1954–55 Brentford F.C. season
During the 1954–55 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division South. In the club's first season back in the third-tier since 1932–33, the Bees finished in mid-table. The campaign was memorable for the debuts of youth products Jim Towers and George Francis, who would dominate Brentford's goalscoring charts until 1961.
Season summary
The 1954–55 Third Division South season marked Brentford's fall from the top-flight to the basement in just seven years.[1] It would be the Bees' first season in the Third Division South since 1932–33 and manager Bill Dodgin Sr. was given little budget to work with,[1] due to the £10,000 from the sale of Jimmy Bloomfield to Arsenal being spent on relieving the club's debts. Dodgin did not conduct a fire sale after Brentford's relegation and managed to keep his squad intact, with Millwall forward George Stobbart (arriving in exchange for Terry Ledgerton), forward Jeff Taylor and goalkeeper Sonny Feehan being the only players to arrive at Griffin Park. Ageing full back Fred Monk was released and goalkeeper Alf Jefferies transferred to Torquay United. The products of Alf Bew's youth team would be given more of a chance than in the previous Second Division seasons.[3]
Brentford drew four of the first six matches of the season,[4] one of which versus Shrewsbury Town on 30 August 1954 featured the debut of youth product Jim Towers.[3] Towers scored a late equaliser to salvage a 2–2 draw, the first of a club-record 163 goals scored during his Brentford career and he was voted by the Bees supporters as the club's greatest-ever player in 2013.[6] The Bees slowly pulled away from the relegation places before moving into the top 10 after three wins in a four match spell in late September 1954.[4] An uneven period followed through to February 1955, with the club drifting slowly towards the re-election places (the £10,000 sale of forward Billy Dare to West Ham United was offset by the emergence of Jim Towers), before rising back to an 11th-place finish after just three defeats in the final 18 matches of the season.[4] Frank Dudley (20, George Stobbart (19) and Jim Towers (16) led the club's goalscoring chart,[3] but while 82 league goals were scored, 82 were also conceded, amongst the highest in the Third Division South.[7]
The FA Cup proved to be an entertaining distraction, with Brentford entering at the first round stage for the first time since the 1932–33 season.[4] Non-league clubs Nuneaton Borough and Crook Town were dispatched in the first two rounds and it took two replays to get past Bradford City in the third.[4] The Bees fell 3–2 to Newcastle United at St. James' Park, but gave their First Division hosts a scare with goals from George Stobbart and Johnny Rainford.[3]
A number of club records were set or equalled during the season:
- Most home league goals conceded in a season: 36[8]
- Highest away league aggregate score: 10 (4–6 versus Southampton, 21 August 1954)[9]
- Most league games without a clean sheet: 20 (25 September 1954 – 19 February 1955)[9]
- Quickest league goalscorer: 10 seconds – George Stobbart (versus Aldershot, 6 November 1954)[19]
League table
P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
Key | |
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Division Champions, promoted |
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New club in the league (none) |
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Re-elected |
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Failed re-election (none) |
Results
- Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend
Football League Third Division South
No. |
Date | Opponent | Venue | Result |
Attendance | Scorer(s) |
1 |
21 August 1954 | Southampton |
A | 4–6 |
21,454 | Robertson (2), Dudley, Stobbart |
2 |
26 August 1954 | Shrewsbury Town | H | 2–2 |
12,743 | Dudley, Maloney (og) |
3 |
28 August 1954 | Coventry City | H | 2–3 |
13,057 | Stobbart, McDonnell (og) |
4 |
30 August 1954 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 2–2 |
8,352 | Stobbart, Towers |
5 |
4 September 1954 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 1–1 |
18,756 | Heath |
6 |
8 September 1954 | Reading | A | 0–0 |
9,692 | |
7 |
11 September 1954 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 4–3 |
17,361 | Towers, Heath, Robertson, Dudley |
8 |
16 September 1954 | Reading | H | 2–2 |
9,639 | Dudley, Stobbart |
9 |
18 September 1954 | Torquay United | H | 4–2 |
13,552 | Towers, Heath, Stobbart, Webber (og) |
10 |
23 September 1954 | Gillingham |
H | 3–0 |
9,241 | Dudley (2), Heath |
11 |
25 September 1954 | Bristol City | A | 1–2 |
28,980 | Dudley |
12 |
29 September 1954 | Gillingham | A | 1–2 |
8,202 | Towers |
13 |
2 October 1954 | Walsall |
H | 0–2 |
12,584 | |
14 |
9 October 1954 | Exeter City |
A | 2–3 |
9,700 | Robertson, Rainford |
15 |
16 October 1954 | Colchester United | H | 3–2 |
10,218 | Robertson, Stobbart, Rainford |
16 |
23 October 1954 | Norwich City | A | 0–1 |
20,148 | |
17 |
30 October 1954 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic |
H | 1–3 |
12,037 | Towers |
18 |
6 November 1954 | Aldershot | A | 3–2 |
7,178 | Stobbart, Towers, Heath |
19 |
13 November 1954 | Swindon Town | H | 4–2 |
10,634 | Stobbart (2), Heath, Towers |
20 |
27 November 1954 | Northampton Town | H | 1–3 |
10,029 | Croy (og) |
21 |
4 December 1954 | Watford | A | 2–2 |
10,438 | Towers (2) |
22 |
18 December 1954 | Southampton | H | 0–3 |
9,318 | |
23 |
25 December 1954 | Millwall | H | 3–1 |
13,591 | Stobbart (2), Towers |
24 |
27 December 1954 | Millwall | A | 2–2 |
20,034 | Anslow (og), Hurley (og) |
25 |
1 January 1955 | Coventry City |
A | 0–1 |
14,481 | |
26 |
15 January 1955 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 1–1 |
