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.

Season summary

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. 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). Cock, Henry White and Ted Hanney all played in an England trial match on 14 April 1919.

A chronic lack of players saw Brentford win just one of the opening six matches of the season. 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. 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. 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 (£ in ).

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. Aided by additional goals from Patsy Hendren and Royal Navy serviceman Billy Baker, Brentford finished the season as champions, marking the first time the club had finished top of a division since winning the Southern League Second Division title in 1900–01. 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. Brentford lost the match 2–1.

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. He died of influenza on 31 October 1918, just five days after his final Brentford appearance. He had served with the Royal Engineers during the war. 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.

League table

Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend WinDrawLoss

London Combination No.DateOpponentVenueResultScorer(s)17 September 1918West Ham UnitedH2–0Stanton, Amos (pen)214 September 1918Tottenham HotspurA1–1Denyer321 September 1918ChelseaH0–0428 September 1918ArsenalA1–1White55 October 1918Crystal PalaceH2–3Morley, Peart (pen)612 October 1918Queens Park RangersA1–2Peart (pen)719 October 1918MillwallH4–2White, Cock (2), Morley826 October 1918Clapton OrientA2–1Cock (2)92 November 1918West Ham UnitedA3–1Wright, Morley (2)109 November 1918Tottenham HotspurH7–1Chalmers (2), Stanton, Cock (2), Morley (2)1116 November 1918ChelseaA2–2White, Cock1223 November 1918ArsenalH4–1Hendren (2, 1 pen), White, Cock1330 November 1918Crystal PalaceA4–0Cock (2), White (2)147 December 1918Queens Park RangersH5–1White (5)1514 December 1918MillwallA1–3Hendren1621 December 1918Clapton OrientH7–0White (3), Cock (2), Keenor, Chester1725 December 1918FulhamH2–1White, Hendren (pen)1826 December 1918FulhamA4–1Hendren, Cock (2), White1928 December 1918West Ham UnitedH3–1Morley, Keenor, White204 January 1919Tottenham HotspurA1–1Cock2111 January 1919ChelseaH1–1Cock2218 January 1919ArsenalA3–3Baker, White, Cock2325 January 1919Crystal PalaceH6–1Doran (2), Cock (3), Pick241 February 1919Queens Park RangersA0–0258 February 1919MillwallH2–1Hendren, Morley2615 February 1919FulhamA2–3Morley, Cock2722 February 1919West Ham UnitedA1–2White281 March 1919Tottenham HotspurH4–1White (2), Morley (2)298 March 1919ChelseaA4–1Morley, Baker (2), White3015 March 1919ArsenalH2–0White (2)3122 March 1919Crystal PalaceA3–2Peart (pen), Baker, Morley3229 March 1919Queens Park RangersH1–1Baker335 April 1919MillwallA0–33412 April 1919FulhamH5–0Cock (3), McGovern, White3518 April 1919Clapton OrientH2–0Morley, Baker3621 April 1919Clapton OrientA2–4White, Cock

London Victory Cup RoundDateOpponentVenueResultScorer(s)R130 December 1918Clapton OrientH3–2Cock, White (2)R217 February 1919Crystal PalaceH0–1

Source: 100 Years of Brentford

Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1918–19 season. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepersGKTed PriceCroydon Common1912DefendersDFAlf AmosOld Kingstonians1913DFJack PeartCroydon Common1916DFDusty Rhodes (c) Sunderland1908DFBertie RosierSouthall1913MidfieldersHBTom McGovernHalifax Town1913HBBill StantonWatford1917ForwardsFWBilly BakerUnattached1918FWAlbert ChesterMillwall1916FWPatsy HendrenQueens Park Rangers1911Played when his cricket commitments allowedFWFred Morley Unattached1918FWHenry WhiteWhamcliffe Athletic1913Guest playersGKJimmy Morrisn/aClapton Orient1918Guest from Clapton OrientGKFred Pickupn/aBury1918Guest from BuryDFFred BullockHuddersfield Town1918Guest from Huddersfield TownHBJimmy Brandham1890 (aged 27–28)Fulham1918Guest from FulhamHBJohn GreenSeptember 1894 (aged 23–24)Wolverhampton Wanderers1918Guest from Wolverhampton WanderersHBTed HanneyManchester City1918Guest from Manchester CityHBJ. Jamesn/an/an/a1918GuestHBFred KeenorCardiff City1918Guest from Cardiff CityHBHorace ParsonsStourbridge1918Guest from StourbridgeHBMaurice WoodwardSouthend United1918Guest from Southend UnitedHBE. J. Wrightn/aHampstead Town1918Amateur, guest from Hampstead TownFWFred Alborough1892 (aged 25–26)Unattached1918GuestFWJackie CarrMiddlesbrough1919Guest from MiddlesbroughFWDavid ChalmersGrimsby Town1918Guest from Grimsby TownFWJack CockHuddersfield Town1918Guest from Huddersfield TownFWBertie DenyerSwindon Town1918Guest from Swindon TownFWJack DoranCoventry City1919Guest from Coventry CityFWJ. Gilliesn/an/aUnattached1918GuestFWCharles Hibbert1894 (aged 23–24)Uxbridge1919Guest from UxbridgeFWHarry LappinUnattached1918GuestFWW. Pickn/an/an/a1919GuestFWWilcoxn/an/an/a1918GuestFWDick Wynn1892 (aged 25–26)Middlesbrough1918Guest from Middlesbrough Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, Timeless Bees, Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939

