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{{Short description|1955–56 season of Brentford F.C.}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox football club season
{{Infobox football club season
Line 13: Line 14:
|league topscorer=[[Jim Towers|Towers]] (21)
|league topscorer=[[Jim Towers|Towers]] (21)
|season topscorer=Towers (22)
|season topscorer=Towers (22)
|highest attendance=17,847
|highest attendance=17,847|lowest attendance=5,291|average attendance=10,302|prevseason=[[1954–55 Brentford F.C. season|1954–55]]
|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 Brentford F.C. season|1954–55]]
|nextseason=[[1956–57 Brentford F.C. season|1956–57]]
|nextseason=[[1956–57 Brentford F.C. season|1956–57]]
}}
}}
During the [[1955–56 in English football|1955–56]] English football season, [[Brentford F.C.|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 [[Brentford F.C. Reserves and Academy#Youth Team|youth system]].
During the [[1955–56 in English football|1955–56]] English football season, [[Brentford F.C.|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 [[Brentford F.C. Reserves and Academy#Youth team|youth system]].


== Season summary ==
== Season summary ==
Brentford went into the 1955–56 [[Football League Third Division South|Third Division South]] season full of optimism,{{Sfn|White|1989|p=218-220}} with the side having lost only four of the final 18 matches of the [[1954–55 Brentford F.C. season|1954–55]] season, winning 9.<ref name="StattoResults5455">{{Cite web |url=http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1954-1955/results |title=Brentford results for the 1954-1955 season - Statto.com |last=Ltd |first=Statto Organisation |website=Statto.com |access-date=2016-11-22}}</ref> Of the productive [[Brentford F.C. Reserves and Academy#Youth Team|youth system]] (now led by former player [[Ernest Muttitt]]), [[Forward (association football)|forwards]] [[Jim Towers]] and [[Dennis Heath]] had established themselves in the first team, while [[George Francis (footballer)|George Francis]] and [[Gerry Cakebread]] had also made their debuts.<ref name="White" /> [[Full back (association football)|Full backs]] [[Alan Bassham]], [[George Lowden (footballer)|George Lowden]] and [[Half back (association football)|half backs]] [[Wally Bragg]] and [[George Bristow (footballer)|George Bristow]] also made up the ranks of home-grown players in the first team squad and forward [[John Pearson (footballer, born 1935)|John Pearson]] would be another to graduate from the youth team during the 1955–56 season.<ref name="White" /> [[Chelsea F.C.|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 (association football)|captain]].{{Sfn|White|1989|p=218-220}}
After finishing the [[1954–55 Brentford F.C. season|previous season]] strongly,<ref name="StattoResults5455">{{Cite web |title=Brentford results for the 1954–1955 season |url=http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1954-1955/results |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123201223/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1954-1955/results |archive-date=23 November 2016 |access-date=22 November 2016 |website=Statto.com}}</ref> Brentford went into the 1955–56 [[Football League Third Division South|Third Division South]] season full of optimism.{{Sfn|White|1989|p=218-220}} [[Brentford F.C. Reserves and Academy#Youth team|Youth]] products [[Jim Towers]] and [[Dennis Heath]] had established themselves in the first team, while [[George Francis (footballer)|George Francis]] and [[Gerry Cakebread]] had also made their debuts.<ref name="White" /> [[Full back (association football)|Full backs]] [[Alan Bassham]], [[George Lowden (footballer)|George Lowden]] and [[Half back (association football)|half backs]] [[Wally Bragg]] and [[George Bristow (footballer)|George Bristow]] also made up the ranks of home-grown players in the first team squad and [[Forward (association football)|forward]] [[John Pearson (footballer, born 1935)|John Pearson]] was another to graduate from the youth team during the 1955–56 season.<ref name="White" /> [[Chelsea F.C.|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 (association football)|captain]].{{Sfn|White|1989|p=218-220}}


