Wikipedia

1931–32 Brentford F.C. season

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.

Brentford
1931–32 season
ChairmanLouis P. Simon
ManagerHarry Curtis
StadiumGriffin Park
Third Division South5th
FA CupFourth round
Top goalscorerLeague: Lane (22)
All: Lane (27)
Highest home attendance26,139
Lowest home attendance4,902
Average home league attendance11,347

Season summary edit

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.[2]

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 edit

Brentford's reserve team finished as champions of the London Combination for the first time.[6] The team went undefeated at home from 21 November 1931, setting off a run which extended until 4 November 1933.[7] Ralph Allen captained the team and scored a large percentage of the goals.[7][8]

League table edit

Main article: 1931–32 Football League Third Division South

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
3 Southend United 42 21 11 10 77 53 1.453 53
4 Crystal Palace 42 20 11 11 74 63 1.175 51
5 Brentford 42 19 10 13 68 52 1.308 48
6 Luton Town 42 20 7 15 95 70 1.357 47
7 Exeter City 42 20 7 15 77 62 1.242 47
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 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 edit

Main article: 1931–32 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s)
1R 28 November 1931 Tunbridge Wells Rangers A 1–1 5,680 Burns
1R (replay) 2 December 1931 Tunbridge Wells Rangers H 2–1 10,000 Lane (pen), Burns
2R 12 December 1931 Norwich City H 4–1 17,050 Lane (2), Robson, Berry
3R 9 January 1932 Bath City H 2–0 15,700 Lane, Berry
4R 23 January 1932 Manchester City A 1–6 56,190 Lane

Playing squad edit

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1931–32 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Edward Nash   (1902-04-12)12 April 1902 (aged 29) Swindon Town 1930
GK Dave Smith   (1903-07-06)6 July 1903 (aged 28) Gillingham 1931
Defenders
DF Tom Adamson   (1901-02-12)12 February 1901 (aged 30) Bury 1929
DF Bill Bann   (1902-08-15)15 August 1902 (aged 29) Tottenham Hotspur 1930
DF William Hodge   (1904-08-31)31 August 1904 (aged 26) Rangers 1927
DF Alexander Stevenson   (1903-10-24)24 October 1903 (aged 27) Armadale 1927
DF George Weeks   (1902-08-05)5 August 1902 (aged 29) Southall 1929
Midfielders
HB Jimmy Bain (c)   (1899-02-06)6 February 1899 (aged 32) Manchester Central 1928
HB Joe James   (1910-01-13)13 January 1910 (aged 21) Battersea Church 1929
HB Harry Salt   (1899-01-20)20 January 1899 (aged 32) Crystal Palace 1929
HB Teddy Ware   (1906-09-17)17 September 1906 (aged 24) Chatham Town 1928
HB Les Wilkins   (1907-01-21)21 January 1907 (aged 24) West Ham United 1931
Forwards
FW Ralph Allen   (1906-06-30)30 June 1906 (aged 25) Fulham 1930
FW Bill Berry   (1904-08-18)18 August 1904 (aged 27) Gillingham 1926
FW Jackie Burns   (1906-11-27)27 November 1906 (aged 24) Queens Park Rangers 1931 Amateur
FW George Cook   (1895-02-27)27 February 1895 (aged 36) Tottenham Hotspur 1931
FW Arthur Crompton   (1903-01-09)9 January 1903 (aged 28) Southend United 1932
FW Jackie Foster   (1903-03-21)21 March 1903 (aged 28) Bristol City 1929
FW Vivian Gibbins   (1901-08-10)10 August 1901 (aged 30) Clapton 1932 Amateur
FW Billy Lane   (1904-10-23)23 October 1904 (aged 26) Reading 1929
FW Herbert Lawson   (1905-04-12)12 April 1905 (aged 26) Arsenal 1927
FW George Robson   (1908-06-17)17 June 1908 (aged 23) West Ham United 1931
FW Bert Stephens   (1909-05-13)13 May 1909 (aged 22) Ealing Association 1931
  • Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[2] Timeless Bees,[9] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939[10]

Coaching staff edit

Name Role
  Harry Curtis Manager
  Bob Kane Trainer
  Jack Cartmell Assistant 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   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[2]

