Wikipedia

1918–19 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1918–19 English football season, Brentford competed in the London Combination, due to the cessation of competitive football for the duration of the First World War. Buoyed by larger crowds after the Armistice, Brentford finished the season as champions of the London Combination.

Brentford
1918–19 season
ChairmanH. Jason-Saunders
Secretary ManagerFred Halliday
StadiumGriffin Park
London Combination1st
London Victory CupSecond round
Top goalscorerLeague: White (25)
All: White (26)
Highest home attendance15,000
Lowest home attendance3,000

Season summary

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11 members of the Brentford squad line up prior to a match at Griffin Park during the season (left to right – Peart, Price, McGovern, Cock, Morley, Hendren, Baker, Hanney, Keenor, Amos, White).

Brentford entered the London Combination for the fourth consecutive season in 1918–19, for what would become the final campaign of wartime football during the First World War.[1] Just 11 contracted players would be available throughout the course of the season, which necessitated the use of a large number of guest players, the most notable of whom being future internationals Jackie Carr, Jack Cock and Fred Bullock (England), Fred Keenor (Wales) and Jack Doran (Ireland).[2] Cock, Henry White and Ted Hanney all played in an England trial match on 14 April 1919.[3]

A chronic lack of players saw Brentford win just one of the opening six matches of the season.[2] The turnaround came when Jack Cock returned team after settling a dispute, which if left unsettled, would have led him to play for Fulham during the season.[3] The Bees' forward line was immediately galvanised and the goals of Cock, Henry White and Fred Morley lead Brentford on a run of 11 wins in 14 matches in all competitions.[2] The Armistice of 11 November 1918 brought the war to a close and attendances began to rise, which coupled with the club only having to pay its players £2 a week plus expenses, meant that Brentford ended the season with a profit of £2,000 (£116,100 in 2024).[3]

Despite four draws in January 1919 and three losses in February (which included a second round defeat to Crystal Palace in the one-off London Victory Cup), a return to form and a 2–0 victory over nearest challengers Arsenal on 15 March put the Bees eight points clear at the top of the table with six matches left to play.[3] Aided by additional goals from Patsy Hendren and Royal Navy serviceman Billy Baker,[4] Brentford finished the season as champions,[2] marking the first time the club had finished top of a division since winning the Southern League Second Division title in 1900–01.[5] On 7 April, with three matches of the regular season to play, Brentford were invited to play a fundraising friendly match versus a 'Rest Of The Southern League XI' at The Den.[6] Brentford lost the match 2–1.[6]

One more former Brentford player died before the end of the war – Sapper Fred Alborough, who made three appearances as a guest in September and October 1918.[2] He died of influenza on 31 October 1918, just five days after his final Brentford appearance.[7] He had served with the Royal Engineers during the war.[8] Former wartime guest players sergeant Dick Wynn and shoeing smith Billy Matthews died in circumstances related to their service in August 1919 and April 1921 respectively.[9][10][11]

League table

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Main article: London Combination
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts
1 Brentford 36 20 9 7 94 46 2.043 49
2 Arsenal 36 20 5 11 85 56 1.518 45
3 West Ham United 36 17 7 12 65 51 1.275 41
4 Fulham 36 17 6 13 70 55 1.273 40
5 Queens Park Rangers 36 16 7 13 69 60 1.150 39
Source: Football and the First World War

Results

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Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