Coaching staff NameRole Fred HallidaySecretary Manager Dusty RhodesTrainer

Statistics

Appearances and goals

PosNatNameLeagueVictory CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKTed Price26020280DFAlf Amos13110141DFJack Peart25320273DFDusty Rhodes140—140DFBertie Rosier20—20HBTom McGovern26120281HBBill Stanton29220312FWBilly Baker26620286FWAlbert Chester51—51FWPatsy Hendren27620296FWFred Morley3114203314FWHenry White3124223326Players guested during the seasonGKJimmy Morris50—50GKFred Pickup50—50DFFred Bullock120—120HBJimmy Brandham30—30HBJohn Green10—10HBTed Hanney21020230HBn/aJ. James50—50HBFred Keenor192—192HB Horace Parsons10—10HBMaurice Woodward13010140HBE. J. Wright31—31FWFred Alborough30—30FWJackie Carr20—20FWDavid Chalmers52—52FWJack Cock2524212725FWBertie Denyer41—41FWJack Doran22—22FWn/aJ. Gillies20—20FWCharles Hibbert20—20FWHarry Lappin20—20FWn/aW. Pick31—31FWn/aWilcox10—10FWDick Wynn20—20 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford

Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerLCVCTotalFWHenry White24226FWJack Cock24125FWFred Morley14014FWBilly Baker606FWPatsy Hendren606DFJack Peart303FWDavid Chalmers2—2FWJack Doran2—2HBFred Keenor2—2HBBill Stanton2—2FWAlbert Chester1—1FWBertie Denyer1—1FWn/aW. Pick1—1HBE. J. Wright1—1DFAlf Amos101HBTom McGovern101Total94397 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford

Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Fred Halliday7 September 191821 April 1919 |

Summary 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 1918Worst league defeat 3–0 versus Millwall, 5 April 1919Most appearances 33, Fred Morley, Henry White (31 London Combination, 2 London Victory Cup)Top scorer (league) 25, Henry WhiteTop scorer (all competitions) 26, Henry White

Transfers & loans Guest players' arrival and departure dates correspond to their first and last appearances of the season. Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.October 1918FW Billy BakerUnattachedFree1918FW Fred MorleyUnattachedFreePlayers releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.March 1919FW Albert Chester Tottenham Hotspur1919April 1919FW Billy BakerUnattachedApril 1919DF Jack Peart Arsenal1919April 1919HB Bill Stanton Rotherham County1919Guest players inDate fromPos.NamePrevious clubDate toRef.7 September 1918HB Jimmy Brandham Fulham30 November 19187 September 1918FW David Chalmers Grimsby Town9 November 19187 September 1918FW Bertie Denyer Swindon Town28 September 19187 September 1918FWJ. GilliesUnattached12 October 19187 September 1918GK Jimmy Morris Clapton Orient26 October 191814 September 1918HBJ. Jamesn/a16 November 191814 September 1918HB Fred Keenor Cardiff City12 April 191914 September 1918FW Dick Wynn Middlesbrough21 September 191828 September 1918FW Fred AlboroughUnattached26 October 191828 September 1918GK Fred Pickup Bury4 January 191928 September 1918HB E. J. Wright Hampstead Town2 November 19185 October 1918FW Harry LappinUnattached5 October 19185 October 1918HB Horace ParsonsStourbridge5 October 19185 October 1918FWWilcoxn/a5 October 19185 October 1918HB Maurice Woodward Southend UnitedEnd of season19 October 1918FW Jack Cock Huddersfield TownEnd of season26 October 1918FB Fred Bullock Huddersfield Town15 March 191930 November 1918HB John Green Wolverhampton Wanderers30 November 19187 December 1918HB Ted Hanney Manchester CityEnd of season25 January 1919FW Jack Doran Coventry City22 February 191925 January 1919FW Charles Hibbert Uxbridge22 February 191925 January 1919FWW. Pickn/aEnd of season18 April 1919FW Jackie Carr MiddlesbroughEnd of seasonGuest players outDate fromPos.NameToDate toRef.1918HB Jimmy Kennedy St Mirren1918

References