1915–16 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1915–16 English football season, Brentford competed in the London Combination. In the first season of non-competitive wartime football during the First World War, the Bees finished in mid-table in each of the leagues run by the London Combination.

Brentford
1915–16 season
ChairmanH. Jason-Saunders
Secretary-ManagerFred Halliday
StadiumGriffin Park
London Combination Principle Tournament7th
London Combination Supplementary Tournament8th
Top goalscorerLeague: White (13)
All: White (13)
Highest home attendance5,000
Lowest home attendance1,000

Season summary
Future Cardiff City captain Fred Keenor guested for Brentford in each wartime season.

Having ended the 1914–15 Southern League Second Division season £7,000 in debt (equivalent to £565,100 in 2020), the suspension of competitive football due to the ongoing First World War proved to be a blessing for Brentford, who were given the chance to face Football League clubs Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Clapton Orient and Fulham in the wartime London Combination.[1] Professionalism had also been abolished, meaning that the club needed only to pay its players expenses and in addition, the clubs of the London Combination were predominantly London-based, meaning those expenses would be lower than that of previous seasons.[1] The squad had been decimated by the entry of players into the Army or munitions work,[1] which meant that only goalkeeper Ted Price, full backs Dusty Rhodes and Bertie Rosier, half back Alf Amos and forwards Patsy Hendren and Henry White would play in the majority of Brentford's matches during the season.[2] White would top-score with 13 goals.[2]

Brentford began the London Combination's Principle Tournament strongly, losing just one of the first 10 matches, but the departure of the locally based Football Battalion to the Western Front robbed the club of a source of quality guest players.[1] Local amateurs, guests and soldiers were brought in to plug gaps in the team,[1] though a few guests did make notable contributions during the season – Swindon Town's Bertie Denyer (9 goals in 9 appearances) and Middlesbrough's Dick Wynn (8 goals in 20 appearances).[2] Middlesbrough proved to be a ready source of players, with former Brentford full back Joe Hisbent, half backs Henry Cook, George Malcolm and forward Harry Chapelhow also guesting.[2] Brentford finished the London Combination's two league competitions in mid-table, with the highlights being two West London derby wins versus Queens Park Rangers and wins over Football League clubs Clapton Orient, Arsenal and neighbours Fulham.[2]

Two former Brentford players died during the season:

League tables

London Combination Principle Tournament
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts
6 Tottenham Hotspur 22 8 8 6 38 35 1.086 24
7 Brentford 22 6 8 8 36 40 0.900 20
8 Queens Park Rangers 22 8 3 11 27 41 0.659 19
Source: Football and the First World War

London Combination Supplementary Tournament
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts
7 Watford 14 5 3 6 22 20 1.100 13
8 Brentford 14 5 2 7 29 33 0.879 12
9 Croydon Common 14 4 3 7 28 27 1.037 11
Source: Football and the First World War

Results
Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend
Win Draw Loss

London Combination Principle Tournament
No. DateOpponentVenueResultScorer(s)
1 4 September 1915West Ham UnitedH2–1Powell, F. Price
2 11 September 1915Tottenham HotspurA1–1Sloley
3 18 September 1915Crystal Palace H1–0Keenor
4 25 September 1915Queens Park Rangers A2–1F. Price, Gregson
5 2 October 1915FulhamH2–2White, Sloley
6 9 October 1915Clapton Orient A3–1Sloley (3)
7 16 October 1915WatfordH1–2Sloley (pen)
8 23 October 1915Millwall A3–3Gregson, White, Wynn
9 30 October 1915Croydon Common H2–1Allman (og), Sloley
10 6 November 1915ArsenalA1–3Shaw (og)
11 13 November 1915West Ham UnitedA1–4Hooper
12 20 November 1915Tottenham HotspurH1–1Wynn
13 27 November 1915Crystal Palace A0–1
14 4 December 1915Queens Park RangersH4–0White, Hendren (2), Wynn
15 11 December 1915FulhamA3–4White (2), Wynn
16 18 December 1915Clapton OrientH1–1Denyer
17 25 December 1915ChelseaH1–2G. Curtis
18 27 December 1915ChelseaA1–4Malcolm
19 1 January 1916WatfordA1–3Denyer
20 8 January 1916MillwallH1–1Wynn
21 15 January 1916Croydon CommonA2–2Denyer (2)
22 22 January 1916ArsenalH2–2Chapelhow, Denyer

