1961–62 Brentford F.C. season

English football team season April 2022 November 2016 Brentford 1961–62 Malky MacDonald Frank Davis (until October 1961)Jack Dunnett (from October 1961) Griffin Park Third Division 23rd (relegated) FA Cup Third round League Cup First round Francis (14) Francis (15) 19,700 3,600 8,483 _red_stripes _redstripes2 _red_stripes _redtop_2whitestripes 000000 000000 1960–61 1962–63 During the 1961–62 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. Financial cutbacks and a reduction in size of the playing squad led to Brentford's relegation to the Fourth Division for the first time in the club's history. Season summary Off-season After a number of seasons in which Brentford challenged and failed to win promotion from the Third Division with a wafer-thin squad, low attendances and a debt of over £50,000 meant that the 1961 off-season would be a period of turmoil.White 1989 240-241 A threat of a players' strike in support of the removal of the maximum wage during the second half of the previous season was averted and it was revealed that the club had turned down £12,000 and £9,000 bids respectively for prolific strike partners Jim Towers and George Francis during the 1959–60 season – a period when the club was still confident of promotion from the Third Division.White 1989 240-241 With those expectations dampened by mediocre performances in the 1960–61 season, up-and-coming outside left John Docherty was sold for £17,000 during the final months of the campaign.White 1989 240-241 Towers and particularly Francis performed poorly by their standards during the 1960–61 season and consequently bids of a similar amount to that of the previous year failed to materialise.White 1989 240-241 Future Nottingham Central MP Jack Dunnett joined the board in July 1961 and took over as chairman from Frank Davis three months later.Haynes Graham A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopaedia 1998 Yore Publications 1 874427 57 7 27 For the first time since relegation to the Third Division South in 1953, Brentford conducted an end-of-season clearout in a bid to reduce the squad size and wage bill.White 1989 242-245 Ken Horne, Billy Goundry, George Bristow, Dennis Heath and Eric Parsons, who had each made over 100 appearances for the club, were released, as were five other bit-part players.White 1989 242-245 Most galling for the Brentford supporters was the sale of forwards Jim Towers and George Francis (who had accounted for 299 goals between them since 1954) to divisional and local rivals Queens Park Rangers for a combined £8,000 fee.Haynes Coumbe 2006 186-188 £6,000 Cardiff City forward Brian Edgley was signed as a replacement and Ray Reeves and Jimmy Belcher were brought in to strengthen the back lines.White 1989 242-245 The signings took the squad size to just 16 players, six of whom held a part-time status (Cakebread, Dargie, Gelson, Gitsham, Reeves and Ryecraft) and of those, two (Gelson and Ryecraft) were juniors who had yet to make their senior debuts.White 1989 242-245 In addition, assistant trainer Jack Holliday (the club's record goalscorer) was sacked and trainer Fred Monk resigned in April 1962.White 1989 242-245White 1989 246 Season Brentford had a dreadful start to the 1961–62 season, losing 8 of the first 9 matches in all competitions.Brentford results for the 1961–1962 season http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1961-1962/results live https://web.archive.org/web/20161201081015/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1961-1962/results 1 December 2016 30 November 2016 Statto.com The signing of £6,000 former England international forward Johnny Brooks in early September 1961 helped boost the team's morale enough for them to register their first point of the season on 9 September 1961,White 1989 242-245 courtesy of a goalless draw with Southend United at Griffin Park. After another loss and the Bees' first two victories of the season, three successive defeats led manager Malky MacDonald to re-sign forward George Francis from Queens Park Rangers on 6 October.White 1989 242-245 Francis' return helped inspire a victory over Swindon Town 24 hours later, courtesy of a Johnny Rainford goal.White 1989 242-245 The FA Cup provided a welcome distraction from the league, in which Brentford were firmly rooted in the relegation zone. The Bees advanced to the third round of the FA Cup, taking high-flying Second Division club Leyton Orient to a replay before being knocked out. After the defeat, the board again reached for the chequebook and signed outside forward Micky Block from Chelsea for a £5,000 fee.White 1989 242-245 