1956–57 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1956–57 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division South. Despite topping the table early in the season, a poor run of form dropped the club to the lower reaches of mid-table by February 1957. A strong final two months of the season lifted the Bees to an 8th-place finish.

Brentford
1956–57 season
ChairmanFrank Davis
ManagerBill Dodgin Sr.
StadiumGriffin Park
Third Division South8th
FA CupSecond round
Top goalscorerLeague: Francis (23)
All: Francis (24)
Highest home attendance18,760
Lowest home attendance6,088
Average home league attendance11,482

Season summary

With Brentford having failed to challenge for promotion since relegation to the Third Division South in 1954, reduced attendances at Griffin Park meant that manager Bill Dodgin Sr. again had little to spend in the transfer market, with his lone acquisition being full back Sid Russell from local Sunday league football.[1] Frank Latimer and Billy Sperrin were released after many years' service, in addition to more recent signings Leonard Geard, James Robertson and George Stobbart.[1]

Brentford had a dream start to the 1956–57 season, winning the opening four matches and sitting atop the table.[2] Three subsequent defeats dropped the Bees to as low as 13th-place, before top spot was again reached after another three wins in September 1956.[2] Forwards Jeff Taylor and George Francis (supported by Jim Towers) were in imperious form, with Taylor having scored 9 goals and Francis 8 goals after 10 matches.[3] A 4–0 defeat away to Ipswich Town on 22 September ended the run and Brentford won just three of next 20 league matches,[2] with Taylor and Francis completely losing form and Towers spending periods out injured.[3] The signing of Chelsea forward Eric Parsons had little impact.[1] The Bees reached their nadir on 19 January 1957, losing 7–0 to Walsall, a scoreline which equalled the club's record defeat.[4] Three matches later, Brentford lost 5–1 to Northampton Town and completed a slide from 1st position on 18 September 1956 to 17th on 16 February 1957.[2] Jim Towers' return to full fitness coincided with the team's return to form in March, with George Francis scoring five goals amidst a run of four consecutive wins.[3] After victory over Southend United on 12 March, chairman Frank Davis announced that manager Bill Dodgin Sr. would be leaving Griffin Park at the end of the campaign.[1] Brentford lost just two of the remaining 11 matches of the season and battled to an 8th-place finish.[2]

A number of club records were set or equalled during the season:

  • Record league defeat: 0–7 versus Walsall, 19 January 1957[4]
  • Consecutive away league wins: 5 (21 April – 29 August 1956)[5]
  • Consecutive league draws: 5 (16 March – 6 April 1957)[5]
  • Most home league games without a clean sheet: 16 (3 March – 20 October 1956)[5]

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts
6 Brighton & Hove Albion 46 19 14 13 86 65 1.323 52
7 Southend United 46 18 12 16 73 65 1.123 48
8 Brentford 46 16 16 14 78 76 1.026 48
9 Shrewsbury Town 46 15 18 13 72 79 0.911 48
10 Queens Park Rangers 46 18 11 17 61 60 1.017 47
Source:

