During the 1962–63 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Fourth Division for the first time in the club's history. 67 goals from former international forwards John Dick, Billy McAdams and Johnny Brooks helped fire the Bees to the division title and an immediate return to the Third Division.

Season summary

After suffering relegation for the Fourth Division at the end of the 1961–62 season, Brentford was at one of the lowest points in its history. The relegation completed a 15-year fall from the First Division to the bottom tier and the average attendance at Griffin Park had fallen by 18,000 in that time. Chairman Jack Dunnett pledged that he and his directors would invest money in the first team squad, which had been ravaged by a mass clearout over the previous year (in a bid to cut costs amidst the abolition of the maximum wage). Club legend George Francis was sold to Gillingham for a £4,000 fee, ending a six-year Brentford career in which he scored 136 goals in 280 matches. Funds were made available to manager Malky MacDonald and he spent £5,000 on Norwich City wing half Matt Crowe and £10,000 on Leeds United's former Northern Ireland centre forward Billy McAdams. Tommy Cavanagh was appointed as trainer to replace the departed Fred Monk.

Three wins and four defeats from the opening seven matches led to the chequebook opening again, with the £17,500 purchase of West Ham United's experienced inside left John Dick breaking Brentford's incoming transfer record. The transfer meant the Fourth Division Bees could field a forward line of former international players – Dick (Scotland), McAdams (Northern Ireland) and Brooks (England). The team showed excellent form between September 1962 and the end of the year, rising from mid-table to 2nd place. John Dick had as yet failed to live up to his status, but Billy McAdams ended the year on 15 goals and Johnny Brooks on 12.

The football calendar was frozen out between late December 1962 and February 1963, but when league play got back underway, Brentford solidified their position in the promotion places. Another £18,500 was spent on new signings John Fielding and Mel Scott in March. John Dick came into form in mid-March and supported by McAdams and Brooks, his 15 goals in the final 17 matches helped fire Brentford to the Fourth Division title. The title win made Brentford the first club to win each of the Second, Third and Fourth Division championships.

Three records were set or equalled during the season: Most points in a league season: 62 (two points for a win) Most league goals scored in a season: 98 Most consecutive league appearances: 168 – Gerry Cakebread (1 November 1958 – 18 August 1963)

League table

Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League Fourth Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)118 August 1962Doncaster RoversA2–08,247McAdams (2)221 August 1962GillinghamH1–211,914Edgley325 August 1962Mansfield TownH1–38,340McAdams429 August 1962GillinghamA4–18,832Brooks (3), Block51 September 1962WorkingtonA1–33,373Summers68 September 1962Exeter CityH3–111,153McAdams, Dick, Hughes (og)712 September 1962Crewe AlexandraA0–36,673815 September 1962ChesterfieldA1–16,114McAdams918 September 1962Stockport CountyH2–110,146Dick, McAdams1022 September 1962RochdaleH1–010,753McLeod1129 September 1962BarrowH2–19,541Dick (2)122 October 1962Hartlepools UnitedH4–010,729Dick (2), McAdams, Block136 October 1962DarlingtonA3–14,683Brooks (2, 1 pen), Block1413 October 1962SouthportH3–311,651McAdams, Brooks (2, 1 pen)1520 October 1962AldershotA0–08,6091627 October 1962Newport CountyH3–111,312McAdams (2), Block1710 November 1962Bradford CityH5–28,396McAdams (3), McLeod, Brooks (pen)1824 November 1962Stockport CountyA1–23,337Block191 December 1962Lincoln CityA3–15,470Brooks, Summers, McAdams208 December 1962Oldham AthleticH2–112,144Anthony, Brooks2115 December 1962Doncaster RoversH1–09,589Meadows (og)2222 December 1962Mansfield TownA2–19,468Brooks (2)2326 December 1962ChesterH2–19,724Dick, McAdams2416 February 1963BarrowA1–14,187Summers2523 February 1963DarlingtonH1–39,272Dick262 March 1963SouthportA0–13,136274 March 1963Tranmere RoversA2–18,226Summers (2)289 March 1963AldershotH4–28,390Brooks (2, 1 pen), Henry (og), McAdams2912 March 1963Torquay UnitedH2–213,084Block, Brooks3016 March 1963Newport CountyA4–12,891McAdams, Dick (2), Brooks (pen)3120 March 1963RochdaleA5–35,680Dick (3), McAdams, Brooks3223 March 1963Oxford UnitedH4–013,756Block, Higginson, McAdams (2)3329 March 1963Torquay UnitedA1–15,570McAdams343 April 1963ChesterA2–15,991Dick (2)356 April 1963Tranmere RoversH4–013,383McLeod (2), Dick, Brooks (pen)3612 April 1963York CityA1–17,757Brooks (pen)3713 April 1963Bradford CityA1–23,070Dick3815 April 1963York CityH2–115,070Dick (2)3920 April 1963Lincoln CityH3–211,384Dick, Block, McAdams4022 April 1963Hartlepools UnitedA1–23,755Dick4127 April 1963Oldham AthleticA1–217,771Brooks4230 April 1963Crewe AlexandraH3–115,820Brooks (pen), Dick424 May 1963ChesterfieldH2–113,903Dick, Fielding4411 May 1963Oxford UnitedA1–211,247Summers4518 May 1963Exeter CityA2–23,600Hales, Scott4623 May 1963WorkingtonH4–313,158Fielding (2), Hales, Brown (og)

