1955–56 Brentford F.C. season explained
Club: | Brentford |
Season: | 1955–56 |
Manager: | Bill Dodgin Sr. |
Chairman: | Frank Davis |
Stadium: | Griffin Park |
League: | Third Division South |
League Result: | 6th |
Cup1: | FA Cup |
Cup1 Result: | Second round |
League Topscorer: | Towers (21) |
Season Topscorer: | Towers (22) |
Highest Attendance: | 17,847 |
Lowest Attendance: | 5,291 |
Average Attendance: | 10,302 |
Pattern La1: | _red_stripes |
Pattern B1: | _redstripes2 |
Pattern Ra1: | _red_stripes |
Pattern Sh1: | _whitesides |
Pattern So1: | _redtop_2whitestripes |
Shorts1: | 000000 |
Socks1: | 000000 |
Prevseason: | 1954–55 |
Nextseason: | 1956–57 |
During the 1955–56 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division South. A promising 6th-place finish was achieved with a squad mainly drawn from the club's youth system.
Season summary
After finishing the previous season strongly,[1] Brentford went into the 1955–56 Third Division South season full of optimism. Youth products Jim Towers and Dennis Heath had established themselves in the first team, while George Francis and Gerry Cakebread had also made their debuts. Full backs Alan Bassham, George Lowden and half backs Wally Bragg and George Bristow also made up the ranks of home-grown players in the first team squad and forward John Pearson was another to graduate from the youth team during the 1955–56 season. Chelsea full back Sid Tickridge was manager Bill Dodgin Sr.'s only major signing of the off-season and he replaced Frank Latimer as club captain.
Despite winning more games than they had lost, Brentford hovered in mid-table during the opening three months of the season.[2] Forward Jeff Taylor led the attack and scored 11 goals in as many matches during a five-week period in September and October 1955. Buoyed by four goals in five league matches by Wendell Morgan and news from the boardroom that a £9,000 profit had been made on the year ending in May 1955 (equivalent to £ in), the Bees moved as high as 8th-place in early December, before losing form again later in the month.
Victory over Exeter City on 4 February 1956 was the first win of a strong run which lasted for the remainder of the season and resulted in a 6th-place finish, 11 points behind the top-three clubs. During the season, 22-goal forward Jim Towers and goalkeeper Gerry Cakebread established themselves as two of the best players in the Third Division South. After nearly 27 years as a player, assistant manager and caretaker manager at Griffin Park, long-serving Jimmy Bain retired in May 1956.[3] He received a Long Service Medal from the Football League in recognition and was awarded a testimonial match to be played in October 1956.
Brentford's 4–0 defeat at the hands of Millwall on 5 September 1955 ended an 11-match unbeaten run in League London derbies, a club record which stretched back to February 1954.[4] The record was equalled in August 2023.
Results
Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend
Football League Third Division South
No. | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
---|
1 | 20 August 1955 | Gillingham | H | 1–4 | 12,247 | Towers (pen) |
2 | 22 August 1955 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 1–1 | 11,688 | Stobbart |
