Wikipedia

1932–33 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1932–33 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division South. Brentford won the division championship and secured promotion to the second tier of English football for the first time in the club's history. Jack Holliday set a new club goalscoring record of 39 goals in a season, which as of 2023 has yet to be broken. It is statistically Brentford's second-best season, after 1929–30.

Brentford
1932–33 season
ChairmanLouis P. Simon
ManagerHarry Curtis
StadiumGriffin Park
Third Division South1st (promoted)
FA CupFirst round
Top goalscorerLeague: Holliday (38)
All: Holliday (39)
Highest home attendance20,693
Lowest home attendance8,377
Average home league attendance13,300

Season summary edit

 
Brentford's then-longest serving player Bill Berry was transferred to Crystal Palace in part-exchange for Idris Hopkins in November 1932.

Brentford manager Harry Curtis made a number of signings in the 1932 off-season, but none would prove more crucial to the club's future success than the acquisition of forwards Jack Holliday, Billy Scott and half back Herbert Watson from First Division Middlesbrough for a combined £1,500 fee in May 1932.[1] The majority of the money was raised from the sale of record goalscorer Billy Lane to Watford earlier that month.[2] The club entered the season with one of its youngest-ever squads.[3]

Brentford had a dream start to the Third Division South season, going undefeated and winning 12 of the opening 14 matches.[4] A new club record of 16 consecutive undefeated Football League matches was established, with the run stretching back to wins in the final two matches of the 1931–32 season.[5] The record stood until it was overtaken during 2013–14.[6] The Bees topped the table after the second match of the season.[4] After briefly dropping back to 2nd on goal difference, they quickly rose back to the summit and remained there until a 5–5 draw with Luton Town (which set a new club record for highest aggregate score in an away Football League match) on 1 February 1933 dropped the club back to 2nd.[4][7] Manager Curtis signed a new three-year contract in January 1933 and forward Jack Holliday was in prolific scoring form, hitting 26 goals in his first 20 appearances of the season, including four hat-tricks.[8] One of the hat-tricks comprised five goals in the draw with Luton Town,[8] which made Holliday the first player to score five goals for Brentford in a Football League match.[9]

Brentford went back to the top of the table after a 6–0 victory over Newport County on 4 February, the team's biggest victory of the season.[4] Aside from a minor blip in mid-March through to early-April, the Bees held onto top spot and clinched the Third Division South championship after a 2–1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on 26 April 1933,[4] with nearest rivals Exeter City five points behind with only two matches to play.[10] Brentford drew the remaining three matches of the season and were promoted to the Second Division for the first time in the club's history.[4][11]

Jack Holliday broke Billy Lane's three-year old club record for most goals in a season with four strikes in a 7–3 mauling of Cardiff City on 1 April and he finished the season with 39 goals in all competitions.[1][8] Despite his exploits, Holliday did not finish as the Third Division South's top scorer, due to Coventry City's Clarrie Bourton bettering Holliday's total of 38 by two goals.[12] A number of Football League club records were set during the season, including fewest away defeats (4), fewest defeats (6), most away goals scored (45) and most points (62 – two points for a win).[5] Brentford's average Football League home attendance of 13,300 was the highest in the Third Division South.[13] 1932–33 is statistically Brentford's second-best season, with the club having acquired 2.10 points per game under the current ruling of three points for a win.[6]

Reserve team edit

Brentford's reserve team finished as champions of the London Combination for the second successive season.[14] The team won all their home matches during the season, which formed a large chunk of the reserve team club record of 43 consecutive home victories, a run which ran from November 1931 to November 1933.[15] Ralph Allen captained the team, scored a large chunk of the goals and the final match of the season versus Aldershot Reserves was played in front of a crowd of 9,000, a club record for a reserve team fixture.[15][16]

League table edit

Main article: 1932–33 Football League Third Division South

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Promotion
1 Brentford 42 26 10 6 90 49 1.837 62 Division Champions, promoted
2 Exeter City 42 24 10 8 88 48 1.833 58
3 Norwich City 42 22 13 7 88 55 1.600 57
4 Reading 42 19 13 10 103 71 1.451 51
5 Crystal Palace 42 19 8 15 78 64 1.219 46
Source: [citation needed]

