1954–55 Brentford F.C. season

Brentford
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
← 1953–54 1955–56 →

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 campaign was memorable for the debuts of youth products Jim Towers and George Francis, who would dominate Brentford's goalscoring charts until 1961.

Season summary

Forward Billy Dare joined Second Division club West Ham United for a £10,000 fee in January 1955.

The 1954–55 Third Division South season marked Brentford's fall from the top-flight to the basement in just seven years.[1] It would be the Bees' first season in the Third Division South since 1932–33 and manager Bill Dodgin Sr. was given little budget to work with,[1] due to the £10,000 from the sale of Jimmy Bloomfield to Arsenal being spent on relieving the club's debts.[2] Dodgin did not conduct a fire sale after Brentford's relegation and managed to keep his squad intact, with Millwall forward George Stobbart (arriving in exchange for Terry Ledgerton), forward Jeff Taylor and goalkeeper Sonny Feehan being the only players to arrive at Griffin Park.[2] Ageing full back Fred Monk was released and goalkeeper Alf Jefferies transferred to Torquay United.[2] The products of Alf Bew's youth team would 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,[4] one of which versus Shrewsbury Town on 30 August 1954 featured the debut of youth product Jim Towers.[3] Towers scored a late equaliser to salvage a 2–2 draw, the first of a club-record 163 goals scored during his Brentford career and he was voted by the Bees supporters as the club's greatest-ever player in 2013.[5][6] The 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 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, amongst the highest in the Third Division South.[7]

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 dispatched in the first two rounds and it took two replays to get past Bradford City in the third.[4] The Bees fell 3–2 to Newcastle United at St. James' Park, but gave their First Division hosts a scare with goals from George Stobbart and Johnny Rainford.[3]

A number of club records were set or equalled during the season:

League table

Pos Team Pld Home Away F A GA GD Pts
W D L F A W D L F A
1Bristol City461742622213643925101472.149+5470
2 Leyton Orient 46162548201076412789471.894+4261
3 Southampton 46166149198510263275511.471+2459
4 Gillingham 4612834128878363877661.167+1155
5 Millwall 46146344256512284372681.059+451
6 Brighton & Hove Albion 46144547276611293676631.206+1350
7 Watford 46119345267511263671621.145+950
8 Torquay United 46126551396611314382821.000±048
9 Coventry City 46155350263614173367591.136+847
10 Southend United 46135548284712355283801.038+346
11 Brentford 46116644365810384682821.000±046
12 Norwich City 46135540235513203760601.000±046
13 Northampton Town 46135547276314265473810.901–846
14 Aldershot 46126544234712314875711.056+445
15 Queens Park Rangers 46137346252714235069750.920–644
16 Shrewsbury Town 46145449242516215470780.897–842
17 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 4678832295108253657650.877–842
18 Reading 46710632266512334765730.890–841
19 Newport County 4688732293812284460730.822–1338
20 Crystal Palace 46911332242516205652800.650–2838
21 Swindon Town 46108530191715164546640.719–1837
22 Exeter City 4697730312813174247730.644–2637
23 Walsall 4696849361814265075860.872–1134
24 Colchester United 46761033402714205153910.582–3831

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
New club in the league (none)
Re-elected
Failed re-election (none)

Results

The programme for a floodlit friendly versus Grazer SK at Griffin Park on 16 February 1955.
Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Third Division South

No. DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
1 21 August 1954Southampton A4–6 21,454Robertson (2), Dudley, Stobbart
2 26 August 1954Shrewsbury TownH2–2 12,743Dudley, Maloney (og)
3 28 August 1954Coventry CityH2–3 13,057Stobbart, McDonnell (og)
4 30 August 1954Shrewsbury TownA2–2 8,352Stobbart, Towers
5 4 September 1954Queens Park RangersH1–1 18,756Heath
6 8 September 1954ReadingA0–0 9,692
7 11 September 1954Brighton & Hove AlbionA4–3 17,361Towers, Heath, Robertson, Dudley
8 16 September 1954ReadingH2–2 9,639Dudley, Stobbart
9 18 September 1954Torquay UnitedH4–2 13,552Towers, Heath, Stobbart, Webber (og)
10 23 September 1954Gillingham H3–0 9,241Dudley (2), Heath
11 25 September 1954Bristol CityA1–2 28,980Dudley
12 29 September 1954GillinghamA1–2 8,202Towers
13 2 October 1954Walsall H0–2 12,584
14 9 October 1954Exeter City A2–3 9,700Robertson, Rainford
15 16 October 1954Colchester UnitedH3–2 10,218Robertson, Stobbart, Rainford
16 23 October 1954Norwich CityA0–1 20,148
17 30 October 1954Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic H1–3 12,037Towers
18 6 November 1954AldershotA3–2 7,178Stobbart, Towers, Heath
19 13 November 1954Swindon TownH4–2 10,634Stobbart (2), Heath, Towers
20 27 November 1954Northampton TownH1–3 10,029Croy (og)
21 4 December 1954WatfordA2–2 10,438Towers (2)
22 18 December 1954SouthamptonH0–3 9,318
23 25 December 1954MillwallH3–1 13,591Stobbart (2), Towers
24 27 December 1954MillwallA2–2 20,034Anslow (og), Hurley (og)
25 1 January 1955Coventry City A0–1 14,481
26 15 January 1955Queens Park RangersA1–1 9,835Dudley
27 22 January 1955Brighton & Hove AlbionH2–3 10,173Stobbart, Bristow
28 5 February 1955Torquay UnitedA2–4 6,117Dudley, Sperrin
29 12 February 1955Bristol CityH2–2 11,563Rainford, Robertson
30 19 February 1955WalsallA2–2 9,028Robertson, Francis
31 26 February 1955Exeter City H1–0 7,454Stobbart
32 5 March 1955Colchester UnitedA2–3 8,254Francis, Dudley
33 12 March 1955Norwich CityH1–0 11,155Stobbart
34 19 March 1955Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticA2–1 8,241Coote, Taylor
35 26 March 1955AldershotH1–1 8,755Taylor
36 2 April 1955Swindon Town A1–1 5,924Taylor
37 8 April 1955Leyton OrientH2–0 18,093Dudley, Towers (pen)
38 9 April 1955Crystal PalaceH3–0 12,013Towers, Dudley (2)
39 11 April 1955Leyton OrientA1–0 9,529Dudley
40 16 April 1955Northampton TownA2–1 6,980Taylor, Towers
41 21 April 1955Newport County A1–3 7,926Rainford
42 23 April 1955WatfordH3–2 9,394Dudley, 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

Main article: 1954–55 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult 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]
4R29 January 1955Newcastle United A2–3 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 England 1 April 1936 (aged 18) Youth 1954 Amateur
GK Sonny Feehan Republic of Ireland 17 September 1926 (aged 27) Northampton Town 1954
GK Reg Newton England 30 June 1926 (aged 28) Leyton Orient 1949
Defenders
DF Alan Bassham England 3 October 1933 (aged 20) Youth 1953
DF Ken Coote England 19 May 1928 (aged 26) Wembley 1949
DF Ken Horne England 25 June 1926 (aged 28) Blackpool 1950
DF George Lowden England 2 March 1933 (aged 21) Unattached 1951
Midfielders
HB Wally Bragg England 8 July 1929 (aged 25) Twickenham Celtic 1946
HB George Bristow England 25 June 1933 (aged 21) Youth 1950
HB Ian Dargie England 3 October 1931 (aged 22) Tonbridge 1952
HB Leonard Geard England 12 February 1934 (aged 20) Fulham 1953
HB Tony Harper England 26 May 1925 (aged 29) Headington United 1948
HB Roy Hart England 30 May 1933 (aged 21) Youth 1955
HB Frank Latimer (c) England 3 October 1923 (aged 30) Snowdown Colliery Welfare 1945
HB Terry Robinson England 8 November 1929 (aged 24) Loughborough College 1954 Amateur
Forwards
FW Frank Dudley England 9 May 1925 (aged 29) Cardiff City 1953
FW George Francis England 4 February 1934 (aged 20) Youth 1955
FW Dennis Heath England 28 September 1934 (aged 19) Youth 1954
FW Johnny Rainford England 11 December 1930 (aged 23) Cardiff City 1953
FW James Robertson Scotland 20 February 1929 (aged 25) Arsenal 1953
FW Len Roe England 11 January 1932 (aged 22) Ruislip Manor 1951
FW Billy Sperrin England 9 April 1922 (aged 32) Guildford City 1949
FW George Stobbart England 9 January 1921 (aged 33) Millwall 1954
FW Jeff Taylor England 20 September 1930 (aged 23) Fulham 1954
FW Jim Towers England 15 April 1933 (aged 21) Youth 1954
Players who left the club mid-season
FW Billy Dare England 14 February 1927 (aged 27) Hendon 1948 Transferred to West Ham United

Coaching staff

Name Role
England Bill Dodgin Sr. Manager
Scotland Jimmy Bain Assistant Manager
England Tom Egglestone Trainer

