1936–37 Brentford F.C. season

Brentford
1936–37 season
Chairman Louis P. Simon
Manager Harry Curtis
Stadium Griffin Park
First Division 6th
FA Cup Fourth round
Top goalscorer League: McCulloch (31)
All: McCulloch (33)
Highest home attendance 31,745
Lowest home attendance 14,103
Average home league attendance 25,544

During the 1936–37 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League First Division and secured a 6th-place finish, one place below the previous season's club record highest league position.

Season summary

After a club record 5th-place finish in Brentford's debut season in the top flight, manager Harry Curtis kept faith with the season's previous squad, releasing bit-part players Herbert Watson and James Raven and bringing in youngsters Harry Bamford and Joe Murray.[1] Teenage outside right Les Smith, who had signed his first professional contract a year earlier, was promoted to the first team after Bobby Reid was struck down by appendicitis on the eve of the season.[2]

After a mixed start to the season, Brentford kicked into gear in late September 1936, losing just four of 19 matches to establish themselves in the top three in the First Division.[3] In his first full season with the Bees, forward David McCulloch again showed prolific form, going on to score 33 goals in his 43 appearances.[4] Five goals in a six match spell also saw forward Billy Scott win an England cap in a British Home Championship match versus Wales in October 1937,[5] which made him Brentford's first full England international player.[6] Brentford's form dipped in mid-February 1937 and despite the signing of Buster Brown to replace the departed Dai Richards at left half,[7] the club dropped to a 6th-place finish.[3]

A 6–2 defeat to champions-elect Manchester City on 3 April equalled the club record for most goals conceded in a Football League match.[8][9] Despite a number of other heavy defeats, manager Harry Curtis did improve the team's winning percentage in both the league and FA Cup, with Brentford hammering Huddersfield Town 5–0 in the third round (the first time the Bees had scored in the FA Cup for over four years) before exiting at the hands of Derby County in the following round.[3]

At the end of the season, Brentford set off on a tour of Nazi Germany, beating Hamburger SV (3–0), Hertha BSC (4–0), drawing 2–2 with champions 1. FC Nürnberg and losing 4–0 to Schalke 04.[10] The Star published a picture of the team giving a Nazi salute prior to the Schalke match, causing a minor stir in London.[10]

League table

Pos Team Pld Home Away F A GA GD Pts
W D L F A W D L F A
1Manchester City42155156227865139107611.754+4657
2Charlton Athletic4215513713678213658491.184+954
3Arsenal42101014320867372980491.633+3152
4Derby County4213355839849385196901.067+649
5Wolverhampton Wanderers42162363245313214384671.254+1747
6Brentford42145258324512244682781.051+446
7Middlesbrough42146149225214254974711.042+346
8Sunderland42172259242415306389871.023+244
9Portsmouth42133541294710213762660.939–444
10Stoke City42126352273612203072571.263+1542
11Birmingham429753624489283664601.067+441
12Grimsby Town42133560324413264986811.062+541
13Chelsea42116436213711163452550.945–341
14Preston North End42106535284710213956670.836–1141
15Huddersfield Town421254392101011234362640.969–239
16West Bromwich Albion42133545323315326677980.786–2138
17Everton42127256232217255581781.038+337
18Liverpool4298438263315245862840.738–2235
19Leeds United42143444201119166060800.750–2034
20Bolton Wanderers426692233489213343660.652–2334
21Manchester United4289429262316265255780.705–2332
22Sheffield Wednesday4285832291713214053690.768–1630
Key
League Champions
FA Cup Winners
Relegated