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Win Draw Loss

London Combination

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No. Date Opponent Venue Result Scorer(s)
1 7 September 1918 West Ham United H 2–0 Stanton, Amos (pen)
2 14 September 1918 Tottenham Hotspur A 1–1 Denyer
3 21 September 1918 Chelsea H 0–0
4 28 September 1918 Arsenal A 1–1 White
5 5 October 1918 Crystal Palace H 2–3 Morley, Peart (pen)
6 12 October 1918 Queens Park Rangers A 1–2 Peart (pen)
7 19 October 1918 Millwall H 4–2 White, Cock (2), Morley
8 26 October 1918 Clapton Orient A 2–1 Cock (2)
9 2 November 1918 West Ham United A 3–1 Wright, Morley (2)
10 9 November 1918 Tottenham Hotspur H 7–1 Chalmers (2), Stanton, Cock (2), Morley (2)
11 16 November 1918 Chelsea A 2–2 White, Cock
12 23 November 1918 Arsenal H 4–1 Hendren (2, 1 pen), White, Cock
13 30 November 1918 Crystal Palace A 4–0 Cock (2), White (2)
14 7 December 1918 Queens Park Rangers H 5–1 White (5)
15 14 December 1918 Millwall A 1–3 Hendren
16 21 December 1918 Clapton Orient H 7–0 White (3), Cock (2), Keenor, Chester
17 25 December 1918 Fulham H 2–1 White, Hendren (pen)
18 26 December 1918 Fulham A 4–1 Hendren, Cock (2), White
19 28 December 1918 West Ham United H 3–1 Morley, Keenor, White
20 4 January 1919 Tottenham Hotspur A 1–1 Cock
21 11 January 1919 Chelsea H 1–1 Cock
22 18 January 1919 Arsenal A 3–3 Baker, White, Cock
23 25 January 1919 Crystal Palace H 6–1 Doran (2), Cock (3), Pick
24 1 February 1919 Queens Park Rangers A 0–0
25 8 February 1919 Millwall H 2–1 Hendren, Morley
26 15 February 1919 Fulham A 2–3 Morley, Cock
27 22 February 1919 West Ham United A 1–2 White
28 1 March 1919 Tottenham Hotspur H 4–1 White (2), Morley (2)
29 8 March 1919 Chelsea A 4–1 Morley, Baker (2), White
30 15 March 1919 Arsenal H 2–0 White (2)
31 22 March 1919 Crystal Palace A 3–2 Peart (pen), Baker, Morley
32 29 March 1919 Queens Park Rangers H 1–1 Baker
33 5 April 1919 Millwall A 0–3
34 12 April 1919 Fulham H 5–0 Cock (3), McGovern, White
35 18 April 1919 Clapton Orient H 2–0 Morley, Baker
36 21 April 1919 Clapton Orient A 2–4 White, Cock

London Victory Cup

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result Scorer(s)
R1 30 December 1918 Clapton Orient H 3–2 Cock, White (2)
R2 17 February 1919 Crystal Palace H 0–1
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[2]

Playing squad

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Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1918–19 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Ted Price   (1883-06-13)13 June 1883 (aged 35) Croydon Common 1912
Defenders
DF Alf Amos   (1893-02-09)9 February 1893 (aged 25) Old Kingstonians 1913
DF Jack Peart   (1884-10-13)13 October 1884 (aged 33) Croydon Common 1916
DF Dusty Rhodes (c)   (1882-08-16)16 August 1882 (aged 36) Sunderland 1908
DF Bertie Rosier   (1893-03-21)21 March 1893 (aged 25) Southall 1913
Midfielders
HB Tom McGovern   (1888-11-11)11 November 1888 (aged 29) Halifax Town 1913
HB Bill Stanton   (1890-05-09)9 May 1890 (aged 28) Watford 1917
Forwards
FW Billy Baker   (1894-01-08)8 January 1894 (aged 24) Unattached 1918
FW Albert Chester   (1886-03-17)17 March 1886 (aged 32) Millwall 1916
FW Patsy Hendren   (1889-02-05)5 February 1889 (aged 29) Queens Park Rangers 1911 Played when his cricket commitments allowed
FW Fred Morley   (1888-03-01)1 March 1888 (aged 30) Unattached 1918
FW Henry White   (1895-08-08)8 August 1895 (aged 23) Whamcliffe Athletic 1913
Guest players
GK Jimmy Morris   n/a Clapton Orient 1918 Guest from Clapton Orient
GK Fred Pickup   n/a Bury 1918 Guest from Bury
DF Fred Bullock   (1886-07-01)1 July 1886 (aged 32) Huddersfield Town 1918 Guest from Huddersfield Town
HB Jimmy Brandham   1890 (aged 27–28) Fulham 1918 Guest from Fulham
HB John Green   September 1894 (aged 23–24) Wolverhampton Wanderers 1918 Guest from Wolverhampton Wanderers
HB Ted Hanney   (1889-01-19)19 January 1889 (aged 29) Manchester City 1918 Guest from Manchester City
HB J. James n/a n/a n/a 1918 Guest
HB Fred Keenor   (1894-07-31)31 July 1894 (aged 24) Cardiff City 1918 Guest from Cardiff City
HB Horace Parsons   (1890-12-23)23 December 1890 (aged 27) Stourbridge 1918 Guest from Stourbridge
HB Maurice Woodward   (1891-10-12)12 October 1891 (aged 26) Southend United 1918 Guest from Southend United
HB E. J. Wright   n/a Hampstead Town 1918 Amateur, guest from Hampstead Town
FW Fred Alborough   1892 (aged 25–26) Unattached 1918 Guest
FW Jackie Carr   (1892-11-26)26 November 1892 (aged 25) Middlesbrough 1919 Guest from Middlesbrough
FW David Chalmers   (1891-07-22)22 July 1891 (aged 27) Grimsby Town 1918 Guest from Grimsby Town
FW Jack Cock   (1893-11-14)14 November 1893 (aged 24) Huddersfield Town 1918 Guest from Huddersfield Town
FW Bertie Denyer   (1893-04-09)9 April 1893 (aged 25) Swindon Town 1918 Guest from Swindon Town
FW Jack Doran   (1896-01-03)3 January 1896 (aged 22) Coventry City 1919 Guest from Coventry City
FW J. Gillies n/a n/a Unattached 1918 Guest
FW Charles Hibbert   1894 (aged 23–24) Uxbridge 1919 Guest from Uxbridge
FW Harry Lappin   (1879-01-16)16 January 1879 (aged 39) Unattached 1918 Guest
FW W. Pick n/a n/a n/a 1919 Guest
FW Wilcox n/a n/a n/a 1918 Guest
FW Dick Wynn   1892 (aged 25–26) Middlesbrough 1918 Guest from Middlesbrough
  • Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[2] Timeless Bees,[12] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939[13]

