1938–39 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1938–39 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League First Division. A six-match unbeaten run in February and March 1939 pulled the club clear of a near-certain relegation.

Brentford
1938–39 season
ChairmanLouis P. Simon
ManagerHarry Curtis
StadiumGriffin Park
First Division18th
FA CupThird round
Top goalscorerLeague: Cheetham (8)
All: Cheetham (8)
Highest home attendance38,535
Lowest home attendance12,761
Average home league attendance23,117

Season summary

After successive top-six finishes in Brentford's first three seasons in the First Division and with the club making a record £7,348 profit on the previous season (equivalent to £472,600 in 2021),[1][2] manager Harry Curtis again elected to not make any significant off-season signings,[3] stating "negotiations took place in an effort to get certain players of great repute, but the deals did not come off. During this close season the position still seems to be the same, the clubs being unwilling to part with players, irrespective of the price offered".[4] Enquiries for Manchester City's Peter Doherty, Blackpool's Danny Blair, Everton's Joe Mercer, Hull City's David Parker and Scots Jimmy Carabine and Andy Black were all rebuffed.[4]

Long-serving Scottish international wing half Duncan McKenzie was sold to Middlesbrough in May 1938 for a £6,000 fee.[5] After youngsters Les Smith and Gerry McAloon were promoted into the first team during the previous two seasons,[6] Curtis would again dip into the reserve and junior ranks and give debuts to left back Doug Anderson and forwards Len Townsend and George Wilkins during the season.[6] Brentford finished pre-season with a 2–1 Football League Jubilee Fund victory over neighbours Chelsea.[7]

Brentford started the First Division season with two wins and a draw – the second victory being played in front of a club record 38,535 home crowd versus London rivals Arsenal.[8][9] Just one point from the following seven matches dropped the Bees to the bottom of the First Division.[8] Scottish international forward David McCulloch's previous prolific goalscoring form had deserted him and reliable forwards Bobby Reid and Billy Scott also found goalscoring chances hard to come by.[6] Having scored just twice in 9 appearances, McCulloch departed Griffin Park to join Derby County for a £9,500 fee on 22 October 1938.[10] Brentford's form picked up slightly after McCulloch's departure, losing just three of the following 12 matches,[8] but two other regular starters departed in the midst of the run – forward George Eastham to Blackpool for £5,000 and long-serving captain Arthur Bateman was forced to retire.[11] Manager Curtis signed Irish international full back Bill Gorman to partner George Poyser in defence and promoted young forwards Len Townsend and George Wilkins to the first team.[12] In December 1938, he added former Fulham reserve team manager Joe Edelston to the coaching staff.[13]

Brentford's bad form continued through to February 1939 and again the team was hit by the loss of a key players, with Scottish international forward Bobby Reid moving to Sheffield United and Gerry McAloon departing for Wolverhampton Wanderers the following month.[14] Manager Curtis brought in two new forwards, Tommy Cheetham from local rivals Queens Park Rangers and Les Boulter from Charlton Athletic for £5,000 each.[15] Cheetham scored on his second appearance to begin a run of five wins and a draw,[6] which took the Bees up to 13th position and effectively saved the club's top-flight status.[8] Brentford lost seven of the remaining 10 matches and finished in 18th place.[8]

Despite the poor finish, the season ended on a high note, when on 24 May 1939, 21-year-old forward Les Smith became the second Brentford player to win a full England cap,[16] which came in a 2–0 friendly win over Romania in Bucharest.[17]

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
16 Sunderland 42 13 12 17 54 67 0.806 38
17 Portsmouth 42 12 13 17 47 70 0.671 37
18 Brentford 42 14 8 20 53 74 0.716 36
19 Huddersfield Town 42 12 11 19 58 64 0.906 35
20 Chelsea 42 12 9 21 64 80 0.800 33
Source:

