1960–61 Brentford F.C. season

Brentford
1960–61 season
Chairman Frank Davis
Manager Malky MacDonald
Stadium Griffin Park
Third Division 6th
FA Cup First round
League Cup Third round
Top goalscorer League: Towers (21)
All: Towers (22)
Highest home attendance 21,000
Lowest home attendance 3,500
Average home league attendance 7,392
← 1959–60 1961–62 →

During the 1960–61 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. An abundance of draws led to a 17th-place finish and it was the last of seven seasons to feature the "Terrible Twins" strike partnership of Jim Towers and George Francis.

Season summary

After making something of a name for themselves as the "nearly men" of the Third Division, Brentford manager Malky MacDonald made little changes to his squad for the fourth-consecutive off-season.[1] The one major change was that of Brentford's traditional red and white-striped shirts, which were passed over in favour of an amber shirt with a blue 'V' neck, due to the number of times the club would be forced to wear its change strip during the season.[1] Public demand ensured that the change of colours was be a one-season experiment.[1]

Brentford started the 1960–61 season well, sitting top after wins in the first two matches, but a 6–1 defeat to Watford at Vicarage Road on 30 August 1960 shook the team's confidence.[2] The same XI atoned for that display with a 4–0 victory over Shrewsbury Town four days later, but the view had become prevalent around Griffin Park that some of Brentford's settled XI from the previous seasons were past their peak.[1] MacDonald tinkered with his squad and bit-part, reserve or youth players Tommy Higginson, John Docherty, Ron Peplow and Johnny Hales would receive runs in the team.[3] Amidst a run of just two wins in 19 league matches, the new Football League Cup gave the Bees some cheer, with Second Division club Sunderland falling 4–3 at Griffin Park in Brentford's first-ever match in the competition.[2] The Bees were knocked out after a replay versus reigning Football League champions Burnley in the third round.[2] A first round exit in the FA Cup ensured that the Third Division would be Brentford's sole focus for the remainder of the season.[2]

Brentford entered 1961 in 15th place in the Third Division, only three points above the relegation zone.[4] Chairman Frank Davis also posted a £7,000 loss, which took the club's debt over £50,000 and a players' strike in support of their claim for the removal of the maximum wage was also a real possibility.[1] The club rallied and lost just five of the remaining 21 matches of the season, but a failure to convert 11 draws into wins (four consecutive home draws in February and March equalled the club record) ensured Brentford finished in a lowly 17th place.[2][5] In a bid to alleviate some of the club's debt, promising outside right John Docherty was sold to Sheffield United for a club record £17,000 in March 1961.[6] The "Terrible Twins" (forwards Jim Towers and George Francis) had a mixed season, with Towers scoring 22 goals (low by the standards set for himself) and Francis suffering the ignominy of being dropped in February 1961, a decision considered unthinkable just six months earlier and he failed to earn a recall despite a spell of 13 goals in 10 matches for the reserve team.[1] Youngster George Summers came into the team at Francis' expense and scored six goals in 15 appearances.[3] Brentford's final match of the season versus Reading, although won 2–1, pushed the average league attendance at Griffin Park down to 7,392, the club's lowest since the 1924–25 season.[1]

