1936–37 Brentford F.C. season

Brentford
1936–37 season
ChairmanLouis P. Simon
ManagerHarry Curtis
StadiumGriffin Park
First Division6th
FA CupFourth round
Top goalscorerLeague: McCulloch (31)
All: McCulloch (33)
Highest home attendance31,745
Lowest home attendance14,103
Average home league attendance25,544

During the 1936–37 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League First Division and secured a 6th-place finish, one place below the previous season's club record highest league position.

Season summary

After a club record 5th-place finish in Brentford's debut season in the top flight,[1] manager Harry Curtis kept faith with the season's previous squad, releasing outside forward Jim Brown and bringing in youngsters Harry Bamford and Joe Murray.[2] Teenage outside right Les Smith, who had signed his first professional contract a year earlier, was promoted to the first team squad after Bobby Reid was struck down by appendicitis on the eve of the season.[3]

After a mixed start to the season, Brentford kicked into gear in late September 1936, losing just four of 19 matches to establish themselves in the top three in the First Division.[4] In his first full season with the Bees, forward David McCulloch again showed prolific form, going on to score 33 goals in his 43 appearances.[5] Five goals in a six match spell also saw forward Billy Scott win an England cap in a British Home Championship match versus Wales in October 1937,[6] which made him Brentford's first full England international player.[7] Brentford's form dipped in mid-February 1937 and despite the signing of Buster Brown to replace the departed Dai Richards at left half,[2] the club dropped to a 6th-place finish.[4]

A 6–2 defeat to champions-elect Manchester City on 3 April equalled the club record for most goals conceded in a Football League match.[8][9] Despite a number of other heavy defeats, manager Harry Curtis did improve the team's winning percentage in both the league and FA Cup, with Brentford hammering Huddersfield Town 5–0 in the third round (the first time the Bees had scored in the FA Cup for over four years) before exiting at the hands of Derby County in the following round.[4]

At the end of the season, Brentford set off on a tour of Nazi Germany, beating Hamburger SV (3–0), Hertha BSC (4–0), drawing 2–2 with champions 1. FC Nürnberg and losing 4–0 to Schalke 04.[10] The Star published a picture of the team giving a Nazi salute prior to the Schalke match, which caused a minor stir in London.[10]

League table

Main article: 1936–37 Football League First Division

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
4 Derby County 42 21 7 14 96 90 1.067 49
5 Wolverhampton Wanderers 42 21 5 16 84 67 1.254 47
6 Brentford 42 18 10 14 82 78 1.051 46
7 Middlesbrough 42 19 8 15 74 71 1.042 46
8 Sunderland 42 19 6 17 89 87 1.023 44
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored

Results

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division

No. Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s)
1 29 August 1936 Bolton Wanderers H 2–2 27,524 McCulloch, Wilson (pen)
2 3 September 1936 Arsenal H 2–0 31,056 Hopkins, McCulloch
3 5 September 1936 Everton A 0–3 37,524
4 9 September 1936 Arsenal A 1–1 44,010 Wilson (pen)
5 12 September 1936 Huddersfield Town H 1–1 25,386 McCulloch
6 17 September 1936 Charlton Athletic H 4–2 21,373 L. Smith, McCulloch, W. Scott, McKenzie (pen)
7 19 September 1936 Sunderland A 1–4 37,407 Hopkins
8 26 September 1936 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 3–2 23,256 McCulloch (2), McKenzie (pen)
9 3 October 1936 Derby County A 3–2 24,545 W. Scott (2), McCulloch
10 10 October 1936 Manchester United H 4–0 28,019 Reid, W. Scott (2), McCulloch
11 17 October 1936 Grimsby Town A 0–2 11,858
12 24 October 1936 Liverpool H 5–2 25,934 McCulloch (3), Holliday, Reid
13 31 October 1936 Leeds United A 1–3 21,498 Holliday
14 7 November 1936 Birmingham H 2–1 22,905 McCulloch (2)
15 14 November 1936 Middlesbrough A 0–3 23,064
16 21 November 1936 West Bromwich Albion H 2–1 20,575 Reid, McCulloch
17 5 December 1936 Portsmouth H 4–0 26,371 McCulloch (2), Holliday (2)
18 12 December 1936 Chelsea A 1–2 51,079 Reid
19 19 December 1936 Stoke City H 2–1 18,167 Holliday, Tutin (og)
20 25 December 1936 Sheffield Wednesday H 2–1 26,560 Reid, W. Scott
21 26 December 1936 Bolton Wanderers A 2–2 36,962 McCulloch, W. Scott
22 28 December 1936 Sheffield Wednesday A 2–0 20,374 W. Scott, Hopkins
23 2 January 1937 Everton H 2–2 20,457 Hopkins, McKenzie (pen)
24 9 January 1937 Huddersfield Town A 1–1 21,753 McCulloch
25 23 January 1937 Sunderland H 3–3 29,389 W. Scott (3)
26 6 February 1937 Derby County H 6–2 31,745 Reid (2), Holliday (2), McCulloch (2)
27 10 February 1937 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 0–4 19,373
28 13 February 1937 Manchester United A 3–1 31,942 W. Scott, Reid (2)
29 27 February 1937 Liverpool A 2–2 25,005 Reid (pen), McCulloch
30 3 March 1937 Grimsby Town H 2–3 14,103 McCulloch (2)
31 6 March 1937 Leeds United H 4–1 16,588 Holliday, McCulloch (2), Holley (og)
32 13 March 1937 Birmingham A 0–4 30,510
33 20 March 1937 Middlesbrough H 4–1 23,872 L. Smith, McCulloch (3)
34 26 March 1937 Preston North End H 1–1 31,069 McCulloch
35 27 March 1937 West Bromwich Albion A 0–1 29,858
36 29 March 1937 Preston North End A 1–1 26,782 W. Scott
37 3 April 1937 Manchester City H 2–6 29,028 W. Scott, Hopkins
38 7 April 1937 Manchester City A 1–2 24,629 McCulloch
39 10 April 1937 Portsmouth A 3–1 19,208 Hopkins, McCulloch, Muttitt
40 17 April 1937 Chelsea H 1–0 22,042 McKenzie (pen)
41 24 April 1937 Stoke City A 1–5 18,451 McKenzie
42 1 May 1937 Charlton Athletic A 1–2 26,195 W. Scott