London Combination Supplementary Tournament
No. DateOpponentVenueResultScorer(s)
1 5 February 1916Luton TownA3–4White (2), Hendren
2 12 February 1916ArsenalH2–1Denyer, White
3 19 February 1916Queens Park RangersA1–1Wynn
4 4 March 1916West Ham UnitedA2–4Denyer (2)
5 11 March 1916Croydon Common H3–1Amos, Gordon, Hooper
6 18 March 1916ArsenalA2–5Denyer, Hooper
7 25 March 1916Queens Park Rangers H4–0Wynn, Hooper (2), Sloley
8 1 April 1916Crystal Palace A3–6Sloley (2), Hendren
9 8 April 1916West Ham UnitedH1–3White
10 15 April 1916Croydon CommonA0–0
11 21 April 1916Fulham H2–1White, Wynn, (pen)
12 24 April 1916FulhamA0–1
13 29 April 1916Luton TownH0–3
14 6 May 1916Crystal Palace H6–3Knight (2, 1 pen), White (3), Trumper
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[2]

Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1915–16 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Ted Price (1883-06-13)13 June 1883 (aged 32) Croydon Common 1912
Defenders
DF Dusty Rhodes (c) (1882-08-16)16 August 1882 (aged 33) Sunderland 1908 Trainer
DF Bertie Rosier (1893-03-21)21 March 1893 (aged 22) Southall 1913
Midfielders
HB Charles Allwright (1888-06-11)11 June 1888 (aged 27) Kingston-on-Thames 1915
HB Alf Amos (1893-02-09)9 February 1893 (aged 22) Old Kingstonians 1913
HB George Curtis (1888-10-22)22 October 1888 (aged 26) Kingston-on-Thames 1914
HB Mick O'Brien (1893-08-10)10 August 1893 (aged 22) Celtic 1915
Forwards
FW Herbert Allwright (1892-03-04)4 March 1892 (aged 23) Unattached 1915
FW Walter Chalk (1885-07-10)10 July 1885 (aged 30) Old Kingstonians 1915 Amateur
FW Patsy Hendren (1889-02-05)5 February 1889 (aged 26) Queens Park Rangers 1911 Played when his cricket commitments allowed
FW Charles Hibbert 1894 (aged 20–21) Uxbridge 1914 Amateur
FW Fred Price n/a Shepherds Bush 1914
FW Alfred Rosier (1888-09-06)6 September 1888 (aged 26) Unattached 1915 Amateur
FW Richard Sloley (1891-08-20)20 August 1891 (aged 24) Cambridge University 1914 Amateur
FW Henry White (1895-08-08)8 August 1895 (aged 20) Whamcliffe Athletic 1913 Amateur
Guest players
GK W. Griffiths n/a n/a West Ham United 1916 Guest from West Ham United
DF Joe Hisbent (1881-12-29)29 December 1881 (aged 33) Middlesbrough 1915 Guest from Middlesbrough
DF Fred Keenor (1894-07-31)31 July 1894 (aged 21) Cardiff City 1915 Guest from Cardiff City
HB Henry Cook (1893-10-23)23 October 1893 (aged 21) Middlesbrough 1915 Guest from Middlesbrough
HB W. G. Hatherall n/a n/a n/a 1916 Guest
HB J. Jepson n/a n/a Spennymoor United 1915 Guest from Spennymoor United
HB John Lamb 1893 (aged 21–22) The Wednesday 1915 Guest from The Wednesday
HB George Malcolm (1889-06-20)20 June 1889 (aged 26) Middlesbrough 1915 Guest from Middlesbrough
HB Billy Matthews 1883 (aged 31–32) Chester 1915 Guest from Chester
HB Archie Mitchell (1885-12-15)15 December 1885 (aged 29) Queens Park Rangers 1916 Guest from Queens Park Rangers
HB F. Stuckey n/a n/a Old Kingstonians 1916 Amateur, guest from Old Kingstonians
HB Billy Wake (1886-01-05)5 January 1886 (aged 29) Queens Park Rangers 1916 Guest from Queens Park Rangers
FW George Bowler (1890-01-23)23 January 1890 (aged 25) Tottenham Hotspur 1915 Guest from Tottenham Hotspur
FW J. Champion n/a n/a n/a 1916 Guest
FW Harry Chapelhow (1885-03-06)6 March 1885 (aged 30) Middlesbrough 1916 Guest from Middlesbrough
FW Billy Clarkson (1891-09-22)22 September 1891 (aged 23) Burnley 1915 Guest from Burnley
FW Jack Curtis (1888-12-13)13 December 1888 (aged 26) Stockport County 1915 Guest from Stockport County
FW Bertie Denyer (1893-04-09)9 April 1893 (aged 22) Swindon Town 1915 Guest from Swindon Town
FW Arthur Featherstone n/a n/a 1915 Guest
FW Charlie Freeman (1887-08-22)22 August 1887 (aged 28) Chelsea 1915 Guest from Chelsea
FW T. Gordon n/a n/a n/a 1916 Guest
FW Alf Gregson (1889-03-02)2 March 1889 (aged 26) Grimsby Town 1915 Guest from Grimsby Town
FW Bill Hooper (1884-02-20)20 February 1884 (aged 31) Southport Central 1915 Guest from Southport Central
FW W. J. Knight n/a Wimbledon 1916 Guest from Wimbledon
FW J. Newman n/a n/a n/a 1916 Guest
FW Bert Powell (1886-11-23)23 November 1886 (aged 28) Boscombe 1915 Guest from Boscombe
FW William Steer (1888-10-10)10 October 1888 (aged 26) Chelsea 1915 Guest from Chelsea
FW H. Trumper n/a n/a n/a 1916 Guest
FW Dick Wynn 1892 (aged 22–23) Middlesbrough 1915 Guest from Middlesbrough
  • Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[2] Timeless Bees,[6] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939[7]

