1961–62 Brentford F.C. season

Brentford
1961–62 season
Chairman Frank Davis
(until October 1961)
Jack Dunnett
(from October 1961)
Manager Malky MacDonald
Stadium Griffin Park
Third Division 23rd (relegated)
FA Cup Third round
League Cup First round
Top goalscorer League: Francis (14)
All: Francis (15)
Highest home attendance 19,700
Lowest home attendance 3,500
Average home league attendance 3,600
← 1960–61 1962–63 →

During the 1961–62 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. Financial cutbacks and a reduction in size of the playing squad led to Brentford's relegation to the Fourth Division for the first time in the club's history.

Season summary

Off-season

After a number of seasons in which Brentford challenged and failed to win promotion from the Third Division with a wafer-thin squad, low attendances and a debt of over £50,000 meant that the 1961 off-season would be a period of turmoil.[1] A threat of a players' strike in support of the removal of the maximum wage during the second half of the previous season was averted and it was revealed that the club had turned down £12,000 and £9,000 bids respectively for prolific strike partners Jim Towers and George Francis during the 1959–60 season - a period when the club was still confident of promotion from the Third Division.[1] With those expectations dampened by mediocre performances in the 1960–61 season, up-and-coming outside left John Docherty was sold for £17,000 during the final months of the campaign.[1] Towers and particularly Francis performed poorly by their standards during the 1960–61 season and consequently bids of a similar amount to that of the previous year failed to materialise.[1]

Future Nottingham Central MP Jack Dunnett joined the board in July 1961 and would take over as chairman from Frank Davis three months later.[2] For the first time since relegation to the Third Division South in 1953, Brentford conducted an end-of-season clearout in a bid to reduce the squad size and wage bill.[3] Ken Horne, Billy Goundry, George Bristow, Dennis Heath and Eric Parsons, who had all made over 100 appearances for the club were released, as were five other bit-part players.[3] Most galling for the Brentford supporters was the sale of forwards Jim Towers and George Francis (who had accounted for 299 goals between them since 1954) to divisional and local rivals Queens Park Rangers for a combined £8,000 fee.[4] £6,000 Cardiff City forward Brian Edgley was signed as a replacement and Ray Reeves and Jimmy Belcher were brought in to strengthen the back lines.[3] The signings took the squad size to just 16 players, six of whom held a part-time status (Cakebread, Dargie, Gelson, Gitsham, Reeves and Ryecraft) and of those, two (Gelson and Ryecraft) were juniors who had yet to make their senior debuts.[3] In addition, assistant trainer Jack Holliday (the club's record goalscorer) was sacked and trainer Fred Monk would resign in April 1962.[3][5]

Season

Brentford had a dreadful start to the 1961–62 season, losing 8 of the first 9 matches in all competitions.[6] The signing of £6,000 former England international forward Johnny Brooks in early September 1961 helped boost the team's morale enough for them to register their first point of the season on 9 September 1961,[3] courtesy of a goalless draw with Southend United at Griffin Park.[6] After another loss and the Bees' first two victories of the season, three successive defeats led manager Malky MacDonald to re-sign forward George Francis from Queens Park Rangers on 6 October.[3] Francis' return helped inspire a victory over Swindon Town 24 hours later, courtesy of a Johnny Rainford goal.[3] The FA Cup provided a welcome distraction from the league, in which Brentford were firmly rooted in the relegation zone.[6] The Bees advanced to the third round of the FA Cup, taking high-flying Second Division club Leyton Orient to a replay before being knocked out.[6] After the defeat, the board again reached for the chequebook and signed outside forward Micky Block from Chelsea for a £5,000 fee.[3]