3 | 27 August 1955 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | A | 0–0 | 10,451 | |
4 | 30 August 1955 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 2–0 | 12,947 | Towers, Taylor |
5 | 3 September 1955 | Norwich City | H | 1–2 | 12,565 | Dudley |
6 | 5 September 1955 | Millwall | A | 0–4 | 6,911 | |
7 | 10 September 1955 | Colchester United | A | 3–0 | 7,843 | Towers (2), Taylor |
8 | 12 September 1955 | Millwall | H | 2–2 | 7,597 | Taylor, Stobbart |
9 | 17 September 1955 | Leyton Orient | H | 1–0 | 17,847 | Taylor |
10 | 19 September 1955 | Watford | H | 0–0 | 6,864 | |
11 | 24 September 1955 | Exeter City | A | 3–2 | 9,454 | Taylor (3) |
12 | 26 September 1955 | Coventry City | A | 1–2 | 12,584 | Taylor |
13 | 1 October 1955 | Southend United | H | 2–1 | 14,329 | Taylor, Towers |
14 | 8 October 1955 | Aldershot | A | 1–4 | 7,395 | Towers |
15 | 15 October 1955 | Crystal Palace | H | 3–0 | 13,636 | Taylor (2), Towers |
16 | 22 October 1955 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 0–3 | 12,771 | |
17 | 29 October 1955 | Southampton | H | 2–1 | 12,300 | Morgan, Rainford |
18 | 5 November 1955 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 1–1 | 10,551 | Morgan |
19 | 12 November 1955 | Ipswich Town | H | 3–2 | 14,795 | Francis, Morgan, Towers |
20 | 26 November 1955 | Torquay United | H | 1–3 | 11,547 | Heath |
21 | 3 December 1955 | Newport County | A | 2–1 | 8,035 | Morgan, Dudley |
22 | 17 December 1955 | Gillingham | A | 2–1 | 5,867 | Francis, Bristow |
23 | 24 December 1955 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | H | 2–1 | 8,592 | Coote, Taylor |
24 | 26 December 1955 | Reading | H | 2–2 | 12,556 | Robertson, Rainford |
25 | 27 December 1955 | Reading | A | 2–5 | 11,910 | Bragg (pen), Francis |
26 | 31 December 1955 | Norwich City | A | 0–1 | 18,542 | |
27 | 14 January 1956 | Colchester United | H | 2–2 | 8,492 | Rainford, Taylor |
28 | 21 January 1956 | Leyton Orient | A | 1–2 | 14,009 | Morgan |
29 | 4 February 1956 | Exeter City | H | 2–0 | 6,309 | Francis (2) |
30 | 11 February 1956 | Southend United | A | 2–2 | 5,124 | Towers, Stirling (og) |
31 | 18 February 1956 | Aldershot | H | 2–0 | 7,026 | Towers (2) |
32 | 25 February 1956 | Crystal Palace | A | 2–0 | 10,054 | Towers (2) |
33 | 3 March 1956 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 4–2 | 11,061 | Robertson (2), Goundry, Francis |
34 | 10 March 1956 | Southampton | A | 1–1 | 11,678 | Towers |
35 | 12 March 1956 | Swindon Town | H | 1–2 | 7,249 | Towers |
36 | 17 March 1956 | Shrewsbury Town | H | 1–1 | 9,156 | Towers |
37 | 24 March 1956 | Ipswich Town | A | 1–1 | 13,672 | Towers |
38 | 31 March 1956 | Walsall | H | 2–2 | 8,933 | Towers, Coote |
39 | 2 April 1956 | Northampton Town | H | 2–1 | 9,527 | Towers (2) |
40 | 3 April 1956 | Northampton Town | A | 0–1 | 8,248 | |
41 | 7 April 1956 | Torquay United | A | 1–3 | 5,574 | Taylor |
42 | 14 April 1956 | Newport County | H | 1–1 | 5,291 | Towers |
43 | 21 April 1956 | Swindon Town | A | 1–0 | 5,790 | Peplow |
44 | 23 April 1956 | Coventry City | H | 1–1 | 6,078 | Bragg (pen) |
45 | 28 April 1956 | Watford | A | 2–0 | 7,192 | Robinson, Francis |
46 | 3 May 1956 | Walsall | A | 2–1 | 9,033 | Taylor, Newcombe | |
FA Cup
See main article: 1955–56 FA Cup.
Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1955–56 season.