Results

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division

No. DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
1 27 August 1938Huddersfield TownH2–1 26,638Brown, McCulloch
2 3 September 1938Everton A1–2 35,989Reid
3 8 September 1938ArsenalH1–0 38,535McAloon
4 10 September 1938Wolverhampton WanderersH0–1 28,027
5 17 September 1938Aston VillaA0–5 49,092
6 19 September 1938BlackpoolA1–4 21,970Scott
7 24 September 1938SunderlandH2–3 26,128Eastham, McCulloch
8 1 October 1938Grimsby TownA0–0 12,106
9 8 October 1938Derby County H1–3 23,539Scott
10 15 October 1938Stoke CityA2–3 23,588Holliday (pen), Hopkins
11 22 October 1938Chelsea H1–0 31,425Reid
12 29 October 1938Charlton AthleticA1–1 32,191Scott
13 5 November 1938Bolton WanderersH2–2 24,594Atkinson (og), Scott
14 12 November 1938Leeds United A2–3 22,555Edelston, Brown
15 19 November 1938Liverpool H2–1 20,977Holliday (2)
16 26 November 1938Leicester CityA1–1 16,634Scott
17 3 December 1938MiddlesbroughH2–1 21,746Holliday, Sneddon
18 10 December 1938BirminghamA1–5 23,333Holliday
19 17 December 1938Manchester UnitedH2–5 14,919Gibbons, Vose (og)
20 24 December 1938Huddersfield TownA2–1 11,483Smith, Townsend
21 27 December 1938PortsmouthA2–2 31,732Townsend, McAloon
22 31 December 1938EvertonH2–0 27,861Townsend (2)
23 14 January 1939Wolverhampton WanderersA2–5 23,944Edelston (2)
24 28 January 1939SunderlandA1–1 19,591Sneddon (pen)
25 4 February 1939Grimsby TownH1–2 17,380Scott
26 8 February 1939Aston VillaH2–4 21,162Edelston, Reid (pen)
27 11 February 1939Derby County A2–1 19,707Hopkins, Cheetham
28 18 February 1939Stoke CityH1–0 26,237Cheetham
29 22 February 1939PortsmouthH2–0 14,290McAloon, Scott
30 25 February 1939ChelseaA3–1 33,511Cheetham (2), Smith
31 4 March 1939Charlton Athletic H1–0 24,440Hopkins
32 11 March 1939Bolton WanderersA1–1 15,161Boulter
33 18 March 1939Leeds UnitedH0–1 21,480
34 25 March 1939LiverpoolA0–1 18,113
35 1 April 1939Leicester CityH2–0 17,238Smith, Hopkins
36 7 April 1939Preston North EndH3–1 30,780Cheetham (2), Edelston
37 8 April 1939MiddlesbroughA1–3 18,191Cheetham
38 10 April 1939Preston North End A0–2 22,350
39 15 April 1939Birmingham H0–1 15,298
40 22 April 1939Manchester UnitedA0–3 15,353
41 29 April 1939BlackpoolH1–1 12,761Cheetham
42 6 May 1939ArsenalA0–2 30,928

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance
3R7 January 1939Newcastle United H0–2 27,551

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1938–39 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Joe Crozier (1914-12-02)2 December 1914 (aged 23) East Fife 1937
Defenders
DF Doug Anderson (1914-03-25)25 March 1914 (aged 24) Hibernian 1937
DF Bill Gorman (1911-01-13)13 January 1911 (aged 27) Bury 1938
DF George Poyser (1910-02-06)6 February 1910 (aged 28) Port Vale 1934
DF Joe Wilson (1911-09-29)29 September 1911 (aged 26) Southend United 1935
Midfielders
HB Vic Aicken (1914-10-29)29 October 1914 (aged 23) Glentoran 1937
HB Sam Briddon (1915-07-26)26 July 1915 (aged 23) Port Vale 1935
HB Buster Brown (1910-09-06)6 September 1910 (aged 27) Huddersfield Town 1937
HB Joe James (c) (1910-01-13)13 January 1910 (aged 28) Battersea Church 1929
HB Tally Sneddon (1914-04-01)1 April 1914 (aged 24) Falkirk 1937
Forwards
FW Les Boulter (1913-08-31)31 August 1913 (aged 24) Charlton Athletic 1939
FW Tommy Cheetham (1910-10-11)11 October 1910 (aged 27) Queens Park Rangers 1939
FW Maurice Edelston (1918-04-27)27 April 1918 (aged 20) Wimbledon 1937 Amateur
FW Jackie Gibbons (1914-04-10)10 April 1914 (aged 24) Tottenham Hotspur 1938 Amateur
FW Jack Holliday (1908-12-19)19 December 1908 (aged 29) Middlesbrough 1932
FW Idris Hopkins (1910-10-11)11 October 1910 (aged 27) Crystal Palace 1932
FW Ernest Muttitt (1908-07-24)24 July 1908 (aged 30) Middlesbrough 1932
FW Billy Scott (1907-12-06)6 December 1907 (aged 30) Middlesbrough 1932
FW Les Smith (1918-03-13)13 March 1918 (aged 20) Petersham 1934
FW Len Townsend (1917-08-31)31 August 1917 (aged 20) Hayes 1937
FW George Wilkins (1919-10-27)27 October 1919 (aged 18) Hayes 1938
Players who left the club mid-season
DF Arthur Bateman (1908-04-01)1 April 1908 (aged 30) Southend United 1934 Retired
FW George Eastham (1914-08-13)13 August 1914 (aged 24) Bolton Wanderers 1937 Transferred to Blackpool
FW Gerry McAloon (1916-09-13)13 September 1916 (aged 21) St Francis 1934 Transferred to Wolverhampton Wanderers
FW David McCulloch (1912-10-05)5 October 1912 (aged 25) Heart of Midlothian 1935 Transferred to Derby County
FW Bobby Reid (1911-02-19)19 February 1911 (aged 27) Hamilton Academical 1936 Transferred to Sheffield United
  • Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[6] Timeless Bees,[18] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939[19]