Results
Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Football League Third Division South
No. DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
1 18 August 1956Plymouth ArgyleH4–1 13,710Newcombe, Goundry, Taylor, Towers
2 21 August 1956Swindon TownH4–1 13,510Towers, Taylor (2), Bragg (pen)
3 25 August 1956Aldershot A2–0 7,043Towers, Francis
4 29 August 1956Swindon TownA3–1 11,995Taylor (2), Francis
5 1 September 1956Watford H1–5 18,760Towers
6 4 September 1956Brighton & Hove AlbionH2–5 12,191Goundry, Towers
7 8 September 1956Shrewsbury TownA2–3 8,953Francis, Taylor
8 12 September 1956Brighton & Hove AlbionA2–1 14,317Goundry, Francis
9 15 September 1956WalsallH6–2 11,492Taylor (3), Bristow, Goundry, Francis
10 18 September 1956GillinghamH3–2 15,603Francis (3)
11 22 September 1956Ipswich TownA0–4 12,888
12 26 September 1956Gillingham A1–2 7,903Morgan
13 29 September 1956Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticH2–2 12,604Francis, Newcombe
14 6 October 1956Northampton TownH2–1 10,733Coleman (og), Francis
15 13 October 1956Southend United A0–1 11,463
16 20 October 1956Crystal PalaceH1–1 11,345Taylor
17 27 October 1956Exeter CityA1–1 8,482Francis
18 3 November 1956SouthamptonH4–0 14,198Francis (4)
19 10 November 1956Coventry CityA1–1 9,884Peplow (pen)
20 24 November 1956Colchester United A0–1 7,290
21 1 December 1956Newport CountyH0–0 11,130
22 15 December 1956Plymouth Argyle A0–2 6,823
23 22 December 1956AldershotH2–2 7,284Parsons, Towers
24 25 December 1956Torquay UnitedH0–0 9,024
25 26 December 1956Torquay UnitedA0–2 9,540
26 29 December 1956WatfordA1–1 8,416Dudley
27 12 January 1957Shrewsbury TownH3–1 8,952Rainford, Dudley, Goundry
28 19 January 1957WalsallA0–7 13,892
29 2 February 1957Ipswich TownH1–1 10,538Rees (og)
30 9 February 1957Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticA0–3 10,898
31 16 February 1957Northampton TownA0–5 9,306
32 2 March 1957Crystal Palace A2–0 11,679Parsons (2)
33 4 March 1957MillwallH5–0 6,088Taylor, Towers, Francis, Coote, Goundry
34 9 March 1957ReadingH4–0 10,223Francis (2), Taylor, McLaren (og)
35 12 March 1957Southend UnitedH3–2 11,941Francis (2), Towers
36 16 March 1957SouthamptonA3–3 12,166Parsons, Newcombe, Towers
37 18 March 1957Millwall A1–1 8,726Towers
38 23 March 1957 Coventry City H 1–1 10,058 Taylor
39 30 March 1957 Norwich City A 1–1 11,685 McNeil (og)
40 6 April 1957Colchester UnitedH1–1 12,846Taylor
41 13 April 1957Newport County A0–3 5,415
42 19 April 1957Queens Park RangersH2–0 13,841Towers (2)
43 20 April 1957Exeter CityH3–0 9,262Taylor, Harvey (og), Francis
44 22 April 1957Queens Park RangersA2–2 9,661Dargie, Francis
45 27 April 1957 Norwich City H 1–1 8,764 Bragg (pen)
46 1 May 1957 Reading A 0–2 4,203

FA Cup
Main article: 1956–57 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer(s)
1R 17 November 1956 Guildford City H 3–0 13,450 Morton (og), Taylor, Beale (og)
2R 8 December 1956 Crystal Palace H 1–1 16,750 Taylor
2R (replay)12 December 1956Crystal Palace A2–3 (a.e.t.) 23,136 Towers, Francis

Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1956–57 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Gerry Cakebread (1936-04-01)1 April 1936 (aged 20) Youth 1954
GK Sonny Feehan (1926-09-17)17 September 1926 (aged 29) Northampton Town 1954
Defenders
DF Alan Bassham (1933-10-03)3 October 1933 (aged 22) Youth 1953
DF Wally Bragg (1929-07-08)8 July 1929 (aged 27) Twickenham Celtic 1946
DF Ken Horne (1926-06-25)25 June 1926 (aged 30) Blackpool 1950
DF George Lowden (1933-03-02)2 March 1933 (aged 23) Unattached 1951
DF Sid Russell (1937-10-04)4 October 1937 (aged 18) Jolly X 1956
Midfielders
HB George Bristow (1933-06-25)25 June 1933 (aged 23) Youth 1950
HB Ken Coote (1928-05-19)19 May 1928 (aged 28) Wembley 1949
HB Ian Dargie (1931-10-03)3 October 1931 (aged 24) Tonbridge 1952
HB Wendell Morgan (1935-04-22)22 April 1935 (aged 21) Cardiff City 1954
HB Ron Peplow (1935-05-04)4 May 1935 (aged 21) Southall 1955
HB Terry Robinson (1929-11-08)8 November 1929 (aged 26) Loughborough College 1954 Amateur
HB Len Roe (1932-01-11)11 January 1932 (aged 24) Ruislip Manor 1951
Forwards
FW Vernon Avis (1935-10-24)24 October 1935 (aged 20) Youth 1952
FW Billy Bloomfield (1939-08-25)25 August 1939 (aged 16) Youth 1956
FW Frank Dudley (1925-05-09)9 May 1925 (aged 31) Cardiff City 1953
FW George Francis (1934-02-04)4 February 1934 (aged 22) Youth 1955
FW Billy Goundry (1934-03-28)28 March 1934 (aged 22) Huddersfield Town 1955
FW Dennis Heath (1934-09-28)28 September 1934 (aged 21) Youth 1954
FW Len Newcombe (1931-02-28)28 February 1931 (aged 25) Fulham 1956
FW Eric Parsons (1923-11-09)9 November 1923 (aged 32) Chelsea 1956
FW John Pearson (1935-04-23)23 April 1935 (aged 21) Youth 1955
FW Johnny Rainford (1930-12-11)11 December 1930 (aged 25) Cardiff City 1953
FW Jeff Taylor (1930-09-20)20 September 1930 (aged 25) Fulham 1954
FW Jim Towers (1933-04-15)15 April 1933 (aged 23) Youth 1954
Players who left the club mid-season
GK Reg Newton (1926-06-30)30 June 1926 (aged 30) Leyton Orient 1949 Transferred to Tunbridge Wells United
DF Sid Tickridge (c) (1923-04-10)10 April 1923 (aged 33) Chelsea 1955 Retired
  • Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford,[3] Timeless Bees[6]

