1935–36 Brentford F.C. season

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Brentford
1935–36 season
ChairmanLouis P. Simon
ManagerHarry Curtis
StadiumGriffin Park
First Division5th
FA CupThird round
London Challenge CupRunners-up
Top goalscorerLeague: McCulloch (26)
All: McCulloch (26)
Highest home attendance33,486
Lowest home attendance15,379
Average home league attendance25,287

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] 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.[5] In addition, former captain Herbert Watson was dropped from the half back line.[4] 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.[6]

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.[4] Manager Harry Curtis also signed a new five-year contract in February 1936.[7] 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.[8] Brentford also reached the final of the London Challenge Cup for the second-successive season, but were defeated 4–2 by league rivals Arsenal.[9] The Bees' club record attendance 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.[10]

League table[]

Main article: 1935–36 Football League First Division
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Qualification or relegation
3 Huddersfield Town 42 18 12 12 59 56 1.054 48
4 Stoke City 42 20 7 15 57 57 1.000 47
5 Brentford 42 17 12 13 81 60 1.350 46
6 Arsenal 42 15 15 12 78 48 1.625 45 FA Cup Winners
7 Preston North End 42 18 8 16 67 64 1.047 44
Source:[citation needed]

Results[]

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend[]

Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division[]

No. Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s)
1 31 August 1935 Bolton Wanderers A 2–0 31,949 Holliday (2)
2 5 September 1935 Blackburn Rovers H 3–1 25,047 Fletcher (2), Holliday
3 7 September 1935 Huddersfield Town H 1–2 33,481 Hopkins
4 14 September 1935 Middlesbrough A 0–0 38,107
5 18 September 1935 Derby County A 1–2 21,648 Fletcher
6 21 September 1935 Aston Villa H 1–2 29,781 Holliday
7 28 September 1935 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 2–3 28,431 Holliday, Scott
8 5 October 1935 Sheffield Wednesday H 2–2 25,338 Robson, Scott
9 12 October 1935 Portsmouth A 3–1 22,316 Hopkins (2), Holliday
10 19 October 1935 Stoke City H 0–0 24,960
11 26 October 1935 Manchester City A 1–2 29,868 Hopkins
12 2 November 1935 Arsenal H 2–1 26,330 Burns, Hopkins
13 9 November 1935 Birmingham A 1–2 28,673 Dunn
14 16 November 1935 Sunderland H 1–5 24,720 Hopkins
15 23 November 1935 Chelsea A 1–2 56,624 Robson (pen)
16 30 November 1935 Leeds United H 2–2 23,914 Scott, McCulloch
17 7 December 1935 Grimsby Town A 1–6 5,276 Fletcher
18 14 December 1935 Liverpool H 1–2 18,508 Robson
19 21 December 1935 West Bromwich Albion A 0–1 14,272
20 25 December 1935 Preston North End H 5–2 21,474 Holliday, Muttitt, McCulloch (2), Scott
21 26 December 1935 Preston North End A 4–2 22,937 Hopkins (3), McCulloch
22 28 December 1935 Bolton Wanderers H 4–0 27,156 McCulloch (3), McKenzie
23 1 January 1936 Blackburn Rovers A 0–1 24,724
24 4 January 1936 Huddersfield Town A 2–2 17,682 McCulloch, Fletcher
25 18 January 1936 Middlesbrough H 1–0 27,779 Scott
26 25 January 1936 Aston Villa A 2–2 40,328 Reid, Scott
27 1 February 1936 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 5–0 25,123 Morris (og), McCulloch (2), Scott, Holliday
28 8 February 1936 Sheffield Wednesday A 3–3 20,757 Holliday, McCulloch, Hopkins
29 22 February 1936 Stoke City A 2–2 18,045 McCulloch, Scott
30 29 February 1936 Birmingham H 0–1 20,523
31 7 March 1936 Leeds United A 2–1 10,509 Reid, Hopkins
32 14 March 1936 Manchester City H 0–0 28,364
33 21 March 1936 Sunderland A 3–1 26,348 Holliday, McCulloch (2)
34 25 March 1936 Portsmouth H 3–1 15,379 McCulloch (3)
35 28 March 1936 Chelsea H 2–1 33,486 McCulloch, Hopkins
36 4 April 1936 Arsenal A 1–1 28,303 Holliday
37 10 April 1936 Everton A 2–1 45,477 McCulloch (2)
38 11 April 1936 Grimsby Town H 3–0 24,830 McCulloch (2), Hopkins
39 13 April 1936 Everton H 4–1 29,790 Holliday, Hopkins (2), Scott
40 18 April 1936 Liverpool A 0–0 28,463
41 25 April 1936 West Bromwich Albion H 2–2 24,527 Scott, Reid
42 2 May 1936 Derby County H 6–0 20,521 McCulloch (4), Holliday, Scott

