1935–36 Brentford F.C. season

Brentford
1935–36 season
Chairman Louis P. Simon
Manager Harry Curtis
Stadium Griffin Park
First Division 5th
FA Cup Third round
London Challenge Cup Runners-up
Top goalscorer League: McCulloch (26)
All: McCulloch (26)
Highest home attendance 33,486
Lowest home attendance 15,379
Average home league attendance 25,287
← 1934–35 1936–37 →

During the 1935–36 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League First Division for the first time in the club's history. A torrid run in the opening half of the season left Brentford in the relegation places, but after a number of key signings were made, just two defeats from Christmas Day 1935 through to the end of the season elevated the Bees to an impressive 5th-place finish, the club's highest-ever in the league pyramid. Brentford also reached the final of the London Challenge Cup for the second consecutive season, but were beaten by league rivals Arsenal. In 2013, the Brentford supporters voted 1935–36 as the club's third-best season.[1]

Season summary

In preparation for the 1935–36 season, Brentford manager Harry Curtis elected to stick with the nucleus of players that had elevated the club from the Third Division South to the First Division in just three seasons, his only significant signing being right back Joe Wilson from Southend United.[2] The Bees had a dream start to their first season in the top-flight, going to the top of the division after a 2–0 opening day victory over Bolton Wanderers.[3] A 2–1 home defeat to Huddersfield Town two matches later gave way to a run of 11 defeats in 17 matches, which left the club in the relegation places.[3]

Previously-prolific scorers Jack Holliday and Idris Hopkins had had a difficult time adjusting to the higher level, with scoring just 13 goals between them by the time the Bees were mired in the relegation battle at the end of 1935.[4][5] Manager Curtis recognised the need to strengthen the squad in mid-season, dropping and later selling full back Jack Astley, left half Jackie Burns and forwards Charlie Fletcher and George Robson.[6] In addition, former captain Herbert Watson was dropped from the half back line.[7] In came Welsh international left half Dai Richards for £3,500 and Scottish forwards David McCulloch and Bobby Reid, with McCulloch signing for a club record £6,000 fee.[7]

The signings had an inspired effect, sending the Bees on a run of just two defeats in the remaining 23 matches of the season,[3] with forward McCulloch netting an impressive 26 goals in 27 appearances to finish as top-scorer.[8] Manager Harry Curtis also signed a new five-year contract in February 1936.[9] Brentford finished their debut season in the First Division in 5th place, which as of the end of the 2015–16 season is the club's highest-ever in the pyramid.[10] Brentford also reached the final of the London Challenge Cup for the second-successive season, but were defeated 4–2 by league rivals Arsenal.[11] The Bees' club record for a home Football League match was broken twice during the season, with 33,481 attending versus Huddersfield Town on 7 September 1935 and 33,486 for the West London derby with Chelsea on 28 March 1936.[12]

League table

Pos Team Pld Home Away F A GA GD Pts
W D L F A W D L F A
1Sunderland42172271338493841109741.473+3556
2Derby County4213534323579182961521.173+948
3Huddersfield Town42127232156510274159561.054+348
4Stoke City42133535247410223357571.000±047
5Brentford4211554825678333581601.350+2146
6Arsenal429934422669342678481.625+3045
7Preston North End42153344183513234667641.047+344
8Chelsea42117339274611264565720.903–743
9Manchester City42132644174611244368601.133+842
10Portsmouth42144339223414154554670.806–1342
11Leeds United42115541234611254166641.031+241
12Birmingham42106538315511233261630.968–241
13Bolton Wanderers4211464127399264967760.882–941
14Middlesbrough42126356233414284784701.200+1440
15Wolverhampton Wanderers42137159282316184877761.013+140
16Everton42125461311812285889891.000±039
17Grimsby Town42134444204116215365730.890–839
18West Bromwich Albion42123654314314355789881.011+138
19Liverpool42114643232811174160640.938–438
20Sheffield Wednesday4298435234413285463770.818–1438
21Aston Villa42768475663123454811100.736–2935
22Blackburn Rovers42106532242316237255960.573–4133
Key
League Champions
FA Cup Winners
Relegated

