1958–59 Brentford F.C. season

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Brentford
1958–59 season
ChairmanFrank Davis
ManagerMalky MacDonald
StadiumGriffin Park
Third Division3rd
FA CupFourth round
Top goalscorerLeague: Towers (32)
All: Towers (37)
Highest home attendance28,725
Lowest home attendance9,432
Average home league attendance13,924

During the 1958–59 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. Despite 32 goals from Jim Towers and 22 from George Francis, a number of defeats to low-placed clubs early in the season prevented the Bees from finishing higher than 3rd, one place away from promotion.

Season summary

Brentford entered the 1958–59 Third Division season full of confidence after a runners-up finish in 1957–58.[1] Manager Malky MacDonald, who had utilised the core players left behind by previous manager Bill Dodgin Sr,[1] decided not to add to his squad and instead planned for the future by bringing in a number of Scottish youngsters.[2] Brentford began the season with a resounding 4–0 victory over Bradford City, hitting top spot, but dropped back after three consecutive defeats.[3] By the time the Bees drew 1–1 with Chesterfield on 4 October 1958, the team's inconsistency could be clearly pointed to a lack of support for forwards Jim Towers and George Francis, who had scored 13 of the team's 17 goals by that point of the season.[1] In response, manager MacDonald paid £6,000 for Luton Town's outside left George McLeod.[1] Things had to get worse before they could get better and after defeats to Stockport County and Reading in late October, the team recovered and began to perform on a consistent basis.[3]

Brentford had a morale-boosting run to the fourth round of the FA Cup, seeing off Exeter City, King's Lynn and Barnsley on the way to a 2–0 defeat versus First Division club West Bromwich Albion in front of 41,440 at The Hawthorns.[3] The Bees established themselves as promotion contenders after a 6–0 win over Southampton at The Dell on 9 March 1959 (which set a new club record for biggest away Football League win),[4] but Jim Towers' four goals in the victory and total so far for the season of 29 led to a £20,000 transfer bid from Second Division club Sheffield Wednesday, which was ultimately unsuccessful.[1] Three victories and two draws from the following five matches (which included a win and a draw versus leaders Plymouth Argyle) saw Brentford increase their grip on 3rd place in the table,[3] though at a cost to season-ending injuries to Ian Dargie and Len Newcombe.[1] Defeats in crucial matches versus fellow promotion challengers Norwich City and Hull City in early April effectively ended the Bees' promotion charge, but the team won three and drew two of the next five matches (scoring 12 goals and conceding just once),[3] even after the club's hopes of promotion were mathematically extinguished with two matches left to play.[5] The season ended with a 4–0 defeat to 4th-place Norwich City at Griffin Park.[3]

Jim Towers' 37 goals scored in all competitions during the season was just two goals shy of Jack Holliday's club record of 39, set at the same level of football in 1932–33.[1] Towers' strike partner George Francis also finished amongst the top scorers in the Third Division with 22 goals and 24 in all competitions.[6] Brentford finished the 1958–59 season with the best defensive record in the Third Division, conceding only 49 goals and also conceding the fewest away goals (27).[5] A new club record for most league away draws (10) was set during the season and the club record for fewest goalscorers in a season was equalled.[7][8]

