Brentford
1954–55 season
ChairmanFrank Davis
ManagerBill Dodgin Sr.
StadiumGriffin Park
Third Division South11th
FA CupFourth round
Top goalscorerLeague: Dudley (18)
All: Dudley (20)
Highest home attendance18,756
Lowest home attendance4,960
Average home league attendance11,077

During the 1954–55 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division South. In the club's first season back in the third-tier since 1932–33, the Bees finished in mid-table. The season was memorable for the debuts of youth products Jim Towers and George Francis, who went on to dominate Brentford's goalscoring charts until 1961.

Season summary

The 1954–55 Third Division South season marked Brentford's fall from the top-flight to the basement in just seven years.[1] It was the Bees' first Third Division South season since 1932–33 and though he had a limited budget,[1] manager Bill Dodgin Sr. did not conduct a fire sale and managed to keep his squad intact.[2] Forwards George Stobbart, Jeff Taylor and goalkeeper Sonny Feehan were the only players to arrive at Griffin Park.[2] Ageing full back Fred Monk was released, goalkeeper Alf Jefferies transferred to Torquay United and the £10,000 fee from the sale of Jimmy Bloomfield to Arsenal was spent on relieving the club's debts.[2] The products of Alf Bew's youth team were to be given more of a chance than in the previous Second Division seasons.[3]

Brentford drew four of the first six matches of the season and Bees slowly pulled away from the relegation places, before moving into the top 10 after three wins in a four match spell in late September 1954.[4] An uneven period followed through to February 1955, with the club drifting slowly towards the re-election places (the £10,000 sale of forward Billy Dare to West Ham United was offset by the emergence of youth product Jim Towers),[2] before rising back to an 11th-place finish after just three defeats in the final 18 matches of the season.[4] Frank Dudley (20, George Stobbart (19) and Jim Towers (16) led the club's goalscoring chart,[3] but while 82 league goals were scored, 82 were also conceded, which was amongst the highest in the Third Division South.[5]

The FA Cup proved to be an entertaining distraction, with Brentford entering at the first round stage for the first time since the 1932–33 season.[4] Non-league clubs Nuneaton Borough and Crook Town were beaten in the first two rounds and it took two replays to get past Bradford City in the third.[4] The Bees fell to Newcastle United at St James' Park in the fourth round, but they gave their First Division hosts a scare with goals from George Stobbart and Johnny Rainford in the 3–2 defeat.[3]

A number of club records were set or equalled during the season:

  • Most home league goals conceded in a season: 36[6]
  • Highest away league aggregate score: 10 (4–6 versus Southampton, 21 August 1954)[7]
  • Most league games without a clean sheet: 20 (25 September 1954 – 19 February 1955)[7]
  • Quickest league goalscorer: 10 seconds – George Stobbart (versus Aldershot, 6 November 1954)[19]

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
9 Coventry City 46 18 11 17 67 59 1.136 47
10 Southend United 46 17 12 17 83 80 1.038 46
11 Brentford 46 16 14 16 82 82 1.000 46
11 Norwich City 46 18 10 18 60 60 1.000 46
13 Northampton Town 46 19 8 19 73 81 0.901 46
Source: rsssf.com

