1954–55 Brentford F.C. season

English football team season April 2022 November 2016 Brentford 1954–55 Bill Dodgin Sr. Frank Davis Griffin Park Third Division South 11th FA Cup Fourth round Dudley (18) Dudley (20) 18,756 4,960 11,077 _red_stripes _redstripes2 _red_stripes _whitesides _redtop_2whitestripes 000000 000000 1953–54 1955–56 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 season was memorable for the debuts of youth products Jim Towers and George Francis, who went on to 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.Brentford Complete History http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/history live https://web.archive.org/web/20160915044810/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/history 15 September 2016 22 November 2016 Statto.com It was the Bees' first Third Division South season since 1932–33 and though he had a limited budget, manager Bill Dodgin Sr. did not conduct a fire sale and managed to keep his squad intact.White 1989 215-217 Forwards George Stobbart, Jeff Taylor and goalkeeper Sonny Feehan were the only players to arrive at Griffin Park.White 1989 215-217 Ageing full back Fred Monk was released, goalkeeper Alf Jefferies transferred to Torquay United and the £10,000 fee from the sale of Jimmy Bloomfield to Arsenal was spent on relieving the club's debts.White 1989 215-217 The products of Alf Bew's youth team were to be given more of a chance than in the previous Second Division seasons. Brentford drew four of the first six matches of the season and 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.Brentford results for the 1954–1955 season http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1954-1955/results live https://web.archive.org/web/20161123201223/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1954-1955/results 23 November 2016 22 November 2016 Statto.com 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 youth product Jim Towers),White 1989 215-217 before rising back to an 11th-place finish after just three defeats in the final 18 matches of the season. Frank Dudley (20, George Stobbart (19) and Jim Towers (16) led the club's goalscoring chart, but while 82 league goals were scored, 82 were also conceded, which was amongst the highest in the Third Division South.Brentford League Table 1954-1955 http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1954-1955/table live https://web.archive.org/web/20161126001623/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1954-1955/table 26 November 2016 22 November 2016 Statto.com 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. Non-League clubs Nuneaton Borough and Crook Town were beaten in the first two rounds and it took two replays to get past Bradford City in the third. The Bees fell to Newcastle United at St James' Park in the fourth round, but they gave their First Division hosts a scare with goals from George Stobbart and Johnny Rainford in the 3–2 defeat. A number of club records were set or equalled during the season: Most home league goals conceded in a season: 36Haynes Graham A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia 1998 Yore Publications 1 874427 57 7 78–79 Highest away league aggregate score: 10 (4–6 versus Southampton, 21 August 1954)Brentford scoring and sequence records http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/records live https://web.archive.org/web/20160304193423/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/records 4 March 2016 22 November 2016 Statto.com Most league games without a clean sheet: 20 (25 September 1954 – 19 February 1955) Quickest league goalscorer: 10 seconds – George Stobbart (versus Aldershot, 6 November 1954)[19] League table 1954–55 Football League Third Division South Third Division South y BRE Results Brentford's goal tally listed first. Legend WinDrawLoss Friendlies DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)5 October 1954ChelseaH4–011,30019 October 1954DundeeH4–1n/an/aNovember 1954ScotlandH0–2029 March 1955England Amateur XIH2–111,000Studley (2) Football League Third Division South