1954–55 Brentford F.C. season
During the 1954–55 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division South. In the club's first season back in the third-tier since 1932–33, the Bees finished in mid-table. The season was memorable for the debuts of youth products Jim Towers and George Francis, who went on to dominate Brentford's goalscoring charts until 1961.
1954–55 season | ||
---|---|---|
Chairman | Frank Davis | |
Manager | Bill Dodgin Sr. | |
Stadium | Griffin Park | |
Third Division South | 11th | |
FA Cup | Fourth round | |
Top goalscorer | League: Dudley (18) All: Dudley (20) | |
Highest home attendance | 18,756 | |
Lowest home attendance | 4,960 | |
Average home league attendance | 11,077 | |
| ||
Season summary
The 1954–55 Third Division South season marked Brentford's fall from the top-flight to the basement in just seven years.[1] It was the Bees' first Third Division South season since 1932–33 and though he had a limited budget,[1] manager Bill Dodgin Sr. did not conduct a fire sale and managed to keep his squad intact.[2] Forwards George Stobbart, Jeff Taylor and goalkeeper Sonny Feehan were the only players to arrive at Griffin Park.[2] Ageing full back Fred Monk was released, goalkeeper Alf Jefferies transferred to Torquay United and the £10,000 fee from the sale of Jimmy Bloomfield to Arsenal was spent on relieving the club's debts.[2] The products of Alf Bew's youth team were to be given more of a chance than in the previous Second Division seasons.[3]
Brentford drew four of the first six matches of the season and Bees slowly pulled away from the relegation places, before moving into the top 10 after three wins in a four match spell in late September 1954.[4] An uneven period followed through to February 1955, with the club drifting slowly towards the re-election places (the £10,000 sale of forward Billy Dare to West Ham United was offset by the emergence of youth product Jim Towers),[2] before rising back to an 11th-place finish after just three defeats in the final 18 matches of the season.[4] Frank Dudley (20, George Stobbart (19) and Jim Towers (16) led the club's goalscoring chart,[3] but while 82 league goals were scored, 82 were also conceded, which was amongst the highest in the Third Division South.[5]
The FA Cup proved to be an entertaining distraction, with Brentford entering at the first round stage for the first time since the 1932–33 season.[4] Non-league clubs Nuneaton Borough and Crook Town were beaten in the first two rounds and it took two replays to get past Bradford City in the third.[4] The Bees fell to Newcastle United at St James' Park in the fourth round, but they gave their First Division hosts a scare with goals from George Stobbart and Johnny Rainford in the 3–2 defeat.[3]
A number of club records were set or equalled during the season:
- Most home league goals conceded in a season: 36[6]
- Highest away league aggregate score: 10 (4–6 versus Southampton, 21 August 1954)[7]
- Most league games without a clean sheet: 20 (25 September 1954 – 19 February 1955)[7]
- Quickest league goalscorer: 10 seconds – George Stobbart (versus Aldershot, 6 November 1954)[19]
League table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
9 | Coventry City | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 67 | 59 | 1.136 | 47 |
10 | Southend United | 46 | 17 | 12 | 17 | 83 | 80 | 1.038 | 46 |
11 | Brentford | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 82 | 82 | 1.000 | 46 |
11 | Norwich City | 46 | 18 | 10 | 18 | 60 | 60 | 1.000 | 46 |
13 | Northampton Town | 46 | 19 | 8 | 19 | 73 | 81 | 0.901 | 46 |
Results
- Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend
Win | Draw | Loss |
Football League Third Division South
No. | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 21 August 1954 | Southampton | A | 4–6 | 21,454 | Robertson (2), Dudley, Stobbart |
2 | 26 August 1954 | Shrewsbury Town | H | 2–2 | 12,743 | Dudley, Maloney (og) |