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendance1R3 November 1962AldershotA0–112,200

Football League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)1R4 September 1962WrexhamH3–06,800Summers, McAdams, Edgley2R26 September 1962Sheffield UnitedH1–413,850Dick

Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford, Statto

Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1962–63 season. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepersGKGerry CakebreadYouth1954GKFred RyecraftSouthall1959DefendersDFTom AnthonyYouth1961DFKen Coote (c)Wembley1949DFJimmy GitshamYouth1959DFAlan HawleyYouth1962MidfieldersHBMatt CroweNorwich City1962HBIan DargieTonbridge1952HBPeter GelsonYouth1961HBTommy HigginsonKilmarnock1959HBMel ScottChelsea1963ForwardsFWMicky BlockChelsea1962FWJohnny BrooksChelsea1961FWJohn DickWest Ham United1962FWJohn FieldingSouthport1963FWJohnny HalesSt Roch's1958FWBilly McAdamsLeeds United1962FWGeorge McLeodLuton Town1958FWGeorge SummersShawfield1959Players who left the club mid-seasonFWBrian EdgleyCardiff City1961Transferred to Barnsley Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford, Timeless Bees

Coaching staff NameRole Malky MacDonaldManager Tommy CavanaghTrainer

Statistics

Appearances and goals

PosNatNameLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKGerry Cakebread2801020310GKFred Ryecraft1800000180DFTom Anthony3311010351DFKen Coote4601020490DFJimmy Gitsham1600020180DFAlan Hawley20000020HBMatt Crowe3901020420HBIan Dargie30000030HBPeter Gelson2901010310HBTommy Higginson4611020491HBMel Scott171——171FWMicky Block4281020458FWJohnny Brooks392210104122FWJohn Dick382310114024FWBrian Edgley41—1152FWJohn Fielding73——73FWJohnny Hales42000042FWBilly McAdams342210213723FWGeorge McLeod4641020494FWGeorge Summers1560011167 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years Of Brentford

Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL4FACFLCTotalFWJohn Dick230124FWBilly McAdams220123FWJohnny Brooks220022FWMicky Block8008FWGeorge Summers6017FWGeorge McLeod4004FWJohn Fielding3——3FWJohnny Hales2002FWBrian Edgley1—12HBMel Scott1——1DFTom Anthony1001HBTommy Higginson1001Opponents4004Total9804102 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years Of Brentford

Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Malky MacDonald18 August 196223 May 1963

Summary Games played 49 (46 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)Games won 28 (27 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)Games drawn 8 (8 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)Games lost 13 (11 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)Goals scored 102 (98 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 4 League Cup)Goals conceded 69 (64 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 4 League Cup)Clean sheets 8 (7 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)Biggest league win 4–0 on three occasionsWorst league defeat 3–0 versus Crewe Alexandra, 12 September 1962Most appearances 49, Ken Coote, Tommy Higginson, George McLeod (46 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 3 League Cup)Top scorer (league) 23, John DickTop scorer (all competitions) 24, John Dick

Transfers & loans Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.June 1962DF Alan Hawleyn/an/aJuly 1962HB Matt Crowe Norwich City£5,000July 1962FW Billy McAdams Leeds United£10,000September 1962FW John Dick West Ham United£17,50026 March 1963FW John Fielding Southport£7,000March 1963HB Mel Scott Chelsea£12,500Players transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.9 June 1962FW Dick Lowrie Mortonn/aAugust 1962FW George Francis Gillingham£4,0001 September 1962FW Danny O'Donnell Brechin Cityn/aNovember 1962FW Brian Edgley Barnsleyn/aPlayers releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.May 1963HB Ian Dargie Yiewsley1963May 1963DF Jimmy Gitsham Romford1963

References