League table

Pos Team Pld Home Away F A GA GD Pts
W D L F A W D L F A
1 Bury 46 18 3 2 62 17 12 5 6 46 28 108 45 2.400 + 63 68
2 Walsall 46 19 4 0 62 20 9 2 12 36 40 98 60 1.633 + 38 62
3 Queens Park Rangers 46 18 4 1 58 23 7 6 10 35 37 93 60 1.550 + 33 60
4 Watford 46 12 7 4 52 27 8 5 10 33 45 85 72 1.181 + 13 52
5 Notts County 46 16 3 4 52 24 5 6 12 30 53 82 77 1.065 + 5 51
6 Grimsby Town 46 14 4 5 48 32 6 6 11 29 37 77 69 1.116 + 8 50
7 Port Vale 46 15 3 5 63 30 2 12 9 33 49 96 79 1.215 + 17 49
8 Barnsley 46 15 5 3 56 30 6 2 15 27 50 83 80 1.038 + 3 49
9 Halifax Town 46 14 7 2 42 22 2 10 11 29 56 71 78 0.910 – 7 49
10 Shrewsbury Town 46 13 7 3 54 26 2 9 12 29 49 83 75 1.107 + 8 46
11 Hull City 46 13 6 4 51 28 4 6 13 22 45 73 73 1.000 ± 0 46
12 Torquay United 46 8 12 3 37 26 6 5 12 38 57 75 83 0.904 – 8 45
13 Newport County 46 12 7 4 51 30 5 4 14 30 60 81 90 0.900 – 9 45
14 Bristol City 46 15 4 4 50 19 2 6 15 20 49 70 68 1.029 + 2 44
15 Coventry City 46 14 6 3 54 25 2 6 15 26 58 80 83 0.964 – 3 44
16 Swindon Town 46 13 6 4 41 16 1 9 13 21 39 62 55 1.127 + 7 43
17 Brentford 46 10 9 4 41 28 3 8 12 15 42 56 70 0.800 – 14 43
18 Reading 46 13 5 5 48 29 1 7 15 24 54 72 83 0.867 – 11 40
19 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 46 8 7 8 34 39 7 3 13 24 37 58 76 0.763 – 18 40
20 Southend United 46 10 8 5 38 26 4 3 16 22 50 60 76 0.789 – 16 39
21 Tranmere Rovers 46 11 5 7 53 50 4 3 16 26 65 79 115 0.687 – 36 38
22 Bradford City 46 8 8 7 37 36 3 6 14 28 51 65 87 0.747 – 22 36
23 Colchester United 46 8 5 10 40 44 3 6 14 28 57 68 101 0.673 – 73 33
24 Chesterfield 46 9 6 8 42 29 1 6 16 25 58 67 87 0.770 – 20 32

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
Division Champions, promoted
Promoted
Relegated

Results

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Third Division

No. Date Opponent Venue Result Scorer(s)
1 20 August 1960 Tranmere Rovers H 4–1 Towers (2), Bristow, Goundry (pen)
2 23 August 1960 Watford H 2–1 Heath, Goundry (pen)
3 27 August 1960 Halifax Town A 0–1
4 30 August 1960 Watford A 1–6 Chung (og)
5 3 September 1960 Shrewsbury Town H 4–0 Francis (3), Towers
6 6 September 1960 Torquay United H 2–3 Rainford, Bettany (og)
7 10 September 1960 Walsall A 0–4
8 14 September 1960 Torquay United A 1–1 Francis
9 17 September 1960 Bury H 1–5 Francis
10 19 September 1960 Queens Park Rangers A 0–0
11 24 September 1960 Chesterfield A 1–1 Rainford
12 27 September 1960 Queens Park Rangers H 2–0 Rainford, Towers
13 1 October 1960 Southend United H 1–1 Rainford
14 3 October 1960 Port Vale A 2–3 Towers, Peplow
15 8 October 1960 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic A 1–0 McLeod
16 15 October 1960 Bradford City H 2–2 Towers, Peplow (pen)
17 22 October 1960 Barnsley A 1–1 Peplow (pen)
18 29 October 1960 Newport County H 2–4 Towers (2)
19 12 November 1960 Grimsby Town H 0–1
20 19 November 1960 Hull City A 0–3
21 2 December 1960 Coventry City A 0–2
22 10 December 1960 Bristol City H 2–0 Towers, Francis
23 19 December 1960 Tranmere Rovers A 0–2
24 23 December 1960 Swindon Town H 2–1 Higginson, Docherty
25 31 December 1960 Halifax Town H 2–0 Francis, Towers
26 7 January 1961 Swindon Town A 1–1 Docherty
27 14 January 1961 Shrewsbury Town A 0–3
28 21 January 1961 Walsall H 3–1 Francis, Towers (2)
29 28 January 1961 Colchester United A 4–2 Rainford, Bristow, Towers (2)
30 4 February 1961 Bury A 0–1
31 11 February 1961 Chesterfield H 2–2 Towers (2)
32 18 February 1961 Southend United A 1–1 Towers
33 25 February 1961 Coventry City H 1–1 Summers
34 4 March 1961 Bradford City A 1–3 McLeod
35 11 March 1961 Barnsley H 0–0
36 18 March 1961 Newport County A 1–0 Summers
37 25 March 1961 Colchester United H 0–0
38 1 April 1961 Grimsby Town A 0–0
39 3 April 1961 Notts County H 3–0 Summers, Towers (2)
40 4 April 1961 Notts County A 0–0
41 8 April 1961 Hull City H 2–2 Towers, McLeod
42 14 April 1961 Reading A 0–4
43 22 April 1961 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic H 2–2 Summers, Towers
44 25 April 1961 Port Vale H 0–0
45 29 April 1961 Bristol City A 0–3
46 2 May 1961 Reading H 2–1 Summers (2)

