1927–28 Brentford F.C. season

Brentford
1927–28 season
Chairman Louis P. Simon
Manager Harry Curtis
Stadium Griffin Park
Third Division South 12th
FA Cup Third round
Top goalscorer League: Phillips (18)
All: Phillips (18)
Highest home attendance 12,335
Lowest home attendance 2,024
Average home league attendance 7,331

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, investing 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 sent the Bees as high as second place,[2] with summer signing Jack Phillips scoring 9 goals, Herbert Lawson five and Ernie Watkins four.[3] The goals had dried up by mid-October 1927 and Brentford lost 11 of 15 matches in all competitions,[2] sinking to 15th in the table and suffering a club record FA Cup defeat to Manchester United,[4] losing 7–1 after having received a bye to the third round.[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, though the club could not finish any higher than 12th.[2] Youngster Joe Wiggins broke Brentford's outgoing transfer record in April, with Leicester City paying £1,400 for a centre forward who had made just four senior appearances, scoring two goals.[6] 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.[7]

League table

Pos Team Pld Home Away F A GA GD Pts
W D L F A W D L F A
1Millwall421920871511374035127502.540+7765
2Northampton Town42173167236693541102641.594+3855
3Plymouth Argyle42172260196510253585541.574+3153
4Brighton & Hove Albion42144351245610304581691.174+1248
5Crystal Palace4215334623399334979721.097+748
6Swindon Town42126360267311304390691.304+2147
7Southend United42142548196411324580641.250+1646
8Exeter City4211644927669213370601.167+1046
9Newport County42125452386411294681840.964–345
10Queens Park Rangers428583735948353672711.014+143
11Charlton Athletic42125434273810264360700.857–1043
12Brentford42124549304413274476741.027+240
13Luton Town42135356273216386094871.080+739
14Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic42126344241614285572790.911–738
15Watford42105642344512264468780.872–1038
16Gillingham42103833263810295562810.765–1937
17Norwich City4298441261812254466700.943–436
18Walsall42966523533152366751010.743–2633
19Bristol Rovers42113741363117265767930.720–2632
20Coventry City4258840366114276067960.698–2931
21Merthyr Town4276838402712155153910.582–3831
22Torquay United424107273644132667531030.515–5030

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against;
GA = Goal average; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

Key
Division Champions, promoted
New club in the league, see Torquay United
Re-elected
Failed re-election (none)

Results

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Third Division South

No. DateOpponentVenueResultScorer(s)
1 27 August 1927Brighton & Hove AlbionA2–5Phillips, Drinnan
2 29 August 1927Northampton TownH3–0Phillips (3)
3 3 September 1927Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticH2–1Fletcher, Douglas
4 5 September 1927Northampton Town A2–3Lane, Watkins
5 10 September 1927Queens Park Rangers A3–2Watkins, Phillips, Lane
6 14 September 1927Bristol RoversA3–1Phillips, Lawson, Watkins
7 17 September 1927Luton TownA2–5Lawson (2)
8 24 September 1927Millwall H6–1Douglas, Watkins (pen), Lawson (2), Phillips
9 1 October 1927Crystal PalaceA2–0Phillips, Lane
10 8 October 1927Exeter CityH1–1Lawson
11 15 October 1927Torquay UnitedA1–2Lawson
12 22 October 1927Coventry City H4–1Craddock (2), Hodge, Lane
13 29 October 1927Newport County A0–3
14 5 November 1927Swindon TownH1–4Lane
15 12 November 1927GillinghamA1–2Lawson
16 3 December 1927Plymouth Argyle H0–2
17 5 December 1927WalsallH3–2Watkins, Dearn (pen), Lane
18 10 December 1927Merthyr TownA1–3Craddock
19 17 December 1927Charlton AthleticH1–1Berry
20 24 December 1927WatfordA1–1Craddock
21 26 December 1927Southend United A2–3Craddock (2)
22 31 December 1927Brighton & Hove AlbionH1–3Lane
23 7 January 1928Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticA0–1
24 21 January 1928Queens Park RangersH0–3
25 28 January 1928Luton TownH4–2Watkins (4)
26 4 February 1928MillwallA0–3
27 11 February 1928Crystal PalaceH2–1Beacham, Drinnan
28 18 February 1928Exeter CityA1–0Drinnan
29 25 February 1928Torquay UnitedH1–2Lane
30 3 March 1928Coventry City A0–0
31 10 March 1928Newport CountyH3–1Berry (2), Phillips
32 17 March 1928Swindon TownA1–1Phillips
33 24 March 1928GillinghamH2–0Lane (2)
34 31 March 1928Walsall A2–4Phillips, Drinnan
35 6 April 1928Norwich CityH3–1Berry, Price, Wiggins
36 7 April 1928Bristol RoversH5–1Wiggins, Cairns, Drinnan (2), Lawson
37 9 April 1928Norwich CityA1–1Berry (pen)
38 14 April 1928Plymouth ArgyleA0–1
39 21 April 1928Merthyr TownH4–0Phillips (2), Berry, Lane
40 23 April 1928Southend UnitedH2–2Phillips (2)
41 28 April 1928Charlton AthleticA2–3Watkins, Phillips
42 5 May 1928WatfordH1–1Phillips

