1998–99 season of Brentford F.C.
Brentford 1998–99 football season
During the 1998–99 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division . The club finished the season as champions after victory over runners-up Cambridge United on the final day.
Lloyd Owusu , a £25,000 buy from non-League football , finished the season as top scorer with 25 goals.
After relegation to the Third Division at the end of the previous season, the ownership of Brentford changed hands for the second time in two summers, when Ron Noades took over the club as owner and chairman during the 1998 off-season. Noades installed himself as manager and appointed a three-man coaching team of Ray Lewington , Terry Bullivant and Brian Sparrow . Nearly £1.5 million was spent to assemble almost an entirely new starting lineup, with goalkeeper Jason Pearcey , defenders Danny Boxall , Darren Powell , Rob Quinn and Hermann Hreiðarsson (the club's then-record £750,000 signing),[ 2] midfielders Martin Rowlands and Tony Folan and forwards Lloyd Owusu and Darren Freeman added to the ranks.[ 3]
9 wins in the opening 13 league matches put the Bees firmly in control at the top of the table, though three successive defeats in the midst of the run temporarily dropped the club back to 7th place.[ 4] There was some early-season excitement in the League Cup , with a 4–2 aggregate victory over First Division club West Bromwich Albion in the first round setting up a two-legged tie with Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur .[ 4] 3–2 defeats in each of the two legs (with Brentford taking the lead in both matches) ended the cup run, with memorable goals being scored by Andy Scott , Darren Freeman and Lloyd Owusu.[ 5]
Three league defeats in a four-match spell in November and injuries and suspensions to Andy Scott, Darren Powell, Danny Boxall, Jamie Bates and Martin Rowlands led Noades to further strengthen the squad with forward Leo Fortune-West and midfielder Gavin Mahon .[ 3] [ 4] Though Fortune-West would be sold on a matter of months later, Mahon replaced Warren Aspinall in midfield and remained an ever-present until the end of the season.[ 6] [ 7] Five wins in the following six league matches saw the club begin 1999 firmly placed in the automatic promotion places.[ 4] A spell of just one win from a spell of seven league matches in January and February saw Noades reach for the chequebook again and sign forward Scott Partridge from Torquay United for £100,000.[ 3] [ 4]
With the purchase of new captain Paul Evans and buoyed by the goalscoring of Partridge and Owusu,[ 3] [ 8] the Bees went undefeated from late February through to early May.[ 4] The club secured automatic promotion back to the Second Division with two matches to spare after a 3–0 victory over Exeter City on 1 May.[ 4] [ 9] A resounding 4–1 win over Swansea City in the following match returned Brentford to the top of the table for the first time since 20 October 1998.[ 4] The victory set up a "winner takes all" match for the title on the final day at the Abbey Stadium versus nearest challengers Cambridge United .[ 4] Lloyd Owusu's 25th goal of the season was enough for victory and for Brentford to win the Third Division championship.
Source:
[citation needed ] Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference
(C) Champions;
(O) Play-off winners;
(P) Promoted
Brentford's goal tally listed first.
No.
Date
Opponent
Venue
Result
Attendance
Scorer(s)
1
8 August 1998
Mansfield Town
H
3–0
4,846
Rapley (2), Freeman
2
15 August 1998
Halifax Town
A
0–1
3,876
3
22 August 1998
Brighton & Hove Albion
H
2–0
6,355
Thomas (og ), Scott
4
29 August 1998
Barnet
A
3–0
2,710
Quinn , Rowlands , Owusu
5
31 August 1998
Rochdale
H
2–1
4,873
Powell , Rapley
6
5 September 1999
Hull City
A
3–2
4,058
Owusu , Aspinall , Scott
7
8 September 1998
Torquay United
A
1–3
2,340
Bates
8
12 September 1998
Rotherham United
H
0–3
4,803
9
19 September 1998
Scarborough
A
1–3
2,028
Owusu
10
26 September 1998
Darlington
H
3–0
4,486
Powell , Rowlands , Owusu
11
3 October 1998
Peterborough United
A
4–2
6,056
Freeman , Scott (2), Folan
12
17 October 1998
Hartlepool United
H
3–1
4,883
Freeman , Aspinall (pen ), Rowlands
13
20 October 1998
Scunthorpe United
H
2–1
4,700
Scott , Owusu
14
3 November 1998
Plymouth Argyle
A
0–3
4,650
15
7 November 1998
Shrewsbury Town
