1935–36 season of Brentford F.C.
Brentford 1935–36 football season
Brentford| 1935–36 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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| First Division | 5th |
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| FA Cup | Third round |
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| London Challenge Cup | Runners-up |
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| Top goalscorer | League: McCulloch (26)
All: McCulloch (26) |
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| Highest home attendance | 33,486 |
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| Lowest home attendance | 15,379 |
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| Average home league attendance | 25,287 |
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During the 1935–36 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League First Division for the first time in the club's history. A torrid run in the opening half of the season left Brentford in the relegation places, but after a number of key signings were made, just two defeats from Christmas Day 1935 through to the end of the season elevated the Bees to an impressive 5th-place finish, the club's highest-ever in the league pyramid. Brentford also reached the final of the London Challenge Cup for the second consecutive season, but were beaten by league rivals Arsenal. In 2013, the Brentford supporters voted 1935–36 as the club's third-best season.[1]
Season summary
In preparation for the 1935–36 season, Brentford manager Harry Curtis elected to stick with the nucleus of players that had elevated the club from the Third Division South to the First Division in just three seasons, his only significant signing being right back Joe Wilson from Southend United. The Bees had a dream start to their first season in the top-flight, going to the top of the division after a 2–0 opening day victory over Bolton Wanderers.[3] A 2–1 home defeat to Huddersfield Town two matches later gave way to a run of 11 defeats in 17 matches, which left the club in the relegation places.[3]
Previously-prolific scorers Jack Holliday and Idris Hopkins had had a difficult time adjusting to the higher level, with scoring just 13 goals between them by the time the Bees were mired in the relegation battle at the end of 1935. Manager Curtis recognised the need to strengthen the squad in mid-season, dropping and later selling full back Jack Astley, left half Jackie Burns and forwards Charlie Fletcher and George Robson. In addition, former captain Herbert Watson was dropped from the half back line. In came Welsh international left half Dai Richards for £3,500 and Scottish forwards David McCulloch and Bobby Reid, with McCulloch signing for a club record £6,000 fee.
The signings had an inspired effect, sending the Bees on a run of just two defeats in the remaining 23 matches of the season,[3] with forward McCulloch netting an impressive 26 goals in 27 appearances to finish as top-scorer. Manager Harry Curtis also signed a new five-year contract in February 1936.[7] Brentford finished their debut season in the First Division in 5th place, which as of the end of the 2015–16 season is the club's highest-ever in the pyramid.[8] Brentford also reached the final of the London Challenge Cup for the second-successive season, but were defeated 4–2 by league rivals Arsenal.[9] The Bees' club record attendance for a home Football League match was broken twice during the season, with 33,481 attending versus Huddersfield Town on 7 September 1935 and 33,486 for the West London derby with Chelsea on 28 March 1936.
League table
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
Results
- Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend
| No. | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
| 1 | 31 August 1935 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 2–0 | 31,949 | Holliday (2) |
| 2 | 5 September 1935 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 3–1 | 25,047 | Fletcher (2), Holliday |
| 3 | 7 September 1935 | Huddersfield Town | H | 1–2 | 33,481 | Hopkins |
| 4 | 14 September 1935 | Middlesbrough | A | 0–0 | 38,107 | |
| 5 | 18 September 1935 | Derby County | A | 1–2 | 21,648 | Fletcher |
| 6 | 21 September 1935 | Aston Villa | H | 1–2 | 29,781 | Holliday |
| 7 | 28 September 1935 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 2–3 | 28,431 | Holliday, Scott |
| 8 | 5 October 1935 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | 2–2 | 25,338 | Robson, Scott |
| 9 | 12 October 1935 | Portsmouth | A | 3–1 | 22,316 | Hopkins (2), Holliday |
| 10 | 19 October 1935 | Stoke City | H | 0–0 | 24,960 | |
| 11 | 26 October 1935 | Manchester City | A | 1–2 | 29,868 | Hopkins |
| 12 | 2 November 1935 | Arsenal | H | 2–1 | 26,330 | Burns, Hopkins |
| 13 | 9 November 1935 | Birmingham | A | 1–2 | 28,673 | Dunn |
| 14 | 16 November 1935 | Sunderland | H | 1–5 | 24,720 | Hopkins |
| 15 | 23 November 1935 | Chelsea | A | 1–2 | 56,624 | Robson (pen) |
| 16 | 30 November 1935 | Leeds United | H | 2–2 | 23,914 | Scott, McCulloch |
| 17 | 7 December 1935 | Grimsby Town | A | 1–6 | 5,276 | Fletcher |
| 18 | 14 December 1935 | Liverpool | H | 1–2 | 18,508 | Robson |
| 19 | 21 December 1935 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 0–1 | 14,272 | |
| 20 | 25 December 1935 | Preston North End | H | 5–2 | 21,474 | Holliday, Muttitt, McCulloch (2), Scott |
| 21 | 26 December 1935 | Preston North End | A | 4–2 | 22,937 | Hopkins (3), McCulloch |
| 22 | 28 December 1935 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 4–0 | 27,156 | McCulloch (3), McKenzie |
| 23 | 1 January 1936 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 0–1 | 24,724 | |
| 24 | 4 January 1936 | Huddersfield Town | A | 2–2 | 17,682 | McCulloch, Fletcher |
| 25 | 18 January 1936 | Middlesbrough | H | 1–0 | 27,779 | Scott |
| 26 | 25 January 1936 | Aston Villa | A | 2–2 | 40,328 | Reid, Scott |
| 27 | 1 February 1936 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 5–0 | 25,123 | Morris (og), McCulloch (2), Scott, Holliday |
| 28 | 8 February 1936 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 3–3 | 20,757 | Holliday, McCulloch, Hopkins |
| 29 | 22 February 1936 | Stoke City | A | 2–2 | 18,045 | McCulloch, Scott |
| 30 | 29 February 1936 | Birmingham | H | 0–1 | 20,523 | |
| 31 | 7 March 1936 | Leeds United | A | 2–1 | 10,509 | Reid, Hopkins |
| 32 | 14 March 1936 | Manchester City | H | 0–0 | 28,364 | |
| 33 | 21 March 1936 | Sunderland | A | 3–1 | 26,348 | Holliday, McCulloch (2) |
| 34 | 25 March 1936 | Portsmouth | H | 3–1 | 15,379 | McCulloch (3) |
| 35 | 28 March 1936 | Chelsea | H | 2–1 | 33,486 | McCulloch, Hopkins |
| 36 | 4 April 1936 | Arsenal | A | 1–1 | 28,303 | Holliday |
| 37 | 10 April 1936 | Everton | A | 2–1 | 45,477 | McCulloch (2) |
| 38 | 11 April 1936 | Grimsby Town | H | 3–0 | 24,830 | McCulloch (2), Hopkins |
| 39 | 13 April 1936 | Everton | H | 4–1 | 29,790 | Holliday, Hopkins (2), Scott |
| 40 | 18 April 1936 | Liverpool | A | 0–0 | 28,463 | |
| 41 | 25 April 1936 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 2–2 | 24,527 | Scott, Reid |
| 42 | 2 May 1936 | Derby County | H | 6–0 | 20,521 | McCulloch (4), Holliday, Scott |
FA Cup
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Attendance | Result |
| 3R | 11 January 1936 | Leicester City | A | 29,750 | 0–1 |
- Sources: Statto, 11v11, 100 Years of Brentford
Playing squad
- Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1935–36 season.
- Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, Timeless Bees,[11] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939[12]
Coaching staff
| Name | Role |
 Harry Curtis | Manager |
 Jimmy Bain | Assistant Manager |
| Bob Kane | Trainer |
| Jack Cartmell | Assistant Trainer |
| Fred Keatch | Secretary |
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 | | James Mathieson | 42 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 0 |
| DF | | Jack Astley | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| DF | | Arthur Bateman | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| DF | | George Dumbrell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| DF | | Walter Metcalf | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| DF | | George Poyser | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 0 |
| DF | | Joe Wilson | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| HB | | Jackie Burns | 9 | 1 | — | 9 | 1 |
| HB | | Joe James | 41 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 0 |
| HB | | Duncan McKenzie | 38 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 1 |
| HB |  | Dai Richards | 26 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| HB | | Cecil Smith | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| HB | | Herbert Watson | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| FW |  | Jim Brown | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FW | | Billy Dunn | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| FW | | Charlie Fletcher | 20 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 5 |
| FW | | Jack Holliday | 37 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 13 |
| FW | | Idris Hopkins | 42 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 15 |
| FW | | David McCulloch | 26 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 26 |
| FW | | Ernest Muttitt | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| FW | | Bobby Reid | 18 | 3 | — | 18 | 3 |
| FW | | George Robson | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 3 |
| FW | | Billy Scott | 39 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 11 |
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: 100 Years of Brentford
Goalscorers
| Pos. | Nat | Player | FL1 | FAC | Total |
| FW | | David McCulloch | 26 | 0 | 26 |
| FW | | Idris Hopkins | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| FW | | Jack Holliday | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| FW | | Billy Scott | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| FW | | Charlie Fletcher | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| FW | | Bobby Reid | 3 | — | 3 |
| FW | | George Robson | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| HB | | Jackie Burns | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| FW | | Billy Dunn | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| HB | | Duncan McKenzie | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| FW | | Ernest Muttitt | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Opponents | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 81 | 0 | 81 |
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: 100 Years of Brentford
International caps
Management
| Name | Nat | From | To | Record All Comps | Record League |
| P | W | D | L | W % | P | W | D | L | W % |
| Harry Curtis | | 31 August 1935 | 2 May 1936 | 43 | 17 | 12 | 14 | 039.53 | 42 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 040.48 |
Summary
| Games played | 43 (42 First Division, 1 FA Cup) |
| Games won | 17 (17 First Division, 0 FA Cup) |
| Games drawn | 12 (12 First Division, 0 FA Cup) |
| Games lost | 14 (13 First Division, 1 FA Cup) |
| Goals scored | 81 (81 First Division, 0 FA Cup) |
| Goals conceded | 61 (60 First Division, 1 FA Cup) |
| Clean sheets | 10 (10 First Division, 0 FA Cup) |
| Biggest league win | 6–0 versus Derby County, 2 May 1936 |
| Worst league defeat | 6–1 versus Grimsby Town, 7 December 1935 |
| Most appearances | 43, Idris Hopkins, James Mathieson (42 First Division, 1 FA Cup) |
| Top scorer (league) | 26, David McCulloch |
| Top scorer (all competitions) | 26, David McCulloch |
Transfers & loans
- Cricketers are not included in this list.
References
- ^ "Brentford". Football League 125. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
- ^ a b c "Brentford results for the 1935–1936 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
- ^ Chapman, Mark. "Remembering The Guvnor: Harry Curtis". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
- ^ "Brentford Complete History". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
- ^ Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Harefield, Middlesex: Yore Publications. pp. 82–83. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Dai Hopkins". 11v11.com. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
- ^ "David McCulloch". 11v11.com. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
- ^ "David Richards". 11v11.com. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
- ^ "Players – Layún to Lyttle" (PDF). Watford Football Club archive 1881–2016. p. 36. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
- ^ "Dunn, Willie". The Celtic Wiki. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
- ^ a b "S, T and U". The Bristol Rovers History Group. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
- ^ "Joe Wilson". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
- ^ "Sam Briddon". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
- ^ "Brentford F.C. And The First League. Season Anticipated With Every Confidence. Sporting Gesture By Bolton Wanderers". Middlesex Chronicle. 17 August 1935.
- ^ White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 146–151. ISBN 0951526200.
- ^ a b Litster, John. Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
- ^ a b c "Football League Players Index". Bristol Rovers Memorabilia. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