Poor form in the opening months of 1962 failed to avert the relegation threat and a bid to buy back Jim Towers from Queens Park Rangers failed,[3] but a run of three wins and one draw in late March and early April lifted Brentford to 21st, the club's highest position of the season so far.[6] Of the following four matches, a victory, a draw and two defeats left the Bees' in 23rd place, with their destiny out of their own hands.[6] Victory for 21st-place Barnsley over 20th-place Torquay United on 2 May ended the Bees' hopes of survival.[7] Brentford's 9 year stay in the Third Division officially ended the following day after a 2–0 defeat to Hull City at Boothferry Park.[6] The relegation completed a drop from the First Division in 1947 to the Fourth Division in 1962, a 15-year fall from grace.[3]

League table

Pos Team Pld Home Away F A GA GD Pts
W D L F A W D L F A
1 Portsmouth 46156248231256392487471.851+4065
2 Grimsby Town 461832491810310313880561.429+2462
3 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 4614814218797272769451.533+2459
4 Queens Park Rangers 46153565319864642111731.521+3859
5 Peterborough United 461607603810674744107821.305+2558
6 Bristol City 46153556278510384594721.306+2254
7 Reading 46145446248411314277661.167+1153
8 Northampton Town 46126552248510333385571.491+2851
9 Swindon Town 46118448266710304578711.099+749
10 Hull City 46152643205612243467541.241+1348
11 Bradford Park Avenue 46135547277214335180781.026+247
12 Port Vale 46124741235711243565581.121+745
13 Notts County 46145444233416235167740.905–743
14 Coventry City 46116638265513264564710.901–743
15 Crystal Palace 4688750416611333983801.038+342
16 Southend United 46107631263911264357690.826–1242
17 Watford 46109437264415264863740.851–1141
18 Halifax Town 4695934356512284962840.738–2240
19 Shrewsbury Town 4687846375513274773840.869–1138
20 Barnsley 4696845414613265471950.747–2438
21 Torquay United 469410484462152856761000.760–2436
22 Lincoln City 46410931435711264457870.655–3035
23 Brentford 46113934292516196453930.570–4034
24 Newport County 466512293813191764461020.451–5622

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 Third Division

No. DateOpponentVenueResultScorer(s)
1 19 August 1961Queens Park Rangers A0–3
2 22 August 1961Halifax TownH0–2
3 26 August 1961ReadingH1–2Spiers (og)
4 28 August 1961Halifax TownA0–1
5 2 September 1961Newport County A1–6Edgley
6 5 September 1961Grimsby Town A0–1
7 9 September 1961Southend UnitedH0–0
8 16 September 1961Notts CountyA1–3Edgley
9 19 September 1961Coventry CityH2–1Higginson, Belcher
10 23 September 1961Shrewsbury TownH4–0Edgley (2), Brooks, Rainford
11 25 September 1961Coventry CityA0–2
12 30 September 1961Peterborough UnitedA0–6
13 3 October 1961Bristol CityA0–3
14 7 October 1961Swindon Town H1–0Rainford
15 10 October 1961Bristol CityH0–2
16 14 October 1961Torquay United A0–3
17 21 October 1961PortsmouthH3–2Brooks, Edgley, Francis
18 28 October 1961BarnsleyA2–2Summers, Edgley
19 11 November 1961Watford A1–2Francis
20 18 November 1961Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticH2–2Francis, Edgley
21 2 December 1961Lincoln CityH1–0Summers
22 9 December 1961Northampton TownA0–5
23 16 December 1961Queens Park Rangers H1–4Francis
24 23 December 1961ReadingA0–4
25 26 December 1961Bradford Park AvenueH2–0Edgley (pen), Francis
26 13 January 1962Newport CountyH3–1Francis, Higginson, McLeod
27 20 January 1962Southend UnitedA0–0
28 27 January 1962Crystal PalaceA2–2Brooks, Block
39 2 February 1962Notts CountyH0–1
30 10 February 1962Shrewsbury TownA3–1Brooks, Francis, McLeod
31 17 February 1962Peterborough United H2–0Brooks (pen), McLeod
32 23 February 1962Swindon TownA2–5Summers, Francis
33 3 March 1962Torquay UnitedH0–2
34 10 March 1962PortsmouthA0–4
35 17 March 1962 Barnsley H 1–1 Francis
36 24 March 1962Hull CityA0–3
37 30 March 1962WatfordH3–0Francis (2), Summers
38 4 April 1962Bradford Park AvenueA2–1Francis, Summers
39 7 April 1962Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticA1–1Block
40 13 April 1962 Crystal Palace H 4–2 Brooks (2, 1 pen), Francis, Wood (og)
41 20 April 1962Port ValeH1–2Brooks (pen)
42 21 April 1962Lincoln CityA3–3Summers (2), Gelson
43 23 April 1962 Port Vale A 0–3
44 27 April 1962Northampton TownH3–0Francis, Brooks, Summers
45 1 May 1962 Grimsby Town H 0–2
46 3 May 1962Hull City H0–2