3 | 28 August 1954 | Coventry City | H | 2–3 | 13,057 | Stobbart, McDonnell (og) |
4 | 30 August 1954 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 2–2 | 8,352 | Stobbart, Towers |
5 | 4 September 1954 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 1–1 | 18,756 | Heath |
6 | 8 September 1954 | Reading | A | 0–0 | 9,692 | |
7 | 11 September 1954 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 4–3 | 17,361 | Towers, Heath, Robertson, Dudley |
8 | 16 September 1954 | Reading | H | 2–2 | 9,639 | Dudley, Stobbart |
9 | 18 September 1954 | Torquay United | H | 4–2 | 13,552 | Towers, Heath, Stobbart, Webber (og) |
10 | 23 September 1954 | Gillingham | H | 3–0 | 9,241 | Dudley (2), Heath |
11 | 25 September 1954 | Bristol City | A | 1–2 | 28,980 | Dudley |
12 | 29 September 1954 | Gillingham | A | 1–2 | 8,202 | Towers |
13 | 2 October 1954 | Walsall | H | 0–2 | 12,584 | |
14 | 9 October 1954 | Exeter City | A | 2–3 | 9,700 | Robertson, Rainford |
15 | 16 October 1954 | Colchester United | H | 3–2 | 10,218 | Robertson, Stobbart, Rainford |
16 | 23 October 1954 | Norwich City | A | 0–1 | 20,148 | |
17 | 30 October 1954 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | H | 1–3 | 12,037 | Towers |
18 | 6 November 1954 | Aldershot | A | 3–2 | 7,178 | Stobbart, Towers, Heath |
19 | 13 November 1954 | Swindon Town | H | 4–2 | 10,634 | Stobbart (2), Heath, Towers |
20 | 27 November 1954 | Northampton Town | H | 1–3 | 10,029 | Croy (og) |
21 | 4 December 1954 | Watford | A | 2–2 | 10,438 | Towers (2) |
22 | 18 December 1954 | Southampton | H | 0–3 | 9,318 | |
23 | 25 December 1954 | Millwall | H | 3–1 | 13,591 | Stobbart (2), Towers |
24 | 27 December 1954 | Millwall | A | 2–2 | 20,034 | Anslow (og), Hurley (og) |
25 | 1 January 1955 | Coventry City | A | 0–1 | 14,481 | |
26 | 15 January 1955 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 1–1 | 9,835 | Dudley |
27 | 22 January 1955 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 2–3 | 10,173 | Stobbart, Bristow |
28 | 5 February 1955 | Torquay United | A | 2–4 | 6,117 | Dudley, Sperrin |
29 | 12 February 1955 | Bristol City | H | 2–2 | 11,563 | Rainford, Robertson |
30 | 19 February 1955 | Walsall | A | 2–2 | 9,028 | Robertson, Francis |
31 | 26 February 1955 | Exeter City | H | 1–0 | 7,454 | Stobbart |
32 | 5 March 1955 | Colchester United | A | 2–3 | 8,254 | Francis, Dudley |
33 | 12 March 1955 | Norwich City | H | 1–0 | 11,155 | Stobbart |
34 | 19 March 1955 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | A | 2–1 | 8,241 | Coote, Taylor |
35 | 26 March 1955 | Aldershot | H | 1–1 | 8,755 | Taylor |
36 | 2 April 1955 | Swindon Town | A | 1–1 | 5,924 | Taylor |
37 | 8 April 1955 | Leyton Orient | H | 2–0 | 18,093 | Dudley, Towers (pen) |
38 | 9 April 1955 | Crystal Palace | H | 3–0 | 12,013 | Towers, Dudley (2) |
39 | 11 April 1955 | Leyton Orient | A | 1–0 | 9,529 | Dudley |
40 | 16 April 1955 | Northampton Town | A | 2–1 | 6,980 | Taylor, Towers |
41 | 21 April 1955 | Newport County | A | 1–3 | 7,926 | Rainford |
42 | 23 April 1955 | Watford | H | 3–2 | 9,394 | Dudley, Towers (2, 1 pen) |
43 | 27 April 1955 | Crystal Palace | A | 1–1 | 8,170 | Andrews (og) |
44 | 30 April 1955 | Southend United | A | 2–3 | 6,464 | Dudley (2) |
45 | 2 May 1955 | Newport County | H | 1–0 | 4,960 | Stobbart |
46 | 5 May 1955 | Southend United | H | 2–2 | 5,812 | Heath, Dudley |
FA Cup
Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1R | 20 November 1954 | Nuneaton Borough | H | 2–1 | 13,180 | Dare, Stobbart | |
2R | 11 December 1954 | Crook Town | H | 4–1 | 14,300 | Rainford, Stobbart (2), Towers | |
3R | 8 January 1955 | Bradford City | H | 1–1 | 12,120 | Dudley | |
3R (replay) | 12 January 1955 | Bradford City | A | 2–2 (a.e.t.) | 7,963 | Dare, Dudley | |
3R (2nd replay) | 20 January 1955 | Bradford City | N | 1–0 | 5,961 | Dare | [nb 1] |
4R | 29 January 1955 | Newcastle United | A | 2–3 | 46,574 | Stobbart, Rainford |
Playing squad
- Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1954–55 season.