Coaching staff

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Name Role
  Fred Halliday Secretary Manager
  Dusty Rhodes Trainer

Statistics

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Appearances and goals

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Brentford's highest appearance-makers in each position during the London Combination season.
Pos Nat Name League Victory Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK   Ted Price 26 0 2 0 28 0
DF   Alf Amos 13 1 1 0 14 1
DF   Jack Peart 25 3 2 0 27 3
DF   Dusty Rhodes 14 0 — 14 0
DF   Bertie Rosier 2 0 — 2 0
HB   Tom McGovern 26 1 2 0 28 1
HB   Bill Stanton 29 2 2 0 31 2
FW   Billy Baker 26 6 2 0 28 6
FW   Albert Chester 5 1 — 5 1
FW   Patsy Hendren 27 6 2 0 29 6
FW   Fred Morley 31 14 2 0 33 14
FW   Henry White 31 24 2 2 33 26
Players guested during the season
GK   Jimmy Morris 5 0 — 5 0
GK   Fred Pickup 5 0 — 5 0
DF   Fred Bullock 12 0 — 12 0
HB   Jimmy Brandham 3 0 — 3 0
HB   John Green 1 0 — 1 0
HB   Ted Hanney 21 0 2 0 23 0
HB n/a J. James 5 0 — 5 0
HB   Fred Keenor 19 2 — 19 2
HB   Horace Parsons 1 0 — 1 0
HB   Maurice Woodward 13 0 1 0 14 0
HB   E. J. Wright 3 1 — 3 1
FW   Fred Alborough 3 0 — 3 0
FW   Jackie Carr 2 0 — 2 0
FW   David Chalmers 5 2 — 5 2
FW   Jack Cock 25 24 2 1 27 25
FW   Bertie Denyer 4 1 — 4 1
FW   Jack Doran 2 2 — 2 2
FW n/a J. Gillies 2 0 — 2 0
FW   Charles Hibbert 2 0 — 2 0
FW   Harry Lappin 2 0 — 2 0
FW n/a W. Pick 3 1 — 3 1
FW n/a Wilcox 1 0 — 1 0
FW   Dick Wynn 2 0 — 2 0
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[2]

Goalscorers

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Pos. Nat Player LC VC Total
FW   Henry White 24 2 26
FW   Jack Cock 24 1 25
FW   Fred Morley 14 0 14
FW   Billy Baker 6 0 6
FW   Patsy Hendren 6 0 6
DF   Jack Peart 3 0 3
FW   David Chalmers 2 — 2
FW   Jack Doran 2 — 2
HB   Fred Keenor 2 — 2
HB   Bill Stanton 2 — 2
FW   Albert Chester 1 — 1
FW   Bertie Denyer 1 — 1
FW n/a W. Pick 1 — 1
HB   E. J. Wright 1 — 1
DF   Alf Amos 1 0 1
HB   Tom McGovern 1 0 1
Total 94 3 97
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[2]

Management

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Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
P W D L W % P W D L W %
Fred Halliday   7 September 1918 21 April 1919 38 21 9 8 055.26 36 20 9 7 055.56

