After relegation to the Second Division at the end of the 1946–47 season, Brentford were forced to cash in on their assets and received £16,000 from the sales of George Smith and Scotland international Archie Macaulay.[1] No less than 14 players departed Griffin Park during the off-season, with five players coming in at a cost of nearly £20,000 – half backDavid Nelson and forwardsPeter Buchanan, Tommy Dawson, Tommy Dougall and Jackie Gibbons, with Gibbons rejoining the club after making 11 appearances while an amateur during the 1938–39 season.[1] After a poor start to the season, Jimmy Hogan was brought in as a coach.[1] It would be long-serving trainer Bob Kane's final season with the club.[2]
Brentford had an awful start to the season, winning one and losing eight of the opening 9 matches to leave the club rooted to the bottom of the table.[3] Bit-part half back Cyril Toulouse was transferred to Tottenham Hotspur in exchange for Jack Chisholm, who lead the team's recovery from the centre of the field.[4] Just three defeats in 13 matches between late-September and mid-December 1946 finally lifted the club out of the relegation places.[3] More players would come and go in the second half of the season – Tony Harper and Fred Monk came in from non-league football,[4] with Percy Gleeson, George Stewart and Arthur Shaw transferring out.[5][6][7]
Brentford finished a tumultuous season in 15th place, 11 points above the relegation zone, having lost just four of the final 20 matches of the league campaign.[3] The season ended with an irksome 1–0 defeat to local rivals (and Second Division champions) Queens Park Rangers in the Ealing Hospital Cup final.[1] The club record for fewest goalscorers in a season was equalled, with just eight players finding the net.[8]
^Lucas, Eric (21 May 1948). "Jimmy Hogan Will Be Leaving Brentford – Famous Coach's Contract Not To Be Renewed – Four Teams Next Season – Junior Side For Up To Eighteen Will Compete In Hounslow League". The Brentford & Chiswick Times.
^"Critical Days Are Ahead At Griffin Park Preview Of Prospects – Confidence And Team Spirit – Key To Success". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 15 August 1947.
^Lucas, Eric (22 August 1947). "Famous Irish International Not For Brentford – Dr. O'Flanagan Decides To Again Help Arsenal – Gallego Gets His Place – Surprises In Saturday's Public Trial". The Brentford & Chiswick Times.
^ Jump up to: abc"Sportsman's Roundabout – "Bees" Sign Centre-Forward and Centre-Half". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 30 April 1948.
^ Jump up to: abc"Paterson Makes Request To Be Transferred – Brentford Place Oliver, Gleeson and Moore On List". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 23 April 1948.
^"Frank Clack". Citystats – Unofficial archive of results, players and managers. Archived from the original on 13 August 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
^"Two More. Naylor And Brown For Third Division Club. Surprise In Store". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 6 June 1947.