Coaching staff
Name Role
Fred Halliday Secretary-Manager
Dusty Rhodes Trainer

Statistics

Appearances and goals
Brentford's highest appearance-makers in each position during the London Combination season.
Pos Nat Name League
(Principle)		 League
(Suppl.)		 Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Ted Price 220130350
DF Dusty Rhodes 21013 0340
DF Bertie Rosier 19010 0290
HB Charles Allwright 7 0 1 0 8 0
HB Alf Amos 130101231
HB George Curtis 6 1 5 0 11 1
HB Mick O'Brien 30003 0
FW Herbert Allwright 100010
FW Walter Chalk 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW Patsy Hendren 82142224
FW Charles Hibbert 3 0 0 0 3 0
FW Fred Price 4 2 0 0 4 2
FW Alfred Rosier 3 0 4 0 7 0
FW Richard Sloley 9 7 6 4 15 11
FW Henry White 17513830 13
Players guested during the season
GK n/a W. Griffiths — 1 0 1 0
DF Joe Hisbent 12 0 6 0 18 0
DF Fred Keenor 5 1 — 5 1
HB Henry Cook 1009 0190
HB n/a W. G. Hatherall — 2 0 2 0
HB n/a J. Jepson 2 0 1 0 3 0
HB John Lamb 60—60
HB George Malcolm 1117 0181
HB Billy Matthews 10—10
HB Archie Mitchell — 1 0 1 0
HB n/aF. Stuckey —101 0
HB Billy Wake —101 0
FW George Bowler 2 0 — 2 0
FW n/aJ. Champion —101 0
FW Harry Chapelhow 2 1 10 0 12 1
FW Billy Clarkson 70—7 0
FW Jack Curtis 13 0 — 13 0
FW Bertie Denyer 5 5 4 4 9 9
FW Arthur Featherstone 1 0 — 1 0
FW Charlie Freeman 1 0 — 1 0
FW n/a T. Gordon — 1 1 1 1
FW Alf Gregson 4 2 — 4 2
FW Bill Hooper 516 3114
FW W. J. Knight — 2 2 2 2
FW n/a Newman — 1 0 1 0
FW Bert Powell 2 1 0 0 2 1
FW William Steer 40—40
FW n/aH. Trumper —3 131
FW Dick Wynn 12 5 8 3 20 8
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[2]

Goalscorers
Pos. Nat Player LCP LCS Total
FW Henry White 5 8 13
FW Richard Sloley 7 4 11
FW Bertie Denyer 5 4 9
FW Dick Wynn 5 3 8
FW Bill Hooper 1 3 5
FW Patsy Hendren 2 2 4
FW Alf Gregson 2 — 2
FW Fred Price 2 — 2
FW W. J. Knight — 2 2
HB Fred Keenor 1 — 1
FW Bert Powell 1 — 1
FW Harry Chapelhow 1 0 1
HB George Curtis10 1
HB George Malcolm 1 0 1
FW n/a T. Gordon — 1 1
FW n/a H. Trumper — 1 1
HB Alf Amos 0 1 1
Opponents 2 0 2
Total362965
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[2]

