During the 1914–15 English football season, Brentford competed in the Southern League Second Division. The season began one month after Britain entered the First World War, which unsettled the squad as players left to undertake military or munitions duties. The Bees finished in mid-table in what would be the club's last season of competitive football until 1919–20.

Season summary

Brentford's players were due to report back for pre-season training during the week beginning 3 August 1914, but those preparations were disrupted by Britain's declaration of war on Germany on 4 August. Just two players had been signed, forwards Jack Curtis and Stephen Stonley. As the season got underway, Brentford lost just two of the first 10 Southern League Second Division matches, but by that point it had become obvious that the war would not be over by Christmas as predicted. Beginning in mid-October 1914, the squad was decimated by departures to serve in the army (Kent, Sloley, Hendren, Amos), work in munitions at the Royal Arsenal (McGovern, Johnson, Stonley) or on transfers (J. Curtis, Spratt). Reserves, guest players, free transfers and local amateurs were brought in to plug gaps in the squad, with full back Fred Price, half backs Mick O'Brien, Charles Allwright and forwards Michael Donaghy, Walter Chalk, F. Arnold and Charles Hibbert making up for the departures of the professionals in the second half of the season. Amateur Walter Chalk would become something of a minor success, scoring six goals in 9 appearances.

Notably, a 10–0 win over Abertillery on 28 November 1914 set a new club record, but the result was declared void two days later when Abertillery resigned from the Southern League. Earlier wins over Leyton and Mardy were also chalked off when those clubs also left the league. Brentford won just three of the final 15 matches of the season, with the one bright spot being the emergence of inside right Henry White. Low attendances meant the Bees finished a mid-table season £7,000 in debt (equivalent to £ in ) and 1914–15 would become the final season of competitive football until 1919–20, after the war ended in November 1918.

Three former Brentford players died during the season: Private Harry Gould, a former reserve team player, died whilst in training with the Royal Fusiliers on 7 September 1914. Private William Mehew, an occasional player at the turn of the century, was serving in the Northamptonshire Regiment when he was killed during the Battle of Aubers on 9 May 1915. One-time England amateur international George Littler, a former Brentford reserve, was serving as a sergeant in the King's Royal Rifle Corps when he died of wounds suffered during the Battle of Aubers on 11 May 1915.

League table

Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend WinDrawLoss

Southern League Second Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultScorer(s)15 September 1914Coventry CityH3–1Sloley, Stonley (2, 1 pen)212 September 1914BarryA1–0White314 September 1914Mid RhonddaA0–0426 September 1914Ton PentreA0–0513 October 1914Stalybridge CelticA1–5J. Curtis631 October 1914Ebbw ValeH3–0Sloley (3)77 November 1914LlanellyA0–3814 November 1914Newport CountyH1–0Stonley (pen)912 December 1914Swansea TownH2–0Johnson, Hendren1025 December 1914StokeH2–2Stonley, Sloley1126 December 1914StokeA0–3122 January 1915Coventry CityA2–3Stonley, White139 January 1915PontypriddA0–11416 January 1915BarryH0–01530 January 1915Ton PentreH3–3Hibbert, White, F. Price1613 February 1915Stalybridge CelticH1–3Chalk176 March 1915Ebbw ValeA4–1Arnold (2), White, Chalk1813 March 1915LlanellyH2–2Martin (og), Chalk1920 March 1915Newport CountyA0–52027 March 1915Mid RhonddaH3–1White, Chalk (2)212 April 1915Merthyr TownH1–1O'Brien223 April 1915Swansea TownA0–8235 April 1915Merthyr TownA0–32410 April 1915PontypriddH6–0O'Brien (2), Chalk, White (2), Barclay

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultScorerQR421 November 1914NunheadA1–0StonleyQR55 December 1914BoscombeA0–0QR5 (replay)9 December 1914BoscombeH0–1

Source: 100 Years Of Brentford

Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1914–15 season. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepersGKTed PriceCroydon Common1912DefendersDFFrank PriceShepherds Bush1914DFDusty Rhodes (c) Sunderland1908ManagerDFBertie Rosier Southall1913MidfieldersHBCharles AllwrightKingston upon Thames1914HBAlf AmosOld Kingstonians1913HBAlec BarclayIlford1910AmateurHBBobby JacksonPortsmouth1913HBTom McGovernHalifax Town1913HBMick O'BrienCeltic1915ForwardsFWHerbert AllwrightUnattached1915FWF. Arnoldn/aWest Kensington1915FWWalter ChalkOld Kingstonians1915AmateurFWJack ChapmanSouthall1913AmateurFWGeorge CurtisKingston upon Thames1914FWMichael DonaghyLuton Town1915FWPatsy HendrenQueens Park Rangers1911Played when his cricket commitments allowedFWCharles HibbertUxbridge1914AmateurFWTommy KentSlough Town1913AmateurFWJack LandHounslow1910FWRichard SloleyCambridge University1914AmateurFWStephen Stonley Woolwich Arsenal1914FWCharles SymesSouth Tooting1912FWHenry WhiteWhamcliffe Athletic1913AmateurPlayers who left the club mid-seasonDFWalter SprattRotherham Town1911Transferred to Manchester UnitedHBJoe JohnsonClapton Orient1913Transferred to Hartlepools UnitedFWJack CurtisFulham1914Transferred to Stockport CountyGuest playersGKWilliam Hughesn/aLeyton1915Amateur, guest from LeytonHBHarry CraneWoking1915Amateur, guest from WokingFWCharles BedellTufnell Park1915Amateur, guest from Tufnell ParkFWNorman CarsonShepherd's Bush1915Amateur, guest from Shepherd's BushFWRichard Frasern/aChelsea1914Guest from ChelseaFWPercy MatthewsUxbridge1914Amateur, guest from UxbridgeFWCecil SalisburyWoking1915Amateur, guest from WokingFWJames SangsterSouthall1914Amateur, guest from Southall Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, Timeless Bees, Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939, Bees Review

