1952–53 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1952–53 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Second Division. A forgettable season, during which Tommy Lawton was appointed as the club's player-manager, ended with a 17th-place finish.

Brentford
1952–53 season
ChairmanFrank Davis
ManagerJimmy Bain
(until 2 January 1953)
Tommy Lawton
(from 2 January 1953)
StadiumGriffin Park
Second Division17th
FA CupFourth round
Top goalscorerLeague: Lawton (13)
All: Lawton (15)
Highest home attendance29,241
Lowest home attendance8,565
Average home league attendance17,474

Season summary
Forward Tommy Lawton (right) was appointed as player-manager in January 1953

Brentford's 1952–53 pre-season preparations were thrown into disarray by the departure of secretary-manager Jackie Gibbons in August 1952.[1] In his letter of resignation, Gibbons wrote of having failed to see "eye to eye" with the Brentford board.[1] Long-serving assistant manager Jimmy Bain took over as caretaker until a permanent appointment could be made.[1] 34-year-old forward Les Smith was the club's only signing and returned to Griffin Park after six years with Aston Villa.[1] Half backs Bill Slater and forwards Johnny Paton and Jimmy Bowie were the only departures of note.[1]

Brentford had a poor start to the Second Division season and won just five of the opening 20 matches.[2] Four defeats and no wins in a five-match spell in September 1952 led caretaker Bain to break up his settled XI and experiment with moving players into different positions.[1] Want-away captain Ron Greenwood left for First Division club Chelsea in October 1952 and forward Jimmy D'Arcy arrived in part-exchange.[1] The tide began to turn after back to back victories over Barnsley on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.[2] Forward Tommy Lawton was announced as Brentford's player-manager on 2 January 1953 and Jimmy Bain reverted to his role as assistant.[1] Lawton was unbeaten in 9 of his first 12 matches, but the team lost confidence after a pair of heavy defeats in March and slumped to a 17th-place finish.[1][2]

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
15 Lincoln City 42 11 17 14 64 71 0.901 39
16 Everton 42 12 14 16 71 75 0.947 38
17 Brentford 42 13 11 18 59 76 0.776 37
18 Hull City 42 14 8 20 57 69 0.826 36
19 Notts County 42 14 8 20 60 88 0.682 36
Source:

Results
Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Football League Second Division
No. DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
1 23 August 1952Lincoln CityH1–0 27,787Goodwin
2 27 August 1952Huddersfield TownA0–0 21,358
3 30 August 1952Hull CityA2–2 35,993Dare, Monk (pen)
4 3 September 1952Huddersfield Town H1–3 21,733Lawton
5 6 September 1952Blackburn RoversH3–2 21,904Sperrin, Lawton, Monk (pen)
6 8 September 1952Sheffield UnitedA2–3 17,397Goodwin, Ledgerton
7 13 September 1952Nottingham ForestA0–3 26,923
8 17 September 1952Sheffield UnitedH0–0 11,707
9 20 September 1952EvertonH2–4 21,042Lawton, Harper
10 27 September 1952Bury A0–3 12,398
11 4 October 1952Doncaster Rovers A2–0 13,465Monk, Goodwin
12 11 October 1952SouthamptonH3–0 17,225Lawton, Monk (pen), Smith
13 18 October 1952Notts County A0–4 26,033
14 25 October 1952Leicester CityH4–2 21,655Goodwin, Lawton (2), Dare
15 1 November 1952West Ham UnitedA1–3 23,263D'Arcy
16 8 November 1952FulhamH2–2 29,241D'Arcy, Monk (pen)
17 15 November 1952Rotherham United A1–4 15,427Monk (pen)
18 22 November 1952Plymouth ArgyleH1–2 17,192Lawton
19 29 November 1952Leeds UnitedA2–3 16,077Dare, Ledgerton
20 13 December 1952Birmingham CityA1–3 9,963Lawton
21 20 December 1952Lincoln CityA0–0 11,953
22 25 December 1952BarnsleyH4–0 15,976Sperrin, Dare, Lawton (2)
23 26 December 1952BarnsleyA2–0 13,725McNeil (og), Ledgerton
24 3 January 1953Hull City H1–0 16,035D'Arcy
25 17 January 1953Blackburn Rovers A0–3 21,487
26 24 January 1953Nottingham ForestH1–1 15,110Ledgerton
27 7 February 1953EvertonA0–5 36,431
28 14 February 1953BuryH2–2 9,387Sperrin, Bloomfield
29 21 February 1953Doncaster RoversH1–0 16,716Lawton
30 28 February 1953SouthamptonA2–0 20,327Ellerington (og), Dare
31 7 March 1953Notts CountyH5–0 16,147Monk (pen), Harper, Dare, Lawton (2)
32 14 March 1953Leicester CityA3–2 21,307Morrad, Latimer
33 21 March 1953West Ham UnitedH1–4 18,117Latimer
34 28 March 1953Fulham A0–5 25,550
35 3 April 1953Swansea TownH0–0 17,876
36 4 April 1953Rotherham UnitedH1–1 14,411Bloomfield
37 6 April 1953Swansea TownA2–3 21,695Ledgerton, Godwin
38 11 April 1953Plymouth ArgyleA0–1 19,955
39 18 April 1953Leeds UnitedH3–3 12,783Ledgerton, Coote, Lawton
40 22 April 1953Luton TownH1–1 16,347Ledgerton
41 25 April 1953Luton Town A1–0 15,826Dare
42 1 May 1953Birmingham CityH1–2 8,565