FA Cup

Main article: 1960–61 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Scorer
1R 5 November 1960 Watford A 2–2 Francis (2)
1R (replay) 8 November 1960 Watford H 0–2

Football League Cup

Round Date Opponent Venue Result Scorer(s)
2R 25 October 1960 Sunderland H 4–3 Towers, McLeod, Rainford
3R 22 November 1960 Burnley H 1–1 Rainford
3R (replay) 6 December 1960 Burnley A 1–2 Docherty

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1960–61 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Gerry Cakebread England 1 April 1936 (aged 24) Youth 1954
Defenders
DF Vernon Avis England 24 October 1935 (aged 24) Youth 1952
DF Ken Coote (c) England 19 May 1928 (aged 32) Wembley 1949
DF Jimmy Gitsham England 12 May 1942 (aged 18) Youth 1959
DF Tom Wilson England 3 July 1930 (aged 30) Fulham 1957
Midfielders
HB George Bristow England 25 June 1933 (aged 27) Youth 1950
HB Ian Dargie England 3 October 1931 (aged 28) Tonbridge 1952
HB Billy Goundry England 28 March 1934 (aged 26) Huddersfield Town 1955
HB Tommy Higginson Scotland 6 January 1937 (aged 23) Kilmarnock 1959
HB Ron Peplow England 4 May 1935 (aged 25) Southall 1955
Forwards
FW Terry Curran England 29 June 1940 (aged 20) Tottenham Hotspur 1957
FW John Docherty Scotland 29 April 1940 (aged 20) St Roch's 1959
FW George Francis England 4 February 1934 (aged 26) Youth 1955
FW Johnny Hales Scotland 15 May 1940 (aged 20) St Roch's 1958
FW Dennis Heath England 28 September 1934 (aged 25) Youth 1954
FW George McLeod Scotland 30 November 1932 (aged 27) Luton Town 1958
FW Danny O'Donnell Scotland 27 February 1939 (aged 21) Kirkintilloch Rob Roy 1960 Loaned to Dumbarton
FW Eric Parsons England 9 November 1923 (aged 36) Chelsea 1956
FW Johnny Rainford England 11 December 1930 (aged 29) Cardiff City 1953
FW George Summers Scotland 30 July 1941 (aged 19) Shawfield 1959
FW Jim Towers England 15 April 1933 (aged 27) Youth 1954

Coaching staff

Name Role
Scotland Malky MacDonald Manager
England Fred Monk Trainer
England Jack Holliday Assistant Trainer

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Pos Nat Name League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England Gerry Cakebread 46 0 2 0 3 0 51 0
DF England Vernon Avis 6 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
DF England Ken Coote 41 0 2 0 3 0 46 0
DF England Jimmy Gitsham 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
DF England Tom Wilson 40 0 2 0 3 0 45 0
HB England George Bristow 23 2 2 0 1 0 26 2
HB England Ian Dargie 46 0 2 0 3 0 51 0
HB England Billy Goundry 23 2 0 0 1 0 24 2
HB Scotland Tommy Higginson 32 1 2 0 3 0 37 1
HB England Ron Peplow 17 3 0 0 1 0 18 3
FW England Terry Curran 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
FW Scotland John Docherty 17 2 0 0 2 1 19 3
FW England George Francis 31 8 2 2 2 0 35 10
FW Scotland Johnny Hales 22 0 0 0 0 0 22 0
FW England Dennis Heath 15 1 0 0 0 0 15 1
FW Scotland George McLeod 36 3 2 0 3 1 41 4
FW Scotland Danny O'Donnell 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
FW England Eric Parsons 2 0 2 0 0 0 4 0
FW England Johnny Rainford 41 5 2 0 3 3 46 8
FW Scotland George Summers 15 6 0 0 1 0 16 6
FW England Jim Towers 42 21 2 0 3 1 47 22

