1947–48 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1947–48 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Second Division. In the Bees' first second-tier season since 1934–35, the club slumped to a 15th-place finish.

Brentford
1947–48 season
ChairmanFrank Davis
ManagerHarry Curtis
StadiumGriffin Park
First Division15th
FA CupFourth round
Top goalscorerLeague: Gibbons (13)
All: Gibbons (14)
Highest home attendance34,500
Lowest home attendance13,723
Average home league attendance23,341

Season summary

After relegation to the Second Division at the end of the 1946–47 season, Brentford were forced to cash in on their assets and received £16,000 from the sales of George Smith and Scotland international Archie Macaulay.[1] No less than 14 players departed Griffin Park during the off-season, with five players coming in at a cost of nearly £20,000 – half back David Nelson and forwards Peter Buchanan, Tommy Dawson, Tommy Dougall and Jackie Gibbons, with Gibbons rejoining the club after making 11 appearances while an amateur during the 1938–39 season.[1] After a poor start to the season, Jimmy Hogan was brought in as a coach.[1] It would be long-serving trainer Bob Kane's final season with the club.[2]

Brentford had an awful start to the season, winning one and losing eight of the opening 9 matches to leave the club rooted to the bottom of the table.[3] Bit-part half back Cyril Toulouse was transferred to Tottenham Hotspur in exchange for Jack Chisholm, who lead the team's recovery from the centre of the field.[4] Just three defeats in 13 matches between late-September and mid-December 1946 finally lifted the club out of the relegation places.[3] More players would come and go in the second half of the season – Tony Harper and Fred Monk came in from non-league football,[4] with Percy Gleeson, George Stewart and Arthur Shaw transferring out.[5][6][7]

Brentford finished a tumultuous season in 15th place, 11 points above the relegation zone, having lost just four of the final 20 matches of the league campaign.[3] The season ended with an irksome 1–0 defeat to local rivals (and Second Division champions) Queens Park Rangers in the Ealing Hospital Cup final.[1] The club record for fewest goalscorers in a season was equalled, with just eight players finding the net.[8]

League table
Main article: 1947–48 Football League Second Division
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
13 Luton Town 42 14 12 16 56 59 0.949 40
14 Bradford Park Avenue 42 16 8 18 68 72 0.944 40
15 Brentford 42 13 14 15 44 61 0.721 40
16 Chesterfield 42 16 7 19 54 55 0.982 39
17 Plymouth Argyle 42 9 20 13 40 58 0.690 38
Source:

Results
Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Football League Second Division
No. DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
1 23 August 1947Fulham A0–5 32,823
2 27 August 1947Luton TownH0–3 17,022
3 30 August 1947Coventry CityH1–4 19,107Gibbons
4 3 September 1947Luton Town A0–3 20,921
5 6 September 1947Newcastle UnitedA0–1 56,692
6 10 September 1947Nottingham ForestH3–1 15,005Buchanan, Nelson, Blakeman
7 13 September 1947Birmingham CityH1–2 25,523Dawson
8 17 September 1947Nottingham Forest A0–2 18,617
9 20 September 1947West Bromwich AlbionA2–3 29,445Buchanan, Gibbons
10 27 September 1947BarnsleyH3–3 22,137Gleeson, Gibbons, Buchanan
11 4 October 1947Plymouth ArgyleA0–0 23,959
12 11 October 1947Bradford Park AvenueH2–1 24,682Dawson, Girling
13 18 October 1947Cardiff CityH0–0 34,483
14 25 October 1947Sheffield WednesdayH1–0 29,112Gibbons
15 1 November 1947Tottenham HotspurA0–4 42,362
16 8 November 1947Millwall H2–1 26,251Buchanan, Girling
17 15 November 1947ChesterfieldA0–4 11,320
18 22 November 1947West Ham UnitedH1–1 24,105Dawson
19 29 November 1947BuryA2–2 12,856Dawson, Gibbons
20 6 December 1947SouthamptonH2–2 18,735Dawson, Nelson
21 13 December 1947Doncaster RoversA0–0 16,916
22 20 December 1947FulhamH0–2 20,717
23 25 December 1947Leicester CityH2–2 21,291Dawson (2)
24 27 December 1947Leicester City A2–1 32,440Dawson, Girling
25 3 January 1948Coventry CityA0–3 20,180
26 17 January 1948Newcastle UnitedH1–0 29,684Gibbons
27 31 January 1948Birmingham City A0–0 37,542
28 7 February 1948West Bromwich AlbionH1–0 25,234Nelson
29 14 February 1948BarnsleyA1–1 21,399Gibbons
30 21 February 1948Plymouth ArgyleH0–0 13,723
31 28 February 1948Bradford Park AvenueA1–1 11,666Buchanan
32 6 March 1948Cardiff CityA0–1 41,032
33 20 March 1948Tottenham Hotspur H2–0 31,297Buchanan, Monk
34 26 March 1948Leeds UnitedH3–0 30,538Girling, Gibbons (2)
35 27 March 1948MillwallA1–0 27,519Monk
36 29 March 1948Leeds UnitedA1–1 26,775Dawson
37 3 April 1948Chesterfield H0–3 24,164
38 10 April 1948West Ham United A1–0 21,471Gibbons
39 12 April 1948Sheffield WednesdayA1–1 36,130Gibbons
40 17 April 1948BuryH4–1 20,419Blakeman, Gibbons, Buchanan, Dawson
41 24 April 1948SouthamptonA1–2 18,511Gibbons
42 1 May 1948Doncaster RoversH2–1 16,939Buchanan, Girling

