1931–32 Brentford F.C. season

Brentford
1931–32 season
Chairman Louis P. Simon
Manager Harry Curtis
Stadium Griffin Park
Third Division South 5th
FA Cup Fourth round
Top goalscorer League: Lane (22)
All: Lane (27)
Highest home attendance 26,139
Lowest home attendance 4,902
Average home league attendance 11,347

During the 1931–32 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division South. Despite leading the division for two months in mid-season, the Bees fell away to finish 5th.

Season summary

Future captain Joe James made his debut on 21 November 1931.[1]

Brentford manager Harry Curtis' additions to his squad for the 1931–32 Third Division South season were minor - backup goalkeeper Dave Smith, amateur half back Jackie Gibbons and forwards George Cook, George Robson and Bert Stephens. The team had a very strong first half of the season, rising to the top of the table by 5 December 1931 and staying there until 13 February 1932, when a run of just five defeats in 31 matches in all competitions came to an end.[2] Billy Lane kept up his prolific goalscoring form from the previous two seasons, scoring 20 goals in a 27 match spell,[3] with Jackie Foster,[4] Bill Berry and Jackie Gibbons also supporting with regular goals.[5][6]

As in the previous two seasons, Brentford's suffered a slump in the second half of the campaign, losing 9 of 14 matches between mid-February and late April to drop to as low as 9th, though two wins from the final two matches of the season elevated the side to a 5th-place finish.[2] Brentford had also reached the fourth round of the FA Cup for the second successive season, exiting the competition after a heavy 6–1 defeat at the hands of top-flight Manchester City at Maine Road.[2] It had been rumoured in April 1932 that manager Curtis had tendered his resignation, but chairman Louis P. Simon recognised his good work over the previous six years and persuaded him to stay.[7] A run of four successive home Football League draws during the season equalled the club record.[8]

Reserve team

Brentford's reserve team finished as champions of the London Combination for the first time.[9] The team went undefeated at home from 21 November 1931, setting off a run which extended until 4 November 1933.[10] Ralph Allen captained the team and scored a large percentage of the goals.[10][11]

League table

Pos Team Pld Home Away F A GA GD Pts
W D L F A W D L F A
1Fulham42153372279663935111621.790+4957
2Reading4219116521489324697671.448+3055
3Southend United4212544118966363577531.453+2453
4Crystal Palace42147048126411265174631.175+1151
5Brentford4211644022849283068521.308+1648
6Luton Town42161462254611334595701.357+2547
7Exeter City42163253164413244677621.242+1547
8Brighton & Hove Albion4212454221588313773581.259+1546
9Cardiff City42142562295610254487731.192+1446
10Norwich City42127251225511254576671.134+946
11Watford42144349275412325281791.025+246
12Coventry City421722742816143469108971.113+1144
13Queens Park Rangers42116450304611294379731.082+642
14Northampton Town42123648264413214369691.000±039
15Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic4288542325412284670780.897–838
16Clapton Orient4278641355313365577900.856–1335
17Swindon Town42122747312415235370840.833–1434
18Bristol Rovers42116446302217196265920.707–2734
19Torquay United42966493933152367721060.679–3433
20Mansfield Town[notes2 1] 421155544505162163751080.694–3332
21Gillingham4286726262217145640820.488–4228
22Thames42678353512181874531090.486–5623

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against;
GA = Goal average; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

  1. Mansfield Town were transferred to Third Division North for the following season.
Key
Division Champions, promoted
New club in the league
Re-elected
Failed re-election (none)
(Thames decided not to seek re-election)

