During the 1916–17 English football season, Brentford competed in the London Combination, due to the cessation of competitive football for the duration of the First World War. Restricted by league rules mandating that all players must be members of the armed forces or munitions workers, Brentford finished third-from-bottom, having been forced to field over 50 guest players.

Season summary

Straddling the middle period the First World War, the London Combination introduced a new rule that for the 1916–17 season, stating all players must be members of the armed forces or munitions workers, which meant Brentford secretary-manager Fred Halliday (himself a worker at the Ministry of Munitions) had trouble securing players to play. Full back Dusty Rhodes, half back Alf Amos and forwards Patsy Hendren and Henry White would be the only pre-war Bees players to appear in more than half of the matches during the season. Albert Chester joined the club from Millwall in December 1916 and also appeared in over half the matches. Due to a wrist injury suffered by Ted Price, Bradford Park Avenue's Frank Drabble was the main goalkeeper during the season, while Croydon Common's William Bushell was also a regular in the half back line.

Brentford had a torrid season, winning just 9 of the 40 matches. Defeats by three, four, five and six goal margins were a regular occurrence, contributing to a total of 99 goals conceded during the campaign. 16 goals were conceded in four matches versus Luton Town. The highlights were a 7–0 victory over Portsmouth at Griffin Park on 30 December 1916 and Henry White's performances, who top-scored for the third-consecutive season with 20 goals from 35 matches.

The Battle of the Somme, which began on 1 July 1916, represented the lowest period so far for the British Army during the war and a number of former Brentford players were killed in the battle:

Lieutenant Thomas Hamer, killed during the Battle of Mametz on 7 July 1916, while serving with the Royal Welch Fusiliers. Sergeant Patrick Hagan, killed during the Battle of Bazentin Ridge on 14 July 1916, while serving with the Royal Scots. Private John Hendren, killed during the Battle of Delville Wood on 27 July 1916, while serving with the Royal Fusiliers. Privates Louis D'Abadie and Henry Purver, killed during the Battle of Delville Wood on 31 July 1916, while serving with the Royal Fusiliers. Private Harry Robotham, killed during the Battle of Flers–Courcelette on 12 September 1916, while serving with the Middlesex Regiment. Private Percy Matthews, missing, presumed killed, during the Battle of Le Transloy on 12 October 1916, while serving with the Essex Regiment. Sergeant Joshua Hardisty MM, killed during the Battle of the Ancre on 18 November 1916, while serving with the Border Regiment.

Two other players died during the season:

Lieutenant Alex Glen, who played at inside left during the 1908–09 season, was serving into the Royal Army Medical Corps when he committed suicide while in camp in Ripon, Yorkshire on 21 September 1916. Sergeant Henry Cook, died of wounds suffered near Maurepas, France, on 9 January 1917, while serving with the Yorkshire Regiment. He had appeared as a guest during the 1915–16 season.

League table

London Combination

Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend WinDrawLoss

London Combination No.DateOpponentVenueResultScorer(s)12 September 1916Crystal PalaceA0–429 September 1916SouthamptonH1–1Kirby316 September 1916ChelseaH0–3423 September 1916ArsenalA0–0530 September 1916Luton TownH1–3Hendren (pen)67 October 1916ReadingA2–0Gregson (2)714 October 1916MillwallH0–3821 October 1916WatfordA2–4Sloley, White928 October 1916Clapton OrientH3–0White, Gregson, Clarkson104 November 1916FulhamA0–21111 November 1916Queens Park RangersH1–4Sloley1218 November 1916West Ham UnitedA0–41325 November 1916Crystal PalaceH3–1White, Sloley, Kirby142 December 1916SouthamptonA1–3Hendren159 December 1916ChelseaA2–7White, Hendren1623 December 1916Luton TownA2–5Bushell, Chester1725 December 1916Tottenham HotspurH1–5White1826 December 1916Tottenham HotspurA2–5White, Spencer1930 December 1916PortsmouthH7–0White, Sloley, Hendren, Clarkson206 January 1917MillwallA0–32113 January 1917WatfordH4–1Sloley, White (2), Clarkson2220 January 1917Clapton OrientA2–5White (2)2327 January 1917FulhamH1–1Dillimore243 February 1917Queens Park RangersA0–22510 February 1917West Ham UnitedH1–1Gregson2617 February 1917MillwallA3–2Chester, Dillimore, White2724 February 1917FulhamH1–4Dillimore283 March 1917ChelseaH3–0Gregson, White (2)2910 March 1917WatfordA2–5White, Hendren3017 March 1917Luton TownH1–2Hendren3124 March 1917Queens Park RangersA2–2Hendren, Dillimore3231 March 1917MillwallH1–3Dillimore336 April 1917West Ham UnitedA0–2347 April 1917FulhamA2–0Keenor, Gregson359 April 1917West Ham UnitedH1–2Hendren (pen)3614 April 1917ChelseaA2–3Hendren (2, 1 pen)3719 April 1917Queens Park RangersH0–03821 April 1917WatfordH2–1White (2)3926 April 1917ArsenalH0–04028 April 1917Luton TownA0–6