Goalscorers edit

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[2]

Amateur international caps edit

Pos. Nat Player Caps Goals Ref
FW   Jackie Burns 3 0 [11]
FW   Vivian Gibbins 2 0 [11]

Management edit

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 edit

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 edit

Cricketers are not included in this list.
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
May 1931 FW   Andy Anderson   Blyth Spartans n/a [12]
May 1931 FW   Jackie Burns   Queens Park Rangers Amateur [13]
May 1931 FW   Malcolm Comrie   Denny Hibernians n/a [14]
May 1931 FW   Johnny McPhee   Sunderland n/a [15]
May 1931 GK   Dave Smith   Gillingham Free [16]
August 1931 FW   George Cook   Tottenham Hotspur n/a [3]
August 1931 FW S. Fieldus   Millwall n/a [17]
August 1931 HB   Cecil Smith   Brentford Market Free [18]
1931 LH   Albert Woods   Gillingham n/a [19]
11 February 1932 FW   Vivian Gibbins   Clapton Amateur [20]
February 1932 FW   Arthur Crompton   Southend United n/a [21]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
August 1931 FW   Cecil Blakemore   Norwich City £200 [22]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
May 1932 FW   Andy Anderson n/a n/a [3]
May 1932 DF   Bill Bann   Bristol Rovers 4 June 1932 [23]
May 1932 FW   Malcolm Comrie   Manchester City July 1932 [24]
May 1932 FW   George Cook   Colwyn Bay United 1932 [25]
May 1932 HB   Reginald Davies   Mansfield Town 1932 [26]
May 1932 FW   Vivian Gibbins   Bristol Rovers 9 June 1932 [27]
May 1932 GK   Edward Nash   Crystal Palace August 1932 [28]
May 1932 HB   Harry Salt   Walsall May 1932 [29]
May 1932 FW   David Sherlaw   St Johnstone 6 July 1932 [23]
May 1932 GK   Dave Smith   Nithsdale Wanderers 1932 [30]
May 1932 DF   George Weeks   Watford July 1932 [31]
May 1932 FW   Les Wilkins   Swindon Town 1932 [32]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Brentford results for the 1931–1932 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e White 1989, p. 371.
  3. ^ a b c White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 132–135. ISBN 0951526200.
  4. ^ Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Harefield, Middlesex: Yore Publications. p. 78. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  5. ^ "They played for both: Bristol City". Brentford FC. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  6. ^ Haynes 1998, p. 83.
  7. ^ a b Haynes 1998, p. 108-110.
  8. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 10.
  9. ^ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  10. ^ Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN 190589161X.
  11. ^ a b "England Matches – The Amateurs 1906–1939". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  12. ^ "Andrew Anderson, outside-left of Blyth Spartans, by Brentford". Daily Herald. 8 May 1931.
  13. ^ "Seasonal Stats – 1931–32". QPRnet. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  14. ^ "On The Wing – Latest Movements Of Players". The Athletic News. 1 June 1931.
  15. ^ "Brentford have signed on J. McPhee, a 19-year-old outside-right from Sunderland". Daily Herald. 16 May 1931.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ "Brentford have signed S. Fieldus, inside-forward, last season with Millwall". Daily Herald. 12 August 1931.
  18. ^ "Brentford have signed C. S. Smith, inside left of Brentford Market F.C, as a professional". Daily Herald. 28 August 1931.
  19. ^ "On This Day". www.gillinghamfootballclub.com. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  20. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 64.
  21. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 42.
  22. ^ "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.
  23. ^ a b Litster, John. Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
  24. ^ Matthews, Tony (21 November 2013). Manchester City: Player by Player. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 9781445617374.
  25. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 39.
  26. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 45-46.
  27. ^ "Gibbins Leaves The "Bees"". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 10 June 1932.
  28. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 114.
  29. ^ "J. Cunningham, the Queens Park Rangers' goalkeeper, and H. Salt, a Brentford half-back, have been signed by Walsall". Daily Herald. 24 May 1932.
  30. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 147.
  31. ^ "Player: George Bartholomew Weeks". Watford Football Club Archive. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  32. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 169.
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