Pos. | Name | Nat. | Date of birth (age) | Signed from | Signed in | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Goalkeepers | ||||||
GK | Gerry Cakebread | 1 April 1936 (aged 18) | Youth | 1954 | Amateur | |
GK | Sonny Feehan | 17 September 1926 (aged 27) | Northampton Town | 1954 | ||
GK | Reg Newton | 30 June 1926 (aged 28) | Leyton Orient | 1949 | ||
Defenders | ||||||
DF | Alan Bassham | 3 October 1933 (aged 20) | Youth | 1953 | ||
DF | Ken Coote | 19 May 1928 (aged 26) | Wembley | 1949 | ||
DF | Ken Horne | 25 June 1926 (aged 28) | Blackpool | 1950 | ||
DF | George Lowden | 2 March 1933 (aged 21) | Unattached | 1951 | ||
Midfielders | ||||||
HB | Wally Bragg | 8 July 1929 (aged 25) | Twickenham Celtic | 1946 | ||
HB | George Bristow | 25 June 1933 (aged 21) | Youth | 1950 | ||
HB | Ian Dargie | 3 October 1931 (aged 22) | Tonbridge | 1952 | ||
HB | Leonard Geard | 12 February 1934 (aged 20) | Fulham | 1953 | ||
HB | Tony Harper | 26 May 1925 (aged 29) | Headington United | 1948 | ||
HB | Roy Hart | 30 May 1933 (aged 21) | Youth | 1955 | ||
HB | Frank Latimer (c) | 3 October 1923 (aged 30) | Snowdown Colliery Welfare | 1945 | ||
HB | Terry Robinson | 8 November 1929 (aged 24) | Loughborough College | 1954 | Amateur | |
Forwards | ||||||
FW | Frank Dudley | 9 May 1925 (aged 29) | Cardiff City | 1953 | ||
FW | George Francis | 4 February 1934 (aged 20) | Youth | 1955 | ||
FW | Dennis Heath | 28 September 1934 (aged 19) | Youth | 1954 | ||
FW | Johnny Rainford | 11 December 1930 (aged 23) | Cardiff City | 1953 | ||
FW | James Robertson | 20 February 1929 (aged 25) | Arsenal | 1953 | ||
FW | Len Roe | 11 January 1932 (aged 22) | Ruislip Manor | 1951 | ||
FW | Billy Sperrin | 9 April 1922 (aged 32) | Guildford City | 1949 | ||
FW | George Stobbart | 9 January 1921 (aged 33) | Millwall | 1954 | ||
FW | Jeff Taylor | 20 September 1930 (aged 23) | Fulham | 1954 | ||
FW | Jim Towers | 15 April 1933 (aged 21) | Youth | 1954 | ||
Players who left the club mid-season | ||||||
FW | Billy Dare | 14 February 1927 (aged 27) | Hendon | 1948 | Transferred to West Ham United |
Coaching staff
Name | Role |
---|---|
Bill Dodgin Sr. | Manager |
Jimmy Bain | Assistant Manager |
Tommy Eggleston | Trainer |
Statistics
Appearances and goals
Pos | Nat | Name | League | FA Cup | Total | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
GK | Gerry Cakebread | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
GK | Sonny Feehan | 25 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 31 | 0 | |
GK | Reg Newton | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | |
DF | Alan Bassham | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
DF | Ken Coote | 37 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 43 | 1 | |
DF | Ken Horne | 35 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 41 | 0 | |
DF | George Lowden | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
HB | Wally Bragg | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
HB | George Bristow | 30 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 35 | 1 | |
HB | Ian Dargie | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 0 | |
HB | Leonard Geard | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
HB | Tony Harper | 26 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 31 | 0 | |
HB | Roy Hart | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
HB | Frank Latimer | 28 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 33 | 0 | |
HB | Terry Robinson | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
FW | Billy Dare | 8 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 3 | |
FW | Frank Dudley | 34 | 18 | 4 | 2 | 38 | 20 | |
FW | George Francis | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | |
FW | Dennis Heath | 35 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 39 | 7 | |
FW | Johnny Rainford | 33 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 39 | 6 | |
FW | James Robertson | 31 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 7 | |
FW | Len Roe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
FW | Billy Sperrin | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
FW | George Stobbart | 45 | 15 | 6 | 4 | 51 | 19 | |
FW | Jeff Taylor | 13 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 4 | |
FW | Jim Towers | 31 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 37 | 16 |
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[3]
Goalscorers
Pos. | Nat | Player | FL3 | FAC | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
FW | Frank Dudley | 18 | 2 | 20 | |
FW | George Stobbart | 15 | 4 | 19 | |
