During the 1913–14 English football season, Brentford competed in the Southern League Second Division. Despite winning 13 of 15 matches in the first half of the season, a loss of form in a five-week spell from February through to April 1914 ended the club's chances of an immediate return to First Division.

Season summary

Brentford player-manager Dusty Rhodes faced a tough task ahead in the Bees' first season back in the Southern League Second Division since 1900–01, with the club's debt having risen to £5,000 (equivalent to £ in ) and the prospect of high expenses and reduced gate receipts from away matches due to 11 of the league's 16 clubs being located in Wales. As a result, the Southern League Management Committee paid a £100 subsidy to each of the five English clubs in the league. Of the previous season's professional players, only goalkeeper Ted Price, full backs Tommy Fells and Walter Spratt, centre half Frank Bentley and outside left Patsy Hendren were retained. Bill Smith, Frederick Chapple and Bob McTavish were sold for small fees, while left half Phil Richards elected to retire. In came half backs Tom McGovern, Bobby Jackson and forwards Charlie Elliott, Henry Simons, Joe Johnson and Tommy Clark. England international amateur right half Alec Barclay remained with the club and amateur forwards Henry White and Jack Chapman were added to the ranks.

As the season got underway, Brentford feasted on poor Welsh opposition, winning 13 of the first 15 matches of the season, scoring 49 goals and conceding just three. Treharris and Ton Pentre were each beaten 7–0 at Griffin Park and the Bees also posted 5–0, 4–0 and 3–0 scorelines, each on two occasions. The rot slowly set in after a 1–0 home defeat to 2nd-place Croydon Common on Christmas Day 1913 and injuries and the absence of some of the club's amateurs lead to defeats to fellow challengers Luton Town in February 1914, Stoke later that month and a galling 1–0 reverse to Ton Pentre on 21 March. Defeat to Newport County at home on 4 April ended Brentford's mathematical chances of a runners-up finish and later that month, with the club unable to pay its players in full, leading scorer Henry Simons and future England international Jack Cock were sold to raise funds. Brentford finished the campaign in 4th-place and lost £127 for the season (equivalent to £ in ).

League table

Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend WinDrawLoss

Southern League Second Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultScorer(s)113 September 1913TreharrisA3–1Chapman, McGovern, Simons220 September 1913CaerphillyH5–0Simons (2), Johnson, Hendren (2)34 October 1913Ton PentreH7–0Chapman (3), Hendren, Clark, Johnson, Jackson411 October 1913AbertilleryA1–0Clark518 October 1913Swansea TownH3–1Clark, Johnson, Barclay625 October 1913BarryH5–0Johnson (3), Simons (2)77 November 1913MardyH4–0Simons, Johnson (3)86 December 1913LlanellyA3–0Chapman (2), Jackson920 December 1913BarryA4–0Kent, Simons, Chapman, Elliott1025 December 1913Croydon CommonH0–11126 December 1913TreharrisH7–0Simons (4), Chapman (2), Johnson1227 December 1913Newport CountyH3–0Simons (2), Chapman1317 January 1914StokeH2–0Chapman (2)1429 January 1914Mid RhonddaA0–01531 January 1914PontypriddH2–0Simons, Johnson167 February 1914Luton TownA1–3Hendren (pen)1714 February 1914LlanellyH2–0Chapman (2)1821 February 1914PontypriddA0–01923 February 1914MardyA2–0Johnson, Simons2028 February 1914StokeA1–2Simons2114 March 1914Mid RhonddaH3–1Farnfield, Simons, Barclay2221 March 1914Ton PentreA0–12323 March 1914AberdareA6–3Johnson (3), Simons, Hendren, Elliott2428 March 1914AbertilleryH5–0McGovern, Chapman (2), Barclay, Cock254 April 1914Newport CountyA2–3Jackson, Simons2610 April 1914AberdareH4–0Sloley (3), Chapman2711 April 1914Luton TownH0–02813 April 1914Croydon CommonA0–12918 April 1914Swansea TownA0–03020 April 1914CaerphillyA5–1Meehan, White (2), Johnson, Kent

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultScorerQR429 November 1913Luton ClarenceH1–0JohnsonQR513 December 1913Southend UnitedH1–1ChapmanQR5 (replay)17 December 1913Southend UnitedA0–2

Source: 100 Years Of Brentford

Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1913–14 season. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepersGKTed PriceCroydon Common1912DefendersDFTommy FellsSouth Kirkby1913DFDusty Rhodes (c) Sunderland1908DFWalter SprattRotherham Town1911MidfieldersHBAlec BarclayIlford1910AmateurHBFrank BentleyTottenham Hotspur1912HBBobby JacksonPortsmouth1913HBTom McGovernHalifax Town1913ForwardsFWBilly BrawnChelsea1911FWJack ChapmanSouthall1913AmateurFWTommy Clarkn/aMiddlesbrough1913FWCharlie ElliottMillwall1913 FWHerbert FarnfieldNew Crusaders1914AmateurFWPatsy HendrenCoventry City1911Played when his cricket commitments allowedFWJoe JohnsonClapton Orient1913FWTommy KentSlough Town1913AmateurFWJohn Meehan1896 (aged 16–17)Newton1914FWRichard SloleyCambridge University1914AmateurFWHenry WhiteWhamcliffe Athletic1914AmateurPlayers who left the club mid-seasonFWJack CockOld Kingstonians1914Transferred to Huddersfield TownFWHenry SimonsMerthyr Town1913Transferred to Fulham Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford, Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939

