Wikipedia

1913–14 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1913–14 English football season, Brentford competed in the Southern League Second Division. Despite winning 13 of 15 matches in the first half of the season, a loss of form in a five-week spell from February through to April 1914 ended the club's chances of an immediate return to First Division.

Brentford
1913–14 season
ChairmanH. Jason-Saunders
ManagerDusty Rhodes
StadiumGriffin Park
Southern League Second Division3rd
FA CupFifth qualifying round
Top goalscorerLeague: Simons (19)
All: Simons (19)
Highest home attendance13,000
Lowest home attendance2,000

Season summary edit

 
Future England international forward Jack Cock briefly played for Brentford towards the end of the season.

Brentford player-manager Dusty Rhodes faced a tough task ahead in the Bees' first season back in the Southern League Second Division since 1900–01, with the club's debt having risen to £5,000 (equivalent to £621,500 in 2024) and the prospect of high expenses and reduced gate receipts from away matches due to 11 of the league's 16 clubs being located in Wales.[1] As a result, the Southern League Management Committee paid a £100 subsidy to each of the five English clubs in the league.[1] Of the previous season's professional players, only goalkeeper Ted Price, full backs Tommy Fells and Walter Spratt, centre half Frank Bentley and outside left Patsy Hendren were retained.[1] Bill Smith, Frederick Chapple and Bob McTavish were sold for small fees, while left half Phil Richards elected to retire.[1] In came half backs Tom McGovern, Bobby Jackson and forwards Charlie Elliott, Henry Simons, Joe Johnson and Tommy Clark.[1] England international amateur right half Alec Barclay remained with the club and amateur forwards Henry White and Jack Chapman were added to the ranks.[1]

As the season got underway, Brentford feasted on poor Welsh opposition, winning 13 of the first 15 matches of the season, scoring 49 goals and conceding just three.[2] Treharris and Ton Pentre were each beaten 7–0 at Griffin Park and the Bees also posted 5–0, 4–0 and 3–0 scorelines, each on two occasions.[2] The rot slowly set in after a 1–0 home defeat to 2nd-place Croydon Common on Christmas Day 1913 and injuries and the absence of some of the club's amateurs lead to defeats to fellow challengers Luton Town in February 1914,[1] Stoke later that month and a galling 1–0 reverse to Ton Pentre on 21 March.[2] Defeat to Newport County at home on 4 April ended Brentford's mathematical chances of a runners-up finish and later that month, with the club unable to pay its players in full, leading scorer Henry Simons and future England international Jack Cock were sold to raise funds.[1] Brentford finished the campaign in 4th-place and lost £127 for the season (equivalent to £15,400 in 2024).[2]

League table edit

Main article: 1913–14 Southern Football League § Division Two

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Promotion
1 Croydon Common 30 23 5 2 76 14 5.429 51 Promoted to Division One
2 Luton Town 30 24 3 3 92 22 4.182 51
3 Brentford 30 20 4 6 80 18 4.444 44
4 Swansea Town 30 20 4 6 66 25 2.640 44
5 Stoke 30 19 2 9 71 34 2.088 40
Source: rsssf.com
Rules for classification: The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used until the 1976-77 season. The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.

Results edit

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend edit

Win Draw Loss

Southern League Second Division edit

No. Date Opponent Venue Result Scorer(s)
1 13 September 1913 Treharris A 3–1 Chapman, McGovern, Simons
2 20 September 1913 Caerphilly H 5–0 Simons (2), Johnson, Hendren (2)
3 4 October 1913 Ton Pentre H 7–0 Chapman (3), Hendren, Clark, Johnson, Jackson
4 11 October 1913 Abertillery A 1–0 Clark
5 18 October 1913 Swansea Town H 3–1 Clark, Johnson, Barclay
6 25 October 1913 Barry H 5–0 Johnson (3), Simons (2)
7 7 November 1913 Mardy H 4–0 Simons, Johnson (3)
8 6 December 1913 Llanelly A 3–0 Chapman (2), Jackson
9 20 December 1913 Barry A 4–0 Kent, Simons, Chapman, Elliott
10 25 December 1913 Croydon Common H 0–1
11 26 December 1913 Treharris H 7–0 Simons (4), Chapman (2), Johnson
12 27 December 1913 Newport County H 3–0 Simons (2), Chapman
13 17 January 1914 Stoke H 2–0 Chapman (2)
14 29 January 1914 Mid Rhondda A 0–0
15 31 January 1914 Pontypridd H 2–0 Simons, Johnson
16 7 February 1914 Luton Town A 1–3 Hendren (pen)
17 14 February 1914 Llanelly H 2–0 Chapman (2)
18 21 February 1914 Pontypridd A 0–0
19 23 February 1914 Mardy A 2–0 Johnson, Simons
20 28 February 1914 Stoke A 1–2 Simons
21 14 March 1914 Mid Rhondda H 3–1 Farnfield, Simons, Barclay
22 21 March 1914 Ton Pentre A 0–1
23 23 March 1914 Aberdare A 6–3 Johnson (3), Simons, Hendren, Elliott
24 28 March 1914 Abertillery H 5–0 McGovern, Chapman (2), Barclay, Cock
25 4 April 1914 Newport County A 2–3 Jackson, Simons
26 10 April 1914 Aberdare H 4–0 Sloley (3), Chapman
27 11 April 1914 Luton Town H 0–0
28 13 April 1914 Croydon Common A 0–1
29 18 April 1914 Swansea Town A 0–0
30 20 April 1914 Caerphilly A 5–1 Meehan, White (2), Johnson, Kent