Results

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division

No. DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
1 31 August 1935Bolton WanderersA2–0 31,949Holliday (2)
2 5 September 1935Blackburn RoversH3–1 25,047Fletcher (2), Holliday
3 7 September 1935Huddersfield Town H1–2 33,481Hopkins
4 14 September 1935MiddlesbroughA0–0 38,107
5 18 September 1935Derby CountyA1–2 21,648Fletcher
6 21 September 1935Aston VillaH1–2 29,781Holliday
7 28 September 1935Wolverhampton WanderersA2–3 28,431Holliday, Scott
8 5 October 1935Sheffield WednesdayH2–2 25,338Robson, Scott
9 12 October 1935Portsmouth A3–1 22,316Hopkins (2), Holliday
10 19 October 1935Stoke CityH0–0 24,960
11 26 October 1935Manchester CityA1–2 29,868Hopkins
12 2 November 1935Arsenal H2–1 26,330Burns, Hopkins
13 9 November 1935Birmingham A1–2 28,673Dunn
14 16 November 1935SunderlandH1–5 24,720Hopkins
15 23 November 1935Chelsea A1–2 56,624Robson (pen)
16 30 November 1935Leeds UnitedH2–2 23,914Scott, McCulloch
17 7 December 1935Grimsby TownA1–6 5,276Fletcher
18 14 December 1935LiverpoolH1–2 18,508Robson
19 21 December 1935West Bromwich AlbionA0–1 14,272
20 25 December 1935Preston North End H5–2 21,474Holliday, Muttitt, McCulloch (2), Scott
21 26 December 1935Preston North EndA4–2 22,937Hopkins (3), McCulloch
22 28 December 1935Bolton WanderersH4–0 27,156McCulloch (3), McKenzie
23 1 January 1936Blackburn Rovers A0–1 24,724
24 4 January 1936Huddersfield TownA2–2 17,682McCulloch, Fletcher
25 18 January 1936MiddlesbroughH1–0 27,779Scott
26 25 January 1936Aston VillaA2–2 40,328Reid, Scott
27 1 February 1936Wolverhampton WanderersH5–0 25,123Morris (og), McCulloch (2), Scott, Holliday
28 8 February 1936Sheffield WednesdayA3–3 20,757Holliday, McCulloch, Hopkins
29 22 February 1936Stoke CityA2–2 18,045McCulloch, Scott
30 29 February 1936BirminghamH0–1 20,523
31 7 March 1936Leeds UnitedA2–1 10,509Reid, Hopkins
32 14 March 1936Manchester City H0–0 28,364
33 21 March 1936SunderlandA3–1 26,348Holliday, McCulloch (2)
34 25 March 1936PortsmouthH3–1 15,379McCulloch (3)
35 28 March 1936ChelseaH2–1 33,486McCulloch, Hopkins
36 4 April 1936ArsenalA1–1 28,303Holliday
37 10 April 1936Everton A2–1 45,477McCulloch (2)
38 11 April 1936Grimsby TownH3–0 24,830McCulloch (2), Hopkins
39 13 April 1936EvertonH4–1 29,790Holliday, Hopkins (2), Scott
40 18 April 1936LiverpoolA0–0 28,463
41 25 April 1936West Bromwich AlbionH2–2 24,527Scott, Reid
42 2 May 1936Derby CountyH6–0 20,521McCulloch (4), Holliday, Scott

FA Cup

Main article: 1935–36 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenue AttendanceResult
3R11 January 1936Leicester City A 29,7500–1

