During the 1925–26 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division South and finished in 18th place, conceding a club record 94 goals.

Season summary

Brentford manager Fred Halliday overhauled the club's squad during the 1925 off-season, with all but seven players being released. Despite running a deficit of £6,000 (equivalent to £ in ), the board of directors pledged a "substantial sum of money" for the transfer of quality players and in came new goalkeeper John Thomson, four full backs, four half backs and new forwards Bill Finlayson and Bert Young. The club's colours were changed to the now-traditional red-and-white stripes, black shorts and black socks.

9 defeats from the opening 10 matches of the season left Brentford rooted to the bottom of the Third Division South and forward Reginald Parker (one of the club's highest scorers during the previous two seasons) elected to transfer to South Shields. Griffin Park was closed by the Football League for the first and only time due to crowd disturbance during a 6–1 thrashing at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion on 12 September 1925. The ground was reopened 14 days later. The poor run ended with the first victory of the season on 17 October, 2–1 over Bristol Rovers. Five wins in the following seven matches lifted the Bees out of the re-election places, with forwards Jack Lane, Bill Finlayson and full back Percival Whitton (who had been deployed up front by manager Halliday) all coming into form, with half back Alex Graham converting a number of penalties.

By 20 February 1926, a run of just five defeats in 19 matches lifted Brentford to 13th in the table. The signing of forward Ernie Watkins from Southend United for a then-club record fee of £1,000 in January 1928 proved to be money well-spent, with Watkins scoring 11 goals in his first 12 matches, including a hat-trick in the Bees' biggest victory of the season, 5–1 versus Norwich City on 2 April. The Bees' form petered out in the final two months of the season, winning just 3 of the final 12 matches to finish 18th with the worst defensive record in the division. The 94 goals conceded during the 1925–26 season is a club record.

League table

Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League Third Division South No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)129 August 1925Northampton TownH3–412,317Allen (2), Graham22 September 1925Southend UnitedA1–38,224Allen35 September 1925Aberdare AthleticA0–34,14047 September 1925Southend UnitedH1–36,409Douglas512 September 1925Brighton & Hove AlbionH1–68,803Parker619 September 1925WatfordA2–24,771Young, Parker723 September 1925Plymouth ArgyleA0–48,384826 September 1925Queens Park RangersH1–29,719Beacham93 October 1925Crystal PalaceA0–215,7241010 October 1925Bristol CityA0–311,0951117 October 1925Bristol RoversA2–17,095Lane, Whitton1224 October 1925Swindon TownH3–18,282Whitton, Finlayson, Graham (pen)1331 October 1925Newport CountyA3–24,933Lane (2), Finlayson147 November 1925Luton TownH1–07,533Lane1514 November 1925Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticA2–34,530Whitton (2)1621 November 1925Charlton AthleticH4–08,017Whitton, Allen, Lane, Graham (pen)175 December 1925Merthyr TownH1–16,932Graham (pen)1819 December 1925ReadingH1–07,064Graham1925 December 1925MillwallA1–213,333Hendren2026 December 1925MillwallH2–016,893Allen (2)2128 December 1925Exeter CityA1–65,493Finlayson222 January 1926Northampton TownA1–64,649Allen239 January 1926GillinghamA3–16,093Watkins, Douglas (2)2416 January 1926Aberdare AthleticH1–05,632Douglas2523 January 1926Brighton & Hove AlbionA2–36,107Lane, Watkins2630 January 1926WatfordH4–37,711Graham (2), Rae, Hendren276 February 1926Queens Park RangersA1–113,085Plunkett (og)2813 February 1926Crystal PalaceH3–210,140Watkins (2), Douglas2920 February 1926Bristol CityH2–111,956Watkins, Graham3027 February 1926Bristol RoversH4–19,902Watkins, Douglas, Graham (pen), Rae316 March 1926Swindon TownA1–24,932Hendren3213 March 1926Newport CountyH3–39,643Watkins (2), Rae3320 March 1926Luton TownA2–46,072Lane, Till (og)3427 March 1926Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticH0–27,687352 April 1926Norwich CityH5–111,463Hendren, Watkins (3)363 April 1926Charlton AthleticA2–06,812Young, Rae375 April 1926Norwich CityA0–111,6943810 April 1926GillinghamH0–07,9423917 April 1926Merthyr TownA0–62,3294024 April 1926Exeter CityH2–07,889Finlayson, Douglas4126 April 1926Plymouth ArgyleH2–210,123Finlayson, Douglas421 May 1926ReadingA1–717,432Lane

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)1R28 November 1925BarnetH3–19,480Lane, Whitton, Graham (pen)2R12 December 1925Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticH1–28,200Whitton

