1927–28 Brentford F.C. season

Brentford
1927–28 season
ChairmanLouis P. Simon
ManagerHarry Curtis
StadiumGriffin Park
Third Division South12th
FA CupThird round
Top goalscorerLeague: Phillips (18)
All: Phillips (18)
Highest home attendance12,513
Lowest home attendance2,024
Average home league attendance7,331

During the 1927–28 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division South. A season of transition saw the Bees finish in mid-table and score 76 goals, which was at that time the club's best goalscoring tally since joining the Football League in 1920.

Season summary

Brentford's 1927–28 team photograph.

Despite a sizeable amount of money in the bank after the previous season's cup exploits and big money sales of Jack Allen, Archie Clark and George Anderson, Brentford manager Harry Curtis elected to add to, rather than rebuild, his squad for the 1927–28 season.[1] He invested in Scottish youngsters John Cairns, Jimmy Drinnan, William Hodge, Alexander Stevenson, Samuel Ward and English teenager Joe Wiggins.[1]

Three defeats in the opening 10 matches of the season put the Bees as high as second place,[2] with off-season signing Jack Phillips scoring 9 goals, Herbert Lawson five and Ernie Watkins four.[3] By mid-October 1927, the goals had dried up and the club dropped to mid-table.[2] During this period, Brentford suffered a club record 7–1 FA Cup defeat to Manchester United.[4][5] A 3–2 victory over Walsall at Griffin Park on 5 December (one of just two wins in the midst of the bad run) was witnessed by 2,024, the club record lowest for a home Football League match.[6] The Bees' form picked up again late January 1928 and the team secured a 12th-place finish.[2] Jack Phillips finished the season as he began it, with 9 goals in 10 matches, to finish as top-scorer with 18 goals.[3] Brentford's 76 goals was the highest since joining the Football League in 1920 and the club finished the season £171 in profit (equivalent to £13,000 in 2024).[7][8]

League table

Main article: 1927–28 Football League Third Division South

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
10 Queens Park Rangers 42 17 9 16 72 71 1.014 43
11 Charlton Athletic 42 15 13 14 60 70 0.857 43
12 Brentford 42 16 8 18 76 74 1.027 40
13 Luton Town 42 16 7 19 94 87 1.080 39
14 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 42 13 12 17 72 79 0.911 38
Source: [citation needed]

Results

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Third Division South

No. Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s)
1 27 August 1927 Brighton & Hove Albion A 2–5 13,164 Phillips, Drinnan
2 29 August 1927 Northampton Town H 3–0 8,280 Phillips (3)
3 3 September 1927 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic H 2–1 11,108 Fletcher, Douglas
4 5 September 1927 Northampton Town A 2–3 7,220 Lane, Watkins
5 10 September 1927 Queens Park Rangers A 3–2 18,826 Watkins, Phillips, Lane
6 14 September 1927 Bristol Rovers A 3–1 2,578 Phillips, Lawson, Watkins
7 17 September 1927 Luton Town A 2–5 9,182 Lawson (2)
8 24 September 1927 Millwall H 6–1 12,513 Douglas, Watkins (pen), Lawson (2), Phillips
9 1 October 1927 Crystal Palace A 2–0 11,552 Phillips, Lane
10 8 October 1927 Exeter City H 1–1 11,326 Lawson
11 15 October 1927 Torquay United A 1–2 4,185 Lawson
12 22 October 1927 Coventry City H 4–1 4,666 Craddock (2), Hodge, Lane
13 29 October 1927 Newport County A 0–3 5,790
14 5 November 1927 Swindon Town H 1–4 9,527 Lane
15 12 November 1927 Gillingham A 1–2 3,293 Lawson
16 3 December 1927 Plymouth Argyle H 0–2 7,537
17 5 December 1927 Walsall H 3–2 2,024 Watkins, Dearn (pen), Lane
18 10 December 1927 Merthyr Town A 1–3 2,465 Craddock
19 17 December 1927 Charlton Athletic H 1–1 5,245 Berry
20 24 December 1927 Watford A 1–1 5,226 Craddock
21 26 December 1927 Southend United A 2–3 3,540 Craddock (2)
22 31 December 1927 Brighton & Hove Albion H 1–3 6,061 Lane
23 7 January 1928 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic A 0–1 4,796
24 21 January 1928 Queens Park Rangers H 0–3 10,430
25 28 January 1928 Luton Town H 4–2 3,291 Watkins (4)
26 4 February 1928 Millwall A 0–3 16,885
27 11 February 1928 Crystal Palace H 2–1 7,580 Beacham, Drinnan
28 18 February 1928 Exeter City A 1–0 7,420 Drinnan
29 25 February 1928 Torquay United H 1–2 8,355 Lane
30 3 March 1928 Coventry City A 0–0 8,188
31 10 March 1928 Newport County H 3–1 5,759 Berry (2), Phillips
32 17 March 1928 Swindon Town A 1–1 6,500 Phillips
33 24 March 1928 Gillingham H 2–0 6,107 Lane (2)
34 31 March 1928 Walsall A 2–4 4,750 Phillips, Drinnan
35 6 April 1928 Norwich City H 3–1 11,814 Berry, Price, Wiggins
36 7 April 1928 Bristol Rovers H 5–1 7,894 Wiggins, Cairns, Drinnan (2), Lawson
37 9 April 1928 Norwich City A 1–1 10,848 Berry (pen)
38 14 April 1928 Plymouth Argyle A 0–1 5,940
39 21 April 1928 Merthyr Town H 4–0 4,583 Phillips (2), Berry, Lane
40 23 April 1928 Southend United H 2–2 4,889 Phillips (2)
41 28 April 1928 Charlton Athletic A 2–3 7,122 Watkins, Phillips
42 5 May 1928 Watford H 1–1 4,775 Phillips