Goalscorers

Pos. Nat Player FL3 FAC FLC Total
FW England Jim Towers 21 0 1 22
FW England George Francis 8 2 0 10
FW England Johnny Rainford 5 0 3 8
FW Scotland George Summers 6 0 0 6
FW Scotland George McLeod 3 0 1 4
HB England Ron Peplow 3 0 0 3
FW Scotland John Docherty 2 0 1 3
HB England George Bristow 2 0 0 2
HB England Billy Goundry 2 0 0 2
FW England Dennis Heath 1 0 0 1
HB Scotland Tommy Higginson 1 0 0 1
Opponents 2 0 0 2
Total 56 2 6 64

Management

Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
P W D L W % P W D L W %
Malky MacDonald Scotland 20 August 1960 2 May 1961 51 14 19 18 27.45 46 13 17 16 28.26

Summary

Games played 51 (46 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 3 League Cup)
Games won 14 (13 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Games drawn 19 (17 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Games lost 18 (16 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Goals scored 64 (56 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 6 League Cup)
Goals conceded 80 (70 Third Division, 4 FA Cup, 6 League Cup)
Clean sheets 13 (13 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Biggest league win 4–0 versus Shrewsbury Town, 3 September 1960
Worst league defeat 6–1 versus Watford, 30 August 1960
Most appearances 51, Gerry Cakebread, Ian Dargie (46 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 3 League Cup)
Top scorer (league) 21, Jim Towers
Top scorer (all competitions) 22, Jim Towers

Transfers & loans

Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
October 1960 FW England Barry Rowan England Watford n/a [8]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
10 September 1960 HB Scotland Charlie McInally Scotland Albion Rovers n/a [9]
March 1961 FW Scotland John Docherty England Sheffield United £17,000 [6]
Players loaned out
Date from Pos. Name To Date to Ref.
24 September 1960 FW Scotland Danny O'Donnell Scotland Dumbarton n/a [9]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
May 1961 DF England Vernon Avis England Bedford Town 1961 [10]
May 1961 HB England George Bristow England Queens Park Rangers 1961 [11]
May 1961 FW England Terry Curran England Kettering Town 1961 [12]
May 1961 HB England Billy Goundry England Bedford Town 1961 [13]
May 1961 FW England Dennis Heath England Bedford Town 1961 [14]
May 1961 DF England Ken Horne England Dover 1961 [15]
May 1961 FW England Eric Parsons England Dover 1961 [16]
May 1961 HB England Ron Peplow England Folkestone Town 1961 [17]
May 1961 FW England Barry Rowan England Dover 1961 [18]
May 1961 HB England Sid Russell England Bexleyheath & Welling 1961 [19]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 White 1989, p. 238-241.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1960-1961 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Retrieved 2016-11-29.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 386. ISBN 0951526200.
  4. ↑ Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford Table on Monday 2nd January 1961 - Statto.com". Statto.com. Retrieved 2016-11-29.
  5. ↑ Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford scoring and sequence records - Statto.com". Statto.com. Retrieved 2016-11-29.
  6. 1 2 Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 49.
  7. ↑ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920-2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  8. ↑ "Barry Hugman's Footballers - Barry Rowan". hugmansfootballers.com. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
  9. 1 2 "Scottish Football Historical Archive: Players' Transfers - 1960".
  10. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 14.
  11. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 26.
  12. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 44.
  13. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 68.
  14. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 74.
  15. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 81-82.
  16. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 121.
  17. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 123.
  18. ↑ "Rowan, Barry - The Grecian Archive". grecianarchive.exeter.ac.uk. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
  19. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 139.
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