Despite winning more games than they had lost, Brentford hovered in mid-table during the opening three months of the season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1955-1956/results|title=Brentford results for the 1955-1956 season - Statto.com|last=Ltd|first=Statto Organisation|website=Statto.com|access-date=2016-11-23}}</ref> Forward [[Jeff Taylor (footballer)|Jeff Taylor]] led the attack, scoring 11 goals in as many matches during a five-week period in September and October 1955.<ref name="White" /> 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,<ref name="White" /> the Bees moved as high as 8th-place in early December, before losing form again later in the month.<ref name="StattoResults5455" /> Victory over [[Exeter City F.C.|Exeter City]] on 4 February 1956 (courtesy of a George Francis [[Brace (sports)|brace]]) was the first win of a strong run which lasted for the remainder of the season, with the team's record almost mirroring that of the final 18 matches of the previous campaign.<ref name="White" /> Brentford finished the season in 6th-place, 11 points behind the leading three clubs, but 22-goal Jim Towers and [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]] Gerry Cakebread had established themselves as two of the best players in the Third Division South.{{Sfn|White|1989|p=218-220}}
Despite winning more games than they had lost, Brentford hovered in mid-table during the opening three months of the season.<ref name="StattoResults5556">{{Cite web |title=Brentford results for the 1955–1956 season |url=http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1955-1956/results |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161124024432/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1955-1956/results |archive-date=24 November 2016 |access-date=23 November 2016 |website=Statto.com}}</ref> Forward [[Jeff Taylor (footballer)|Jeff Taylor]] led the attack and scored 11 goals in as many matches during a five-week period in September and October 1955.<ref name="White" /> 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 £{{formatnum:{{Inflation|UK|9000|1955|r=-2}}|0}} in {{CURRENTYEAR}}),<ref name="White" /> the Bees moved as high as 8th-place in early December, before losing form again later in the month.<ref name="StattoResults5455" />


Long-serving [[Jimmy Bain (footballer, born 1899)|Jimmy Bain]] retired at the end of season, after nearly 27 years as a player, assistant manager and [[caretaker manager]] at [[Griffin Park]].{{Sfn|Haynes & Coumbe|2006|p=14-15}} He received a Long Service Medal from the [[The Football League|Football League]] in recognition of his long service.{{Sfn|Haynes & Coumbe|2006|p=14-15}}
Victory over [[Exeter City F.C.|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,<ref name="StattoResults5556" /> 11 points behind the top-three clubs.<ref name="White" /> During the season, 22-goal forward Jim Towers and [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]] Gerry Cakebread established themselves as two of the best players in the Third Division South.{{Sfn|White|1989|p=218-220}} After nearly 27 years as a player, assistant manager and [[caretaker manager]] at [[Griffin Park]],{{Sfn|Haynes|Coumbe|2006|p=14-15}} long-serving [[Jimmy Bain (footballer, born 1899)|Jimmy Bain]] retired in May 1956.<ref name="SwindonProgramme">{{Cite news |date=21 August 1956 |title=Testimonial Game For Jimmy Bain |page=5 |work=Brentford Football Club Official Programme v. Swindon Town |url=http://www.stfcnewspapers.co.uk/images/Programmes/1956-1957/PDF/1956-08-21%20Brentford%20Vs%20Swindon%20Town.pdf |access-date=6 January 2023}}</ref> He received a Long Service Medal from the [[The Football League|Football League]] in recognition and was awarded a [[testimonial match]] to be played in October 1956.{{Sfn|Haynes|Coumbe|2006|p=14-15}}<ref name="SwindonProgramme" />

Brentford's 4–0 defeat at the hands of [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] on 5 September 1955 ended an 11-match unbeaten run in League [[London derbies]], a club record which stretched back to February 1954.<ref name="Richardson">{{Cite web |last=Richardson |first=David |title=Fulham 0–3 Brentford: Tim Ream sent off as Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo strike again for Bees |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/fulham-vs-brentford/report/482603 |access-date=20 August 2023 |website=Sky Sports |language=en}}</ref> The record was equalled in August 2023.<ref name="Richardson" />


