Notable Matches

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Birthdays

David McKellar (1956); 92 appearances, 0 goals

McKellar struggled to hold down a starting spot during the early years of a career spent either side of Hadrian’s Wall. The goalkeeper arrived at Griffin Park in September 1980 after two seasons in Division One with Derby County. He quickly made the number one shirt his own, embarking on a run of six straight clean sheets either side of the New Year. He ended the season with 16 clean sheets from 42 games and was just as steady the following campaign. He missed just one league game, keeping 15 clean sheets along the way. A falling out with manager Fred Callaghan spelt the end of his time in West London and saw him head to Carlisle United in 1983.

Isaiah Rankin (1978); 97 appearances, 19 goals

The well-travelled striker arrived at Griffin Park in the summer of 2004, just two months after his last goal for Grimsby Town nearly derailed our Great Escape. The forward’s first four goals for The Bees all came in wins as he reached double figures in his maiden season. Among those goals was a superb solo effort in our FA Cup Fifth Round tie against Southampton, later named the goal of the round. After missing out in the Play-Off Semi-Final, Rankin started his second season in West London with four early season goals. He added five more during the campaign, as we again reached the Fifth Round of the FA Cup and fell in the Play-Offs, before returning to Blundell Park.

Tommy Smith (1980); 32 appearances, 1 goal

Smith will forever be remembered as the man who scored our first goal back in the Championship after a 21-year absence. That strike came on the opening day of the 2014/15 season against Charlton Athletic after the experienced striker had arrived from Cardiff City. Of Smith’s 28 league appearances, 27 came off the bench, as he stayed one season in West London before retiring.

League Debuts

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