FA Cup
Main article: 1952–53 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer(s)
3R 10 January 1953 Leeds United H 2–1 27,000 Ledgerton, Lawton
4R 31 January 1953 Aston Villa A 0–0 40,625
4R (replay)4 February 1953Aston Villa H1–2 21,735 Lawton

Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1952–53 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Alf Jefferies (1922-02-09)9 February 1922 (aged 30) Oxford City 1945
GK Reg Newton (1926-06-30)30 June 1926 (aged 26) Leyton Orient 1949
Defenders
DF Ken Horne (1926-06-25)25 June 1926 (aged 26) Blackpool 1950
DF Tecwyn Jones (1930-01-03)3 January 1930 (aged 22) Holywell Town 1950
DF Fred Monk (1920-10-09)9 October 1920 (aged 31) Guildford City 1948
DF Roddy Munro (1920-07-27)27 July 1920 (aged 32) Rangers 1946
Midfielders
HB Wally Bragg (1929-07-08)8 July 1929 (aged 23) Twickenham Celtic 1946
HB George Bristow (1933-06-25)25 June 1933 (aged 19) Youth 1950
HB Ken Coote (1928-05-19)19 May 1928 (aged 24) Wembley 1949
HB Ian Dargie (1931-10-03)3 October 1931 (aged 20) Tonbridge 1952
HB Tony Harper (1925-05-26)26 May 1925 (aged 27) Headington United 1948
HB Frank Latimer (1923-10-03)3 October 1923 (aged 28) Snowdown Colliery Welfare 1945
Forwards
FW Jimmy Bloomfield (1934-02-15)15 February 1934 (aged 18) Hayes 1952
FW Micky Bull (1930-04-03)3 April 1930 (aged 22) Youth 1948
FW Jimmy D'Arcy (1921-12-14)14 December 1921 (aged 30) Chelsea 1952
FW Billy Dare (1927-02-14)14 February 1927 (aged 25) Hendon 1948
FW Verdi Godwin (1926-02-11)11 February 1926 (aged 26) Grimsby Town 1952
FW Jackie Goodwin (1920-09-29)29 September 1920 (aged 31) Birmingham City 1949
FW Tommy Lawton (1919-10-06)6 October 1919 (aged 32) Notts County 1952
FW Terry Ledgerton (1930-10-07)7 October 1930 (aged 21) Huyton 1950
FW Frank Morrad (1920-02-28)28 February 1920 (aged 32) Brighton & Hove Albion 1951
FW Les Smith (1918-03-13)13 March 1918 (aged 34) Aston Villa 1952
FW Billy Sperrin (1922-04-09)9 April 1922 (aged 30) Guildford City 1949
Players who left the club mid-season
HB Ron Greenwood (c) (1921-11-11)11 November 1921 (aged 30) Bradford Park Avenue 1949 Transferred to Chelsea
  • Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford,[3] Timeless Bees[4]

Coaching staff

Jimmy Bain (23 August 1952 – 2 January 1953)
Name Role
Jimmy Bain Caretaker Manager
David Richards Trainer
Jack Cartmell Assistant Trainer

