1926–27 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1926–27 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division South. In Harry Curtis' first season as manager, the club finished 11th and advanced to the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time.

Brentford
1926–27 season
ChairmanW. Flewitt
ManagerHarry Curtis
StadiumGriffin Park
Third Division South11th
FA CupFifth round
Top goalscorerLeague: Watkins (20)
All: Watkins (24)
Highest home attendance20,799
Lowest home attendance4,775
Average home league attendance9,713

Season summary
Brentford's 1926–27 team photograph.

After just one top-half finish in the Third Division South since entering the Football League in 1920, Brentford appointed former Gillingham manager Harry Curtis to the position on a one-year contract in May 1926.[1] The club was still seeking a winning formula, after generally poor league placings from previous managers Fred Halliday and Archie Mitchell.[2] The directors of the club cleared the decks and retained just 9 of the previous season's squad.[3] Curtis brought with him assistant trainer Jack Cartmell (an ex-Brentford player) and five Gillingham players – full backs Wally Barnard and Charlie Butler, half back Charlie Reddock and forwards Bill Berry and Joe Craddock.[4] Former Gillingham half back Frank Marshall later signed in January 1927.[5] Jim Ferguson replaced the departed John Thomson in goal and defenders John Hodgson, Ted Winship, half backs Bert Bellamy, Joe Hodnett and forwards George Anderson and Stephen Dearn were also signed.[3]

A 4–0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on the opening day put Brentford at the top of the Third Division South table, which was the first time since joining the Football League that the club had occupied the top spot in the division.[6] Defeat in the following match to Luton Town dropped the Bees back to 6th, but three successive wins in the following matches saw the club rise back to the top and they stayed there until 15 September.[6] 10 goals in the first 9 matches from Ernie Watkins was a factor in the bright start.[7] By early December, the team's league form was affected by a fixture pile-up, caused by a run to the fifth round of the FA Cup.[6] The 8 FA Cup matches played in a single season is the most ever by the club.[8] The run was a financial success and generated enough money for the club to build a new grandstand on the Braemar Road side of Griffin Park.[2]

Harry Curtis would go on to become Brentford's longest-serving and most successful manager.

A goal drought suffered by forwards Ernie Watkins, Jack Lane, Stephen Dearn and the departure of Jack Allen to The Wednesday in March 1927 saw Brentford limp through the final three months of the season.[7][9] The Bees finished the season in 11th place and had been rooted in mid-table since 5 February 1927.[6] Ernie Watkins top-scored with 24 goals, then the highest tally for a Brentford player since the club joined the Football League.[7] Four consecutive home league draws between 2 and 30 April 1927 equalled the club record.[10]

A notable departure after the season was that of 38-year old cricketer Patsy Hendren,[11] who had played intermittently as an outside forward for Brentford since 1907.[12] During the season he had become the first Bees player since the club joined the Football League to score four goals in a match (during a 7–3 rout of Coventry City on 23 October 1926) and an 11,000 crowd turned up to see his final match against Newport County on Easter Saturday 1927.[7][11] Upon his departure, Hendren's 400-plus Brentford appearances was then the club record and he was posthumously inducted into the club's Hall of Fame in May 2015.[13][14]

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts
9 Newport County 42 19 6 17 57 71 0.803 44
10 Bristol Rovers 42 16 9 17 78 80 0.975 41
11 Brentford 42 13 14 15 70 61 1.148 40
12 Exeter City 42 15 10 17 76 73 1.041 40
13 Charlton Athletic 42 16 8 18 60 61 0.984 40
Source:

Results
Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Football League Third Division South
No. DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
1 28 August 1926Brighton & Hove AlbionH4–0 12,057 Rae (pen), Berry, Watkins (2)
2 30 August 1926Luton TownA1–2 9,090 Dearn
3 4 September 1926Northampton TownA3–2 10,082 Berry (2), Douglas
4 6 September 1926Southend United H3–1 7,996 Watkins (2), Dearn
5 11 September 1926Queens Park Rangers H4–2 17,380 Lane, Watkins (2), Douglas
6 15 September 1926Southend United A1–3 6,512 Dearn
7 18 September 1926MillwallH0–0 14,125
8 25 September 1926Bristol RoversA3–1 8,311 Lane, Watkins (2)
9 2 October 1926Swindon TownH2–2 15,404 Watkins (2)
10 9 October 1926Exeter CityA1–3 7,152 Lane
11 16 October 1926Crystal PalaceA3–4 14,860 Berry (2), Lane
12 23 October 1926Coventry CityH7–3 9,099 Hendren (4, 2 pens), Watkins, Dearn (2)
13 30 October 1926Charlton AthleticA1–1 8,058 Rae
14 6 November 1926Bristol City H3–0 11,457 Anderson (2), Dearn
15 20 November 1926Plymouth Argyle H0–0 8,481
16 4 December 1926Aberdare Athletic H1–4 9,485 Baynham (og)
17 18 December 1926WatfordH3–0 9,631 Watkins, Dearn, Douglas
18 25 December 1926Norwich CityA1–2 10,743 Hendren
19 27 December 1926Norwich CityH3–0 17,002 Allen, Watkins, Douglas
20 1 January 1927Luton TownH2–2 9,116 Lane, Dearn
21 15 January 1927Brighton & Hove Albion A1–1 9,517 Hendren
22 22 January 1927Northampton TownH1–1 4,775 Allen
23 5 February 1927MillwallA0–3 19,178
24 12 February 1927Bristol Rovers H0–2 6,630
25 26 February 1927Exeter CityH6–1 6,986 Watkins (2), Lane (2), Craddock, Douglas
26 5 March 1927Crystal PalaceH3–0 8,205 Watkins, Allen, Lane
27 9 March 1927Swindon TownA2–4 4,659 Craddock, Hendren
28 12 March 1927Coventry City A1–3 11,910 Watkins
29 16 March 1927Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticA1–3 3,195 Watkins
30 19 March 1927Charlton AthleticH2–0 6,755 Donnelly (pen), Craddock
31 26 March 1927Bristol CityA0–1 14,062
32 30 March 1927GillinghamA2–1 2,947 Watkins, Lawson
33 2 April 1927Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticH0–0 6,766
34 9 April 1927Plymouth ArgyleA1–2 9,556 Craddock
35 15 April 1927Merthyr TownH1–1 9,031 Lane
36 16 April 1927Newport CountyH1–1 7,801 Watkins
37 19 April 1927Merthyr TownA0–1 3,910
38 23 April 1927Aberdare AthleticA1–3 1,227 Craddock
39 25 April 1927Newport CountyA0–0 1,721
40 30 April 1927GillinghamH0–0 5,793
41 5 May 1927Queens Park RangersA1–1 11,355 Lawson
42 7 May 1927WatfordA0–0 4,999

FA Cup
Main article: 1926–27 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer(s)
1R 27 November 1926 Clapton A 1–1 4,412 Anderson
1R (replay) 1 December 1926 Clapton H 7–3 5,936 Lane (2), Watkins (3), Hendren (2)
2R 11 December 1926 Gillingham A 1–1 10,076 Hendren
2R (replay) 15 December 1926 Gillingham H 1–0 6,695 Dearn
3R 10 January 1927 Oldham Athletic A 4–2 10,670 Allen (3), Watkins
4R 29 January 1927 West Ham United A 1–1 35,000 Lane
4R (replay) 2 February 1927 West Ham United H 2–0 20,799 Lane, Allen
5R19 February 1927Reading A0–1 33,042

Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1926–27 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Arthur Collins (1902-09-16)16 September 1902 (aged 23) Derby County 1926
GK Jim Ferguson (1896-08-30)30 August 1896 (aged 29) St Roch's 1926
Defenders
DF Charlie Butler (1897-10-10)10 October 1897 (aged 28) Gillingham 1926
DF James Donnelly (1893-12-18)18 December 1893 (aged 32) Southend United 1925
DF John Hodgson (1900-09-28)28 September 1900 (aged 25) Sunderland 1926
DF Ted Winship 1900 (aged 25–26) Kidderminster Harriers 1926
Midfielders
HB Jack Beacham (1902-08-15)15 August 1902 (aged 24) Weymouth 1925
HB Bert Bellamy (1896-04-07)7 April 1896 (aged 30) Swansea Town 1926
HB Archie Clark (1902-04-04)4 April 1902 (aged 24) Aylesford Paper Mills 1927
HB Joe Hodnett (1896-07-18)18 July 1896 (aged 30) Merthyr Town 1926
HB Frank Marshall 1904 (aged 21–22) Gillingham 1927
HB Alan Noble (1900-06-19)19 June 1900 (aged 26) Leeds United 1925
HB Harry Rae (1895-10-22)22 October 1895 (aged 30) Clyde 1925
HB Charlie Reddock 1902 (aged 23–24) Gillingham 1926
Forwards
FW George Anderson (1904-10-24)24 October 1904 (aged 21) Airdrieonians 1926
FW Bill Berry (1904-08-18)18 August 1904 (aged 22) Gillingham 1926
FW Joe Craddock (1902-08-03)3 August 1902 (aged 24) Gillingham 1926
FW Stephen Dearn March 1901 (aged 25) Portsmouth 1926
FW Alfred Douglas (1899-03-26)26 March 1899 (aged 27) Washington Colliery 1925
FW Patsy Hendren (1889-02-05)5 February 1889 (aged 37) Queens Park Rangers 1911 Played when his cricket commitments allowed
FW Jack Lane (c) (1898-05-29)29 May 1898 (aged 28) Chesterfield 1925
FW Herbert Lawson (1905-04-12)12 April 1905 (aged 21) Arsenal 1927
FW Ernie Watkins (1898-04-03)3 April 1898 (aged 28) Southend United 1926
Players who left the club mid-season
FW Jack Allen (1903-01-31)31 January 1903 (aged 23) Leeds United 1924 Transferred to The Wednesday
  • Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[7] Timeless Bees,[15] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939[16]

Coaching staff
Name Role
Harry Curtis Manager
Tom Ratcliff Trainer
Jack Cartmell Assistant Trainer

Statistics

Appearances and goals
Brentford's highest appearance-makers in each position during the Football League season.
Pos Nat Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Arthur Collins 4 0 0 0 4 0
GK Jim Ferguson 38 0 8 0 46 0
DF Charlie Butler 27080350
DF James Donnelly 3915 0441
DF John Hodgson 400 040
DF Ted Winship 1103 0140
HB Jack Beacham 14 0 6 0 20 0
HB Bert Bellamy 3306 0390
HB Archie Clark 10— 10
HB Joe Hodnett 9 0 0 0 9 0
HB Frank Marshall 21 0 — 21 0
HB Alan Noble 10 0 2 0 12 0
HB Harry Rae 30 2 8 0 38 2
HB Charlie Reddock 6 0 0 0 6 0
FW Jack Allen 7344117
FW George Anderson 8 2 1 1 9 3
FW Bill Berry 22 5 2 0 24 5
FW Joe Craddock 12 5 0 0 12 5
FW Stephen Dearn 3086 1369
FW Alfred Douglas 2656 0325
FW Patsy Hendren 21 7 8 3 29 10
FW Jack Lane 4198 44913
FW Herbert Lawson 13 2 — 13 2
FW Ernie Watkins 35207 44224
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[7]

Goalscorers
Pos. Nat Player FL3 FAC Total
FW Ernie Watkins 20 4 24
FW Jack Lane 9 4 13
FW Patsy Hendren 7 3 10
FW Stephen Dearn 8 1 9
FW Jack Allen 3 4 7
FW Bill Berry 5 0 5
FW Joe Craddock 5 0 5
FW Alfred Douglas505
FW George Anderson 2 1 3
FW Herbert Lawson 2 0 2
HB Harry Rae 2 0 2
DF James Donnelly 1 0 1
Opponent 1 0 1
Total701787
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[7]

Management
Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Harry Curtis 28 August 1926 7 May 1927 50 17 17 16 034.00|42 13 14 15 030.95

Summary
Games played50 (42 Third Division South, 8 FA Cup)
Games won17 (13 Third Division South, 4 FA Cup)
Games drawn17 (14 Third Division South, 3 FA Cup)
Games lost16 (15 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored87 (70 Third Division South, 17 FA Cup)
Goals conceded70 (61 Third Division South, 9 FA Cup)
Clean sheets14 (12 Third Division South, 2 FA Cup)
Biggest league win6–1 versus Exeter City, 26 February 1927
Worst league defeat3–0 versus Millwall, 5 February 1927; 4–1 versus Aberdare Athletic, 4 December 1926
Most appearances48, Jim Ferguson (38 Third Division South, 8 FA Cup)
Top scorer (league)20, Ernie Watkins
Top scorer (all competitions)24, Ernie Watkins

