During the 1935–36 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League First Division for the first time in the club's history. A torrid run in the opening half of the season left Brentford in the relegation places, but after a number of key signings were made, just two defeats from Christmas Day 1935 through to the end of the season elevated the Bees to an impressive 5th-place finish, the club's highest-ever in the league pyramid. Brentford also reached the final of the London Challenge Cup for the second consecutive season, but were beaten by league rivals Arsenal. In 2013, the Brentford supporters voted 1935–36 as the club's third-best season.
Season summary In preparation for the 1935–36 season, Brentford manager Harry Curtis elected to stick with the nucleus of players that had elevated the club from the Third Division South to the First Division in just three seasons, his only significant signing being right back Joe Wilson from Southend United. The Bees had a dream start to their first season in the top-flight, going to the top of the division after a 2–0 opening day victory over Bolton Wanderers. A 2–1 home defeat to Huddersfield Town two matches later gave way to a run of 11 defeats in 17 matches, which left the club in the relegation places.
Previously-prolific scorers Jack Holliday and Idris Hopkins had had a difficult time adjusting to the higher level, with scoring just 13 goals between them by the time the Bees were mired in the relegation battle at the end of 1935. Manager Curtis recognised the need to strengthen the squad in mid-season, dropping and later selling full back Jack Astley, left half Jackie Burns and forwards Charlie Fletcher and George Robson. In addition, former captain Herbert Watson was dropped from the half back line. In came Welsh international left half Dai Richards for £3,500 and Scottish forwards David McCulloch and Bobby Reid, with McCulloch signing for a club record £6,000 fee.
The signings had an inspired effect, sending the Bees on a run of just two defeats in the remaining 23 matches of the season, with forward McCulloch netting an impressive 26 goals in 27 appearances to finish as top-scorer. Manager Harry Curtis also signed a new five-year contract in February 1936. Brentford finished their debut season in the First Division in 5th place, which as of the end of the 2015–16 season is the club's highest-ever in the pyramid. Brentford also reached the final of the London Challenge Cup for the second-successive season, but were defeated 4–2 by league rivals Arsenal. The Bees' club record attendance for a home Football League match was broken twice during the season, with 33,481 attending versus Huddersfield Town on 7 September 1935 and 33,486 for the West London derby with Chelsea on 28 March 1936.
League table
Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend WinDrawLoss
Football League First Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)131 August 1935Bolton WanderersA2–031,949Holliday (2)25 September 1935Blackburn RoversH3–125,047Fletcher (2), Holliday37 September 1935Huddersfield TownH1–233,481Hopkins414 September 1935MiddlesbroughA0–038,107518 September 1935Derby CountyA1–221,648Fletcher621 September 1935Aston VillaH1–229,781Holliday728 September 1935Wolverhampton WanderersA2–328,431Holliday, Scott85 October 1935Sheffield WednesdayH2–225,338Robson, Scott912 October 1935PortsmouthA3–122,316Hopkins (2), Holliday1019 October 1935Stoke CityH0–024,9601126 October 1935Manchester CityA1–229,868Hopkins122 November 1935ArsenalH2–126,330Burns, Hopkins139 November 1935BirminghamA1–228,673Dunn1416 November 1935SunderlandH1–524,720Hopkins1523 November 1935ChelseaA1–256,624Robson (pen)1630 November 1935Leeds UnitedH2–223,914Scott, McCulloch177 December 1935Grimsby TownA1–65,276Fletcher1814 December 1935LiverpoolH1–218,508Robson1921 December 1935West Bromwich AlbionA0–114,2722025 December 1935Preston North EndH5–221,474Holliday, Muttitt, McCulloch (2), Scott2126 December 1935Preston North EndA4–222,937Hopkins (3), McCulloch2228 December 1935Bolton WanderersH4–027,156McCulloch (3), McKenzie231 January 1936Blackburn RoversA0–124,724244 January 1936Huddersfield TownA2–217,682McCulloch, Fletcher2518 January 1936MiddlesbroughH1–027,779Scott2625 January 1936Aston VillaA2–240,328Reid, Scott271 February 1936Wolverhampton WanderersH5–025,123Morris (og), McCulloch (2), Scott, Holliday288 February 1936Sheffield WednesdayA3–320,757Holliday, McCulloch, Hopkins2922 February 1936Stoke CityA2–218,045McCulloch, Scott3029 February 1936BirminghamH0–120,523317 March 1936Leeds UnitedA2–110,509Reid, Hopkins3214 March 1936Manchester CityH0–028,3643321 March 1936SunderlandA3–126,348Holliday, McCulloch (2)3425 March 1936PortsmouthH3–115,379McCulloch (3)3528 March 1936ChelseaH2–133,486McCulloch, Hopkins364 April 1936ArsenalA1–128,303Holliday3710 April 1936EvertonA2–145,477McCulloch (2)3811 April 1936Grimsby TownH3–024,830McCulloch (2), Hopkins3913 April 1936EvertonH4–129,790Holliday, Hopkins (2), Scott4018 April 1936LiverpoolA0–028,4634125 April 1936West Bromwich AlbionH2–224,527Scott, Reid422 May 1936Derby CountyH6–020,521McCulloch (4), Holliday, Scott
FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance3R11 January 1936Leicester CityA0–129,750
Sources: Statto, 11v11, 100 Years of Brentford
Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1935–36 season. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepersGKJames MathiesonMiddlesbrough1934DefendersDFArthur Bateman (c)Southend United1934DFGeorge DumbrellBournemouth & Boscombe Athletic1934DFWalter MetcalfSunderland1934DFGeorge PoyserPort Vale1934DFJoe WilsonSouthend United1935MidfieldersHBJoe JamesBattersea Church1929HBDuncan McKenzieAlbion Rovers1932HBDai RichardsWolverhampton Wanderers1935HBCecil SmithBrentford Market1931ForwardsFWJim BrownManchester United1934FWBilly DunnCeltic1935FWJack HollidayMiddlesbrough1932FWIdris HopkinsCrystal Palace1932FWDavid McCullochHeart of Midlothian1935FWErnest MuttittMiddlesbrough1932FWBobby ReidHamilton Academical1936FWBilly ScottMiddlesbrough1932Players who left the club mid-seasonDFJack AstleySouthport1933Transferred to Coventry CityHBJackie Burns Queens Park Rangers1931Amateur, transferred to LeytonHBHerbert WatsonMiddlesbrough1932Transferred to Bristol RoversFWCharlie FletcherClapton Orient1933Transferred to BurnleyFWGeorge RobsonWest Ham United1931Transferred to Heart of Midlothian Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, Timeless Bees, Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939
Coaching staff NameRole Harry CurtisManager Jimmy BainAssistant Manager Bob KaneTrainer Jack CartmellAssistant Trainer Fred KeatchSecretary
Statistics
Appearances and goals
PosNatNameLeagueFA CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKJames Mathieson42010430DFJack Astley800080DFArthur Bateman23000230DFGeorge Dumbrell100010DFWalter Metcalf100010DFGeorge Poyser28010290DFJoe Wilson22010230HBJackie Burns91—91HBJoe James41010420HBDuncan McKenzie38110391HBDai Richards26010270HBCecil Smith100010HBHerbert Watson13000130FWJim Brown100010FWBilly Dunn210021FWCharlie Fletcher20500205FWJack Holliday3713103813FWIdris Hopkins4215104315FWDavid McCulloch2626102726FWErnest Muttitt511061FWBobby Reid183—183FWGeorge Robson18300183FWBilly Scott3911104011 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford
Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL1FACTotalFWDavid McCulloch26026FWIdris Hopkins15015FWJack Holliday13013FWBilly Scott11011FWCharlie Fletcher505FWBobby Reid3—3FWGeorge Robson303HBJackie Burns101FWBilly Dunn101HBDuncan McKenzie101FWErnest Muttitt101Opponents101Total81081 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford
International caps Pos.NatPlayerCapsGoalsRefFWIdris Hopkins20FWDavid McCulloch10FWDai Richards21
Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Harry Curtis31 August 19352 May 1936 |
Summary Games played 43 (42 First Division, 1 FA Cup)Games won 17 (17 First Division, 0 FA Cup)Games drawn 12 (12 First Division, 0 FA Cup)Games lost 14 (13 First Division, 1 FA Cup)Goals scored 81 (81 First Division, 0 FA Cup)Goals conceded 61 (60 First Division, 1 FA Cup)Clean sheets 10 (10 First Division, 0 FA Cup)Biggest league win 6–0 versus Derby County, 2 May 1936Worst league defeat 6–1 versus Grimsby Town, 7 December 1935Most appearances 43, Idris Hopkins, James Mathieson (42 First Division, 1 FA Cup)Top scorer (league) 26, David McCullochTop scorer (all competitions) 26, David McCulloch
Transfers & loans Cricketers are not included in this list. Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.May 1935GK Thomas Lynch Yeovil & Petters Unitedn/a7 June 1935FW Billy Dunn Celticn/a18 July 1935FW Les Sullivan RochdaleExchangeJuly 1935DF Joe Wilson Southend UnitedFreeAugust 1935HB Sam Briddon Port ValeFree30 November 1935FW David McCulloch Heart of Midlothian£6,00030 November 1935HB Dai Richards Wolverhampton Wanderers£3,5001935FW Isaac Fenton Burnleyn/a1935HBH. Marley Leytonn/a17 January 1936FW Bobby Reid Hamilton Academicaln/aPlayers transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.18 July 1935FW Matt Johnson RochdaleExchange19 December 1935FW George Robson Heart of Midlothiann/aDecember 1935HB Jackie Burns LeytonAmateurFebruary 1936DF Jack Astley Coventry Cityn/aFebruary 1936FW Charlie Fletcher Burnleyn/a22 April 1936HB James Raven Bristol Roversn/a22 April 1936FW Les Sullivan Bristol Roversn/a22 April 1936HB Herbert Watson Bristol Roversn/aPlayers loaned outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubDate toRef.1935FW Les Smith Hayes1936Players releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.May 1936FW Jim Brown Tottenham Hotspur1936
References