1913–14 Brentford F.C. season

Brentford
1913–14 season
ChairmanH. Jason-Saunders
ManagerDusty Rhodes
StadiumGriffin Park
Southern League Second Division3rd
FA CupFifth qualifying round
Top goalscorerLeague: Simons (19)
All: Simons (19)
Highest home attendance13,000
Lowest home attendance2,000

During the 1913–14 English football season, Brentford competed in the Southern League Second Division. Despite winning 13 of 15 matches in the first half of the season, a loss of form in a five-week spell from February through to April 1914 ended the club's chances of an immediate return to First Division.

Season summary

Future England international forward Jack Cock briefly played for Brentford towards the end of the season.

Brentford player-manager Dusty Rhodes faced a tough task ahead in the Bees' first season back in the Southern League Second Division since 1900–01, with the club's debt having risen to £5,000 (equivalent to £621,500 in 2025) and the prospect of high expenses and reduced gate receipts from away matches due to 11 of the league's 16 clubs being located in Wales.[1] As a result, the Southern League Management Committee paid a £100 subsidy to each of the five English clubs in the league.[1] Of the previous season's professional players, only goalkeeper Ted Price, full backs Tommy Fells and Walter Spratt, centre half Frank Bentley and outside left Patsy Hendren were retained.[1] Bill Smith, Frederick Chapple and Bob McTavish were sold for small fees, while left half Phil Richards elected to retire.[1] In came half backs Tom McGovern, Bobby Jackson and forwards Charlie Elliott, Henry Simons, Joe Johnson and Tommy Clark.[1] England international amateur right half Alec Barclay remained with the club and amateur forwards Henry White and Jack Chapman were added to the ranks.[1]

As the season got underway, Brentford feasted on poor Welsh opposition, winning 13 of the first 15 matches of the season, scoring 49 goals and conceding just three.[2] Treharris and Ton Pentre were each beaten 7–0 at Griffin Park and the Bees also posted 5–0, 4–0 and 3–0 scorelines, each on two occasions.[2] The rot slowly set in after a 1–0 home defeat to 2nd-place Croydon Common on Christmas Day 1913 and injuries and the absence of some of the club's amateurs lead to defeats to fellow challengers Luton Town in February 1914,[1] Stoke later that month and a galling 1–0 reverse to Ton Pentre on 21 March.[2] Defeat to Newport County at home on 4 April ended Brentford's mathematical chances of a runners-up finish and later that month, with the club unable to pay its players in full, leading scorer Henry Simons and future England international Jack Cock were sold to raise funds.[1] Brentford finished the campaign in 4th-place and lost £127 for the season (equivalent to £15,400 in 2025).[2]

League table

Main article: 1913–14 Southern Football League § Division Two

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Promotion
1 Croydon Common 30 23 5 2 76 14 5.429 51 Promoted to Division One
2 Luton Town 30 24 3 3 92 22 4.182 51
3 Brentford 30 20 4 6 80 18 4.444 44
4 Swansea Town 30 20 4 6 66 25 2.640 44
5 Stoke 30 19 2 9 71 34 2.088 40
Source: rsssf.com
Rules for classification: The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used until the 1976-77 season. The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.

Results

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Southern League Second Division

No. Date Opponent Venue Result Scorer(s)
1 13 September 1913 Treharris A 3–1 Chapman, McGovern, Simons
2 20 September 1913 Caerphilly H 5–0 Simons (2), Johnson, Hendren (2)
3 4 October 1913 Ton Pentre H 7–0 Chapman (3), Hendren, Clark, Johnson, Jackson
4 11 October 1913 Abertillery A 1–0 Clark
5 18 October 1913 Swansea Town H 3–1 Clark, Johnson, Barclay
6 25 October 1913 Barry H 5–0 Johnson (3), Simons (2)
7 7 November 1913 Mardy H 4–0 Simons, Johnson (3)
8 6 December 1913 Llanelly A 3–0 Chapman (2), Jackson
9 20 December 1913 Barry A 4–0 Kent, Simons, Chapman, Elliott
10 25 December 1913 Croydon Common H 0–1
11 26 December 1913 Treharris H 7–0 Simons (4), Chapman (2), Johnson
12 27 December 1913 Newport County H 3–0 Simons (2), Chapman
13 17 January 1914 Stoke H 2–0 Chapman (2)
14 29 January 1914 Mid Rhondda A 0–0
15 31 January 1914 Pontypridd H 2–0 Simons, Johnson
16 7 February 1914 Luton Town A 1–3 Hendren (pen)
17 14 February 1914 Llanelly H 2–0 Chapman (2)
18 21 February 1914 Pontypridd A 0–0
19 23 February 1914 Mardy A 2–0 Johnson, Simons
20 28 February 1914 Stoke A 1–2 Simons
21 14 March 1914 Mid Rhondda H 3–1 Farnfield, Simons, Barclay
22 21 March 1914 Ton Pentre A 0–1
23 23 March 1914 Aberdare A 6–3 Johnson (3), Simons, Hendren, Elliott
24 28 March 1914 Abertillery H 5–0 McGovern, Chapman (2), Barclay, Cock
25 4 April 1914 Newport County A 2–3 Jackson, Simons
26 10 April 1914 Aberdare H 4–0 Sloley (3), Chapman
27 11 April 1914 Luton Town H 0–0
28 13 April 1914 Croydon Common A 0–1
29 18 April 1914 Swansea Town A 0–0
30 20 April 1914 Caerphilly A 5–1 Meehan, White (2), Johnson, Kent

