During the 1917–18 English football season, Brentford competed in the London Combination, due to the cessation of competitive football for the duration of the First World War. In a patchy season, the Bees finished in mid-table.
Season summary
The wartime London Combination was streamlined for the 1917–18 season, with the clubs voting to expel Portsmouth, Watford, Southampton and Luton Town, which would reduce travelling expenses on Britain's congested railways. Despite the entry of the United States into the First World War in April 1917, Britain was still mired in war and manager Fred Halliday again had trouble securing players to play. Of Brentford's squad, goalkeeper Ted Price, defenders Jack Peart, Dusty Rhodes and forwards Albert Chester, Patsy Hendren and Henry White would appear in the majority of the matches during the season. Half back Bill Stanton, previously with Watford, was a rare wartime signing and he too would be regularly available.
Manager Fred Halliday struggled to field a settled side during the opening months of the season and Brentford suffered six defeats in eight matches between mid-September and mid-November 1917. In late November, Halliday pulled off a transfer coup, re-signing former Brentford forward Jack Cock as a guest from Huddersfield Town, to whom he had transferred in April 1914. Cock went on to score 27 goals in 23 appearances, which included two hattricks and a five-goal haul versus rivals Queens Park Rangers on the final day of the season. Henry White, frequently Brentford's top scorer during the First World War, supported ably with 17 goals. The season was notable for some high scoring wins (4–0, 6–2, 6–1 versus Queens Park Rangers; 5–0 versus Clapton Orient and 5–2 versus Tottenham Hotspur) and crushing defeats (7–1 versus Millwall, 6–1 versus Tottenham Hotspur; 8–3, 7–3, 7–2 versus West Ham United and 4–0 on two occasions).
A number of former Brentford players were killed during the season: Lance sergeant Richard Kemp, served with the King's Royal Rifle Corps and died at Dörnitz Altengrabow prisoner-of-war camp on 17 August 1917. Private James Greechan, died of wounds suffered during the Battle of Langemarck on 25 August 1917, while serving with the Highland Light Infantry. Company Sergeant Major George Kennedy , died of wounds suffered during the Battle of Passchendaele on 16 November 1917, while serving with the Canadian Infantry Corps. Private William Kirby, killed at Polygon Wood during the Battle of Passchendaele on 3 October 1917, while serving with the Royal Engineers. He had appeared as a guest during the 1916–17 season. Bombardier William Allwright, served with the Royal Field Artillery and died of a stroke in Britain on 12 April 1918, having returned to convalesce. Private Harry Dutfield, served with the Leicestershire Regiment and was killed near Voormezeele, West Flanders on 6 June 1918.
League table
London Combination
Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend WinDrawLoss
London Combination No.DateOpponentVenueResultScorer(s)11 September 1917Clapton OrientH1–0Keenor28 September 1917MillwallA3–1Hendren, Gregson (2)315 September 1917Tottenham HotspurH5–2Hendren (2), White (3)422 September 1917ChelseaA1–3Hendren529 September 1917Crystal PalaceA0–466 October 1917ArsenalH2–2Gregson, Sloley713 October 1917West Ham UnitedA3–8Heydenrick, Green, Stanton820 October 1917FulhamH1–3Chester927 October 1917Clapton OrientA3–1White (2), Stanton103 November 1917MillwallH0–41110 November 1917Tottenham HotspurA1–6Chester1217 November 1917ChelseaH1–0Hooper1324 November 1917Crystal PalaceH3–0Cock (3)141 December 1917ArsenalA1–4Cock158 December 1917West Ham UnitedH3–2Cock, Denyer, White1615 December 1917FulhamH0–21722 December 1917Clapton OrientH5–0Edwards, White, Cock (2), Hendren1825 December 1917Queens Park RangersH1–1Cock1926 December 1917Queens Park RangersA4–0Hendren, Hanney, Stanton, White2029 December 1917MillwallA1–7Cock215 January 1918Tottenham HotspurH2–3White, Cock2212 January 1918ChelseaA1–4Cock2319 January 1918Crystal PalaceA4–3Chester, E. Rhodes (3)2426 January 1918ArsenalH3–2Cock (2), White252 February 1918West Ham UnitedA2–7Corless, Chester269 February 1918Queens Park RangersH6–1White (2), Cock (3), Hooper (pen)2716 February 1918Clapton OrientA1–1Cock2823 February 1918MillwallH3–1Cock (2), Sloley292 March 1918Tottenham HotspurA0–3309 March 1918ChelseaH0–13116 March 1918Crystal PalaceH0–23223 March 1918ArsenalA3–1Cock, Chalmers, Cockerill (og)3329 March 1918FulhamH2–3Chester, Hooper3430 March 1918West Ham UnitedH3–7White (2, 1 pen), Chester351 April 1918FulhamA6–4Cock (2), Allwright, White (2), Chester366 April 1918Queens Park RangersA6–2Cock (5), White