FA Cup

Main article: 1927–28 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s)
3R 14 January 1928 Manchester United A 1–7 18,538 Jones (og)

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1927–28 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Henry Bailey England (1897-12-02)2 December 1897 (aged 29) Exeter City 1927
Defenders
DF Charlie Butler England (1897-10-10)10 October 1897 (aged 29) Gillingham 1926
DF James Donnelly Republic of Ireland (1893-12-18)18 December 1893 (aged 33) Southend United 1925
DF Dick Hendrie Scotland (1895-11-22)22 November 1895 (aged 31) Grays Thurrock United 1927 Assistant trainer
DF Alexander Stevenson Scotland (1903-10-24)24 October 1903 (aged 23) Armadale 1927
DF Ted Winship England 1900 (aged 26–27) Kidderminster Harriers 1926
Midfielders
HB Jack Beacham England (1902-08-15)15 August 1902 (aged 25) Weymouth 1925
HB Stephen Dearn (c) England March 1901 (aged 26) Portsmouth 1926
HB Albert Fletcher England 1898 (aged 28–29) West Ham United 1927
HB William Hodge Scotland (1904-08-31)31 August 1904 (aged 22) Rangers 1927
HB Samuel Ward Scotland (1906-06-01)1 June 1906 (aged 21) Morton 1927
Forwards
FW Bill Berry England (1904-08-18)18 August 1904 (aged 23) Gillingham 1926
FW John Cairns Scotland (1902-11-14)14 November 1902 (aged 24) Charlton Athletic 1927
FW Alfred Douglas England (1899-03-26)26 March 1899 (aged 28) Washington Colliery 1925
FW Jimmy Drinnan Scotland (1906-05-28)28 May 1906 (aged 21) Newport County 1927
FW Jack Lane England (1898-05-29)29 May 1898 (aged 29) Chesterfield 1925
FW Herbert Lawson England (1905-04-12)12 April 1905 (aged 22) Arsenal 1927
FW Jim McCafferty Scotland November 1900 (aged 26) Halifax Town 1927
FW Jack Phillips Wales (1903-05-28)28 May 1903 (aged 24) Merthyr Town 1927
FW William Price England (1903-12-04)4 December 1903 (aged 23) Woking Town 1928 Amateur
FW Ernie Watkins England (1898-04-03)3 April 1898 (aged 29) Southend United 1926
FW Joe Wiggins England (1909-04-01)1 April 1909 (aged 18) Grays Thurrock United 1927
Players who left the club mid-season
GK Jim Ferguson Scotland (1896-08-30)30 August 1896 (aged 30) St Roch's 1926 Transferred to Notts County
FW Joe Craddock England (1902-08-03)3 August 1902 (aged 25) Gillingham 1926 Transferred to Dundee
  • Sources: Timeless Bees,[9] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939,[10] 100 Years Of Brentford[3]