FA Cup

Main article: 1961–62 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Scorer(s)
1R 4 November 1961 Oxford United H 3–0 Summers, Edgley (2)
2R 25 November 1961 Aldershot A 2–2 Edgley, Francis
2R (replay) 28 November 1961 Aldershot H 2–0 Edgley, Brooks
3R 6 January 1962 Leyton Orient H 1–1 Summers
3R (replay)8 January 1962Leyton Orient A1–2 Higginson

Football League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Scorer
1R13 September 1961Leeds United A1–4 McLeod

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1961–62 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in
Goalkeepers
GK Gerry Cakebread England 1 April 1936 (aged 25) Youth 1954
Defenders
DF Ken Coote (c) England 19 May 1928 (aged 33) Wembley 1949
DF Jimmy Gitsham England 12 May 1942 (aged 19) Youth 1959
DF Ray Reeves England 12 August 1931 (aged 30) Reading 1961
DF Tom Wilson England 3 July 1930 (aged 31) Fulham 1957
Midfielders
HB Jimmy Belcher England 31 October 1932 (aged 28) Ipswich Town 1961
HB Ian Dargie England 3 October 1931 (aged 29) Tonbridge 1952
HB Peter Gelson England 18 October 1941 (aged 19) Youth 1961
HB Tommy Higginson Scotland 6 January 1937 (aged 24) Kilmarnock 1959
Forwards
FW Micky Block England 28 January 1940 (aged 21) Chelsea 1962
FW Johnny Brooks England 23 December 1931 (aged 29) Chelsea 1961
FW Brian Edgley England 26 August 1937 (aged 23) Cardiff City 1961
FW George Francis England 4 February 1934 (aged 27) Queens Park Rangers 1961
FW Johnny Hales Scotland 15 May 1940 (aged 21) St Roch's 1958
FW George McLeod Scotland 30 November 1932 (aged 28) Luton Town 1958
FW Danny O'Donnell Scotland 27 February 1939 (aged 22) Kirkintilloch Rob Roy 1960
FW Johnny Rainford England 11 December 1930 (aged 30) Cardiff City 1953
FW George Summers Scotland 30 July 1941 (aged 20) Shawfield 1959

Coaching staff

Name Role
Scotland Malky MacDonald Manager
England Fred Monk Trainer

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Pos Nat Name League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England Gerry Cakebread 46 0 5 0 1 0 52 0
DF England Ken Coote 45 0 5 0 1 0 51 0
DF England Jimmy Gitsham 34 0 5 0 0 0 39 0
DF England Ray Reeves 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
DF England Tom Wilson 16 0 0 0 1 0 17 0
HB England Jimmy Belcher 30 1 5 0 1 0 36 1
HB England Ian Dargie 35 0 1 0 1 0 37 0
HB England Peter Gelson 24 1 4 0 0 0 28 1
HB Scotland Tommy Higginson 46 2 5 1 1 0 52 3
FW England Micky Block 20 2 — — 20 2
FW England Johnny Brooks 38 10 5 1 0 0 43 11
FW England Brian Edgley 27 8 5 4 1 0 33 12
FW England George Francis 32 14 5 1 — 37 15
FW Scotland Johnny Hales 8 0 0 0 1 0 9 0
FW ScotlandGeorge McLeod 4635 0 1 1524
FW Scotland Danny O'Donnell 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
FW England Johnny Rainford 15 2 1 0 1 0 17 2
FW Scotland George Summers 30 8 4 2 1 0 35 10