Results

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Third Division South

No. DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
1 29 August 1931Queens Park RangersH1–0 20,739Robson
2 3 September 1931ThamesA1–1 4,217Cook
3 5 September 1931Exeter CityA1–4 7,093Lane
4 9 September 1931ReadingA2–1 9,155Lane, Foster
5 12 September 1931Coventry City H4–2 8,017Lane (3), Foster
6 19 September 1931GillinghamA2–1 7,225Lane, Foster
7 24 September 1931ReadingH3–0 8,942Lane (2), Foster
8 26 September 1931Luton Town H1–0 12,540Burns
9 3 October 1931Cardiff CityA2–3 9,521Burns, Lane
10 10 October 1931Northampton Town H2–0 12,694Lane (pen), Robson
11 17 October 1931Bristol RoversH4–2 11,338Burns, Robson (2 pens), Berry
12 24 October 1931Torquay UnitedA1–1 4,650Robson (pen)
13 31 October 1931Clapton OrientH3–0 11,295Berry (2), Burns
14 7 November 1931Swindon TownA3–1 6,415Lane, Foster (2)
15 14 November 1931Norwich City H0–1 11,484
16 21 November 1931Brighton & Hove AlbionA2–1 9,582Lane, Berry
17 5 December 1931Watford A4–1 12,086Robson, Foster, Lane (2)
18 19 December 1931Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticA3–1 5,000Lane, Foster, Burns
19 25 December 1931FulhamH0–0 26,139
20 26 December 1931FulhamA1–2 29,253Robson
21 2 January 1932Queens Park RangersA2–1 33,553Lane (2)
22 13 January 1932Mansfield TownH1–1 4,902Lane
23 16 January 1932Exeter CityH2–2 11,981Lane, Foster
24 28 January 1932Coventry CityA1–0 6,172Berry
25 30 January 1932GillinghamH1–1 11,361Berry
26 6 February 1932Luton TownA1–1 7,402Lane
27 13 February 1932Cardiff CityH2–3 16,239Crompton, Gibbins
28 20 February 1932Northampton TownA0–3 6,533
29 27 February 1932Bristol Rovers A0–2 6,114
30 5 March 1932Torquay UnitedH3–2 11,293Webster (og), Burns, Gibbins
31 12 March 1932Clapton OrientA2–2 10,700Crompton, Foster
32 19 March 1932Swindon TownH2–0 10,179Robson (pen), Foster
33 25 March 1932Southend United H2–3 15,237Crompton, Gibbins
34 26 March 1932Norwich City A0–1 10,422
35 28 March 1932Southend UnitedA0–1 17,313
36 2 April 1932Brighton & Hove Albion H2–2 9,107Gibbins (2)
37 9 April 1932Mansfield TownA0–2 4,932
38 13 April 1932Crystal PalaceH1–1 5,816Lane
39 16 April 1932WatfordH1–2 6,723Burns
40 23 April 1932Crystal PalaceA0–1 12,138
41 30 April 1932Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticH4–2 5,906Foster (2), Cook, Lane
42 7 May 1932ThamesH1–0 6,364Robson

FA Cup

Main article: 1931–32 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer(s)
1R 28 November 1931 Tunbridge Wells Rangers A 1–1 5,680 Burns
1R (replay) 2 December 1931 Tunbridge Wells Rangers H 2–1 10,000 Lane (pen), Burns
2R 12 December 1931 Norwich City H 4–1 17,050 Lane (2), Robson, Berry
3R 9 January 1932 Bath City H 2–0 15,700 Lane, Berry
4R23 January 1932Manchester City A1–6 56,190 Lane

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1931–32 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Edward Nash England 12 April 1902 (aged 29) Swindon Town 1930
GK Dave Smith Scotland 6 July 1903 (aged 28) Gillingham 1931
Defenders
DF Tom Adamson Scotland 12 February 1901 (aged 30) Bury 1929
DF Bill Bann Scotland 15 August 1902 (aged 29) Tottenham Hotspur 1930
DF William Hodge Scotland 31 August 1904 (aged 26) Rangers 1927
DF Alexander Stevenson Scotland 24 October 1903 (aged 27) Armadale 1927
DF George Weeks England 5 August 1902 (aged 29) Southall 1929
Midfielders
HB Jimmy Bain (c) Scotland 6 February 1899 (aged 32) Manchester Central 1928
HB Jackie Burns England 27 November 1906 (aged 24) Queens Park Rangers 1931 Amateur
HB Joe James England 13 January 1910 (aged 21) Battersea Church 1929
HB Harry Salt England 20 January 1899 (aged 32) Crystal Palace 1929
HB Teddy Ware England 17 September 1906 (aged 24) Chatham Town 1928
Forwards
FW Ralph Allen England 30 June 1906 (aged 25) Fulham 1930
FW Bill Berry England 18 August 1904 (aged 27) Gillingham 1926
FW George Cook England 27 February 1895 (aged 36) Tottenham Hotspur 1931
FW Arthur Crompton England 9 January 1903 (aged 28) Southend United 1932
FW Jackie Foster England 21 March 1903 (aged 28) Bristol City 1929
FW Vivian Gibbins England 10 August 1901 (aged 30) Clapton 1932 Amateur
FW Billy Lane England 23 October 1904 (aged 26) Reading 1929
FW Herbert Lawson England 12 April 1905 (aged 26) Arsenal 1927
FW George Robson England 17 June 1908 (aged 23) West Ham United 1931
FW Bert Stephens England 13 May 1909 (aged 22) Ealing Association 1931
FW Les Wilkins Wales 21 January 1907 (aged 24) West Ham United 1931

Coaching staff

Name Role
England Harry Curtis Manager
England Bob Kane Trainer
England Jack Cartmell Assistant Trainer