No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)121 August 1954SouthamptonA4–621,454Robertson (2), Dudley, Stobbart226 August 1954Shrewsbury TownH2–212,743Dudley, Maloney (og)328 August 1954Coventry CityH2–313,057Stobbart, McDonnell (og)430 August 1954Shrewsbury TownA2–28,352Stobbart, Towers54 September 1954Queens Park RangersH1–118,756Heath68 September 1954ReadingA0–09,692711 September 1954Brighton & Hove AlbionA4–317,361Towers, Heath, Robertson, Dudley816 September 1954ReadingH2–29,639Dudley, Stobbart918 September 1954Torquay UnitedH4–213,552Towers, Heath, Stobbart, Webber (og)1023 September 1954GillinghamH3–09,241Dudley (2), Heath1125 September 1954Bristol CityA1–228,980Dudley1229 September 1954GillinghamA1–28,202Towers132 October 1954WalsallH0–212,584149 October 1954Exeter CityA2–39,700Robertson, Rainford1516 October 1954Colchester UnitedH3–210,218Robertson, Stobbart, Rainford1623 October 1954Norwich CityA0–120,1481730 October 1954Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticH1–312,037Towers186 November 1954AldershotA3–27,178Stobbart, Towers, Heath1913 November 1954Swindon TownH4–210,634Stobbart (2), Heath, Towers2027 November 1954Northampton TownH1–310,029Croy (og)214 December 1954WatfordA2–210,438Towers (2)2218 December 1954SouthamptonH0–39,3182325 December 1954MillwallH3–113,591Stobbart (2), Towers2427 December 1954MillwallA2–220,034Anslow (og), Hurley (og)251 January 1955Coventry CityA0–114,4812615 January 1955Queens Park RangersA1–19,835Dudley2722 January 1955Brighton & Hove AlbionH2–310,173Stobbart, Bristow285 February 1955Torquay UnitedA2–46,117Dudley, Sperrin2912 February 1955Bristol CityH2–211,563Rainford, Robertson3019 February 1955WalsallA2–29,028Robertson, Francis3126 February 1955Exeter CityH1–07,454Stobbart325 March 1955Colchester UnitedA2–38,254Francis, Dudley3312 March 1955Norwich CityH1–011,155Stobbart3419 March 1955Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticA2–18,241Coote, Taylor3526 March 1955AldershotH1–18,755Taylor362 April 1955Swindon TownA1–15,924Taylor378 April 1955Leyton OrientH2–018,093Dudley, Towers (pen)389 April 1955Crystal PalaceH3–012,013Towers, Dudley (2)3911 April 1955Leyton OrientA1–09,529Dudley4016 April 1955Northampton TownA2–16,980Taylor, Towers4121 April 1955Newport CountyA1–37,926Rainford4223 April 1955WatfordH3–29,394Dudley, Towers (2, 1 pen)4327 April 1955Crystal PalaceA1–18,170Andrews (og)4430 April 1955Southend UnitedA2–36,464Dudley (2)452 May 1955Newport CountyH1–04,960Stobbart465 May 1955Southend UnitedH2–25,812Heath, Dudley FA Cup 1954–55 FA Cup RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)Notes1R20 November 1954Nuneaton BoroughH2–113,180Dare, Stobbart2R11 December 1954Crook TownH4–114,300Rainford, Stobbart (2), Towers3R8 January 1955Bradford CityH1–112,120Dudley3R (replay)12 January 1955Bradford CityA2–2 7,963Dare, Dudley3R (2nd replay)20 January 1955Bradford CityN1–05,961DareMatch played at Arsenal Stadium, London.4R29 January 1955Newcastle UnitedA2–346,574Stobbart, Rainford Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford,100 Years Of Brentford Brentford FC 1989 0951526200 White Eric 383 Statto, 11v11 Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1954–55 season. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepersGKGerry CakebreadENG1954 8 21 1936 4 1 yYouth1954AmateurGKSonny FeehanIRE1954 8 21 1926 9 17 yNorthampton Town1954GKReg NewtonENG1954 8 21 1926 6 30 yLeyton Orient1949DefendersDFAlan BasshamENG1954 8 21 1933 10 3 yYouth1953DFKen CooteENG1954 8 21 1928 5 19 yWembley1949DFKen HorneENG1954 8 21 1926 6 25 yBlackpool1950DFGeorge LowdenENG1954 8 21 1933 3 2 yUnattached1951MidfieldersHBWally BraggENG1954 8 21 1929 7 8 yTwickenham Celtic1946HBGeorge BristowENG1954 8 21 1933 6 25 yYouth1950HBIan DargieENG1954 8 21 1931 10 3 yTonbridge1952HBLeonard GeardENG1954 8 21 1934 2 12 yFulham1953HBTony HarperENG1954 8 21 1925 5 26 yHeadington United1948HBRoy HartENG1954 8 21 1933 5 30 yYouth1955HBFrank Latimer (c)ENG1954 8 21 1923 10 3 ySnowdown Colliery Welfare1945HBTerry RobinsonENG1954 8 21 1929 11 8 yLoughborough