FA Cup

Main article: 1936–37 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s)
3R 16 January 1937 Huddersfield Town H 5–0 n/a Reid (2, 1 pen), McCulloch (2), Holliday
4R 30 January 1937 Derby County A 0–3 27,376

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1936–37 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK James Mathieson Scotland (1904-05-10)10 May 1904 (aged 32) Middlesbrough 1934
GK James Nicholls England (1908-09-24)24 September 1908 (aged 27) Manchester City 1934
Defenders
DF Arthur Bateman (c) England (1908-04-01)1 April 1908 (aged 28) Southend United 1934
DF George Dumbrell England (1906-09-23)23 September 1906 (aged 29) Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 1935
DF Walter Metcalf England (1910-12-15)15 December 1910 (aged 25) Sunderland 1934
DF George Poyser England (1910-02-06)6 February 1910 (aged 26) Port Vale 1934
DF Joe Wilson England (1911-09-29)29 September 1911 (aged 24) Southend United 1935
Midfielders
HB Buster Brown England (1910-09-06)6 September 1910 (aged 25) Huddersfield Town 1937
HB Joe James England (1910-01-13)13 January 1910 (aged 26) Battersea Church 1929
HB Duncan McKenzie Scotland (1912-08-10)10 August 1912 (aged 24) Albion Rovers 1932
HB Joe Murray Scotland 1914 (aged 21–22) Ayr United 1936
HB Archie Scott Scotland (1905-07-22)22 July 1905 (aged 31) Derby County 1934
Forwards
FW Billy Dunn Scotland (1910-10-09)9 October 1910 (aged 25) Celtic 1935
FW Jack Holliday England (1908-12-19)19 December 1908 (aged 27) Middlesbrough 1932
FW Idris Hopkins Wales (1910-10-11)11 October 1910 (aged 25) Crystal Palace 1932
FW David McCulloch Scotland (1912-10-05)5 October 1912 (aged 23) Heart of Midlothian 1935
FW Ernest Muttitt England (1908-07-24)24 July 1908 (aged 28) Middlesbrough 1932
FW Bobby Reid Scotland (1911-02-19)19 February 1911 (aged 25) Hamilton Academical 1936
FW Billy Scott England (1907-12-06)6 December 1907 (aged 28) Middlesbrough 1932
FW Les Smith England (1918-03-13)13 March 1918 (aged 18) Petersham 1934
Players who left the club mid-season
HB Dai Richards Wales (1906-10-31)31 October 1906 (aged 29) Wolverhampton Wanderers 1935 Transferred to Birmingham
HB Cecil Smith England (1907-06-16)16 June 1907 (aged 29) Brentford Market 1931 Transferred to Doncaster Rovers
  • Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[5] Timeless Bees,[11] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939[12]

Coaching staff

Name Role
England Harry Curtis Manager
Scotland Jimmy Bain Assistant Manager
England Bob Kane Trainer
England Jack Cartmell Assistant Trainer
England Fred Keatch Secretary