==League table==
==League table==
{{main article|1955–56 Football League Third Division South}}
{{main|1955–56 Football League Third Division South}}
{{:1955–56 Football League|transcludesection=Third Division South|only_totals=y|showteam=BRE}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
! rowspan="2" |Pos
! rowspan="2" |Team
! rowspan="2" |Pld
! colspan="5" |Home
! colspan="5" |Away
! rowspan="2" |F
! rowspan="2" |A
! rowspan="2" |GA
! rowspan="2" |GD
! rowspan="2" |Pts
|-
! width="20" |W
! width="20" |D
! width="20" |L
! width="20" |F
! width="20" |A
! width="20" |W
! width="20" |D
! width="20" |L
! width="20" |F
! width="20" |A
|- style="background:#D0F0C0;"
|1|| align="left" |[[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]]||46||18||3||2||76||20||11||5||7||30||29||106||49||2.163|| align="right" |+57||66
|-
|2|| align="left" | [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]] ||46||20||2||1||73||16||9||5||9||39||34||112||50||2.240|| align="right" |+62||65
|-
|3|| align="left" | [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]] ||46||16||6||1||59||28||9||8||6||47||32||106||60||1.767|| align="right" |+46||64
|-
|4|| align="left" | [[Southend United F.C.|Southend United]] ||46||16||4||3||58||25||5||7||11||30||55||88||80||1.100|| align="right" |+8||53
|-
|5|| align="left" | [[Torquay United F.C.|Torquay United]] ||46||11||10||2||48||21||9||2||12||38||42||86||63||1.365|| align="right" |+23||52
|-
|'''6'''|| align="left" | [[Brentford F.C.|'''Brentford''']] ||'''46'''||'''11'''||'''8'''||'''4'''||'''40'''||'''30'''||'''8'''||'''6'''||'''9'''||'''29'''||'''36'''||'''69'''||'''66'''||'''1.045'''|| align="right" |'''+3'''||'''52'''
|-
|7|| align="left" | [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]] ||46||15||4||4||56||31||4||9||10||30||51||86||82||1.049|| align="right" |+4||51
|-
|8|| align="left" | [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]] ||46||16||4||3||54||20||4||5||14||19||40||73||60||1.217|| align="right" |+13||49
|-
|9|| align="left" | [[A.F.C. Bournemouth|Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic]] ||46||13||6||4||39||14||6||4||13||24||37||63||51||1.235|| align="right" |+12||48
|-
|10|| align="left" | [[Gillingham F.C.|Gillingham]] ||46||12||3||8||38||28||7||7||9||31||43||69||71||0.972|| align="right" |–3||48
|-
|11|| align="left" | [[Northampton Town F.C.|Northampton Town]] ||46||14||3||6||44||27||6||4||13||23||44||67||71||0.944|| align="right" |–3||47
|-
|12|| align="left" | [[Colchester United F.C.|Colchester United]] ||46||14||4||5||56||37||4||7||12||20||44||76||81||0.938|| align="right" |–5||47
|-
|13|| align="left" | [[Shrewsbury Town F.C.|Shrewsbury Town]] ||46||12||9||2||47||21||5||3||15||22||45||69||66||1.045|| align="right" |+3||46
|-
|14|| align="left" | [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] ||46||13||6||4||60||30||5||2||16||31||51||91||81||1.123|| align="right" |+10||44
|-
|15|| align="left" | [[Aldershot F.C.|Aldershot]] ||46||9||9||5||36||33||3||7||13||34||57||70||90||0.778|| align="right" |–20||40
|-
|16|| align="left" | [[Exeter City F.C.|Exeter City]] ||46||10||6||7||39||30||5||4||14||19||47||58||77||0.753|| align="right" |–19||40
|-
|17|| align="left" | [[Reading F.C.|Reading]] ||46||10||2||11||40||37||5||7||11||30||42||70||79||0.886|| align="right" |–9||39
|-
|18|| align="left" | [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] ||46||10||7||6||44||32||4||4||15||20||54||64||86||0.744|| align="right" |–22||39
|-
|19|| align="left" | [[Newport County F.C.|Newport County]] ||46||12||2||9||32||26||3||7||13||26||53||58||79||0.734|| align="right" |–21||39
|-
|20|| align="left" | [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]] ||46||13||5||5||43||28||2||3||18||25||56||68||84||0.810|| align="right" |–16||38
|-
|21|| align="left" | [[Watford F.C.|Watford]] ||46||8||5||10||31||39||5||6||12||21||46||52||85||0.612|| align="right" |–23||37
|-
|22|| align="left" | [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] ||46||13||4||6||56||31||2||2||19||27||69||83||100||0.830|| align="right" |–17||36
|- style="background:#eee5de;"
|23|| align="left" | [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]] ||46||7||3||13||27||32||5||7||11||27||51||54||83||0.651|| align="right" |–29||34
|- style="background:#eee5de;"
|24|| align="left" | [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]] ||46||4||10||9||18||22||4||4||15||16||56||34||78||0.436|| align="right" |–44||30
|}