Results edit

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend edit

Win Draw Loss

Football League Third Division South edit

No. Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s)
1 27 August 1932 Queens Park Rangers A 3–2 24,381 Holliday (2), Crompton
2 29 August 1932 Coventry City A 3–2 18,909 Foster, Allen (2)
3 3 September 1932 Torquay United H 3–1 12,567 Holliday, Foster, Scott
4 8 September 1932 Coventry City H 2–1 8,377 Holliday (2)
5 10 September 1932 Exeter City A 2–1 8,184 Holliday (2)
6 17 September 1932 Luton Town H 1–0 15,409 Robson
7 24 September 1932 Newport County A 6–1 7,343 Holliday (3), Scott (2), Robson
8 1 October 1932 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic H 1–1 12,963 Crompton
9 8 October 1932 Swindon Town A 0–0 6,659
10 15 October 1932 Clapton Orient H 4–2 14,440 Holliday (3), Robson
11 22 October 1932 Southend United A 1–0 9,453 Crompton
12 29 October 1932 Crystal Palace H 2–0 17,827 Robson, Holliday
13 5 November 1932 Gillingham A 3–1 12,880 Holliday (3)
14 12 November 1932 Watford H 2–1 14,661 Robson, Scott
15 19 November 1932 Cardiff City A 1–2 5,274 Scott
16 3 December 1932 Norwich City A 0–3 14,180
17 17 December 1932 Bristol Rovers A 4–2 15,355 Burns, Scott (2), Allen
18 24 December 1932 Aldershot H 2–0 11,972 Crompton (2)
19 26 December 1932 Northampton Town A 0–1 14,210
20 27 December 1932 Northampton Town H 1–0 18,747 Scott
21 31 December 1932 Queens Park Rangers H 2–1 14,981 Beecham (og), Crompton
22 7 January 1933 Torquay United A 1–1 4,882 Holliday
23 21 January 1933 Exeter City H 0–2 10,769
24 1 February 1933 Luton Town A 5–5 3,044 Holliday (5, 1 pen)
25 4 February 1933 Newport County H 6–0 10,060 Hopkins (2), Holliday (2), Walsh, Scott
26 11 February 1933 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic A 1–1 6,853 Crompton
27 18 February 1933 Swindon Town H 1–0 11,559 Walsh
28 25 February 1933 Clapton Orient A 5–1 7,814 Scott, Crompton, Holliday (2), Hopkins
29 4 March 1933 Southend United H 3–1 14,288 Holliday (2), Scott
30 11 March 1933 Crystal Palace A 1–2 20,261 Scott
31 18 March 1933 Gillingham H 1–2 11,445 Robson
32 25 March 1933 Watford A 1–1 10,057 Holliday
33 1 April 1933 Cardiff City H 7–3 10,831 Muttitt, Holliday (4, 1 pen), Crompton (2)
34 8 April 1933 Reading A 3–1 16,089 Muttitt, Holliday, Crompton
35 14 April 1933 Bristol City A 2–1 19,326 Muttitt, Scott
36 14 April 1933 Norwich City H 2–2 20,693 Stephens, Hopkins
37 17 April 1933 Bristol City H 2–1 15,212 Hopkins, Scott
38 22 April 1933 Brighton & Hove Albion A 2–1 8,659 Holliday, Hopkins
39 26 April 1933 Brighton & Hove Albion H 2–1 12,638 Muttitt, Holliday
40 29 April 1933 Bristol Rovers H 0–0 10,355
41 3 May 1933 Reading H 1–1 9,511 Walsh
42 6 May 1933 Aldershot A 1–1 5,145 Holliday

FA Cup edit

Main article: 1932–33 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s)
1R 26 November 1932 Reading A 2–3 18,000 Scott, Holliday