9,835 | Dudley |
27 |
22 January 1955 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 2–3 |
10,173 | Stobbart, Bristow |
28 |
5 February 1955 | Torquay United | A | 2–4 |
6,117 | Dudley, Sperrin |
29 |
12 February 1955 | Bristol City | H | 2–2 |
11,563 | Rainford, Robertson |
30 |
19 February 1955 | Walsall | A | 2–2 |
9,028 | Robertson, Francis |
31 |
26 February 1955 | Exeter City |
H | 1–0 |
7,454 | Stobbart |
32 |
5 March 1955 | Colchester United | A | 2–3 |
8,254 | Francis, Dudley |
33 |
12 March 1955 | Norwich City | H | 1–0 |
11,155 | Stobbart |
34 |
19 March 1955 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | A | 2–1 |
8,241 | Coote, Taylor |
35 |
26 March 1955 | Aldershot | H | 1–1 |
8,755 | Taylor |
36 |
2 April 1955 | Swindon Town |
A | 1–1 |
5,924 | Taylor |
37 |
8 April 1955 | Leyton Orient | H | 2–0 |
18,093 | Dudley, Towers (pen) |
38 |
9 April 1955 | Crystal Palace | H | 3–0 |
12,013 | Towers, Dudley (2) |
39 |
11 April 1955 | Leyton Orient | A | 1–0 |
9,529 | Dudley |
40 |
16 April 1955 | Northampton Town | A | 2–1 |
6,980 | Taylor, Towers |
41 |
21 April 1955 | Newport County |
A | 1–3 |
7,926 | Rainford |
42 |
23 April 1955 | Watford | H | 3–2 |
9,394 | Dudley, Towers (2, 1 pen) |
43 |
27 April 1955 |
Crystal Palace |
A |
1–1 |
8,170 |
Andrews (og) |
44 |
30 April 1955 |
Southend United |
A |
2–3 |
6,464 |
Dudley (2) |
45 |
2 May 1955 |
Newport County |
H |
1–0 |
4,960 |
Stobbart |
46 |
5 May 1955 |
Southend United |
H |
2–2 |
5,812 |
Heath, Dudley |
FA Cup
Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result |
Attendance |
Scorer(s) |
Notes |
1R |
20 November 1954 |
Nuneaton Borough |
H |
2–1 |
13,180 |
Dare, Stobbart |
|
2R |
11 December 1954 |
Crook Town |
H |
4–1 |
14,300 |
Rainford, Stobbart (2), Towers |
|
3R |
8 January 1955 |
Bradford City |
H |
1–1 |
12,120 |
Dudley |
|
3R (replay) |
12 January 1955 |
Bradford City |
A |
2–2 (a.e.t.) |
7,963 |
Dare, Dudley |
|
3R (2nd replay) |
20 January 1955 |
Bradford City |
N |
1–0 |
5,961 |
Dare |
[nb 1] |
4R | 29 January 1955 | Newcastle United |
A | 2–3 |
46,574 |
Stobbart, Rainford |
|
Playing squad
- Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1954–55 season.
Coaching staff
Statistics
Appearances and goals
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[3]
Goalscorers
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[3]
Representative appearances
Management
Name |
Nat |
From |
To |
Record All Comps |
Record League |
P | W | D | L | W % | P | W | D | L | W % |
Bill Dodgin Sr. |
|
21 August 1954 |
5 May 1955 |
7001520000000000000♠52 |
7001190000000000000♠19 |
7001160000000000000♠16 |
7001170000000000000♠17 |
7001365400000000000♠36.54 |
7001460000000000000♠46 |
7001160000000000000♠16 |
7001140000000000000♠14 |
7001160000000000000♠16 |
7001347800000000000♠34.78 |
Summary
Games played | 52 (46 Third Division South, 6 FA Cup) |
Games won | 19 (16 Third Division South, 3 FA Cup) |
Games drawn | 16 (14 Third Division South, 2 FA Cup) |
Games lost | 17 (16 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup) |
Goals scored | 94 (82 Third Division South, 12 FA Cup) |
Goals conceded | 90 (82 Third Division South, 8 FA Cup) |
Clean sheets | 9 (8 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup) |
Biggest league win | 3–0 on two occasions |
Worst league defeat | 3–0 versus Southampton, 18 December 1954 |
Most appearances | 51, George Stobbart (45 Third Division South, 6 FA Cup) |
Top scorer (league) | 18, Frank Dudley |
Top scorer (all competitions) | 20, Frank Dudley |
Transfers & loans
Notes
- ↑ Match played at Arsenal Stadium, London.
References
- 1 2 Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford Complete History - Statto.com". Statto.com. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 383. ISBN 0951526200.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1954-1955 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
- ↑ League, The Football. "Brentford - Football League 125". www.fl125.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-11-25.
- ↑ Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford League Table 1954-1955 - Statto.com". Statto.com. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
- ↑ Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Yore Publications. pp. 78–79. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
- 1 2 Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford scoring and sequence records - Statto.com". Statto.com. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
- ↑ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920-2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
- ↑ "Barry Hugman's Footballers - Wendell Morgan". hugmansfootballers.com. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
- ↑ "Barry Hugman's Footballers - Jeff Taylor". hugmansfootballers.com. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
- ↑ "Barry Hugman's Footballers - Terry Robinson". hugmansfootballers.com. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
- ↑ "Barry Hugman's Footballers - Alf Jefferies". hugmansfootballers.com. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
- ↑ Group, Arsenal Media. "Jimmy Bloomfield | Arsenal.com". www.arsenal.com. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
- ↑ "Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database - Ken Moffitt".
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Club seasons | | First Division | |
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| Second Division |
- Birmingham City
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| Third Division | North |
- Accrington Stanley
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- Aldershot
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- Walsall
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