During the 1963–64 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. Despite expectations that the club could achieve a second-successive promotion, poor form in late 1963 and early 1964 led to a mid-table finish.
Season summary After a single-season stay in the Fourth Division, Brentford had returned to the Third Division as champions for the 1963–64 season. A large outlay had been made on new signings during the previous 12 months and though chairman Jack Dunnett stated that the club's big-spending days were a thing of the past, he would continue to make money available to manager Malky MacDonald during the season. There was very little transfer activity during the 1963 off-season, with half backs Willie Smith and Bill Slater coming in (Slater returned to Griffin Park after 11 years away) and £5,000 was spent on Liverpool full back Allan Jones as a replacement for the inexperienced Tom Anthony. Redevelopment work was carried out on Griffin Park throughout the summer, with floodlight pylons erected at each corner of the ground, while new club offices and a bar were built into the Braemar Road stand.
Brentford had what was perceived to be a poor start to the season and sat in mid-table after 10 matches. Expectations had been high after the Fourth Division championship triumph at the end of the previous season, but defeat to an attractive Coventry City side (managed by former Brentford player Jimmy Hill) on 5 October 1963 highlighted the gulf between the Third and Fourth Divisions. In the wake of the defeat, Brentford rapidly recovered and won six and drew two of the following 10 matches, which included a 9–0 thrashing of Wrexham at Griffin Park, a result which remains as the club's record Football League win. The team's form collapsed in late November 1963 and despite something of a recovery after a spell of over three months without a league win, the Bees were consigned to a 15th-place finish. They had some success in the FA Cup with a run to the fourth round, but after seeing off Second Division Middlesbrough in the third round, Fourth Division strugglers Oxford United took Brentford to a replay in the fourth round and then emerged 2–1 victors at Griffin Park.
100 goals were scored during the season, just two shy of the total set during the previous campaign, but the team's achilles heel was the goalkeeping position, with four players vying for the position, though November 1963 signing Chic Brodie would eventually make the position his own. The end of the 1963–64 season was notable for the retirement of full back and captain Ken Coote. He had made 559 appearances and scored 15 goals over the course of 15 seasons for Brentford and is the club's all-time record appearance maker.
A large number of record were set or equalled during the season: Record Football League win: 9–0 versus Wrexham, 15 October 1963 Most goals conceded in a home Football League defeat: 6 (2–6 versus Luton Town, 8 February 1964) Most consecutive matches without failing to score a Football League goal: 26 (4 March – 14 September 1963) Most consecutive matches without failing to score a home Football League goal: 41 (21 August 1962 – 28 March 1964) Most Football League away draws in a season: 10 Most home Football League goals conceded in a season: 36 Quickest time to reach 50 Football League goals in a season: 22 matches
League table
Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend WinDrawLoss
Football League Third Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)124 August 1963Notts CountyH4–113,200Block, Brooks, Loxley (og), McAdams227 August 1963Bristol CityH1–216,800Dick331 August 1963Crewe AlexandraA1–16,729McLeod47 September 1963Crystal PalaceH2–115,800Block, McAdams510 September 1963Bristol CityA3–312,689Dick (2), Kurila (og)614 September 1963WalsallA2–26,448McAdams, Block716 September 1963Port ValeA0–311,559821 September 1963ReadingH4–212,360Dick (3), Block928 September 1963Luton TownA2–07,479Dick, McAdams101 October 1963Port ValeH1–211,900McAdams115 October 1963Coventry CityH2–315,830Dick, McAdams129 October 1963WrexhamA4–27,923Slater (2), McAdams, Dick1312 October 1963Bristol RoversH2–513,400Fielding, Dick1415 October 1963WrexhamH9–010,500McAdams (2), Ward (2), Fox (og), Hales, Brooks (2), Summers1519 October 1963BarnsleyA1–16,602Brooks1621 October 1963Mansfield TownA2–212,115Dick, Ward1726 October 1963MillwallH3–115,200McAdams, Block (2)1829 October 1963Mansfield TownH4–014,900Dick, Ward (3)192 November 1963Colchester UnitedA2–17,117Block, Dick209 November 1963WatfordH1–217,000Dick2123 November 1963Peterborough UnitedH2–015,900Dick (2)2230 November 1963Oldham AthleticA1–414,385Block2314 December 1963Notts CountyA0–23,7442421 December 1963Crewe AlexandraH2–27,520Fielding, Dick2528 December 1963Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticA0–27,9922611 January 1964Crystal PalaceA0–116,6302718 January 1964WalsallH1–110,650Ward281 February 1964ReadingA3–410,783Block, Lazarus, Ward298 February 1964Luton TownH2–69,000McAdams, Lazarus3015 February 1964Coventry CityA2–222,971Dick, Ward3122 February 1964Bristol RoversA1–38,703Block3229 February 1964Queens Park RangersH2–212,200Block, Lazarus337 March 1964MillwallA3–19,140McAdams, Ward (2)3414 March 1964Colchester UnitedH3–17,050Ward (2), Lazarus3516 March 1964Southend UnitedA1–26,846Ward3620 March 1964Queens Park RangersA2–29,351Ward (2)3728 March 1964Southend UnitedH3–09,200Higginson, Fielding, McAdams3830 March 1964Shrewsbury TownH0–110,0403931 March 1964Shrewsbury TownA1–15,058Summers404 April 1964Peterborough UnitedA0–35,5504111 April 1964Oldham AthleticH2–08,930Ward (2)4213 April 1964Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticH2–010,200Jones, Ward4318 April 1964Hull CityA0–06,7984421 April 1964WatfordA2–219,279Fielding, McAdams4525 April 1964BarnsleyH1–18,350Thomson4628 April 1964Hull CityH1–36,800Hales
FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)1R16 November 1963MargateH2–212,150Block, Dick1R (replay)20 November 1963MargateA2–06,212Ward (2)2R7 December 1963Gravesend & NorthfleetH1–011,850Block3R4 January 1964MiddlesbroughH2–116,100Dick, McAdams4R25 January 1964Oxford UnitedA2–215,517Block, Ward4R (replay)28 January 1964Oxford UnitedH1–226,000McAdams
Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)1R (1st leg)4 September 1963ReadingA1–17,582Block1R (replay)23 September 1963ReadingH2–010,360Spiers (og), McLaughlin2R25 September 1963Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticH0–010,8302R (replay)4 November 1963Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticA0–28,057
Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford, Statto
Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1963–64 season. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepersGKChic BrodieNorthampton Town1963GKGerry CakebreadYouth1954GKGordon PhillipsHayes1963GKFred RyecraftSouthall1959DefendersDFTom AnthonyYouth1961DFKen Coote (c)Wembley1949DFAlan HawleyYouth1962DFAllan JonesLiverpool1963DFGeorge ThomsonEverton1963MidfieldersHBMatt CroweNorwich City1962HBPeter GelsonYouth1961HBTommy HigginsonKilmarnock1959HBHugh McLaughlinSt Roch's1961HBMel ScottChelsea1963HBBill SlaterWolverhampton Wanderers1963AmateurHBWillie SmithCeltic1963ForwardsFWMicky BlockChelsea1962FWJohn DickWest Ham United1962FWJohn FieldingSouthport1963FWJohnny HalesSt Roch's1958FWMark LazarusQueens Park Rangers1964FWBilly McAdamsLeeds United1962FWTim SoutarYouth1961FWGeorge SummersShawfield1959FWDai WardWatford1963Players who left the club mid-seasonFWJohnny BrooksChelsea1961Transferred to Crystal PalaceFWGeorge McLeodLuton Town1958Transferred to Queens Park Rangers Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford, Timeless Bees
Coaching staff NameRole Malky MacDonaldManager Tommy CavanaghTrainer
Statistics
Appearances and goals
PosNatNameLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKChic Brodie25040—290GKGerry Cakebread60000060GKGordon Phillips00100010GKFred Ryecraft1501040200DFTom Anthony00100010DFKen Coote1901040240DFAllan Jones4516040551DFAlan Hawley1200000120DFGeorge Thomson23140—271HBMatt Crowe3406010410HBPeter Gelson20000020HBTommy Higginson3715010431HBHugh McLaughlin20002141HBMel Scott4406040540HBBill Slater52000052HBWillie Smith1301040180FWMicky Block351163414515FWJohnny Brooks64002084FWJohn Dick301862404020FWJohn Fielding2840030314FWJohnny Hales923000122FWMark Lazarus204——204FWBilly McAdams391462304816FWGeorge McLeod1413030201FWTim Soutar10000010FWGeorge Summers920010102FWDai Ward331963—3922 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years Of Brentford
Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL3FACFLCTotalFWDai Ward193—22FWJohn Dick182020FWBilly McAdams142016FWMicky Block113115FWMark Lazarus4——4FWJohnny Brooks4004FWJohn Fielding4004FWJohnny Hales2002HBBill Slater2002FWGeorge Summers2002HBTommy Higginson1001DFAllan Jones1001FWGeorge McLeod1001DFGeorge Thomson1001HBHugh McLaughlin0011Opponents3003Total87103100 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years Of Brentford
Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Malky MacDonald24 August 196328 April 1964
Summary Games played 56 (46 Third Division, 6 FA Cup, 4 League Cup)Games won 19 (15 Third Division, 3 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)Games drawn 18 (14 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)Games lost 19 (17 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)Goals scored 100 (87 Third Division, 10 FA Cup, 3 League Cup)Goals conceded 90 (80 Third Division, 7 FA Cup, 3 League Cup)Clean sheets 10 (8 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 2 League Cup)Biggest league win 9–0 versus Wrexham, 12 September 1963Worst league defeat 6–2 versus Luton Town, 8 February 1964Most appearances 55, Allan Jones (45 Third Division, 6 FA Cup, 4 League Cup)Top scorer (league) 19, Dai WardTop scorer (all competitions) 22, Dai Ward
Transfers & loans Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.June 1963HB Willie Smith CelticFreeJuly 1963HB Bill Slater Wolverhampton WanderersAmateurAugust 1963DF Allan Jones Liverpool£5,00015 October 1963FW Dai Ward Watford£8,000November 1963GK Chic Brodie Northampton Town£10,000November 1963DF George Thomson Evertonn/a1963GK Gordon Phillips Hayesn/a1963n/a John Toddn/an/aJanuary 1964FW Mark Lazarus Queens Park RangersPart-exchangePlayers transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.January 1964FW George McLeod Queens Park RangersPart-exchangeJanuary 1964FW Johnny Brooks Crystal Palacen/aPlayers releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.April 1964DF Ken CooteRetiredApril 1964HB Matt Crowe Port Elizabeth Cityn/aApril 1964FW Johnny HalesRetiredApril 1964GK Fred Ryecraft Gravesend & Northfleetn/aApril 1964HB Graham Sawyer Bexley United1964April 1964HB Bill Slater Northern Nomadsn/a
References