1952–53 Brentford F.C. season

Brentford
1952–53 season
Chairman Frank Davis
Manager Jimmy Bain
(until 2 January 1953)
Tommy Lawton
(from 2 January 1953)
Stadium Griffin Park
Second Division 17th
FA Cup Fourth round
Top goalscorer League: Lawton (13)
All: Lawton (15)
Highest home attendance 29,241
Lowest home attendance 8,565
Average home league attendance 17,474

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.

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 former Brentford 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, winning 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 playing players in different positions.[1] Want-away captain Ron Greenwood left for First Division club Chelsea in October 1952, with forward Jimmy D'Arcy arriving in part-exchange.[1] The tide began to turn in December, 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, with Jimmy Bain reverting to his previous role.[1] Lawton was unbeaten in 9 of his first 12 matches, but the team lost confidence after 4–1 and 5–0 defeats to West Ham United and rivals Fulham respectively in late March and would win just once more before the end of the season, leading to a 17th-place finish.[2]

League table

Pos Team Pld Home Away F A GA GD Pts
W D L F A W D L F A
1Sheffield United42153360271074372897551.764+4260
2Huddersfield Town 42144351141065331984332.545+5158
3Luton Town 4215155317777313284491.714+3552
4Plymouth Argyle 4212543724849283665601.083+549
5Leicester City 42136255295610344589741.203+1548
6Birmingham City 4211374438876272871661.076+548
7Nottingham Forest 42115546327311313577671.149+1044
8Fulham 4214165228399294381711.141+1044
9Blackburn Rovers 42124540206411284568651.046+344
10Leeds United 42134442241119293971631.127+843
11Swansea Town 42109245265313335578810.963–342
12Rotherham United 4297541307212344475741.014+141
13Doncaster Rovers 4299326173711324758640.906–640
14West Ham United 429573828489203258600.967–239
15Lincoln City 4299341262811234564710.901–739
16Everton 4298438233612335271750.947–438
17Brentford 4288538295313214759760.776–1537
18Hull City 42116436193216215057690.826–1236
19Notts County 42115541313315195760880.682–2836
20Bury 42106533303315205153810.654–2835
21Southampton 4257945445610234168850.800–1733
22Barnsley 424413314614161662471080.435–6118

P = 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

Key
Division Champions, promoted
Promoted
Relegated

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 England 9 February 1922 (aged 30) Oxford City 1945
GK Reg Newton England 30 June 1926 (aged 26) Leyton Orient 1949
Defenders
DF Ken Horne England 25 June 1926 (aged 26) Blackpool 1950
DF Tecwyn Jones Wales 3 January 1930 (aged 22) Holywell Town 1950
DF Fred Monk England 9 October 1920 (aged 31) Guildford City 1948
DF Roddy Munro Scotland 27 July 1920 (aged 32) Rangers 1946
Midfielders
HB Wally Bragg England 8 July 1929 (aged 23) Twickenham Celtic 1946
HB George Bristow England 25 June 1933 (aged 19) Youth 1950
HB Ken Coote England 19 May 1928 (aged 24) Wembley 1949
HB Ian Dargie England 3 October 1931 (aged 20) Tonbridge 1952
HB Tony Harper England 26 May 1925 (aged 27) Headington United 1948
HB Frank Latimer England 3 October 1923 (aged 28) Snowdown Colliery Welfare 1945
Forwards
FW Jimmy Bloomfield England 15 February 1934 (aged 18) Hayes 1952
FW Micky Bull England 3 April 1930 (aged 22) Youth 1948
FW Jimmy D'Arcy Northern Ireland 14 December 1921 (aged 30) Chelsea 1952
FW Billy Dare England 14 February 1927 (aged 25) Hendon 1948
FW Verdi Godwin England 11 February 1926 (aged 26) Grimsby Town 1952
FW Jackie Goodwin England 29 September 1920 (aged 31) Birmingham City 1949
FW Tommy Lawton England 6 October 1919 (aged 32) Notts County 1952
FW Terry Ledgerton England 7 October 1930 (aged 21) Huyton 1950
FW Frank Morrad England 28 February 1920 (aged 32) Brighton & Hove Albion 1951
FW Les Smith England 13 March 1918 (aged 34) Aston Villa 1952
FW Billy Sperrin England 9 April 1922 (aged 30) Guildford City 1949
Players who left the club mid-season
HB Ron Greenwood (c) England 11 November 1921 (aged 30) Bradford Park Avenue 1949 Transferred to Chelsea

Coaching staff

Jimmy Bain (23 August 1952 – 2 January 1953)

Name Role
Scotland Jimmy Bain Caretaker Manager
Wales Dai Richards Trainer
England Jack Cartmell Assistant Trainer

Tommy Lawton (2 January 1953 – 1 May 1953)