Playing squad edit

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1932–33 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Tom Baker   (1905-08-17)17 August 1905 (aged 27) Southport 1932
Defenders
DF Tom Adamson   (1901-02-12)12 February 1901 (aged 31) Bury 1929
DF Jack French   1903 (aged 28–29) Southend United 1932
DF William Hodge   (1904-08-31)31 August 1904 (aged 27) Rangers 1927
DF Alexander Stevenson   (1903-10-24)24 October 1903 (aged 28) Armadale 1927
Midfielders
HB Jimmy Bain (c)   (1899-02-06)6 February 1899 (aged 33) Manchester Central 1928
HB Jackie Burns   (1906-11-27)27 November 1906 (aged 25) Queens Park Rangers 1931 Amateur
HB Joe James   (1910-01-13)13 January 1910 (aged 22) Battersea Church 1929
HB Duncan McKenzie   (1912-08-10)10 August 1912 (aged 20) Albion Rovers 1932
HB Teddy Ware   (1906-09-17)17 September 1906 (aged 25) Chatham Town 1928
HB Herbert Watson   (1908-11-20)20 November 1908 (aged 23) Middlesbrough 1932
Forwards
FW Ralph Allen   (1906-06-30)30 June 1906 (aged 26) Fulham 1930
FW Arthur Crompton   (1903-01-09)9 January 1903 (aged 29) Southend United 1932
FW Jackie Foster   (1903-03-21)21 March 1903 (aged 29) Bristol City 1929
FW Jack Holliday   (1908-12-19)19 December 1908 (aged 23) Middlesbrough 1932
FW Idris Hopkins   (1910-10-11)11 October 1910 (aged 21) Crystal Palace 1932
FW Ernest Muttitt   (1908-07-24)24 July 1908 (aged 24) Middlesbrough 1932
FW George Robson   (1908-06-17)17 June 1908 (aged 24) West Ham United 1931
FW Billy Scott   (1907-12-06)6 December 1907 (aged 24) Middlesbrough 1932
FW Bert Stephens   (1909-05-13)13 May 1909 (aged 23) Ealing Association 1931
FW Charlie Walsh   (1910-10-27)27 October 1910 (aged 21) Arsenal 1933
FW Alf Wheeler   (1910-04-04)4 April 1910 (aged 22) Mossley 1932
Players who left the club mid-season
FW Bill Berry   (1904-08-18)18 August 1904 (aged 28) Gillingham 1926 Transferred to Crystal Palace
  • Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[8] Timeless Bees,[17] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939[18]

Coaching staff edit

Name Role
  Harry Curtis Manager
  Bob Kane Trainer
  Jack Cartmell Assistant trainer
  Fred Keatch Secretary

Statistics edit

Appearances and goals edit

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   Tom Baker 42 0 1 0 43 0
DF   Tom Adamson 27 0 1 0 28 0
DF   Jack French 5 0 0 0 5 0
DF   William Hodge 25 0 0 0 25 0
DF   Alexander Stevenson 27 0 1 0 28 0
HB   Jimmy Bain 37 0 1 0 38 0
HB   Jackie Burns 37 1 1 0 37 1
HB   Joe James 5 0 0 0 5 0
HB   Duncan McKenzie 2 0 0 0 2 0
HB   Teddy Ware 11 0 1 0 12 0
HB   Herbert Watson 34 0 0 0 34 0
FW   Ralph Allen 8 3 0 0 8 3
FW   Bill Berry 1 0 — 1 0
FW   Arthur Crompton 31 11 1 0 32 11
FW   Jackie Foster 21 2 1 0 22 2
FW   Jack Holliday 34 38 1 1 35 39
FW   Idris Hopkins 21 6 0 0 21 6
FW   Ernest Muttitt 14 4 0 0 14 4
FW   George Robson 24 6 1 0 25 6
FW   Billy Scott 41 14 1 1 42 15
FW   Bert Stephens 4 1 0 0 4 1
FW   Charlie Walsh 10 3 — 10 3
FW   Alf Wheeler 1 0 0 0 1 0
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[8]

Goalscorers edit

Pos. Nat Player FL3 FAC Total
FW   Jack Holliday 38 1 39
FW   Billy Scott 14 1 15
FW   Arthur Crompton 11 0 11
FW   Idris Hopkins 6 0 6
FW   George Robson 6 0 6
FW   Ernest Muttitt 4 0 4
FW   Ralph Allen 3 0 3
FW   Charlie Walsh 3 0 3
FW   Jackie Foster 2 0 2
HB   Jackie Burns 1 0 1
FW   Bert Stephens 1 0 1
Opponents 1 0 1
Total 90 2 92
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[8]

