From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Brentford 1935–36 football season
During the 1935–36 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League First Division for the first time in the club's history. A torrid run in the opening half of the season left Brentford in the relegation places, but after a number of key signings were made, just two defeats from Christmas Day 1935 through to the end of the season elevated the Bees to an impressive 5th-place finish, the club's highest-ever in the league pyramid . Brentford also reached the final of the London Challenge Cup for the second consecutive season, but were beaten by league rivals Arsenal . In 2013, the Brentford supporters voted 1935–36 as the club's third-best season.[ 1]
Season summary
In preparation for the 1935–36 season, Brentford manager Harry Curtis elected to stick with the nucleus of players that had elevated the club from the Third Division South to the First Division in just three seasons, his only significant signing being right back Joe Wilson from Southend United . The Bees had a dream start to their first season in the top-flight, going to the top of the division after a 2–0 opening day victory over Bolton Wanderers .[ 3] A 2–1 home defeat to Huddersfield Town two matches later gave way to a run of 11 defeats in 17 matches, which left the club in the relegation places.[ 3]
Previously-prolific scorers Jack Holliday and Idris Hopkins had had a difficult time adjusting to the higher level, with scoring just 13 goals between them by the time the Bees were mired in the relegation battle at the end of 1935.[ 4] [ 5] Manager Curtis recognised the need to strengthen the squad in mid-season, dropping and later selling full back Jack Astley , left half Jackie Burns and forwards Charlie Fletcher and George Robson . In addition, former captain Herbert Watson was dropped from the half back line. In came Welsh international left half Dai Richards for £3,500 and Scottish forwards David McCulloch and Bobby Reid , with McCulloch signing for a club record £6,000 fee.
The signings had an inspired effect, sending the Bees on a run of just two defeats in the remaining 23 matches of the season,[ 3] with forward McCulloch netting an impressive 26 goals in 27 appearances to finish as top-scorer.[ 8] Manager Harry Curtis also signed a new five-year contract in February 1936.[ 9] Brentford finished their debut season in the First Division in 5th place, which as of the end of the 2015–16 season is the club's highest-ever in the pyramid.[ 10] Brentford also reached the final of the London Challenge Cup for the second-successive season, but were defeated 4–2 by league rivals Arsenal .[ 11] The Bees' club record for a home Football League match was broken twice during the season, with 33,481 attending versus Huddersfield Town on 7 September 1935 and 33,486 for the West London derby with Chelsea on 28 March 1936.
League table
Pos
Team
Pld
Home
Away
F
A
GA
GD
Pts
W
D
L
F
A
W
D
L
F
A
1
Sunderland
42
17
2
2
71
33
8
4
9
38
41
109
74
1.473
+35
56
2
Derby County
42
13
5
3
43
23
5
7
9
18
29
61
52
1.173
+9
48
3
Huddersfield Town
42
12
7
2
32
15
6
5
10
27
41
59
56
1.054
+3
48
4
Stoke City
42
13
3
5
35
24
7
4
10
22
33
57
57
1.000
±0
47
5
Brentford
42
11
5
5
48
25
6
7
8
33
35
81
60
1.350
+21
46
6
Arsenal
42
9
9
3
44
22
6
6
9
34
26
78
48
1.625
+30
45
7
Preston North End
42
15
3
3
44
18
3
5
13
23
46
67
64
1.047
+3
44
8
Chelsea
42
11
7
3
39
27
4
6
11
26
45
65
72
0.903
–7
43
9
Manchester City
42
13
2
6
44
17
4
6
11
24
43
68
60
1.133
+8
42
10
Portsmouth
42
14
4
3
39
22
3
4
14
15
45
54
67
0.806
–13
42
11
Leeds United
42
11
5
5
41
23
4
6
11
25
41
66
64
1.031
+2
41
12
Birmingham
42
10
6
5
38
31
5
5
11
23
32
61
63
0.968
–2
41
13
Bolton Wanderers
42
11
4
6
41
27
3
9
9
26
49
67
76
0.882
–9
41
14
Middlesbrough
42
12
6
3
56
23
3
4
14
28
47
84
70
1.200
+14
40
15
Wolverhampton Wanderers
42
13
7
1
59
28
2
3
16
18
48
77
76
1.013
+1
40
16
Everton
42
12
5
4
61
31
1
8
12
28
58
89
89
1.000
±0
39
17
Grimsby Town
42
13
4
4
44
20
4
1
16
21
53
65
73
0.890
–8
39
18
West Bromwich Albion
42
12
3
6
54
31
4
3
14
35
57
89
88
1.011
+1
38
19
Liverpool
42
11
4
6
43
23
2
8
11
17
41
60
64
0.938
–4
38
20
Sheffield Wednesday
42
9
8
4
35
23
4
4
13
28
54
63
77
0.818
–14
38
21
Aston Villa
42
7
6
8
47
56
6
3
12
34
54
81
110
0.736
–29
35
22
Blackburn Rovers
42
10
6
5
32
24
2
3
16
23
72
55
96
0.573
–41
33
Key
League Champions
FA Cup Winners
Relegated
Results
Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend
No.
