Wikipedia

1964–65 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1964–65 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. Despite topping the table between September and October 1964, the worst away record in the division and a change of managers in January 1965 derailed the club's promotion charge.

Brentford
1964–65 season
ChairmanJack Dunnett
ManagerMalky MacDonald
(until 16 January 1965)
Tommy Cavanagh
(from 17 January 1965)
StadiumGriffin Park
Third Division5th
FA CupThird round
League CupFirst round
Top goalscorerLeague: Cobb (15)
All: Cobb (18)
Highest home attendance30,448
Lowest home attendance5,380
Average home league attendance10,740

Season summary edit

After a disappointing first season back in the Third Division, Brentford chairman Jack Dunnett allowed manager Malky MacDonald significant funds for new signings.[1] £18,000 was spent on inside forward Jimmy Bloomfield (who returned to Griffin Park after a decade away) and Newport County's journeyman forward Joe Bonson.[1] The team began the season in good form, winning six and drawing one of the first 9 matches to sit atop the Third Division table.[2] The early season goalscoring form of Joe Bonson meant that Billy McAdams, previously a regular scorer for the team, became surplus to requirements and was sold to local rivals Queens Park Rangers for £5,000.[1] While the club established itself in the promotion places, £29,000 was spent on forwards Billy Cobb and Ian Lawther in October and November 1964.[1] As a sign of chairman Dunnett's aim to secure promotion at all costs, a massive £40,000 bid for Torino's Gerry Hitchens was tabled, but was unsuccessful.[1]

Despite a solid home record and regular goals from front players Cobb, Bonson, Lazarus, Lawther and Fielding,[3] a number of away defeats dropped the Bees back into 4th place by January 1965.[2] The FA Cup was exited after a third round replay defeat at the hands of First Division Burnley and a matter of days later, manager Malky MacDonald revealed that he would leave Brentford at the end of the season to return to Kilmarnock.[1] MacDonald intended to see out the remainder of his contract, which expired at the end of the season, but he was immediately placed on gardening leave by chairman Jack Dunnett.[1] Trainer Tommy Cavanagh took over as interim manager.[1] Cavanagh won four and drew two of his first 10 matches, but a 2–0 away defeat to Scunthorpe United on 26 March emphasised the team's poor away record and effectively ended any chances of promotion.[2] Despite the blow, the team reacted positively, winning five and drawing two of the remaining eight matches of the season to secure a 5th-place finish.[2]

Brentford's home record of 18 wins, 4 draws and 1 defeat was the best in the Third Division and promotion may have been attained had the team not lost five consecutive away matches in mid-season.[1][4] Just one league win away from home equalled the club record.[5] By 19 December 1964, Joe Bonson, Mark Lazarus and Billy Cobb had each reached 10 or more goals for the season, which was the second instance of three Brentford players reaching double-figures before Christmas Day.[6]

The Brentford reserve team had a successful season and won the London Challenge Cup after a 2–1 victory over Chelsea, courtesy of goals from George Summers and Micky Block.[7] In goal was Gerry Cakebread,[7] who had dropped into the reserves for his final season at Griffin Park.[8] Cakebread finished his Brentford career with 374 first team appearances, the most by any goalkeeper for the club.[8]

League table edit

Main article: 1964–65 Football League Third Division

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
3 Mansfield Town 46 24 11 11 95 61 1.557 59
4 Hull City 46 23 12 11 91 57 1.596 58
5 Brentford 46 24 9 13 83 55 1.509 57
6 Bristol Rovers 46 20 15 11 82 58 1.414 55
7 Gillingham 46 23 9 14 70 50 1.400 55
Source: [citation needed]