FA Cup

Main article: 1913–14 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Scorer
QR4 29 November 1913 Luton Clarence H 1–0 Johnson
QR5 13 December 1913 Southend United H 1–1 Chapman
QR5 (replay) 17 December 1913 Southend United A 0–2
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[2]

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1913–14 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Ted Price England (1883-06-13)13 June 1883 (aged 30) Croydon Common 1912
Defenders
DF Tommy Fells England (1890-01-08)8 January 1890 (aged 22) South Kirkby 1913
DF Dusty Rhodes (c) England (1882-08-16)16 August 1882 (aged 31) Sunderland 1908
DF Walter Spratt England (1889-04-14)14 April 1889 (aged 24) Rotherham Town 1911
Midfielders
HB Alec Barclay England (1885-11-01)1 November 1885 (aged 27) Ilford 1910 Amateur
HB Frank Bentley England (1886-10-09)9 October 1886 (aged 26) Tottenham Hotspur 1912
HB Bobby Jackson England (1887-02-09)9 February 1887 (aged 26) Portsmouth 1913
HB Tom McGovern Ireland (1888-11-11)11 November 1888 (aged 24) Halifax Town 1913
Forwards
FW Billy Brawn England (1878-08-01)1 August 1878 (aged 35) Chelsea 1911
FW Jack Chapman England (1895-04-29)29 April 1895 (aged 18) Southall 1913 Amateur
FW Tommy Clark England n/a Middlesbrough 1913
FW Charlie Elliott England (1886-09-28)28 September 1886 (aged 26) Millwall 1913
FW Herbert Farnfield England (1883-08-05)5 August 1883 (aged 30) New Crusaders 1914 Amateur
FW Patsy Hendren England (1889-02-05)5 February 1889 (aged 24) Coventry City 1911 Played when his cricket commitments allowed
FW Joe Johnson England (1882-12-12)12 December 1882 (aged 30) Clapton Orient 1913
FW Tommy Kent England (1888-09-10)10 September 1888 (aged 25) Slough Town 1913 Amateur
FW John Meehan England 1896 (aged 16–17) Newton 1914
FW Richard Sloley England (1891-08-20)20 August 1891 (aged 22) Cambridge University 1914 Amateur
FW Henry White England (1895-08-08)8 August 1895 (aged 18) Whamcliffe Athletic 1914 Amateur
Players who left the club mid-season
FW Jack Cock England (1893-11-14)14 November 1893 (aged 19) Old Kingstonians 1914 Transferred to Huddersfield Town
FW Henry Simons England (1887-11-26)26 November 1887 (aged 25) Merthyr Town 1913 Transferred to Fulham
  • Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford,[2] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939[3]

Coaching staff

Name Role
England Dusty Rhodes Manager
England Fred Halliday Secretary
England Tom Cowper Trainer

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Rhodes (c)
Barclay
Jackson
Elliott
Brentford's highest appearance-makers in each position during the Southern League season.
Pos Nat Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England Ted Price 30 0 3 0 33 0
DF England Tommy Fells 7 0 0 0 7 0
DF England Dusty Rhodes 23 0 3 0 26 0
DF England Walter Spratt 30 0 3 0 33 0
HB England Alec Barclay 17 3 3 0 20 3
HB England Frank Bentley 28 0 3 0 31 0
HB England Bobby Jackson 24 3 3 0 27 3
HB Ireland Tom McGovern 20 2 0 0 20 2
FW England Billy Brawn 1 0 — 1 0
FW England Jack Chapman 25 16 3 1 28 17
FW England Tommy Clark 4 3 0 0 4 3
FW England Jack Cock 3 1 — 3 1
FW England Charlie Elliott 17 2 3 0 20 2
FW England Herbert Farnfield 1 1 0 0 1 1
FW England Patsy Hendren 28 5 3 0 31 5
FW England Joe Johnson 28 15 3 1 31 16
FW England Tommy Kent 14 2 — 14 2
FW England John Meehan 1 1 — 1 1
FW England Henry Simons 25 19 3 0 28 19
FW England Richard Sloley 2 3 — 2 3
FW England Henry White 2 2 0 0 2 2
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[2]

Goalscorers

Pos. Nat Player SL2 FAC Total
FW England Henry Simons 19 0 19
FW England Jack Chapman 16 1 17
FW England Joe Johnson 15 1 16
FW England Patsy Hendren 5 0 5
HB England Alec Barclay 3 0 3
FW England Tommy Clark 3 0 3
HB England Bobby Jackson 3 0 3
FW England Richard Sloley 3 0 3
FW England Tommy Kent 2 — 2
FW England Charlie Elliott 2 0 2
HB Ireland Tom McGovern 2 0 2
FW England Henry White 2 0 2
FW England Jack Cock 1 — 1
FW England John Meehan 1 — 1
FW England Herbert Farnfield 1 0 1
Total 80 2 82
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[2]

