After a promising 9th-place finish at the end of the 1921–22 Third Division South season, Brentford player-manager Archie Mitchell retired from playing in order to concentrate solely on management.[2] Financial problems during the off-season meant that the squad was hit by the triple-departure of forwards Harry Anstiss, George Pither and long-serving wing halfAlf Amos to league rivals Millwall.[3] The previous season's leading goalscorer Harry Morris was successfully retained and the money generated from the sales allowed the squad's wages to be paid through the off-season.[4][5] 11 new players were transferred in, with a contingent from the North East, including full back George Kell, half backs Bill Inglis and John Haggan and forwards Gordon Johnstone, Reginald Parker, Harry Stott and John Thain.[5] Trainer Michael Whitham was replaced by former Bees manager Dusty Rhodes.[5]
Despite Harry Morris scoring 10 goals in an 11 match spell early in the season,[6] by early November 1921, Brentford were rooted in mid-table.[7] A failure to convert draws into wins dropped the club down to 18th on Christmas Day and the sales of Harry Morris to Millwall and long-serving full back Bertie Rosier to Clapton Orient in February 1923 exacerbated the team's problems scoring and conceding goals.[7][8][9] Though never looking in any danger of having to seek re-election, a run of goals from Gordon Johnstone and Reginald Parker inspired a seven match unbeaten spell from mid-March to mid-April which lifted Brentford to 14th.[7][6] Three draws and two defeats in the final five matches of the season saw the Bees secure a 14th-place finish.[7]
^Haynes, Graham; Twydell, Dave (2008). Brentford F.C.: The Complete History 1889–2008. Harefield: Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0-9557889-5-6. OCLC 528356934.
^Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
^Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN 190589161X.
^"Players – Holden to Iwelumo" (PDF). Watford Football Club archive 1881–2016. p. 38. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
^"Players – Abdi to Aston" (PDF). Watford Football Club archive 1881–2016. p. 26. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
^Litster, John. Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
^"Elliott Tom Nottingham Forest 1920". Vintage Footballers. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
^"Brentford sign an additional outside-left. Practice match to-morrow week". Chiswick Times. 10 August 1923.