Sources: Statto, 11v11, 100 Years Of Brentford

Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1925–26 season. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepersGKHarry StanfordSouthend United1925GKJohn ThomsonAberdare Athletic1925DefendersDFJames Donnelly Southend United1925DFJames McClennonGrimsby Town1925DFJack PriceSwindon Town1925MidfieldersHBJack BeachamWeymouth1925HBTommy CainSheppey United1924HBEvan EvansLlanidloes Town1925HBAlex Graham (c)Arsenal1924Assistant managerHBAlan NobleLeeds United1925HBHarry RaeClyde1925HBJimmy WaltonBristol Rovers1924ForwardsFWJack AllenLeeds United1924FWAlfred DouglasWashington Colliery1925FWBill FinlaysonClapton Orient1925FWPatsy HendrenQueens Park Rangers1911Played when his cricket commitments allowedFWJack Lane Chesterfield1925 FWErnie WatkinsSouthend United1926FWFrank WatsonLeeds United1925FWPercival WhittonNewport County1925FWBert YoungAberdare Athletic1925Players who left the club mid-seasonFWReginald Parker Boldon Comrades1922Transferred to South Shields Sources: Timeless Bees, Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939, 100 Years Of Brentford

Coaching staff NameRole Fred HallidayManager Tom RatcliffTrainer Alex GrahamAssistant trainer

Statistics

Appearances and goals

PosNatNameLeagueFA CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKHarry Stanford200020GKJohn Thomson40020420DFJames Donnelly39020410DFJames McClennon24020260DFJack Price12000120HBJack Beacham410041HBTommy Cain200020HBEvan Evans701080HBAlex Graham259212710HBAlan Noble31010320HBHarry Rae37410384HBJimmy Walton36010370FWJack Allen11720137FWAlfred Douglas27800278FWBill Finlayson21510225FWPatsy Hendren28520305FWJack Lane38821409FWReginald Parker52—52FWErnie Watkins1911—1911FWFrank Watson700070FWPercy Whitton25522277FWBert Young22210232 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford

Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL3FACTotalFWErnie Watkins11—11HBAlex Graham9110FWJack Lane819FWAlfred Douglas808FWJack Allen707FWPercy Whitton527FWBill Finlayson505FWPatsy Hendren505HBHarry Rae404FWReginald Parker2—2FWBert Young202HBJack Beacham101Opponents202Total62468 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford

Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Fred Halliday29 August 19251 May 1926 |

Summary Games played 44 (42 Third Division South, 2 FA Cup)Games won 17 (16 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)Games drawn 6 (6 Third Division South, 0 FA Cup)Games lost 21 (20 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)Goals scored 73 (69 Third Division South, 4 FA Cup)Goals conceded 97 (94 Third Division South, 3 FA Cup)Clean sheets 8 (8 Third Division South, 0 FA Cup)Biggest league win 5–1 versus Norwich City, 2 April 1926Worst league defeat 6–0 versus Merthyr Town, 2 April 1926; 7–1 versus Reading, 1 May 1926Most appearances 42, John Thomson (40 Third Division South, 2 FA Cup)Top scorer (league) 11, Ernie WatkinsTop scorer (all competitions) 11, Ernie Watkins

Transfers & loans Cricketers are not included in this list. Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.May 1925HB Alan Noble Leeds UnitedFree30 June 1925HB Harry Rae Clyden/aJuly 1925DF James Donnelly Southend UnitedFreeJuly 1925FW Percival Whitton Newport CountyFree26 August 1925GK John Thomson Aberdare AthleticFreeAugust 1925FW Alfred Douglas Washington CollieryFreeAugust 1925DF James McClennon Grimsby TownFree16 November 1925DF Jack Price Swindon TownFree1925HB Jack Beacham WeymouthFree1925HB Evan Evans Llanidloes TownAmateur1925FW Bill Finlayson Clapton OrientFree1925GK Harry Stanford Southend UnitedFree1925FW Frank Watson Leeds UnitedFreeJanuary 1926FW Ernie Watkins Southend United£1,000Players transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.September 1925FW Reginald Parker South ShieldsNominalPlayers releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.August 1925FB Charles Alton Northfleet United1925May 1926HB Tommy CainRetiredMay 1926HB Alex Graham Folkestone1926May 1926DF James McClennon Grimsby Town1926May 1926FW William Relph Blyth Spartans1926May 1926GK Harry Stanford Bristol Rovers1926May 1926DF John SteelRetiredMay 1926GK John Thomson Plymouth Argyle8 June 1926May 1926HB Jimmy Walton Hartlepools UnitedNovember 1926May 1926FW Frank Watson Southend United1926

References