Goalscorers

Pos. Nat Player FL3 FAC FLC Total
FW England George Francis 14 1 — 15
FW England Brian Edgley 8 4 0 12
FW England Johnny Brooks 10 1 0 11
FW Scotland George Summers 8 2 0 10
FW Scotland George McLeod 3 0 1 4
HB Scotland Tommy Higginson 2 1 0 3
FW England Johnny Rainford 2 0 0 2
FW England Micky Block 2 — — 2
HB England Jimmy Belcher 1 0 0 1
HB England Peter Gelson 1 0 0 1
Opponents 2 0 0 2
Total539 163

Management

Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Malky MacDonald Scotland 19 August 1961 3 May 1962 52 15 10 27 28.85 46 13 8 25 28.26

Summary

Games played 52 (46 Third Division, 5 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Games won 15 (13 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Games drawn 10 (8 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Games lost 27 (25 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Goals scored 63 (53 Third Division, 9 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Goals conceded 102 (93 Third Division, 5 FA Cup, 4 League Cup)
Clean sheets 12 (10 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Biggest league win 4–0 versus Shrewsbury Town, 23 September 1961
Worst league defeat 6–0 versus Peterborough United, 30 September 1961
Most appearances 52, Gerry Cakebread, Tommy Higginson, George McLeod (46 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 3 League Cup)
Top scorer (league) 14, George Francis
Top scorer (all competitions) 15, George Francis

Transfers & loans

Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
June 1961 FW England Brian Edgley Wales Cardiff City £6,000 [10]
July 1961 HB England Jimmy Belcher England Ipswich Town n/a [11]
July 1961 DF England Ray Reeves England Reading n/a [12]
2 September 1961 FW Scotland Dick Lowrie Scotland St Roch's n/a [13]
2 September 1961 FW Scotland Hugh McLaughlin Scotland St Roch's n/a [13]
September 1961 FW England Johnny Brooks England Chelsea £6,000 [14]
6 October 1961 FW England George Francis England Queens Park Rangers n/a [4]
December 1961 DF England Tom Anthony n/a n/a [15]
1961 DF England Tim Soutar n/a n/a [16]
January 1962 FW England Micky Block England Chelsea £5,000 [3]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
May 1961 FW England George Francis England Queens Park Rangers £4,000 [4]
May 1961 FW England Jim Towers England Queens Park Rangers £4,000 [4]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
1962 FW England Johnny Rainford England Tonbridge 1962 [17]
May 1962 HB England Jimmy Belcher England Margate 1962 [11]
May 1962 DF England Ray Reeves England Dover 1962 [12]
May 1962 DF England Tom Wilson England Folkestone Town 1962 [18]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 White 1989, p. 240-241.
  2. ↑ Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopaedia. Yore Publications. p. 27. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 White 1989, p. 242-245.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 186-188.
  5. ↑ White 1989, p. 246.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1961-1962 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  7. ↑ Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Torquay United results for the 1961-1962 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  8. 1 2 3 4 White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 386. ISBN 0951526200.
  9. ↑ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920-2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  10. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 52.
  11. 1 2 Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 18-19.
  12. 1 2 Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 132.
  13. 1 2 "Scottish Football Historical Archive - 1961".
  14. ↑ White 1989, p. 28.
  15. ↑ "Barry Hugman's Footballers - Tom Anthony". hugmansfootballers.com. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  16. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 152.
  17. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 129-130.
  18. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 170-171.
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