Results edit

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend edit

Win Draw Loss

Football League Third Division edit

No. Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s)
1 22 August 1964 Luton Town H 2–2 10,883 Bonson (2)
2 24 August 1964 Mansfield Town A 1–4 11,326 Fielding
3 28 August 1964 Carlisle United A 1–0 11,023 Bonson
4 31 August 1964 Mansfield Town H 1–0 10,592 Lazarus
5 5 September 1964 Port Vale H 4–0 8,397 Summers, Dick (2, 1 pen), Bonson
6 9 September 1964 Grimsby Town A 1–2 9,290 Ward
7 12 September 1964 Colchester United A 3–0 3,977 Fielding (2), Lazarus
8 15 September 1964 Grimsby Town H 2–0 12,759 Ward, Lazarus
9 19 September 1964 Gillingham H 2–0 13,075 Fielding, Bonson
10 26 September 1964 Bristol Rovers H 1–1 14,208 Summers
11 28 September 1964 Peterborough United A 1–3 13,311 Dick
12 3 October 1964 Oldham Athletic A 1–1 11,886 Fielding
13 6 October 1964 Peterborough United H 3–1 12,448 Fielding (2), Cobb
14 9 October 1964 Queens Park Rangers A 3–1 11,063 Bonson (2), Lazarus
15 14 October 1964 Exeter City A 0–0 7,500
16 17 October 1964 Shrewsbury Town H 2–0 11,372 Fielding, Bonson
17 20 October 1964 Exeter City H 2–1 12,137 Lazarus, Bloomfield
18 24 October 1964 Reading A 1–1 12,127 Lazarus
19 27 October 1964 Hull City H 1–3 12,745 Higginson
20 31 October 1964 Southend United H 2–1 11,215 Dick, Lazarus
21 7 November 1964 Barnsley A 1–3 4,067 Bonson
22 21 November 1964 Walsall A 3–4 8,227 Cobb (2), Bonson
23 28 November 1964 Watford H 5–1 12,955 Cobb (2), Lazarus (2, 1 pen), Bloomfield
24 12 December 1964 Luton Town A 2–4 6,014 Lazarus, Lawther
25 19 December 1964 Carlisle United H 6–1 8,383 Cobb (3), Lawther, Lazarus (2)
26 26 December 1964 Bristol City H 2–1 16,065 Lawther, Bloomfield
27 2 January 1965 Port Vale A 1–2 4,533 Lawther
28 16 January 1965 Colchester United H 1–0 9,049 Gelson
29 23 January 1965 Gillingham A 0–1 14,474
30 6 February 1965 Bristol Rovers A 2–1 14,575 Lawther, Lazarus
31 13 February 1965 Oldham Athletic H 2–2 10,306 Lazarus, Lawther
32 20 February 1965 Queens Park Rangers H 5–2 12,398 Higginson, Cobb (3), Bedford (og)
33 27 February 1965 Shrewsbury Town A 0–1 5,564
34 2 March 1965 Bristol City A 2–3 11,152 Cobb, Block (pen)
35 13 March 1965 Southend United A 1–0 7,815 Lawther
36 17 March 1965 Workington A 1–1 3,747 Cobb
37 20 March 1965 Barnsley H 1–0 7,954 Cobb
38 26 March 1965 Scunthorpe United A 0–2 3,495
39 3 April 1965 Walsall H 0–0 7,511
40 7 April 1965 Workington H 3–0 6,946 Lawther (2), Cobb
41 10 April 1965 Watford A 1–1 7,373 Lawther
42 16 April 1965 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic H 2–1 10,519 Fielding (2)
43 17 April 1965 Reading H 2–1 8,929 Evans (og), Block
44 19 April 1965 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic A 1–0 6,700 Gater (og)
45 24 April 1965 Hull City A 1–2 14,924 Lawther
46 27 April 1965 Scunthorpe United H 4–0 6,164 Bonson (2), Block, Bloomfield

FA Cup edit

Main article: 1964–65 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s)
1R 14 November 1964 Wisbech Town A 2–0 3,473 Bonson, Cobb
2R 5 December 1964 Notts County H 4–0 9,400 Bonson, Fielding, Cobb (2)
3R 9 January 1965 Burnley A 1–1 15,100 Lazarus
3R (replay) 12 January 1965 Burnley H 0–2 30,448

