1973–74 Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. season

During the 1973–74 English football season, Brighton and Hove Albion competed in the Division Three, the FA Cup and the League Cup.

Brighton and Hove Albion
1973–74 season
ChairmanMike Bamber
ManagerPat Saward
(until 20 October 1973)
Glen Wilson
(until 27 October 1973)
Brian Clough
StadiumGoldstone Ground
Division Three19th
FA CupFourth round
League CupSecond round
Top goalscorerLeague: Beamish (12)
All: Beamish (12)

Season summary edit

In his second season as chairman Mike Bamber clinched the arrival of manager Brian Clough and his assistant Peter Taylor to the team on 1 November.[1] The move of the 1972 First Division Champion duo shocked the English media[2] and put the Division Three club on the Football map.[3] According to several players, Clough was not very interested in managing the squad and he was rarely seen through weekdays at the facilities.[4]

Meanwhile, the team finished on 19th spot avoiding relegation, being early eliminated in League Cup by Charlton Athletic and lost the FA Cup first series against a non-League club.[5]

Squad edit

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK   ENG Peter Downsborough
GK   ENG Peter Grummitt
GK   ENG Brian Powney
DF   WAL Mick Brown
DF   ENG Paul Fuschillo
DF   ENG Norman Gall
DF   ENG Ken Goodeve
DF   ENG Ian Goodwin
DF   ENG Graham Howell
DF   ENG George Ley
DF   ENG Steve Piper
DF   ENG Harry Wilson
MF   SCO Johnny Boyle
MF   ENG Brian Bromley
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF   ENG Mick Conway
MF   ENG Pat Hilton
MF   ENG Ronnie Howell
MF   SCO Billy McEwan
MF   ENG Bert Murray
MF   WAL Peter O'Sullivan
MF   ENG Lammie Robertson
MF   ENG Eddie Spearritt
MF   ENG John Templeman
MF   ENG Tony Towner
MF   ENG Ronnie Welch
FW   ENG Kenny Beamish
FW   ENG Barry Bridges
FW   ENG Dave Busby

Results edit

Division Three edit

League table edit

Pos Team Pld HW HD HL HGF HGA AW AD AL AGF AGA GAv Pts Promotion or relegation
17 Plymouth Argyle 46 13 6 4 37 17 4 4 15 22 37 1.093 44
18 Hereford United 46 10 5 8 31 25 4 10 9 22 32 0.930 43
19 Brighton & Hove Albion 46 10 3 10 31 31 6 8 9 21 27 0.897 43
20 Port Vale 46 12 6 5 37 23 2 8 13 15 35 0.897 42
21 Cambridge United 46 11 7 5 36 27 2 2 19 12 54 0.593 35 Relegated
Source: rsssf.com

Results by round edit

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHAAHHAHAAHHHAHAAHHAAHHAAHAAHAHHAHAHHAAHHAAHHA
ResultDLWDLLDLWLLWWLDDWDLLLLWDWWDLDDWWWWLWLLLWWWLLLD
Position817141018212022181921191819191917181818202020202017181818181815151012913151714121012131618
Source: https://www.11v11.com/teams/brighton-and-hove-albion/tab/matches/season/1974/
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss;   = Leader, Promoted to 1974–75 Second Division;   = Promoted to 1974–75 Second Division;   = Relegation to 1974–75 Division Four

