1933–34 season of Brentford F.C.
Brentford 1933–34 football season
Brentford1933–34 season |
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Chairman | Louis P. Simon |
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Manager | Harry Curtis |
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Stadium | Griffin Park |
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Second Division | 4th |
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FA Cup | Third round |
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Top goalscorer | League: Holliday (27) All: Holliday (27) |
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Highest home attendance | 26,934 |
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Lowest home attendance | 12,017 |
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Average home league attendance | 16,377 |
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During the 1933–34 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Second Division for the first time in the club's history. A strong run in the middle of the season saw the Bees hold the second promotion place throughout March 1934, before a slight drop in form led the club to a still-impressive 4th-place finish.
Season summary
In preparation for Brentford's first-ever Second Division season and after a loss of £932 on the previous season (equivalent to £83,600 in 2024),[1] manager Harry Curtis brought in a number of younger players to replace ageing full backs Tom Adamson, Alexander Stevenson and half back captain Jimmy Bain. Curtis stuck with the same free-scoring strikeforce of the previous season, electing to add only outside left Charlie Fletcher from Clapton Orient. Despite winning just 6 of the opening 16 matches of the season, Brentford found themselves in 8th place, before a run of 8 wins in 11 matches put the club into the second promotion place on 3 February 1934.[4] Manager Curtis had made an astute purchase in the transfer market in January, recruiting Southend United's full back Arthur Bateman as a replacement for Tom Adamson.
2nd place was held until a defeat to Bradford City on 24 March dropped Brentford back to 3rd and results in the following four matches dropped the club to 4th.[4] A 2–0 win over Swansea Town on 14 April saw the Bees rise back to the one remaining promotion place, with just three matches to play.[4] Defeat to Millwall in the first of those matches dropped Brentford back to 4th,[4] but a resounding 5–0 victory over Lincoln City in the penultimate match of the season left the Bees knowing that a draw and favourable results for 2nd-place Preston North End and 3rd-place Bolton Wanderers on the final day would be enough to secure promotion to the First Division.[6] Despite Brentford's 2–1 victory over Bury at Gigg Lane on the final day, victory for Preston North End saw the Lilywhites pip Bolton Wanderers into the second promotion place.[7] Brentford finished 4th in the club's first season in the second tier of English football.[8]
Just one of Brentford's 85 goals during the season came from a player who was not a forward, centre half Joe James and the tally of 8 goalscorers for the season was at that time the lowest in club history.[9][10] Jack Holliday top-scored with an impressive 27 goals and Idris Hopkins flourished at the higher level, scoring 21 times.[9] Ernest Muttitt, Billy Scott and Charlie Fletcher ably supported Holliday and Hopkins by also scoring in double-figures.[9]
League table
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(P) Promoted
Results
- Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend
No. | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
1 | 26 August 1933 | Nottingham Forest | A | 1–1 | 12,702 | Hopkins |
2 | 31 August 1933 | Bradford Park Avenue | H | 2–0 | 13,667 | Holliday (2) |
3 | 2 September 1933 | West Ham United | H | 4–1 | 19,918 | Holliday (2), Hopkins (2) |
4 | 6 September 1933 | Bradford Park Avenue | A | 2–5 | 11,982 | Hopkins, Muttitt |
5 | 9 September 1933 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 1–1 | 20,945 | Watson |
6 | 16 September 1933 | Manchester United | H | 3–4 | 17,180 | Fletcher, Holliday, Muttitt |
7 | 23 September 1933 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 2–3 | 9,894 | Fletcher, Hopkins |
8 | 30 September 1933 | Hull City | H | 2–2 | 14,570 | Fletcher, Holliday |
9 | 7 October 1933 | Burnley | H | 5–2 | 14,797 | Hopkins (2), Holliday (2), Muttitt |
10 | 14 October 1933 | Oldham Athletic | A | 4–1 | 9,831 | James, Hopkins (2), Holliday |
11 | 21 October 1933 | Fulham | A | 1–1 | 35,421 | Holliday (pen) |
12 | 28 October 1933 | Southampton | H | 2–0 | 15,611 | Hopkins (2) |
13 | 4 November 1933 | Blackpool | A | 1–3 | 14,229 | Muttitt |
14 | 11 November 1933 | Bradford City | H | 2–1 | 12,932 | Muttitt, Holliday |