League table

Main article: 1958–59 Football League Third Division
Pos Team Pld Home Away F A GA GD Pts
W D L F A W D L F A
1 Plymouth Argyle 46 14 7 2 55 27 9 9 5 34 32 89 59 1.508 +30 62
2 Hull City 46 19 3 1 65 21 7 6 10 25 34 90 55 1.636 +35 61
3 Brentford 46 15 5 3 49 22 6 10 7 27 27 76 49 1.551 +27 57
4 Norwich City 46 13 6 4 51 29 9 7 7 38 33 89 62 1.435 +27 57
5 Colchester United 46 15 2 6 46 31 6 8 9 25 36 71 67 1.060 +4 52
6 Reading 46 16 4 3 51 21 5 4 14 27 42 78 63 1.238 +15 50
7 Tranmere Rovers 46 15 3 5 53 22 6 5 12 29 45 82 67 1.224 +15 50
8 Southend United 46 14 6 3 52 26 7 2 14 33 54 85 80 1.063 +5 50
9 Halifax Town 46 14 5 4 48 25 7 3 13 32 52 80 77 1.039 +3 50
10 Bury 46 12 9 2 51 24 5 5 13 18 34 69 58 1.190 +11 48
11 Bradford City 46 13 4 6 47 25 5 7 11 37 51 84 76 1.105 +8 47
12 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 46 12 9 2 40 18 5 3 15 29 51 69 69 1.000 ±0 46
13 Queens Park Rangers 46 14 6 3 49 28 5 2 16 25 49 74 77 0.961 –3 46
14 Southampton 46 12 7 4 57 33 5 4 14 31 47 88 80 1.100 +8 45
15 Swindon Town 46 13 4 6 39 25 3 9 11 20 32 59 57 1.035 +2 45
16 Chesterfield 46 12 5 6 40 26 5 5 13 27 38 67 64 1.047 +3 44
17 Newport County 46 15 2 6 43 24 2 7 14 26 44 69 68 1.015 +1 43
18 Wrexham 46 12 6 5 40 30 2 8 13 23 47 63 77 0.818 –14 42
19 Accrington Stanley 46 10 8 5 42 31 5 4 14 29 56 71 87 0.816 –16 42
20 Mansfield Town 46 11 5 7 38 42 3 8 12 35 56 73 98 0.745 –25 41
21 Stockport County 46 9 7 7 33 23 4 3 16 32 55 65 78 0.833 –13 36
22 Doncaster Rovers 46 13 2 8 40 32 1 3 19 10 58 50 90 0.556 –40 33
23 Notts County 46 5 9 9 33 39 3 4 16 22 57 55 96 0.573 –41 29
24 Rochdale 46 8 7 8 21 26 0 5 18 16 53 37 79 0.468 –42 28

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. Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s)
1 25 August 1958 Bradford City H 4–0 15,749 Towers (2), Francis (2)
2 28 August 1958 Doncaster Rovers A 0–1 10,654
3 30 August 1958 Wrexham A 1–2 16,905 Towers
4 2 September 1958 Doncaster Rovers H 0–1 14,845
5 6 September 1958 Southampton H 2–0 12,997 Francis, Towers
6 9 September 1958 Mansfield Town H 2–0 13,625 Towers (2)
7 12 September 1958 Accrington Stanley A 1–1 9,918 Rainford
8 15 September 1958 Mansfield Town A 1–1 9,159 Towers
9 20 September 1958 Halifax Town H 2–0 12,643 Francis, Heath
10 22 September 1958 Hull City A 1–3 14,172 Heath
11 27 September 1958 Newport County A 1–0 8,220 Francis
12 30 September 1958 Hull City H 1–1 12,441 Towers
13 4 October 1958 Chesterfield H 1–1 12,473 Heath
14 9 October 1958 Notts County A 0–0 4,381
15 11 October 1958 Tranmere Rovers A 2–1 12,325 Towers, Rainford
16 18 October 1958 Stockport County H 1–4 12,488 Towers
17 25 October 1958 Reading A 1–3 16,186 Towers
18 1 November 1958 Colchester United H 2–1 11,945 Towers, Heath
19 8 November 1958 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic A 0–0 11,564
20 22 November 1958 Queens Park Rangers A 2–1 13,784 Drinkwater (og), Towers
21 29 November 1958 Bury H 0–0 11,741
22 13 December 1958 Rochdale H 2–1 9,432 Towers, Dargie
23 20 December 1958 Bradford City A 0–3 11,473
24 25 December 1958 Swindon Town H 2–2 12,504 McLeod, Francis
25 26 December 1958 Swindon Town A 1–1 12,690 Francis
26 3 January 1959 Wrexham H 2–1 11,723 Francis (2)
27 31 January 1959 Accrington Stanley H 2–1 11,260 Francis, Towers
28 7 February 1959 Halifax Town A 0–0 4,654
29 14 February 1959 Newport County H 3–0 10,392 McLeod, Bristow, Towers
30 21 February 1959 Chesterfield A 2–1 9,649 Francis, Towers (pen)
31 28 February 1959 Tranmere Rovers H 5–2 13,138 Towers (2), Francis, Rainford (2)
32 7 March 1959 Stockport County A 1–1 7,973 Towers (pen)
33 9 March 1959 Southampton A 6–0 7,756 McLeod, Towers (4), Francis
34 14 March 1959 Reading H 3–1 18,209 Francis (2), Rainford
35 21 March 1959 Colchester United A 4–0 8,775 Francis (2), McLeod, Towers
36 27 March 1959 Plymouth Argyle H 3–0 28,725 Towers, Rainford, Francis
37 28 March 1959 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic H 1–1 15,970 McLeod
38 30 March 1959 Plymouth Argyle A 1–1 27,073 Parsons
39 4 April 1959 Norwich City A 1–4 27,870 Francis
40 8 April 1959 Southend United A 0–2 9,022
41 11 April 1959 Queens Park Rangers H 1–0 15,905 Rainford
42 18 April 1959 Bury A 1–1 7,092 Towers
43 21 April 1959 Notts County H 4–0 11,738 Francis, Towers (3, 2 pens)
44 25 April 1959 Southend United H 6–1 11,264 Rainford, Francis (2), Towers (2), Williamson (og)
45 27 April 1959 Rochdale A 0–0 2,191
46 30 April 1959 Norwich City H 0–4 19,035

