1917–18 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1917–18 English football season, Brentford competed in the London Combination, due to the cessation of competitive football for the duration of the First World War. In a patchy season, the Bees finished in mid-table.

Brentford
1917–18 season
ChairmanH. Jason-Saunders
Secretary-ManagerFred Halliday
StadiumGriffin Park
London Combination6th
Top goalscorerLeague: Cock (27)
All: Cock (27)
Highest home attendance6,000
Lowest home attendance1,500

Season summary
Former Brentford half back George Kennedy was killed on the Western Front in November 1917.

The wartime London Combination was streamlined for the 1917–18 season, with the clubs voting to expel Portsmouth, Watford, Southampton and Luton Town, which would reduce travelling expenses on Britain's congested railways.[1] Despite the entry of the United States into the First World War in April 1917, Britain was still mired in war and manager Fred Halliday again had trouble securing players to play.[1] Of Brentford's squad, goalkeeper Ted Price, defenders Jack Peart, Dusty Rhodes and forwards Albert Chester, Patsy Hendren and Henry White would appear in the majority of the matches during the season.[2] Half back Bill Stanton, previously with Watford, was a rare wartime signing and he too would be regularly available.[1]

Manager Fred Halliday struggled to field a settled side during the opening months of the season and Brentford suffered six defeats in eight matches between mid-September and mid-November 1917.[1] In late November, Halliday pulled off a transfer coup, re-signing former Brentford forward Jack Cock as a guest from Huddersfield Town,[1] to whom he had transferred in April 1914.[3] Cock went on to score 27 goals in 23 appearances, which included two hattricks and a five-goal haul versus rivals Queens Park Rangers on the final day of the season.[2] Henry White, frequently Brentford's top scorer during the First World War, supported ably with 17 goals.[2] The season was notable for some high scoring wins (4–0, 6–2, 6–1 versus Queens Park Rangers; 5–0 versus Clapton Orient and 5–2 versus Tottenham Hotspur) and crushing defeats (7–1 versus Millwall, 6–1 versus Tottenham Hotspur; 8–3, 7–3, 7–2 versus West Ham United and 4–0 on two occasions).[2]

A number of former Brentford players were killed during the season:[4]

League table

London Combination
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts
5 Arsenal 36 16 5 15 76 57 1.333 37
6 Brentford 36 16 3 17 81 94 0.862 35
7 Crystal Palace 36 13 4 19 54 83 0.651 30
Source: Football and the First World War

Results
Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend
Win Draw Loss

London Combination
No. DateOpponentVenueResultScorer(s)
1 1 September 1917Clapton OrientH1–0Keenor
2 8 September 1917MillwallA3–1Hendren, Gregson (2)
3 15 September 1917Tottenham HotspurH5–2Hendren (2), White (3)
4 22 September 1917ChelseaA1–3Hendren
5 29 September 1917Crystal Palace A0–4
6 6 October 1917ArsenalH2–2Gregson, Sloley
7 13 October 1917West Ham United A3–8Heydenrick, Green, Stanton
8 20 October 1917Fulham H1–3Chester
9 27 October 1917Clapton OrientA3–1White (2), Stanton
10 3 November 1917Millwall H0–4
11 10 November 1917Tottenham Hotspur A1–6Chester
12 17 November 1917Chelsea H1–0Hooper
13 24 November 1917Crystal PalaceH3–0Cock (3)
14 1 December 1917ArsenalA1–4Cock
15 8 December 1917West Ham UnitedH3–2Cock, Denyer, White
16 15 December 1917FulhamH0–2
17 22 December 1917Clapton OrientH5–0Edwards, White, Cock (2), Hendren
18 25 December 1917Queens Park RangersH1–1Cock
19 26 December 1917Queens Park Rangers A4–0Hendren, Hanney, Stanton, White
20 29 December 1917MillwallA1–7Cock
21 5 January 1918Tottenham HotspurH2–3White, Cock
22 12 January 1918ChelseaA1–4Cock
23 19 January 1918Crystal Palace A4–3Chester, E. Rhodes (3)
24 26 January 1918ArsenalH3–2Cock (2), White
25 2 February 1918West Ham UnitedA2–7Cowless, Chester
26 9 February 1918Queens Park RangersH6–1White (2), Cock (3), Hooper (pen)
27 16 February 1918Clapton OrientA1–1Cock
28 23 February 1918MillwallH3–1Cock (2), Sloley
29 2 March 1918Tottenham Hotspur A0–3
30 9 March 1918ChelseaH0–1
31 16 March 1918Crystal PalaceH0–2
32 23 March 1918Arsenal A3–1Cock, Chalmers, Cockerill (og)
33 29 March 1918FulhamH2–3Chester, Hooper
34 30 March 1918West Ham UnitedH3–7White (2, 1 pen), Chester
35 1 April 1918Fulham A6–4Cock (2), Allwright, White (2), Chester
36 6 April 1918Queens Park RangersA6–2Cock (5), White
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[2]

Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1917–18 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Ted Price (1883-06-13)13 June 1883 (aged 34) Croydon Common 1912
Defenders
DF Alf Amos (1893-02-09)9 February 1893 (aged 24) Old Kingstonians 1913
DF Jack Peart (1884-10-13)13 October 1884 (aged 32) Croydon Common 1916
DF Fred Price n/a Shepherds Bush 1914
DF Dusty Rhodes (c) (1882-08-16)16 August 1882 (aged 35) Sunderland 1908 Trainer
Midfielders
HB Charles Allwright (1888-06-11)11 June 1888 (aged 29) Kingston upon Thames 1915
HB George Curtis (1888-10-22)22 October 1888 (aged 28) Kingston upon Thames 1914
HB Mick O'Brien (1893-08-10)10 August 1893 (aged 24) Celtic 1915
HB Bill Stanton (1890-05-09)9 May 1890 (aged 27) Watford 1917
Forwards
FW Albert Chester (1886-03-17)17 March 1886 (aged 31) Millwall 1916
FW Patsy Hendren (1889-02-05)5 February 1889 (aged 28) Queens Park Rangers 1911 Played when his cricket commitments allowed
FW Richard Sloley (1891-08-20)20 August 1891 (aged 26) Cambridge University 1914 Amateur
FW Henry White (1895-08-08)8 August 1895 (aged 22) Whamcliffe Athletic 1913 Amateur
Guest players
GK Fred Craig (1893-01-16)16 January 1893 (aged 24) Plymouth Argyle 1917 Guest from Plymouth Argyle
GK W. Griffiths n/a n/a West Ham United 1917 Guest from West Ham United
GK Jimmy Morris n/a Clapton Orient 1917 Guest from Clapton Orient
GK Walter Scott (1886-01-21)21 January 1886 (aged 31) Worksop Town 1917 Guest from Worksop Town
DF Fred Bullock (1886-07-01)1 July 1886 (aged 31) Huddersfield Town 1917 Guest from Huddersfield Town
HB Sam Blott (1886-06-19)19 June 1886 (aged 31) Plymouth Argyle 1917 Guest from Plymouth Argyle
HB Jimmy Brandham 1890 (aged 26–27) Fulham 1918 Guest from Fulham
HB W. Frisby n/a n/a Southampton 1917 Guest from Southampton
HB Ted Hanney (1889-01-19)19 January 1889 (aged 28) Manchester City 1917 Guest from Manchester City
HB E. Heydenrick n/a Unattached 1917 Guest
HB Bill Hooper (1884-02-20)20 February 1884 (aged 33) Southport Central 1917 Guest from Southport Central
HB George Hunter (1885-06-01)1 June 1885 (aged 32) Manchester United 1917 Guest from Manchester United
HB James Lockwood (1887-02-20)20 February 1887 (aged 30) Queens Park Rangers 1918 Guest from Queens Park Rangers
HB Mansell n/a The Wednesday 1917 Guest from The Wednesday
HB J. Mee n/a n/a n/a 1917 Guest
HB Sam Morris (1886-10-20)20 October 1886 (aged 30) Bristol Rovers 1917 Guest from Bristol Rovers
HB Robert Nash n/a Unattached 1917 Guest
HB A. Rhodes n/a n/a n/a 1918 Guest
HB T. Roberts n/a n/a Luton Town 1917 Guest from Luton Town
HB T. Smith n/a n/a n/a 1917 Guest
HB Talbot n/a n/a n/a 1918 Guest
HB Maurice Woodward (1891-10-12)12 October 1891 (aged 25) Southend United 1917 Guest from Southend United
HB Billy Yenson 1880 (aged 36–37) Croydon Common 1917 Guest from Croydon Common
FW Billy Brawn (1878-08-01)1 August 1878 (aged 39) Unattached 1917 Guest
FW David Chalmers (1891-07-22)22 July 1891 (aged 26) Grimsby Town 1918 Guest from Grimsby Town
FW Jack Cock (1893-11-14)14 November 1893 (aged 23) Huddersfield Town 1917 Guest from Huddersfield Town
FW William Cowless 1889 (aged 27–28) West Ham United 1918 Guest from West Ham United
FW Jack Curtis (1888-12-13)13 December 1888 (aged 28) Stockport County 1917 Guest from Stockport County
FW A. Davis n/a n/a n/a 1917 Guest
FW Bertie Denyer (1893-04-09)9 April 1893 (aged 24) Swindon Town 1917 Guest from Swindon Town
FW James Dillimore (1894-12-19)19 December 1894 (aged 22) n/a 1917 Guest
FW Billy Edwards (1895-10-24)24 October 1895 (aged 21) n/a 1917 Guest
FW W. Elliott n/a n/a n/a 1918 Guest
FW Thomas Graham (1887-07-20)20 July 1887 (aged 30) Castleford Town 1917 Guest from Castleford Town
FW John Green September 1894 (aged 22–23) Wolverhampton Wanderers 1917 Guest from Wolverhampton Wanderers
FW Alf Gregson (1889-03-02)2 March 1889 (aged 28) Grimsby Town 1917 Guest from Grimsby Town
FW W. Harrison n/a n/a n/a 1917 Guest
FW H. James n/a n/a n/a 1918 Guest
FW A. Jones n/a n/a Unattached 1917 Guest
FW Fred Keenor (1894-07-31)31 July 1894 (aged 23) Cardiff City 1917 Guest from Cardiff City
FW W. Ramsay n/a n/a n/a 1917 Guest
FW B. N. Sidney n/a n/a n/a 1917 Guest
  • Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[2] Timeless Bees,[11] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939[12]

