During the 1936–37 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League First Division and secured a 6th-place finish, one place below the previous season's club record highest league position.

Season summary After a club record 5th-place finish in Brentford's debut season in the top flight, manager Harry Curtis kept faith with the season's previous squad, releasing outside forward Jim Brown and bringing in youngsters Harry Bamford and Joe Murray. Teenage outside right Les Smith, who had signed his first professional contract a year earlier, was promoted to the first team squad after Bobby Reid was struck down by appendicitis on the eve of the season.

After a mixed start to the season, Brentford kicked into gear in late September 1936, losing just four of 19 matches to establish themselves in the top three in the First Division. In his first full season with the Bees, forward David McCulloch again showed prolific form, going on to score 33 goals in his 43 appearances. Five goals in a six match spell also saw forward Billy Scott win an England cap in a British Home Championship match versus Wales in October 1937, which made him Brentford's first full England international player. Brentford's form dipped in mid-February 1937 and despite the signing of Buster Brown to replace the departed Dai Richards at left half, the club dropped to a 6th-place finish.

A 6–2 defeat to champions-elect Manchester City on 3 April equalled the club record for most goals conceded in a Football League match. Despite a number of other heavy defeats, manager Harry Curtis did improve the team's winning percentage in both the league and FA Cup, with Brentford hammering Huddersfield Town 5–0 in the third round (the first time the Bees had scored in the FA Cup for over four years) before exiting at the hands of Derby County in the following round.

At the end of the season, Brentford set off on a tour of Nazi Germany, beating Hamburger SV (3–0), Hertha BSC (4–0), drawing 2–2 with champions 1. FC Nürnberg and losing 4–0 to Schalke 04. The Star published a picture of the team giving a Nazi salute prior to the Schalke match, which caused a minor stir in London.

League table

Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League First Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)129 August 1936Bolton WanderersH2–227,524McCulloch, Wilson (pen)23 September 1936ArsenalH2–031,056Hopkins, McCulloch35 September 1936EvertonA0–337,52449 September 1936ArsenalA1–144,010Wilson (pen)512 September 1936Huddersfield TownH1–125,386McCulloch617 September 1936Charlton AthleticH4–221,373L. Smith, McCulloch, W. Scott, McKenzie (pen)719 September 1936SunderlandA1–437,407Hopkins826 September 1936Wolverhampton WanderersH3–223,256McCulloch (2), McKenzie (pen)93 October 1936Derby CountyA3–224,545W. Scott (2), McCulloch1010 October 1936Manchester UnitedH4–028,019Reid, W. Scott (2), McCulloch1117 October 1936Grimsby TownA0–211,8581224 October 1936LiverpoolH5–225,934McCulloch (3), Holliday, Reid1331 October 1936Leeds UnitedA1–321,498Holliday147 November 1936BirminghamH2–122,905McCulloch (2)1514 November 1936MiddlesbroughA0–323,0641621 November 1936West Bromwich AlbionH2–120,575Reid, McCulloch175 December 1936PortsmouthH4–026,371McCulloch (2), Holliday (2)1812 December 1936ChelseaA1–251,079Reid1919 December 1936Stoke CityH2–118,167Holliday, Tutin (og)2025 December 1936Sheffield WednesdayH2–126,560Reid, W. Scott2126 December 1936Bolton WanderersA2–236,962McCulloch, W. Scott2228 December 1936Sheffield WednesdayA2–020,374W. Scott, Hopkins232 January 1937EvertonH2–220,457Hopkins, McKenzie (pen)249 January 1937Huddersfield TownA1–121,753McCulloch2523 January 1937SunderlandH3–329,389W. Scott (3)266 February 1937Derby CountyH6–231,745Reid (2), Holliday (2), McCulloch (2)2710 February 1937Wolverhampton WanderersA0–419,3732813 February 1937Manchester UnitedA3–131,942W. Scott, Reid (2)2927 February 1937LiverpoolA2–225,005Reid (pen), McCulloch303 March 1937Grimsby TownH2–314,103McCulloch (2)316 March 1937Leeds UnitedH4–116,588Holliday, McCulloch (2), Holley (og)3213 March 1937BirminghamA0–430,5103320 March 1937MiddlesbroughH4–123,872L. Smith, McCulloch (3)3426 March 1937Preston North EndH1–131,069McCulloch3527 March 1937West Bromwich AlbionA0–129,8583629 March 1937Preston North EndA1–126,782W. Scott373 April 1937Manchester CityH2–629,028W. Scott, Hopkins387 April 1937Manchester CityA1–224,629McCulloch3910 April 1937PortsmouthA3–119,208Hopkins, McCulloch, Muttitt4017 April 1937ChelseaH1–022,042McKenzie (pen)4124 April 1937Stoke CityA1–518,451McKenzie421 May 1937Charlton AthleticA1–226,195W. Scott