FA Cup
Main article: 1947–48 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer(s)
3R 10 January 1948 Rotherham United A 3–0 22,000 Dawson, Gibbons, Buchanan
4R24 January 1948Middlesbrough H1–2 34,500 Girling

Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1947–48 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Joe Crozier (1914-12-02)2 December 1914 (aged 32) East Fife 1937
GK Ted Gaskell (1916-12-19)19 December 1916 (aged 30) Buxton 1937
Defenders
DF Bill Gorman (1911-01-13)13 January 1911 (aged 36) Bury 1938
DF Malky MacDonald (1913-10-26)26 October 1913 (aged 33) Kilmarnock 1946
DF Roddy Munro (1920-07-27)27 July 1920 (aged 27) Rangers 1946
DF Harry Oliver (1921-02-16)16 February 1921 (aged 26) Hartlepools United 1938
DF Eric Ventom (1920-02-15)15 February 1920 (aged 27) Unattached 1946
Midfielders
HB Jack Chisholm (1924-10-09)9 October 1924 (aged 22) Tottenham Hotspur 1947
HB Frank Latimer (1923-10-03)3 October 1923 (aged 23) Snowdown Colliery Welfare 1945
HB Tom Manley (1912-10-07)7 October 1912 (aged 34) Manchester United 1939
HB John Moore (1923-09-25)25 September 1923 (aged 23) Unattached 1938
HB David Nelson (1918-02-03)3 February 1918 (aged 28) Fulham 1947
HB George Paterson (c) (1914-09-26)26 September 1914 (aged 32) Celtic 1946
Forwards
FW Alec Blakeman (1918-06-11)11 June 1918 (aged 29) Oxford City 1946
FW Peter Buchanan (1915-10-13)13 October 1915 (aged 31) Fulham 1947
FW Tommy Dawson (1915-02-06)6 February 1915 (aged 32) Charlton Athletic 1947
FW Tommy Dougall (1921-05-17)17 May 1921 (aged 26) Coventry City 1947
FW José Gallego (1923-04-08)8 April 1923 (aged 24) Cambridge City 1947
FW Jackie Gibbons (1914-04-10)10 April 1914 (aged 33) Bradford Park Avenue 1947
FW Dickie Girling (1922-05-24)24 May 1922 (aged 25) Crystal Palace 1947
FW Fred Monk (1920-10-09)9 October 1920 (aged 26) Guildford City 1948
Players who left the club mid-season
HB Cyril Toulouse (1923-12-24)24 December 1923 (aged 23) St Cuthberts 1946 Transferred to Tottenham Hotspur
FW Percy Gleeson (1921-07-18)18 July 1921 (aged 26) Hounslow Town 1947 Transferred to Guildford City
FW George Stewart (1920-10-18)18 October 1920 (aged 26) Hamilton Academical 1946 Transferred to Queens Park Rangers
  • Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[9] Timeless Bees[10]

Coaching staff
Name Role
Harry Curtis Manager
Jimmy Bain Assistant Manager
Jimmy Hogan Coach
Bob Kane Trainer
Jack Cartmell 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 40 0 2 0 42 0
GK Ted Gaskell 2 0 0 0 2 0
DF Bill Gorman 17 0 2 0 19 0
DF Malky MacDonald 41 0 2 0 43 0
DF Roddy Munro 21 0 0 0 21 0
DF Harry Oliver 4 0 0 0 4 0
DF Eric Ventom 100 0 10
HB Jack Chisholm 19 0 2 0 21 0
HB Frank Latimer 1600 0 160
HB Tom Manley 2702 0290
HB John Moore 2 0 0 0 2 0
HB David Nelson 40 3 2 0 42 3
HB George Paterson 26 0 0 0 26 0
HB Cyril Toulouse 3 0 — 3 0
FW Alec Blakeman 25 2 2 0 27 2
FW Peter Buchanan 40 8 2 1 42 9
FW Tommy Dawson 36 10 2 1 38 11
FW Tommy Dougall 2 0 0 0 2 0
FW José Gallego 5 0 0 0 5 0
FW Jackie Gibbons 41 13 2 1 43 14
FW Dickie Girling 33 5 2 1 35 6
FW Percy Gleeson 9 1 0 0 9 1
FW Fred Monk 4 2 — 4 2
FW George Stewart 8 0 0 0 8 0
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[9]

