1912–13 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1912–13 English football season, Brentford competed in the Southern League First Division. Two long losing runs led to the Bees' relegation to the Second Division on the final day of the season.

Brentford
1912–13 season
ChairmanH. Jason-Saunders
ManagerFred Halliday
(until 13 November 1912)
Dusty Rhodes
(from 13 November 1912)
StadiumGriffin Park
Southern League First Division19th
FA CupFourth qualifying round
Top goalscorerLeague: Smith (12)
All: Smith (12)
Highest home attendance10,000
Lowest home attendance2,000

Season summary
Archie Ling was the first Brentford goalkeeper to make 100 league appearances and retired at the end of the season.

After three consecutive mid-table seasons, Southern League First Division club Brentford's directors gambled on generating extra income by also entering the Southern Alliance.[1] Consequently, a larger squad was assembled, with many of the previous season's professionals retained.[1] Willis Rippon was the only significant departure – sold for £250 to Hamilton Academical.[1] Secretary-manager Fred Halliday brought in goalkeeper Ted Price, full back Tommy Fells, centre half Frank Bentley and forwards Frederick Chapple and James Morrison.[1]

Brentford had a torrid beginning to the season, losing 12 of the first 15 matches.[2] Of the starting forward line of Billy Brawn, Jack Sibbald, Frederick Chapple, Bob McTavish and Patsy Hendren, Chapple and Hendren were the only players to score during the period,[2] which lead manager Halliday to sign Chelsea's Hugh Dolby and Bill Smith from non-league football.[1] Dolby failed to score in four matches and was dropped, while Smith helped contribute to a revival in mid-November, after full back Dusty Rhodes replaced Fred Halliday as manager on 13 November 1912.[2] Between 9 November and 5 March 1913, Brentford lost just three matches, but another loss of form and injuries to the forward line led to seven consecutive defeats in March.[2] A crucial 4–1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on 5 April boosted the Bees' survival chances, but a defeat and a win in the following two matches respectively put Brentford one place above the relegation zone going into the final day, level on points with Norwich City, but ahead by virtue of a 0.774 goal average.[1]

Brentford would play away to Merthyr Town and Norwich City away to Reading on Saturday 26 April, but torrential rain and gale force winds forced the Bees' match to be postponed twice, to the following Tuesday.[1] Norwich City won their match 5–2, but the scoreline would not guarantee the Canaries' safety on goal average if Brentford won their match by any score.[1] On Tuesday 29 April, Brentford conceded the opening goal to Merthyr Town, before Bill Smith equalised two minutes after half time.[1] In the final 10 minutes, Brentford pushed forward and were hit on the break with just two minutes remaining, losing the match 2–1 and with it the club's First Division status.[1]

League table
Main article: 1912–13 Southern Football League § Division One
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Relegation
16 Bristol Rovers 38 12 9 17 55 64 0.859 33
17 Southampton 38 10 11 17 40 72 0.556 31
18 Norwich City 38 10 9 19 39 50 0.780 29
19 Brentford 38 11 5 22 42 55 0.764 27 Relegated to Division Two
20 Stoke 38 10 4 24 39 75 0.520 24
Source: rsssf.com
Rules for classification: The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used up until the 1976-77 season. The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.

Results
Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Southern League First Division
No. DateOpponentVenueResultScorer(s) Notes
1 4 September 1912Crystal PalaceA1–3Chapple
2 7 September 1912ReadingH1–0Chapple
3 14 September 1912Norwich CityA0–2
4 18 September 1912Crystal Palace H2–1Chapple (2)
5 21 September 1912GillinghamH0–1
6 28 September 1912Northampton Town A0–2
7 5 October 1912Queens Park RangersH0–2
8 9 October 1912WatfordA0–1
9 12 October 1912StokeA0–1
10 19 October 1912MillwallA2–3Hendren (2)
11 26 October 1912Bristol Rovers H0–1
12 2 November 1912Swindon Town A0–2
13 9 November 1912Portsmouth H1–0Smith
14 16 November 1912Exeter CityA0–1
15 23 November 1912West Ham UnitedH5–1Sibbald (2), Chapple (3)
16 7 December 1912Coventry City H2–0Smith (2)
17 21 December 1912Merthyr TownH2–0Smith, Spratt (pen)
18 25 December 1912Plymouth ArgyleH2–2Brawn, McTavish
19 28 December 1912ReadingA1–4Hendren
20 4 January 1913Norwich CityH1–0Hendren (pen)
21 18 January 1913GillinghamA4–0Barclay, Smith (3)
22 25 January 1913Northampton TownH0–0
23 8 February 1913Queens Park RangersA1–2Hendren (pen)
24 15 February 1913StokeH4–2Chapple, Hendren (2, 1 pen), Smith
25 22 February 1913MillwallH0–0
26 1 March 1913Bristol RoversA1–1Sibbald
27 5 March 1913Brighton & Hove AlbionA2–2Chapple, Brawn
28 8 March 1913Swindon TownH0–3
29 12 March 1913Plymouth ArgyleA0–3 [nb 1]
30 15 March 1913Portsmouth A0–1
31 21 March 1913SouthamptonH1–2Brawn
32 22 March 1913Exeter CityH0–1
33 24 March 1913Southampton A1–3Brawn (pen)
34 29 March 1913West Ham United A1–2Hendren
35 5 April 1913Brighton & Hove AlbionH4–1Smith (2), Chapple, Hendren
36 12 April 1913Coventry CityA0–3
37 19 April 1913WatfordH2–0Chapple, Smith
38 29 April 1913Merthyr TownA1–2Smith

