BRENTFORD 1977-78
FOURTH DIVISION PROMOTION WINNERS
STEVE PHILLIPS scored 32 goals to fire Brentford to only their third promotion in the Football League and his reward was £100 plus a golden boot. Phillips was converted from a midfielder when Gordon Sweetzer was sold to Cambridge United and he went on to become the highest scorer in the country.
The First Division’s leading marksman, Everton’s Bob Latchford, scored two fewer but found himself £10,000 better off thanks to a prize from The Daily Express. Phillips had to settle for much less.
His 32 goals was the best return for a career which saw him win promotions for Birmingham, the Bees and Northampton Town.
But he no longer has the boot after it was stolen just weeks after he moved to Spain to start a new life after hanging up his boots.
“I’d spent most of the season playing in midfield or on the wing and it wasn’t until we sold Sweetzer to Cambridge that I started to play up front and scored 15 in 12 games,” said Phillips.
“Between Andy McCulloch and myself we scored nearly 60 goals.We both stayed fit all season which wasn’t bad considering Andy had dodgy knees. I had a few seasons where I got 20 odd goals but that was the most I ever scored in a season.
“Bob Latchford got £10,000 for being top scorer in the First Division but I was top scorer in the Football League and got a golden boot!
“It was stolen after I’d been in Spain for a week. I’ve tried to get the Golden Boot replaced. I’ve still got the case but it’s no good without the boot.
Phillips says the Bees promotionwinning campaign started a season earlier when they climbed away from the bottom of the Football League with a long unbeaten run.
And he points out that they continued it the following season winning promotion along with Watford, Southend United and Swansea City.
“The season before we were near enough bottom of the league but then in the last 19 games we only lost one of those 19 and the team who beat us was Cambridge United.
Going places
“Then the following season we felt like we were going places but just carried on where we left off and we finished off going up.
“When you look at that team we were square pegs in round holes really. I played most of the season in midfield or on the wing.
“We didn’t really have a player who could tackle in midfield. Danis Salman played half the season right back then centre half or in midfield.
“We had a number of players who could play in all different positions. Paul Shrubb could play in midfield or alongside the centre half.” 1. John Fraser: He is now living in Chertsey, Surrey and drives a black London cab. 2. Mike Allen: He has returned to his native North East and lives near Middlesbrough where he was last known to be working in a local factory. 3. Andy McCulloch: Has a civil engineering degree but now runs Cardinal Cleaning Services in East Molesey, Surrey. 4. Steve Aylott: A midfielder who settled in Headington, Oxford, and became a carpenter working for Damprop Renivations. 5. Gordon Sweetzer: The Canadian forward managed Staines but now lives in his native Toronto and has worked as a money dealer and media pundit. 6. Gary Rolph: The forward moved into the non-league game and he lives in Hornchurch, Essex and works locally. 7. Dave Carlton: A midfielder who was sold to Northampton where he settled working as a golf equipment wholesaler in Little Billing. 8. Graham Cox: A former goalkeeper who has scouted for Slough he is now a sales director for Kyocera in Reading, having started out selling photocopiers for Nashua. 9. Eddie Lyons (physio): He died in November 1996 aged 76 after serving the club as trainer, physio and assistant manager for 30 years before his retirement in 1985. 10. Pat Kruse: A centre-half who was forced to retire aged 29 and since then he has worked as a self employed builder in Stotfold, Hertfordshire. 11. Nigel Smith: He became a policeman in South London and played for England police, also helped run soccer camps in the United States. 12. Paul Shrubb: He became assistant manager of Aldershot and Hampton and ran a window cleaning business in Aldershot. Now sadly suffering from motor neurone disease. 13. Paul Walker: An England schoolboy midfielder who lives near Bracknell and has scouted for Slough as well as managing Chertsey and Egham. 14. Jackie Graham: Lives in Guildford, and has worked as a security guard at Heathrow Airport for many years after coaching at Millwall and Cranleigh. 15. Barry Lloyd: After managing Worthing and working for BMW he returned to Brighton as chief scout and now scouts for the development squad and youth set up. 16. Steve Phillips: Ran his own bar, Inchys Sports Pub in Benalmadena, Spain. He then became mine host at the King's Head in Spratton, Northamptonshire and now The Crown in Wellingborough. NOT PICTURED Len Bond: Is a sportswear wholesaler and has run a newsagent and been a goalkeeper coach. Danis Salman: He lives in the Plymouth area and has provided stats for the Press Association and runs a soccer school. Willie Graham: A sales rep for a drinks company. Tommy Baldwin: He has worked as a property developer and also a chauffeur. Doug Allder: Settled in Hersham and worked in the building trade as a shop fitter before taking a job at as a security guard Heathrow Airport. Barry Tucker: He now lives in Northampton and works in the sales office for engineering company FG Metcalf and Sons. Johnny Ayris: He worked in Selfridges before managing a leisure centre in South Woodham Ferrers, Essex. John Murray: He managed Newbury Town then youth development officer at Newcastle United, then in 2000 he became staff coach and skills trainer for Texas Lightning, Dallas. Terry Glynn: He now lives in Romford, Essex.