1923–24 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1923–24 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division South and finished in 17th place.

Brentford
1923–24 season
ManagerArchie Mitchell
StadiumGriffin Park
Third Division South17th
FA CupSixth qualifying round
Top goalscorerLeague: Parker (18)
All: Parker (20)
Highest home attendance12,000
Lowest home attendance3,000
Average home league attendance6,825

Season summary edit

 
Reginald Parker scored almost half of Brentford's goals during the season.

Third Division South club Brentford decided not to conduct an overhaul of its squad during the 1923 off-season.[1] Goalkeeper and half backs William Young, Cyril Hunter, Bill Inglis and James Kerr were retained,[2] as was outside forward Patsy Hendren.[3] Up front, Bobby Hughes, Henry Parkinson and Harry Williams were signed to boost the team's strikeforce.[4][5][6] Forwards Freddy Capper, Billy Clayson and Sidney Mulford were all retained, despite scoring just 11 goals between them during the 1922–23 season.[7]

Aside from a six-match unbeaten run in November and December 1923, Brentford spent much of the 1923–24 season in the bottom four of the Third Division South.[8] Three wins in the final four matches lifted the club to a 17th-place finish.[8] Youngster Reginald Parker proved to be a revelation up front and became the first Brentford player to hit 20 goals in a season since the club entered the Football League in 1920.[7] Billy Clayson also scored 10 goals, which meant Parker and Clayson accounted for 30 of the 45 goals the Bees scored during the season.[7] Brentford failed to draw an away league match during the campaign, a joint-club record.[9]

League table edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
15 Gillingham 42 12 13 17 43 58 0.741 37
16 Exeter City 42 15 7 20 37 52 0.712 37
17 Brentford 42 14 8 20 54 71 0.761 36
18 Reading 42 13 9 20 51 57 0.895 35
19 Southend United 42 12 10 20 53 84 0.631 34
Source: [citation needed]

Results edit

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend edit

Win Draw Loss

Football League Third Division South edit

No. Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s)
1 25 August 1923 Queens Park Rangers A 0–1 18,000
2 27 August 1923 Plymouth Argyle H 1–1 6,500 Hughes
3 1 September 1923 Queens Park Rangers H 0–1 12,000
4 3 September 1923 Plymouth Argyle A 1–4 10,000 Clayson
5 8 September 1923 Luton Town H 2–1 10,000 Clayson, Parkinson
6 10 September 1923 Aberdare Athletic A 2–1 6,000 Parkinson, Hughes
7 15 September 1923 Luton Town A 1–2 8,000 Hunter
8 22 September 1923 Brighton & Hove Albion H 1–2 5,000 Hunter
9 29 September 1923 Brighton & Hove Albion A 0–2 7,000
10 6 October 1923 Bristol Rovers A 0–2 10,000
11 13 October 1923 Bristol Rovers H 1–2 9,000 Mulford
12 20 October 1923 Southend United A 1–3 6,000 Capper
13 27 October 1923 Southend United H 3–1 5,000 Hughes, Parker (2)
14 3 November 1923 Portsmouth A 0–3 9,867
15 10 November 1923 Portsmouth H 1–1 9,000 Capper
16 24 November 1923 Exeter City H 1–0 4,000 Williams
17 8 December 1923 Aberdare Athletic H 1–1 6,000 Clayson
18 22 December 1923 Gillingham H 3–2 5,000 Johnstone, Clayson, Parker
19 25 December 1923 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic A 4–2 5,000 Parker (2)
20 26 December 1923 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic H 2–0 7,000 Clayson, Parker
21 29 December 1923 Millwall A 1–4 9,000 Parker (pen)
22 5 January 1924 Millwall H 1–3 7,000 Amos (og)
23 26 January 1924 Newport County H 0–0 5,000
24 2 February 1924 Merthyr Town A 0–2 6,000
25 9 February 1924 Merthyr Town H 0–0 3,000
26 16 February 1924 Charlton Athletic A 1–3 3,000 Parker
27 24 February 1924 Charlton Athletic H 0–0 5,000
28 1 March 1924 Norwich City A 3–2 7,000 Parker (2), Williams
29 8 March 1924 Norwich City H 3–0 7,794 Mulford, Parker, Inglis
30 15 March 1924 Swindon Town H 2–2 6,000 Alton (pen), Parker
31 19 March 1924 Gillingham A 0–6 8,000
32 22 March 1924 Swindon Town A 1–2 6,000 Parker
33 29 March 1924 Watford H 4–1 6,500 Parker (2), Garnish, Clayson
34 2 April 1924 Exeter City A 0–1 3,500
35 5 April 1924 Watford A 1–0 4,500 Williams
36 12 April 1924 Swansea Town H 2–2 7,000 Parker, Clayson
37 18 April 1924 Reading A 0–1 11,8782
38 19 April 1924 Swansea Town A 0–4 6,000
39 21 April 1924 Reading H 4–1 5,000 Williams (2), Parker, Alton (pen)
40 22 April 1924 Newport County A 2–3 6,000 Hughes, Parker
41 26 April 1924 Northampton Town H 1–0 3,000 Clayson
42 3 May 1924 Northampton Town A 3–2 4,000 Hughes (3)