Results

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division

No. DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
1 29 August 1936Bolton WanderersH2–2 27,524McCulloch, Wilson (pen)
2 3 September 1936ArsenalH2–0 31,056Hopkins, McCulloch
3 5 September 1936Everton A0–3 37,524
4 9 September 1936ArsenalA1–1 44,010Wilson (pen)
5 12 September 1936Huddersfield TownH1–1 25,386McCulloch
6 17 September 1936Charlton AthleticH4–2 21,373L. Smith, McCulloch, W. Scott, McKenzie (pen)
7 19 September 1936SunderlandA1–4 37,407Hopkins
8 26 September 1936Wolverhampton Wanderers H3–2 23,256McCulloch (2), McKenzie (pen)
9 3 October 1936Derby County A3–2 24,545W. Scott (2), McCulloch
10 10 October 1936Manchester United H4–0 28,019Reid, W. Scott (2), McCulloch
11 17 October 1936Grimsby TownA0–2 11,858
12 24 October 1936LiverpoolH5–2 25,934McCulloch (3), Holliday, Reid
13 31 October 1936Leeds UnitedA1–3 21,498Holliday
14 7 November 1936BirminghamH2–1 22,905McCulloch (2)
15 14 November 1936MiddlesbroughA0–3 23,064
16 21 November 1936West Bromwich AlbionH2–1 20,575Reid, McCulloch
17 5 December 1936PortsmouthH4–0 26,371McCulloch (2), Holliday (2)
18 12 December 1936Chelsea A1–2 51,079Reid
19 19 December 1936Stoke CityH2–1 18,167Holliday, Tutin (og)
20 25 December 1936Sheffield WednesdayH2–1 26,560Reid, W. Scott
21 26 December 1936Bolton WanderersA2–2 36,962McCulloch, W. Scott
22 28 December 1936Sheffield WednesdayA2–0 20,374W. Scott, Hopkins
23 2 January 1937EvertonH2–2 20,457Hopkins, McKenzie (pen)
24 9 January 1937Huddersfield TownA1–1 21,753McCulloch
25 23 January 1937SunderlandH3–3 29,389W. Scott (3)
26 6 February 1937Derby CountyH6–2 31,745Reid (2), Holliday (2), McCulloch (2)
27 10 February 1937Wolverhampton WanderersA0–4 19,373
28 13 February 1937Manchester United A3–1 31,942W. Scott, Reid (2)
29 27 February 1937LiverpoolA2–2 25,005Reid (pen), McCulloch
30 3 March 1937Grimsby Town H2–3 14,103McCulloch (2)
31 6 March 1937Leeds UnitedH4–1 16,588Holliday, McCulloch (2), Holley (og)
32 13 March 1937BirminghamA0–4 30,510
33 20 March 1937MiddlesbroughH4–1 23,872L. Smith, McCulloch (3)
34 26 March 1937Preston North End H1–1 31,069McCulloch
35 27 March 1937West Bromwich AlbionA0–1 29,858
36 29 March 1937Preston North EndA1–1 26,782W. Scott
37 3 April 1937Manchester CityH2–6 29,028W. Scott, Hopkins
38 7 April 1937Manchester City A1–2 24,629McCulloch
39 10 April 1937PortsmouthA3–1 19,208Hopkins, McCulloch, Muttitt
40 17 April 1937ChelseaH1–0 22,042McKenzie (pen)
41 24 April 1937Stoke CityA1–5 18,451McKenzie
42 1 May 1937Charlton AthleticA1–2 26,195W. Scott

FA Cup

Main article: 1936–37 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer(s)
3R 16 January 1937 Huddersfield Town H 5–0 n/a Reid (2, 1 pen), McCulloch (2), Holliday
4R30 January 1937Derby County A0–3 27,376

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1936–37 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK James Mathieson Scotland 10 May 1904 (aged 32) Middlesbrough 1934
GK James Nicholls England 24 September 1908 (aged 27) Manchester City 1934
Defenders
DF Arthur Bateman (c) England 1 April 1908 (aged 28) Southend United 1934
DF George Dumbrell England 23 September 1906 (aged 29) Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 1935
DF Walter Metcalf England 15 December 1910 (aged 25) Sunderland 1934
DF George Poyser England 6 February 1910 (aged 26) Port Vale 1934
DF Joe Wilson England 29 September 1911 (aged 24) Southend United 1935
Midfielders
HB Buster Brown England 6 September 1910 (aged 25) Huddersfield Town 1937
HB Joe James England 13 January 1910 (aged 26) Battersea Church 1929
HB Duncan McKenzie Scotland 10 August 1912 (aged 24) Albion Rovers 1932
HB Joe Murray Scotland 1914 (aged 21–22) Ayr United 1936
HB Archie Scott Scotland 22 July 1905 (aged 31) Derby County 1934
Forwards
FW Billy Dunn Scotland 9 October 1910 (aged 25) Celtic 1935
FW Jack Holliday England 19 December 1908 (aged 27) Middlesbrough 1932
FW Idris Hopkins Wales 11 October 1910 (aged 25) Crystal Palace 1932
FW David McCulloch Scotland 5 October 1912 (aged 23) Heart of Midlothian 1935
FW Ernest Muttitt England 24 July 1908 (aged 28) Middlesbrough 1932
FW Bobby Reid Scotland 19 February 1911 (aged 25) Hamilton Academical 1936
FW Billy Scott England 6 December 1907 (aged 28) Middlesbrough 1932
FW Les Smith England 13 March 1918 (aged 18) Petersham 1934
Players who left the club mid-season
HB Dai Richards Wales 31 October 1906 (aged 29) Wolverhampton Wanderers 1935 Transferred to Birmingham
HB Cecil Smith England 16 June 1907 (aged 29) Brentford Market 1931 Transferred to Doncaster Rovers

Coaching staff

Name Role
England Harry Curtis Manager
Scotland Jimmy Bain Assistant Manager
England Bob Kane Trainer
England Jack Cartmell Assistant Trainer
England Fred Keatch Secretary