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1935–36 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK James Mathieson Scotland 10 May 1904 (aged 31) Middlesbrough 1934
Defenders
DF Arthur Bateman (c) England 1 April 1908 (aged 27) Southend United 1934
DF George Dumbrell England 23 September 1906 (aged 28) Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 1935
DF Walter Metcalf England 15 December 1910 (aged 24) Sunderland 1934
DF George Poyser England 6 February 1910 (aged 25) Port Vale 1934
DF Joe Wilson England 29 September 1911 (aged 23) Southend United 1935
Midfielders
HB Joe James England 13 January 1910 (aged 25) Battersea Church 1929
HB Duncan McKenzie Scotland 10 August 1912 (aged 23) Albion Rovers 1932
HB Dai Richards Wales 31 October 1906 (aged 28) Wolverhampton Wanderers 1935
HB Cecil Smith England 16 June 1907 (aged 28) Brentford Market 1931
HB Herbert Watson (c) England 20 November 1908 (aged 26) Middlesbrough 1932
Forwards
FW Jim Brown United States 31 December 1908 (aged 26) Manchester United 1935
FW Billy Dunn Scotland 9 October 1910 (aged 24) Celtic 1935
FW Jack Holliday England 19 December 1908 (aged 26) Middlesbrough 1932
FW Idris Hopkins Wales 11 October 1910 (aged 24) Crystal Palace 1932
FW David McCulloch Scotland 5 October 1912 (aged 22) Heart of Midlothian 1935
FW Ernest Muttitt England 24 July 1908 (aged 27) Middlesbrough 1932
FW Bobby Reid Scotland 19 February 1911 (aged 24) Hamilton Academical 1936
FW Billy Scott England 6 December 1907 (aged 27) Middlesbrough 1932
Players who left the club mid-season
DF Jack Astley England 3 December 1909 (aged 25) Shelbourne 1933 Transferred to Coventry City
HB Jackie Burns England 27 November 1906 (aged 28) Queens Park Rangers 1931 Amateur, transferred to Leyton
FW Charlie Fletcher England 28 October 1905 (aged 29) Clapton Orient 1933 Transferred to Burnley
FW George Robson England 17 June 1908 (aged 27) West Ham United 1931 Transferred to Heart of Midlothian

Coaching staff

Name Role
England Harry Curtis Manager
Scotland Jimmy Bain Assistant Manager
England Bob Kane Trainer
England Jack Cartmell Assistant Trainer
England Fred Keatch Secretary

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Pos Nat Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Scotland James Mathieson 42 0 1 0 43 0
DF England Jack Astley 8 0 0 0 8 0
DF England Arthur Bateman 23 0 0 0 23 0
DF England George Dumbrell 1 0 0 0 1 0
DF England Walter Metcalf 1 0 0 0 1 0
DF EnglandGeorge Poyser 2801 0 290
DF England Joe Wilson 22 0 1 0 23 0
HB EnglandJackie Burns 91—91
HB England Joe James 41 0 1 0 42 0
HB Scotland Duncan McKenzie 38 1 1 0 39 1
HB Wales Dai Richards 26 0 1 0 27 0
HB England Cecil Smith 1 0 0 0 1 0
HB England Herbert Watson 13 0 0 0 13 0
FW United StatesJim Brown 100 010
FW Scotland Billy Dunn 2 1 0 0 2 1
FW England Charlie Fletcher 20 5 0 0 20 5
FW EnglandJack Holliday 37131 0 3813
FW Wales Idris Hopkins 42 15 1 0 43 15
FW Scotland David McCulloch 26 26 1 0 27 26
FW England Ernest Muttitt 5 1 1 0 6 1
FW Scotland Bobby Reid 18 3 — 18 3
FW England George Robson 18 3 0 0 18 3
FW England Billy Scott 39 11 1 0 40 11

Goalscorers

Pos. Nat Player FL1 FAC Total
FW Scotland David McCulloch 26 0 26
FW Wales Idris Hopkins 15 0 15
FW England Jack Holliday 13 0 13
FW England Billy Scott 11 0 11
FW England Charlie Fletcher 5 0 5
FW Scotland Bobby Reid 3 — 3
FW England George Robson 3 0 3
HB England Jackie Burns 1 0 1
FW Scotland Billy Dunn 1 0 1
HB Scotland Duncan McKenzie 1 0 1
FW England Ernest Muttitt 1 0 1
Opponents 1 0 1
Total81081

International caps

Pos. Nat Player Caps Goals Ref
FW Wales Idris Hopkins 2 0 [16]
FW Scotland David McCulloch 1 0 [17]
FW Wales Dai Richards 2 1 [18]

Management

Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Harry Curtis England 31 August 1935 2 May 1936 43 17 12 14 39.53|42 17 12 13 40.48

