1931–32 season of Brentford F.C.
Brentford 1931–32 football season
Brentford1931–32 season |
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Chairman | Louis P. Simon |
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Manager | Harry Curtis |
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Stadium | Griffin Park |
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Third Division South | 5th |
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FA Cup | Fourth round |
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Top goalscorer | League: Lane (22) All: Lane (27) |
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Highest home attendance | 26,139 |
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Lowest home attendance | 4,902 |
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Average home league attendance | 11,347 |
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During the 1931–32 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division South. Despite leading the division for two months in mid-season, the Bees fell away and finished 5th.
Season summary
Brentford manager Harry Curtis' additions to his squad for the 1931–32 Third Division South season were minor – backup goalkeeper Dave Smith, amateur half back Jackie Gibbons and forwards George Cook, George Robson and Bert Stephens. The team had a very strong first half of the season, rising to the top of the table by 5 December 1931 and staying there until 13 February 1932, when a run of just five defeats in 31 matches in all competitions came to an end.[1] Billy Lane kept up his prolific goalscoring form from the previous two seasons, scoring 20 goals in a 27 match spell, with Jackie Foster, Bill Berry and Jackie Gibbons also supporting with regular goals.
As in the previous two seasons, Brentford's suffered a slump in the second half of the campaign, losing 9 of 14 matches between mid-February and late April to drop to as low as 9th, though two wins from the final two matches of the season elevated the side to a 5th-place finish.[1] Brentford had also reached the fourth round of the FA Cup for the second successive season, exiting the competition after a heavy 6–1 defeat at the hands of top-flight Manchester City at Maine Road.[1] It had been rumoured in April 1932 that manager Curtis had tendered his resignation, but chairman Louis P. Simon recognised his good work over the previous six years and persuaded him to stay.[3] A run of four successive home Football League draws during the season equalled the club record,[4] while Billy Lane's seventh and final Brentford hattrick (scored versus Coventry City on 12 September 1931) set a new club record.[5]
Reserve team
Brentford's reserve team finished as champions of the London Combination for the first time. The team went undefeated at home from 21 November 1931, setting off a run which extended until 4 November 1933. Ralph Allen captained the team and scored a large percentage of the goals.
League table
Source: [citation needed]
Results
- Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend
No. | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
1 | 29 August 1931 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 1–0 | 20,739 | Robson |
2 | 3 September 1931 | Thames | A | 1–1 | 4,217 | Cook |
3 | 5 September 1931 | Exeter City | A | 1–4 | 7,093 | Lane |
4 | 9 September 1931 | Reading | A | 2–1 | 9,155 | Lane, Foster |
5 | 12 September 1931 | Coventry City | H | 4–2 | 8,017 | Lane (3), Foster |
6 | 19 September 1931 | Gillingham | A | 2–1 | 7,225 | Lane, Foster |
7 | 24 September 1931 | Reading | H | 3–0 | 8,942 | Lane (2), Foster |
8 | 26 September 1931 | Luton Town | H | 1–0 | 12,540 | Burns |
9 | 3 October 1931 | Cardiff City | A | 2–3 | 9,521 | Burns, Lane |
10 | 10 October 1931 | Northampton Town | H | 2–0 | 12,694 | Lane (pen), Robson |
11 | 17 October 1931 | Bristol Rovers | H | 4–2 | 11,338 | Burns, Robson (2 pens), Berry |
12 | 24 October 1931 | Torquay United | A | 1–1 | 4,650 | Robson (pen) |
13 | 31 October 1931 | Clapton Orient | H | 3–0 | 11,295 | Berry (2), Burns |
14 | 7 November 1931 | Swindon Town | A | 3–1 | 6,415 | Lane, Foster (2) |
