1955–56_Brentford_F.C._season

Brentford
1955–56 season
Chairman	Frank Davis
Manager	Bill Dodgin Sr.
Stadium	Griffin Park
Third Division South	6th
FA Cup	Second round
Top goalscorer	League: Towers (21); All: Towers (22)
Highest home attendance	17,847
Lowest home attendance	5,291
Average home league attendance	10,302
	Home colours
	Home colours
	← 1954–55 1956–57 →

1955–56 Brentford F.C. season

1955–56 season of Brentford F.C.

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.

Quick Facts Chairman, Manager ...

Season summary

After finishing the previous season strongly,^[1] Brentford went into the 1955–56 Third Division South season full of optimism.^[2] 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.^[3] 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.^[3] 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.^[2]

Despite winning more games than they had lost, Brentford hovered in mid-table during the opening three months of the season.^[4] Forward Jeff Taylor led the attack and scored 11 goals in as many matches during a five-week period in September and October 1955.^[3] 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 £251,200 in 2024),^[3] the Bees moved as high as 8th-place in early December, before losing form again later in the month.^[1]

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,^[4] 11 points behind the top-three clubs.^[3] 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.^[2] After nearly 27 years as a player, assistant manager and caretaker manager at Griffin Park,^[5] long-serving Jimmy Bain retired in May 1956.^[6] He received a Long Service Medal from the Football League in recognition and was awarded a testimonial match to be played in October 1956.^[5]^[6]

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.^[7] The record was equalled in August 2023.^[7]

Statistics

Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article 1955–56_Brentford_F.C._season, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[StattoResults5455-1] [1]
"Brentford results for the 1954–1955 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.

[FOOTNOTEWhite1989218-220-2] [2]
White 1989, p. 218-220.

[White-3] [3]
White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 383. ISBN 0951526200.

[StattoResults5556-4] [4]
"Brentford results for the 1955–1956 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 24 November 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2016.

[FOOTNOTEHaynesCoumbe200614-15-5] [5]
Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 14-15.

[SwindonProgramme-6] [6]
"Testimonial Game For Jimmy Bain" (PDF). Brentford Football Club Official Programme v. Swindon Town. 21 August 1956. p. 5. Retrieved 6 January 2023.

[Richardson-7] [7]
Richardson, David. "Fulham 0–3 Brentford: Tim Ream sent off as Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo strike again for Bees". Sky Sports. Retrieved 20 August 2023.

[8] [8]
Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.

[9] [9]
"England Matches – The Amateurs 1947–1962". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 22 November 2016.

[10] [10]
"Billy Goundry". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 22 November 2016.

[11] [11]
"Sid Tickridge". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 22 November 2016.

[Morgan-12] [12]
"Ken Morgan". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 22 November 2016.

[13] [13]
"Ron Peplow". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 22 November 2016.

[14] [14]
"Len Newcombe". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 22 November 2016.

[15] [15]
"Player Appearances and goalscoring records – M". Scottish Football Historical Archive. p. 443. Retrieved 18 April 2022.

[16] [16]
"Len Geard Goes To Kettering". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 3 August 1956.

[Goodbye-17] [17]
"It's Goodbye To Frank And Jimmy". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 17 August 1956.

[FOOTNOTEHaynesCoumbe2006152-18] [18]
Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 152.

[FOOTNOTEHaynesCoumbe2006155-19] [19]
Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 155.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts
4	Southend United	46	21	11	14	88	80	1.100	53
5	Torquay United	46	20	12	14	86	63	1.365	52
6	Brentford	46	19	14	13	69	66	1.045	52
7	Norwich City	46	19	13	14	86	82	1.049	51
8	Coventry City	46	20	9	17	73	60	1.217	49

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

Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Scorer(s)
1R	19 November 1955	March Town United	H	4–0	13,300	Stobbart (2), Towers (pen), Francis
2R	10 December 1955	Leyton Orient	A	1–4	17,490	Taylor

