1907–08 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1907–08 English football season, Brentford competed in the Southern League First Division. A poor season ended with a 16th-place finish.

Brentford
1907–08 season
ChairmanCharlie Dorey
Secretary ManagerWilliam Brown
(until January 1908)
George Parsonage
(from January 1908)
StadiumGriffin Park
Southern League First Division16th
FA CupFirst round
Top goalscorerLeague: Bowman (21)
All: Bowman (22)

Season summary

Captain George Parsonage was named as player-caretaker manager in January 1908.

Though Brentford manager William Brown managed to retain most of his key players for the 1907–08 season, his release of future England international forward Fred Pentland was seen as being ill-advised.[1] In came goalkeeper John Montgomery, full back Vince Hayes, half back Jock Hamilton and centre forward Adam Bowman.[1] Brentford started the Southern League First Division season poorly and with the club entering a period of financial instability, the relationship between the committee and the players began to deteriorate.[1] Hopes of a money-spinning FA Cup run ended in the first round at the hands of Lancashire Combination club Carlisle United and in January 1908 manager Brown tendered his resignation, which was accepted.[1]

Captain George Parsonage was named as player-caretaker manager in January 1908 and after reshuffling the lineup, he oversaw an upturn in form which led the Bees to a 16th-place finish.[1] One of the highlights of a dreadful season was the goalscoring of forward Adam Bowman, who scored 22 goals in all competitions before being sold to Leeds City for £300 in April.[1] There was some cheer to be had in the United League, in which the first team won the division title, while the reserve team finished the season as Great Western Suburban League champions.[1]

The season marked a beginning of a period of financial trouble for Brentford, with Fulham's election to the Football League and Chelsea's home fixtures clashing with those at Griffin Park conspiring to draw potential support in West London away from the Bees.[1] By mid-April 1908, the club owed its players £500 in unpaid wages (equivalent to £52,600 in 2020), which necessitated the sale of top-scorer Bowman.[1]

One club record was set during the season:[2]

  • Most Southern League away defeats in a season: 16

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts
14 Watford 38 12 10 16 47 59 0.797 34
15 Norwich City 38 12 9 17 46 49 0.939 33
16 Brentford 38 14 5 19 49 53 0.925 33
17 Brighton & Hove Albion 38 12 8 18 46 59 0.780 32
18 Luton Town 38 12 6 20 33 56 0.589 30
Source:
Rules for classification: The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used until the 1976-77 season. The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.

Results

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Southern League First Division

No. DateOpponentVenueResultScorer(s)
1 3 September 1907LeytonA0–2
2 7 September 1907 Bristol Rovers A 0–3
3 14 September 1907Leyton H2–0Hagan, Parsonage
4 21 September 1907ReadingA1–5Bowman
5 28 September 1907WatfordH4–1Bowman (2), Corbett (2)
6 5 October 1907Norwich CityA2–3Bowman (2)
7 12 October 1907 Northampton Town H 3–1 Bowman (3)
8 19 October 1907 Southampton A 0–3
9 26 October 1907Plymouth ArgyleH2–1Parsonage, Corbett
10 2 November 1907West Ham United A1–5Hagan (pen)
11 9 November 1907Queens Park RangersH1–1Hagan (pen)
12 16 November 1907 Tottenham Hotspur A 0–1
13 23 November 1907Swindon TownH2–0Corbett, Hagan
14 30 November 1907 Crystal Palace A 1–2 McAllister
15 7 December 1907 Luton Town H 3–1 Underwood, Bowman (2)
16 14 December 1907Brighton & Hove Albion A0–1
17 21 December 1907 Portsmouth H 1–1 Corbett
18 25 December 1907 Millwall H 1–2 Corbett
19 26 December 1907New BromptonA1–2Bowman
20 28 December 1907 Bradford Park Avenue A 0–2
21 4 January 1908 Bristol Rovers H 0–3
22 18 January 1908Reading H1–0Parsonage
23 25 January 1908 Watford A 2–1 Corbett, Bowman
24 8 February 1908 Northampton Town A 0–0
25 15 February 1908 Southampton H 4–0 Corbett, Bowman (2), Underwood
26 22 February 1908Plymouth Argyle A1–2Black (og)
27 29 February 1908 West Ham United H 4–0 Bowman (2), Corbett, Parsonage
28 7 March 1908Queens Park Rangers A0–1
29 9 March 1908 Norwich City H 2–1 Bowman, Brown
30 14 March 1908 Tottenham Hotspur H 3–0 Bowman (3)
31 21 March 1908 Swindon Town A 0–0
32 28 March 1908 Crystal Palace H 1–1 Corbett
33 4 April 1908 Luton Town A 0–1
34 11 April 1908 Brighton & Hove Albion H 2–0 Underwood, Bowman
35 17 April 1908 Millwall A 0–2
36 18 April 1908 Portsmouth A 2–3 Underwood, Tomlinson
37 20 April 1908 New Brompton H 1–0 Corbett
38 25 April 1908 Bradford Park Avenue H 1–2 Underwood

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Scorer(s)
1R 11 January 1908 Carlisle United A 2–2 Bowman, Corbett
1R (replay)15 January 1908 Carlisle United H1–3 (a.e.t.) Tomlinson
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[3]

Playing squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK  SCO John Montgomery
GK  ENG Charlie Williams
DF  ENG Raymond Abbott
DF  SCO Andy Clark
DF  ENG Vince Hayes
DF  SCO Jock Watson
MF  ENG Albert Bull
MF  SCO Jock Hamilton
MF  ENG Jimmy Jay
MF  ENG George Parsonage (c)
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF  ENG Jimmy Tomlinson
FW  ENG Norman Brown
FW  ENG Fred Corbett
FW  SCO Patrick Hagan
FW  ENG Patsy Hendren
FW  ENG James Lloyd-Evans
FW  SCO Tom McAllister
FW  ENG Lindsay Syrad
FW  ENG Tosher Underwood

Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
FW  SCO Adam Bowman (to Leeds City)
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[3]

Coaching staff

William Brown (3 September 1907 – January 1908)

Name Role
William Brown Secretary Manager
Bob Crone Trainer

George Parsonage (January – 25 April 1908)

Name Role
George Parsonage Caretaker Manager
Bob Crone Trainer

Statistics

Appearances

Brentford's highest appearance-makers in each position during the Southern League season.

Goalscorers

Pos. Nat Player SL1 FAC Total
FW Adam Bowman 21 1 22
FW Fred Corbett 11 1 12
FW Tosher Underwood 5 0 5
FW Patrick Hagan 4 0 4
HB George Parsonage 4 0 4
HB Jimmy Tomlinson 1 1 2
FW Norman Brown 1 0 1
FW Tom McAllister 1 0 1
Opponents 1 0 1
Total49352
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[3]

Summary

Games played40 (38 Southern League First Division, 2 FA Cup)
Games won14 (14 Southern League First Division, 0 FA Cup)
Games drawn6 (5 Southern League First Division, 1 FA Cup)
Games lost20 (19 Southern League First Division, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored52 (49 Southern League First Division, 3 FA Cup)
Goals conceded58 (53 Southern League First Division, 5 FA Cup)
Clean sheets10 (10 Southern League First Division, 0 FA Cup)
Biggest league win4–0 on two occasions
Worst league defeat 5–1 on two occasions
Most appearances40, George Parsonage (38 Southern League First Division, 2 FA Cup)
Top scorer (league)21, Adam Bowman
Top scorer (all competitions)22, Adam Bowman
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References

  1. White, p. 90-91.
  2. Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Yore Publications. pp. 117–120. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  3. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 359. ISBN 0951526200.
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