FA Cup

Main article: 1958–59 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s)
1R 15 November 1958 Exeter City H 3–2 14,600 Towers, Francis, Rainford
2R 6 December 1958 King's Lynn H 3–1 14,100 Towers (3)
3R 10 January 1959 Barnsley H 2–0 16,890 Towers, Francis
4R 24 January 1959 West Bromwich Albion A 0–2 41,440

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1958–59 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Gerry Cakebread England (1936-04-01)1 April 1936 (aged 22) Youth 1954
GK Sonny Feehan Republic of Ireland (1926-09-17)17 September 1926 (aged 31) Northampton Town 1954
Defenders
DF Ken Horne England (1926-06-25)25 June 1926 (aged 32) Blackpool 1950
DF Tom Wilson (c) England (1930-07-03)3 July 1930 (aged 28) Fulham 1957
Midfielders
HB George Bristow England (1933-06-25)25 June 1933 (aged 25) Youth 1950
HB Ken Coote England (1928-05-19)19 May 1928 (aged 30) Wembley 1949
HB Ian Dargie England (1931-10-03)3 October 1931 (aged 26) Tonbridge 1952
HB Billy Goundry England (1934-03-28)28 March 1934 (aged 24) Huddersfield Town 1955
HB Ron Peplow England (1935-05-04)4 May 1935 (aged 23) Southall 1955
HB Sid Russell England (1937-10-04)4 October 1937 (aged 20) Jolly X 1956
Forwards
FW John Caven Scotland (1934-07-06)6 July 1934 (aged 24) Kilmarnock 1957
FW George Francis England (1934-02-04)4 February 1934 (aged 24) Youth 1955
FW Johnny Hales Scotland (1940-05-15)15 May 1940 (aged 18) St Roch's 1958
FW Dennis Heath England (1934-09-28)28 September 1934 (aged 23) Youth 1954
FW Billy Horn Scotland (1938-05-13)13 May 1938 (aged 20) Kilmarnock 1958 Amateur
FW George McLeod Scotland (1932-11-30)30 November 1932 (aged 25) Luton Town 1958
FW Len Newcombe Wales (1931-02-28)28 February 1931 (aged 27) Fulham 1956
FW Eric Parsons England (1923-11-09)9 November 1923 (aged 34) Chelsea 1956
FW Johnny Rainford England (1930-12-11)11 December 1930 (aged 27) Cardiff City 1953
FW Jim Towers England (1933-04-15)15 April 1933 (aged 25) Youth 1954

Coaching staff

Name Role
Scotland Malky MacDonald Manager
England Fred Monk Trainer
England Jack Holliday Assistant Trainer

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Pos Nat Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England Gerry Cakebread 45 0 4 0 49 0
GK Republic of Ireland Sonny Feehan 1 0 0 0 1 0
DF England Ken Horne 45 0 3 0 48 0
DF England Tom Wilson 46 0 4 0 50 0
HB England George Bristow 37 1 4 0 41 1
HB England Ken Coote 44 0 4 0 48 0
HB England Ian Dargie 37 1 4 0 41 1
HB England Billy Goundry 12 0 1 0 13 0
HB England Ron Peplow 7 0 0 0 7 0
HB England Sid Russell 2 0 0 0 2 0
FW Scotland John Caven 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW England George Francis 45 22 4 2 49 24
FW Scotland Johnny Hales 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW England Dennis Heath 25 4 4 0 29 4
FW Scotland Billy Horn 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW Scotland George McLeod 29 5 4 0 33 5
FW Wales Len Newcombe 2 0 0 0 2 0
FW England Eric Parsons 34 1 0 0 34 1
FW England Johnny Rainford 46 8 4 1 50 9
FW England Jim Towers 46 32 4 5 50 37
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[6]