Summary

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Games played 38 (36 London Combination, 2 London Victory Cup)
Games won 21 (20 London Combination, 1 London Victory Cup)
Games drawn 9 (9 London Combination, 0 London Victory Cup)
Games lost 8 (7 London Combination, 1 London Victory Cup)
Goals scored 97 (94 London Combination, 3 London Victory Cup)
Goals conceded 49 (46 London Combination, 3 London Victory Cup)
Clean sheets 8 (8 London Combination, 0 London Victory Cup)
Biggest league win 7–0 versus Clapton Orient, 21 December 1918
Worst league defeat 3–0 versus Millwall, 5 April 1919
Most appearances 33, Fred Morley, Henry White (31 London Combination, 2 London Victory Cup)
Top scorer (league) 25, Henry White
Top scorer (all competitions) 26, Henry White

Transfers & loans

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Guest players' arrival and departure dates correspond to their first and last appearances of the season.
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
October 1918 FW   Billy Baker Unattached Free [4]
1918 FW   Fred Morley Unattached Free [2]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
March 1919 FW   Albert Chester   Tottenham Hotspur 1919 [14]
April 1919 FW   Billy Baker Unattached [4]
April 1919 DF   Jack Peart   Arsenal 1919 [15]
April 1919 HB   Bill Stanton   Rotherham County 1919 [16]
Guest players in
Date from Pos. Name Previous Club Date to Ref.
7 September 1918 HB   Jimmy Brandham   Fulham 30 November 1918 [2]
7 September 1918 FW   David Chalmers   Grimsby Town 9 November 1918 [2]
7 September 1918 FW   Bertie Denyer   Swindon Town 28 September 1918 [2]
7 September 1918 FW J. Gillies Unattached 12 October 1918 [2]
7 September 1918 GK   Jimmy Morris   Clapton Orient 26 October 1918 [2]
14 September 1918 HB J. James n/a 16 November 1918 [2]
14 September 1918 HB   Fred Keenor   Cardiff City 12 April 1919 [2]
14 September 1918 FW   Dick Wynn   Middlesbrough 21 September 1918 [2]
28 September 1918 FW   Fred Alborough Unattached 26 October 1918 [2]
28 September 1918 GK   Fred Pickup   Bury 4 January 1919 [2]
28 September 1918 HB   E. J. Wright   Hampstead Town 2 November 1918 [2]
5 October 1918 FW   Harry Lappin Unattached 5 October 1918 [2]
5 October 1918 HB   Horace Parsons Stourbridge 5 October 1918 [2]
5 October 1918 FW Wilcox n/a 5 October 1918 [2]
5 October 1918 HB   Maurice Woodward   Southend United End of season [2]
19 October 1918 FW   Jack Cock   Huddersfield Town End of season [2]
26 October 1918 FB   Fred Bullock   Huddersfield Town 15 March 1919 [2]
30 November 1918 HB   John Green   Wolverhampton Wanderers 30 November 1918 [2]
7 December 1918 HB   Ted Hanney   Manchester City End of season [2]
25 January 1919 FW   Jack Doran   Coventry City 22 February 1919 [2]
25 January 1919 FW   Charles Hibbert   Uxbridge 22 February 1919 [2]
25 January 1919 FW W. Pick n/a End of season [2]
18 April 1919 FW   Jackie Carr   Middlesbrough End of season [2]
Guest players out
Date from Pos. Name To Date to Ref.
1918 HB   Jimmy Kennedy   St Mirren 1918 [17]

References

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  1. ^ White 1989, p. 363-365.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 365. ISBN 0951526200.
  3. ^ a b c d White 1989, p. 109-110.
  4. ^ a b c Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 15.
  5. ^ Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Yore Publications. p. 118. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  6. ^ a b Haynes 1998, p. 137.
  7. ^ "Remember & Honour – The WW1 Brentford Players". Beesotted. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  8. ^ "Casualty Details: John Fredrick Alborough". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  9. ^ "Brentford FC Remembrance List". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  10. ^ "The Fallen of Everton Football Club & Everton de Viña del Mar, Chile" (PDF). p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 March 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  11. ^ "William "Billie" Matthews who played for Chester football team. A World War 1 hero". Christleton. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  12. ^ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  13. ^ Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN 190589161X.
  14. ^ "Biographies – Albert Chester" (PDF). Croydon Common Football Club. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  15. ^ "Jack Peart". Arsenal.com. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  16. ^ Joyce 2012, p. 275.
  17. ^ Litster, John. Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
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