A
0–2
2,799
16
10 November 1998
Southend United
H
4–1
4,285
Owusu (3), Freeman
17
21 November 1998
Leyton Orient
A
1–2
6,340
Folan
18
28 November 1998
Chester City
H
2–1
5,173
Owusu , Rowlands
19
12 December 1998
Exeter City
A
1–0
2,793
Owusu
20
18 December 1998
Cambridge United
H
1–0
5,069
Folan
21
26 December 1998
Brighton & Hove Albion
A
1–3
4,838
Freeman
22
28 December 1998
Cardiff City
H
1–0
9,535
Hreiðarsson
23
2 January 1999
Barnet
H
3–1
6,011
Freeman , Bryan , Mahon
24
9 January 1999
Mansfield Town
A
1–3
4,095
Owusu
25
23 January 1999
Rochdale
A
0–2
2,113
26
30 January 1999
Cardiff City
A
1–4
11,509
Boxall
27
2 February 1999
Carlisle United
H
1–1
3,674
Barr (og )
28
6 February 1999
Hull City
H
0–2
5,086
29
13 February 1999
Torquay United
H
3–2
4,299
Owusu , Bryan , Hreiðarsson
30
16 February 1999
Swansea City
A
1–2
5,109
Hreiðarsson
31
20 February 1999
Rotherham United
A
4–2
3,899
Mahon , Owusu (3)
32
27 February 1999
Scarborough
H
1–1
4,783
Bryan
33
9 March 1999
Peterborough United
H
3–0
4,195
Partridge , Mahon , Owusu
34
13 March 1999
Shrewsbury Town
H
0–0
5,082
35
16 March 1999
Halifax Town
H
1–1
3,713
Partridge
36
20 March 1999
Carlisle United
A
1–0
2,564
Partridge
37
3 April 1999
Hartlepool United
A
1–0
2,719
Owusu
38
5 April 1999
Plymouth Argyle
H
3–1
6,979
Evans , Mahon , Folan
39
10 April 1999
Scunthorpe United
A
0–0
5,604
40
13 April 1999
Chester City
A
3–1
1,766
Anderson , Evans , Bryan
41
17 April 1999
Leyton Orient
H
0–0
8,245
42
24 April 1999
Southend United
A
4–1
5,248
Owusu (3), Partridge
43
27 April 1999
Darlington
A
2–2
2,514
Scott , Partridge
44
1 May 1999
Exeter City
H
3–0
6,977
Quinn , Scott , Partridge
45
4 May 1999
Swansea City
H
4–1
7,156
Owusu , Evans , Hreiðarsson , Partridge
46
8 May 1999
Cambridge United
A
1–0
8,936
Owusu
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1998–99 season.
Appearances and goals [ edit ]
Substitute appearances in brackets.
Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
Source: Soccerbase
Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
Source: Soccerbase
Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
Source: Soccerbase
Name
Nat
From
To
Record All Comps
Record League
P
W
D
L
W %
P
W
D
L
W %
Ron Noades
8 August 1998
8 May 1999
56
30
10
16
0 53.57
46
26
7
13
0 56.52
Games played
56 (46 Third Division, 3 FA Cup , 4 League Cup , 3 Football League Trophy )
Games won
30 (26 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)
Games drawn
10 (7 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Games lost
16 (13 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 3 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy)
Goals scored
101 (79 Third Division, 8 FA Cup, 8 League Cup, 6 Football League Trophy)
Goals conceded
68 (56 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 8 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Clean sheets
18 (14 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)
Biggest league win
3–0 on five occasions, 4–1 on three occasions
Worst league defeat
3–0 on two occasions, 4–1 versus Cardiff City , 30 January 1999
Most appearances
56, Lloyd Owusu (46 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 3 Football League Trophy)
Top scorer (league)
22, Lloyd Owusu
Top scorer (all competitions)
25, Lloyd Owusu
Players transferred in
Date
Pos.
Name
Previous Club
Fee
Ref.
7 July 1998
FW
Darren Freeman
Fulham
Free
[ 3]
9 July 1998
DF
Danny Boxall
Crystal Palace
Free
[ 3]
9 July 1998
GK
Jason Pearcey
Grimsby Town
Free
[ 3]
9 July 1998
DF
Rob Quinn
Crystal Palace
£40,000
[ 3]
25 July 1998
DF
Darren Powell
Hampton
£15,000
[ 11]
29 July 1998
FW
Lloyd Owusu
Slough Town
£25,000
[ 3]
6 August 1998
MF
Martin Rowlands
Farnborough Town
£45,000
[ 3]
25 August 1998
MF
Dirk Hebel
Tranmere Rovers
Free
[ 12]
22 September 1998
MF
Tony Folan
Crystal Palace
£100,000
[ 3]
24 September 1998
DF
Hermann Hreiðarsson
Crystal Palace
£750,000
[ 3]
30 October 1998
FW
Drewe Broughton
Norwich City
£15,000
[ 3]
17 November 1998
FW
Leo Fortune-West
Lincoln City
£60,000
[ 3]
18 November 1998
MF
Gavin Mahon
Hereford United
£50,000
[ 3]
28 January 1999
GK
Andy Woodman
Northampton Town
£75,000
[ 3]
19 February 1998
FW
Scott Partridge
Torquay United
£100,000
[ 3]
3 March 1999
MF
Paul Evans
Shrewsbury Town
£110,000
[ 3]
Players loaned in
Date from
Pos.
Name
From
Date to
Ref.