FA Cup
Main article: 1912–13 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Scorer
QR4 30 November 1912 Watford H 0–0
QR4 (replay)4 December 1912Watford A1–5 McTavish
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[2]

Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1912–13 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Archie Ling (1881-03-14)14 March 1881 (aged 31) Swindon Town 1909
GK Ted Price (1883-06-13)13 June 1883 (aged 29) Croydon Common 1912
Defenders
DF Tommy Fells (1890-01-08)8 January 1890 (aged 22) South Kirkby 1913
DF William Hickleton (1882-05-12)12 May 1882 (aged 30) Coventry City 1911 On loan from Coventry City
DF Dusty Rhodes (c) (1882-08-16)16 August 1882 (aged 30) Sunderland 1908
DF Walter Spratt (1889-04-14)14 April 1889 (aged 23) Rotherham Town 1911
Midfielders
HB Alec Barclay (1885-11-01)1 November 1885 (aged 26) Ilford 1910 Amateur
HB Frank Bentley (1886-10-09)9 October 1886 (aged 25) Tottenham Hotspur 1912
HB George Kennedy (1882-03-12)12 March 1882 (aged 30) Chelsea 1910
HB Phil Richards (1884-02-19)19 February 1884 (aged 28) Bradford Park Avenue 1908
Forwards
FW Billy Brawn (1878-08-01)1 August 1878 (aged 34) Chelsea 1911
FW Frederick Chapple (1884-02-03)3 February 1884 (aged 28) Crewe Alexandra 1912
FW Hugh Dolby (1888-03-06)6 March 1888 (aged 24) Chelsea 1912
FW Thomas Graham (1887-07-20)20 July 1887 (aged 25) Castleford Town 1911
FW Patsy Hendren (1889-02-05)5 February 1889 (aged 23) Coventry City 1911 Played when his cricket commitments allowed
FW Bob McTavish (1888-10-26)26 October 1888 (aged 23) Tottenham Hotspur 1912
FW John Morrison (1888-01-18)18 January 1888 (aged 24) West Ham United 1912
FW Jack Sibbald (1890-09-12)12 September 1890 (aged 21) Wallsend Elm Villa 1910
FW Bill Smith (1885-02-15)15 February 1885 (aged 27) Hickleton Main Colliery 1912
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford,[2] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939[3]

Coaching staff

Fred Halliday (4 September–13 November 1912)
Name Role
Fred Halliday Secretary Manager
Tom Cowper Trainer

Dusty Rhodes (13 November 1912 – 29 April 1913)
Name Role
Dusty Rhodes Manager
Fred Halliday Secretary
Tom Cowper Trainer

Statistics

Appearances and goals
Brentford's highest appearance-makers in each position during the Southern League season.
Pos Nat Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Ted Price 37 0 2 0 39 0
GK Archie Ling 100010
DF Tommy Fells 8 0 0 0 8 0
DF Dusty Rhodes 33000330
DF Walter Spratt 3012 0321
HB Alec Barclay 3112 0331
HB Frank Bentley 3102 0330
HB George Kennedy 23 0 0 0 23 0
HB Phil Richards 24020260
FW Billy Brawn 35420374
FW Frederick Chapple 28112 03011
FW Hugh Dolby 400 040
FW Thomas Graham 200 020
FW Patsy Hendren 35920379
FW Bob McTavish 2602 1281
FW John Morrison 10 0 0 0 10 0
FW Jack Sibbald 23320253
FW Bill Smith 27120 02712
Players loaned in during the season
DF William Hickleton 1002 0120
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[2]

