1933–34 Brentford F.C. season explained

Club:Brentford
Season:1933–34
Manager:Harry Curtis
Chairman:Louis P. Simon
Stadium:Griffin Park
League:Second Division
League Result:4th
Cup1:FA Cup
Cup1 Result:Third round
League Topscorer:Holliday (27)
Season Topscorer:Holliday (27)
Highest Attendance:26,934
Lowest Attendance:12,017
Average Attendance:16,377
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Prevseason:1932–33
Nextseason:1934–35

During the 1933–34 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Second Division for the first time in the club's history. A strong run in the middle of the season saw the Bees hold the second promotion place throughout March 1934, before a drop in form led the club to a 4th-place finish.

Season summary

In preparation for Brentford's first-ever Second Division season and after a loss of £932 on the previous season (equivalent to £ in),[1] manager Harry Curtis brought in a number of younger players to replace ageing full backs Tom Adamson, Alexander Stevenson and half back captain Jimmy Bain. Curtis stuck with the same free-scoring strikeforce of the previous season, electing to add only outside left Charlie Fletcher from Clapton Orient. Despite winning just 6 of the opening 16 matches of the season, Brentford found themselves in 8th place, before a run of 8 wins in 11 matches put the club into the second promotion place on 3 February 1934.[2] Manager Curtis had made an astute purchase in the transfer market in January, recruiting Southend United's full back Arthur Bateman as a replacement for Tom Adamson.

2nd place was held until a defeat to Bradford City on 24 March dropped Brentford back to 3rd and results in the following four matches dropped the club to 4th. A 2–0 win over Swansea Town on 14 April saw the Bees rise back to the one remaining promotion place, with just three matches to play. Defeat to Millwall in the first of those matches dropped Brentford back to 4th, but a resounding 5–0 victory over Lincoln City in the penultimate match of the season left the Bees knowing that a draw and favourable results for 2nd-place Preston North End and 3rd-place Bolton Wanderers on the final day would be enough to secure promotion to the First Division.[3] Despite Brentford's 2–1 victory over Bury at Gigg Lane on the final day, victory for Preston North End saw the Lilywhites pip Bolton Wanderers into the second promotion place.[4] Brentford finished 4th in the club's first season in the second tier of English football.[5]

Just one of Brentford's 85 goals during the season came from a player who was not a forward, centre half Joe James and the tally of 8 goalscorers for the season was at that time the lowest in club history.[6] Jack Holliday top-scored with an impressive 27 goals and Idris Hopkins flourished at the higher level, scoring 21 times. Ernest Muttitt, Billy Scott and Charlie Fletcher ably supported Holliday and Hopkins by also scoring in double-figures.

Results

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

WinDrawLoss

Football League Second Division

No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)
126 August 1933Nottingham ForestA1–112,702Hopkins
231 August 1933Bradford Park AvenueH2–013,667Holliday (2)
32 September 1933West Ham UnitedH4–119,918Holliday (2), Hopkins (2)
46 September 1933Bradford Park AvenueA2–511,982Hopkins, Muttitt
59 September 1933Plymouth ArgyleA1–120,945Watson
616 September 1933Manchester UnitedH3–417,180Fletcher, Holliday, Muttitt
723 September 1933Bolton WanderersA2–39,894Fletcher, Hopkins
830 September 1933Hull CityH2–214,570Fletcher, Holliday
97 October 1933BurnleyH5–214,797Hopkins (2), Holliday (2), Muttitt
1014 October 1933Oldham AthleticA4–19,831James, Hopkins (2), Holliday
1121 October 1933FulhamA1–135,421Holliday (pen)
1228 October 1933SouthamptonH2–015,611Hopkins (2)
134 November 1933BlackpoolA1–314,229Muttitt
1411 November 1933Bradford CityH2–112,932Muttitt, Holliday
1518 November 1933Port ValeA0–111,349
1625 November 1933Notts CountyH2–212,110Holliday, Scott
172 December 1933Swansea TownA3–24,269Fletcher (2), Muttitt
189 December 1933MillwallH3–012,017Scott (2), Holliday
1916 December 1933Lincoln CityA2–06,080Holliday (2, 1 pen)
2023 December 1933BuryH2–312,761Muttitt, Fletcher
2125 December 1933Preston North EndH3–220,662Fletcher, Hopkins (2)
2226 December 1933Preston North EndA2–324,451Scott (2)
2330 December 1933Nottingham ForestH2–112,795Hopkins, Scott
246 January 1934West Ham UnitedA2–324,108Muttitt, Holliday
2520 January 1934Plymouth ArgyleH3–017,566Scott, Fletcher, Holliday
2627 January 1934Manchester UnitedA3–116,891Muttitt (2), Fletcher
273 February 1934Bolton WanderersH3–116,037Holliday (2), Scott
2810 February 1934Hull CityA1–010,566Hopkins
2917 February 1934BurnleyA1–311,666Holliday
3024 February 1934Oldham AthleticH2–115,927Scott, Muttitt
313 March 1934FulhamH1–225,184Holliday (pen)
3210 March 1934SouthamptonA0–010,349
3317 March 1934BlackpoolH1–016,461Hopkins
3424 March 1934Bradford CityA1–212,394Hopkins
3530 March 1934Grimsby TownA2–223,233Hopkins, Holliday
3631 March 1934Port ValeH2–019,758Holliday, Scott
372 April 1934Grimsby TownH1–226,934Holliday
387 April 1934Notts CountyA2–111,657Allen, Hopkins
3914 April 1934Swansea TownH2–014,848Hopkins, Muttitt
4021 April 1934MillwallA0–221,671
4128 April 1934Lincoln CityH5–012,184Scott, Holliday (3), Hopkins
425 May 1934BuryA2–19,461Fletcher, Scott