21 August 1998
DF
Chris Coyne
West Ham United
21 September 1998
[ 3]
22 January 1999
GK
Andy Woodman
Northampton Town
27 January 1999
[ 3]
3 March 1999
DF
Mohamed Berthé
Bournemouth
10 March 1999
[ 13]
25 March 1999
DF
Stephen Jenkins
Southampton
4 April 1999
[ 3]
Players transferred out
Date
Pos.
Name
Subsequent club
Fee
Ref.
6 July 1998
GK
Carl Hutchings
Bristol City
£135,000
[ 6]
6 August 1998
MF
Robert Taylor
Gillingham
£400,000
[ 6]
10 August 1998
MF
Scott Canham
Leyton Orient
Free
[ 6]
17 November 1998
FW
Drewe Broughton
Peterborough United
£15,000
[ 6]
9 February 1999
MF
Warren Aspinall
Colchester United
Free
[ 6]
23 February 1999
FW
Kevin Rapley
Notts County
£50,000
[ 6]
26 February 1999
FW
Leo Fortune-West
Rotherham United
£35,000
[ 6]
25 March 1999
DF
Jamie Bates
Wycombe Wanderers
Free
[ 6]
Players loaned out
Date from
Pos.
Name
To
Date to
Ref.
21 October 1998
MF
Charlie Oatway
Lincoln City
16 November 1998
[ 6]
20 November 1998
FW
Kevin Rapley
Southend United
20 February 1999
[ 6]
November 1998
MF
Kevin Dennis
Chesham United
December 1998
[ 14]
5 February 1999
GK
Kevin Dearden
Barnet
10 March 1999
[ 6]
8 February 1999
MF
Warren Aspinall
Colchester United
24 March 1999
[ 15]
8 February 1999
MF
Kevin Dennis
Welling United
8 March 1999
[ 16]
26 February 1999
MF
Ryan Denys
Carshalton Athletic
End of season
[ 17]
11 March 1999
GK
Kevin Dearden
Huddersfield Town
End of season
Players released
Date
Pos.
Name
Subsequent club
Join date
Ref.
1 October 1998
FW
Niall Thompson
Vancouver 86ers
1998
[ 6]
January 1999
MF
David McGhee
Stevenage Borough
1 August 1999
30 June 1999
GK
Kevin Dearden
Wrexham
1 July 1999
[ 20]
30 June 1999
MF
Kevin Dennis
Hampton & Richmond Borough
1 July 1999
[ 16]
30 June 1999
MF
Ryan Denys
Hampton & Richmond Borough
1 July 1999
[ 17]
30 June 1999
MF
Dirk Hebel
Bonner SC
1999
30 June 1999
DF
Andy Walker
n/a
n/a
[ 22]
Supplier: Super League Sponsor(s): GMB
Source: Brentford F.C.
^ Match played behind closed doors .
^ Despite the match taking place at Griffin Park , Brentford wore their away strip, due to competition rules stating "where the colours (shirts, shorts or stockings) of the two competing clubs are similar, both clubs must change, unless arrangements are mutually agreed by the competing clubs".
^ Brentford Football Club Official Matchday Magazine versus Hull City . 7 May 2005. pp. 46– 47.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Premier and Football League transfers" . www.11v11.com . Retrieved 21 April 2016 .
^ a b c d e f g h i "Brentford results for the 1998–1999 season" . Statto.com . Archived from the original on 26 April 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2016 .
^ "Latest Brentford Results, Fixtures & Betting Odds" . Soccer Base . Retrieved 22 April 2016 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Premier and Football League transfers" . www.11v11.com . Retrieved 21 April 2016 .
^ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006 . Yore Publications. p. 99. ISBN 978-0955294914 .
^ a b Brentford Matchday Magazine versus Exeter City . Charlton, London: Morganprint. 1 May 1999. pp. 30– 31.
^ "English Division Three Table on Saturday 1st May 1999" . Statto.com . Archived from the original on 26 April 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2016 .
^ "Hermann Hreidarsson" . 11v11.com . Retrieved 11 November 2016 .
^ "Powell becomes a Bee" . This Is Local London . Retrieved 4 January 2018 .
^ Dirk Hebel at Soccerbase
^ Mohamed Berthé at Soccerbase
^ "Comeback Kenny is back in goal" . Watford Observer . Retrieved 21 October 2017 .
^ Warren Aspinall at Soccerbase
^ a b Kevin Dennis at Soccerbase
^ a b Ryan Denys at Soccerbase
^ Kevin Dearden at Soccerbase
^ "Four players have received Free Transfers from the Club, Kevin Dennis, Ryan Denys, Dirk Hebel and Andy Walker, whilst Kevin Dearden who made a total of 254 appearances for the Club since signing from Tottenham in September 1993, has been released from his contract by mutual consent". brentfordfc.co.uk . 4 June 1999.
^ Sewell, Albert, ed. (1999). News Of The World Football Annual 1999–2000 . Hammersmith, London: Invincible Press. p. 346. ISBN 000218883X .
^ Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2013). The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties . Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. p. 291. ISBN 9781906796723 .
^ Brentford Matchday Magazine versus Brighton & Hove Albion . Charlton, London: Morganprint. 22 August 1998. p. 3.
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