FA Cup edit

Main article: 1913–14 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Scorer
QR4 29 November 1913 Luton Clarence H 1–0 Johnson
QR5 13 December 1913 Southend United H 1–1 Chapman
QR5 (replay) 17 December 1913 Southend United A 0–2
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[2]

Playing squad edit

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1913–14 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Ted Price   (1883-06-13)13 June 1883 (aged 30) Croydon Common 1912
Defenders
DF Tommy Fells   (1890-01-08)8 January 1890 (aged 22) South Kirkby 1913
DF Dusty Rhodes (c)   (1882-08-16)16 August 1882 (aged 31) Sunderland 1908
DF Walter Spratt   (1889-04-14)14 April 1889 (aged 24) Rotherham Town 1911
Midfielders
HB Alec Barclay   (1885-11-01)1 November 1885 (aged 27) Ilford 1910 Amateur
HB Frank Bentley   (1886-10-09)9 October 1886 (aged 26) Tottenham Hotspur 1912
HB Bobby Jackson   (1887-02-09)9 February 1887 (aged 26) Portsmouth 1913
HB Tom McGovern   (1888-11-11)11 November 1888 (aged 24) Halifax Town 1913
Forwards
FW Billy Brawn   (1878-08-01)1 August 1878 (aged 35) Chelsea 1911
FW Jack Chapman   (1895-04-29)29 April 1895 (aged 18) Southall 1913 Amateur
FW Tommy Clark   n/a Middlesbrough 1913
FW Charlie Elliott   (1886-09-28)28 September 1886 (aged 26) Millwall 1913
FW Herbert Farnfield   (1883-08-05)5 August 1883 (aged 30) New Crusaders 1914 Amateur
FW Patsy Hendren   (1889-02-05)5 February 1889 (aged 24) Coventry City 1911 Played when his cricket commitments allowed
FW Joe Johnson   (1882-12-12)12 December 1882 (aged 30) Clapton Orient 1913
FW Tommy Kent   (1888-09-10)10 September 1888 (aged 25) Slough Town 1913 Amateur
FW John Meehan   1896 (aged 16–17) Newton 1914
FW Richard Sloley   (1891-08-20)20 August 1891 (aged 22) Cambridge University 1914 Amateur
FW Henry White   (1895-08-08)8 August 1895 (aged 18) Whamcliffe Athletic 1914 Amateur
Players who left the club mid-season
FW Jack Cock   (1893-11-14)14 November 1893 (aged 19) Old Kingstonians 1914 Transferred to Huddersfield Town
FW Henry Simons   (1887-11-26)26 November 1887 (aged 25) Merthyr Town 1913 Transferred to Fulham
  • Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford,[2] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939[3]

Coaching staff edit

Name Role
  Dusty Rhodes Manager
  Fred Halliday Secretary
  Tom Cowper Trainer

Statistics edit

Appearances and goals edit

 

Rhodes (c)
Barclay
Jackson
Elliott
Brentford's highest appearance-makers in each position during the Southern League season.
Pos Nat Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK   Ted Price 30 0 3 0 33 0
DF   Tommy Fells 7 0 0 0 7 0
DF   Dusty Rhodes 23 0 3 0 26 0
DF   Walter Spratt 30 0 3 0 33 0
HB   Alec Barclay 17 3 3 0 20 3
HB   Frank Bentley 28 0 3 0 31 0
HB   Bobby Jackson 24 3 3 0 27 3
HB   Tom McGovern 20 2 0 0 20 2
FW   Billy Brawn 1 0 — 1 0
FW   Jack Chapman 25 16 3 1 28 17
FW   Tommy Clark 4 3 0 0 4 3
FW   Jack Cock 3 1 — 3 1
FW   Charlie Elliott 17 2 3 0 20 2
FW   Herbert Farnfield 1 1 0 0 1 1
FW   Patsy Hendren 28 5 3 0 31 5
FW   Joe Johnson 28 15 3 1 31 16
FW   Tommy Kent 14 2 — 14 2
FW   John Meehan 1 1 — 1 1
FW   Henry Simons 25 19 3 0 28 19
FW   Richard Sloley 2 3 — 2 3
FW   Henry White 2 2 0 0 2 2
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[2]

Goalscorers edit

Pos. Nat Player SL2 FAC Total
FW   Henry Simons 19 0 19
FW   Jack Chapman 16 1 17
FW   Joe Johnson 15 1 16
FW   Patsy Hendren 5 0 5
HB   Alec Barclay 3 0 3
FW   Tommy Clark 3 0 3
HB   Bobby Jackson 3 0 3
FW   Richard Sloley 3 0 3
FW   Tommy Kent 2 — 2
FW   Charlie Elliott 2 0 2
HB   Tom McGovern 2 0 2
FW   Henry White 2 0 2
FW   Jack Cock 1 — 1
FW   John Meehan 1 — 1
FW   Herbert Farnfield 1 0 1
Total 80 2 82
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[2]