Amateur international caps edit

Pos. Nat Player Caps Goals Ref
FW   Jackie Burns 3 1 [19]

Management edit

Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
P W D L W % P W D L W %
Harry Curtis   27 August 1932 6 May 1933 43 26 10 7 060.47 42 26 10 6 061.90

Summary edit

Games played 43 (42 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)
Games won 26 (26 Third Division South, 0 FA Cup)
Games drawn 10 (10 Third Division South, 0 FA Cup)
Games lost 7 (6 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored 92 (90 Third Division South, 2 FA Cup)
Goals conceded 52 (49 Third Division South, 3 FA Cup)
Clean sheets 9 (9 Third Division South, 0 FA Cup)
Biggest league win 6–0 versus Newport County, 4 February 1933
Worst league defeat 3–0 versus Norwich City, 3 December 1932
Most appearances 43, Tom Baker (42 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)
Top scorer (league) 38, Jack Holliday
Top scorer (all competitions) 39, Jack Holliday

Transfers & loans edit

Cricketers are not included in this list.
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
May 1932 FW   Jack Holliday   Middlesbrough n/a [20]
May 1932 HB   Herbert Watson   Middlesbrough n/a [21]
May 1932 FW   Billy Scott   Middlesbrough n/a [22]
1 August 1932 HB   Duncan McKenzie   Albion Rovers £350 [23]
August 1932 DF   Jack French   Southend United Free [3]
October 1932 FW   Ernest Muttitt   Middlesbrough n/a [24]
November 1932 FW   Idris Hopkins   Crystal Palace £200 [25]
1932 GK   Tom Baker   Southport Free [26]
1932 DF   Robert Fulton   Glasgow Perthshire n/a [3]
1932 FW   Fred Pope   Partick Thistle n/a [3]
1932 FW   Alf Wheeler   Mossley Free [27]
January 1933 FW   Charlie Walsh   Arsenal n/a [28]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
May 1932 FW   Billy Lane   Watford £1,500 [2]
November 1932 FW   Bill Berry   Crystal Palace Part-exchange [29]
January 1933 FW   Norman Thomson   Swindon Town n/a [30]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
May 1933 FW   Arthur Crompton   Crystal Palace 1933 [31]
May 1933 FW   Jackie Foster   Barrow July 1933 [32]
May 1933 FW   Herbert Lawson   Luton Town 1933 [33]
May 1933 HB   Robert Morris   Norwich City 1933 [34]
May 1933 FW   Alf Wheeler   Northampton Town 1933 [27]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Chapman, Mark. "Boro Connections: Five players that shaped Brentford football Club's history". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  2. ^ a b Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 94.
  3. ^ a b c d ""Bees" Preparing – Team Building With Blend Of Youth And Experience – Club's Youngest Side". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 12 August 1932.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Brentford results for the 1932–1933 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  5. ^ a b Haynes 1998, p. 78-79.
  6. ^ a b Wickham, Chris. "Brentford FC 2013/14 squad break a string of Club Records". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  7. ^ "Brentford scoring and sequence records". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 372. ISBN 0951526200.
  9. ^ Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Harefield, Middlesex: Yore Publications. p. 62. ISBN 1-874427-57-7.
  10. ^ "Brentford Table on Wednesday 26th April 1933". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  11. ^ "Brentford Complete History". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  12. ^ "English League Leading Goalscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  13. ^ Haynes 1998, p. 13.
  14. ^ Haynes 1998, p. 83.
  15. ^ a b Haynes 1998, p. 108-110.
  16. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 10.
  17. ^ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  18. ^ Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN 978-1905891610.
  19. ^ "England Matches – The Amateurs 1906–1939". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  20. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 79.
  21. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 166.
  22. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 142-143.
  23. ^ Litster, John. Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
  24. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 113.
  25. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 80-81.
  26. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 15.
  27. ^ a b Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 167.
  28. ^ "Charlie Walsh". Arsenal.com. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  29. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 20.
  30. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 160.
  31. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 42.
  32. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 21.
  33. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 95.
  34. ^ "Robert Morris – Players – Colchester United". www.coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
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