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Brentford's highest appearance-makers in each position during the Football League season.
Pos Nat Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Scotland James Mathieson 35 0 2 0 37 0
GK England James Nicholls 7 0 0 0 7 0
DF England Arthur Bateman 26 0 2 0 28 0
DF England George Dumbrell 4 0 0 0 4 0
DF England Walter Metcalf 5 0 0 0 5 0
DF England George Poyser 31 0 2 0 33 0
DF England Joe Wilson 13 0 2 0 15 0
HB England Buster Brown 10 0 — 10 0
HB England Joe James 42 0 2 0 44 0
HB Scotland Duncan McKenzie 42 5 2 0 44 5
HB Scotland Joe Murray 1 0 0 0 1 0
HB Wales Dai Richards 29 0 2 0 31 0
HB England Cecil Smith 1 0 — 1 0
HB Scotland Archie Scott 2 0 0 0 2 0
FW Scotland Billy Dunn 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW England Jack Holliday 41 8 2 1 43 9
FW Wales Idris Hopkins 41 6 2 0 43 6
FW Scotland David McCulloch 41 31 2 2 43 33
FW England Ernest Muttitt 7 1 0 0 7 1
FW Scotland Bobby Reid 28 10 2 2 30 12
FW England Billy Scott 41 15 2 0 43 15
FW England Les Smith 14 2 0 0 14 2
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[5]

Goalscorers

Pos. Nat Player FL1 FAC Total
FW Scotland David McCulloch 31 2 33
FW England Billy Scott 15 0 15
FW Scotland Bobby Reid 10 2 12
FW England Jack Holliday 8 1 9
FW Wales Idris Hopkins 6 0 6
HB Scotland Duncan McKenzie 5 0 5
FW England Les Smith 2 0 2
FW England Ernest Muttitt 1 0 1
Opponents 2 0 2
Total 82 5 87
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[5]

International caps

Pos. Nat Player Caps Goals Ref
FW Wales Idris Hopkins 3 0 [13]
FW Scotland David McCulloch 2 1 [14]
FW Wales Dai Richards 2 0 [15]
FW England Billy Scott 1 0 [6]

Management

Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
P W D L W % P W D L W %
Harry Curtis England 29 August 1936 2 May 1937 44 19 10 15 043.18 42 18 10 14 042.86

Summary

Games played 44 (42 First Division, 2 FA Cup)
Games won 19 (18 First Division, 1 FA Cup)
Games drawn 10 (10 First Division, 0 FA Cup)
Games lost 15 (14 First Division, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored 87 (82 First Division, 5 FA Cup)
Goals conceded 81 (78 First Division, 3 FA Cup)
Clean sheets 6 (5 First Division, 1 FA Cup)
Biggest league win 4–0 on two occasions; 6–2 versus Derby County, 6 February 1937
Worst league defeat 4–0 on two occasions; 6–2 versus Manchester City, 3 April 1937; 5–1 versus Stoke City, 24 April 1937
Most appearances 44, Joe James, Duncan McKenzie (42 First Division, 2 FA Cup)
Top scorer (league) 31, David McCulloch
Top scorer (all competitions) 33, David McCulloch

Transfers & loans

Cricketers are not included in this list.
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
September 1936 FW England Bert Knott England Arsenal n/a [16]
1936 DF England Harry Bamford England Hayes Free [2]
1936 HB Scotland Joe Murray Scotland Ayr United Free [2]
March 1937 HB England Buster Brown England Huddersfield Town £3,000 [2]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
November 1936 HB England Cecil Smith England Doncaster Rovers Free [17]
January 1937 GK Wales Thomas Lynch England Watford Undisclosed [18]
March 1937 HB Wales Dai Richards England Birmingham £3,500 [19]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
n/a FW England Bert Knott England Stourbridge n/a [20]
May 1937 FW Scotland Billy Dunn England Southampton May 1937 [21]
May 1937 DF England Walter Metcalf England Coventry City 1937 [22]
May 1937 GK England James Nicholls England Port Vale June 1937 [23]

References

  1. ^ Brentford F.C. at the Football Club History Database
  2. ^ a b c d e Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 16, 29, 113, 166.
  3. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 149.
  4. ^ a b c "Brentford results for the 1936–1937 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d e White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 374. ISBN 0951526200.
  6. ^ a b "William Scott". 11v11.com. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  7. ^ Chapman, Mark. "Boro Connections: Five players that shaped Brentford football Club's history". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  8. ^ "Brentford League Table 1936-1937". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  9. ^ "Brentford scoring and sequence records". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  10. ^ a b Brentford's Official Matchday Magazine versus Peterborough United. 3 May 1997. p. 20.
  11. ^ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  12. ^ Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN 190589161X.
  13. ^ "Dai Hopkins". 11v11.com. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  14. ^ "David McCulloch". 11v11.com. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  15. ^ "David Richards". 11v11.com. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  16. ^ Kaufman, Neilson. "VE Day WW2 players as at May 2020" (PDF). pp. 66–67. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  17. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 147.
  18. ^ "Player: Thomas John Lynch". Watford Football Club Archive. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  19. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 133–134.
  20. ^ "Bert Knott". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  21. ^ Litster, John. Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
  22. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 108.
  23. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 116.