15 | 18 November 1933 | Port Vale | A | 0–1 | 11,349 | |
16 | 25 November 1933 | Notts County | H | 2–2 | 12,110 | Holliday, Scott |
17 | 2 December 1933 | Swansea Town | A | 3–2 | 4,269 | Fletcher (2), Muttitt |
18 | 9 December 1933 | Millwall | H | 3–0 | 12,017 | Scott (2), Holliday |
19 | 16 December 1933 | Lincoln City | A | 2–0 | 6,080 | Holliday (2, 1 pen) |
20 | 23 December 1933 | Bury | H | 2–3 | 12,761 | Muttitt, Fletcher |
21 | 25 December 1933 | Preston North End | H | 3–2 | 20,662 | Fletcher, Hopkins (2) |
22 | 26 December 1933 | Preston North End | A | 2–3 | 24,451 | Scott (2) |
23 | 30 December 1933 | Nottingham Forest | H | 2–1 | 12,795 | Hopkins, Scott |
24 | 6 January 1934 | West Ham United | A | 2–3 | 24,108 | Muttitt, Holliday |
25 | 20 January 1934 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 3–0 | 17,566 | Scott, Fletcher, Holliday |
26 | 27 January 1934 | Manchester United | A | 3–1 | 16,891 | Muttitt (2), Fletcher |
27 | 3 February 1934 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 3–1 | 16,037 | Holliday (2), Scott |
28 | 10 February 1934 | Hull City | A | 1–0 | 10,566 | Hopkins |
29 | 17 February 1934 | Burnley | A | 1–3 | 11,666 | Holliday |
30 | 24 February 1934 | Oldham Athletic | H | 2–1 | 15,927 | Scott, Muttitt |
31 | 3 March 1934 | Fulham | H | 1–2 | 25,184 | Holliday (pen) |
32 | 10 March 1934 | Southampton | A | 0–0 | 10,349 | |
33 | 17 March 1934 | Blackpool | H | 1–0 | 16,461 | Hopkins |
34 | 24 March 1934 | Bradford City | A | 1–2 | 12,394 | Hopkins |
35 | 30 March 1934 | Grimsby Town | A | 2–2 | 23,233 | Hopkins, Holliday |
36 | 31 March 1934 | Port Vale | H | 2–0 | 19,758 | Holliday, Scott |
37 | 2 April 1934 | Grimsby Town | H | 1–2 | 26,934 | Holliday |
38 | 7 April 1934 | Notts County | A | 2–1 | 11,657 | Allen, Hopkins |
39 | 14 April 1934 | Swansea Town | H | 2–0 | 14,848 | Hopkins, Muttitt |
40 | 21 April 1934 | Millwall | A | 0–2 | 21,671 | |
41 | 28 April 1934 | Lincoln City | H | 5–0 | 12,184 | Scott, Holliday (3), Hopkins |
42 | 5 May 1934 | Bury | A | 2–1 | 9,461 | Fletcher, Scott |
FA Cup
Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Attendance | Result |
3R | 13 January 1934 | Hull City | A | 18,000 | 0–1 |
- Sources: Statto, 11v11, 100 Years of Brentford[9]
Playing squad
- Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1933–34 season.
Pos. | Name | Nat. | Date of birth (age) | Signed from | Signed in | Notes |
Goalkeepers |
GK | Tom Baker | | (1905-08-17)17 August 1905 (aged 28) | Southport | 1932 | |
GK | Jack Clough | | (1898-11-04)4 November 1898 (aged 34) | Mansfield Town | 1933 | |
Defenders |
DF | Tom Adamson | | (1901-02-12)12 February 1901 (aged 32) | Bury | 1929 | |
DF | Jack Astley | | (1909-12-03)3 December 1909 (aged 23) | Southport | 1933 | |
DF | Arthur Bateman | | (1908-04-01)1 April 1908 (aged 25) | Southend United | 1934 | |
DF | William Hodge | | (1904-08-31)31 August 1904 (aged 28) | Rangers | 1927 | |
DF | Alexander Stevenson | | (1903-10-24)24 October 1903 (aged 29) | Armadale | 1927 | |
Midfielders |
HB | Jimmy Bain | | (1899-02-06)6 February 1899 (aged 34) | Manchester Central | 1928 | |
HB | Jackie Burns | | (1906-11-27)27 November 1906 (aged 26) | Queens Park Rangers | 1931 | Amateur |
HB | Joe James | | (1910-01-13)13 January 1910 (aged 23) | Battersea Church | 1929 | |
HB | Joe McClure | | (1907-11-03)3 November 1907 (aged 25) | Everton | 1933 | |
HB | Duncan McKenzie | | (1912-08-10)10 August 1912 (aged 21) | Albion Rovers | 1932 | |
HB | Cecil Smith | | (1907-06-16)16 June 1907 (aged 26) | Brentford Market | 1931 | |
HB | Herbert Watson (c) | | (1908-11-20)20 November 1908 (aged 24) | Middlesbrough | 1932 | |
Forwards |
FW | Ralph Allen | | (1906-06-30)30 June 1906 (aged 27) | Fulham | 1930 | |
FW | Charlie Fletcher | | (1905-10-28)28 October 1905 (aged 27) | Clapton Orient | 1933 | |
FW | Jack Holliday | | (1908-12-19)19 December 1908 (aged 24) | Middlesbrough | 1932 | |
FW | Idris Hopkins | | (1910-10-11)11 October 1910 (aged 22) | Crystal Palace | 1932 | |
FW | Ernest Muttitt | | (1908-07-24)24 July 1908 (aged 25) | Middlesbrough | 1932 | |
FW | George Robson | | (1908-06-17)17 June 1908 (aged 25) | West Ham United | 1931 | |
FW | Billy Scott | | (1907-12-06)6 December 1907 (aged 25) | Middlesbrough | 1932 | |
Players who left the club mid-season |
HB | William Smith | | (1903-10-22)22 October 1903 (aged 29) | Sheffield Wednesday | 1933 | Transferred to Crystal Palace |
- Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[9] Timeless Bees,[11] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939[12]
Coaching staff
Name | Role |
Harry Curtis | Manager |
Bob Kane | Trainer |
Jack Cartmell | Assistant Trainer |
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 | | Tom Baker | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