Coaching staff

Name Role
England Harry Curtis Manager
Scotland Dick Hendrie Assistant manager
England Jack Cartmell Trainer

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 England Henry Bailey 15 0 0 0 15 0
GK Scotland Jim Ferguson 27 0 1 0 28 0
DF England Charlie Butler 40 0 0 0 40 0
DF Republic of Ireland James Donnelly 1 0 0 0 1 0
DF Scotland Dick Hendrie 0 0 1 0 1 0
DF Scotland Alexander Stevenson 2 0 0 0 2 0
DF England Ted Winship 41 0 1 0 42 0
HB England Jack Beacham 29 1 1 0 30 1
HB England Stephen Dearn 40 1 1 0 41 1
HB England Albert Fletcher 33 1 0 0 33 1
HB Scotland William Hodge 19 1 1 0 20 1
HB Scotland Samuel Ward 7 0 0 0 7 0
FW England Bill Berry 25 6 1 0 26 6
FW Scotland John Cairns 1 1 0 0 1 1
FW England Joe Craddock 11 6 1 0 12 6
FW England Alfred Douglas 24 2 1 0 25 2
FW Scotland Jimmy Drinnan 18 6 0 0 18 6
FW England Jack Lane 37 11 1 0 38 11
FW England Herbert Lawson 34 9 0 0 34 9
FW Scotland Jim McCafferty 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW Wales Jack Phillips 23 18 0 0 23 18
FW England William Price 1 1 0 0 1 1
FW England Ernie Watkins 29 10 1 0 30 10
FW England Joe Wiggins 4 2 0 0 4 2
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[3]

Goalscorers

Pos. Nat Player FL3 FAC Total
FW Wales Jack Phillips 18 0 18
FW England Jack Lane 11 0 11
FW England Ernie Watkins 10 0 10
FW England Herbert Lawson 9 0 9
FW England Bill Berry 6 0 6
FW England Joe Craddock 6 0 6
FW Scotland Jimmy Drinnan 6 0 6
FW England Alfred Douglas 2 0 2
FW England Joe Wiggins 2 0 2
HB England Jack Beacham 1 0 1
FW Scotland John Cairns 1 0 1
HB England Stephen Dearn 1 0 1
HB England Albert Fletcher 1 0 1
HB Scotland William Hodge 1 0 1
FW England William Price 1 0 1
Opponent 0 1 1
Total 76 1 77
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[3]

Management

Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
P W D L W % P W D L W %
Harry Curtis England 27 August 1927 5 May 1928 43 16 8 19 037.21 42 16 8 18 038.10

Summary

Games played 43 (42 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)
Games won 16 (16 Third Division South, 0 FA Cup)
Games drawn 8 (8 Third Division South, 0 FA Cup)
Games lost 19 (18 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored 77 (76 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)
Goals conceded 81 (74 Third Division South, 7 FA Cup)
Clean sheets 6 (6 Third Division South, 0 FA Cup)
Biggest league win 6–1 versus Millwall, 24 September 1927
Worst league defeat 3–0 on two occasions; 4–1 versus Swindon Town, 5 November 1927; 5–2 on two occasions
Most appearances 42, Ted Winship (41 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)
Top scorer (league) 18, Jack Phillips
Top scorer (all competitions) 18, Jack Phillips