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Scorer(s)
3R14 January 1928Manchester United A1–7Jones (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 2 December 1897 (aged 29) Exeter City 1927
Defenders
DF Charlie Butler England 10 October 1897 (aged 29) Gillingham 1926
DF James Donnelly Republic of Ireland 18 December 1899 (aged 27) Southend United 1925
DF Dick Hendrie Scotland 22 November 1895 (aged 31) Grays Thurrock United 1927 Assistant trainer
DF Alexander Stevenson Scotland 24 October 1903 (aged 23) Armadale 1927
DF Ted Winship England 1900 (aged 26–27) Kidderminster Harriers 1926
Midfielders
HB Jack Beacham England 15 August 1902 (aged 25) Weymouth 1925
HB Stephen Dearn England March 1901 (aged 25–26) Portsmouth 1926
HB Albert Fletcher England 1898 (aged 28–29) West Ham United 1927
HB William Hodge Scotland 31 August 1904 (aged 22) Rangers 1927
HB Samuel Ward Scotland 1 June 1906 (aged 21) Morton 1927
Forwards
FW Bill Berry England 18 August 1904 (aged 23) Gillingham 1926
FW John Cairns Scotland 14 November 1902 (aged 24) Charlton Athletic 1927
FW Alfred Douglas England 26 March 1899 (aged 28) Washington Colliery 1925
FW Jimmy Drinnan Scotland 28 May 1906 (aged 21) Newport County 1927
FW Jack Lane (c) England 29 May 1898 (aged 29) Chesterfield 1925
FW Herbert Lawson England 12 April 1905 (aged 22) Arsenal 1927
FW Jim McCafferty Scotland November 1900 (aged 26) Halifax Town 1927
FW Jack Phillips Wales 1903 (aged 23–24) Merthyr Town 1927
FW William Price England 4 December 1903 (aged 23) Woking Town 1928 Amateur
FW Ernie Watkins England 3 April 1898 (aged 29) Southend United 1926
Players who left the club mid-season
GK Jim Ferguson Scotland 30 August 1896 (aged 30) St Roch's 1926 Transferred to Notts County
FW Joe Craddock England 3 August 1902 (aged 25) Gillingham 1926 Transferred to Dundee
FW Joe Wiggins England 1 April 1909 (aged 18) Grays Thurrock United 1927 Transferred to Leicester City