Goalscorers

Pos. Nat Player FL3 FAC Total
FW England Jim Towers 32 5 37
FW England George Francis 22 2 24
FW England Johnny Rainford 8 1 9
FW Scotland George McLeod 5 0 5
FW England Dennis Heath 4 0 4
HB England George Bristow 1 0 1
HB England Ian Dargie 1 0 1
FW England Eric Parsons 1 0 1
Opponents 2 0 2
Total 76 8 84
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[6]

Management

Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
P W D L W % P W D L W %
Malky MacDonald Scotland 25 August 1958 30 April 1959 50 24 15 11 048.00 46 21 15 10 045.65

Summary

Games played 50 (46 Third Division, 4 FA Cup)
Games won 24 (21 Third Division, 3 FA Cup)
Games drawn 15 (15 Third Division, 0 FA Cup)
Games lost 11 (10 Third Division, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored 84 (76 Third Division, 8 FA Cup)
Goals conceded 54 (49 Third Division, 5 FA Cup)
Clean sheets 17 (16 Third Division, 1 FA Cup)
Biggest league win 6–0 versus Southampton, 9 March 1959
Worst league defeat 4–0 versus Norwich City, 30 April 1959
Most appearances 50, Johnny Rainford, Tom Wilson (46 Third Division, 4 FA Cup)
Top scorer (league) 32, Jim Towers
Top scorer (all competitions) 37, Jim Towers

Transfers & loans

Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
August 1958 HB Scotland James Lafferty n/a n/a [10]
6 September 1958 HB Scotland Charlie McInally Scotland St Roch's n/a [2]
September 1958 FW Scotland Johnny Hales Scotland St Roch's n/a [11]
25 October 1958 FW Scotland Billy Horn Scotland Kilmarnock Amateur [2]
October 1958 FW Scotland George McLeod England Luton Town £6,000 [12]
1958 DF England Peter Gelson n/a n/a [13]
10 January 1959 FW Scotland George Summers Scotland Shawfield n/a [14]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
June 1958 FW England John Pearson England Queens Park Rangers n/a [15]
December 1958 HB England Len Roe England Yiewsley n/a [16]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
April 1958 FW England Billy Bloomfield Retired [17]
April 1958 FW Scotland John Caven n/a n/a [18]
April 1958 FW Republic of Ireland Sonny Feehan England Headington United n/a [19]
April 1958 FW Republic of Ireland Christy Fletcher England Peterborough United n/a [20]
April 1958 FW Scotland Billy Horn Scotland Kilmarnock n/a [21]
April 1958 DF England George Lowden England Yiewsley n/a [22]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g White 1989, p. 229-232.
  2. ^ a b c "1958 - Scottish Football Historical Archive".
  3. ^ a b c d e f Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1958-1959 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  4. ^ Haynes 1998, p. 17.
  5. ^ a b Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford Table on Saturday 25th April 1959 - Statto.com". Statto.com. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  6. ^ a b c d e White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 385. ISBN 0951526200.
  7. ^ Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Harefield, Middlesex: Yore Publications. p. 78-79. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  8. ^ White 1989, p. 62.
  9. ^ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920-2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  10. ^ "Scottish Football Historical Archive: Scottish League appearance records - L". p. 366.
  11. ^ "Barry Hugman's Footballers - John Hales". hugmansfootballers.com. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  12. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 107.
  13. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 63-64.
  14. ^ "1959 - Scottish Football Historical Archive".
  15. ^ "Barry Hugman's Footballers - John Pearson". hugmansfootballers.com. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  16. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 136-137.
  17. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 23.
  18. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 35.
  19. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 55.
  20. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 58.
  21. ^ "Barry Hugman's Footballers - William Horn". hugmansfootballers.com. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  22. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 98.
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