Coaching staff

Name Role
Harry Curtis Manager
Jimmy Bain Assistant Manager
Bob Kane Trainer
Jack Cartmell Assistant Trainer
Joe Edelston Assistant Trainer

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 Joe Crozier 42 0 1 0 43 0
DF Doug Anderson 1 0 0 0 1 0
DF Arthur Bateman 7 0 0 0 7 0
DF Bill Gorman 24 0 1 0 25 0
DF George Poyser 3301 0 340
DF Joe Wilson 10 0 0 0 10 0
HB Vic Aicken 3 0 0 0 3 0
HB Sam Briddon 601 070
HB Buster Brown 3321 0 342
HB Joe James 39 0 1 0 40 0
HB Tally Sneddon 27 2 0 0 27 2
FW Les Boulter 16 1 16 1
FW Tommy Cheetham 17 8 17 8
FW George Eastham 11 1 11 1
FW Maurice Edelston 19 5 0 0 19 5
FW Jackie Gibbons 11 1 0 0 11 1
FW Jack Holliday 1050 0 105
FW Idris Hopkins 32 4 1 0 33 4
FW Gerry McAloon 14 3 1 0 15 3
FW David McCulloch 9 2 9 2
FW Ernest Muttitt 13 0 0 0 13 0
FW Bobby Reid 17 3 0 0 17 3
FW Billy Scott 28 7 1 0 29 7
FW Les Smith 33 3 1 0 34 3
FW Len Townsend 4 4 1 0 5 4
FW George Wilkins 3 0 0 0 3 0
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[6]

Goalscorers

Pos. Nat Player FL1 FAC Total
FW Tommy Cheetham 8 0 8
FW Billy Scott 7 0 7
FW Maurice Edelston 5 0 5
FW Jack Holliday 5 0 5
FW Idris Hopkins 4 0 4
FW Len Townsend 4 0 4
FW Gerry McAloon 3 0 3
FW Bobby Reid 3 0 3
FW Les Smith 3 0 3
FW David McCulloch 2 2
HB Buster Brown 2 0 2
HB Tally Sneddon 2 0 2
FW George Eastham 1 1
FW Les Boulter 1 0 1
FW Jackie Gibbons 1 0 1
Opponents 2 0 2
Total53053
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[6]

Full

Pos. Nat Player Caps Goals Ref
DF Bill Gorman 1 0 [20]
FW Les Boulter 1 1 [21]
FW Idris Hopkins 3 1 [22]
FW Les Smith 1 0 [17]

Amateur

Pos. Nat Player Caps Goals Ref
FW Maurice Edelston 3 4 [23]
FW Jackie Gibbons 3 4 [23]

Management

Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Harry Curtis 27 August 1938 6 May 1939 43 14 8 21 032.56|42 14 8 20 033.33

Summary

Games played43 (42 First Division, 1 FA Cup)
Games won14 (14 First Division, 0 FA Cup)
Games drawn8 (8 First Division, 0 FA Cup)
Games lost21 (20 First Division, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored53 (53 First Division, 0 FA Cup)
Goals conceded76 (74 First Division, 2 FA Cup)
Clean sheets8 (8 First Division, 0 FA Cup)
Biggest league win2–0 on three occasions; 3–1 versus Preston North End, 7 April 1939
Worst league defeat5–0 versus Aston Villa, 17 September 1938
Most appearances43, Joe Crozier (42 First Division, 1 FA Cup)
Top scorer (league)8, Tommy Cheetham
Top scorer (all competitions)8, Tommy Cheetham

