[2] Brentford showed poor form between the beginning of the season and Christmas Eve 1983 (as of January 2025, the 4–3 defeat to Wimbledon was the final Football League match played on that date).

[3] A reduction in size of Griffin Park in the intervening years meant that the 17,858 crowd which attended the first leg was not bettered prior to the club's final first team match at the ground in July 2020.

[2] An ever-increasing list of injuries and suspensions led manager Fred Callaghan to make a number of signings during the final two months of 1983, including new captain Ian Bolton for £2,000 and previously on-loan defender Paul Roberts from Millwall for a £10,000 fee.

[2] Attacker Bob Booker was recalled to the starting lineup, Ian Bolton and Tony Mahoney were dropped,[1] Terry Bullivant and Graham Wilkins departed on loan and Stan Bowles retired for a second time.

[2] A slight upturn in form meant that Brentford went into their final match of the season versus Walsall perched atop the relegation zone in 20th place and needing a victory, but a 1–1 draw was all that could be mustered.