<small>P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points</small>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center"
!width=50|Key!!width=180|
|-
| style="background:#D0F0C0;" width="20" |
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align=left | Division Champions, promoted
|-
| style="background:#C1CDC1" width="20" |
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align=left | New club in the league (none)
|-
| style="background: #eee5de" width="20" |
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align=left | Re-elected
|-
| style="background: #F08080" width="20" |
| bgcolor="#ffffff" align=left | Failed re-election (none)
|}


==Results==
==Results==
Line 260: Line 185:
|30
|30
|11 February 1956||[[Southend United F.C.|Southend United]]||A||2–2
|11 February 1956||[[Southend United F.C.|Southend United]]||A||2–2
|5,124||[[Jim Towers|Towers]], [[Jim Stirling|Stirling]] ([[Own goal|og]])
|5,124||[[Jim Towers|Towers]], [[Jimmy Stirling|Stirling]] ([[Own goal|og]])
|- style="background:#d0ffe3;"
|- style="background:#d0ffe3;"
|31
|31
Line 346: Line 271:


===FA Cup===
===FA Cup===
{{Main article|1955–56 FA Cup}}
{{Main|1955–56 FA Cup}}


{| style="text-align:center;" class="wikitable sortable"
{| style="text-align:center;" class="wikitable sortable"
Line 368: Line 293:
|}
|}


* <small>Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford,<ref name="White">{{Cite book|title=100 Years Of Brentford|last=|first=|publisher=Brentford FC|year=1989|isbn=0951526200|editor-last=White|editor-first=Eric|location=|page=383|pages=|quote=|via=}}</ref> [http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1955-1956/results Statto], [http://www.11v11.com/teams/brentford/tab/matches/season/1956/ 11v11]</small>
* <small>Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford,<ref name="White">{{Cite book |title=100 Years Of Brentford |publisher=Brentford FC |year=1989 |isbn=0951526200 |editor-last=White |editor-first=Eric |page=383}}</ref> [https://web.archive.org/web/20161124024432/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1955-1956/results Statto], [http://www.11v11.com/teams/brentford/tab/matches/season/1956/ 11v11]</small>


== Playing squad ==
== Playing squad ==
Line 615: Line 540:
|
|
|}
|}
* <small>Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford,<ref name="White"/> Timeless Bees,<ref name="Haynes">{{Cite book|title=Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920-2006|last=Haynes|first=Graham|last2=Coumbe|first2=Frank|publisher=Yore Publications|year=2006|isbn=978-0955294914|location=}}</ref> [http://www.hugmansfootballers.com/ Barry Hugman's Footballers]</small>
* <small>Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford,<ref name="White" /> Timeless Bees<ref>{{Cite book |last=Haynes |first=Graham |title=Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006 |last2=Coumbe |first2=Frank |publisher=Yore Publications |year=2006 |isbn=978-0955294914}}</ref></small>


== Coaching staff ==
== Coaching staff ==
Line 628: Line 553:
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Jimmy Bain (footballer, born 1899)|Jimmy Bain]]
|{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Jimmy Bain (footballer, born 1899)|Jimmy Bain]]
|Assistant Manager
|Assistant manager
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|ENG}} Tom Egglestone
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Tommy Eggleston]]
|Trainer
|Trainer
|-
|-
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Jack Holliday]]
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Jack Holliday]]
|Assistant Trainer
|Assistant trainer
|}
|}


Line 640: Line 565:


===Appearances and goals===
===Appearances and goals===
{{football squad on pitch|align = right
| GK = '''[[Gerry Cakebread|Cakebread]]'''
| RCB = '''[[George Lowden (footballer)|Lowden]]'''
| LCB = '''[[Sid Tickridge|Tickridge]] (c)'''
| RCM = '''[[George Bristow (footballer)|Bristow]]'''
| CM = '''[[Wally Bragg|Bragg]]'''
| LCM = '''[[Ken Coote|Coote]]'''
| RF = '''[[Billy Goundry|Goundry]]'''
| RSS = '''[[Wendell Morgan|Morgan]]'''
| CF = '''[[Jeff Taylor (footballer)|Taylor]]'''
| LSS = '''[[Jim Towers|Towers]]'''
| LF = '''[[James Robertson (footballer, born 1929)|Robertson]]'''
| caption = Brentford's highest appearance-makers in each position during the Football League season.
}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
|-
Line 927: Line 866:
|}
|}
*<small>Players listed in ''italics'' left the club mid-season.</small>
*<small>Players listed in ''italics'' left the club mid-season.</small>
*<small>Source: 100 Years Of Brentford<ref name="White"/></small>
*<small>Source: 100 Years Of Brentford<ref name="White" /></small>


=== Goalscorers ===
=== Goalscorers ===
Line 1,051: Line 990:
|1
|1
|-
|-
| colspan="3" |''Opponents''
| colspan="3" |Opponents
|1
|1
|0
|0
Line 1,059: Line 998:
|}
|}
*<small>Players listed in ''italics'' left the club mid-season.</small>
*<small>Players listed in ''italics'' left the club mid-season.</small>
*<small>Source: 100 Years Of Brentford<ref name="White"/></small>
*<small>Source: 100 Years Of Brentford<ref name="White" /></small>


=== Amateur international caps ===
=== Amateur international caps ===
Line 1,075: Line 1,014:
|2
|2
|0
|0
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRslAm2.html|title=England Matches - The Amateurs 1947-1962|website=www.englandfootballonline.com|access-date=2016-11-22}}</ref>
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=England Matches – The Amateurs 1947–1962 |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRslAm2.html |access-date=22 November 2016 |website=www.englandfootballonline.com}}</ref>
|}
|}


Line 1,127: Line 1,066:


== Transfers & loans ==
== Transfers & loans ==
{| style="font-size:95%;" class="wikitable" cellpadding="1"
{| style="font-size:95%;" class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! style="background:#d00; color:white; text-align:center;" colspan="6" |Players transferred in
! style="background:#d00; color:white; text-align:center;" colspan="6" |Players transferred in
Line 1,143: Line 1,082:
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]]
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]]
|Free
|Free
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hugmansfootballers.com/player/7533|title=Barry Hugman's Footballers - Bill Goundry|website=hugmansfootballers.com|access-date=2016-11-22}}</ref>
|<ref>{{Hugman|7533|Billy Goundry|access-date=22 November 2016}}</ref>
|-
|-
|July 1955
|July 1955
Line 1,150: Line 1,089:
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]
|n/a
|n/a
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hugmansfootballers.com/player/19656|title=Barry Hugman's Footballers - Sid Tickridge|website=hugmansfootballers.com|access-date=2016-11-22}}</ref>
|<ref>{{Hugman|19656|Sid Tickridge|access-date=22 November 2016}}</ref>
|-
|-
|August 1955
|August 1955
Line 1,157: Line 1,096:
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Northampton Town F.C.|Northampton Town]]
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Northampton Town F.C.|Northampton Town]]
|n/a
|n/a
|<ref name="Morgan">{{Cite web |url=http://hugmansfootballers.com/player/13945 |title=Barry Hugman's Footballers - Ken Morgan |website=hugmansfootballers.com |access-date=2016-11-22}}</ref>
|<ref name="Morgan">{{Hugman|13945|Ken Morgan|access-date=22 November 2016}}</ref>
|-
|-
|August 1955
|August 1955
Line 1,164: Line 1,103:
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Southall F.C.|Southall]]
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Southall F.C.|Southall]]
|n/a
|n/a
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hugmansfootballers.com/player/15608|title=Barry Hugman's Footballers - Ron Peplow|website=hugmansfootballers.com|access-date=2016-11-22}}</ref>
|<ref>{{Hugman|15608|Ron Peplow|access-date=22 November 2016}}</ref>
|-
|-
|April 1956
|April 1956
Line 1,171: Line 1,110:
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]]
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]]
|n/a
|n/a
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hugmansfootballers.com/player/14515|title=Barry Hugman's Footballers - Len Newcombe|website=hugmansfootballers.com|access-date=2016-11-22}}</ref>
|<ref>{{Hugman|14515|Len Newcombe|access-date=22 November 2016}}</ref>
|-
|-
! style="background:#d00; color:white; text-align:center;" colspan="6" |Players transferred out
! style="background:#d00; color:white; text-align:center;" colspan="6" |Players transferred out
Line 1,194: Line 1,133:
|{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Berwick Rangers F.C.|Berwick Rangers]]
|{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Berwick Rangers F.C.|Berwick Rangers]]
|n/a
|n/a
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.scottish-football-historical-archive.co.uk/Appearance%20Records%20-%20M.doc|title=Scottish Football Historical Archive - M|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|page=443|access-date=}}</ref>
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Player Appearances and goalscoring records – M |url=http://sfha.org.uk/Appearance%20Records%20-%20M.doc |access-date=18 April 2022 |website=Scottish Football Historical Archive |page=443}}</ref>
|-
|-
! style="background:#d00; color:white; text-align:center;" colspan="6" |Players released
! style="background:#d00; color:white; text-align:center;" colspan="6" |Players released
Line 1,209: Line 1,148:
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Leonard Geard]]
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Leonard Geard]]
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Kettering Town F.C.|Kettering Town]]
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Kettering Town F.C.|Kettering Town]]
|1956
|August 1956
|<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 August 1956 |title=Len Geard Goes To Kettering |work=The Brentford & Chiswick Times}}</ref>
|{{Sfn|Haynes & Coumbe|2006|p=63}}
|-
|-
|May 1956
|May 1956
Line 1,216: Line 1,155:
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Frank Latimer]]
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Frank Latimer]]
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ebbsfleet United F.C.|Gravesend & Northfleet]]
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ebbsfleet United F.C.|Gravesend & Northfleet]]
|1956
|July 1956
|<ref name="Goodbye">{{Cite news |date=17 August 1956 |title=It's Goodbye To Frank And Jimmy |work=The Brentford & Chiswick Times}}</ref>
|{{Sfn|Haynes & Coumbe|2006|p=94}}
|-
|-
|May 1956
|May 1956
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|{{flagicon|SCO}} [[James Robertson (footballer, born 1929)|James Robertson]]
|{{flagicon|SCO}} [[James Robertson (footballer, born 1929)|James Robertson]]
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ebbsfleet United F.C.|Gravesend & Northfleet]]
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ebbsfleet United F.C.|Gravesend & Northfleet]]
|1956
|July 1956
|<ref name="Goodbye" />
|{{Sfn|Haynes & Coumbe|2006|p=136}}
|-
|-
|May 1956
|May 1956
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|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Tunbridge Wells F.C.|Tunbridge Wells United]]
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Tunbridge Wells F.C.|Tunbridge Wells United]]
|1956
|1956
|{{Sfn|Haynes & Coumbe|2006|p=152}}
|{{Sfn|Haynes|Coumbe|2006|p=152}}
|-
|-
|May 1956
|May 1956
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|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Bedford Town F.C.|Bedford Town]]
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Bedford Town F.C.|Bedford Town]]
|1956
|1956
|{{Sfn|Haynes & Coumbe|2006|p=155}}
|{{Sfn|Haynes|Coumbe|2006|p=155}}
|}
|}


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{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{Brentford F.C.}}
{{Brentford F.C. seasons}}
{{Brentford F.C. seasons}}
{{1955–56 in English football}}
{{1955–56 in English football}}

Latest revision as of 13:40, 23 March 2024

Brentford
1955–56 season
ChairmanFrank Davis
ManagerBill Dodgin Sr.
StadiumGriffin Park
Third Division South6th
FA CupSecond round
Top goalscorerLeague: Towers (21)
All: Towers (22)
Highest home attendance17,847
Lowest home attendance5,291
Average home league attendance10,302

