During the 1931–32 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division South. Despite leading the division for two months in mid-season, the Bees fell away and finished 5th.
Season summary Brentford manager Harry Curtis' additions to his squad for the 1931–32 Third Division South season were minor – backup goalkeeper Dave Smith, amateur half back Jackie Gibbons and forwards George Cook, George Robson and Bert Stephens. The team had a very strong first half of the season, rising to the top of the table by 5 December 1931 and staying there until 13 February 1932, when a run of just five defeats in 31 matches in all competitions came to an end. Billy Lane kept up his prolific goalscoring form from the previous two seasons, scoring 20 goals in a 27 match spell, with Jackie Foster, Bill Berry and Jackie Gibbons also supporting with regular goals.
As in the previous two seasons, Brentford's suffered a slump in the second half of the campaign, losing 9 of 14 matches between mid-February and late April to drop to as low as 9th, though two wins from the final two matches of the season elevated the side to a 5th-place finish. Brentford had also reached the fourth round of the FA Cup for the second successive season, exiting the competition after a heavy 6–1 defeat at the hands of top-flight Manchester City at Maine Road. It had been rumoured in April 1932 that manager Curtis had tendered his resignation, but chairman Louis P. Simon recognised his good work over the previous six years and persuaded him to stay. A run of four successive home Football League draws during the season equalled the club record, while Billy Lane's seventh and final Brentford hattrick (scored versus Coventry City on 12 September 1931) set a new club record.
Reserve team
Brentford's reserve team finished as champions of the London Combination for the first time. The team went undefeated at home from 21 November 1931, setting off a run which extended until 4 November 1933. Ralph Allen captained the team and scored a large percentage of the goals.
League table
Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend WinDrawLoss
Football League Third Division South No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)129 August 1931Queens Park RangersH1–020,739Robson23 September 1931ThamesA1–14,217Cook35 September 1931Exeter CityA1–47,093Lane49 September 1931ReadingA2–19,155Lane, Foster512 September 1931Coventry CityH4–28,017Lane (3), Foster619 September 1931GillinghamA2–17,225Lane, Foster724 September 1931ReadingH3–08,942Lane (2), Foster826 September 1931Luton TownH1–012,540Burns93 October 1931Cardiff CityA2–39,521Burns, Lane1010 October 1931Northampton TownH2–012,694Lane (pen), Robson1117 October 1931Bristol RoversH4–211,338Burns, Robson (2 pens), Berry1224 October 1931Torquay UnitedA1–14,650Robson (pen)1331 October 1931Clapton OrientH3–011,295Berry (2), Burns147 November 1931Swindon TownA3–16,415Lane, Foster (2)1514 November 1931Norwich CityH0–111,4841621 November 1931Brighton & Hove AlbionA2–19,582Lane, Berry175 December 1931WatfordA4–112,086Robson, Foster, Lane (2)1819 December 1931Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticA3–15,000Lane, Foster, Burns1925 December 1931FulhamH0–026,1392026 December 1931FulhamA1–229,253Robson212 January 1932Queens Park RangersA2–133,553Lane (2)2213 January 1932Mansfield TownH1–14,902Lane2316 January 1932Exeter CityH2–211,981Lane, Foster2428 January 1932Coventry CityA1–06,172Berry2530 January 1932GillinghamH1–111,361Berry266 February 1932Luton TownA1–17,402Lane2713 February 1932Cardiff CityH2–316,239Crompton, Gibbins2820 February 1932Northampton TownA0–36,5332927 February 1932Bristol RoversA0–26,114305 March 1932Torquay UnitedH3–211,293Webster (og), Burns, Gibbins3112 March 1932Clapton OrientA2–210,700Crompton, Foster3219 March 1932Swindon TownH2–010,179Robson (pen), Foster3325 March 1932Southend UnitedH2–315,237Crompton, Gibbins3426 March 1932Norwich CityA0–110,4223528 March 1932Southend UnitedA0–117,313362 April 1932Brighton & Hove AlbionH2–29,107Gibbins (2)379 April 1932Mansfield TownA0–24,9323813 April 1932Crystal PalaceH1–15,816Lane3916 April 1932WatfordH1–26,723Burns4023 April 1932Crystal PalaceA0–112,1384130 April 1932Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticH4–25,906Foster (2), Cook, Lane427 May 1932ThamesH1–06,364Robson
FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)1R28 November 1931Tunbridge Wells RangersA1–15,680Burns1R (replay)2 December 1931Tunbridge Wells RangersH2–110,000Lane (pen), Burns2R12 December 1931Norwich CityH4–117,050Lane (2), Robson, Berry3R9 January 1932Bath CityH2–015,700Lane, Berry4R23 January 1932Manchester CityA1–656,190Lane
Sources: Statto, 11v11, 100 Years of Brentford
Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1931–32 season. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepersGKEdward NashSwindon Town1930GKDave SmithGillingham1931DefendersDFTom AdamsonBury1929DFBill BannTottenham Hotspur1930DFWilliam HodgeRangers1927DFAlexander StevensonArmadale1927DFGeorge WeeksSouthall1929MidfieldersHBJimmy Bain (c)Manchester Central1928HBJoe JamesBattersea Church1929HBHarry SaltCrystal Palace1929HBTeddy WareChatham Town1928HBLes WilkinsWest Ham United1931ForwardsFWRalph AllenFulham1930FWBill BerryGillingham1926FWJackie BurnsQueens Park Rangers1931AmateurFWGeorge CookTottenham Hotspur1931FWArthur CromptonSouthend United1932FWJackie FosterBristol City1929FWVivian GibbinsClapton1932AmateurFWBilly LaneReading1929FWHerbert LawsonArsenal1927FWGeorge RobsonWest Ham United1931FWBert StephensEaling Association1931 Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, Timeless Bees, Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939
Coaching staff NameRole Harry CurtisManager Bob KaneTrainer Jack CartmellAssistant trainer
Statistics
Appearances and goals
PosNatNameLeagueFA CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKEdward Nash35050400GKDave Smith700070DFTom Adamson35050400DFBill Bann400040DFWilliam Hodge29030320DFAlexander Stevenson14020160DFGeorge Weeks200020HBJimmy Bain37030400HBJoe James502070HBHarry Salt13000130HBTeddy Ware41050460HBLes Wilkins17040210FWRalph Allen200020FWBill Berry31652368FWJackie Burns36752417FWGeorge Cook14310153FWArthur Crompton123—123FWJackie Foster4012504512FWVivian Gibbins85—85FWBilly Lane3722554227FWHerbert Lawson300030FWGeorge Robson389514310FWBert Stephens200020 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford
Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL3FACTotalFWBilly Lane22527FWJackie Foster12012FWGeorge Robson9110FWBill Berry628FWJackie Burns725FWVivian Gibbins5—5FWArthur Crompton3—3FWGeorge Cook303Opponents101Total681078 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford
Amateur international caps Pos.NatPlayerCapsGoalsRefFWJackie Burns30FWVivian Gibbins20
Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Harry Curtis9 August 19317 May 1932 |
Summary Games played 47 (42 Third Division South, 5 FA Cup)Games won 22 (19 Third Division South, 3 FA Cup)Games drawn 11 (10 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)Games lost 14 (13 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)Goals scored 78 (68 Third Division South, 10 FA Cup)Goals conceded 61 (52 Third Division South, 9 FA Cup)Clean sheets 10 (9 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)Biggest league win 3–0 on two occasions; 4–1 versus Watford, 5 December 1931Worst league defeat 3–0 versus Northampton Town, 20 February 1932; 4–1 versus Exeter City, 5 September 1931Most appearances 46, Teddy Ware (41 Third Division South, 5 FA Cup)Top scorer (league) 22, Billy LaneTop scorer (all competitions) 27, Billy Lane
Transfers & loans Cricketers are not included in this list. Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.May 1931FW Andy Anderson Blyth Spartansn/aMay 1931FW Jackie Burns Queens Park RangersAmateurMay 1931FW Malcolm Comrie Denny Hiberniansn/aMay 1931FW Johnny McPhee Sunderlandn/aMay 1931GK Dave Smith GillinghamFreeAugust 1931FW George Cook Tottenham Hotspurn/aAugust 1931FWS. Fieldus Millwalln/aAugust 1931HB Cecil Smith Brentford MarketFree1931LH Albert Woods Gillinghamn/a11 February 1932FW Vivian Gibbins ClaptonAmateurFebruary 1932FW Arthur Crompton Southend Unitedn/aPlayers transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.August 1931FW Cecil Blakemore Norwich City£200Players releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.May 1932FW Andy Andersonn/an/aMay 1932DF Bill Bann Bristol Rovers4 June 1932May 1932FW Malcolm Comrie Manchester CityJuly 1932May 1932FW George Cook Colwyn Bay United1932May 1932HB Reginald Davies Mansfield Town1932May 1932FW Vivian Gibbins Bristol Rovers9 June 1932May 1932GK Edward Nash Crystal PalaceAugust 1932May 1932HB Harry Salt WalsallMay 1932May 1932FW David Sherlaw St Johnstone6 July 1932May 1932GK Dave Smith Nithsdale Wanderers1932May 1932DF George Weeks WatfordJuly 1932May 1932FW Les Wilkins Swindon Town25 August 1932
References