Transfers & loans
Cricketers are not included in this list.
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
May 1926 HB Bert Bellamy Swansea Town Free [17]
May 1926 GK Arthur Collins Derby County Free [18]
June 1926 DF Wally Barnard Gillingham Free [19]
June 1926 FW Bill Berry Gillingham Free [20]
June 1926 GK Jim Ferguson St Roch's Free [20]
June 1926 DF John Hodgson Sunderland Free [20]
June 1926 HB Charlie Reddock Gillingham Free [20]
August 1926 DF Ted Winship Kidderminster Harriers Free [21]
September 1926 DF Charlie Butler Gillingham Free [22]
1926 FW George Anderson Airdrieonians Free [23]
1926 FW James Birch Queens Park Rangers Free [24]
1926 FW Joe Craddock Gillingham Free [25]
1926 FW Stephen Dearn Portsmouth Free [26]
1926 HB Joe Hodnett Merthyr Town Free [27]
January 1927 HB Frank Marshall Gillingham £500 [5]
March 1927 HB Archie Clark Aylesford Paper Mills Free [28]
March 1927 FW Herbert Lawson Arsenal Free [29]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
March 1927 FW Jack Allen The Wednesday n/a [30]
Players loaned out
Date Pos. Name To Date to Ref.
n/a FW Bert Young Bangor City n/a [30]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
September 1926FW Bill Finlayson Springfield Babes1926[31]
May 1927 DF Wally Barnard Retired [32]
May 1927 HB Bert Bellamy Wellingborough Town May 1927 [17]
May 1927 GK Arthur Collins Scarborough August 1927 [18]
May 1927 HB Jimmy Elliott Retired [33]
May 1927DF John Hodgson Hartlepools United1927[27]
May 1927 HB Joe Hodnett Gillingham August 1927 [34]
May 1927 HB Alan Noble Millwall May 1927 [35]
May 1927 DF Jack Price Torquay United 1927 [36]
May 1927 DF Percival Whitton Retired [32]
May 1927 FW Bert Young Newport County 1927 [37]

References
  1. Chapman, Mark. "Remembering The Guvnor: Harry Curtis". www.brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  2. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 175-176.
  3. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 121–123. ISBN 0951526200.
  4. Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Harefield, Middlesex: Yore Publications. p. 100. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  5. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 100-101.
  6. Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1926-1927 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  7. White 1989, p. 369.
  8. Haynes 1998, p. 49.
  9. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 9.
  10. Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford scoring and sequence records - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  11. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 74-75.
  12. Joyce 2012, p. 135.
  13. Haynes 1998, p. 38.
  14. Wickham, Chris. "Kevin O'Connor and Marcus Gayle join others in being added to Brentford FC Hall of Fame". www.brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  15. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  16. Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN 190589161X.
  17. "Watford Football Club archive 1881–2016: Players – Battocchio to Bolton" (PDF). Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  18. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 39.
  19. "Barnard Wally Image 1 Clapton 1922". Vintage Footballers. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  20. "More New Players for Brentford. NUMBER SIGNED NOW TOTALS NINETEEN. GOALKEEPER AND BACKS STILL WANTED". Chiswick Times. 11 June 1926.
  21. "Winship in Brentford Hospital. Recovering from Serious Illness". County of Middlesex Independent. 6 July 1929.
  22. "Brentford secured the signature of C. J. Butler, the Gillingham left back, in time to turn out at Bristol on Saturday". The Athletic News. 27 September 1926.
  23. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 11.
  24. "Birch Jimmy Image 1 Queens Park Rangers 1923". Vintage Footballers. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  25. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 42.
  26. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 47.
  27. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 77.
  28. "Brentford have signed as a professional A. Clarke, centre half back, from Aylesford (Kent) Paper Mills F.C.". The Athletic News. 21 March 1927.
  29. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 95.
  30. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 120.
  31. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 56.
  32. Dorey, F.W. (1926). Brentford Football Club Season 1926–27 Official Handbook. p. 9.
  33. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 53.
  34. "Hodnett Joe Image 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1923". Vintage Footballers. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  35. "Noble Alan Image 1 Leeds United 1922". Vintage Footballers. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  36. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 127-128.
  37. "BRENTFORD'S BRIGHT PROSPECTS. A BIG BID FOR PROMOTION IN THE COMING SEASON. FULL LIST OF PLAYERS. ILLNESS OF MARSHALL: COMPETITION FOR FORWARD POSITIONS". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 12 August 1927.
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