15 | 14 November 1931 | Norwich City | H | 0–1 | 11,484 | |
16 | 21 November 1931 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 2–1 | 9,582 | Lane, Berry |
17 | 5 December 1931 | Watford | A | 4–1 | 12,086 | Robson, Foster, Lane (2) |
18 | 19 December 1931 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | A | 3–1 | 5,000 | Lane, Foster, Burns |
19 | 25 December 1931 | Fulham | H | 0–0 | 26,139 | |
20 | 26 December 1931 | Fulham | A | 1–2 | 29,253 | Robson |
21 | 2 January 1932 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 2–1 | 33,553 | Lane (2) |
22 | 13 January 1932 | Mansfield Town | H | 1–1 | 4,902 | Lane |
23 | 16 January 1932 | Exeter City | H | 2–2 | 11,981 | Lane, Foster |
24 | 28 January 1932 | Coventry City | A | 1–0 | 6,172 | Berry |
25 | 30 January 1932 | Gillingham | H | 1–1 | 11,361 | Berry |
26 | 6 February 1932 | Luton Town | A | 1–1 | 7,402 | Lane |
27 | 13 February 1932 | Cardiff City | H | 2–3 | 16,239 | Crompton, Gibbins |
28 | 20 February 1932 | Northampton Town | A | 0–3 | 6,533 | |
29 | 27 February 1932 | Bristol Rovers | A | 0–2 | 6,114 | |
30 | 5 March 1932 | Torquay United | H | 3–2 | 11,293 | Webster (og), Burns, Gibbins |
31 | 12 March 1932 | Clapton Orient | A | 2–2 | 10,700 | Crompton, Foster |
32 | 19 March 1932 | Swindon Town | H | 2–0 | 10,179 | Robson (pen), Foster |
33 | 25 March 1932 | Southend United | H | 2–3 | 15,237 | Crompton, Gibbins |
34 | 26 March 1932 | Norwich City | A | 0–1 | 10,422 | |
35 | 28 March 1932 | Southend United | A | 0–1 | 17,313 | |
36 | 2 April 1932 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 2–2 | 9,107 | Gibbins (2) |
37 | 9 April 1932 | Mansfield Town | A | 0–2 | 4,932 | |
38 | 13 April 1932 | Crystal Palace | H | 1–1 | 5,816 | Lane |
39 | 16 April 1932 | Watford | H | 1–2 | 6,723 | Burns |
40 | 23 April 1932 | Crystal Palace | A | 0–1 | 12,138 | |
41 | 30 April 1932 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | H | 4–2 | 5,906 | Foster (2), Cook, Lane |
42 | 7 May 1932 | Thames | H | 1–0 | 6,364 | Robson |
FA Cup
- Sources: Statto, 11v11, 100 Years of Brentford
Playing squad
- Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1931–32 season.
- Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, Timeless Bees,[9] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939[10]
Coaching staff
Name | Role |
Harry Curtis | Manager |
Bob Kane | Trainer |
Jack Cartmell | Assistant trainer |
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 | | Edward Nash | 35 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 40 | 0 |
GK | | Dave Smith | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
DF | | Tom Adamson | 35 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 40 | 0 |
DF | | Bill Bann | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
DF | | William Hodge | 29 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 32 | 0 |
DF | | Alexander Stevenson | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
DF | | George Weeks | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
HB | | Jimmy Bain | 37 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 40 | 0 |
HB | | Joe James | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
HB | | Harry Salt | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
HB | | Teddy Ware | 41 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 46 | 0 |
HB | | Les Wilkins | 17 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
FW | | Ralph Allen | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
FW | | Bill Berry | 31 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 36 | 8 |
FW | | Jackie Burns | 36 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 41 | 7 |
FW | | George Cook | 14 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 3 |
FW | | Arthur Crompton | 12 | 3 | — | 12 | 3 |
FW | | Jackie Foster | 40 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 45 | 12 |
FW | | Vivian Gibbins | 8 | 5 | — | 8 | 5 |
FW | | Billy Lane | 37 | 22 | 5 | 5 | 42 | 27 |
FW | | Herbert Lawson | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
FW | | George Robson | 38 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 43 | 10 |
FW | | Bert Stephens | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: 100 Years of Brentford