Goalscorers
Pos. Nat Player SL1 FAC Total
FW Bill Smith 12 0 12
FW Frederick Chapple 11 0 11
FW Patsy Hendren 9 0 9
FW Billy Brawn 4 0 4
FW Jack Sibbald 3 0 3
HB Alec Barclay 1 0 1
DF Walter Spratt101
FW Bob McTavish 0 1 1
Total42143
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[2]

Amateur international caps
Pos. Nat Player Caps Goals Ref
HB Alec Barclay 2 0 [4]

Management
Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Fred Halliday 4 September 1912 13 November 1912 13 3 0 10 023.08|13 3 0 10 023.08
Dusty Rhodes 13 November 1912 29 April 1913 27 7 6 14 025.93|25 7 5 13 028.00

Summary
Games played40 (38 Southern League First Division, 2 FA Cup)
Games won11 (11 Southern League First Division, 0 FA Cup)
Games drawn6 (5 Southern League First Division, 1 FA Cup)
Games lost23 (22 Southern League First Division, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored43 (42 Southern League First Division, 1 FA Cup)
Goals conceded60 (55 Southern League First Division, 5 FA Cup)
Clean sheets10 (9 Southern League First Division, 1 FA Cup)
Biggest league win4–0 versus Gillingham, 18 January 1913; 5–1 versus West Ham United, 23 November 1912
Worst league defeat3–0 on three occasions; 4–1 versus Reading, 28 December 1912
Most appearances39, Ted Price (37 Southern League First Division, 2 FA Cup)
Top scorer (league)12, Bill Smith
Top scorer (all competitions)12, Bill Smith

Transfers & loans
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
May 1912 DF Tommy Fells South Kirkby n/a [5]
July 1912 GK Ted Price Croydon Common n/a [6]
August 1912 HB Frank Bentley Tottenham Hotspur n/a [7]
August 1912 FW A. E. Markwick n/a Amateur [8]
August 1912 FW John Morrison West Ham United n/a [9]
1912 FW Frederick Chapple Crewe Alexandra £150 [1]
October 1912 FW Hugh Dolby Chelsea n/a [1]
October 1912 FW Bill Smith Hickleton Main Colliery n/a [1]
Players loaned in
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Date to Ref.
May 1912 DF William Hickleton Coventry City End of season [1]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
June 1912 FW Willie Furr Leicester Fosse n/a [10]
27 July 1912 FW Willis Rippon Hamilton Academical £250 [11]
August 1912 DF Arthur Cleverley Swansea Town n/a [12]
August 1912 HB Jock Hamilton Swansea Town n/a [13]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
April 1913 FW Billy Brawn Retired [1]
April 1913 FW Hugh Dolby n/a n/a [1]
April 1913 FW Thomas Graham Castleford Town n/a [1]
April 1913 HB George Kennedy Dumfries n/a [14]
April 1913 GK Archie Ling Retired [1]
April 1913 FW Jack Sibbald Blackpool n/a [1]

Notes
  1. The match was a replay of the original fixture on 26 December 1912, which was abandoned after 49 minutes due to a waterlogged pitch. Plymouth Argyle were leading 2–0 at the time.

References
  1. White 1989, p. 99-101.
  2. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 361. ISBN 0951526200.
  3. Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN 190589161X.
  4. "England Matches – The Amateurs 1906–1939". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  5. "A New Full Back For Brentford". County of Middlesex Independent. 8 May 1912.
  6. "Croydon Common FC – Biographies – Ted Price" (PDF). Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  7. "Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United, 09 April 1912". 11v11.com. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  8. "Field, Road And River – Pithy Pars Pertaining To Popular Pastimes". County of Middlesex Independent. 3 August 1912.
  9. "Preparing For The Fray – The Football World Viewed From The Inside". County of Middlesex Independent. 3 August 1912.
  10. "Willie Furr | Leicester City career stats – FoxesTalk". FoxesTalk. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  11. Litster, John. Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
  12. White 1989, p. 97-99.
  13. "The Definitive History of Leeds United – Players – Jock Hamilton 1908–09". www.mightyleeds.co.uk. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  14. "George Kennedy – Chelsea, Brentford and Lincoln City". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
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