Coaching staff
Name Role
Bill Dodgin Sr. Manager
Tom Egglestone Trainer
Jack Holliday 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 Gerry Cakebread 38 0 3 0 41 0
GK Sonny Feehan 3 0 0 0 3 0
GK Reg Newton 5 0 0 0 5 0
DF Alan Bassham 12 0 2 0 14 0
DF Wally Bragg 33 1 1 0 34 1
DF Ken Horne 5 0 0 0 5 0
DF George Lowden 3 0 0 0 3 0
DF Sid Russell 22 0 0 0 22 0
DF Sid Tickridge 23 0 3 0 26 0
HB George Bristow 16 1 0 0 16 1
HB Ken Coote 44 1 3 0 47 1
HB Ian Dargie 27 1 3 0 30 1
HB Wendell Morgan 26 1 1 0 27 1
HB Ron Peplow 14 1 3 0 17 1
HB Terry Robinson 1200 0120
HB Len Roe 2 0 0 0 2 0
FW Vernon Avis 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW Billy Bloomfield 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW Frank Dudley 4 2 0 0 4 2
FW George Francis 41 23 3 1 44 24
FW Billy Goundry 31 6 2 0 33 6
FW Dennis Heath 301 0 40
FW Len Newcombe 43 3 3 0 46 3
FW Eric Parsons 27 4 2 0 29 4
FW John Pearson 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW Johnny Rainford 7 1 0 0 7 1
FW Jeff Taylor 38 15 2 2 40 17
FW Jim Towers 24 12 1 1 25 13
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[3]

Goalscorers
Pos. Nat Player FL3 FAC Total
FW George Francis 23 1 24
FW Jeff Taylor 15 2 17
FW Jim Towers 12 1 13
FW Billy Goundry 6 0 6
FW Eric Parsons 4 0 4
FW Len Newcombe 3 0 3
FW Frank Dudley 2 0 2
DF Wally Bragg 1 0 1
HB George Bristow 1 0 1
HB Ken Coote 1 0 1
HB Ian Dargie 1 0 1
HB Wendell Morgan 1 0 1
HB Ron Peplow 1 0 1
FW Johnny Rainford 1 0 1
Opponents 5 2 7
Total78684
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[3]

Representative caps
Pos. Nat Player Team Caps Goals Ref
HB Terry Robinson  Great Britain 8 0 [7]

Management
Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Bill Dodgin Sr. 18 August 1956 1 May 1957 49 17 17 15 034.69 46 16 16 14 034.78

Summary
Games played49 (46 Third Division South, 3 FA Cup)
Games won17 (16 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)
Games drawn17 (16 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)
Games lost15 (14 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored84 (78 Third Division South, 6 FA Cup)
Goals conceded80 (76 Third Division South, 4 FA Cup)
Clean sheets10 (9 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)
Biggest league win5–0 versus Millwall, 4 March 1957
Worst league defeat7–0 versus Walsall, 19 January 1957
Most appearances47, Ken Coote (44 Third Division South, 3 FA Cup)
Top scorer (league)23, George Francis
Top scorer (all competitions)24, George Francis

Transfers & loans
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
August 1956 DF Sid Russell Jolly X Free [8]
November 1956 FW Eric Parsons Chelsea n/a [8]
Players loaned in
Date from Pos. Name From Date to Ref.
August 1956 FW Tommy Henaughan Kilmarnock n/a [9]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
February 1957 GK Reg Newton Tunbridge Wells Rangers n/a [10]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
January 1957 DF Sid Tickridge Retired [11]
May 1957 HB Wally Bragg Retired [12]

References
  1. White 1989, p. 221-224.
  2. Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1956-1957 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 25 November 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  3. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 384. ISBN 0951526200.
  4. Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Yore Publications. p. 42. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  5. Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford scoring and sequence records - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  6. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  7. "England Matches – The Amateurs 1947–1962". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  8. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 139-140.
  9. "Scottish Football Historical Archive – H". p. 286. Archived from the original on 27 November 2016.
  10. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 116.
  11. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 161.
  12. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 25-26.
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