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Pos Nat Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Scotland James Mathieson 35 0 2 0 37 0
GK England James Nicholls 7 0 0 0 7 0
DF England Arthur Bateman 26 0 2 0 28 0
DF England George Dumbrell 4 0 0 0 4 0
DF England Walter Metcalf 5 0 0 0 5 0
DF EnglandGeorge Poyser 3102 0 330
DF England Joe Wilson 13 0 2 0 15 0
HB EnglandBuster Brown 100 100
HB England Joe James 42 0 2 0 44 0
HB Scotland Duncan McKenzie 42 5 2 0 44 5
HB Scotland Joe Murray 1 0 0 0 1 0
HB Wales Dai Richards 29 0 2 0 31 0
HB England Cecil Smith 1 0 0 0 1 0
HB ScotlandArchie Scott 200 020
FW Scotland Billy Dunn 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW EnglandJack Holliday 4182 1 439
FW Wales Idris Hopkins 41 6 2 0 43 6
FW Scotland David McCulloch 41 31 2 2 43 33
FW England Ernest Muttitt 7 1 0 0 7 1
FW Scotland Bobby Reid 28 10 2 2 30 12
FW England Billy Scott 41 15 2 0 43 15
FW England Les Smith 14 2 0 0 14 2

Goalscorers

Pos. Nat Player FL1 FAC Total
FW Scotland David McCulloch 31 2 33
FW England Billy Scott 15 0 15
FW Scotland Bobby Reid 10 2 12
FW England Jack Holliday 8 1 9
FW Wales Idris Hopkins 6 0 6
HB Scotland Duncan McKenzie 5 0 5
FW England Les Smith 2 0 2
FW England Ernest Muttitt 1 0 1
Opponents 2 0 2
Total82587

International caps

Pos. Nat Player Caps Goals Ref
FW Wales Idris Hopkins 3 0 [14]
FW Scotland David McCulloch 2 1 [15]
FW Wales Dai Richards 2 0 [16]
FW England Billy Scott 1 0 [5]

Management

Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Harry Curtis England 29 August 1936 2 May 1937 44 19 10 15 43.18|42 18 10 14 42.86

Summary

Games played 44 (42 First Division, 2 FA Cup)
Games won 19 (18 First Division, 1 FA Cup)
Games drawn 10 (10 First Division, 0 FA Cup)
Games lost 15 (14 First Division, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored 87 (82 First Division, 5 FA Cup)
Goals conceded 81 (78 First Division, 3 FA Cup)
Clean sheets 6 (5 First Division, 1 FA Cup)
Biggest league win 4–0 on two occasions; 6–2 versus Derby County, 6 February 1937
Worst league defeat 4–0 on two occasions; 6–2 versus Manchester City, 3 April 1937; 5–1 versus Stoke City, 24 April 1937
Most appearances 44, Joe James, Duncan McKenzie (42 First Division, 2 FA Cup)
Top scorer (league) 31, David McCulloch
Top scorer (all competitions) 33, David McCulloch

Transfers & loans

Cricketers are not included in this list.
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
1936 DF England Harry Bamford England Hayes Free [17]
1936 HB Scotland Joe Murray Scotland Ayr United Free [18]
March 1937 HB England Buster Brown England Huddersfield Town £3,000 [7]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
November 1936 HB England Cecil Smith England Doncaster Rovers Free [19]
January 1937 GK Wales Thomas Lynch England Watford n/a [20]
March 1937 HB Wales Dai Richards England Birmingham £3,500 [21]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
May 1937 FW Scotland Billy Dunn England Southampton 1937 [22]
May 1937 DF England Walter Metcalf England Coventry City 1937 [23]
May 1937 GK England James Nicholls England Port Vale June 1937 [24]

References

  1. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 16, 113, 166.
  2. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 149.
  3. 1 2 3 Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1936-1937 season - Statto.com". Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  4. "Brentford Football Club History". www.brentfordfchistory.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2016-06-25. Retrieved 2016-05-22.
  5. 1 2 "William Scott". 11v11.com. Retrieved 2016-05-23.
  6. Chapman, Mark. "Boro Connections: Five players that shaped Brentford football Club's history". www.brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-05-22.
  7. 1 2 Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 29.
  8. Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford League Table 1936-1937 - Statto.com". Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  9. Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford scoring and sequence records - Statto.com". Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  10. 1 2 Brentford's Official Matchday Magazine versus Peterborough United 03/05/97. 1997. p. 20.
  11. 1 2 3 4 White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 374. ISBN 0951526200.
  12. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920-2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  13. Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN 190589161X.
  14. "Dai Hopkins". 11v11.com. Retrieved 2016-05-23.
  15. "David McCulloch". 11v11.com. Retrieved 2016-05-23.
  16. "David Richards". 11v11.com. Retrieved 2016-05-23.
  17. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 16.
  18. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 113.
  19. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 147.
  20. "Watford Football Club archive 1881-2016: Players - Layún to Lyttle" (PDF).
  21. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 104, 131-134, 166.
  22. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 50-51.
  23. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 108.
  24. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 116.
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