FW | Jim Towers | 15 | 1 | 16 | |
FW | Dennis Heath | 7 | 0 | 7 | |
FW | James Robertson | 7 | 0 | 7 | |
FW | Johnny Rainford | 4 | 2 | 6 | |
FW | Jeff Taylor | 4 | 0 | 4 | |
FW | Billy Dare | 0 | 3 | 3 | |
FW | George Francis | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
HB | George Bristow | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
DF | Ken Coote | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
FW | Billy Sperrin | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
Opponents | 7 | 0 | 7 | ||
Total | 82 | 12 | 94 |
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[3]
Representative appearances
Pos. | Nat | Player | Team | Caps | Goals | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HB | Johnny Rainford | Third Division South | 1 | 1 | [2] |
Management
Name | Nat | From | To | Record All Comps | Record League | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
P | W | D | L | W % | P | W | D | L | W % | ||||
Bill Dodgin Sr. | 21 August 1954 | 5 May 1955 | 52 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 36.54 | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 34.78 |
Summary
Games played | 52 (46 Third Division South, 6 FA Cup) |
Games won | 19 (16 Third Division South, 3 FA Cup) |
Games drawn | 16 (14 Third Division South, 2 FA Cup) |
Games lost | 17 (16 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup) |
Goals scored | 94 (82 Third Division South, 12 FA Cup) |
Goals conceded | 90 (82 Third Division South, 8 FA Cup) |
Clean sheets | 9 (8 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup) |
Biggest league win | 3–0 on two occasions |
Worst league defeat | 3–0 versus Southampton, 18 December 1954 |
Most appearances | 51, George Stobbart (45 Third Division South, 6 FA Cup) |
Top scorer (league) | 18, Frank Dudley |
Top scorer (all competitions) | 20, Frank Dudley |
Transfers & loans
Players transferred in | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date | Pos. | Name | Previous Club | Fee | Ref. |
May 1954 | FW | George Stobbart | Millwall | Exchange | [9] |
June 1954 | FW | Wendell Morgan | Cardiff City | Free | [10] |
August 1954 | GK | Sonny Feehan | Northampton Town | Free | [11] |
August 1954 | FW | Jeff Taylor | Fulham | n/a | [12] |
September 1954 | HB | Terry Robinson | Loughborough College | Amateur | [13] |
Players transferred out | |||||
Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Fee | Ref. |
May 1954 | FW | Terry Ledgerton | Millwall | Exchange | [9] |
June 1954 | GK | Alf Jefferies | Torquay United | n/a | [14] |
July 1954 | FW | Jimmy Bloomfield | Arsenal | £10,000 | [15] |
January 1955 | FW | Billy Dare | West Ham United | £10,000 | [2] |
Players released | |||||
Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Join date | Ref. |
May 1955 | HB | Tony Harper | Headington United | 1955 | [16] |
May 1955 | HB | Roy Hart | n/a | n/a | [17] |
May 1955 | DF | Ken Moffitt | Berwick Rangers | 1955 | [18] |
Notes
- Match played at Arsenal Stadium, London.
References
- Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford Complete History - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
- White 1989, p. 215-217.
- White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 383. ISBN 0951526200.
- Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1954-1955 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
- Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford League Table 1954-1955 - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 26 November 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
- Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Yore Publications. pp. 78–79. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
- Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford scoring and sequence records - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
- Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
- Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 155.
- "Wendell Morgan". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
- Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 55.
- "Jeff Taylor". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
- "Terry Robinson". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
- "Alf Jefferies". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
- "Jimmy Bloomfield | Arsenal.com". www.arsenal.com. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
- Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 72.
- Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 73.
- Ken Moffitt at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database