Name Role
England Tommy Lawton Player-Manager
Scotland Jimmy Bain Assistant Manager
Wales Dai Richards 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 Alf Jefferies 35 0 3 0 38 0
GK England Reg Newton 7 0 0 0 7 0
DF England Ken Horne 10 0 0 0 10 0
DF Wales Tecwyn Jones 4 0 0 0 4 0
DF England Fred Monk 40 7 3 0 43 7
DF Scotland Roddy Munro 34 0 3 0 37 0
HB England Wally Bragg 38 0 3 0 41 0
HB England George Bristow 5 0 0 0 5 0
HB England Ken Coote 17 1 0 0 17 1
HB England Ian Dargie 10 0 0 0 10 0
HB England Ron Greenwood 9 0 9 0
HB England Tony Harper 36 3 3 0 39 3
HB England Frank Latimer 30 3 3 0 33 3
FW England Jimmy Bloomfield 15 2 0 0 15 2
FW EnglandMicky Bull 300 030
FW Northern Ireland Jimmy D'Arcy 13 3 0 0 13 3
FW England Billy Dare 33 8 3 0 36 8
FW England Verdi Godwin 6 1 0 0 6 1
FW England Jackie Goodwin 24 4 3 0 27 4
FW England Tommy Lawton 34 13 3 2 37 15
FW EnglandTerry Ledgerton 2873 1 318
FW England Frank Morrad 5 1 0 0 5 1
FW England Les Smith 14 1 0 0 14 1
FW England Billy Sperrin 12 3 3 0 15 3

Goalscorers

Pos. Nat Player FL2 FAC Total
FW England Tommy Lawton 13 2 15
FW England Billy Dare 8 0 8
FW England Terry Ledgerton 7 1 8
DF England Fred Monk 7 0 7
FW England Jackie Goodwin 4 0 4
FW Northern Ireland Jimmy D'Arcy 3 0 3
HB England Tony Harper 3 0 3
HB England Frank Latimer 3 0 3
FW England Billy Sperrin 3 0 3
FW England Jimmy Bloomfield 2 0 2
HB England Ken Coote 1 0 1
FW England Verdi Godwin 1 0 1
FW England Frank Morrad 1 0 1
FW England Les Smith 1 0 1
Opponents 2 0 2
Total59362

International caps

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

Management

Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Jimmy Bain Scotland 23 August 1952 26 December 1952 23 7 5 11 30.43 23 7 5 11 30.43
Tommy Lawton England 3 January 1952 1 May 1953 22 7 7 8 31.82 19 6 6 7 31.58

Summary

Games played 45 (42 Second Division, 3 FA Cup)
Games won 13 (13 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Games drawn 12 (11 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Games lost 19 (18 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored 62 (59 Second Division, 3 FA Cup)
Goals conceded 79 (76 Second Division, 3 FA Cup)
Clean sheets 15 (14 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Biggest league win 5–0 versus Notts County, 7 March 1953
Worst league defeat 5–0 on two occasions
Most appearances 43, 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 England Les Smith England Aston Villa n/a [6]
October 1952 FW England Bert Allum England Hereford United n/a [7]
October 1952 HB England Jimmy Bloomfield England Hayes n/a [8]
October 1952 FW Northern Ireland Jimmy D'Arcy England Chelsea Part-exchange [9]
November 1952 FW England Vernon Avis Unattached n/a [10]
November 1952 FW England John Pearson England Chase of Chertsey n/a [11]
March 1953 HB England Leonard Geard England Fulham n/a [12]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
July 1952 FW Scotland Jimmy Bowie England Watford n/a [13]
July 1952 FW Scotland Johnny Paton England Watford n/a [14]
August 1952 DF England Wally Quinton England Shrewsbury Town n/a [15]
August 1952 HB England Bill Slater England Wolverhampton Wanderers Amateur [16]
October 1952 HB England Ron Greenwood England Chelsea Part-exchange [1]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
May 1953 DF England Frank Morrad England Bedford Town n/a [17]
May 1953 DF Scotland Roddy Munro England Cambridge City n/a [18]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 White 1989, p. 207-211.
  2. 1 2 3 Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1952-1953 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Retrieved 2016-11-19.
  3. 1 2 3 4 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 2016-11-22.
  6. "Barry Hugman's Footballers - Leslie Smith". hugmansfootballers.com. Retrieved 2016-11-18.
  7. "Barry Hugman's Footballers - Bert Allum". hugmansfootballers.com. Retrieved 2016-11-18.
  8. "Hayes & Yeading United FC: The Official Website". hyufc.com. Retrieved 2016-11-18.
  9. "Barry Hugman's Footballers - Jimmy D'Arcy". hugmansfootballers.com. Retrieved 2016-11-18.
  10. "Barry Hugman's Footballers - Vernon Avis". hugmansfootballers.com. Retrieved 2016-11-20.
  11. "Barry Hugman's Footballers - John Pearson". hugmansfootballers.com. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
  12. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 63.
  13. "Watford Football Club archive 1881-2016 - Bond to Bunce" (PDF).
  14. "Watford Football Club archive 1881-2016 - Pate to Pretty" (PDF).
  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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