Pos.	Name	Date of birth (age)	Signed from	Signed in	Notes
Goalkeepers
GK	Gerry Cakebread	(1936-04-01)1 April 1936 (aged 19)	Youth	1954
GK	Reg Newton	(1926-06-30)30 June 1926 (aged 29)	Leyton Orient	1949
Defenders
DF	Alan Bassham	(1933-10-03)3 October 1933 (aged 21)	Youth	1953
DF	Ken Horne	(1926-06-25)25 June 1926 (aged 29)	Blackpool	1950
DF	George Lowden	(1933-03-02)2 March 1933 (aged 22)	Unattached	1951
DF	Sid Tickridge (c)	(1923-04-10)10 April 1923 (aged 32)	Chelsea	1955
Midfielders
HB	Wally Bragg	(1929-07-08)8 July 1929 (aged 26)	Twickenham Celtic	1946
HB	George Bristow	(1933-06-25)25 June 1933 (aged 22)	Youth	1950
HB	Ken Coote	(1928-05-19)19 May 1928 (aged 27)	Wembley	1949
HB	Ian Dargie	(1931-10-03)3 October 1931 (aged 23)	Tonbridge	1952
HB	Leonard Geard	(1934-02-12)12 February 1934 (aged 21)	Fulham	1953
HB	Frank Latimer	(1923-10-03)3 October 1923 (aged 31)	Snowdown Colliery Welfare	1945
HB	Johnny Rainford	(1930-12-11)11 December 1930 (aged 24)	Cardiff City	1953
HB	Terry Robinson	(1929-11-08)8 November 1929 (aged 25)	Loughborough College	1954	Amateur
HB	Len Roe	(1932-01-11)11 January 1932 (aged 23)	Ruislip Manor	1951
Forwards
FW	Frank Dudley	(1925-05-09)9 May 1925 (aged 30)	Cardiff City	1953
FW	George Francis	(1934-02-04)4 February 1934 (aged 21)	Youth	1955
FW	Billy Goundry	(1934-03-28)28 March 1934 (aged 21)	Huddersfield Town	1955
FW	Dennis Heath	(1934-09-28)28 September 1934 (aged 20)	Youth	1954
FW	Wendell Morgan	(1935-04-22)22 April 1935 (aged 20)	Cardiff City	1954
FW	Len Newcombe	(1931-02-28)28 February 1931 (aged 24)	Fulham	1956
FW	John Pearson	(1935-04-23)23 April 1935 (aged 20)	Youth	1955
FW	Ron Peplow	(1935-05-04)4 May 1935 (aged 20)	Southall	1955
FW	James Robertson	(1929-02-20)20 February 1929 (aged 26)	Arsenal	1953
FW	Billy Sperrin	(1922-04-09)9 April 1922 (aged 33)	Guildford City	1949
FW	George Stobbart	(1921-01-09)9 January 1921 (aged 34)	Millwall	1954
FW	Jeff Taylor	(1930-09-20)20 September 1930 (aged 24)	Fulham	1954
FW	Jim Towers	(1933-04-15)15 April 1933 (aged 22)	Youth	1954

Name	Role
Bill Dodgin Sr.	Manager
Jimmy Bain	Assistant manager
Tommy Eggleston	Trainer
Jack Holliday	Assistant trainer

1955–56_Brentford_F.C._season

1955–56 Brentford F.C. season

Season summary

League table

Results

Legend

Football League Third Division South

FA Cup

Playing squad

Coaching staff

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Goalscorers

Amateur international caps

Management

Summary

Transfers & loans

References

Share this article:

Pos	Nat	Name	League		FA Cup		Total
Pos	Nat	Name	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
GK		Gerry Cakebread	45	0	2	0	47	0
GK		Reg Newton	1	0	0	0	1	0
DF		Alan Bassham	10	0	0	0	10	0
DF		Ken Horne	7	0	0	0	7	0
DF		George Lowden	15	0	0	0	15	0
DF		Sid Tickridge	39	0	2	0	41	0
HB		Wally Bragg	29	2	0	0	29	2
HB		George Bristow	27	1	1	0	28	1
HB		Ken Coote	45	2	2	0	47	2
HB		Ian Dargie	4	0	0	0	4	0
HB		Leonard Geard	3	0	0	0	3	0
HB		Frank Latimer	10	0	1	0	11	0
HB		Johnny Rainford	37	3	2	0	39	3
HB		Terry Robinson	15	1	2	0	17	1
HB		Len Roe	4	0	1	0	5	0
FW		Frank Dudley	14	2	1	0	15	2
FW		George Francis	17	7	1	1	18	8
FW		Billy Goundry	23	1	0	0	23	1
FW		Dennis Heath	17	1	1	0	18	1
FW		Wendell Morgan	16	5	1	0	17	5
FW		Len Newcombe	3	1	—		3	1
FW		John Pearson	4	0	0	0	4	0
FW		Ron Peplow	3	1	0	0	3	1
FW		James Robertson	22	3	0	0	22	3
FW		Billy Sperrin	2	0	0	0	2	0
FW		George Stobbart	12	2	1	2	13	4
FW		Jeff Taylor	43	15	2	1	45	16
FW		Jim Towers	39	21	2	1	41	22

Name	Nat	From	To	Record All Comps					Record League
Name	Nat	From	To	P	W	D	L	W %	P	W	D	L	W %
Bill Dodgin Sr.		20 August 1955	3 May 1956	48	20	14	14	041.67	46	19	14	13	041.30

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