Coaching staff

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

Statistics

Appearances and goals

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 EnglandCharlie Butler 40000400
DF Republic of IrelandJames Donnelly 100 010
DF ScotlandDick Hendrie 001 010
DF Scotland Alexander Stevenson 2 0 0 0 2 0
DF EnglandTed Winship 4101 0420
HB England Jack Beacham 29 1 1 0 30 1
HB EnglandStephen Dearn 4011 0411
HB EnglandAlbert Fletcher 3310 0331
HB ScotlandWilliam Hodge 1911 0 201
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 EnglandAlfred Douglas 2421 0252
FW ScotlandJimmy Drinnan 18600186
FW EnglandJack Lane 37111 03811
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 0 0 0 1 0
FW EnglandErnie Watkins 29101 03010
FW England Joe Wiggins 4 2 0 0 4 2

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 Douglas202
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
Opponent 0 1 1
Total76177

Management

Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
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.
August 1927 HB Scotland William Hodge Scotland Rangers Free [10]
1927 GK England Henry Bailey England Exeter City Free [11]
1927 FW Scotland John Cairns England Charlton Athletic Free [12]
1927 FW Scotland Jimmy Drinnan Wales Newport County Free [13]
1927 HB England Albert Fletcher England West Ham United Free [14]
1927 FW Scotland Dick Hendrie England Grays Thurrock United Free [15]
1927 FW Scotland Jim McCafferty England Halifax Town Free [16]
1927 FW Wales Jack Phillips Wales Merthyr Town Free [7]
1927 FW England William Price England Woking Town Amateur [17]
1927 DF Scotland Alexander Stevenson Scotland Armadale Free [18]
1927 HB Scotland Samuel Ward Scotland Morton Free [19]
March 1928 FW Scotland Thomas Brennan Scotland Longriggend Rob Roy n/a [20]
March 1928 GK England Freddie Fox England Halifax Town n/a [21]
March 1928 FW England Len Ramsell England Chatham Town n/a [19]
March 1928 HB England Teddy Ware England Chatham Town Amateur [20]
1928 FW Scotland Andy Durnion Scotland St Joseph's n/a [1]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
May 1927 FW Scotland George Anderson England Chelsea n/a [22]
May 1927 HB England Archie Clark England Arsenal £700 [23]
November 1927HBScotland Harry RaeScotland Hamilton Academicaln/a[24]
January 1928 HB Wales Evan Evans England Chatham Town n/a [25]
March 1928 GK Scotland Jim Ferguson England Notts County n/a [26]
April 1928 FW England Joe Craddock Scotland Dundee n/a [1]
April 1928 FW England Joe Wiggins England Leicester City £1,400 [6]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
May 1928 DF England Charlie Butler Canada Montreal Carsteel 1928 [27]
May 1928 FW Scotland John Cairns England Leicester City 1928 [12]
May 1928 GK England Arthur Collins England Scarborough 1928 [28]
May 1928HBEngland Albert FletcherEngland Norwich City1928[14]
May 1928 FW England William Price England Fulham 1928 [17]
May 1928 HB Scotland Samuel Ward Retired [19]

References

  1. 1 2 3 White 1989, p. 123-125.
  2. 1 2 3 Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1927-1928 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Retrieved 2016-05-14.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 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". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 2016-05-14.
  6. 1 2 3 Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 168.
  7. 1 2 Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 125.
  8. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  9. Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN 190589161X.
  10. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 77.
  11. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 14.
  12. 1 2 Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 33.
  13. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 50.
  14. 1 2 Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 58.
  15. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 75.
  16. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 103.
  17. 1 2 Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 128.
  18. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 154-155.
  19. 1 2 3 Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 165.
  20. 1 2 Dorey, F.W. (1928). Brentford Football Cub Season 1928–29 Official Handbook. pp. 21–23.
  21. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 59-60.
  22. "George Anderson | Chelsea Player Profile | Stamford-Bridge.com The History of Chelsea FC". www.stamford-bridge.com. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
  23. Group, Arsenal Media. "Archie Clark | Arsenal.com". www.arsenal.com. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
  24. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 129.
  25. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 53.
  26. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 55.
  27. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 32.
  28. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 39.
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