Source: 100 Years Of Brentford

Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1916–17 season. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepersGKTed PriceCroydon Common1912DefendersDFGeorge CurtisKingston upon Thames1914DFJack PeartCroydon Common1916DFDusty Rhodes (c) Sunderland1908TrainerMidfieldersHBCharles AllwrightKingston upon Thames1914HBAlf AmosOld Kingstonians1913HBAlec BarclayIlford1910AmateurHBBertie RosierSouthall1913ForwardsFWHerbert AllwrightUnattached1915FWWalter ChalkOld Kingstonians1915AmateurFWAlbert ChesterMillwall1916FWPatsy HendrenQueens Park Rangers1911Played when his cricket commitments allowedFWRichard SloleyCambridge University1914AmateurFWHenry WhiteWhamcliffe Athletic1913AmateurGuest playersGKFrank DrabbleBradford Park Avenue1916Guest from Bradford Park AvenueGKA. Harveyn/an/an/a1916GuestGKJimmy Morrisn/aClapton Orient1917Guest from Clapton OrientGKBernard NevilleUnattached1916Guest, refereeDFFred BullockHuddersfield Town1916Guest from Huddersfield TownDFWalker HampsonBurnley1916Guest from BurnleyDFTed HanneyManchester City1917Guest from Manchester CityDFKennedyn/an/an/a1916GuestDFJ. Masonn/an/an/a1917GuestDFH. W. Skinnern/aNunhead1916Amateur, guest from NunheadHBBirtwhistlen/an/an/a1916GuestHBWilliam BushellCroydon Common1916Guest from Croydon CommonHBJ. Cartern/an/an/a1917GuestHBHenry CavesHampstead Town1916Amateur, guest from Hampstead TownHBA. Davisn/an/an/a1917GuestHBCharles HollidgeCroydon Common1916Guest from Croydon CommonHBGeorge HunterManchester United1916Guest from Manchester UnitedHBFred KeenorCardiff City1916Guest from Cardiff CityHBJohn LambThe Wednesday1916Guest from The WednesdayHBJames LockwoodQueens Park Rangers1916Guest from Queens Park RangersHBC. Morrisn/an/an/a1917GuestHBRobert Nashn/aUnattached1917GuestHBS. Nunnn/an/an/a1917GuestHBFrank RobertsBolton Wanderers1916Guest from Bolton WanderersHBJ. Smithn/an/an/a1917GuestHBBilly ThompsonAugust 1886 (aged 30)Queens Park Rangers1916Guest from Queens Park RangersHBB. Tomsn/an/aLuton Town1917Guest from Luton TownFWTommy BarberAston Villa1917Guest from Aston VillaFWBill BlackmoreSouthampton1916Guest from SouthamptonFWBilly BrawnUnattached1916GuestFWDavid ChalmersGrimsby Town1917Guest from Grimsby TownFWBilly ClarksonBurnley1916Guest from BurnleyFWJ. Coopern/an/an/a1917GuestFWHarold CrockfordChatham Town1916Guest from Chatham TownFWBertie DenyerSwindon Town1917Guest from Swindon TownFWErnie DilleyMillwall1917Guest from MillwallFWJames DillimoreUnattached1917GuestFWFawcettn/an/an/a1916GuestFWThomas GrahamCastleford Town1916Guest from Castleford TownFWAlf GregsonGrimsby Town1916Guest from Grimsby TownFWFrederick GrovesWoolwich Arsenal1916Guest from Woolwich ArsenalFWHenry HogarthUnattached1917GuestFWBill HooperSouthport Central1917Guest from Southport CentralFWE. A. Huntn/an/an/a1917GuestFWWilliam KirbyCroydon Common1916Guest from Croydon CommonFWJ. Maceyn/an/an/a1917GuestFWH. Palmern/an/an/a1916GuestFWW. Shawn/an/an/a1916GuestFWAlfred Spencern/aClapton Orient1916Guest from Clapton OrientFWDan Tuckfieldn/an/aMillwall1917Guest from MillwallFWF. Walkern/an/an/a1916GuestFWOliver WhittemoreLuton Town1917Guest from Luton TownFWJ. Woodn/an/aLuton Town1917Guest from Luton Town Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, Timeless Bees, Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939