Amateur international caps edit

Pos. Nat Player Caps Goals Ref
HB   Alec Barclay 2 0 [4]

Management edit

Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
P W D L W % P W D L W %
Dusty Rhodes   13 September 1913 20 April 1914 33 21 5 7 063.64 30 20 4 6 066.67

Summary edit

Games played 33 (30 Southern League Second Division, 3 FA Cup)
Games won 21 (20 Southern League Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Games drawn 5 (4 Southern League Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Games lost 7 (6 Southern League Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored 82 (80 Southern League Second Division, 2 FA Cup)
Goals conceded 21 (18 Southern League Second Division, 3 FA Cup)
Clean sheets 20 (19 Southern League Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Biggest league win 7–0 on two occasions
Worst league defeat 3–1 versus Luton Town, 7 February 1914
Most appearances 33, Ted Price, Walter Spratt (30 Southern League Second Division, 3 FA Cup)
Top scorer (league) 19, Henry Simons
Top scorer (all competitions) 19, Henry Simons

Transfers & loans edit

Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
18 June 1913 FW   Joe Johnson   Clapton Orient n/a [1]
23 June 1913 HB   Bobby Jackson   Portsmouth n/a [1]
23 June 1913 FW   Bob Mitchell   Barnsley n/a [5]
31 June 1913 FW   Henry Simons   Merthyr Town n/a [1]
18 August 1913 FW   Bob Browning   Southampton n/a [1]
21 August 1913 FW   Charlie Elliott   Millwall n/a [1]
28 August 1913 FW   Tommy Clark   Middlesbrough n/a [1]
3 September 1913 HB   James Ramsay   Aberdare n/a [6]
17 September 1913 HB   Tom McGovern   Halifax Town n/a [1]
9 September 1913 GK   Billy Biggar   Rochdale n/a [5]
September 1913 HB   Alf Amos   Old Kingstonians Amateur [7]
September 1913 FW   George Littler   King's Royal Rifle Corps Amateur [7]
27 December 1913 FW   Thomas Graham   Allerton Bywater Colliery n/a [5]
December 1913 FW   Tommy Kent   Slough Town Amateur [1]
1913 FW   Jack Chapman   Southall Amateur [1]
1913 FW   James Holland   Luton Town n/a [8]
1913 FW   Alfred Rosier   Southall n/a [9]
1913 FB   Bertie Rosier   Southall n/a [9]
1913 FW   Henry White   Whamcliffe Athletic Amateur [1]
February 1914 FW   Herbert Farnfield n/a Amateur [1]
February 1914 FW   John Meehan   Newton n/a [1]
March 1914 FW   Jack Cock   Old Kingstonians Amateur [1]
April 1914 FW   Richard Sloley   Cambridge University Amateur [1]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
23 July 1913 FW   Bob McTavish   Third Lanark Nominal [10]
24 September 1913 FW   Bob Mitchell   Distillery n/a [5]
1913 FW   Frederick Chapple   Bristol City Nominal [1]
1913 FW   Bill Smith   Southampton Nominal [1]
April 1914 FW   Jack Cock   Huddersfield Town Nominal [1]
April 1914 FW   Henry Simons   Fulham n/a [1]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
July 1913 HB   Phil Richards Retired [1]
February 1914 FW   Herbert Farnfield n/a n/a [1]
April 1914 HB   Frank Bentley Retired [1]
April 1914 GK   Billy Biggar   Rochdale 24 June 1914 [11]
April 1914 FW   Billy Brawn Retired [12]
April 1914 FW   Jack Chapman   Southall n/a [1]
April 1914 FW   Tommy Clark n/a n/a [1]
April 1914 FW   Charlie Elliott   Leyton 1 September 1914 [11]
April 1914 FB   Tommy Fells   South Kirkby 13 May 1914 [11]
April 1914 FW   John Meehan n/a n/a [1]
April 1914 FW   Bob Browning   Queens Park Rangers May 1914 [13]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af White 1989, p. 101-103.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 362. ISBN 0951526200.
  3. ^ Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN 190589161X.
  4. ^ "England Matches – The Amateurs 1906–1939". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d "The Football Association – Season 1913–14 – Summary Of Professional Registrations". Sky is Blue – The Chesterfield FC history resource. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  6. ^ "James Ramsay" (PDF). Croydon Common Football Club. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  7. ^ a b "Southern Snapshots". The Athletic News. 15 September 1913.
  8. ^ "James Holland". Hatters Heritage. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  9. ^ a b Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. p. 137. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  10. ^ Litster, John. Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
  11. ^ a b c "The Football Association – Season 1914–15 – Summary Of Professional Registrations". Sky is Blue – The Chesterfield FC history resource. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  12. ^ White 1989, p. 99-101.
  13. ^ "Seasonal Stats – 1914–15". QPRnet. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
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