During the 1922–23 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division South and finished in 14th place.

Season summary

After a promising 9th-place finish at the end of the 1921–22 Third Division South season, Brentford player-manager Archie Mitchell retired from playing in order to concentrate solely on management. Financial problems during the off-season meant that the squad was hit by the triple-departure of forwards Harry Anstiss, George Pither and long-serving wing half Alf Amos to league rivals Millwall. The previous season's leading goalscorer Harry Morris was successfully retained and the money generated from the sales allowed the squad's wages to be paid through the off-season. 11 new players were transferred in, with a contingent from the North East, including full back George Kell, half backs Bill Inglis and John Haggan and forwards Gordon Johnstone, Reginald Parker, Harry Stott and John Thain. Trainer Michael Whitham was replaced by former Bees manager Dusty Rhodes.

Despite Harry Morris scoring 10 goals in an 11 match spell early in the season, by early November 1921, Brentford were rooted in mid-table. A failure to convert draws into wins dropped the club down to 18th on Christmas Day and the sales of Harry Morris to Millwall and long-serving full back Bertie Rosier to Clapton Orient in February 1923 exacerbated the team's problems scoring and conceding goals. Though never looking in any danger of having to seek re-election, a run of goals from Gordon Johnstone and Reginald Parker inspired a seven match unbeaten spell from mid-March to mid-April which lifted Brentford to 14th. Three draws and two defeats in the final five matches of the season saw the Bees secure a 14th-place finish.

League table

Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League Third Division South No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)126 August 1922GillinghamA0–29,000228 August 1922Luton TownH3–28,000Morris (3)32 September 1922GillinghamH2–010,000Morris, Haggan44 September 1922Luton TownA0–411,00059 September 1922Norwich CityA2–08,597Morris, Clayson611 September 1922Queens Park RangersH1–315,000Clayson716 September 1922Norwich CityH1–47,000Alton (pen)823 September 1922Northampton TownA1–18,000Johnstone930 September 1922Northampton TownH2–17,000Clayson, Morris107 October 1922Exeter CityA2–06,000Morris (2)1114 October 1922Exeter CityH0–17,0001221 October 1922Brighton & Hove AlbionA1–28,000Capper1328 October 1922Brighton & Hove AlbionH1–27,000Morris144 November 1922Merthyr TownH3–16,000Hendren, Morris, Alton (pen)1511 November 1922Merthyr TownA0–15,0001618 November 1922ReadingH1–16,000Clayson1725 November 1922ReadingA0–15,000189 December 1922Queens Park RangersA1–119,000Clayson1923 December 1922Bristol RoversH0–110,0002025 December 1922WatfordA0–28,0002126 December 1922WatfordH2–110,000Morris, Duncan226 January 1923Plymouth ArgyleH2–014,000Morris, Duncan2320 January 1923Charlton AthleticA1–16,464Hendren2427 January 1923Charlton AthleticH0–39,000253 February 1923Swindon TownA0–39,0002610 February 1923Swindon TownH3–04,000Thain, Mulford, Morris2717 February 1923Aberdare AthleticA0–06,0002824 February 1923Aberdare AthleticH0–15,000293 March 1923Swansea TownA0–06,0003010 March 1923Swansea TownH0–14,0003117 February 1923Newport CountyH0–05,0003224 March 1923Newport CountyA1–04,000James3330 March 1923Southend UnitedH0–06,0003431 March 1923Bristol CityH4–09,500Johnstone (2), Parker (2)352 April 1923Southend UnitedA2–110,000Clayson, Alton (pen)367 April 1923Bristol CityH1–116,000Johnstone3714 April 1923PortsmouthH1–07,000Parker3821 April 1923PortsmouthA0–38,1063928 April 1923MillwallH1–112,000Parker4030 April 1923Bristol RoversA1–12,000Johnstone412 May 1923Plymouth ArgyleA0–37,000425 May 1923MillwallH1–112,000Johnstone

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)5QR2 December 1922Maidstone UnitedA0–010,5005QR (replay)6 December 1922Maidstone UnitedH4–05,408Clayson (2), Mulford, Alton (pen)6QR16 December 1922Merthyr TownH0–112,000

Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, Brentford Football Club History, The Complete History

Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1922–23 season. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepersGKEdmund WrightAston Villa1921GKWilliam YoungSouth Shields1920DefendersDFPhilip AllenGrenadier Guards1922DFCharles Alton Rotherham County1921DFGeorge KellThe Wednesday1922MidfieldersHBJohn HagganSunderland1922HBCyril HunterLeadgate Park1921HBBill InglisDerby County1922HBRoland JamesWest Bromwich Albion1922HBJames KerrBlackburn Rovers1921ForwardsFWFreddy Capper (c)8 May 1892 (aged 31)The Wednesday1921FWBilly Clayson Wellingborough Town1922FWPeter DuncanBlackburn Rovers1922FWThomas Elliott Nottingham Forest1921 FWPatsy HendrenQueens Park Rangers1911Played when his cricket commitments allowedFWGordon JohnstoneHoughton Rovers1922FWHorace Jonesn/aTon Pentre1922FWSidney MulfordKew Association1922FWReginald Parker Boldon Comrades1922FWHarry StottAston Villa1922FWJohn ThainNewcastle United1922Players who left the club mid-seasonDFBertie Rosier Southall1913Transferred to Clapton OrientFWHarry MorrisFulham1921Transferred to Millwall Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, Timeless Bees, Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939, 100 Years Of Brentford

Coaching staff NameRole Archie MitchellManager Dusty RhodesTrainer

Statistics

Appearances and goals

PosNatNameLeagueFA CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKEdmund Wright600060GKWilliam Young36030390DFPhilip Allen100010DFCharles Alton42331454DFGeorge Kell17000170DFBertie Rosier24030270HBJohn Haggan18130211HBCyril Hunter26000260HBBill Inglis25030280HBRoland James20110211HBJames Kerr42020440FWFreddy Capper38130411FWBilly Clayson29632328FWPeter Duncan13200132FWThomas Elliott10030130FWPatsy Hendren25230282FWGordon Johnstone14600146FWHorace Jones300030FWHarry Morris2313102413FWSidney Mulford712192FWReginald Parker14400144FWHarry Stott24000240FWJohn Thain510051 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford

Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL3FACTotalFWHarry Morris13013FWThomas Elliott819FWBilly Clayson628FWGordon Johnstone606FWReginald Parker404DFCharles Alton314FWPeter Duncan202FWPatsy Hendren202FWSidney Mulford112FWFreddy Capper101HBJohn Haggan101HBRoland James101FWJohn Thain101Total41445 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford

Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Archie Mitchell26 August 19225 May 1923 |

Summary Games played 45 (42 Third Division South, 3 FA Cup)Games won 14 (13 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)Games drawn 13 (12 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)Games lost 18 (17 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)Goals scored 45 (41 Third Division South, 4 FA Cup)Goals conceded 52 (51 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)Clean sheets 14 (12 Third Division South, 2 FA Cup)Biggest league win 4–0 versus Bristol City, 31 March 1923Worst league defeat 4–0 versus Luton Town, 4 September 1922Most appearances 45, Charles Alton (42 Third Division South, 3 FA Cup)Top scorer (league) 13, Harry MorrisTop scorer (all competitions) 13, Harry Morris

Transfers and loans Cricketers are not included in this list. Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.May 1922HB Bill Inglis Derby Countyn/aMay 1922HB John Thain Newcastle Unitedn/aJuly 1922DF George Kell The Wednesdayn/aAugust 1922FW Horace Jones Ton Pentren/a1922DF Philip Allen Grenadier Guardsn/a1922FW Billy Clayson Wellingborough Townn/a1922FW Peter Duncan Blackburn Roversn/a1922HB John Haggan Sunderlandn/a1922HB Roland James West Bromwich Albionn/a1922FW Gordon Johnstone Houghton Roversn/a1922FW Sidney Mulford Kew Associationn/a1922FW Reginald Parker Boldon Comradesn/a1922HB Peter Scott Newcastle Unitedn/a1922FW Harry Stott Aston Villan/aPlayers transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.20 May 1922FW George Pither Millwalln/aMay 1922DF Alf Amos Millwalln/aMay 1922FW Harry Anstiss Millwall£650February 1923FW Harry Morris Millwall£750February 1923DF Bertie Rosier Clapton Orientn/aPlayers releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.May 1923FW Peter Duncan Armadale17 July 1923May 1923FW Thomas Elliott Durham CitySeptember 1923May 1923HB John Haggan Preston Colliery1923May 1923HB Peter Scott Preston Colliery1923May 1923FW Harry Stott Preston Colliery1923May 1923FW John Thain Peterborough & Fletton United1923May 1923GK Edmund WrightRetired

References