1914–15 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1914–15 English football season, Brentford competed in the Southern League Second Division. The season began one month after Britain entered the First World War, which unsettled the squad as players left to undertake military or munitions duties. The Bees finished in mid-table in what would be the club's last season of competitive football until 1919–20.

Brentford
1914–15 season
ChairmanH. Jason-Saunders
ManagerDusty Rhodes
StadiumGriffin Park
Southern League Second Division7th
FA CupFifth qualifying round
Top goalscorerLeague: White (7)
All: White (7)
Highest home attendance5,000
Lowest home attendance400

Season summary
Player-manager Dusty Rhodes stood down at the end of the season to serve in the Royal Army Pay Corps.[1]

Brentford's players were due to report back for pre-season training during the week beginning 3 August 1914, but those preparations were disrupted by Britain's declaration of war on Germany on 4 August.[2] Just two players had been signed, forwards Jack Curtis and Stephen Stonley.[2] As the season got underway, Brentford lost just two of the first 10 Southern League Second Division matches,[3] but by that point it had become obvious that the war would not be over by Christmas as predicted.[2] Beginning in mid-October 1914, the squad was decimated by departures to serve in the army (Kent, Sloley, Hendren, Amos), work in munitions at the Royal Arsenal (McGovern, Johnson, Stonley) or on transfers (J. Curtis, Spratt).[2][4] Reserves, guest players, free transfers and local amateurs were brought in to plug gaps in the squad, with full back Fred Price, half backs Mick O'Brien, Charles Allwright and forwards Michael Donaghy, Walter Chalk, F. Arnold and Charles Hibbert making up for the departures of the professionals in the second half of the season.[3] Amateur Walter Chalk would become something of a minor success, scoring six goals in 9 appearances.[3]

Notably, a 10–0 win over Abertillery on 28 November 1914 set a new club record, but the result was declared void two days later when Abertillery resigned from the Southern League.[2] Earlier wins over Leyton and Mardy were also chalked off when those clubs also left the league.[3] Brentford won just three of the final 15 matches of the season, with the one bright spot being the emergence of inside right Henry White.[3] Low attendances meant the Bees finished a mid-table season £7,000 in debt (equivalent to £565,100 in 2020) and 1914–15 would become the final season of competitive football until 1919–20, after the war ended in November 1918.[2]

Two former Brentford players died during the season:

League table
Main article: 1914–15 Southern Football League § Division Two
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Promotion or qualification
5 Coventry City 24 13 2 9 56 33 1.697 28 Elected to the 1919–20 Football League after World War I
6 Ton Pentre 24 11 6 7 42 43 0.977 28
7 Brentford 24 8 7 9 35 45 0.778 23 Elected to 1919–20 Division One after World War I
8 Llanelly 24 10 1 13 39 32 1.219 21
9 Barry 24 6 5 13 30 35 0.857 17
Source:
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 Second Division
No. DateOpponentVenueResultScorer(s)
1 5 September 1914Coventry CityH3–1Sloley, Stonley (2, 1 pen)
2 12 September 1914Barry A1–0White
3 14 September 1914Mid RhonddaA0–0
4 26 September 1914Ton PentreA0–0
5 13 October 1914Stalybridge CelticA1–5J. Curtis
6 31 October 1914Ebbw Vale H3–0Sloley (3)
7 7 November 1914LlanellyA0–3
8 14 November 1914Newport County H1–0Stonley (pen)
9 12 December 1914Swansea Town H2–0Johnson, Hendren
10 25 December 1914Stoke H2–2Stonley, Sloley
11 26 December 1914StokeA0–3
12 2 January 1915Coventry City A2–3Stonley, White
13 9 January 1915PontypriddA0–1
14 16 January 1915BarryH0–0
15 30 January 1915Ton PentreH3–3Hibbert, White, F. Price
16 13 February 1915Stalybridge CelticH1–3Chalk
17 6 March 1915Ebbw ValeA4–1Arnold (2), White, Chalk
18 13 March 1915LlanellyH2–2Martin (og), Chalk
19 20 March 1915Newport CountyA0–5
20 27 March 1915Mid RhonddaH3–1White, Chalk (2)
21 2 April 1915Merthyr TownH1–1O'Brien
22 3 April 1915Swansea TownA0–8
23 5 April 1915Merthyr TownA0–3
24 10 April 1915Pontypridd H6–0O'Brien (2), Chalk, White (2), Barclay

FA Cup
Main article: 1914–15 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Scorer
QR4 21 November 1914 Nunhead A 1–0 Stonley
QR5 5 December 1914 Boscombe A 0–0
QR5 (replay)9 December 1914Boscombe H0–1
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[3]

Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1914–15 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Ted Price (1883-06-13)13 June 1883 (aged 31) Croydon Common 1912
Defenders
DF Fred Price n/a Shepherds Bush 1914
DF Dusty Rhodes (c) (1882-08-16)16 August 1882 (aged 32) Sunderland 1908 Manager
DF Bertie Rosier (1893-03-21)21 March 1893 (aged 21) Southall 1913
Midfielders
HB Charles Allwright (1888-06-11)11 June 1888 (aged 26) Kingston upon Thames 1915
HB Alf Amos (1893-02-09)9 February 1893 (aged 21) Old Kingstonians 1913
HB Alec Barclay (1885-11-01)1 November 1885 (aged 28) Ilford 1910 Amateur
HB Bobby Jackson n/a Portsmouth 1913
HB Joe Johnson 1884 (aged 29–30) Clapton Orient 1913
HB Tom McGovern (1888-11-11)11 November 1888 (aged 25) Halifax Town 1913
HB Mick O'Brien (1893-08-10)10 August 1893 (aged 21) Celtic 1915
Forwards
FW Herbert Allwright (1892-03-04)4 March 1892 (aged 23) Unattached 1915
FW F. Arnold n/a West Kensington 1915
FW Walter Chalk (1885-07-10)10 July 1885 (aged 29) Old Kingstonians 1915 Amateur
FW Jack Chapman (1895-04-29)29 April 1895 (aged 19) Southall 1913 Amateur
FW George Curtis (1888-10-22)22 October 1888 (aged 25) Kingston upon Thames 1914
FW Michael Donaghy (1889-01-26)26 January 1889 (aged 25) Luton Town 1915
FW Patsy Hendren (1889-02-05)5 February 1889 (aged 25) Queens Park Rangers 1911 Played when his cricket commitments allowed
FW Charles Hibbert 1894 (aged 19–20) Uxbridge 1914 Amateur
FW Tommy Kent (1888-09-10)10 September 1888 (aged 25) Slough Town 1913 Amateur
FW Jack Land (1883-03-31)31 March 1883 (aged 31) Hounslow 1910
FW Richard Sloley (1891-08-20)20 August 1891 (aged 23) Cambridge University 1914 Amateur
FW Stephen Stonley (1889-09-29)29 September 1889 (aged 24) Woolwich Arsenal 1914
FW Charles Symes (1888-03-13)13 March 1888 (aged 26) South Tooting 1912
FW Henry White (1895-08-08)8 August 1895 (aged 19) Whamcliffe Athletic 1913 Amateur
Players who left the club mid-season
DF Walter Spratt (1889-04-14)14 April 1889 (aged 25) Rotherham Town 1911 Transferred to Manchester United
FW Jack Curtis (1888-12-13)13 December 1888 (aged 25) Fulham 1914 Transferred to Stockport County
Guest players
GK William Hughes n/a Leyton 1915 Amateur, guest from Leyton
HB Harry Crane (1890-09-25)25 September 1890 (aged 23) Woking 1915 Amateur, guest from Woking
FW Charles Bedell (1880-05-17)17 May 1880 (aged 34) Tufnell Park 1915 Amateur, guest from Tufnell Park
FW Norman Carson (1889-01-20)20 January 1889 (aged 25) Shepherd's Bush 1915 Amateur, guest from Shepherd's Bush
FW Richard Fraser n/a Chelsea 1914 Guest from Chelsea
FW Percy Matthews n/a Uxbridge 1914 Amateur, guest from Uxbridge
FW Cecil Salisbury (1886-09-04)4 September 1886 (aged 28) Woking 1915 Amateur, guest from Woking
FW James Sangster (1891-05-22)22 May 1891 (aged 23) Southall 1914 Amateur, guest from Southall
  • Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[3] Timeless Bees,[8] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939,[9] Bees Review[4]

Coaching staff
Name Role
Dusty Rhodes Manager
Fred Halliday Secretary
Tommy Spicer Trainer
Michael Whitham 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 22030250
DF Fred Price 10 1 — 10 1
DF Dusty Rhodes 2202 0240
DF Bertie Rosier 100 010
DF Walter Spratt 15 0 3 0 18 0
HB Charles Allwright 5 0 — 5 0
HB Alf Amos 23030260
HB Alec Barclay 12130151
HB Bobby Jackson 1 0 0 0 1 0
HB Joe Johnson 11120131
HB Jack Land 1 0 0 0 1 0
HB Tom McGovern 1503 0180
HB Mick O'Brien 93—93
FW Herbert Allwright 2 0 — 2 0
FW F. Arnold 7 2 — 7 2
FW Walter Chalk 96—96
FW Jack Chapman 2 0 0 0 2 0
FW Jack Curtis 14 1 2 0 16 1
FW Michael Donaghy 7 0 — 7 0
FW Patsy Hendren 1311 0141
FW Charles Hibbert 11 1 — 11 1
FW Tommy Kent 4 0 1 0 5 0
FW Richard Sloley 351 045
FW Stephen Stonley 1443 1175
FW Charles Symes 1 0 2 0 3 0
FW Henry White 16700167
Players guested during the season
GK William Hughes 20—20
HB Harry Crane 10—10
FW Charles Bedell 1 0 — 1 0
FW Norman Carson 20—20
FW George Curtis 1 0 — 1 0
FW Richard Fraser 30—30
FW Percy Matthews 3 0 — 3 0
FW Cecil Salisbury 1 0 — 1 0
FW James Sangster — 2 0 2 0
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[3]