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)3R16 January 1937Huddersfield TownH5–0n/aReid (2, 1 pen), McCulloch (2), Holliday4R30 January 1937Derby CountyA0–327,376

Sources: Statto, 11v11, 100 Years of Brentford

Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1936–37 season. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepersGKJames MathiesonMiddlesbrough1934GKJames NichollsManchester City1934DefendersDFArthur Bateman (c)Southend United1934DFGeorge DumbrellBournemouth & Boscombe Athletic1935DFWalter MetcalfSunderland1934DFGeorge PoyserPort Vale1934DFJoe WilsonSouthend United1935MidfieldersHBBuster BrownHuddersfield Town1937HBJoe JamesBattersea Church1929HBDuncan McKenzieAlbion Rovers1932HBJoe Murray1914 (aged 21–22)Ayr United1936HBArchie ScottDerby County1934ForwardsFWBilly DunnCeltic1935FWJack HollidayMiddlesbrough1932FWIdris HopkinsCrystal Palace1932FWDavid McCullochHeart of Midlothian1935FWErnest MuttittMiddlesbrough1932FWBobby ReidHamilton Academical1936FWBilly ScottMiddlesbrough1932FWLes SmithPetersham1934Players who left the club mid-seasonHBDai RichardsWolverhampton Wanderers1935Transferred to BirminghamHBCecil SmithBrentford Market1931Transferred to Doncaster Rovers 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 Mathieson35020370GKJames Nicholls700070DFArthur Bateman26020280DFGeorge Dumbrell400040DFWalter Metcalf500050DFGeorge Poyser31020330DFJoe Wilson13020150HBBuster Brown100—100HBJoe James42020440HBDuncan McKenzie42520445HBJoe Murray100010HBDai Richards29020310HBCecil Smith10—10HBArchie Scott200020FWBilly Dunn100010FWJack Holliday41821439FWIdris Hopkins41620436FWDavid McCulloch4131224333FWErnest Muttitt710071FWBobby Reid2810223012FWBilly Scott4115204315FWLes Smith14200142 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford

Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL1FACTotalFWDavid McCulloch31233FWBilly Scott15015FWBobby Reid10212FWJack Holliday819FWIdris Hopkins606HBDuncan McKenzie505FWLes Smith202FWErnest Muttitt101Opponents202Total82587 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford

International caps Pos.NatPlayerCapsGoalsRefFWIdris Hopkins30FWDavid McCulloch21FWDai Richards20FWBilly Scott10

Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Harry Curtis29 August 19362 May 1937 |

Summary Games played 44 (42 First Division, 2 FA Cup)Games won 19 (18 First Division, 1 FA Cup)Games drawn 10 (10 First Division, 0 FA Cup)Games lost 15 (14 First Division, 1 FA Cup)Goals scored 87 (82 First Division, 5 FA Cup)Goals conceded 81 (78 First Division, 3 FA Cup)Clean sheets 6 (5 First Division, 1 FA Cup)Biggest league win 4–0 on two occasions; 6–2 versus Derby County, 6 February 1937Worst league defeat 4–0 on two occasions; 6–2 versus Manchester City, 3 April 1937; 5–1 versus Stoke City, 24 April 1937Most appearances 44, Joe James, Duncan McKenzie (42 First Division, 2 FA Cup)Top scorer (league) 31, David McCullochTop scorer (all competitions) 33, David McCulloch

Transfers & loans Cricketers are not included in this list. Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.September 1936FW Bert Knott Arsenaln/a1936DF Harry Bamford HayesFree1936HB Joe Murray Ayr UnitedFreeMarch 1937HB Buster Brown Huddersfield Town£3,000Players transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.November 1936HB Cecil Smith Doncaster RoversFreeJanuary 1937GK Thomas Lynch WatfordUndisclosedMarch 1937HB Dai Richards Birmingham£3,500Players releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.n/aFW Bert Knott Stourbridgen/aMay 1937FW Billy Dunn SouthamptonMay 1937May 1937DF Walter Metcalf Coventry City1937May 1937GK James Nicholls Port ValeJune 1937

References