During the 1987–88 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. The Bees contended for a place in the play-offs until a run of just two wins from the final 17 matches of the season dropped the club into mid-table.
After taking over as Brentford manager in January 1987, Steve Perryman continued the remodelling of his squad through the 1987 off-season.[1] Transferred out were defenderPhil Bater, midfielderPaul Maddy and forwardFrancis Joseph, with the deals raising £37,000.[2] In came a number of players on free transfers or a trial basis, the most notable of whom being former Chelsea midfielder Colin Lee, in a dual player/Youth Development Officer role.[2] After beginning the Third Division season in and around the relegation places,[3] manager Perryman continued to buy and sell players, raising another £10,000 from the sale of defender Jamie Murray and wingerIan Holloway and bringing in former Chelsea midfielder Keith Jones for a £40,000 fee.[2] With forward Gary Blissett failing to show form in front of goal and Andy Sinton almost single-handedly leading the attack from midfield, the loan signing of Paul Williams in October 1987 galvanised the team,[2] with Williams scoring six goals in eight appearances before being recalled by Charlton Athletic.[4] An eight-match unbeaten run from mid-November 1987 to 2 January 1988, despite the £30,000 sale of forward Robbie Cooke,[2] put Brentford as high as 6th position, once place outside the play-off zone.[3] The December loan signing of Arsenal midfielder Graham Rix proved key to the continued good form.[1]
A 1–0 win over Blackpool at Bloomfield Road on 16 January 1988, courtesy of a Keith Millen goal, raised Brentford into the play-off zone.[3] After 3–1 victory over rivalsFulham in the following league match and the recall of Graham Rix to Highbury, the Bees' form disintegrated.[3] The team lost four consecutive matches in February without scoring a goal and would win just two of the final 17 matches of the season to finish in 12th place.[3] Manager Steve Perryman had attempted to rectify the slump by signing midfielder Ian Stewart and forward Les Ferdinand on loan, but both proved to be a disappointment.[1]Right backRoger Joseph's performances earned him a place in the Third Division PFA Team of the Year, the first time a Brentford player had been recognised by the PFA.[5]
^Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2011). The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. ISBN978-1906796716.
^Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN978-0955294914.
Marcus Gayle
Phil Bater
HJK Helsinki