1968–69 Brentford F.C. season


During the 1968–69 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Fourth Division. Off the back of 18 months of extreme financial problems, the club finished in mid-table.

Season summary

After two tumultuous seasons off the pitch, a continued cash crisis meant that during the 1968 off-season, Brentford manager Jimmy Sirrel would not be provided with the funds to buy players who could guarantee a lasting run at promotion from the Fourth Division. He was able to plug the gaps in his threadbare squad, bringing in full back Denis Hunt and journeyman forwards Pat Terry and Peter Deakin. A need to balance the books led to Ian Lawther being sold for a £30,000 fee a matter of days before the beginning of the season.
Manager Sirrel's young team began the season in promising form, losing just two of the first 15 matches of the season to consolidate a position in the top six. Brentford's position belied the problems behind the scenes, with a growing catalogue of injuries, illness and suspensions. £10,000 was spent on Arsenal winger Gordon Neilson in October 1968, an extravagant amount given the club's financial problems. An inconsistent spell between November 1968 and April 1969 dropped the Bees as low as 19th, two places above the relegation zone, but six wins in the final seven matches of the season lifted the club to an 11th-place finish.

League table

Results

Legend

Football League Fourth Division

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer
1R16 November 1968WokingH2–05,990Fenton, Ross
2R7 December 1968WatfordA0–112,883

Football League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer
1R14 August 1968AldershotA4–25,977Rafferty, Deakin, Mansley, Terry
2R4 September 1969Hull CityH3–011,485Mansley, Fenton
3R24 September 1969Norwich CityH0–217,425

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Summary

Transfers & loans