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Pos Nat Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England Gerry Cakebread 3 0 0 0 3 0
GK Republic of Ireland Sonny Feehan 25 0 6 0 31 0
GK England Reg Newton 18 0 0 0 18 0
DF England Alan Bassham 17 0 0 0 17 0
DF England Ken Coote 37 1 6 0 43 1
DF England Ken Horne 35 0 6 0 41 0
DF England George Lowden 10 0 0 0 10 0
HB England Wally Bragg 9 0 0 0 9 0
HB England George Bristow 30 1 5 0 35 1
HB England Ian Dargie 20 0 2 0 22 0
HB England Leonard Geard 1 0 0 0 1 0
HB England Tony Harper 26 0 5 0 31 0
HB England Roy Hart 2 0 0 0 2 0
HB England Frank Latimer 28 0 5 0 33 0
HB EnglandTerry Robinson 801 090
FW England Billy Dare 8 0 3 3 11 3
FW England Frank Dudley 34 18 4 2 38 20
FW England George Francis 3 2 0 0 3 2
FW England Dennis Heath 35 7 4 0 39 7
FW England Johnny Rainford 33 4 6 2 39 6
FW ScotlandJames Robertson 3171 0 327
FW England Len Roe 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW England Billy Sperrin 3 1 0 0 3 1
FW England George Stobbart 45 15 6 4 51 19
FW England Jeff Taylor 13 4 0 0 13 4
FW England Jim Towers 31 15 6 1 37 16

Goalscorers

Pos. Nat Player FL3 FAC Total
FW England Frank Dudley 18 2 20
FW England George Stobbart 15 4 19
FW England Jim Towers 15 1 16
FW England Dennis Heath 7 0 7
FW Scotland James Robertson 7 0 7
FW England Johnny Rainford 4 2 6
FW England Jeff Taylor 4 0 4
FW England Billy Dare 0 3 3
FW England George Francis 2 0 2
HB England George Bristow 1 0 1
DF England Ken Coote 1 0 1
FW England Billy Sperrin 1 0 1
Opponents 7 0 7
Total821294

Representative appearances

Pos. Nat Player Team Caps Goals Ref
HB England Johnny Rainford Third Division South 1 1 [2]

Management

Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Bill Dodgin Sr. England 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 England George Stobbart England Millwall Exchange [11]
June 1954 FW Wales Wendell Morgan Wales Cardiff City Free [12]
August 1954 GK Republic of Ireland Sonny Feehan England Northampton Town Free [13]
August 1954 FW England Jeff Taylor England Fulham n/a [14]
September 1954 HB England Terry Robinson England Loughborough College Amateur [15]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
May 1954 FW England Terry Ledgerton England Millwall Exchange [11]
June 1954 GK England Alf Jefferies England Torquay United n/a [16]
July 1954 FW England Jimmy Bloomfield England Arsenal £10,000 [17]
January 1955 FW England Billy Dare England West Ham United £10,000 [2]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
May 1955 HB England Tony Harper England Headington United 1955 [18]
May 1955 HB England Roy Hart n/a n/a [19]
May 1955 DF England Ken Moffitt Scotland Berwick Rangers 1955 [20]

Notes

  1. ↑ Match played at Arsenal Stadium, London.

References

  1. 1 2 Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford Complete History - Statto.com". Statto.com. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 White 1989, p. 215-217.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 383. ISBN 0951526200.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1954-1955 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
  5. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 186-188.
  6. ↑ League, The Football. "Brentford - Football League 125". www.fl125.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-11-25.
  7. ↑ Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford League Table 1954-1955 - Statto.com". Statto.com. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
  8. ↑ Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Yore Publications. pp. 78–79. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  9. 1 2 Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford scoring and sequence records - Statto.com". Statto.com. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
  10. ↑ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920-2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  11. 1 2 Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 155.
  12. ↑ "Barry Hugman's Footballers - Wendell Morgan". hugmansfootballers.com. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
  13. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 55.
  14. ↑ "Barry Hugman's Footballers - Jeff Taylor". hugmansfootballers.com. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  15. ↑ "Barry Hugman's Footballers - Terry Robinson". hugmansfootballers.com. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  16. ↑ "Barry Hugman's Footballers - Alf Jefferies". hugmansfootballers.com. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  17. ↑ Group, Arsenal Media. "Jimmy Bloomfield | Arsenal.com". www.arsenal.com. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  18. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 72.
  19. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 73.
  20. ↑ "Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database - Ken Moffitt".
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 12/2/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.