Amateur international caps

Pos. Nat Player Caps Goals Ref
HB England Alec Barclay 2 0 [4]

Management

Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
P W D L W % P W D L W %
Dusty Rhodes England 13 September 1913 20 April 1914 33 21 5 7 063.64 30 20 4 6 066.67

Summary

Games played 33 (30 Southern League Second Division, 3 FA Cup)
Games won 21 (20 Southern League Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Games drawn 5 (4 Southern League Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Games lost 7 (6 Southern League Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored 82 (80 Southern League Second Division, 2 FA Cup)
Goals conceded 21 (18 Southern League Second Division, 3 FA Cup)
Clean sheets 20 (19 Southern League Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Biggest league win 7–0 on two occasions
Worst league defeat 3–1 versus Luton Town, 7 February 1914
Most appearances 33, Ted Price, Walter Spratt (30 Southern League Second Division, 3 FA Cup)
Top scorer (league) 19, Henry Simons
Top scorer (all competitions) 19, Henry Simons

Transfers & loans

Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
18 June 1913 FW England Joe Johnson England Clapton Orient n/a [1]
23 June 1913 HB England Bobby Jackson England Portsmouth n/a [1]
23 June 1913 FW Scotland Bob Mitchell England Barnsley n/a [5]
31 June 1913 FW England Henry Simons Wales Merthyr Town n/a [1]
18 August 1913 FW England Bob Browning England Southampton n/a [1]
21 August 1913 FW England Charlie Elliott England Millwall n/a [1]
28 August 1913 FW England Tommy Clark England Middlesbrough n/a [1]
3 September 1913 HB Scotland James Ramsay Wales Aberdare n/a [6]
17 September 1913 HB Ireland Tom McGovern England Halifax Town n/a [1]
9 September 1913 GK England Billy Biggar England Rochdale n/a [5]
September 1913 HB England Alf Amos England Old Kingstonians Amateur [7]
September 1913 FW England George Littler England King's Royal Rifle Corps Amateur [7]
27 December 1913 FW England Thomas Graham England Allerton Bywater Colliery n/a [5]
December 1913 FW England Tommy Kent England Slough Town Amateur [1]
1913 FW England Jack Chapman England Southall Amateur [1]
1913 FW England James Holland England Luton Town n/a [8]
1913 FW England Alfred Rosier England Southall n/a [9]
1913 FB England Bertie Rosier England Southall n/a [9]
1913 FW England Henry White England Whamcliffe Athletic Amateur [1]
February 1914 FW England Herbert Farnfield n/a Amateur [1]
February 1914 FW England John Meehan England Newton n/a [1]
March 1914 FW England Jack Cock England Old Kingstonians Amateur [1]
April 1914 FW England Richard Sloley England Cambridge University Amateur [1]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
23 July 1913 FW Scotland Bob McTavish Scotland Third Lanark Nominal [10]
24 September 1913 FW Scotland Bob Mitchell Ireland Distillery n/a [5]
1913 FW England Frederick Chapple England Bristol City Nominal [1]
1913 FW England Bill Smith England Southampton Nominal [1]
April 1914 FW England Jack Cock England Huddersfield Town Nominal [1]
April 1914 FW England Henry Simons England Fulham n/a [1]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
July 1913 HB England Phil Richards Retired [1]
February 1914 FW England Herbert Farnfield n/a n/a [1]
April 1914 HB England Frank Bentley Retired [1]
April 1914 GK England Billy Biggar England Rochdale 24 June 1914 [11]
April 1914 FW England Billy Brawn Retired [12]
April 1914 FW England Jack Chapman England Southall n/a [1]
April 1914 FW England Tommy Clark n/a n/a [1]
April 1914 FW England Charlie Elliott England Leyton 1 September 1914 [11]
April 1914 FB England Tommy Fells England South Kirkby 13 May 1914 [11]
April 1914 FW England John Meehan n/a n/a [1]
April 1914 FW England Bob Browning England Queens Park Rangers May 1914 [13]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af White 1989, p. 101-103.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 362. ISBN 0951526200.
  3. ^ Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN 190589161X.
  4. ^ "England Matches – The Amateurs 1906–1939". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d "The Football Association – Season 1913–14 – Summary Of Professional Registrations". Sky is Blue – The Chesterfield FC history resource. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  6. ^ "James Ramsay" (PDF). Croydon Common Football Club. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  7. ^ a b "Southern Snapshots". The Athletic News. 15 September 1913.
  8. ^ "James Holland". Hatters Heritage. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  9. ^ a b Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. p. 137. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  10. ^ Litster, John. Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
  11. ^ a b c "The Football Association – Season 1914–15 – Summary Of Professional Registrations". Sky is Blue – The Chesterfield FC history resource. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  12. ^ White 1989, p. 99-101.
  13. ^ "Seasonal Stats – 1914–15". QPRnet. Retrieved 8 May 2018.