Transfers & loans

Cricketers are not included in this list.
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
July 1927 FW Wales Jack Phillips Wales Merthyr Town Free [7]
August 1927 HB Scotland William Hodge Scotland Rangers Free [11]
1 September 1927 HB Scotland Stewart Low Scotland Montrose Free [12]
1927 GK England Henry Bailey England Exeter City Free [13]
1927 FW Scotland John Cairns England Charlton Athletic Free [14]
1927 DF England Bill Dempsey England London Prison OS Free [15]
1927 FW Scotland Jimmy Drinnan Wales Newport County Exchange [16]
1927 HB England Albert Fletcher England West Ham United Free [17]
1927 FW Scotland Dick Hendrie England Grays Thurrock United Free [18]
1927 FW Scotland Jim McCafferty England Halifax Town Free [19]
1927 DF Scotland Alexander Stevenson Scotland Armadale Free [20]
1927 HB Scotland Samuel Ward Scotland Morton Free [21]
1927 FW England Joe Wiggins England Grays Thurrock United n/a [6]
March 1928 FW Scotland Thomas Brennan Scotland Longriggend Rob Roy n/a [22]
March 1928 FW Scotland Andy Durnion Scotland St Joseph's n/a [23]
March 1928 GK England Freddie Fox England Halifax Town n/a [24]
March 1928 FW England Len Ramsell England Chatham Town n/a [21]
March 1928 HB England Teddy Ware England Chatham Town Amateur [22]
1928 FW England William Price England Woking Town Amateur [25]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
May 1927 FW Scotland George Anderson England Chelsea n/a [26]
May 1927 HB England Archie Clark England Arsenal £700 [27]
24 November 1927 HB Scotland Harry Rae Scotland Hamilton Academical n/a [12]
January 1928 HB Wales Evan Evans England Chatham Town n/a [28]
11 February 1928 FW England Joe Craddock Scotland Dundee n/a [12]
March 1928 GK Scotland Jim Ferguson England Notts County n/a [29]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
May 1928 DF England Charlie Butler Canada Montreal Carsteel 1928 [30]
May 1928 FW Scotland John Cairns England Leicester City 1928 [14]
May 1928 DF England Bill Dempsey England Queens Park Rangers 1928 [31]
May 1928 DF Republic of Ireland James Donnelly England Thames 1928 [32]
May 1928 HB England Albert Fletcher England Norwich City 1928 [17]
May 1928 HB Scotland Stewart Low n/a [12]
May 1928 FW England William Price England Fulham June 1928 [33]
May 1928 HB Scotland Samuel Ward Retired [21]

References

  1. ^ a b White 1989, p. 123-125.
  2. ^ a b c "Brentford results for the 1927–1928 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e f White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 369. ISBN 0951526200.
  4. ^ Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Harefield, Middlesex: Yore Publications. p. 42. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  5. ^ "England – FA Challenge Cup 1927–1928". RSSSF. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  6. ^ a b Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 168.
  7. ^ a b Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 125.
  8. ^ "Brentford Make A Small Profit. Transfer Fees Balance Big Loss In Gate Receipts. Seven New Players. Directors Look Forward With Confidence To The Coming Season". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 6 July 1928.
  9. ^ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  10. ^ Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN 190589161X.
  11. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 77.
  12. ^ a b c d Litster, John. Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
  13. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 14.
  14. ^ a b Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 33.
  15. ^ Joyce 2012, p. 79.
  16. ^ "Brentford's Bright Prospects. A Big Bid For Promotion In The Coming Season. Full List Of Players. Illness Of Marshall: Competition For Forward Positions". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 12 August 1927.
  17. ^ a b Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 58.
  18. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 75.
  19. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 103.
  20. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 154-155.
  21. ^ a b c Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 165.
  22. ^ a b Dorey, F.W. (1928). Brentford Football Club Season 1928–29 Official Handbook. pp. 21–23.
  23. ^ "Ferguson Joins Notts County". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 16 March 1928.
  24. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 59-60.
  25. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 128.
  26. ^ "George Anderson | Chelsea Player Profile". Stamford-Bridge.com The History of Chelsea FC. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  27. ^ "Archie Clark". Arsenal.com. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  28. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 53.
  29. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 55.
  30. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 32.
  31. ^ "Of last season's players known to have fixed up elsewhere, Wiggins and Cairns have gone to Leicester City, Dempsey to Queens Park Rangers". The Athletic News. 6 August 1928.
  32. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 49.
  33. ^ "Brentford Lose W.J. Price. Surprise Signature For Fulham As A Professional". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 22 June 1928.