FA Cup[]

Main article: 1935–36 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Attendance Result
3R 11 January 1936 Leicester City A 29,750 0–1

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 (1904-05-10)10 May 1904 (aged 31) Middlesbrough 1934
Defenders
DF Arthur Bateman (c) England (1908-04-01)1 April 1908 (aged 27) Southend United 1934
DF George Dumbrell England (1906-09-23)23 September 1906 (aged 28) Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 1934
DF Walter Metcalf England (1910-12-15)15 December 1910 (aged 24) Sunderland 1934
DF George Poyser England (1910-02-06)6 February 1910 (aged 25) Port Vale 1934
DF Joe Wilson England (1911-09-29)29 September 1911 (aged 23) Southend United 1935
Midfielders
HB Joe James England (1910-01-13)13 January 1910 (aged 25) Battersea Church 1929
HB Duncan McKenzie Scotland (1912-08-10)10 August 1912 (aged 23) Albion Rovers 1932
HB Dai Richards Wales (1906-10-31)31 October 1906 (aged 28) Wolverhampton Wanderers 1935
HB Cecil Smith England (1907-06-16)16 June 1907 (aged 28) Brentford Market 1931
Forwards
FW Jim Brown United States (1908-12-31)31 December 1908 (aged 26) Manchester United 1934
FW Billy Dunn Scotland (1910-10-09)9 October 1910 (aged 24) Celtic 1935
FW Jack Holliday England (1908-12-19)19 December 1908 (aged 26) Middlesbrough 1932
FW Idris Hopkins Wales (1910-10-11)11 October 1910 (aged 24) Crystal Palace 1932
FW David McCulloch Scotland (1912-10-05)5 October 1912 (aged 22) Heart of Midlothian 1935
FW Ernest Muttitt England (1908-07-24)24 July 1908 (aged 27) Middlesbrough 1932
FW Bobby Reid Scotland (1911-02-19)19 February 1911 (aged 24) Hamilton Academical 1936
FW Billy Scott England (1907-12-06)6 December 1907 (aged 27) Middlesbrough 1932
Players who left the club mid-season
DF Jack Astley England (1909-12-03)3 December 1909 (aged 25) Southport 1933 Transferred to Coventry City
HB Jackie Burns England (1906-11-27)27 November 1906 (aged 28) Queens Park Rangers 1931 Amateur, transferred to Leyton
HB Herbert Watson England (1908-11-20)20 November 1908 (aged 26) Middlesbrough 1932 Transferred to Bristol Rovers
FW Charlie Fletcher England (1905-10-28)28 October 1905 (aged 29) Clapton Orient 1933 Transferred to Burnley
FW George Robson England (1908-06-17)17 June 1908 (aged 27) West Ham United 1931 Transferred to Heart of Midlothian
  • Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[4] Timeless Bees,[11] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939[12]

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[]

Brentford's highest appearance-makers in each position during the Football League season.
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 England George Poyser 28 0 1 0 29 0
DF England Joe Wilson 22 0 1 0 23 0
HB England Jackie Burns 9 1 — 9 1
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 States Jim Brown 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW Scotland Billy Dunn 2 1 0 0 2 1
FW England Charlie Fletcher 20 5 0 0 20 5
FW England Jack Holliday 37 13 1 0 38 13
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
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[4]