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 Total
Apps Goals
GK Ted Price200
DF Alf Amos 8 0
DF Jack Peart 26 0
DF Fred Price10
DF Dusty Rhodes233
HB Charles Allwright 3 1
HB George Curtis10
HB Mick O'Brien2 0
HB Bill Stanton253
FW Albert Chester 30 7
FW Patsy Hendren 34 6
FW Richard Sloley10
FW Henry White 24 17
Players guested during the season
GK Fred Craig1 0
GK n/a W. Griffiths 1 0
GK Jimmy Morris 11 0
GK Walter Scott 3 0
DF Fred Bullock60
HB Sam Blott 1 0
HB Jimmy Brandham 9 0
HB n/aW. Frisby20
HB Ted Hanney101
HB E. Heydenrick 1 1
HB Bill Hooper22 3
HB George Hunter17 0
HB James Lockwood 1 0
HB Mansell1 0
HB n/a J. Mee 1 0
HB Sam Morris5 0
HB Robert Nash 1 0
HB n/a A. Rhodes 1 0
HB n/aT. Roberts10
HB n/a T. Smith 1 0
HB n/a Talbot 1 0
HB Maurice Woodward7 0
HB Billy Yenson 15 0
FW Billy Brawn 1 0
FW David Chalmers11
FW Jack Cock 23 27
FW William Cowless 1 1
FW Jack Curtis 3 0
FW n/aA. Davis10
FW Bertie Denyer21
FW James Dillimore 1 0
FW Billy Edwards 10 1
FW n/a W. Elliott 1 0
FW Thomas Graham 1 0
FW John Green91
FW Alf Gregson 5 3
FW n/a W. Harrison 1 0
FW n/aH. James20
FW n/aA. Jones10
FW Fred Keenor91
FW n/a W. Ramsay 1 0
FW n/aB. N. Sidney1 0
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[2]

Goalscorers
Pos. Nat Player Total
FW Jack Cock 27
FW Henry White 17
FW Albert Chester 7
FW Patsy Hendren 6
FW Alf Gregson 3
HB Bill Hooper 3
DF Dusty Rhodes 3
HB Bill Stanton 3
HB Charles Allwright 1
FW David Chalmers 1
FW William Cowless 1
FW Bertie Denyer 1
FW Billy Edwards 1
FW John Green 1
HB Ted Hanney 1
HB E. Heydenrick 1
FW Fred Keenor 1
Opponents 1
Total81
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[2]

Management
Name Nat From To Record
PWDLW %
Fred Halliday 1 September 1917 6 April 1918 36 16 3 17 044.44

Summary
Games played36
Games won16
Games drawn3
Games lost17
Goals scored81
Goals conceded94
Clean sheets5
Biggest win5–0 versus Clapton Orient, 22 December 1917
Worst defeat7–1 versus Millwall, 29 December 1917
Most appearances39, Patsy Hendren
Top scorer27, Jack Cock