Pos. | Name | Nat. | Date of birth (age) | Signed from | Signed in | Notes |
---|
Goalkeepers | |
---|
GK | Gerry Cakebread | | August 20, 1955 | Youth | 1954 | |
GK | Reg Newton | | August 20, 1955 | Leyton Orient | 1949 | |
Defenders |
---|
DF | Alan Bassham | | August 20, 1955 | Youth | 1953 | |
DF | Ken Horne | | August 20, 1955 | Blackpool | 1950 | |
DF | George Lowden | | August 20, 1955 | Unattached | 1951 | |
DF | Sid Tickridge (c) | | August 20, 1955 | Chelsea | 1955 | |
Midfielders |
---|
HB | Wally Bragg | | August 20, 1955 | Twickenham Celtic | 1946 | |
HB | George Bristow | | August 20, 1955 | Youth | 1950 | |
HB | Ken Coote | | August 20, 1955 | Wembley | 1949 | |
HB | Ian Dargie | | August 20, 1955 | Tonbridge | 1952 | |
HB | Leonard Geard | | August 20, 1955 | Fulham | 1953 | |
HB | Frank Latimer | | August 20, 1955 | Snowdown Colliery Welfare | 1945 | |
HB | Johnny Rainford | | August 20, 1955 | Cardiff City | 1953 | |
HB | Terry Robinson | | August 20, 1955 | Loughborough College | 1954 | Amateur |
HB | Len Roe | | August 20, 1955 | Ruislip Manor | 1951 | |
Forwards |
---|
FW | Frank Dudley | | August 20, 1955 | Cardiff City | 1953 | |
FW | George Francis | | August 20, 1955 | Youth | 1955 | |
FW | Billy Goundry | | August 20, 1955 | Huddersfield Town | 1955 | |
FW | Dennis Heath | | August 20, 1955 | Youth | 1954 | |
FW | Wendell Morgan | | August 20, 1955 | Cardiff City | 1954 | |
FW | Len Newcombe | | August 20, 1955 | Fulham | 1956 | |
FW | John Pearson | | August 20, 1955 | Youth | 1955 | |
FW | Ron Peplow | | August 20, 1955 | Southall | 1955 | |
FW | James Robertson | | August 20, 1955 | Arsenal | 1953 | |
FW | Billy Sperrin | | August 20, 1955 | Guildford City | 1949 | |
FW | George Stobbart | | August 20, 1955 | Millwall | 1954 | |
FW | Jeff Taylor | | August 20, 1955 | Fulham | 1954 | |
FW | Jim Towers | | August 20, 1955 | Youth | 1954 | | |
- Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford, Timeless Bees[6]
Coaching staff
Statistics
Appearances and goals
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: 100 Years Of Brentford
Goalscorers
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: 100 Years Of Brentford
Summary
Games played | 48 (46 Third Division South, 2 FA Cup) |
Games won | 20 (19 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup) |
Games drawn | 14 (14 Third Division South, 0 FA Cup) |
Games lost | 14 (13 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup) |
Goals scored | 74 (69 Third Division South, 5 FA Cup) |
Goals conceded | 70 (66 Third Division South, 4 FA Cup) |
Clean sheets | 12 (11 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup) |
Biggest league win | 3–0 on two occasions |
Worst league defeat | 4–0 versus Millwall, 5 September 1955 |
Most appearances | 47, Gerry Cakebread, Ken Coote (45 Third Division South, 2 FA Cup) |
Top scorer (league) | 21, Jim Towers |
Top scorer (all competitions) | 22, Jim Towers | |
Transfers & loans
Notes and References
- Web site: Brentford results for the 1954–1955 season . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161123201223/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1954-1955/results . 23 November 2016 . 22 November 2016 . Statto.com.
- Web site: Brentford results for the 1955–1956 season . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161124024432/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1955-1956/results . 24 November 2016 . 23 November 2016 . Statto.com.
- News: 21 August 1956 . Testimonial Game For Jimmy Bain . 5 . Brentford Football Club Official Programme v. Swindon Town . 6 January 2023.
- Web site: Richardson . David . Fulham 0–3 Brentford: Tim Ream sent off as Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo strike again for Bees . 20 August 2023 . Sky Sports . en.
- Book: 100 Years Of Brentford . Brentford FC . 1989 . 0951526200 . White . Eric . 383.
- Book: Haynes, Graham . Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006 . Coumbe . Frank . Yore Publications . 2006 . 978-0955294914.
- Web site: England Matches – The Amateurs 1947–1962 . 22 November 2016 . www.englandfootballonline.com.
- Web site: Player Appearances and goalscoring records – M . 18 April 2022 . Scottish Football Historical Archive . 443.
- News: 3 August 1956 . Len Geard Goes To Kettering . The Brentford & Chiswick Times.
- News: 17 August 1956 . It's Goodbye To Frank And Jimmy . The Brentford & Chiswick Times.