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

[edit]

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 £298,300 in 2025),[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]

League table

[edit]
Main article: 1955–56 Football League Third Division South

Pos Team
 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
Source: [citation needed]

Results

[edit]
Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

[edit]
Win Draw Loss

Football League Third Division South

[edit]
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

[edit]
Main article: 1955–56 FA Cup
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

Playing squad

[edit]
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 England (1936-04-01)1 April 1936 (aged 19) Youth 1954
GK Reg Newton England (1926-06-30)30 June 1926 (aged 29) Leyton Orient 1949
Defenders
DF Alan Bassham England (1933-10-03)3 October 1933 (aged 21) Youth 1953
DF Ken Horne England (1926-06-25)25 June 1926 (aged 29) Blackpool 1950
DF George Lowden England (1933-03-02)2 March 1933 (aged 22) Unattached 1951
DF Sid Tickridge (c) England (1923-04-10)10 April 1923 (aged 32) Chelsea 1955
Midfielders
HB Wally Bragg England (1929-07-08)8 July 1929 (aged 26) Twickenham Celtic 1946
HB George Bristow England (1933-06-25)25 June 1933 (aged 22) Youth 1950
HB Ken Coote England (1928-05-19)19 May 1928 (aged 27) Wembley 1949
HB Ian Dargie England (1931-10-03)3 October 1931 (aged 23) Tonbridge 1952
HB Leonard Geard England (1934-02-12)12 February 1934 (aged 21) Fulham 1953
HB Frank Latimer England (1923-10-03)3 October 1923 (aged 31) Snowdown Colliery Welfare 1945
HB Johnny Rainford England (1930-12-11)11 December 1930 (aged 24) Cardiff City 1953
HB Terry Robinson England (1929-11-08)8 November 1929 (aged 25) Loughborough College 1954 Amateur
HB Len Roe England (1932-01-11)11 January 1932 (aged 23) Ruislip Manor 1951
Forwards
FW Frank Dudley England (1925-05-09)9 May 1925 (aged 30) Cardiff City 1953
FW George Francis England (1934-02-04)4 February 1934 (aged 21) Youth 1955
FW Billy Goundry England (1934-03-28)28 March 1934 (aged 21) Huddersfield Town 1955
FW Dennis Heath England (1934-09-28)28 September 1934 (aged 20) Youth 1954
FW Wendell Morgan Wales (1935-04-22)22 April 1935 (aged 20) Cardiff City 1954
FW Len Newcombe Wales (1931-02-28)28 February 1931 (aged 24) Fulham 1956
FW John Pearson England (1935-04-23)23 April 1935 (aged 20) Youth 1955
FW Ron Peplow England (1935-05-04)4 May 1935 (aged 20) Southall 1955
FW James Robertson Scotland (1929-02-20)20 February 1929 (aged 26) Arsenal 1953
FW Billy Sperrin England (1922-04-09)9 April 1922 (aged 33) Guildford City 1949
FW George Stobbart England (1921-01-09)9 January 1921 (aged 34) Millwall 1954
FW Jeff Taylor England (1930-09-20)20 September 1930 (aged 24) Fulham 1954
FW Jim Towers England (1933-04-15)15 April 1933 (aged 22) Youth 1954
  • Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford,[3] Timeless Bees[8]

Coaching staff

[edit]
Name Role
England Bill Dodgin Sr. Manager
Scotland Jimmy Bain Assistant manager
England Tommy Eggleston Trainer
England Jack Holliday Assistant trainer

Statistics

[edit]

