) | (1958-11-22)22 November 1958 (aged 25) | Leytonstone/Ilford | 1980 | |
| MF | Chris Kamara | (1957-12-25)25 December 1957 (aged 26) | Portsmouth | 1981 | |
| MF | Tony Lynch | (1966-01-20)20 January 1966 (aged 18) | Youth | 1983 | |
| MF | Gary Roberts | (1960-04-05)5 April 1960 (aged 24) | Wembley | 1980 | |
| MF | George Torrance | (1957-09-17)17 September 1957 (aged 26) | Wokingham Town | 1984 | |
| Forwards |||||||
| FW | Rowan Alexander | (1961-01-28)28 January 1961 (aged 23) | St Mirren | 1984 | |
| FW | Steve Butler | (1962-01-27)27 January 1962 (aged 22) | Windsor & Eton | 1984 | |
| FW | Keith Cassells | (1957-07-10)10 July 1957 (aged 27) | Southampton | 1983 | |
| FW | Robbie Cooke | (1957-02-16)16 February 1957 (aged 27) | Cambridge United | 1984 | Loaned from Cambridge United before transferring permanently |
| FW | Francis Joseph | (1960-03-06)6 March 1960 (aged 24) | Wimbledon | 1982 | |
| Players who left the club mid-season |||||||
| GK | Richard Key | (1956-04-13)13 April 1956 (aged 28) | Orient | 1984 | Released |
| MF | Tommy Finney | (1952-11-06)6 November 1952 (aged 31) | Cambridge United | 1984 | Released |
| MF | Terry Rowe | (1964-06-08)8 June 1964 (aged 20) | Youth | 1982 | Released |
* Sources: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties, Timeless Bees

## Coaching staff

| Name | Role |
| Frank McLintock | Manager |
| John Docherty | Assistant Manager |
| Ron Woolnough | Physiotherapist |
| Ted Davies | Chief Scout |

## Statistics
### Appearances and goals

    Substitute appearances in brackets.
| Pos | Nat | Name | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | FL Trophy | FL Trophy | Total | Total |
| Pos | Nat | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| GK | | Richard Key | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| GK | | Gary Phillips | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 28 | 0 |
| GK | | Trevor Swinburne | 24 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 0 |
| DF | | Bobby Fisher | 27 (1) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 36 (1) | 0 |
| DF | | Roger Joseph | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| DF | | Keith Millen | 16 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 21 (1) | 0 |
| DF | | Jamie Murray | 46 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 61 | 0 |
| DF | | Paul Roberts | 27 (1) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 (1) | 1 | 35 (2) | 1 |
| DF | | Danis Salman | 43 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 58 | 3 |
| DF | | Steve Wignall | 36 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 47 | 1 |
| MF | | Bob Booker | 35 (3) | 7 | 2 (1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 45 (4) | 9 |
| MF | | Terry Bullivant | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 (2) | 0 | 8 (2) | 0 |
| MF | | Tommy Finney | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 |
| MF | | Terry Hurlock | 40 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 54 | 4 |
| MF | | Chris Kamara | 38 (1) | 6 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 52 (1) | 9 |
| MF | | Tony Lynch | 5 (5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 (6) | 0 |
| MF | | Gary Roberts | 39 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 5 (1) | 5 | 52 (1) | 18 |
| MF | | Terry Rowe | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| MF | | George Torrance | 11 (2) | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 (2) | 2 | 13 (4) | 3 |
| FW | | Rowan Alexander | 17 (2) | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 (1) | 0 | 22 (3) | 6 |
| FW | | Steve Butler | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| FW | | Keith Cassells | 38 (2) | 12 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 49 (2) | 18 |
| FW | | Robbie Cooke | 24 | 12 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 4 | 31 | 16 |
| FW | | Francis Joseph | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
* Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
* Source: The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties

### Goalscorers

| Pos. | Nat | Player | FL3 | FAC | FLC | FLT | Total |
| FW | | Keith Cassells | 12 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 18 |
| MF | | Gary Roberts | 11 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 18 |
| FW | | Robbie Cooke | 12 | — | — | 4 | 16 |
| MF | | Bob Booker | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 |
| MF | | Chris Kamara | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 |
| FW | | Rowan Alexander | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| MF | | Terry Hurlock | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| DF | | Danis Salman | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| MF | | George Torrance | 1 | 0 | — | 2 | 3 |
| FW | | Steve Butler | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 1 |
| DF | | Paul Roberts | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| DF | | Steve Wignall | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Opponents | Opponents | Opponents | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Total | Total | Total | 62 | 9 | 4 | 18 | 93 |
* Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
* 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 % |
| Frank McLintock | | 25 August 1984 | 1 June 1985 | 61 | 25 | 15 | 21 | 040.98 | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 034.78 |

### Summary

| Games played | 61 (46 Third Division, 4 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 7 Football League Trophy) |
| Games won | 25 (16 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 6 Football League Trophy) |
| Games drawn | 15 (14 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy) |
| Games lost | 21 (16 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 3 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy) |
| Goals scored | 93 (62 Third Division, 9 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 18 Football League Trophy) |
| Goals conceded | 81 (64 Third Division, 4 FA Cup, 7 League Cup, 6 Football League Trophy) |
| Clean sheets | 15 (8 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 4 Football League Trophy) |
| Biggest league win | 3–0 on two occasions; 5–2 versus Gillingham, 20 October 1984 |
| Worst league defeat | 4–0 versus Hull City, 22 December 1984 |
| Most appearances | 61, Jamie Murray (46 Third Division, 4 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 7 Football League Trophy) |
| Top scorer (league) | 12, Keith Cassells, Robbie Cooke |
| Top scorer (all competitions) | 18, Keith Cassells, Gary Roberts |

## Transfers & loans

Players transferred in :
| Date | Pos. | Name | Previous Club | Fee | Ref. |
| July 1984 | DF | Jamie Murray | Cambridge United | £27,500 | |
| August 1984 | DF | Roger Joseph | Southall | Trial | |
| August 1984 | GK | Richard Key | Orient | n/a | |
| August 1984 | DF | Steve Wignall | Colchester United | £18,000 | |
| September 1984 | GK | Rowan Alexander | St Mirren | £25,000 | |
| December 1984 | FW | Steve Butler | Windsor & Eton | n/a | |
| December 1984 | GK | Gary Phillips | Barnet | £4,000 | |
| December 1984 | MF | George Torrance | Wokingham Town | n/a | |
| March 1985 | FW | Robbie Cooke | Cambridge United | £20,000 | |
| April 1985 | DF | Jamie Bates | Crystal Palace | n/a | |
| Players loaned in ||||||
| Date from | Pos. | Name | From | Date to | Ref. |
| January 1985 | FW | Robbie Cooke | Cambridge United | March 1985 | |
| Players loaned out ||||||
| Date from | Pos. | Name | To | Date to | Ref. |
| December 1984 | DF | Tony Spencer | Aldershot | March 1985 | |
| Players released ||||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Join date | Ref. |
| July 1984 | DF | Ian Bolton | Barnet | July 1984 | |
| September 1984 | GK | Richard Key | Sunderland | October 1984 | |
| October 1984 | DF | Terry Rowe | Wichita Wings | 1984 | |
| December 1984 | MF | Tommy Finney | Cambridge United | December 1984 | |
| April 1985 | DF | Tony Spencer | Retired | | |
| May 1985 | MF | Terry Bullivant | Retired | | |
| May 1985 | DF | Paul Roberts | n/a | | |
| May 1985 | GK | Trevor Swinburne | Leeds United | June 1985 | |

## Awards

* Supporters' Player of the Year: Danis Salman
* Players' Player of the Year: Danis Salman