Summary

Games played 43 (42 First Division, 1 FA Cup)
Games won 17 (17 First Division, 0 FA Cup)
Games drawn 15 (15 First Division, 0 FA Cup)
Games lost 14 (13 First Division, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored 81 (81 First Division, 0 FA Cup)
Goals conceded 61 (60 First Division, 1 FA Cup)
Clean sheets 10 (10 First Division, 0 FA Cup)
Biggest league win 6–0 versus Derby County, 2 May 1936
Worst league defeat 6–1 versus Grimsby Town, 7 December 1935
Most appearances 43, Idris Hopkins, James Mathieson (42 First Division, 1 FA Cup)
Top scorer (league) 26, David McCulloch
Top scorer (all competitions) 26, David McCulloch

Transfers & loans

Cricketers are not included in this list.
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
May 1935 GK Wales Thomas Lynch England Yeovil & Petters United n/a [19]
7 June 1935 FW Scotland Billy Dunn Scotland Celtic n/a [20]
July 1935 DF England Joe Wilson England Southend United Free [21]
August 1935 HB England Sam Briddon England Port Vale Free [22]
November 1935 FW Scotland David McCulloch Scotland Heart of Midlothian £6,000 [23]
November 1935 HB Wales Dai Richards England Wolverhampton Wanderers £3,500 [7]
1935 FW United States Jim Brown England Manchester United Free [24]
1935 DF England George Dumbrell England Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Free [25]
1935 HB Marley England Leyton n/a [26]
1935 FW England Les Sullivan England Rochdale n/a [26]
January 1936 FW Scotland Bobby Reid Scotland Hamilton Academical n/a [7]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
December 1935 HB England Jackie Burns England Leyton Amateur [27]
December 1935 FW England George Robson Scotland Heart of Midlothian n/a [6]
February 1936 DF England Jack Astley England Coventry City n/a [28]
February 1936 FW England Charlie Fletcher England Burnley n/a [29]
Players loaned out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Date to Ref.
1935 FW England Les Smith England Hayes 1936 [30]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
May 1936 FW United States Jim Brown England Tottenham Hotspur 1936 [24]
May 1936 HB England James Raven England Bristol Rovers 1936 [31]
May 1936 FW England Les Sullivan England Bristol Rovers 1936 [31]
May 1936 HB England Herbert Watson England Bristol Rovers 1936 [31]

References

  1. ↑ League, The Football. "Brentford - Football League 125". www.fl125.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
  2. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 170.
  3. 1 2 3 Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1935-1936 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
  4. ↑ "Brentford Football Club History". www.brentfordfchistory.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2016-04-15. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
  5. ↑ "Brentford Football Club History". www.brentfordfchistory.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2016-04-28. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
  6. 1 2 Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 13, 31, 58, 136.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 104, 131-134, 166.
  8. ↑ "Brentford Football Club History". www.brentfordfchistory.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2016-09-17. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
  9. ↑ Chapman, Mark. "Remembering The Guvnor: Harry Curtis". www.brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-05-22.
  10. ↑ Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford Complete History - Statto.com". Statto.com. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
  11. ↑ Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Harefield, Middlesex: Yore Publications. pp. 82–83. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  12. ↑ Haynes 1998, p. 15.
  13. 1 2 3 4 White 1989, p. 373.
  14. ↑ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920-2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  15. ↑ Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN 190589161X.
  16. ↑ "Dai Hopkins". 11v11.com. Retrieved 2016-05-23.
  17. ↑ "David McCulloch". 11v11.com. Retrieved 2016-05-23.
  18. ↑ "David Richards". 11v11.com. Retrieved 2016-05-23.
  19. ↑ "Watford Football Club archive 1881-2016: Players - Layún to Lyttle" (PDF).
  20. ↑ "Dunn, Willie - The Celtic Wiki". www.thecelticwiki.com. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
  21. ↑ "Barry Hugman's Footballers - Joe Wilson". hugmansfootballers.com. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
  22. ↑ "Barry Hugman's Footballers - Sam Briddon". hugmansfootballers.com. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
  23. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 104.
  24. 1 2 Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 29.
  25. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 50-51.
  26. 1 2 White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 146–151. ISBN 0951526200.
  27. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 31.
  28. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 13.
  29. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 58.
  30. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 149.
  31. 1 2 3 Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 166.
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