Management
Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
(Principle)		 Record League
(Suppl.)
PWDLW %PWDLW %PWDLW %
Fred Halliday 4 September 1915 6 May 1916 36 11 10 15 030.56|14 5 2 7 035.71|22 6 8 8 027.27

Summary
Games played36 (22 London Combination Principle Tournament, 14 London Combination Supplementary Tournament)
Games won11 (5 London Combination Principle Tournament, 6 London Combination Supplementary Tournament)
Games drawn10 (2 London Combination Principle Tournament, 8 London Combination Supplementary Tournament)
Games lost15 (7 London Combination Principle Tournament, 8 London Combination Supplementary Tournament)
Goals scored65 (36 London Combination Principle Tournament, 29 London Combination Supplementary Tournament)
Goals conceded73 (40 London Combination Principle Tournament, 33 London Combination Supplementary Tournament)
Clean sheets4 (2 London Combination Principle Tournament, 2 London Combination Supplementary Tournament)
Biggest win4–0 on two occasions
Worst defeat3–0 versus Luton Town, 29 April 1916; 4–1 on two occasions; 5–2 versus Arsenal, 18 March 1916; 6–3 versus Crystal Palace, 1 April 1916
Most appearances35, Ted Price (22 London Combination Principle Tournament, 13 London Combination Supplementary Tournament)
Top scorer13, Henry White

Transfers & loans
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
4 December 1915 FW Alfred Rosier Unattached Amateur [2]
n/a HB Jimmy Kennedy Watford n/a [8]
Guest players in
Date from Pos. Name Previous Club Date to Ref.
4 September 1915 FW Jack Curtis Stockport County 1 January 1916 [2]
4 September 1915 HB Fred Keenor Cardiff City 9 October 1915 [2]
4 September 1915 FW Bert Powell Boscombe 11 September 1915 [2]
11 September 1915 FW Billy Clarkson Burnley 30 October 1915 [2]
11 September 1915 HB John Lamb The Wednesday 30 October 1915 [2]
25 September 1915 FW Alf Gregson Grimsby Town 23 October 1915 [2]
16 October 1915 FW William Steer Chelsea 8 January 1916 [2]
23 October 1915 DF Joe Hisbent Middlesbrough 21 April 1916 [2]
23 October 1915 HB George Malcolm Middlesbrough 21 April 1916 [2]
23 October 1915 FW Dick Wynn Middlesbrough 21 April 1916 [2]
30 October 1915 FW Arthur Featherstone n/a 30 October 1915 [2]
6 November 1915 HB Henry Cook Middlesbrough 30 October 1915 [2]
13 November 1915 FW Bill Hooper Southport Central 15 April 1916 [2]
20 November 1915 HB Billy Matthews Chester 20 November 1915 [2]
11 December 1915 FW Bertie Denyer Swindon Town 1 April 1916 [2]
11 December 1915 FW Charlie Freeman Chelsea 11 December 1915 [2]
25 December 1915 FW George Bowler Tottenham Hotspur 27 December 1915 [2]
27 December 1915 HB J. Jepson Spennymoor United 5 February 1916 [2]
15 January 1916 FW Harry Chapelhow Middlesbrough 29 April 1916 [2]
19 February 1919 FW Newman n/a 19 February 1919 [2]
11 March 1916 FW T. Gordon n/a 11 March 1916 [2]
1 April 1916 GK W. Griffiths West Ham United 1 April 1916 [2]
1 April 1916 HB W. G. Hatherall n/a End of season [2]
15 April 1916 FW H. Trumper n/a End of season [2]
24 April 1916 FW J. Champion n/a 24 April 1916 [2]
24 April 1916 FW W. J. Knight Wimbledon End of season [2]
24 April 1916 HB F. Stuckey Old Kingstonians 24 April 1916 [2]
6 May 1916 HB Archie Mitchell Queens Park Rangers End of season [2]
6 May 1916 HB Billy Wake Queens Park Rangers End of season [2]

References
  1. White 1989, p. 106-107.
  2. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 363. ISBN 0951526200.
  3. "Well played Dunblane! A football club goes to war in 1914". Scottish Sport History – devoted to our sporting heritage. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  4. "Casualty Details: John Bayne". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  5. "Casualty Details: Alexander White Walker". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  6. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  7. Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN 190589161X.
  8. Litster, John. Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
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