FA Cup edit

Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s) Notes
5QR 1 December 1923 Botwell Mission A 1–2 7,629 Parker [nb 1]
5QR (replay) 5 December 1923 Botwell Mission H 2–0 6,200 Clayson, Parker (pen)
6QR 15 December 1923 Portsmouth H 1–1 9,059 Clayson
6QR (replay) 19 December 1923 Portsmouth A 0–1 11,664
  • Sources: Statto, 100 Years of Brentford,[7] The Complete History[10]

Playing squad edit

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1923–24 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK William Young   (1892-08-04)4 August 1892 (aged 31) South Shields 1920
Defenders
DF Philip Allen   (1902-11-05)5 November 1902 (aged 20) Grenadier Guards 1922
DF Charles Alton   (1891-12-24)24 December 1891 (aged 31) Rotherham County 1921
DF George Kell   (1896-07-13)13 July 1896 (aged 27) The Wednesday 1922
DF John Pearson   (1896-03-14)14 March 1896 (aged 27) Burnley 1923
Midfielders
HB Cyril Hunter   (1898-02-08)8 February 1898 (aged 25) Leadgate Park 1921
HB Bill Inglis   (1899-09-04)4 September 1899 (aged 23) Derby County 1922
HB Roland James   (1897-05-04)4 May 1897 (aged 26) West Bromwich Albion 1922
HB Horace Jones   n/a Ton Pentre 1922
HB James Kerr   (1894-04-07)7 April 1894 (aged 29) Blackburn Rovers 1921
Forwards
FW Freddy Capper (c)   8 May 1892 (aged 32) The Wednesday 1921
FW Billy Clayson   (1897-07-12)12 July 1897 (aged 26) Wellingborough Town 1922
FW Tom Garnish   (1900-05-03)3 May 1900 (aged 23) Wandsworth 1923
FW Patsy Hendren   (1889-02-05)5 February 1889 (aged 34) Queens Park Rangers 1911 Played when his cricket commitments allowed
FW Bobby Hughes   (1892-09-05)5 September 1892 (aged 30) Sheffield United 1923
FW Gordon Johnstone   (1900-04-21)21 April 1900 (aged 23) Houghton Rovers 1922
FW Sidney Mulford   (1896-11-23)23 November 1896 (aged 26) Kew Association 1922
FW Reginald Parker   (1902-07-08)8 July 1902 (aged 21) Boldon Comrades 1922
FW Henry Parkinson   1899 (aged 23–24) Hazel Grove 1923
FW Harry Williams   (1898-07-29)29 July 1898 (aged 25) Manchester United 1923
Players who left the club mid-season
DF Bert Gower   (1899-03-26)26 March 1899 (aged 24) Ealing Celtic 1923 Amateur, transferred to Southall
  • Sources: Timeless Bees,[11] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939,[12] 100 Years Of Brentford[7]

Coaching staff edit

Name Role
  Archie Mitchell Manager
  Dusty Rhodes Trainer

Statistics edit

Appearances and goals edit

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   William Young 42 0 4 0 46 0
DF   Bert Gower 2 0 0 0 2 0
DF   Philip Allen 2 0 0 0 2 0
DF   Charles Alton 31 2 0 0 31 2
DF   George Kell 24 0 4 0 28 0
DF   John Pearson 26 0 4 0 30 0
HB   Cyril Hunter 31 2 3 0 34 2
HB   Bill Inglis 30 1 4 0 34 1
HB   Roland James 15 0 0 0 15 0
HB   Horace Jones 12 0 1 0 13 0
HB   James Kerr 23 0 4 0 27 0
FW   Freddy Capper 23 3 4 0 27 3
FW   Billy Clayson 26 8 3 2 29 10
FW   Tom Garnish 19 1 1 0 20 1
FW   Patsy Hendren 27 0 4 0 31 0
FW   Bobby Hughes 16 7 1 0 17 7
FW   Gordon Johnstone 29 1 0 0 29 1
FW   Sidney Mulford 14 2 0 0 14 2
FW   Reginald Parker 39 18 4 2 43 20
FW   Henry Parkinson 7 2 0 0 7 2
FW   Harry Williams 25 5 3 0 28 5
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[7]