Results

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Third Division South

No. DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
1 21 August 1954Southampton A4–6 21,454Robertson (2), Dudley, Stobbart
2 26 August 1954Shrewsbury TownH2–2 12,743Dudley, Maloney (og)
3 28 August 1954Coventry CityH2–3 13,057Stobbart, McDonnell (og)
4 30 August 1954Shrewsbury TownA2–2 8,352Stobbart, Towers
5 4 September 1954Queens Park RangersH1–1 18,756Heath
6 8 September 1954ReadingA0–0 9,692
7 11 September 1954Brighton & Hove AlbionA4–3 17,361Towers, Heath, Robertson, Dudley
8 16 September 1954ReadingH2–2 9,639Dudley, Stobbart
9 18 September 1954Torquay UnitedH4–2 13,552Towers, Heath, Stobbart, Webber (og)
10 23 September 1954Gillingham H3–0 9,241Dudley (2), Heath
11 25 September 1954Bristol CityA1–2 28,980Dudley
12 29 September 1954GillinghamA1–2 8,202Towers
13 2 October 1954Walsall H0–2 12,584
14 9 October 1954Exeter City A2–3 9,700Robertson, Rainford
15 16 October 1954Colchester UnitedH3–2 10,218Robertson, Stobbart, Rainford
16 23 October 1954Norwich CityA0–1 20,148
17 30 October 1954Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic H1–3 12,037Towers
18 6 November 1954AldershotA3–2 7,178Stobbart, Towers, Heath
19 13 November 1954Swindon TownH4–2 10,634Stobbart (2), Heath, Towers
20 27 November 1954Northampton TownH1–3 10,029Croy (og)
21 4 December 1954WatfordA2–2 10,438Towers (2)
22 18 December 1954SouthamptonH0–3 9,318
23 25 December 1954MillwallH3–1 13,591Stobbart (2), Towers
24 27 December 1954MillwallA2–2 20,034Anslow (og), Hurley (og)
25 1 January 1955Coventry City A0–1 14,481
26 15 January 1955Queens Park RangersA1–1 9,835Dudley
27 22 January 1955Brighton & Hove AlbionH2–3 10,173Stobbart, Bristow
28 5 February 1955Torquay UnitedA2–4 6,117Dudley, Sperrin
29 12 February 1955Bristol CityH2–2 11,563Rainford, Robertson
30 19 February 1955WalsallA2–2 9,028Robertson, Francis
31 26 February 1955Exeter City H1–0 7,454Stobbart
32 5 March 1955Colchester UnitedA2–3 8,254Francis, Dudley
33 12 March 1955Norwich CityH1–0 11,155Stobbart
34 19 March 1955Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticA2–1 8,241Coote, Taylor
35 26 March 1955AldershotH1–1 8,755Taylor
36 2 April 1955Swindon Town A1–1 5,924Taylor
37 8 April 1955Leyton OrientH2–0 18,093Dudley, Towers (pen)
38 9 April 1955Crystal PalaceH3–0 12,013Towers, Dudley (2)
39 11 April 1955Leyton OrientA1–0 9,529Dudley
40 16 April 1955Northampton TownA2–1 6,980Taylor, Towers
41 21 April 1955Newport County A1–3 7,926Rainford
42 23 April 1955WatfordH3–2 9,394Dudley, Towers (2, 1 pen)
43 27 April 1955 Crystal Palace A 1–1 8,170 Andrews (og)
44 30 April 1955 Southend United A 2–3 6,464 Dudley (2)
45 2 May 1955 Newport County H 1–0 4,960 Stobbart
46 5 May 1955 Southend United H 2–2 5,812 Heath, Dudley

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer(s) Notes
1R 20 November 1954 Nuneaton Borough H 2–1 13,180 Dare, Stobbart
2R 11 December 1954 Crook Town H 4–1 14,300 Rainford, Stobbart (2), Towers
3R 8 January 1955 Bradford City H 1–1 12,120 Dudley
3R (replay) 12 January 1955 Bradford City A 2–2 (a.e.t.) 7,963 Dare, Dudley
3R (2nd replay) 20 January 1955 Bradford City N 1–0 5,961 Dare [nb 1]
4R29 January 1955Newcastle United A2–3 46,574 Stobbart, Rainford

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1954–55 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Gerry Cakebread England 1 April 1936 (aged 18) Youth 1954 Amateur
GK Sonny Feehan Republic of Ireland 17 September 1926 (aged 27) Northampton Town 1954
GK Reg Newton England 30 June 1926 (aged 28) Leyton Orient 1949
Defenders
DF Alan Bassham England 3 October 1933 (aged 20) Youth 1953
DF Ken Coote England 19 May 1928 (aged 26) Wembley 1949
DF Ken Horne England 25 June 1926 (aged 28) Blackpool 1950
DF George Lowden England 2 March 1933 (aged 21) Unattached 1951
Midfielders
HB Wally Bragg England 8 July 1929 (aged 25) Twickenham Celtic 1946
HB George Bristow England 25 June 1933 (aged 21) Youth 1950
HB Ian Dargie England 3 October 1931 (aged 22) Tonbridge 1952
HB Leonard Geard England 12 February 1934 (aged 20) Fulham 1953
HB Tony Harper England 26 May 1925 (aged 29) Headington United 1948
HB Roy Hart England 30 May 1933 (aged 21) Youth 1955
HB Frank Latimer (c) England 3 October 1923 (aged 30) Snowdown Colliery Welfare 1945
HB Terry Robinson England 8 November 1929 (aged 24) Loughborough College 1954 Amateur
Forwards
FW Frank Dudley England 9 May 1925 (aged 29) Cardiff City 1953
FW George Francis England 4 February 1934 (aged 20) Youth 1955
FW Dennis Heath England 28 September 1934 (aged 19) Youth 1954
FW Johnny Rainford England 11 December 1930 (aged 23) Cardiff City 1953
FW James Robertson Scotland 20 February 1929 (aged 25) Arsenal 1953
FW Len Roe England 11 January 1932 (aged 22) Ruislip Manor 1951
FW Billy Sperrin England 9 April 1922 (aged 32) Guildford City 1949
FW George Stobbart England 9 January 1921 (aged 33) Millwall 1954
FW Jeff Taylor England 20 September 1930 (aged 23) Fulham 1954
FW Jim Towers England 15 April 1933 (aged 21) Youth 1954
Players who left the club mid-season
FW Billy Dare England 14 February 1927 (aged 27) Hendon 1948 Transferred to West Ham United
  • Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford,[3] Timeless Bees[8]

Coaching staff

Name Role
England Bill Dodgin Sr. Manager
Scotland Jimmy Bain Assistant Manager
England Tommy Eggleston Trainer