Source: 100 Years Of Brentford
Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1917–18 season. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepersGKTed PriceCroydon Common1912DefendersDFAlf AmosOld Kingstonians1913DFJack PeartCroydon Common1916DFFrank PriceShepherds Bush1914DFDusty Rhodes (c) Sunderland1908TrainerMidfieldersHBCharles AllwrightKingston upon Thames1914HBGeorge CurtisKingston upon Thames1914HBMick O'BrienCeltic1915HBBill StantonWatford1917ForwardsFWAlbert ChesterMillwall1916FWPatsy HendrenQueens Park Rangers1911Played when his cricket commitments allowedFWRichard SloleyCambridge University1914AmateurFWHenry WhiteWhamcliffe Athletic1913AmateurGuest playersGKFred CraigPlymouth Argyle1917Guest from Plymouth ArgyleGKW. Griffithsn/an/aWest Ham United1917Guest from West Ham UnitedGKJimmy Morrisn/aClapton Orient1917Guest from Clapton OrientGKWalter ScottWorksop Town1917Guest from Worksop TownDFFred BullockHuddersfield Town1917Guest from Huddersfield TownHBSam BlottPlymouth Argyle1917Guest from Plymouth ArgyleHBJimmy BrandhamFulham1918Guest from FulhamHBWalter FrisbySouthampton1917Guest from SouthamptonHBTed HanneyManchester City1917Guest from Manchester CityHBE. Heydenrickn/aUnattached1917GuestHBBill HooperSouthport Central1917Guest from Southport CentralHBGeorge HunterManchester United1917Guest from Manchester UnitedHBJames LockwoodQueens Park Rangers1918Guest from Queens Park RangersHBManselln/aThe Wednesday1917Guest from The WednesdayHBJ. Meen/an/an/a1917GuestHB Sam MorrisBristol Rovers1917Guest from Bristol RoversHBRobert Nashn/aUnattached1917GuestHBCecil RhodesStockton1918GuestHBT. Robertsn/an/aLuton Town1917Guest from Luton TownHBT. Smithn/an/an/a1917GuestHBTalbotn/an/an/a1918GuestHBMaurice WoodwardSouthend United1917Guest from Southend UnitedHBBilly Yenson1880 (aged 36–37)Croydon Common1917Guest from Croydon CommonFWBilly BrawnUnattached1917GuestFWDavid ChalmersGrimsby Town1918Guest from Grimsby TownFWJack CockHuddersfield Town1917Guest from Huddersfield TownFWAlbert CorlessWest Ham United1918Guest from West Ham UnitedFWJack CurtisStockport County1917Guest from Stockport CountyFWA. Davisn/an/an/a1917GuestFWBertie DenyerSwindon Town1917Guest from Swindon TownFWJames Dillimoren/a1917GuestFWBilly Edwardsn/a1917GuestFWW. Elliottn/an/an/a1918GuestFWThomas GrahamCastleford Town1917Guest from Castleford TownFWJohn GreenWolverhampton Wanderers1917Guest from Wolverhampton WanderersFWAlf GregsonGrimsby Town1917Guest from Grimsby TownFWW. Harrisonn/an/an/a1917GuestFWH. Jamesn/an/an/a1918GuestFWA. Jonesn/an/aUnattached1917GuestFWFred KeenorCardiff City1917Guest from Cardiff CityFWW. Ramsayn/an/an/a1917GuestFWB. N. Sidneyn/an/an/a1917Guest 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 Price200DFAlf Amos80DFJack Peart260DFFrank Price10DFDusty Rhodes233HBCharles Allwright31HBGeorge Curtis10HBMick O'Brien20HBBill Stanton253FWAlbert Chester307FWPatsy Hendren346FWRichard Sloley10FWHenry White2417Players guested during the seasonGKFred Craig10GKn/aW. Griffiths10GKJimmy Morris110GKWalter Scott30DFFred Bullock60HBSam Blott10HBJimmy Brandham90HBWalter Frisby20HBTed Hanney101HBE. Heydenrick11HBBill Hooper223HBGeorge Hunter170HBJames Lockwood10HBMansell10HBn/aJ. Mee10HBSam Morris50HBRobert Nash10HBCecil Rhodes10HBn/aT. Roberts10HBn/aT. Smith10HBn/aTalbot10HBMaurice Woodward70HBBilly Yenson150FWBilly Brawn10FWDavid Chalmers11FWJack Cock2327FWAlbert Corless21FWJack Curtis30FWn/aA. Davis10FWBertie Denyer21FWJames Dillimore10FWBilly Edwards101FWn/aW. Elliott10FWThomas Graham10FWJohn Green91FWAlf Gregson53FWn/aW. Harrison10FWn/aH. James20FWn/aA. Jones10FWFred Keenor91FWn/aW. Ramsay10FWn/aB. N. Sidney10 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford
Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerTotalFWJack Cock27FWHenry White17FWAlbert Chester7FWPatsy Hendren6FWAlf Gregson3HBBill Hooper3DFDusty Rhodes3HBBill Stanton3HBCharles Allwright1FWDavid Chalmers1FWAlbert Corless1FWBertie Denyer1FWBilly Edwards1FWJohn Green1HBTed Hanney1HBE. Heydenrick1FWFred Keenor1Opponents1Total81 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford
Management NameNatFromToRecordPWDLW %Fred Halliday1 September 19176 April 1918
Summary Games played 36Games won 16Games drawn 3Games lost 17Goals scored 81Goals conceded 94Clean sheets 5Biggest win 5–0 versus Clapton Orient, 22 December 1917Worst defeat 7–1 versus Millwall, 29 December 1917Most appearances 39, Patsy HendrenTop scorer 27, Jack Cock
Transfers & loans Guest players' arrival and departure dates correspond to their first and last appearances of the season.