GK | | Jack Clough | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
DF | | Tom Adamson | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
DF | | Jack Astley | 40 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 0 |
DF | | Arthur Bateman | 18 | 0 | — | 18 | 0 |
DF | | William Hodge | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
DF | | Alexander Stevenson | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
HB | | Jimmy Bain | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
HB | | Jackie Burns | 35 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 0 |
HB | | Joe James | 34 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 1 |
HB | | Joe McClure | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
HB | | Duncan McKenzie | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
HB | | Cecil Smith | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
HB | | William Smith | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
HB | | Herbert Watson | 35 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 0 |
FW | | Ralph Allen | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
FW | | Charlie Fletcher | 42 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 10 |
FW | | Jack Holliday | 41 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 27 |
FW | | Idris Hopkins | 42 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 21 |
FW | | Ernest Muttitt | 39 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 12 |
FW | | George Robson | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
FW | | Billy Scott | 41 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 12 |
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: 100 Years of Brentford[9]
Goalscorers
Pos. | Nat | Player | FL2 | FAC | Total |
FW | | Jack Holliday | 27 | 0 | 27 |
FW | | Idris Hopkins | 21 | 0 | 21 |
FW | | Ernest Muttitt | 12 | 0 | 12 |
FW | | Billy Scott | 12 | 0 | 12 |
FW | | Charlie Fletcher | 10 | 0 | 10 |
FW | | Ralph Allen | 1 | 0 | 1 |
HB | | Joe James | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Total | 85 | 0 | 85 |
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: 100 Years of Brentford[9]
Amateur international caps
Pos. | Nat | Player | Caps | Goals | Ref |
FW | | Jackie Burns | 3 | 1 | [13] |
Management
Name | Nat | From | To | Record All Comps | Record League |
P | W | D | L | W % | P | W | D | L | W % |
Harry Curtis | | 26 August 1933 | 5 May 1933 | 43 | 22 | 7 | 14 | 051.16 | 42 | 22 | 7 | 13 | 052.38 |
Summary
Games played | 43 (42 Second Division, 1 FA Cup) |
Games won | 22 (22 Second Division, 0 FA Cup) |
Games drawn | 7 (7 Second Division, 0 FA Cup) |
Games lost | 14 (13 Second Division, 1 FA Cup) |
Goals scored | 85 (85 Second Division, 0 FA Cup) |
Goals conceded | 61 (60 Second Division, 1 FA Cup) |
Clean sheets | 11 (11 Second Division, 0 FA Cup) |
Biggest league win | 5–0 versus Lincoln City, 28 April 1934 |
Worst league defeat | 5–2 versus Bradford Park Avenue, 6 September 1933 |
Most appearances | 43, Charlie Fletcher, Idris Hopkins (42 Second Division, 1 FA Cup) |
Top scorer (league) | 27, Jack Holliday |
Top scorer (all competitions) | 27, Jack Holliday |
Transfers & loans
- Cricketers are not included in this list.
References
- ^ a b c d "The "Bees'" Triumph – Deficit at End of a Record Year – Looking Ahead". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 30 June 1933.
- ^ a b c d "Brentford results for the 1933–1934 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
- ^ "Brentford Table on Saturday 28th April 1934". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 27 November 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
- ^ "All of the results on Saturday 5th May 1934". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
- ^ "Brentford League Table 1933-1934". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 372. ISBN 0951526200.
- ^ Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Harefield, Middlesex: Yore Publications. p. 62. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "England Matches – The Amateurs 1906–1939". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
- ^ "Brentford's Capture. Young Southport Full Back Comes to Griffin Park. Jack Astley". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 2 June 1933.
- ^ "Brentford's Capture. Noted Centre-half Comes to Griffin Park". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 9 June 1933.
- ^ a b c Argus (18 August 1933). "Brentford – New Players Who Will Strengthen The Team". The Brentford & Chiswick Times.
- ^ "Q and R". The Bristol Rovers History Group. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ "William Smith". Holmesdale Online. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
- ^ "Hounslow Town's New Centre – Capture From Brentford F.C.". Middlesex Chronicle. 2 September 1933.