Matches edit

25 August 1973 (1973-08-25) 1 Rochdale 1–1 Brighton & Hove Albion Rochdale
Darling   54' Report   40' Bridges Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 2665
1 September 1973 2 Brighton and Hove Albion 0-2 AFC Bournemouth Brighton and Hove
Stadium: Goldstone Ground
8 September 1973 3 Plymouth Argyle 1-0 Brighton & Hove Albion Plymouth
Stadium: Home Park
10 September 1973 4 Southport 1-1 Brighton & Hove Albion Southport
Stadium: Haig Avenue
15 September 1973 5 Brighton & Hove Albion 1-2 Charlton Athletic Brighton and Hove
Stadium: Goldstone Ground
19 September 1973 6 Brighton & Hove Albion 1-2 Oldham Athletic Brighton and Hove
Stadium: Goldstone Ground
22 September 1973 7 Grimsby Town 0-0 Brighton & Hove Albion Cleethorpes
Stadium: Blundell Park
29 September 1973 8 Brighton & Hove Albion 0-1 Watford F.C. Brighton and Hove
Stadium: Goldstone Ground
2 October 1973 9 Oldham Athletic 1-0 Brighton & Hove Albion Oldham
Stadium: Boundary Park
6 October 1973 10 Blackburn Rovers 1-3 Brighton and Hove Albion Blackburn
Stadium: Ewood Park
13 October 1973 11 Brighton and Hove Albion 0-1 Halifax Town Brighton and Hove
Stadium: Goldstone Ground
20 October 1973 12 Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 Shrewsbury Town Brighton and Hove
Stadium: Goldstone Ground
24 October 1973 13 Brighton & Hove Albion 4-0 Southport F.C. Brighton and Hove
Stadium: Goldstone Ground
27 October 1973 14 Hereford United 0-3 Brighton & Hove Albion Hereford
Stadium: Edgar Street
3 November 1973 15 Brighton and Hove Albion 0-0 York City Brighton and Hove
Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 16,029
10 November 1973 16 Huddersfield Town 2-2 Brighton & Hove Albion Huddersfield
Terry Dolan   37'
Phil Summerill   54'
  62' Ken Beamish
  78' Barry Bridges
Stadium: Leeds Road
Attendance: 6,057
13 November 1973 17 Walsall 0-1 Brighton & Hove Albion Walsall
  Pat Hilton Stadium: Fellows Park
Attendance: 5,116
17 November 1973 18 Brighton & Hove Albion 0-0 Chesterfield F.C. Brighton and Hove
Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 14,186
Referee: GC Kew
1 December 1973 19 Brighton & Hove Albion 2-8 Bristol Rovers Brighton and Hove
Ronnie Howell  
Peter O'Sullivan  
 ,  ,  ,   Alan Warboys
 ,    Bruce Bannister
  Gordon Fearnley
Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 10,776
8 December 1973 20 Tranmere Rovers 1-4 Brighton & Hove Albion Birkenhead
Tommy Young   8'
Bobby Tynan   16'
Ronnie Moore   56'
Paul Crossley   65'
  61' Lammie Robertson Stadium: Prenton Park
Attendance: 4,458
22 December 1973 21 Watford 0-1 Brighton & Hove Albion Watford
Billy Jennings   Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 5,909
26 December 1973 22 Brighton & Hove Albion 0-1 Aldershot F.C. Brighton and Hove
  28' Roger Joslyn Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 14,831
29 December 1973 23 Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 Plymouth Argyle Brighton and Hove
Ken Beamish   Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 11,197
1 January 1974 24 Bournemouth 0-0 Brighton & Hove Albion Bournemouth
Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 17,079
12 January 1974 25 Charlton Athletic 4-0 Brighton & Hove Albion London
  48' (pen)  57'  64'Ronnie Howell
  71' Peter O'Sullivan
Stadium: The Valley
Attendance: 7,646
20 January 1974 26 Brighton and Hove Albion 2-1 Rochdale F.C. Brighton and Hove
Ken Beamish  
Tony Towner 
  Leo Skeete Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 18,900
27 January 1974 27 Cambridge United 1-1 Brighton & Hove Albion Cambridge
Dave Simmons   78'   90' Mick Brown Stadium: Abbey Stadium
Attendance: 7,749
2 February 1974 28 Port Vale 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion Stoke-on-Trent
Brian Horton   5'
Ray Williams   34'
  53'Ken Beamish Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 3,728
9 February 1974 29 Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 Grimsby Town F.C. Brighton and Hove
Barry Bridges   60'   10' Jack Lewis Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 10,498
16 February 1974 30 Halifax Town 2-2 Brighton & Hove Albion Halifax
Terry Shanahan   18',   42'
John Templeman   68'
  65' (pen) Lammie Robertson Stadium: The Shay
Attendance: 2,767
Referee: JB Goggins
23 February 1974 31 Brighton & Hove Albion 3-0 Blackburn Rovers Brighton and Hove
Ronnie Welch   25' (pen)
Barry Bridges   55',   77'
Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 12,102
27 February 1974 32 Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 Wrexham F.C. Brighton and Hove
Ronnie Howell   24' (pen)
Peter O'Sullivan   38'
  16' Geoff P Davies Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 7,524
3 March 1974 33 Aldershot 0-1 Brighton & Hove Albion Aldershot
  Ken Beamish Stadium: Recreation Ground
Attendance: 9,828
10 March 1974 34 Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 Hereford United Brighton and Hove
Ken Beamish   64'
Steve Piper   88'
  6' Dudley Tyler Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 17,266
16 March 1974 35 Shrewsbury Town 1-0 Brighton & Hove Albion Shrewsbury
Laurie Calloway   25' Stadium: Gay Meadow
Attendance: 2,077
20 March 1974 36 Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 Port Vale F.C. Brighton and Hove
Barry Bridges  
Billy McEwan  
  Dave Harris Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 9,365
23 March 1974 37 Brighton and Hove Albion 1-2 Huddersfield Town Brighton and Hove
Billy McEwan   27'   22',   51' Alan Gowling Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 12,444
25 March 1974 38 Wrexham 1-0 Brighton & Hove Albion Wrexham
David Smallman   11' Stadium: Racecourse Ground
Attendance: 5,925
30 March 1974 39 York City 0-3 Brighton & Hove Albion York
Phil Burrows   31'
Chris Jones   36',   71'
Stadium: Bootham Crescent
Attendance: 7,493
3 April 1974 40 Brighton & Hove Albion 4-1 Cambridge United Brighton and Hove
Barry Bridges   35'
Ronnie Welch   45'
Ronnie Howell   65' (pen)
Billy McEwan   65'
  43' (pen) Bobby Ross Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 9,833
6 April 1974 41 Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 Walsall F.C. Brighton and Hove
Barry Bridges   10'
Lammie Robertson   61'
  11' Alan Buckley Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 10,588
12 April 1974 42 Southend United 0-2 Brighton & Hove Albion Southend-on-Sea
  70',  74' Ken Beamish Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 10,086
13 April 1974 43 Chesterfield 1-0 Brighton & Hove Albion Chesterfield
Andy Kowalski   13' Stadium: Saltergate Recreation Ground
Attendance: 6,971
Referee: A Porter
15 April 1974 44 Brighton & Hove Albion 0-2 Southend United Brighton and Hove
  8' Peter Silvester
  26' Chris Guthrie
Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 12,975
Referee: DRG Nippard
20 April 1974 45 Brighton & Hove Albion 1-3 Tranmere Rovers Brighton and Hove
Ronnie Howell   17' (pen)
Bobby Tynan   43'
Tommy Veitch   89'
  15' Paul Crossley Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 9,609
27 April 1974 46 Bristol Rovers 1-1 Brighton & Hove Albion Bristol
Bruce Bannister   85' (pen)   19' Lammie Robertson Stadium: Eastville Stadium
Attendance: 19,205