Goalscorers
Pos. Nat Player SL2 FAC Total
FW Henry White 7 0 7
FW Walter Chalk 6 — 6
FW Richard Sloley 5 0 5
FW Stephen Stonley 4 1 5
HB Mick O'Brien3— 3
FW F. Arnold 2 — 2
FW Charles Hibbert 1 — 1
DF Fred Price 1 — 1
HB Alec Barclay 1 0 1
FW Jack Curtis 1 0 1
FW Patsy Hendren 1 0 1
HB Joe Johnson 1 0 1
Opponents 1 0 1
Total35136
  • 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
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Dusty Rhodes 5 September 1914 10 April 1915 27 9 8 10 033.33|24 8 7 9 033.33

Summary
Games played27 (24 Southern League Second Division, 3 FA Cup)
Games won9 (8 Southern League Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Games drawn8 (7 Southern League Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Games lost10 (9 Southern League Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored36 (35 Southern League Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Goals conceded46 (45 Southern League Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Clean sheets9 (8 Southern League Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Biggest league win6–0 versus Pontypridd, 10 April 1915
Worst league defeat8–0 versus Swansea Town, 3 April 1915
Most appearances26, Alf Amos (23 Southern League Second Division, 3 FA Cup)
Top scorer (league)7, Henry White
Top scorer (all competitions)7, Henry White

Transfers & loans
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
June 1914 FW Jack Curtis Fulham n/a [4]
June 1914 FW Cyril Northam n/a n/a [10]
June 1914 FW Stephen Stonley Woolwich Arsenal n/a [4]
July 1914 n/a Ed Martin n/a n/a [11]
August 1914 n/a Bert Gibson n/a n/a [12]
August 1914 n/a Oliver Payne n/a n/a [12]
August 1914 n/a Arthur White n/a n/a [12]
September 1914 HB Jack Land Hounslow n/a [13]
September 1914 FW Charles Symes South Tooting n/a [13]
October 1914 FW Jack Chapman Southall Amateur [14]
October 1914 FW George Curtis Kingston upon Thames Amateur [14]
October 1914 n/a Ed Hawkins n/a n/a [14]
November 1914 n/a R. H. Jonas n/a n/a [15]
November 1914 HB Mick O'Brien Celtic n/a [15]
December 1914 FW Charles Hibbert Uxbridge Amateur [3]
December 1914 DF Fred Price Shepherd's Bush Amateur [3]
1914 FW Tommy Kent Slough Town Amateur [4]
February 1915 FW Charles Allwright Kingston upon Thames Amateur [3]
February 1915 FW Walter Chalk Old Kingstonians Amateur [3]
March 1915 FW Herbert Allwright Unattached Amateur [3]
March 1915 FW F. Arnold West Kensington Amateur [3]
March 1915 FW Michael Donaghy Luton Town n/a [3]
1915 n/a L. C. Forrester n/a n/a [16]
1915 n/a G. W. Steers n/a n/a [16]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
January 1915 FW Jack Curtis Stockport County n/a [4]
February 1915 DF Walter Spratt Manchester United £175 [4]
Guest players in
Date from Pos. Name Previous Club Date to Ref.
12 September 1914 FW Percy Matthews Uxbridge 13 October 1914 [3]
7 November 1914 FW Richard Fraser Chelsea 2 January 1915 [3]
5 December 1914 FW James Sangster Southall 9 December 1914 [3]
9 January 1915FW Charles Bedell Tufnell Park9 January 1915[3]
16 January 1915 HB Harry Crane Woking 16 January 1915 [3]
16 January 1915 FW Cecil Salisbury Woking 16 January 1915 [3]
30 January 1915 FW Norman Carson Shepherd's Bush 13 February 1915 [3]
6 March 1915 GK William Hughes Leyton 13 March 1915 [3]

References
  1. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 175.
  2. White 1989, p. 104-106.
  3. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 363. ISBN 0951526200.
  4. Bees Review: Brentford Official Matchday Programme vs Hull City. Milton Keynes: Regal Sports Press. 3 November 2015. pp. 61–67.
  5. "Casualty Details: Harry Gould". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  6. "England Matches – The Amateurs 1906–1939". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  7. "Casualty Details: George Albert Littler". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  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. The Southern Football League – Season 1914–15 – Players Registered or Transferred from June 1st to June 30th 1914. 1915.
  11. The Southern Football League – Season 1914–15 – Players Registered or Transferred from July 1st to July 31st 1914. 1915.
  12. The Southern Football League – Season 1914–15 – Players Registered or Transferred from August 1st to August 31st 1914. 1915.
  13. The Southern Football League – Season 1914–15 – Players Registered or Transferred from September 1st to September 30th 1914. 1915.
  14. The Southern Football League – Season 1914–15 – Players Registered or Transferred from October 1st to October 31st 1914. 1915.
  15. The Southern Football League – Season 1914–15 – Players Registered or Transferred from November 1st to November 30th 1914. 1915.
  16. The Southern Football League – Season 1914–15 – Players Registered or Transferred from January 1st to February 28th 1915. 1915.
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