During the 1924–25 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division South. After finishing in 21st place, the club successfully applied for re-election. The 41 goals scored during the season is the fewest in club history.
Season summary
Brentford manager Archie Mitchell conducted an overhaul of his half back and forward lines during the 1924 off-season, releasing James Kerr, Freddy Capper, Bobby Hughes, Sidney Mulford and Henry Parkinson and signing 12 new players, which included new forward Jack Allen to partner Reginald Parker in attack. Aside from a three-match winning streak in September, which lifted the club as high as 9th, 10 defeats in the following 12 games saw Mitchell step down as manager after a 5–3 defeat to Isthmian League club St Albans City in the FA Cup fifth qualifying round on 29 November 1924. He was replaced by Fred Halliday, who stepped up from an administrative role to take over as Brentford manager for the third time.
At the time of Halliday's first match in charge, Brentford had been rooted to the bottom of the Third Division South for nearly a month. Halliday fared little better than his predecessor, despite a 10-match spell from mid-December to early February which saw the Bees lose just three times. Mid-season signings Jimmy McCree, Bert Young and new captain Alex Graham failed to strengthen the team, though four goals in 9 late-season appearances from new acquisition Jack Lane at least inspired the team to score 12 goals in the matches in which he played.
Brentford finished the 1924–25 season in 21st place and successfully applied for re-election to the Football League. Though statistically it was not Brentford's worst season, many Football League club records were set or equalled during the campaign, including fewest away victories (1), fewest victories (9), fewest draws (0), consecutive home draws (4), most away defeats (20), most defeats (26), fewest away goals scored (10), fewest goals scored (38) and most away goals conceded (65). A 7–0 defeat to Swansea Town on 8 November 1924 is Brentford's joint-worst league defeat and together with a 7–1 defeat to Plymouth Argyle on 6 September 1924, is a joint-club record for most goals conceded in an away league loss.
League table
Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend WinDrawLoss
Football League Third Division South No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)130 August 1924Brighton & Hove AlbionH2–48,500Garnish, Parker23 September 1924GillinghamA0–15,00036 September 1924Plymouth ArgyleA1–79,000Parker48 September 1924GillinghamH2–16,000Parker, Allen513 September 1924Bristol CityH1–09,000Allen615 September 1924Newport CountyH2–07,000Parker (2)720 September 1924Swindon TownA0–24,000827 September 1924Aberdare AthleticH2–29,000Parker, H. Williams94 October 1924Norwich CityA0–36,0001011 October 1924Queens Park RangersH0–18,0001118 October 1924MillwallH1–011,000R. Williams1222 October 1924Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticA0–26,0001325 October 1924Merthyr TownA0–45,000141 November 1924ReadingH0–12,500158 November 1924Swansea TownA0–75,0001615 November 1924Exeter CityH2–52,500Garnish, Parker1722 November 1924Bristol RoversA0–25,000186 December 1924Southend UnitedA1–64,000Relph1913 December 1924WatfordH0–04,0002020 December 1924Northampton TownA2–06,000Allen (2)2125 December 1924Charlton AthleticA0–37,0002226 December 1924Charlton AthleticH1–010,000Allen2327 December 1924Brighton & Hove AlbionA1–42,500Parker243 January 1925Plymouth ArgyleH1–08,000Graham (pen)2510 January 1925Southend UnitedH2–27,000Garnish, V. Rowe2617 January 1925Bristol CityA0–38,5002724 January 1925Swindon TownH0–07,000287 February 1925Norwich CityH1–17,000Allen2914 February 1925Queens Park RangersA0–110,0003016 February 1925Aberdare AthleticA1–23,000Hughes3121 February 1925MillwallA0–314,0003228 February 1925Merthyr TownH2–27,000Isaac, H. Williams337 March 1925ReadingA1–36,312Allen3414 March 1925Swansea TownH3–19,000Allen (2), Lane3521 March 1925Exeter CityA1–53,000Lane3628 March 1925Bristol RoversH1–14,000Allen374 April 1925Newport CountyA0–15,0003810 April 1925Luton TownH3–07,000Allen (2), Lane3913 April 1925Luton TownA1–36,000Garnish4018 April 1925WatfordA1–34,000Allen4125 April 1925Northampton TownH1–35,000Lane422 May 1925Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticH1–24,000Allen
FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)5QR29 November 1924St Albans CityA3–58,825Parker, H. Williams, Garnish
Sources: Statto, 100 Years of Brentford, The Complete History
Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1924–25 season. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepersGKAlbert GilbertCivil Service1924GKWilliam YoungSouth Shields1920DefendersDFCharles Alton Rotherham County1921DFEdwin CookeBarnsley1924DFGeorge KellThe Wednesday1922DFEdward ShepherdHarrow Weald1924DFJohn Steel1895 (aged 28–29)Arsenal1925MidfieldersHBBilly BroadbentOldham Athletic1924HBTommy CainSheppey United1924HBAlex Graham (c)Arsenal1924HBFrank HendersonStockport County1924HBBill InglisDerby County1922HBGordon JohnstoneHoughton Rovers1922HBHorace Jonesn/aTon Pentre1922HBRonald RoweWimbledon1924AmateurHBJimmy WaltonBristol Rovers1924ForwardsFWJack AllenLeeds United1924FWBilly Clayson Wellingborough Town1922FWTom GarnishWandsworth1923FWHarold Hughes1902 (aged 21–22)Aberdare Athletic1924FWArthur Isaac1898 (aged 25–26)Cambridge Town1923AmateurFWJack Lane Chesterfield1925 FWJimmy McCreeLondon Caledonians1925AmateurFWCharles McGuiganNewcastle United1924FWReginald Parker Boldon Comrades1922FWWilliam RelphAshington1924FWVivian RoweDulwich Hamlet1924AmateurFWHarry WilliamsManchester United1923FWRalph WilliamsAberdare Athletic1924FWBert YoungAberdare Athletic1925 Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, Timeless Bees, Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939
Coaching staff
Archie Mitchell (30 August–2 December 1924) NameRole Archie MitchellManager Dusty RhodesTrainer
Fred Halliday (3 December 1924 – 2 May 1925) NameRole Fred HallidayManager Dusty RhodesTrainer
Statistics
Appearances and goals
PosNatNameLeagueFA CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKAlbert Gilbert10010110GKWilliam Young32000320DFCharles Alton17010180DFEdwin Cooke600060DFGeorge Kell35010360DFEdward Shepherd200020DFJohn Steel160—160HBBilly Broadbent17010180HBTommy Cain9010100HBAlex Graham221—221HBFrank Henderson800080HBBill Inglis25000250HBGordon Johnstone200020HBHorace Jones16000160HBRonald Rowe800080HBJimmy Walton23010240FWJack Allen3614103714FWBilly Clayson26000260FWTom Garnish25411265FWHarold Hughes14100141FWArthur Isaac210021FWJack Lane94—94FWJimmy McCree30—30FWCharles McGuigan200020FWReginald Parker41811429FWWilliam Relph711081FWVivian Rowe410041FWHarry Williams27211283FWRalph Williams710071FWBert Young110—110 Source: 100 Years of Brentford
Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL3FACTotalFWJack Allen14014FWReginald Parker819FWTom Garnish415FWJack Lane4—4FWHarry Williams213HBAlex Graham1—1FWHarold Hughes101FWArthur Isaac101FWWilliam Relph101FWVivian Rowe101FWRalph Williams101Total38341 Source: 100 Years of Brentford
Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Archie Mitchell30 August 192429 November 1924 |Fred Halliday6 November 19242 May 1925 |
Summary Games played 43 (42 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)Games won 9 (9 Third Division South, 0 FA Cup)Games drawn 7 (7 Third Division South, 0 FA Cup)Games lost 27 (26 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)Goals scored 41 (38 Third Division South, 3 FA Cup)Goals conceded 96 (91 Third Division South, 5 FA Cup)Clean sheets 9 (9 Third Division South, 0 FA Cup)Biggest league win 3–0 versus Luton Town, 10 April 1925Worst league defeat 7–0 versus Swansea Town, 8 November 1924Most appearances 42, Reginald Parker (42 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)Top scorer (league) 14, Jack AllenTop scorer (all competitions) 14, Jack Allen
Transfers & loans Cricketers are not included in this list. Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.June 1924DF Edward Shepherd Harrow WealdAmateurJune 1924FW Ralph Williams Aberdare AthleticFreeJuly 1924HB Tommy Cain Sheppey UnitedFreeAugust 1924FW Jack Allen Leeds UnitedFreeAugust 1924HB Billy Broadbent Oldham AthleticFreeAugust 1924DF Edwin Cooke BarnsleyFreeAugust 1924HB Frank Henderson Stockport CountyFreeAugust 1924FW Harold Hughes Aberdare AthleticFreeAugust 1924FW Jimmy McCree London CaledoniansAmateurAugust 1924FW William Relph AshingtonFreeAugust 1924FW Vivian Rowe Dulwich HamletAmateurSeptember 1924GK Albert Gilbert Civil ServiceAmateur18 November 1924HB Jimmy Walton Bristol Rovers£1253 December 1924HB Alex Graham Arsenal£4501924HB Charles Kellyn/aAmateur1924FW Charles McGuigan Newcastle UnitedFree1924HB Ronald Rowe WimbledonAmateurJanuary 1925DF John Steel ArsenalFree7 February 1925n/a John Stock Arthurlien/aFebruary 1925FW Bert Young Aberdare Athleticn/aMarch 1925FW Jack Lane Chesterfield£115Players releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.May 1925HB Billy Broadbent Clapton OrientJune 1925May 1925FW Billy Clayson Crewe Alexandra1925May 1925DF Edwin Cooke Grantham1925May 1925FW Tom Garnish FulhamSeptember 1925May 1925HB Frank HendersonRetiredMay 1925FW Harold Hughesn/aMay 1925HB Bill Inglis ReadingMay 1925May 1925FW Arthur Isaac Corinthian1925May 1925FW Gordon Johnstone Felling Colliery1925May 1925HB Horace Jones Hednesford Townn/aMay 1925DF George Kell Hartlepools United1925May 1925HB Charles Kellyn/an/aMay 1925FW Jimmy McCree London Caledonians1925May 1925FW Charles McGuigan Wheatley Hill Colliery1925May 1925HB Ronald Rowe Wimbledon1925May 1925FW Vivian Rowe Wimbledon1925May 1925DF Edward ShepherdRetiredMay 1925n/a John Stockn/aMay 1925FW Harry WilliamsRetiredMay 1925FW Ralph Williams Aberaman Athletic1925May 1925GK William YoungRetired
References