During the 1899–1900 English football season, Brentford competed in the Southern League Second Division. A Middlesex FA investigation into the club's financial affairs necessitated a change to professional status mid-season, but a forgettable campaign ended with the Bees finishing third-from-bottom.
Season summary
After a difficult first season in the Southern League Second Division, Brentford's AGM in May 1899 revealed that the club had lost £100 on the previous season, taking the overall debt to £180 (equivalent to £ in ).White, p. 71-74. After a series of meetings, a new committee was elected in July after it was decided that the club would continue to operate on an amateur basis. On the playing side, only six members of the team that finished the previous season remained at the club – goalkeeper Ben Brown, full back George Turner, half backs 'Nick' Mattocks, Billy Smith and forwards Richard Dailley, Thomas Knapman and Charlie Evans. Incoming transfers included full back Bert Lane, half back G. Pearce and forwards E. Andrews and John Bayne.
Brentford won and drew each of the opening two Second Division fixtures, with new forward John Bayne scoring in each, before he and George Turner, both soldiers, departed for service in the Second Boer War with their regiments. Things went from bad to worse in October when the Middlesex FA opened an enquiry into Brentford's "shamateurism", the results of which saw the club fined £10 and suspended from football for a month beginning 20 November. Additionally, a number of members of the club's committee were suspended sine die or until 30 April 1900. A new committee took charge of the club and elected to turn professional.
Following the resumption of competitive play on 23 December, Brentford showed appalling form, failing to win until late March 1900. A 13-match winless streak, which stretched back to 23 September, culminated in a 7–0 thrashing at the hands of Grays United on 24 March. Additionally, a meeting had been called in January to discuss if the club could even continue, but donations of £60 (equivalent to £ in ) helped to ensure that the Bees would survive for the immediate future. Late in the season, professional half backs Frederick Broughton and Ralph McElhaney joined the club and immediately fortunes turned around on the pitch, with Brentford winning four and drawing one of the final six matches of the season to finish in 9th position, two places off the bottom.
League table
Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend WinDrawLoss
Southern League Second Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultScorer(s)19 September 1899Wycombe WanderersH1–0Bayne223 September 1899Shepherds BushA2–2Bayne, Knapman37 October 1899WatfordA0–444 November 1899FulhamH3–3Knapman, E. Andrews, Dailley (pen)511 November 1899MaidenheadA0–2623 December 1899CheshamA1–4Harding (og)730 December 1899FulhamA0–5827 January 1900WatfordH2–2E. Andrews, Dailley98 February 1900Grays UnitedH0–51017 February 1900Wolverton London & North Western RailwayA1–5Dailley1124 February 1900Shepherds BushH1–1Edwards123 March 1900SouthallA0–01317 March 1900CheshamH1–1Dailley1424 March 1900Grays UnitedA0–71531 March 1900DartfordH4–0Dailley (2), Asbury, E. Andrews1616 April 1900DartfordA1–2Mattocks1721 April 1900MaidenheadH3–2Asbury, E. Andrews (2)1826 April 1900Wolverton London & North Western RailwayH3–1Allwright, Watt (2)1928 April 1900SouthallH6–0Knapman (3), E. Andrews (2), Evans2030 April 1900Wycombe WanderersA2–2Broughton, Evans
FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultScorer3QR28 October 1899Richmond AssociationH1–2Dailley Source: 100 Years of Brentford
Playing squad
Left club during season
"Bailey" is an alias Source: 100 Years of Brentford
Statistics Appearances
Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerSL2FACTotalFWE. Andrews707FWRichard Dailley617FWThomas Knapman505FWJohn Bayne2—2FWBenjamin Asbury202FWn/aCharlie Evans202FWA. Watt202FWWilliam Allwright101HBFrederick Broughton101FWB. Edwards101HBAlfred Mattocks101Opponents101Total31132 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years Of Brentford
Management NameFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Committee9 September 189930 April 1900
Summary Games played 28 (20 Southern League Second Division, 1 FA Cup)Games won 5 (5 Southern League Second Division, 0 FA Cup)Games drawn 7 (7 Southern League Second Division, 0 FA Cup)Games lost 9 (8 Southern League Second Division, 1 FA Cup)Goals scored 32 (31 Southern League Second Division, 1 FA Cup)Goals conceded 50 (48 Southern League Second Division, 2 FA Cup)Clean sheets 4 (4 Southern League Second Division, 0 FA Cup)Biggest league win 6–0 versus Southall, 28 April 1900Worst league defeat 7–0 versus Grays United, 24 March 1900Most appearances 17, E. Andrews, Richard Dailley (17 Southern League Second Division, 1 FA Cup)Top scorer (league) 7, E. AndrewsTop scorer (all competitions) 7, E. Andrews, Richard Dailley
References