Transfers & loans

Cricketers are not included in this list.
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
May 1938 HB William Gibbons Wrexham n/a [24]
May 1938 DF Harry Oliver Hartlepools United £1,500 [25]
19 June 1938 FW Fred Durrant Folkestone n/a [26]
June 1938 DF Bob Allen Doncaster Rovers n/a [27]
July 1938 HB Ray Ferris Glentoran Amateur [28]
July 1938 FW Fred Rowell Sunderland n/a [29]
16 August 1938 FW Jackie Gibbons Tottenham Hotspur Amateur [30]
December 1938 DF Bill Gorman Bury £7,000 [31]
1938 GK James Bayne n/a n/a [32]
1938 HB John Moore Unattached Free [33]
1938 DF Robert Smith Unattached n/a [34]
January 1939 FW Cyril Brown Felixstowe n/a [35]
7 February 1939 FW Les Boulter Charlton Athletic £5,000 [36]
7 February 1939 FW Tommy Cheetham Queens Park Rangers £5,000 [37]
April 1939 DF Fred Mansfield Cambridge Town n/a [38]
n/a FW Albert Degnan Charlton Athletic n/a [39]
n/a FW Ron Griffin Lincoln City n/a [39]
n/a FW Johnny Kay n/a n/a [40]
n/a n/a Archie Waddell n/a n/a [40]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
May 1938 HB Duncan McKenzie Middlesbrough £6,000 [5]
21 October 1938 FW David McCulloch Derby County £9,500 [10]
November 1938 FW George Eastham Blackpool £5,000 [11]
February 1939 FW Bobby Reid Sheffield United £6,000 [41]
16 March 1939 FW Gerry McAloon Wolverhampton Wanderers £5,000 [39]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
May 1939 DF Bob Allen Dartford June 1939 [27]
May 1939 DF Arthur Bateman Retired [42]
May 1939 FW Albert Degnan Albion Rovers 15 June 1939 [39]
May 1939 FW Maurice Edelston Corinthian May 1939 [43]
May 1939 HB Ray Ferris Cambridge Town 1939 [44]
May 1939 FW Jackie Gibbons Tottenham Hotspur 1939 [25]
May 1939 FW Ron Griffin Watford August 1939 [39]

References

  1. Brentford F.C. at the Football Club History Database
  2. ""BEES'" RECORD PROFIT". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 1 July 1938.
  3. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 64-65.
  4. "STAR PLAYERS FOR BRENTFORD? Fruitless Offers Made for Doherty and Blair. HARRY CURTIS'S DISCLOSURES. Shortage of First-class Players: What the Club is Willing to Pay". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 15 July 1938.
  5. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 106.
  6. White 1989, p. 375.
  7. "Brentford v Chelsea – 20/08/1938 | Stamford-Bridge.com The History of Chelsea FC". www.stamford-bridge.com. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  8. Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1938-1939 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 10 September 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  9. Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Harefield, Middlesex: Yore Publications. p. 15. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  10. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 104.
  11. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 17, 52.
  12. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 67-68.
  13. Moore, Tom (25 May 2017). "In pictures: Brentford FC in the 1920s and 1930s". getwestlondon. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  14. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 104, 131–134, 166.
  15. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 24, 37.
  16. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 149.
  17. "Les Smith". 11v11.com. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  18. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  19. Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN 190589161X.
  20. "Bill Gorman". 11v11.com. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  21. "Leslie Boulter". 11v11.com. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  22. "Dai Hopkins". 11v11.com. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  23. "England Matches – The Amateurs 1906–1939". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  24. Argus (20 May 1938). ""BEES'" FIXTURES. List of Games for Next Season. TWO NEW PLAYERS". The Brentford & Chiswick Times.
  25. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 64.
  26. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 51.
  27. "Bob Allen". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  28. Ray Ferris at WorldFootball.net
  29. "Fred Rowell". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  30. ""BEES'" CAPTURE. A. H. Gibbons Signed on Amateur Forms. PLAYING TO-MORROW. When He Nearly Turned Professional". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 19 August 1938.
  31. "Bill Gorman". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  32. Argus (1938). "BEES" REVEAL THEIR FINDS." New Young Goalkeeper Impresses with Sound Display. A BRIGHT OUTLOOK. Anderson Shines: Briddon Waiting His Chance: Strong Reserve Strength". The Brentford & Chiswick Times.
  33. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 110.
  34. Souvenir of the Football League Jubilee. 1938. p. 3.
  35. "Cyril Brown". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  36. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 24.
  37. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 162–165. ISBN 0951526200.
  38. "Fred Mansfield". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  39. Litster, John. Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
  40. "NEW STARS WERE ON SHOW. But Two "Unknowns" Stole Trial Match Limelight. BRENTFORD WELL EQUIPPED. New Players Impress: Brilliance of Young Kay and Waddell: Team for To-morrow". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 18 August 1939.
  41. White 1989, p. 165.
  42. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 17.
  43. "Maurice Edelston". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  44. "NIFG: Ray Ferris". nifootball.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
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