Goalscorers
Pos. Nat Player FL2 FAC Total
FW Jackie Gibbons 13 1 14
FW Tommy Dawson 10 1 11
FW Peter Buchanan 8 1 9
FW Dickie Girling 5 1 6
HB David Nelson 3 0 3
FW Alec Blakeman 2 0 2
FW Fred Monk 2 0 2
FW Percy Gleeson 1 0 1
Total44448
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[9]

Management
Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Harry Curtis 23 August 1947 1 May 1948 44 14 14 16 031.82 42 13 14 15 030.95

Summary
Games played44 (42 Second Division, 2 FA Cup)
Games won14 (13 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Games drawn14 (14 Second Division, 0 FA Cup)
Games lost16 (15 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored48 (44 Second Division, 4 FA Cup)
Goals conceded63 (61 Second Division, 2 FA Cup)
Clean sheets13 (12 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Biggest league win3–0 versus Leeds United, 26 March 1948; 4–1 versus Bury, 17 April 1948
Worst league defeat5–0 versus Fulham, 23 August 1947
Most appearances46, Jackie Gibbons, Malky MacDonald (41 Second Division, 2 FA Cup)
Top scorer (league)13, Jackie Gibbons
Top scorer (all competitions)14, Jackie Gibbons

Transfers & loans
Cricketers are not included in this list.
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
June 1947 HB R. Goddard n/a n/a [11]
11 August 1947 FW Jackie Gibbons Bradford Park Avenue £8,000 [12]
13 August 1947 FW Tommy Dougall Coventry City n/a [13]
August 1947 FW Peter Buchanan Fulham £3,000 [14]
August 1947 n/a Tommy Connors n/a n/a [15]
August 1947 FW Tommy Dawson Charlton Athletic £5,000 [16]
August 1947 HB David Nelson Fulham £3,000 [17]
August 1947 n/a Les Smith n/a n/a [18]
October 1947 HB Jack Chisholm Tottenham Hotspur Exchange [4]
March 1948 FW Fred Monk Guildford City Exchange [19]
April 1948 WH Bernard Gardner n/a n/a [20]
April 1948 HB Tony Harper Headington United n/a [20]
1948 FW Connors Wembley n/a [21]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
15 May 1947 GK Frank Clack Bristol City £1,500 [22]
4 June 1947 FW Bill Naylor Leyton Orient £2,000 [23]
June 1947 HB George Smith Queens Park Rangers £6,000 [24]
July 1947 FW Archie Macaulay Arsenal £10,000 [25]
October 1947 HB Cyril Toulouse Tottenham Hotspur Exchange [26]
March 1948 FW George Stewart Queens Park Rangers £4,000 [27]
14 April 1948 HB Arthur Shaw Arsenal n/a [7]
April 1948 FW Percy Gleeson Guildford City Exchange [20]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
May 1948 FW Connors n/a n/a [21]
May 1948 FW José Gallego Southampton May 1948 [28]
May 1948 HB R. Goddard n/a n/a [21]
May 1948 HB John Moore Gloucester City 1948 [19]
May 1948 DF Eric Ventom Retired [29]

References
  1. White 1989, p. 186-189.
  2. Lucas, Eric (21 May 1948). "JIMMY HOGAN WILL BE LEAVING BRENTFORD – Famous Coach's Contract Not To Be Renewed – FOUR TEAMS NEXT SEASON – Junior Side For Up To Eighteen Will Compete In Hounslow League". The Brentford & Chiswick Times.
  3. Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1947-1948 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  4. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 36.
  5. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 66.
  6. "George Stewart". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  7. "Arthur Shaw, 1924–2015". www.arsenal.com. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  8. Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Yore Publications. p. 63. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  9. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 379. ISBN 0951526200.
  10. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  11. "Signatures To-Day". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 1 August 1947.
  12. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 64.
  13. "CRITICAL DAYS ARE AHEAD AT GRIFFIN PARK PREVIEW OF PROSPECTS – Confidence and Team Spirit – Key to Success". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 15 August 1947.
  14. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 30.
  15. "Scottish Football Historical Archive – C". p. 137. Archived from the original on 28 November 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  16. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 46.
  17. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 115.
  18. Lucas, Eric (22 August 1947). "FAMOUS IRISH INTERNATIONAL NOT FOR BRENTFORD – Dr. O'Flanagan Decides to Again Help Arsenal – GALLEGO GETS HlS PLACE – Surprises In Saturday's Public Trial". The Brentford & Chiswick Times.
  19. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 110.
  20. "Sportsman's Roundabout – "Bees" Sign Centre-Forward and Centre-Half". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 30 April 1948.
  21. "Paterson Makes Request To Be Transferred – Brentford Place Oliver, Gleeson and Moore On List". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 23 April 1948.
  22. "Bristol City FC :: Citystats – Unofficial archive of results, players and managers". www.citystats.org.uk. Archived from the original on 13 August 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  23. "TWO MORE. Naylor and Brown for Third Division Club. SURPRISE IN STORE". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 6 June 1947.
  24. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 148.
  25. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 98.
  26. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 161-162.
  27. "QPRnet – Seasonal Stats – 1947/48". Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  28. "José Gallego". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  29. "Eric Ventom". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
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