1933–34_Brentford_F.C._season

1933–34 Brentford F.C. season

1933–34 Brentford F.C. season

1933–34 season of Brentford F.C.

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 slight drop in form led the club to a still-impressive 4th-place finish.

Quick Facts Chairman, Manager ...

Season summary

In preparation for Brentford's first-ever Second Division season and after a loss of £932 on the previous season (equivalent to £70,400 in 2024),[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.[2] Curtis stuck with the same free-scoring strikeforce of the previous season, electing to add only outside left Charlie Fletcher from Clapton Orient.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5]

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.[4] 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.[4] Defeat to Millwall in the first of those matches dropped Brentford back to 4th,[4] 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.[6] 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.[7] Brentford finished 4th in the club's first season in the second tier of English football.[8]

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.[9][10] Jack Holliday top-scored with an impressive 27 goals and Idris Hopkins flourished at the higher level, scoring 21 times.[9] Ernest Muttitt, Billy Scott and Charlie Fletcher ably supported Holliday and Hopkins by also scoring in double-figures.[9]

League table

Main article: 1933–34 Football League Second Division

More information Pos, Pld ...
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(P) Promoted

Results

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Second Division

More information No., Date ...

FA Cup

Main article: 1933–34 FA Cup
More information Round, Date ...

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1933–34 season.
More information Pos., Name ...
  • Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[9] Timeless Bees,[11] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939[12]

Coaching staff

More information Name, Role ...

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Watson (c)
Brentford's highest appearance-makers in each position during the Football League season.
More information Pos, Nat ...
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[9]

Goalscorers

More information Pos., Nat ...
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[9]

Amateur international caps

More information Pos., Nat ...

Management

More information Name, Nat ...

Summary

Games played43 (42 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Games won22 (22 Second Division, 0 FA Cup)
Games drawn7 (7 Second Division, 0 FA Cup)
Games lost14 (13 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored85 (85 Second Division, 0 FA Cup)
Goals conceded61 (60 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Clean sheets11 (11 Second Division, 0 FA Cup)
Biggest league win5–0 versus Lincoln City, 28 April 1934
Worst league defeat5–2 versus Bradford Park Avenue, 6 September 1933
Most appearances43, 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.
More information Players transferred in, Date ...

References

  1. [1]
    "The "Bees'" Triumph – Deficit at End of a Record Year – Looking Ahead". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 30 June 1933.
  2. [2]
    White 1989, p. 140-141.
  3. [3]
    Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 58.
  4. [4]
    "Brentford results for the 1933–1934 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  5. [5]
    Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 17.
  6. [6]
    "Brentford Table on Saturday 28th April 1934". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 27 November 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  7. [7]
    "All of the results on Saturday 5th May 1934". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  8. [8]
    "Brentford League Table 1933-1934". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  9. [9]
    White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 372. ISBN 0951526200.
  10. [10]
    Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Harefield, Middlesex: Yore Publications. p. 62. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  11. [11]
    Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  12. [12]
    Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN 190589161X.
  13. [13]
    "England Matches – The Amateurs 1906–1939". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  14. [14]
    "Brentford's Capture. Young Southport Full Back Comes to Griffin Park. Jack Astley". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 2 June 1933.
  15. [15]
    "Clough Jack Middlesbrough 1923". Vintage Footballers. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  16. [16]
    "Brentford's Capture. Noted Centre-half Comes to Griffin Park". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 9 June 1933.
  17. [17]
    Argus (18 August 1933). "Brentford – New Players Who Will Strengthen The Team". The Brentford & Chiswick Times.
  18. [18]
    Joyce 2012, p. 112.
  19. [19]
    Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 150.
  20. [20]
    Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 108.
  21. [21]
    "Q and R". The Bristol Rovers History Group. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  22. [22]
    "William Smith". Holmesdale Online. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  23. [23]
    "Hounslow Town's New Centre – Capture From Brentford F.C.". Middlesex Chronicle. 2 September 1933.
  24. [24]
    Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 8.
  25. [25]
    Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 14-15.
  26. [26]
    Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 15.
  27. [27]
    Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 45-46.
  28. [28]
    Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 103.
  29. [29]
    Joyce 2012, p. 211.
  30. [30]
    Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 154-155.
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