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Pos Nat Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England Edward Nash 35 0 5 0 40 0
GK Scotland Dave Smith 7 0 0 0 7 0
DF ScotlandTom Adamson 3505 0400
DF ScotlandBill Bann 400040
DF ScotlandWilliam Hodge 2903 0 320
DF Scotland Alexander Stevenson 14 0 2 0 16 0
DF England George Weeks 2 0 0 0 2 0
HB ScotlandJimmy Bain 3703 0400
HB EnglandJackie Burns 3675 2417
HB England Joe James 5 0 2 0 7 0
HB England Harry Salt 13 0 0 0 13 0
HB England Teddy Ware 41 0 5 0 46 0
FW England Ralph Allen 2 0 0 0 2 0
FW England Bill Berry 31 6 5 2 36 8
FW England George Cook 14 3 1 0 15 3
FW England Arthur Crompton 12 3 12 3
FW EnglandJackie Foster 40125 04512
FW EnglandVivian Gibbins 85 85
FW England Billy Lane 37 22 5 5 42 27
FW England Herbert Lawson 3 0 0 0 3 0
FW England George Robson 38 9 5 1 43 10
FW England Bert Stephens 2 0 0 0 2 0
FW Wales Les Wilkins 17 0 4 0 21 0

Goalscorers

Pos. Nat Player FL3 FAC Total
FW England Billy Lane 22 5 27
FW England Jackie Foster12012
FW England George Robson 9 1 10
FW England Bill Berry 6 2 8
HB England Jackie Burns 7 2 5
FW England Vivian Gibbins 5 5
FW England George Cook 3 0 3
FW England Arthur Crompton 3 3
Opponents 1 0 1
Total681078

Amateur international caps

Pos. Nat Player Caps Goals Ref
FW England Jackie Burns 3 0 [15]
FW England Vivian Gibbins 2 0 [15]

Management

Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Harry Curtis England 9 August 1931 7 May 1932 47 22 11 14 46.81|42 19 10 13 45.24

Summary

Games played 47 (42 Third Division South, 5 FA Cup)
Games won 22 (19 Third Division South, 3 FA Cup)
Games drawn 11 (10 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)
Games lost 14 (13 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored 78 (68 Third Division South, 10 FA Cup)
Goals conceded 61 (52 Third Division South, 9 FA Cup)
Clean sheets 10 (9 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)
Biggest league win 3–0 on two occasions; 4–1 versus Watford, 5 December 1931
Worst league defeat 3–0 versus Northampton Town, 20 February 1932; 4–1 versus Exeter City, 5 September 1931
Most appearances 46, Teddy Ware (41 Third Division South, 5 FA Cup)
Top scorer (league) 22, Billy Lane
Top scorer (all competitions) 27, Billy Lane

Transfers & loans

Cricketers are not included in this list.
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
August 1931 FW England George Cook England Tottenham Hotspur n/a [7]
1931 FW England Andy Anderson England Blyth Spartans n/a [7]
1931 HB England Jackie Burns England Queens Park Rangers Amateur [16]
1931 FW Scotland Malcolm Comrie Scotland Denny Hibernians n/a [7]
1931 HB England Cecil Smith England Brentford Market Free [17]
1931 GK Scotland Dave Smith England Gillingham Free [17]
1931 FW England Bert Stephens England Ealing Association Free [18]
February 1932 FW England Arthur Crompton England Southend United n/a [19]
February 1932 FW England Vivian Gibbins England Clapton Amateur [20]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
May 1932 FW England Andy Anderson n/a n/a [7]
May 1932 DF Scotland Bill Bann England Bristol Rovers 4 June 1932
May 1932 FW England George Cook Wales Colwyn Bay United 1932 [21]
May 1932 HB England Reginald Davies England Mansfield Town 1932 [22]
May 1932 FW England Vivian Gibbins England Bristol Rovers Amateur [20]
May 1932 GK England Edward Nash England Crystal Palace August 1932 [23]
May 1932 HB England Harry Salt England Walsall 1932 [24]
May 1932 GK Scotland Dave Smith Scotland Nithsdale Wanderers 1932 [17]
May 1932 DF England George Weeks England Watford July 1932 [25]
May 1932 FW Wales Les Wilkins England Swindon Town 1932 [26]

References

  1. "Brentford Football Club History". 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
  2. 1 2 3 Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1931-1932 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Retrieved 2016-05-18.
  3. "Brentford Football Club History". www.brentfordfchistory.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2016-06-23. Retrieved 2016-05-18.
  4. "Brentford Football Club History". www.brentfordfchistory.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2016-06-23. Retrieved 2016-05-18.
  5. "Brentford Football Club History". www.brentfordfchistory.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2016-05-07. Retrieved 2016-05-18.
  6. "Brentford Football Club History". www.brentfordfchistory.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2016-06-23. Retrieved 2016-05-18.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 132–135. ISBN 0951526200.
  8. Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Harefield, Middlesex: Yore Publications. p. 78. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  9. Haynes 1998, p. 83.
  10. 1 2 Haynes 1998, p. 108-110.
  11. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 10.
  12. 1 2 3 4 White 1989, p. 371.
  13. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920-2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  14. Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN 190589161X.
  15. 1 2 "England Matches - The Amateurs 1906-1939". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
  16. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 31.
  17. 1 2 3 Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 147.
  18. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 154.
  19. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 42.
  20. 1 2 Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 64.
  21. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 39.
  22. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 45-46.
  23. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 114.
  24. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 140.
  25. "Watford Football Club archive 1881-2016: Players - Waugh to Williams" (PDF).
  26. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 169.
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