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
Total 81 0 81
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[4]

International caps[]

Pos. Nat Player Caps Goals Ref
FW Wales Idris Hopkins 2 0 [13]
FW Scotland David McCulloch 1 0 [14]
FW Wales Dai Richards 2 1 [15]

Management[]

Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
P W D L W % P W D L W %
Harry Curtis England 31 August 1935 2 May 1936 43 17 12 14 039.53 42 17 12 13 040.48

Summary[]

Games played 43 (42 First Division, 1 FA Cup)
Games won 17 (17 First Division, 0 FA Cup)
Games drawn 12 (12 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 [16]
7 June 1935 FW Scotland Billy Dunn Scotland Celtic n/a [17]
18 July 1935 FW England Les Sullivan England Rochdale n/a [18]
July 1935 DF England Joe Wilson England Southend United Free [19]
August 1935 HB England Sam Briddon England Port Vale Free [20]
30 November 1935 FW Scotland David McCulloch Scotland Heart of Midlothian £6,000 [21]
30 November 1935 HB Wales Dai Richards England Wolverhampton Wanderers £3,500 [6]
1935 FW England Isaac Fenton England Burnley n/a [22]
1935 HB H. Marley England Leyton n/a [23]
17 January 1936 FW Scotland Bobby Reid Scotland Hamilton Academical n/a [24]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
19 December 1935 FW England George Robson Scotland Heart of Midlothian n/a [24]
December 1935 HB England Jackie Burns England Leyton Amateur [25]
February 1936 DF England Jack Astley England Coventry City n/a [26]
February 1936 FW England Charlie Fletcher England Burnley n/a [27]
22 April 1936 HB England James Raven England Bristol Rovers n/a [28]
22 April 1936 FW England Les Sullivan England Bristol Rovers n/a [28]
22 April 1936 HB England Herbert Watson England Bristol Rovers n/a [28]
Players loaned out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Date to Ref.
1935 FW England Les Smith England Hayes 1936 [29]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
May 1936 FW United States Jim Brown England Tottenham Hotspur 1936 [30]

References[]

  1. ^ League, The Football. "Brentford – Football League 125". www.fl125.co.uk. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  2. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 170.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1935-1936 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g White 1989, p. 373.
  5. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 13, 31, 58, 136.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 104, 131–134, 166.
  7. ^ Chapman, Mark. "Remembering The Guvnor: Harry Curtis". www.brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  8. ^ Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford Complete History - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  9. ^ Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Harefield, Middlesex: Yore Publications. pp. 82–83. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  10. ^ Haynes 1998, p. 15.
  11. ^ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  12. ^ Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN 190589161X.
  13. ^ "Dai Hopkins". 11v11.com. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  14. ^ "David McCulloch". 11v11.com. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  15. ^ "David Richards". 11v11.com. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  16. ^ "Watford Football Club archive 1881–2016: Players – Layún to Lyttle" (PDF). Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  17. ^ "Dunn, Willie – The Celtic Wiki". www.thecelticwiki.com. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  18. ^ Argus (19 July 1935). ""BEES'" BIG PROFIT. Over £2,000 Made Last Season. PLAYERS ASSESSED AT £40,000. Race Against Time to Prepare Ground for Crowd of 40,000". The Brentford & Chiswick Times.
  19. ^ "Joe Wilson". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  20. ^ "Sam Briddon". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  21. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 104.
  22. ^ "BRENTFORD F.C. AND THE FIRST LEAGUE. SEASON ANTICIPATED WITH EVERY CONFIDENCE. SPORTING GESTURE BY BOLTON WANDERERS". Middlesex Chronicle. 17 August 1935.
  23. ^ White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 146–151. ISBN 0951526200.
  24. ^ Jump up to: a b Litster, John. Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
  25. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 31.
  26. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 13.
  27. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 58.
  28. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Bristol Rovers Memorabilia – Football League Players Index". Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  29. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 149.
  30. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 29.
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