Tommy Lawton (2 January 1953 – 1 May 1953)
Name Role
Tommy Lawton Player-Manager
Jimmy Bain Assistant Manager
David Richards 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 Alf Jefferies 35 0 3 0 38 0
GK Reg Newton 7 0 0 0 7 0
DF Ken Horne 10 0 0 0 10 0
DF Tecwyn Jones 4 0 0 0 4 0
DF Fred Monk 40 7 3 0 43 7
DF Roddy Munro 34 0 3 0 37 0
HB Wally Bragg 38 0 3 0 41 0
HB George Bristow 5 0 0 0 5 0
HB Ken Coote 17 1 0 0 17 1
HB Ian Dargie 10 0 0 0 10 0
HB Ron Greenwood 9 0 — 9 0
HB Tony Harper 36 3 3 0 39 3
HB Frank Latimer 30 3 3 0 33 3
FW Jimmy Bloomfield 15 2 0 0 15 2
FW Micky Bull 300 030
FW Jimmy D'Arcy 13 3 0 0 13 3
FW Billy Dare 33 8 3 0 36 8
FW Verdi Godwin 6 1 0 0 6 1
FW Jackie Goodwin 24 4 3 0 27 4
FW Tommy Lawton 34 13 3 2 37 15
FW Terry Ledgerton 2873 1 318
FW Frank Morrad 5 1 0 0 5 1
FW Les Smith 14 1 0 0 14 1
FW Billy Sperrin 12 3 3 0 15 3
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[3]

Goalscorers
Pos. Nat Player FL2 FAC Total
FW Tommy Lawton 13 2 15
FW Billy Dare 8 0 8
FW Terry Ledgerton 7 1 8
DF Fred Monk 7 0 7
FW Jackie Goodwin 4 0 4
FW Jimmy D'Arcy 3 0 3
HB Tony Harper 3 0 3
HB Frank Latimer 3 0 3
FW Billy Sperrin 3 0 3
FW Jimmy Bloomfield 2 0 2
HB Ken Coote 1 0 1
FW Verdi Godwin 1 0 1
FW Frank Morrad 1 0 1
FW Les Smith 1 0 1
Opponents 2 0 2
Total59362
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[3]

International caps
Pos. Nat Player Caps Goals Ref
FW Jimmy D'Arcy 4 1 [5]

Management
Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Jimmy Bain 23 August 1952 26 December 1952 23 7 5 11 030.43 23 7 5 11 030.43
Tommy Lawton 3 January 1952 1 May 1953 22 7 7 8 031.82 19 6 6 7 031.58

Summary
Games played45 (42 Second Division, 3 FA Cup)
Games won13 (13 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Games drawn12 (11 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Games lost19 (18 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored62 (59 Second Division, 3 FA Cup)
Goals conceded79 (76 Second Division, 3 FA Cup)
Clean sheets15 (14 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Biggest league win5–0 versus Notts County, 7 March 1953
Worst league defeat5–0 on two occasions
Most appearances43, Fred Monk (43 Second Division, 3 FA Cup)
Top scorer (league)13, Tommy Lawton
Top scorer (all competitions)15, Tommy Lawton

Transfers & loans
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
June 1952 FW Les Smith Aston Villa n/a [6]
October 1952 FW Bert Allum Hereford United n/a [7]
October 1952 HB Jimmy Bloomfield Hayes n/a [8]
October 1952 FW Jimmy D'Arcy Chelsea Part-exchange [9]
November 1952 FW Vernon Avis Unattached n/a [10]
November 1952 FW John Pearson Chase of Chertsey n/a [11]
March 1953 HB Leonard Geard Fulham n/a [12]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
July 1952 FW Jimmy Bowie Watford n/a [13]
July 1952 FW Johnny Paton Watford n/a [14]
August 1952 DF Wally Quinton Shrewsbury Town n/a [15]
August 1952 HB Bill Slater Wolverhampton Wanderers Amateur [16]
October 1952 HB Ron Greenwood Chelsea Part-exchange [1]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
May 1953 DF Frank Morrad Bedford Town n/a [17]
May 1953 DF Roddy Munro Cambridge City n/a [18]

References
  1. White 1989, p. 207-211.
  2. Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1952-1953 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  3. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 382. ISBN 0951526200.
  4. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  5. "Jimmy D'Arcy". nifootball.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  6. "Les Smith". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  7. "Bert Allum". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  8. "Hayes & Yeading United FC: The Official Website". hyufc.com. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  9. "Jimmy D'Arcy". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  10. "Vernon Avis". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  11. "John Pearson". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  12. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 63.
  13. "Watford Football Club archive 1881–2016 – Bond to Bunce" (PDF). Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  14. "Watford Football Club archive 1881–2016 – Pate to Pretty" (PDF). Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  15. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 67.
  16. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 146.
  17. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 110-111.
  18. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 43-44.
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