College1954AmateurForwardsFWFrank DudleyENG1954 8 21 1925 5 9 yCardiff City1953FWGeorge FrancisENG1954 8 21 1934 2 4 yYouth1955FWDennis HeathENG1954 8 21 1934 9 28 yYouth1954FWJohnny RainfordENG1954 8 21 1930 12 11 yCardiff City1953FWJames RobertsonSCO1954 8 21 1929 2 20 yArsenal1953FWLen RoeENG1954 8 21 1932 1 11 yRuislip Manor1951FWBilly SperrinENG1954 8 21 1922 4 9 yGuildford City1949FWGeorge StobbartENG1954 8 21 1921 1 9 yMillwall1954FWJeff TaylorENG1954 8 21 1930 9 20 yFulham1954FWJim TowersENG1954 8 21 1933 4 15 yYouth1954Players who left the club mid-seasonFWBilly DareENG1954 8 21 1927 2 14 yHendon1948Transferred to West Ham United Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford, Timeless BeesHaynes Graham Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006 Coumbe Frank Yore Publications 2006 978-0955294914 Coaching staff NameRoleENG Bill Dodgin Sr.ManagerSCO Jimmy BainAssistant ManagerENG Tommy EgglestonTrainer Statistics Appearances and goals right Feehan Horne Latimer (c) Harper Dargie Coote Heath Rainford Stobbart Towers Robertson Brentford's highest appearance-makers in each position during the Football League season. PosNatNameLeagueFA CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKENGGerry Cakebread300030GKIRESonny Feehan25060310GKENGReg Newton18000180DFENGAlan Bassham17000170DFENGKen Coote37160431DFENGKen Horne35060410DFENGGeorge Lowden10000100HBENGWally Bragg900090HBENGGeorge Bristow30150351HBENGIan Dargie20020220HBENGLeonard Geard100010HBENGTony Harper26050310HBENGRoy Hart200020HBENGFrank Latimer28050330HBENGTerry Robinson801090FWENGBilly Dare8033113FWENGFrank Dudley3418423820FWENGGeorge Francis320032FWENGDennis Heath35740397FWENGJohnny Rainford33462396FWSCOJames Robertson31710327FWENGLen Roe100010FWENGBilly Sperrin310031FWENGGeorge Stobbart4515645119FWENGJeff Taylor13400134FWENGJim Towers3115613716 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years Of Brentford Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL3FACTotalFWENGFrank Dudley18220FWENGGeorge Stobbart15419FWENGJim Towers15116FWENGDennis Heath707FWSCOJames Robertson707FWENGJohnny Rainford426FWENGJeff Taylor404FWENGBilly Dare033FWENGGeorge Francis202HBENGGeorge Bristow101DFENGKen Coote101FWENGBilly Sperrin101Opponents707Total821294 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years Of Brentford Representative appearances Pos.NatPlayerTeamCapsGoalsRefHBENGJohnny RainfordThird Division South11White 1989 215-217 Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Bill Dodgin Sr.ENG21 August 19545 May 1955 52 19 16 17 46 16 14 16 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 occasionsWorst league defeat 3–0 versus Southampton, 18 December 1954Most appearances 51, George Stobbart (45 Third Division South, 6 FA Cup)Top scorer (league) 18, Frank DudleyTop scorer (all competitions) 20, Frank Dudley Transfers & loans Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.May 1954FWENG George StobbartENG MillwallExchangeHaynes Coumbe 2006 155June 1954FWWAL Wendell MorganWAL Cardiff CityFree13967 Wendell Morgan 22 November 2016August 1954GKIRE Sonny FeehanENG Northampton TownFreeHaynes Coumbe 2006 55August 1954FWENG Jeff TaylorENG Fulhamn/a19297 Jeff Taylor 21 November 2016September 1954HBENG Terry RobinsonENG Loughborough CollegeAmateur16968 Terry Robinson 21 November 2016Players transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.May 1954FWENG Terry LedgertonENG MillwallExchangeHaynes Coumbe 2006 155June 1954GKENG Alf JefferiesENG Torquay Unitedn/a10107 Alf Jefferies 21 November 2016July 1954FWENG Jimmy BloomfieldENG Arsenal£10,000Jimmy Bloomfield https://www.arsenal.com/historic/players/jimmy-bloomfield 21 November 2016 Arsenal.comJanuary 1955FWENG Billy DareENG West Ham United£10,000White 1989 215-217Players releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.May 1955HBENG Tony HarperENG Headington United1955Haynes Coumbe 2006 72May 1955HBENG Roy Hartn/an/aHaynes Coumbe 2006 73May 1955DFENG Ken MoffittSCO Berwick Rangers1955player/kenmoffitt Ken Moffitt Notes nb References Category:Brentford F.C. seasons Brentford