Poor form in the opening months of 1962 failed to avert the relegation threat and a bid to buy back Jim Towers from Queens Park Rangers failed,White 1989 242-245 but a run of three wins and one draw in late March and early April lifted Brentford to 21st, the club's highest position of the season so far. Of the following four matches, a victory, a draw and two defeats left the Bees' in 23rd place, with their destiny out of their own hands. Victory for 21st-place Barnsley over 20th-place Torquay United on 2 May ended the Bees' hopes of survival.Torquay United results for the 1961–1962 season http://www.statto.com/football/teams/torquay-united/1961-1962/results live https://web.archive.org/web/20161201143431/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/torquay-united/1961-1962/results 1 December 2016 30 November 2016 Statto.com Brentford's 9-year stay in the Third Division officially ended the following day after a 2–0 defeat to Hull City at Boothferry Park. The relegation completed a drop from the First Division in 1947 to the Fourth Division in 1962, a 15-year fall from grace.White 1989 242-245 League table 1961–62 Football League Third Division Third Division y BRE Results Brentford's goal tally listed first. Legend WinDrawLoss Football League Third Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)119 August 1961Queens Park RangersA0–316,790222 August 1961Halifax TownH0–27,509326 August 1961ReadingH1–29,630Spiers (og)428 August 1961Halifax TownA0–17,60352 September 1961Newport CountyA1–65,757Edgley65 September 1961Grimsby TownA0–18,80079 September 1961Southend UnitedH0–07,100816 September 1961Notts CountyA1–37,977Edgley919 September 1961Coventry CityH2–16,100Higginson, Belcher1023 September 1961Shrewsbury TownH4–07,000Edgley (2), Brooks, Rainford1125 September 1961Coventry CityA0–210,2431230 September 1961Peterborough UnitedA0–612,654133 October 1961Bristol CityA0–310,700147 October 1961Swindon TownH1–07,500Rainford1510 October 1961Bristol CityH0–28,5691614 October 1961Torquay UnitedA0–34,8361721 October 1961PortsmouthH3–29,600Brooks, Edgley, Francis1828 October 1961BarnsleyA2–26,478Summers, Edgley1911 November 1961WatfordA1–28,333Francis2018 November 1961Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticH2–29,600Francis, Edgley212 December 1961Lincoln CityH1–07,980Summers229 December 1961Northampton TownA0–510,3392316 December 1961Queens Park RangersH1–411,800Francis2423 December 1961ReadingA0–47,2112526 December 1961Bradford Park AvenueH2–05,100Edgley (pen), Francis2613 January 1962Newport CountyH3–17,750Francis, Higginson, McLeod2720 January 1962Southend UnitedA0–06,8352827 January 1962Crystal PalaceA2–219,323Brooks, Block392 February 1962Notts CountyH0–19,2003010 February 1962Shrewsbury TownA3–16,037Brooks, Francis, McLeod3117 February 1962Peterborough UnitedH2–011,000Brooks (pen), McLeod3223 February 1962Swindon TownA2–57,089Summers, Francis333 March 1962Torquay UnitedH0–27,4503410 March 1962PortsmouthA0–415,2563517 March 1962BarnsleyH1–16,050Francis3624 March 1962Hull CityA0–33,4323730 March 1962WatfordH3–06,450Francis (2), Summers384 April 1962Bradford Park AvenueA2–14,812Francis, Summers397 April 1962Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticA1–110,736Block4013 April 1962Crystal PalaceH4–29,900Brooks (2, 1 pen), Francis, Wood (og)4120 April 1962Port ValeH1–211,160Brooks (pen)4221 April 1962Lincoln CityA3–35,402Summers (2), Gelson4323 April 1962Port ValeA0–35,8714427 April 1962Northampton TownH3–06,750Francis, Brooks, Summers451 May 1962Grimsby TownH0–218,126463 May 1962Hull CityH0–23,600 FA Cup 1961–62 FA Cup RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)1R4 November 1961Oxford UnitedH3–013,500Summers, Edgley (2)2R25 November 1961AldershotA2–212,846Edgley, Francis2R (replay)28 November 1961AldershotH2–017,800Edgley, Brooks3R6 January 1962Leyton OrientH1–119,700Summers3R (replay)8 January 1962Leyton OrientA1–222,690Higginson Football League Cup 1961–62 Football League Cup RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer1R13 September 1961Leeds UnitedA1–44,500McLeod Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford,100 Years Of Brentford Brentford FC 1989 0951526200 White Eric 386 Statto Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1961–62 season. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepersGKGerry CakebreadENG1961 8 19 1936 4 1 yYouth1954DefendersDFKen Coote (c)ENG1961 8 19 1928 5 19 yWembley1949DFJimmy GitshamENG1961 8 19 1942 5 12 yYouth1959DFRay ReevesENG1961 8 19 1931 8 12 yReading1961DFTom WilsonENG1961 8 19 1930 7 3 yFulham1957MidfieldersHBJimmy BelcherENG1961 8 19 1932 10 31 yIpswich Town1961HBIan DargieENG1961 8 19 1931 10 3 yTonbridge1952HBPeter GelsonENG1961 8 19 1941 10 18 yYouth1961HBTommy HigginsonSCO1961 8 19 1937 1 6 yKilmarnock1959ForwardsFWMicky BlockENG1961 8 19 1940 1 28 yChelsea1962FWJohnny BrooksENG1961 8 19 1931 12 23 yChelsea1961FWBrian EdgleyENG1961 8 19 1937 8 26 yCardiff City1961FWGeorge FrancisENG1961 8 19 1934 2 4 yQueens Park Rangers1961FWJohnny HalesSCO1961 8 19 1940 5 15 ySt Roch's1958FWGeorge McLeodSCO1961 8 19 1932 11 30 yLuton Town1958FWDanny O'DonnellSCO1961 8 19 1939 2 27 yKirkintilloch Rob Roy1960FWGeorge SummersSCO1961 8 19 1941 7 30 yShawfield1959Players who left the club mid-seasonFWJohnny RainfordENG1961 8 19 1930 12 11 yCardiff City1953Transferred to Tonbridge 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 NameRoleSCO Malky MacDonaldManagerENG Fred MonkTrainer Statistics Appearances and goals right Cakebread Coote (c) Gitsham Belcher Dargie Higginson Summers Brooks Francis Edgley McLeod Brentford's highest appearance-makers in each position during the Football League season. PosNatNameLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKENGGerry Cakebread4605010520DFENGKen Coote4505010510DFENGJimmy Gitsham3405000390DFENGRay Reeves50000050DFENGTom Wilson1600010170HBENGJimmy Belcher3015010361HBENGIan Dargie3501010370HBENGPeter Gelson2414000281HBSCOTommy Higginson4625110523FWENGMicky Block202——202FWENGJohnny Brooks381051004311FWENGBrian Edgley27854103312FWENGGeorge Francis321451—3715FWSCOJohnny Hales80001090FWSCOGeorge McLeod4635011524FWSCODanny O'Donnell90000090FWENGJohnny Rainford1521010172FWSCOGeorge Summers30842103510 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years Of Brentford Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL3FACFLCTotalFWENGGeorge Francis141—15FWENGBrian Edgley84012FWENGJohnny Brooks101011FWSCOGeorge Summers82010FWSCOGeorge McLeod3014HBSCOTommy Higginson2103FWENGMicky Block2——2FWENGJohnny Rainford2002HBENGJimmy Belcher1001HBENGPeter Gelson1001Opponents2002Total539163 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years Of Brentford Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Malky MacDonaldSCO19 August 19613 May 1962 52 15 10 27 46 13 8 25 Summary Games played 52 (46 Third Division, 5 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)Games won 15 (13 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)Games drawn 10 (8 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)Games lost 27 (25 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)Goals scored 63 (53 Third Division, 9 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)Goals conceded 102 (93 Third Division, 5 FA Cup, 4 League Cup)Clean sheets 12 (10 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)Biggest league win 4–0 versus Shrewsbury Town, 23 September 1961Worst league defeat 6–0 versus Peterborough United, 30 September 1961Most appearances 52, Gerry Cakebread, Tommy Higginson, George McLeod (46 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 3 League Cup)Top scorer (league) 14, George FrancisTop scorer (all competitions) 15, George Francis Transfers & loans Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.5 June 1961FWENG Brian EdgleyWAL Cardiff City£6,000Haynes Coumbe 2006 52July 1961HBENG Jimmy BelcherENG Ipswich Townn/aHaynes Coumbe 2006 18-19July 1961DFENG Ray ReevesENG Readingn/aHaynes Coumbe 2006 1322 September 1961FWSCO Dick LowrieSCO St Roch'sn/a2 September 1961FWSCO Hugh McLaughlinSCO St Roch'sn/aPlayer Transfers 1958–1978 – 1961 http://sfha.org.uk/Trans61.doc 13 August 2019 Scottish Football Historical ArchiveSeptember 1961FWENG Johnny BrooksENG Chelsea£6,000White 1989 286 October 1961FWENG George FrancisENG Queens Park Rangersn/aHaynes Coumbe 2006 186-188December 1961DFENG Tom Anthonyn/an/a430 Tom Anthony 30 November 20161961DFENG Tim Soutarn/an/aHaynes Coumbe 2006 152January 1962FWENG Micky BlockENG Chelsea£5,000White 1989 242-245Players transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.31 May 1961FWENG George FrancisENG Queens Park Rangers£4,000Seasonal Stats – 1961–62 http://www.qprnet.com/uploads/1/2/0/8/120823999/qpr1961.xls 9 May 2018 QPRnet31 May 1961FWENG Jim TowersENG Queens Park Rangers£4,0001962FWENG Johnny RainfordENG TonbridgeFreeWhite 1989 242-245Players releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.May 1962HBENG Jimmy BelcherENG Margate1962Haynes Coumbe 2006 18-19May 1962DFENG Ray ReevesENG Dover1962Haynes Coumbe 2006 132May 1962DFENG Tom WilsonENG Folkestone Town1962Haynes Coumbe 2006 170-171 Awards Supporters' Player of the Year: Ken CooteHaynes Coumbe 2006 41 References Category:Brentford F.C. seasons Brentford