Coaching staff NameRole Dusty RhodesManager Fred HallidaySecretary Tom CowperTrainer

Statistics

Appearances and goals

PosNatNameLeagueFA CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKTed Price30030330DFTommy Fells700070DFDusty Rhodes23030260DFWalter Spratt30030330HBAlec Barclay17330203HBFrank Bentley28030310HBBobby Jackson24330273HBTom McGovern20200202FWBilly Brawn10—10FWJack Chapman2516312817FWTommy Clark430043FWJack Cock31—31FWCharlie Elliott17230202FWHerbert Farnfield110011FWPatsy Hendren28530315FWJoe Johnson2815313116FWTommy Kent142—142FWJohn Meehan11—11FWHenry Simons2519302819FWRichard Sloley23—23FWHenry White220022 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years Of Brentford

Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerSL2FACTotalFWHenry Simons19019FWJack Chapman16117FWJoe Johnson15116FWPatsy Hendren505HBAlec Barclay303FWTommy Clark303HBBobby Jackson303FWRichard Sloley303FWTommy Kent2—2FWCharlie Elliott202HBTom McGovern202FWHenry White202FWJack Cock1—1FWJohn Meehan1—1FWHerbert Farnfield101Total80282 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years Of Brentford

Amateur international caps Pos.NatPlayerCapsGoalsRefHBAlec Barclay20

Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Dusty Rhodes13 September 191320 April 1914 |

Summary Games played 33 (30 Southern League Second Division, 3 FA Cup)Games won 21 (20 Southern League Second Division, 1 FA Cup)Games drawn 5 (4 Southern League Second Division, 1 FA Cup)Games lost 7 (6 Southern League Second Division, 1 FA Cup)Goals scored 82 (80 Southern League Second Division, 2 FA Cup)Goals conceded 21 (18 Southern League Second Division, 3 FA Cup)Clean sheets 20 (19 Southern League Second Division, 1 FA Cup)Biggest league win 7–0 on two occasionsWorst league defeat 3–1 versus Luton Town, 7 February 1914Most appearances 33, Ted Price, Walter Spratt (30 Southern League Second Division, 3 FA Cup)Top scorer (league) 19, Henry SimonsTop scorer (all competitions) 19, Henry Simons

Transfers & loans Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.18 June 1913FW Joe Johnson Clapton Orientn/a23 June 1913HB Bobby Jackson Portsmouthn/a23 June 1913FW Bob Mitchell Barnsleyn/a31 June 1913FW Henry Simons Merthyr Townn/a18 August 1913FW Bob Browning Southamptonn/a21 August 1913FW Charlie Elliott Millwalln/a28 August 1913FW Tommy Clark Middlesbroughn/a3 September 1913HB James Ramsay Aberdaren/a17 September 1913HB Tom McGovern Halifax Townn/a9 September 1913GK Billy Biggar Rochdalen/aSeptember 1913HB Alf Amos Old KingstoniansAmateurSeptember 1913FW George Littler King's Royal Rifle CorpsAmateur27 December 1913FW Thomas Graham Allerton Bywater Collieryn/aDecember 1913FW Tommy Kent Slough TownAmateur1913FW Jack Chapman SouthallAmateur1913FW James Holland Luton Townn/a1913FW Alfred Rosier Southalln/a1913FB Bertie Rosier Southalln/a1913FW Henry White Whamcliffe AthleticAmateurFebruary 1914FW Herbert Farnfieldn/aAmateurFebruary 1914FW John Meehan Newtonn/aMarch 1914FW Jack Cock Old KingstoniansAmateurApril 1914FW Richard Sloley Cambridge UniversityAmateurPlayers transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.23 July 1913FW Bob McTavish Third LanarkNominal24 September 1913FW Bob Mitchell Distilleryn/a1913FW Frederick Chapple Bristol CityNominal1913FW Bill Smith SouthamptonNominalApril 1914FW Jack Cock Huddersfield TownNominalApril 1914FW Henry Simons Fulhamn/aPlayers releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.July 1913HB Phil RichardsRetiredFebruary 1914FW Herbert Farnfieldn/an/aApril 1914HB Frank BentleyRetiredApril 1914GK Billy Biggar Rochdale24 June 1914April 1914FW Billy BrawnRetiredApril 1914FW Jack Chapman Southalln/aApril 1914FW Tommy Clarkn/an/aApril 1914FW Charlie Elliott Leyton1 September 1914April 1914FB Tommy Fells South Kirkby13 May 1914April 1914FW John Meehann/an/aApril 1914FW Bob Browning Queens Park RangersMay 1914

References