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Brentford's highest appearance-makers in each position during the Football League season.
Pos Nat Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England Gerry Cakebread 3 0 0 0 3 0
GK Republic of Ireland Sonny Feehan 25 0 6 0 31 0
GK England Reg Newton 18 0 0 0 18 0
DF England Alan Bassham 17 0 0 0 17 0
DF England Ken Coote 37 1 6 0 43 1
DF England Ken Horne 35 0 6 0 41 0
DF England George Lowden 10 0 0 0 10 0
HB England Wally Bragg 9 0 0 0 9 0
HB England George Bristow 30 1 5 0 35 1
HB England Ian Dargie 20 0 2 0 22 0
HB England Leonard Geard 1 0 0 0 1 0
HB England Tony Harper 26 0 5 0 31 0
HB England Roy Hart 2 0 0 0 2 0
HB England Frank Latimer 28 0 5 0 33 0
HB EnglandTerry Robinson 801 090
FW England Billy Dare 8 0 3 3 11 3
FW England Frank Dudley 34 18 4 2 38 20
FW England George Francis 3 2 0 0 3 2
FW England Dennis Heath 35 7 4 0 39 7
FW England Johnny Rainford 33 4 6 2 39 6
FW ScotlandJames Robertson 3171 0 327
FW England Len Roe 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW England Billy Sperrin 3 1 0 0 3 1
FW England George Stobbart 45 15 6 4 51 19
FW England Jeff Taylor 13 4 0 0 13 4
FW England Jim Towers 31 15 6 1 37 16
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[3]

Goalscorers

Pos. Nat Player FL3 FAC Total
FW England Frank Dudley 18 2 20
FW England George Stobbart 15 4 19
FW England Jim Towers 15 1 16
FW England Dennis Heath 7 0 7
FW Scotland James Robertson 7 0 7
FW England Johnny Rainford 4 2 6
FW England Jeff Taylor 4 0 4
FW England Billy Dare 0 3 3
FW England George Francis 2 0 2
HB England George Bristow 1 0 1
DF England Ken Coote 1 0 1
FW England Billy Sperrin 1 0 1
Opponents 7 0 7
Total821294
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[3]

Representative appearances

Pos. Nat Player Team Caps Goals Ref
HB England Johnny Rainford Third Division South 1 1 [2]

Management

Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Bill Dodgin Sr. England 21 August 1954 5 May 1955 52 19 16 17 036.54 46 16 14 16 034.78

Summary

Games played52 (46 Third Division South, 6 FA Cup)
Games won19 (16 Third Division South, 3 FA Cup)
Games drawn16 (14 Third Division South, 2 FA Cup)
Games lost17 (16 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored94 (82 Third Division South, 12 FA Cup)
Goals conceded90 (82 Third Division South, 8 FA Cup)
Clean sheets9 (8 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)
Biggest league win3–0 on two occasions
Worst league defeat3–0 versus Southampton, 18 December 1954
Most appearances51, George Stobbart (45 Third Division South, 6 FA Cup)
Top scorer (league)18, Frank Dudley
Top scorer (all competitions)20, Frank Dudley

Transfers & loans

Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
May 1954 FW England George Stobbart England Millwall Exchange [9]
June 1954 FW Wales Wendell Morgan Wales Cardiff City Free [10]
August 1954 GK Republic of Ireland Sonny Feehan England Northampton Town Free [11]
August 1954 FW England Jeff Taylor England Fulham n/a [12]
September 1954 HB England Terry Robinson England Loughborough College Amateur [13]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
May 1954 FW England Terry Ledgerton England Millwall Exchange [9]
June 1954 GK England Alf Jefferies England Torquay United n/a [14]
July 1954 FW England Jimmy Bloomfield England Arsenal £10,000 [15]
January 1955 FW England Billy Dare England West Ham United £10,000 [2]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
May 1955 HB England Tony Harper England Headington United 1955 [16]
May 1955 HB England Roy Hart n/a n/a [17]
May 1955 DF England Ken Moffitt Scotland Berwick Rangers 1955 [18]

Notes

  1. ↑ Match played at Arsenal Stadium, London.

References

  1. 1 2 "Brentford Complete History". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 White 1989, p. 215-217.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 383. ISBN 0951526200.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Brentford results for the 1954–1955 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  5. ↑ "Brentford League Table 1954-1955". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 26 November 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  6. ↑ Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Yore Publications. pp. 78–79. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  7. 1 2 "Brentford scoring and sequence records". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  8. ↑ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  9. 1 2 Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 155.
  10. ↑ "Wendell Morgan". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  11. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 55.
  12. ↑ "Jeff Taylor". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  13. ↑ "Terry Robinson". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  14. ↑ "Alf Jefferies". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  15. ↑ "Jimmy Bloomfield". Arsenal.com. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  16. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 72.
  17. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 73.
  18. ↑ Ken Moffitt at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database
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