After making something of a name for themselves as the "nearly men" of the Third Division, Brentford manager Malky MacDonald made little changes to his squad for the fourth-consecutive off-season.[1] The one major change was that of Brentford's traditional red and white-striped shirts, which were passed over in favour of an amber shirt with a blue 'V' neck, due to the number of times the club would be forced to wear its change strip during the season.[1] Public demand ensured that the change of colours was to be a one-season experiment.[1]
Brentford started the 1960–61 season well, sitting top after wins in the first two matches, but a 6–1 defeat to Watford at Vicarage Road on 30 August 1960 shook the team's confidence.[2] The same XI atoned for that display with a 4–0 victory over Shrewsbury Town four days later, but the view had become prevalent around Griffin Park that some of Brentford's settled XI from the previous seasons were past their peak.[1] MacDonald tinkered with his squad and bit-part, reserve or youth players Tommy Higginson, John Docherty, Ron Peplow and Johnny Hales would receive runs in the team.[3] Amidst a run of just two wins in 19 league matches, the new Football League Cup gave the Bees some cheer, with Second Division club Sunderland falling 4–3 at Griffin Park in Brentford's first-ever match in the competition.[2] The Bees were knocked out after a replay versus reigning Football League champions Burnley in the third round.[2] A first round exit in the FA Cup ensured that the Third Division would be Brentford's sole focus for the remainder of the season.[2]
Brentford entered 1961 in 15th place in the Third Division, only three points above the relegation zone.[4] Chairman Frank Davis also posted a £7,000 loss, which took the club's debt over £50,000 and a players' strike in support of their claim for the removal of the maximum wage was also a real possibility.[1] The club rallied and lost just five of the remaining 21 matches of the season, but a failure to convert 11 draws into wins (four consecutive home draws in February and March equalled the club record) ensured Brentford finished in a lowly 17th place.[2][5] In a bid to alleviate some of the club's debt, promising outside right John Docherty was sold to Sheffield United for a club record £17,000 in March 1961.[6] The "Terrible Twins" (forwards Jim Towers and George Francis) had a mixed season, with Towers scoring 22 goals (low by the standards set for himself) and Francis suffering the ignominy of being dropped in February 1961, a decision considered unthinkable just six months earlier and he failed to earn a recall despite a spell of 13 goals in 10 matches for the reserve team.[1] Youngster George Summers came into the team at Francis' expense and scored six goals in 15 appearances.[3] Brentford's final match of the season versus Reading, although won 2–1, pushed the average league attendance at Griffin Park down to 7,392, the club's lowest since the 1924–25 season.[1]
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