FA Cup

See main article: 1933–34 FA Cup.

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1933–34 season.

Pos.NameNat.Date of birth (age)Signed fromSigned inNotes
Goalkeepers
GKTom BakerAugust 26, 1933Southport1932
GKJack CloughAugust 26, 1933Mansfield Town1933
Defenders
DFTom AdamsonAugust 26, 1933Bury1929
DFJack AstleyAugust 26, 1933Southport1933
DFArthur BatemanAugust 26, 1933Southend United1934
DFWilliam HodgeAugust 26, 1933Rangers1927
DFAlexander StevensonAugust 26, 1933Armadale1927
Midfielders
HBJimmy BainAugust 26, 1933Manchester Central1928
HBJackie BurnsAugust 26, 1933Queens Park Rangers1931Amateur
HBJoe JamesAugust 26, 1933Battersea Church1929
HBJoe McClureAugust 26, 1933Everton1933
HBDuncan McKenzieAugust 26, 1933Albion Rovers1932
HBCecil SmithAugust 26, 1933Brentford Market1931
HBHerbert Watson (c)August 26, 1933Middlesbrough1932
Forwards
FWRalph AllenAugust 26, 1933Fulham1930
FWCharlie FletcherAugust 26, 1933Clapton Orient1933
FWJack HollidayAugust 26, 1933Middlesbrough1932
FWIdris HopkinsAugust 26, 1933Crystal Palace1932
FWErnest MuttittAugust 26, 1933Middlesbrough1932
FWGeorge RobsonAugust 26, 1933West Ham United1931
FWBilly ScottAugust 26, 1933Middlesbrough1932
Players who left the club mid-season
HBWilliam SmithAugust 26, 1933Sheffield Wednesday1933Transferred to Crystal Palace

Coaching staff

NameRole
Harry CurtisManager
Bob KaneTrainer
Jack CartmellAssistant Trainer
Fred KeatchSecretary

Statistics

Appearances and goals

PosNatNameLeagueFA CupTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GKTom Baker22000220
GKJack Clough20010210
DFTom Adamson800080
DFJack Astley40010410
DFArthur Bateman180180
DFWilliam Hodge15010160
DFAlexander Stevenson300030
HBJimmy Bain800080
HBJackie Burns35010360
HBJoe James34110351
HBJoe McClure100010
HBDuncan McKenzie11010120
HBCecil Smith100010
HBWilliam Smith100010
HBHerbert Watson35010360
FWRalph Allen110011
FWCharlie Fletcher4210104310
FWJack Holliday4127104227
FWIdris Hopkins4221104321
FWErnest Muttitt3912104012
FWGeorge Robson400040
FWBilly Scott4112104212

Goalscorers

Pos.NatPlayerFL2FACTotal
FWJack Holliday27027
FWIdris Hopkins21021
FWErnest Muttitt12012
FWBilly Scott12012
FWCharlie Fletcher10010
FWRalph Allen101
HBJoe James101
Total85085

Summary

Games played 43 (42 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Games won 22 (22 Second Division, 0 FA Cup)
Games drawn 7 (7 Second Division, 0 FA Cup)
Games lost 14 (13 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored 85 (85 Second Division, 0 FA Cup)
Goals conceded 61 (60 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Clean sheets 11 (11 Second Division, 0 FA Cup)
Biggest league win 5–0 versus Lincoln City, 28 April 1934
Worst league defeat 5–2 versus Bradford Park Avenue, 6 September 1933
Most appearances 43, Charlie Fletcher, Idris Hopkins (42 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Top scorer (league) 27, Jack Holliday
Top scorer (all competitions) 27, Jack Holliday

Transfers & loans

Cricketers are not included in this list.