Goalscorers edit

Pos. Nat Player FL3 FAC Total
FW   Reginald Parker 18 2 20
FW   Billy Clayson 9 2 11
FW   Bobby Hughes 7 0 7
HB   Harry Williams 5 0 5
FW   Freddy Capper 3 0 3
DF   Charles Alton 2 0 2
HB   Cyril Hunter 2 0 2
FW   Sidney Mulford 2 0 2
FW   Henry Parkinson 2 0 2
FW   Tom Garnish 1 0 1
HB   Bill Inglis 1 0 1
FW   Gordon Johnstone 1 0 1
Opponents 1 0 1
Total 41 4 45
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[7]

Management edit

Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
P W D L W % P W D L W %
Archie Mitchell   25 August 1923 3 May 1924 46 14 14 18 030.43 42 13 12 17 030.95

Summary edit

Games played 46 (42 Third Division South, 4 FA Cup)
Games won 14 (13 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)
Games drawn 14 (12 Third Division South, 2 FA Cup)
Games lost 18 (17 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored 45 (41 Third Division South, 4 FA Cup)
Goals conceded 55 (51 Third Division South, 4 FA Cup)
Clean sheets 9 (8 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)
Biggest league win 3–0 versus Norwich City, 8 March 1924; 4–1 on two occasions
Worst league defeat 6–0 versus Gillingham, 19 March 1924
Most appearances 46, William Young (42 Third Division South, 4 FA Cup)
Top scorer (league) 18, Reginald Parker
Top scorer (all competitions) 20, Reginald Parker

Transfers & loans edit

Cricketers are not included in this list.
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
July 1923 FW   Henry Parkinson   Hazel Grove Free [13]
July 1923 DF   John Pearson   Burnley Free [14]
August 1923 DF   Bert Gower   Ealing Celtic Free [15]
August 1923 FW   Bobby Hughes   Sheffield United Free [16]
September 1923 FW   Harry Williams   Manchester United £300 [6]
1923 FW   James Batchelor   Gillingham n/a [17]
1923 FW   Tom Garnish   Wandsworth Free [18]
1923 FW   Arthur Isaac   Cambridge Town Amateur [19]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
February 1924 DF   Bert Gower   Southall Amateur [15]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
May 1924 DF   Philip Allen   Peterborough & Fletton United 1924 [20]
May 1924 FW   Freddy Capper Retired [21]
May 1924 FW   Bobby Hughes   Rochdale 1924 [4]
May 1924 HB   Cyril Hunter   South Shields September 1924 [22]
May 1924 HB   Roland James   Stockport County 1924 [23]
May 1924 HB   James Kerr   Annandale United 1924 [24]
May 1924 FW   Sidney Mulford   Northfleet United 1924 [25]
May 1924 FW   Henry Parkinson   Lytham 1924 [5]
May 1924 DF   John Pearson   Grimsby Town 1924 [14]

Notes edit

  1. ^ Match played at RAF Stadium, Uxbridge.

References edit

  1. ^ White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 117–118. ISBN 0951526200.
  2. ^ Joyce 2012, p. 148-149.
  3. ^ Joyce 2012, p. 135.
  4. ^ a b Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 83.
  5. ^ a b Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 120.
  6. ^ a b Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 170.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g White 1989, p. 367.
  8. ^ a b "Brentford results for the 1923-1924 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  9. ^ Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Harefield, Middlesex: Yore Publications. p. 78. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  10. ^ Haynes, Graham; Twydell, Dave (2008). Brentford F.C.: The Complete History 1889–2008. Harefield: Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0-9557889-5-6. OCLC 528356934.
  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. ^ "Altrincham FC Pre-War Players, Part 1". www.lusaweb.co.uk. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  14. ^ a b Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 123.
  15. ^ a b Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 68.
  16. ^ "Brentford's new player. Noteworthy acquisition from Sheffield United". County of Middlesex Independent. 8 August 1923.
  17. ^ Joyce 2012, p. 20.
  18. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 62.
  19. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 86.
  20. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 9.
  21. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 34.
  22. ^ "Hunter Cyril Brentford 1922". Vintage Footballers. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  23. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 87.
  24. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 92.
  25. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 112.