Goalscorers
Pos. | Nat | Player | FL3 | FAC | Total |
FW | | Billy Lane | 22 | 5 | 27 |
FW | | Jackie Foster | 12 | 0 | 12 |
FW | | George Robson | 9 | 1 | 10 |
FW | | Bill Berry | 6 | 2 | 8 |
FW | | Jackie Burns | 7 | 2 | 5 |
FW | | Vivian Gibbins | 5 | — | 5 |
FW | | Arthur Crompton | 3 | — | 3 |
FW | | George Cook | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Opponents | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Total | 68 | 10 | 78 |
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: 100 Years of Brentford
Amateur international caps
Pos. | Nat | Player | Caps | Goals | Ref |
FW | | Jackie Burns | 3 | 0 | [11] |
FW | | Vivian Gibbins | 2 | 0 | [11] |
Management
Name | Nat | From | To | Record All Comps | Record League |
P | W | D | L | W % | P | W | D | L | W % |
Harry Curtis | | 9 August 1931 | 7 May 1932 | 47 | 22 | 11 | 14 | 046.81 | 42 | 19 | 10 | 13 | 045.24 |
Summary
Games played | 47 (42 Third Division South, 5 FA Cup) |
Games won | 22 (19 Third Division South, 3 FA Cup) |
Games drawn | 11 (10 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup) |
Games lost | 14 (13 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup) |
Goals scored | 78 (68 Third Division South, 10 FA Cup) |
Goals conceded | 61 (52 Third Division South, 9 FA Cup) |
Clean sheets | 10 (9 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup) |
Biggest league win | 3–0 on two occasions; 4–1 versus Watford, 5 December 1931 |
Worst league defeat | 3–0 versus Northampton Town, 20 February 1932; 4–1 versus Exeter City, 5 September 1931 |
Most appearances | 46, Teddy Ware (41 Third Division South, 5 FA Cup) |
Top scorer (league) | 22, Billy Lane |
Top scorer (all competitions) | 27, Billy Lane |
Transfers & loans
- Cricketers are not included in this list.
References
- ^ a b c "Brentford results for the 1931–1932 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
- ^ a b c White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 132–135. ISBN 0951526200.
- ^ Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Harefield, Middlesex: Yore Publications. p. 78. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
- ^ "They played for both: Bristol City". Brentford FC. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
- ^ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
- ^ Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN 190589161X.
- ^ a b "England Matches – The Amateurs 1906–1939". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
- ^ "Andrew Anderson, outside-left of Blyth Spartans, by Brentford". Daily Herald. 8 May 1931.
- ^ "Seasonal Stats – 1931–32". QPRnet. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
- ^ "On The Wing – Latest Movements Of Players". The Athletic News. 1 June 1931.
- ^ "Brentford have signed on J. McPhee, a 19-year-old outside-right from Sunderland". Daily Herald. 16 May 1931.
- ^ Argus (8 May 1931). "I note that Thames have engaged Martin Woosnam (half-back) and F. J. McDonough (goalkeeper), whom Brentford placed on the free transfer list last week". Brentford & Chiswick Times.
- ^ "Brentford have signed S. Fieldus, inside-forward, last season with Millwall". Daily Herald. 12 August 1931.
- ^ "Brentford have signed C. S. Smith, inside left of Brentford Market F.C, as a professional". Daily Herald. 28 August 1931.
- ^ "On This Day". www.gillinghamfootballclub.com. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
- ^ "Brentford Ready. To Fight All The Way For Promotion. The Season's Prospects. Promise Of Brilliant Attack And Sound Defence". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 14 August 1931.
- ^ a b Litster, John. Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
- ^ Matthews, Tony (21 November 2013). Manchester City: Player by Player. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 9781445617374.
- ^ "Gibbins Leaves The "Bees"". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 10 June 1932.
- ^ "J. Cunningham, the Queens Park Rangers' goalkeeper, and H. Salt, a Brentford half-back, have been signed by Walsall". Daily Herald. 24 May 1932.
- ^ "Player: George Bartholomew Weeks". Watford Football Club Archive. Retrieved 28 April 2024.