1989–90 Brentford F.C. season


During the 1989–90 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. After showing relegation form during the first three months of the season, a revival between November 1989 and February 1990 ensured a mid-table finish.

Season summary

After a long season in which the sheer amount of cup fixtures ultimately affected Brentford's hopes of a finish in the Third Division play-offs, manager Steve Perryman saw fit to make only minor changes to his squad. Released were bit-part players and late-season signings Andy Feeley, Graham Pearce, Jon Purdie, Jeremy Roberts and Tony Sealy and in came just two players – club record £167,000 midfielder Eddie May from Hibernian and left back Mark Fleming on a free transfer from Queens Park Rangers.
Aside from progressing to the second round of the League Cup, Brentford had a torrid start to the Third Division season and dropped into the relegation places on 9 September 1989. Manager Perryman entered the transfer market to bring Watford forward Dean Holdsworth back to Griffin Park, after a one-month loan spell during the previous season. The £125,000 paid for Holdsworth made him the club's most expensive forward at the time. The signing of Holdsworth had little immediate impact and the Bees' slump continued from September into mid-November, when the club occupied bottom place in the division for three weeks in a row. A 2–0 win over Northampton Town at the County Ground on 25 November provided the spark that changed the team's fortunes, with Holdsworth coming into form and inspiring a run of 10 wins and 1 draw from a 13-match spell, which lifted Brentford from 24th to 9th place. The Bees stumbled through to the end of the season and the products of Colin Lee's youth team were given game time. Brentford ended the campaign in 13th place.

League table

Results

Legend

Pre-season

Football League Third Division

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance
1R18 November 1989Colchester UnitedH0–14,171

Football League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer
R1 23 August 1989Brighton & Hove AlbionA3–06,405Millen, Godfrey, May
R1 29 August 1989Brighton & Hove AlbionH1–1 4,306Blissett
R2 19 September 1989Manchester CityH2–16,065Evans, Blissett
R2 4 October 1989Manchester CityA1–4 17,864May

Football League Trophy

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer
SPR 7 November 1989Leyton OrientH3–02,544Holdsworth, May
SPR 4,409Smillie, Holdsworth

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Summary

Transfers & loans

Kit

Awards