Transfers & loans
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
1 September 1917 HB Bill Stanton Watford Free [2]
Guest players in
Date from Pos. Name Previous Club Date to Ref.
1 September 1917 DF Fred Bullock Huddersfield Town 6 October 1917 [2]
1 September 1917 FW Jack Curtis Stockport County 24 November 1917 [2]
1 September 1917 FW Alf Gregson Grimsby Town 6 October 1917 [2]
1 September 1917 DF Ted Hanney Manchester City End of season [2]
1 September 1917 HB George Hunter Manchester United 19 January 1918 [2]
1 September 1917 FW Fred Keenor Cardiff City 23 March 1918 [2]
1 September 1917 GK Jimmy Morris Clapton Orient 1 April 1918 [2]
22 September 1917 FW John Green Wolverhampton Wanderers 5 January 1918 [2]
22 September 1917 FW A. Jones Unattached 22 September 1917 [2]
22 September 1917 HB T. Roberts Luton Town 22 September 1917 [2]
22 September 1917 GK Walter Scott Worksop Town 6 October 1917 [2]
13 October 1917 GK W. Griffiths West Ham United 13 October 1917 [2]
13 October 1917 HB E. Heydenrick Unattached 13 October 1917 [2]
13 October 1917 HB J. Mee n/a 13 October 1917 [2]
13 October 1917 FW B. N. Sidney n/a 13 October 1917 [2]
13 October 1917 HB T. Smith n/a 13 October 1917 [2]
20 October 1917 HB Sam Morris Bristol Rovers 26 December 1917 [2]
20 October 1917 HB Maurice Woodward Southend United End of season [2]
3 November 1917 FW Billy Brawn Unattached 3 November 1917 [2]
3 November 1917 FW W. Harrison n/a 3 November 1917 [2]
3 November 1917 HB Mansell The Wednesday 3 November 1917 [2]
3 November 1917 HB Robert Nash Unattached 3 November 1917 [13]
10 November 1917 HB Sam Blott Plymouth Argyle 10 November 1917 [2]
10 November 1917 GK Fred Craig Plymouth Argyle 10 November 1917 [14]
10 November 1917 FW James Dillimore n/a 10 November 1917 [2]
10 November 1917 FW W. Ramsay n/a 10 November 1917 [2]
17 November 1917 FW Bertie Denyer Swindon Town 8 December 1917 [2]
17 November 1917 FW Thomas Graham Castleford Town 17 November 1917 [2]
17 November 1917 FW Bill Hooper Southport Central End of season [2]
24 November 1917 FW Jack Cock Huddersfield Town End of season [2]
24 November 1917 HB Billy Yenson Croydon Common 30 March 1918 [15]
1 December 1917 FW A. Davis n/a 1 December 1917 [2]
8 December 1917 HB W. Frisby Southampton 15 December 1917 [2]
15 December 1917 FW Billy Edwards n/a 23 March 1918 [2]
5 January 1918 FW H. James n/a End of season [2]
12 January 1918 HB A. Rhodes n/a 12 January 1918 [2]
19 January 1918 HB Talbot n/a 19 January 1918 [2]
2 February 1918 FW William Cowless West Ham United 16 February 1918 [2]
2 February 1918 FW W. Elliott n/a 2 February 1918 [2]
16 February 1918 HB Jimmy Brandham Fulham 1 April 1918 [2]
23 February 1918 HB James Lockwood Queens Park Rangers 23 February 1918 [2]
23 March 1918 FW David Chalmers Grimsby Town 23 March 1918 [2]
Guest players out
Date from Pos. Name To Date to Ref.
1917 HB Jimmy Kennedy Airdrieonians 1918 [16]

References
  1. White 1989, p. 108-109.
  2. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 364. ISBN 0951526200.
  3. White 1989, p. 101-103.
  4. Bees Review: Brentford Official Matchday Programme vs Hull City. Milton Keynes: Regal Sports Press. 3 November 2015. pp. 61–67.
  5. "James Greechan | Service Record". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  6. "The Magazine of Highams Park Baptist Church – October/November 2017" (PDF). p. 21. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  7. "Casualty Details: George William Kennedy". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  8. "Croydon Common FC – William Kirby" (PDF). Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  9. "Casualty Details: William Allwright". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  10. "Casualty Details: Harry Dutfield". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  11. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  12. Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN 190589161X.
  13. "Croydon Common FC – Robert Nash" (PDF). Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  14. Scallan, Trevor. "GoS-DB Players". www.greensonscreen.co.uk. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  15. "Croydon Common FC – William Yenson" (PDF). Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  16. Litster, John. Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
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