Football League Cup edit

Main article: 1964–65 Football League Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance
1R 2 September 1964 Southend United H 0–2 5,380

Playing squad edit

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1964–65 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Chic Brodie   (1937-02-22)22 February 1937 (aged 27) Northampton Town 1963
GK Gordon Phillips   (1946-11-17)17 November 1946 (aged 17) Hayes 1963
Defenders
DF Alan Hawley   (1946-06-07)7 June 1946 (aged 18) Youth 1962
DF Allan Jones   (1940-01-06)6 January 1940 (aged 24) Liverpool 1963
DF George Thomson   (1936-10-19)19 October 1936 (aged 27) Everton 1963
Midfielders
HB Peter Gelson   (1941-10-18)18 October 1941 (aged 22) Youth 1961
HB Tommy Higginson   (1937-01-06)6 January 1937 (aged 27) Kilmarnock 1959
HB Hamish MacKenzie   (1945-03-11)11 March 1945 (aged 19) Dunfermline Athletic 1964
HB Hugh McLaughlin   (1943-09-02)2 September 1943 (aged 20) St Roch's 1961
HB Mel Scott (c)   (1939-09-26)26 September 1939 (aged 24) Chelsea 1963
HB Willie Smith   (1943-12-06)6 December 1943 (aged 20) Celtic 1963
Forwards
FW Micky Block   (1940-01-28)28 January 1940 (aged 24) Chelsea 1962
FW Jimmy Bloomfield   (1934-02-15)15 February 1934 (aged 30) Birmingham City 1964
FW Joe Bonson   (1936-06-09)9 June 1936 (aged 28) Newport County 1964
FW Billy Cobb   (1940-09-29)29 September 1940 (aged 23) Plymouth Argyle 1964
FW John Dick   (1930-03-19)19 March 1930 (aged 34) West Ham United 1962
FW John Fielding   (1939-09-02)2 September 1939 (aged 24) Southport 1963
FW Ian Lawther   (1939-10-20)20 October 1939 (aged 24) Scunthorpe United 1964
FW Mark Lazarus   (1938-12-05)5 December 1938 (aged 25) Queens Park Rangers 1964
FW Dai Ward   (1934-07-13)13 July 1934 (aged 30) Watford 1963
Players who left the club mid-season
FW Billy McAdams   (1934-01-20)20 January 1934 (aged 30) Leeds United 1962 Transferred to Queens Park Rangers
FW George Summers   (1941-07-30)30 July 1941 (aged 23) Shawfield 1959 Transferred to Port Elizabeth City
  • Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford,[3] Timeless Bees[9]

Coaching staff edit

Malky MacDonald (22 August 1964 – 16 January 1965) edit

Name Role
  Malky MacDonald Manager
  Tommy Cavanagh Trainer

Tommy Cavanagh (17 January – 27 April 1965) edit

Name Role
  Tommy Cavanagh Manager
  Jimmy Sirrel Trainer
  Eddie Lyons Physiotherapist

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 League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK   Chic Brodie 45 0 4 0 1 0 50 0
GK   Gordon Phillips 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
DF   Allan Jones 37 0 4 0 1 0 42 0
DF   Alan Hawley 18 0 1 0 0 0 19 0
DF   George Thomson 41 0 4 0 1 0 46 0
HB   Peter Gelson 42 1 4 0 0 0 46 1
HB   Tommy Higginson 31 2 3 0 1 0 35 2
HB   Hamish MacKenzie 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
HB   Hugh McLaughlin 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
HB   Mel Scott 46 0 4 0 1 0 51 0
HB   Willie Smith 7 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
FW   Micky Block 20 3 0 0 1 0 21 3
FW   Jimmy Bloomfield 42 4 4 0 1 0 47 4
FW   Joe Bonson 23 12 4 2 1 0 28 14
FW   Billy Cobb 35 15 4 3 0 0 39 18
FW   John Dick 4 4 0 0 0 0 4 4
FW   John Fielding 38 10 4 1 0 0 42 11
FW   Ian Lawther 23 11 — — 23 11
FW   Mark Lazarus 33 14 4 1 1 0 38 15
FW   Billy McAdams 2 0 — 0 0 2 0
FW   George Summers 2 2 0 0 0 0 2 2
FW   Dai Ward 14 2 0 0 1 0 15 2
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[3]

