During the 1960–61 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. An abundance of draws led to a 17th-place finish and it was the last of seven seasons to feature the "Terrible Twins" strike partnership of Jim Towers and George Francis.
Season summary Despite making something of a name for themselves as the "nearly men" of the Third Division, manager Malky MacDonald made few changes to the Brentford squad for the fourth-consecutive off-season. The one major change at Brentford was that of the club's traditional red and white-striped shirts, which were passed over in favour of an amber shirt with a blue 'V' neck, due to the number of times the club would be forced to wear its change strip during the season. Negative feedback from the supporters ensured that the change of colours was a one-season experiment.
Brentford started the 1960–61 season well and topped the table after winning the first two matches, but a 6–1 defeat to Watford at Vicarage Road on 30 August 1960 shook the team's confidence. The same XI atoned for that display with a 4–0 victory over Shrewsbury Town four days later, but the view had become prevalent around Griffin Park that some of Brentford's settled XI were past their peak. Manager MacDonald tinkered with his squad and bit-part, reserve or youth players Tommy Higginson, John Docherty, Ron Peplow and Johnny Hales were given runs in the team. Amidst a run of just two wins in 19 league matches, the new Football League Cup gave the Bees some cheer when Second Division club Sunderland were defeated 4–3 at Griffin Park in the club's first-ever match in the competition. The Bees were knocked out after a replay versus reigning Football League champions Burnley in the third round. A first round exit in the FA Cup in November ensured that the Third Division would be Brentford's sole focus for the remainder of the season.
Brentford entered 1961 in 15th place in the Third Division, only three points above the relegation zone. Chairman Frank Davis posted a £7,000 loss, which took the club's debt over £50,000 and a players' strike (in support of their claim for the removal of the maximum wage) was also a real possibility. In a bid to alleviate some of the club's debt, promising outside right John Docherty was sold to Sheffield United for a club record £17,000 in March 1961. The club rallied and lost just five of the remaining 21 matches of the season, but a failure to convert the 11 draws into wins (four consecutive home draws in February and March equalled the club record) ensured that Brentford finished in a lowly 17th place. Brentford's final match of the season versus Reading, although won 2–1, pushed the average league attendance at Griffin Park down to 7,392, which was the club's lowest since the 1924–25 season.
The "Terrible Twins" (forwards Jim Towers and George Francis) had a mixed season, with Towers scoring 22 goals (low by the standards set for himself) and Francis just 10, which led to him being dropped from the team in February 1961 – a decision which would have been considered unthinkable just six months earlier. Despite scoring 13 goals in 10 matches for the reserve team, Francis failed to earn a recall to the first team squad. Francis' replacement, teenager George Summers, scored six goals during the final months of the season.
League table
Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend WinDrawLoss
Football League Third Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)120 August 1960Tranmere RoversH4–110,100Towers (2), Bristow, Goundry (pen)223 August 1960WatfordH2–116,500Heath, Goundry (pen)327 August 1960Halifax TownA0–16,048430 August 1960WatfordA1–618,065Chung (og)53 September 1960Shrewsbury TownH4–08,900Francis (3), Towers66 September 1960Torquay UnitedH2–38,800Rainford, Bettany (og)710 September 1960WalsallA0–410,864814 September 1960Torquay UnitedA1–15,857Francis917 September 1960BuryH1–58,800Francis1019 September 1960Queens Park RangersA0–012,7111124 September 1960ChesterfieldA1–15,617Rainford1227 September 1960Queens Park RangersH2–015,000Rainford, Towers131 October 1960Southend UnitedH1–17,700Rainford143 October 1960Port ValeA2–36,843Towers, Peplow158 October 1960Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticA1–05,791McLeod1615 October 1960Bradford CityH2–27,300Towers, Peplow (pen)1722 October 1960BarnsleyA1–17,124Peplow (pen)1829 October 1960Newport CountyH2–47,600Towers (2)1912 November 1960Grimsby TownH0–18,1002019 November 1960Hull CityA0–37,798212 December 1960Coventry CityA0–213,5892210 December 1960Bristol CityH2–05,200Towers, Francis2319 December 1960Tranmere RoversA0–25,5842423 December 1960Swindon TownH2–14,480Higginson, Docherty2531 December 1960Halifax TownH2–07,000Francis, Towers267 January 1961Swindon TownA1–18,663Docherty2714 January 1961Shrewsbury TownA0–36,8562821 January 1961WalsallH3–16,250Francis, Towers (2)2928 January 1961Colchester UnitedA4–24,040Rainford, Bristow, Towers (2)304 February 1961BuryA0–15,8613111 February 1961ChesterfieldH2–26,250Towers (2)3218 February 1961Southend UnitedA1–17,711Towers3325 February 1961Coventry CityH1–15,500Summers344 March 1961Bradford CityA1–37,500McLeod3511 March 1961BarnsleyH0–07,0003618 March 1961Newport CountyA1–03,000Summers3725 March 1961Colchester UnitedH0–04,800381 April 1961Grimsby TownA0–07,049393 April 1961Notts CountyH3–05,400Summers, Towers (2)404 April 1961Notts CountyA0–03,933418 April 1961Hull CityH2–26,380Towers, McLeod4214 April 1961ReadingA0–410,9004322 April 1961Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticH2–24,400Summers, Towers4425 April 1961Port ValeH0–03,5004529 April 1961Bristol CityA0–38,466462 May 1961ReadingH2–14,700Summers (2)
FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer1R5 November 1960WatfordA2–218,759Francis (2)1R (replay)8 November 1960WatfordH0–221,000
Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)2R25 October 1960SunderlandH4–310,400Towers, McLeod, Rainford3R22 November 1960BurnleyH1–19,900Rainford3R (replay)6 December 1960BurnleyA1–212,757Docherty
Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford, Statto
Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1960–61 season. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepersGKGerry CakebreadYouth1954DefendersDFVernon AvisYouth1952DFKen Coote (c)Wembley1949DFJimmy GitshamYouth1959DFTom WilsonFulham1957MidfieldersHBGeorge BristowYouth1950HBIan DargieTonbridge1952HBBilly GoundryHuddersfield Town1955HBTommy HigginsonKilmarnock1959HBRon PeplowSouthall1955ForwardsFWTerry CurranTottenham Hotspur1957FWJohn DochertySt Roch's1959FWGeorge FrancisYouth1955FWJohnny HalesSt Roch's1958FWDennis HeathYouth1954FWGeorge McLeodLuton Town1958FWDanny O'DonnellKirkintilloch Rob Roy1960Loaned to DumbartonFWEric ParsonsChelsea1956FWJohnny RainfordCardiff City1953FWGeorge SummersShawfield1959FWJim TowersYouth1954 Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford, Timeless Bees
Coaching staff NameRole Malky MacDonaldManager Fred MonkTrainer Jack HollidayAssistant Trainer
Statistics
Appearances and goals
PosNatNameLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKGerry Cakebread4602030510DFVernon Avis60000060DFKen Coote4102030460DFJimmy Gitsham40000040DFTom Wilson4002030450HBGeorge Bristow2322010262HBIan Dargie4602030510HBBilly Goundry2320010242HBTommy Higginson3212030371HBRon Peplow1730010183FWTerry Curran50000050FWJohn Docherty1720021193FWGeorge Francis31822203510FWJohnny Hales2200000220FWDennis Heath1510000151FWGeorge McLeod3632031414FWDanny O'Donnell20000020FWEric Parsons20200040FWJohnny Rainford4152033468FWGeorge Summers1560010166FWJim Towers422120314722 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years Of Brentford
Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL3FACFLCTotalFWJim Towers210122FWGeorge Francis82010FWJohnny Rainford5038FWGeorge Summers6006FWGeorge McLeod3014HBRon Peplow3003FWJohn Docherty2013HBGeorge Bristow2002HBBilly Goundry2002FWDennis Heath1001HBTommy Higginson1001Opponents2002Total562664 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years Of Brentford
Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Malky MacDonald20 August 19602 May 1961
Summary Games played 51 (46 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 3 League Cup)Games won 14 (13 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)Games drawn 19 (17 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)Games lost 18 (16 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)Goals scored 64 (56 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 6 League Cup)Goals conceded 80 (70 Third Division, 4 FA Cup, 6 League Cup)Clean sheets 13 (13 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)Biggest league win 4–0 versus Shrewsbury Town, 3 September 1960Worst league defeat 6–1 versus Watford, 30 August 1960Most appearances 51, Gerry Cakebread, Ian Dargie (46 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 3 League Cup)Top scorer (league) 21, Jim TowersTop scorer (all competitions) 22, Jim Towers
Transfers & loans Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.October 1960FW Barry Rowan Watfordn/aPlayers transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.10 September 1960HB Charlie McInally Albion Roversn/aMarch 1961FW John Docherty Sheffield United£17,000Players loaned outDate fromPos.NameToDate toRef.24 September 1960FW Danny O'Donnell Dumbartonn/aPlayers releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.May 1961DF Vernon Avis Bedford Town1961May 1961HB George Bristow Queens Park RangersMay 1961May 1961FW Terry Curran Kettering Town1961May 1961HB Billy Goundry Bedford Town1961May 1961FW Dennis Heath Bedford Town1961May 1961DF Ken Horne Dover1961May 1961FW Eric Parsons Dover1961May 1961HB Ron Peplow Folkestone Town1961May 1961FW Barry Rowan Dover1961May 1961HB Sid Russell Bexleyheath & Welling1961
References