Players transferred in
DatePos.NamePrevious ClubFeeRef.
June 1933DF Jack Astley SouthportFree[11]
June 1933GK Jack Clough Mansfield Town£100[12]
June 1933HB Joe McClure EvertonFree[13]
17 August 1933FW Charlie Fletcher Clapton OrientPart-exchange[14]
1933FWMaurice Batchelor GillinghamAmateur
1933FW Peter Clarke Edinburgh UniversityAmateur
1933FWR. E. Gibbons Tunbridge Wells Rangersn/a
1933FW George Goddard Queens Park Rangersn/a
1933FW Bob Mortimer Northampton Townn/a
1933FW William Smith Sheffield WednesdayFree
January 1934DF Arthur Bateman Southend Unitedn/a
March 1934DF Walter Metcalf Sunderlandn/a
April 1934HB James Raven FolkestoneAmateur[15]
Players transferred out
DatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.
17 August 1933HB Teddy Ware Clapton OrientPart-exchange
27 October 1933FW William Smith Crystal Palacen/a[16]
1933FW George Goddard Wolverhampton Wanderersn/a
Players released
DatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.
September 1933FWMaurice Batchelor Hounslow TownAmateur[17]
May 1934DF Tom Adamson Stockport County1934
May 1934HB Jimmy BainRetired
May 1934GK Tom Baker Northampton Town1934
May 1934GK Jack Clough Rotherham UnitedMay 1934
May 1934DF Jack French Tunbridge Wells Rangersn/a
May 1934HB Joe McClure Exeter City1934
May 1934FW Bob Mortimer Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic1934
May 1934FW Alexander Stevenson Southend United1934

Notes and References

  1. News: 30 June 1933 . The "Bees'" Triumph – Deficit at End of a Record Year – Looking Ahead . The Brentford & Chiswick Times.
  2. Web site: Brentford results for the 1933–1934 season . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160322212306/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1933-1934/results . 22 March 2016 . 19 May 2016 . Statto.com.
  3. Web site: Brentford Table on Saturday 28th April 1934 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161127023637/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1933-1934/table/1934-04-28 . 27 November 2016 . 19 May 2016 . Statto.com.
  4. Web site: All of the results on Saturday 5th May 1934 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160322212048/http://www.statto.com/football/stats/results/1934-05-05 . 22 March 2016 . 19 May 2016 . Statto.com.
  5. Web site: Brentford League Table 1933-1934 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160322161727/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1933-1934/table . 22 March 2016 . 19 May 2016 . Statto.com.
  6. Book: Haynes, Graham . A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia . 1998 . Yore Publications . 1 874427 57 7 . Harefield, Middlesex . 62.
  7. Book: 100 Years Of Brentford . Brentford FC . 1989 . 0951526200 . White . Eric . 372.
  8. Book: Haynes, Graham . Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006 . Coumbe . Frank . Yore Publications . 2006 . 978-0955294914.
  9. Book: Joyce, Michael . Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939 . Tony Brown . 2012 . 190589161X . Nottingham.
  10. Web site: England Matches – The Amateurs 1906–1939 . 30 October 2016 . www.englandfootballonline.com.
  11. News: 2 June 1933 . Brentford's Capture. Young Southport Full Back Comes to Griffin Park. Jack Astley . The Brentford & Chiswick Times.
  12. Web site: Clough Jack Middlesbrough 1923 . 7 July 2019 . Vintage Footballers . en-GB.
  13. News: 9 June 1933 . Brentford's Capture. Noted Centre-half Comes to Griffin Park . The Brentford & Chiswick Times.
  14. News: Argus . 18 August 1933 . Brentford – New Players Who Will Strengthen The Team . The Brentford & Chiswick Times.
  15. Web site: Q and R . 18 March 2023 . The Bristol Rovers History Group . en.
  16. Web site: William Smith . 8 June 2016 . Holmesdale Online.
  17. News: 2 September 1933 . Hounslow Town's New Centre – Capture From Brentford F.C. . Middlesex Chronicle.