Date
Opponent
Venue
Result
Attendance
Scorer(s)
1
31 August 1935
Bolton Wanderers
A
2–0
31,949
Holliday (2)
2
5 September 1935
Blackburn Rovers
H
3–1
25,047
Fletcher (2), Holliday
3
7 September 1935
Huddersfield Town
H
1–2
33,481
Hopkins
4
14 September 1935
Middlesbrough
A
0–0
38,107
5
18 September 1935
Derby County
A
1–2
21,648
Fletcher
6
21 September 1935
Aston Villa
H
1–2
29,781
Holliday
7
28 September 1935
Wolverhampton Wanderers
A
2–3
28,431
Holliday , Scott
8
5 October 1935
Sheffield Wednesday
H
2–2
25,338
Robson , Scott
9
12 October 1935
Portsmouth
A
3–1
22,316
Hopkins (2), Holliday
10
19 October 1935
Stoke City
H
0–0
24,960
11
26 October 1935
Manchester City
A
1–2
29,868
Hopkins
12
2 November 1935
Arsenal
H
2–1
26,330
Burns , Hopkins
13
9 November 1935
Birmingham
A
1–2
28,673
Dunn
14
16 November 1935
Sunderland
H
1–5
24,720
Hopkins
15
23 November 1935
Chelsea
A
1–2
56,624
Robson (pen )
16
30 November 1935
Leeds United
H
2–2
23,914
Scott , McCulloch
17
7 December 1935
Grimsby Town
A
1–6
5,276
Fletcher
18
14 December 1935
Liverpool
H
1–2
18,508
Robson
19
21 December 1935
West Bromwich Albion
A
0–1
14,272
20
25 December 1935
Preston North End
H
5–2
21,474
Holliday , Muttitt , McCulloch (2), Scott
21
26 December 1935
Preston North End
A
4–2
22,937
Hopkins (3), McCulloch
22
28 December 1935
Bolton Wanderers
H
4–0
27,156
McCulloch (3), McKenzie
23
1 January 1936
Blackburn Rovers
A
0–1
24,724
24
4 January 1936
Huddersfield Town
A
2–2
17,682
McCulloch , Fletcher
25
18 January 1936
Middlesbrough
H
1–0
27,779
Scott
26
25 January 1936
Aston Villa
A
2–2
40,328
Reid , Scott
27
1 February 1936
Wolverhampton Wanderers
H
5–0
25,123
Morris (og ), McCulloch (2), Scott , Holliday
28
8 February 1936
Sheffield Wednesday
A
3–3
20,757
Holliday , McCulloch , Hopkins
29
22 February 1936
Stoke City
A
2–2
18,045
McCulloch , Scott
30
29 February 1936
Birmingham
H
0–1
20,523
31
7 March 1936
Leeds United
A
2–1
10,509
Reid , Hopkins
32
14 March 1936
Manchester City
H
0–0
28,364
33
21 March 1936
Sunderland
A
3–1
26,348
Holliday , McCulloch (2)
34
25 March 1936
Portsmouth
H
3–1
15,379
McCulloch (3)
35
28 March 1936
Chelsea
H
2–1
33,486
McCulloch , Hopkins
36
4 April 1936
Arsenal
A
1–1
28,303
Holliday
37
10 April 1936
Everton
A
2–1
45,477
McCulloch (2)
38
11 April 1936
Grimsby Town
H
3–0
24,830
McCulloch (2), Hopkins
39
13 April 1936
Everton
H
4–1
29,790
Holliday , Hopkins (2), Scott
40
18 April 1936
Liverpool
A
0–0
28,463
41
25 April 1936
West Bromwich Albion
H
2–2
24,527
Scott , Reid
42
2 May 1936
Derby County
H
6–0
20,521
McCulloch (4), Holliday , Scott
FA Cup
Round
Date
Opponent
Venue
Attendance
Result
3R
11 January 1936
Leicester City
A
29,750
0–1
Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1935–36 season.
Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, Timeless Bees,[ 14] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939[ 15]
Coaching staff
Statistics
Appearances and goals
Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
Source: 100 Years of Brentford
Goalscorers
Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
Source: 100 Years of Brentford
International caps
Management
Name
Nat
From
To
Record All Comps
Record League
P
W
D
L
W %
P
W
D
L
W %
Harry Curtis
31 August 1935
2 May 1936
43
17
12
14
0 39.53
42
17
12
13
0 40.48
Summary
Games played
43 (42 First Division , 1 FA Cup )
Games won
17 (17 First Division, 0 FA Cup)
Games drawn
15 (15 First Division, 0 FA Cup)
Games lost
14 (13 First Division, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored
81 (81 First Division, 0 FA Cup)
Goals conceded
61 (60 First Division, 1 FA Cup)
Clean sheets
10 (10 First Division, 0 FA Cup)
Biggest league win
6–0 versus Derby County , 2 May 1936
Worst league defeat
6–1 versus Grimsby Town , 7 December 1935
Most appearances
43, Idris Hopkins , James Mathieson (42 First Division, 1 FA Cup)
Top scorer (league)
26, David McCulloch
Top scorer (all competitions)
26, David McCulloch
Transfers & loans
Cricketers are not included in this list.
References
^ League, The Football. "Brentford - Football League 125" . www.fl125.co.uk . Retrieved 21 May 2016 .
^ a b c Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1935-1936 season - Statto.com" . Statto.com . Retrieved 21 May 2016 .
^ "Brentford Football Club History" . www.brentfordfchistory.co.uk . Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016 .
^ "Brentford Football Club History" . www.brentfordfchistory.co.uk . Archived from the original on 28 April 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016 .
^ "Brentford Football Club History" . www.brentfordfchistory.co.uk . Archived from the original on 17 September 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016 .
^ Chapman, Mark. "Remembering The Guvnor: Harry Curtis" . www.brentfordfc.co.uk . Retrieved 22 May 2016 .
^ Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford Complete History - Statto.com" . Statto.com . Retrieved 21 May 2016 .
^ Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia . Harefield, Middlesex: Yore Publications. pp. 82–83. ISBN 1 874427 57 7 .
^ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920-2006 . Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914 .
^ Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939 . Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN 190589161X .
^ "Dai Hopkins" . 11v11.com . Retrieved 23 May 2016 .
^ "David McCulloch" . 11v11.com . Retrieved 23 May 2016 .
^ "David Richards" . 11v11.com . Retrieved 23 May 2016 .
^ "Watford Football Club archive 1881-2016: Players - Layún to Lyttle" (PDF) .
^ "Dunn, Willie - The Celtic Wiki" . www.thecelticwiki.com . Retrieved 9 June 2016 .
^ "Barry Hugman's Footballers - Joe Wilson" . hugmansfootballers.com . Retrieved 9 June 2016 .
^ "Barry Hugman's Footballers - Sam Briddon" . hugmansfootballers.com . Retrieved 9 June 2016 .
^ a b White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford . Brentford FC. pp. 146–151. ISBN 0951526200 .
General Grounds Affiliated clubs Players Rivalries