Goalscorers edit

Pos. Nat Player FL3 FAC FLC Total
FW   Billy Cobb 15 3 0 18
FW   Mark Lazarus 14 1 0 15
FW   Joe Bonson 12 2 0 14
FW   Ian Lawther 11 — — 11
FW   John Fielding 10 1 0 11
FW   Jimmy Bloomfield 4 0 0 4
FW   John Dick 4 0 0 4
FW   Micky Block 3 0 0 3
HB   Tommy Higginson 2 0 0 2
FW   George Summers 2 0 0 2
FW   Dai Ward 2 0 0 2
HB   Peter Gelson 1 0 0 1
Opponents 3 0 0 3
Total 83 7 0 90
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[3]

Management edit

Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
P W D L W % P W D L W %
Malky MacDonald   22 August 1964 16 January 1965 33 17 6 10 051.52 28 15 5 8 053.57
Tommy Cavanagh   23 January 1965 27 April 1965 18 9 4 5 050.00 18 9 4 5 050.00

Summary edit

Games played 51 (46 Third Division, 4 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Games won 26 (24 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Games drawn 10 (9 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Games lost 15 (13 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Goals scored 90 (83 Third Division, 7 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Goals conceded 60 (55 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)
Clean sheets 16 (15 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Biggest league win 6–1 versus Carlisle United, 19 December 1964
Worst league defeat 4–1 versus Mansfield Town, 24 August 1964
Most appearances 50, Chic Brodie (45 Third Division, 4 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Top scorer (league) 15, Billy Cobb
Top scorer (all competitions) 18, Billy Cobb

Transfers & loans edit

Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
June 1964 DF   Jimmy Bloomfield   Birmingham City £12,000 [10]
June 1964 FW   Joe Bonson   Newport County £6,000 [10]
August 1964 FW   Joe Gadston   West Ham United n/a [11]
August 1964 HB   Hamish MacKenzie   Dunfermline Athletic Free [12]
October 1964 FW   Billy Cobb   Plymouth Argyle £12,000 [13]
November 1964 FW   Ian Lawther   Scunthorpe United £17,000 [14]
1964 HB   Eddie Reeve n/a n/a [15]
1964 FW   Phil Basey n/a Free [16]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
22 September 1964 FW   Billy McAdams   Queens Park Rangers £5,000 [17]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
1965 FW   George Summers   Port Elizabeth City 1965 [18]
April 1965 DF   Tom Anthony   Guildford City 1966 [19]
April 1965 GK   Gerry Cakebread   Hillingdon Borough 1965 [8]
April 1965 FW   John Dick   Gravesend & Northfleet 1965 [20]

Awards edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j White 1989, p. 256-259.
  2. ^ a b c d "Brentford results for the 1964–1965 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 388. ISBN 0951526200.
  4. ^ "Brentford Home Page for the 1964–1965 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  5. ^ Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Yore Publications. pp. 78–79. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  6. ^ ""Ten Up" Trio". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  7. ^ a b Haynes 1998, p. 82.
  8. ^ a b c Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 33.
  9. ^ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  10. ^ a b Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 23-24.
  11. ^ "Joe Gadston". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  12. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 99.
  13. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 38.
  14. ^ "Former Bee Dies". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  15. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 132.
  16. ^ "Phil Basey – Great Chance To Take The Spotlight". Middlesex County Times. 5 August 1966.
  17. ^ "Seasonal Stats – 1964/65". QPRnet. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  18. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 156.
  19. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 12.
  20. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 47-48.
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