Coaching staff NameRole Fred HallidaySecretary-Manager Dusty RhodesTrainer

Statistics

Appearances and goals

PosNatNameTotalAppsGoalsGKTed Price90DFGeorge Curtis60DFJack Peart90DFDusty Rhodes320HBBertie Rosier80HBCharles Allwright60HBAlf Amos220HBAlec Barclay50FWHerbert Allwright20FWWalter Chalk20FWAlbert Chester232FWPatsy Hendren3910FWRichard Sloley95FWHenry White3520Players guested during the seasonGKFrank Drabble240GKn/aA. Harvey10GKJimmy Morris50GKBernard Neville10DFFred Bullock110DFWalker Hampson30DFTed Hanney30DFn/aKennedy10DFn/aJ. Mason10DFn/aH. W. Skinner50HBn/aBirtwhistle10HBWilliam Bushell221HBn/aJ. Carter10HBHenry Caves10HBn/aA. Davis40HBCharles Hollidge20HBGeorge Hunter10HBFred Keenor131HBJohn Lamb30HBn/aJames Lockwood100HBn/aC. Morris30HBRobert Nash10HBn/aS. Nunn10HBFrank Roberts100FWn/aJ. Smith20HBBilly Thompson10HBn/aB. Toms10FWTommy Barber20FWBill Blackmore10FWBilly Brawn20FWDavid Chalmers10FWBilly Clarkson163FWn/aJ. Cooper10FWHarold Crockford30FWBertie Denyer10FWErnie Dilley20FWJames Dillimore125FWn/aFawcett10FWThomas Graham30FWAlf Gregson116FWFrederick Groves10FWHenry Hogarth20FWBill Hooper40FWn/aE. A. Hunt10FWWilliam Kirby182FWn/aJ. Macey20FWn/aH. Palmer10FWn/aW. Shaw10FWAlfred Spencer11FWn/aDan Tuckfield10FWn/aF. Walker110FWOliver Whittemore10FWn/aJ. Wood10 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford

Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerTotalFWHenry White20FWPatsy Hendren10FWAlf Gregson6FWJames Dillimore5FWRichard Sloley5FWBilly Clarkson3FWAlbert Chester2FWWilliam Kirby2HBWilliam Bushell1HBFred Keenor1FWAlfred Spencer1Total56 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford

Management NameNatFromToRecordPWDLW %Fred Halliday2 September 191628 April 1917 |

Summary Games played 40Games won 9Games drawn 7Games lost 24Goals scored 56Goals conceded 99Clean sheets 8Biggest win 7–0 versus Portsmouth, 30 December 1916Worst defeat 6–0 versus Luton Town, 28 April 1917Most appearances 39, Patsy HendrenTop scorer 20, Henry White

Transfers & loans Guest players' arrival and departure dates correspond to their first and last appearances of the season.