Appearances and goals

[edit]
Brentford's highest appearance-makers in each position during the Football League season.
Pos Nat Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England Gerry Cakebread 45 0 2 0 47 0
GK England Reg Newton 1 0 0 0 1 0
DF England Alan Bassham 10 0 0 0 10 0
DF England Ken Horne 7 0 0 0 7 0
DF England George Lowden 15 0 0 0 15 0
DF England Sid Tickridge 39 0 2 0 41 0
HB England Wally Bragg 29 2 0 0 29 2
HB England George Bristow 27 1 1 0 28 1
HB England Ken Coote 45 2 2 0 47 2
HB England Ian Dargie 4 0 0 0 4 0
HB England Leonard Geard 3 0 0 0 3 0
HB England Frank Latimer 10 0 1 0 11 0
HB England Johnny Rainford 37 3 2 0 39 3
HB England Terry Robinson 15 1 2 0 17 1
HB England Len Roe 4 0 1 0 5 0
FW England Frank Dudley 14 2 1 0 15 2
FW England George Francis 17 7 1 1 18 8
FW England Billy Goundry 23 1 0 0 23 1
FW England Dennis Heath 17 1 1 0 18 1
FW Wales Wendell Morgan 16 5 1 0 17 5
FW Wales Len Newcombe 3 1 — 3 1
FW England John Pearson 4 0 0 0 4 0
FW England Ron Peplow 3 1 0 0 3 1
FW Scotland James Robertson 22 3 0 0 22 3
FW England Billy Sperrin 2 0 0 0 2 0
FW England George Stobbart 12 2 1 2 13 4
FW England Jeff Taylor 43 15 2 1 45 16
FW England Jim Towers 39 21 2 1 41 22
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[3]

Goalscorers

[edit]
Pos. Nat Player FL3 FAC Total
FW England Jim Towers 21 1 22
FW England Jeff Taylor 15 1 16
FW England George Francis 7 1 8
FW Wales Wendell Morgan 5 0 5
FW England George Stobbart 2 2 4
HB England Johnny Rainford 3 0 3
FW Scotland James Robertson 3 0 3
HB England Wally Bragg 2 0 2
HB England Ken Coote 2 0 2
FW England Frank Dudley 2 0 2
FW Wales Len Newcombe 1 — 1
HB England George Bristow 1 0 1
FW England Billy Goundry 1 0 1
FW England Dennis Heath 1 0 1
FW England Ron Peplow 1 0 1
HB England Terry Robinson 1 0 1
Opponents 1 0 1
Total 69 5 74
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[3]

Amateur international caps

[edit]
Pos. Nat Player Caps Goals Ref
HB England Terry Robinson 2 0 [9]

Management

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

Summary

[edit]
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

[edit]
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
May 1955 FW England Billy Goundry England Huddersfield Town Free [10]
July 1955 DF England Sid Tickridge England Chelsea n/a [11]
August 1955 FW Wales Ken Morgan England Northampton Town n/a [12]
August 1955 FW England Ron Peplow England Southall n/a [13]
April 1956 FW Wales Len Newcombe England Fulham n/a [14]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
October 1955 FW Wales Ken Morgan England Crystal Palace n/a [12]
April 1956 DF England Ken Moffitt Scotland Berwick Rangers n/a [15]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
May 1956 HB England Leonard Geard England Kettering Town August 1956 [16]
May 1956 HB England Frank Latimer England Gravesend & Northfleet July 1956 [17]
May 1956 FW Scotland James Robertson England Gravesend & Northfleet July 1956 [17]
May 1956 FW England Billy Sperrin England Tunbridge Wells United 1956 [18]
May 1956 FW England George Stobbart England Bedford Town 1956 [19]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Brentford results for the 1954–1955 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  2. ^ a b c White 1989, p. 218-220.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 383. ISBN 0951526200.
  4. ^ a b "Brentford results for the 1955–1956 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 24 November 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  5. ^ a b Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 14-15.
  6. ^ a b "Testimonial Game For Jimmy Bain" (PDF). Brentford Football Club Official Programme v. Swindon Town. 21 August 1956. p. 5. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  7. ^ a b 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. ^ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  9. ^ "England Matches – The Amateurs 1947–1962". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  10. ^ "Billy Goundry". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  11. ^ "Sid Tickridge". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  12. ^ a b "Ken Morgan". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  13. ^ "Ron Peplow". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  14. ^ "Len Newcombe". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  15. ^ "Player Appearances and goalscoring records – M". Scottish Football Historical Archive. p. 443. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  16. ^ "Len Geard Goes To Kettering". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 3 August 1956.
  17. ^ a b "It's Goodbye To Frank And Jimmy". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 17 August 1956.
  18. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 152.
  19. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 155.
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