FA Cup edit

First round edit

24 November 1973 FA Cup (R1) Walton & Hersham 0-0 Brighton and Hove Albion
Note: Walton & Hersham (Non League)
28 November 1973 Replay Brighton and Hove Albion 0-4 Walton & Hersham Brighton and Hove
  25' Russell Perkins
  82',   84',   90' Clive Foskett
Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 9,657

League Cup edit

29 August 1973 League Cup Round 1 Brighton and Hove Albion 1-2 Charlton Athletic Brighton and Hove
Stadium: Goldstone Ground

Statistics edit

Players statistics edit

No. Pos Nat Player Total Division Three FA Cup League Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK   ENG Powney 30 0 27 0 2 0 1 0
DF   ENG Fuschillo 40 0 37 0 2 0 1 0
DF   ENG Gall 40 0 37 0 2 0 1 0
DF   ENG Piper 36 1 34 1 2 0 0 0
DF   ENG Wilson 25 0 25 0 0 0 0 0
MF   WAL O'Sullivan 49 4 46 4 2 0 1 0
MF   ENG Howell 30 9 26+1 9 2 0 1 0
MF   ENG Robertson 33 5 27+3 5 2 0 0+1 0
MF   ENG Templeman 37 2 34 1 2 0 1 1
FW   ENG Beamish 45 12 43+1 12 0 0 1 0
FW   ENG Bridges 36 10 31+2 10 2 0 1 0
GK   ENG Grummitt 16 0 16 0 0 0 0 0
MF   ENG Spearritt 26 1 21+2 1 2 0 1 0
MF   ENG Welch 21 2 21 2 0 0 0 0
MF   ENG Towner 24 2 20+3 2 0+1 0 0 0
DF   ENG Ley 19 0 16 0 2 0 1 0
MF   ENG Hilton 19 1 15+2 1 2 0 0 0
MF   SCO McEwan 15 3 15 3 0 0 0 0
MF   SCO Boyle 10 0 10 0 0 0 0 0
DF   ENG Howell 10 0 8+1 0 0 0 1 0
DF   ENG Goodwin 8 0 6+2 0 0 0 0 0
DF   WAL Brown 8 1 5+3 1 0 0 0 0
DF   ENG Goodeve 6 0 5+1 0 0 0 0 0
GK   ENG Downsborough 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0
MF   ENG Bromley 3 0 2 0 0 0 1 0
MF   ENG Conway 1 0 0+1 0 0 0 0 0
MF   ENG Murray 1 0 0+1 0 0 0 0 0
FW   ENG Busby 1 0 0+1 0 0 0 0 0
GK   ENG Hillyard 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
GK   ENG Sherwood 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

References edit

  1. ^ Brian Glanville (21 September 2004). "Obituary: Brian Clough". The Guardian.
  2. ^ Mike Cobley (18 September 2018). "Bloody Southerners: Brian Clough & Peter Taylor's Brighton & Hove Odyssey". magazine.brighton.co.uk. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  3. ^ Ian Hart (14 June 2023). "Recalling Brighton and Hove Albion's pivotal summers – and wondering what Brian Clough could have done for us". sussexexpress.co. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  4. ^ Steven Scragg (9 April 2020). "Brian Clough and the 32-game spell at Brighton that helped shape his future success". thesefootballtimes.com. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  5. ^ Smart, Andy (8 October 2018). "New book sheds light on Brian Clough's ill-fated spell in charge at Brighton". Nottingham Post. Retrieved 20 September 2022.