Coaching staff NameRole Dusty RhodesManager Fred HallidaySecretary Tommy SpicerTrainer Michael WhithamTrainer

Statistics

Appearances and goals

PosNatNameLeagueFA CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKTed Price22030250DFFrank Price101—101DFDusty Rhodes22020240DFBertie Rosier100010DFWalter Spratt15030180HBCharles Allwright50—50HBAlf Amos23030260HBAlec Barclay12130151HBBobby Jackson100010HBJoe Johnson11120131HBJack Land100010HBTom McGovern15030180HBMick O'Brien93—93FWHerbert Allwright20—20FWF. Arnold72—72FWWalter Chalk96—96FWJack Chapman200020FWJack Curtis14120161FWMichael Donaghy70—70FWPatsy Hendren13110141FWCharles Hibbert111—111FWTommy Kent401050FWRichard Sloley351045FWStephen Stonley14431175FWCharles Symes102030FWHenry White16700167Players guested during the seasonGKWilliam Hughes20—20HBHarry Crane10—10FWCharles Bedell10—10FWNorman Carson20—20FWGeorge Curtis10—10FWRichard Fraser30—30FWPercy Matthews30—30FWCecil Salisbury10—10FWJames Sangster—2020 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford

Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerSL2FACTotalFWHenry White707FWWalter Chalk6—6FWRichard Sloley505FWStephen Stonley415HBMick O'Brien3—3FWF. Arnold2—2FWCharles Hibbert1—1DFFrank Price1—1HBAlec Barclay101FWJack Curtis101FWPatsy Hendren101HBJoe Johnson101Opponents101Total35136 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford

Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Dusty Rhodes5 September 191410 April 1915 |

Summary Games played 27 (24 Southern League Second Division, 3 FA Cup)Games won 9 (8 Southern League Second Division, 1 FA Cup)Games drawn 8 (7 Southern League Second Division, 1 FA Cup)Games lost 10 (9 Southern League Second Division, 1 FA Cup)Goals scored 36 (35 Southern League Second Division, 1 FA Cup)Goals conceded 46 (45 Southern League Second Division, 1 FA Cup)Clean sheets 9 (8 Southern League Second Division, 1 FA Cup)Biggest league win 6–0 versus Pontypridd, 10 April 1915Worst league defeat 8–0 versus Swansea Town, 3 April 1915Most appearances 26, Alf Amos (23 Southern League Second Division, 3 FA Cup)Top scorer (league) 7, Henry WhiteTop scorer (all competitions) 7, Henry White

Transfers & loans Guest players' arrival and departure dates correspond to their first and last appearances of the season. Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.6 June 1914FW Jack Curtis Fulhamn/a12 June 1914FW Stephen Stonley Woolwich Arsenaln/aJune 1914FW Cyril Northamn/an/aJuly 1914GK Ed MartinUnattachedAmateurAugust 1914HB Bert GibsonUnattachedAmateurAugust 1914DF Oliver PayneUnattachedAmateurAugust 1914FW Arthur WhiteUnattachedAmateurSeptember 1914HB Jack Land Hounslown/aSeptember 1914FW Charles Symes South Tootingn/a24 October 1914DF Edward Hawkins Portsmouthn/aOctober 1914FW Jack Chapman SouthallAmateurOctober 1914FW George Curtis Kingston upon ThamesAmateur28 November 1914HB Mick O'Brien Celticn/aNovember 1914HB Richard Jonas Shepherd's BushAmateur8 December 1914FW Charles Allwright Kingston upon ThamesAmateurDecember 1914FW Charles Hibbert UxbridgeAmateurDecember 1914DF Frank Price Shepherd's BushAmateur1914FW Tommy Kent Slough TownAmateurFebruary 1915FW Walter Chalk Old KingstoniansAmateurMarch 1915FW Herbert AllwrightUnattachedAmateurMarch 1915FW F. Arnold West KensingtonAmateurMarch 1915FW Michael Donaghy Luton Townn/a1915HB Leonard Forrester MillwallAmateur1915FW George Steers Shepherd's BushAmateurPlayers transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.29 January 1915FW Jack Curtis Stockport Countyn/a4 February 1915DF Walter Spratt Manchester United£17529 March 1915HB Joe Johnson Hartlepools Unitedn/aGuest players inDate fromPos.NamePrevious clubDate toRef.12 September 1914FW Percy Matthews Uxbridge13 October 19147 November 1914FW Richard Fraser Chelsea2 January 191531 October 1914FW James Sangster Southall9 December 19149 January 1915FW Charles Bedell Tufnell Park9 January 191516 January 1915HB Harry Crane Woking16 January 191516 January 1915FW Cecil Salisbury Woking16 January 191530 January 1915FW Norman Carson Shepherd's Bush13 February 19156 March 1915GK William Hughes Leyton13 March 1915

References