1936–37 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1936–37 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League First Division and secured a 6th-place finish, one place below the previous season's club record highest league position.

Brentford
1936–37 season
ChairmanLouis P. Simon
ManagerHarry Curtis
StadiumGriffin Park
First Division6th
FA CupFourth round
Top goalscorerLeague: McCulloch (31)
All: McCulloch (33)
Highest home attendance31,745
Lowest home attendance14,103
Average home league attendance25,544

Season summary

After a club record 5th-place finish in Brentford's debut season in the top flight,[1] manager Harry Curtis kept faith with the season's previous squad, releasing outside forward Jim Brown and bringing in youngsters Harry Bamford and Joe Murray.[2] Teenage outside right Les Smith, who had signed his first professional contract a year earlier, was promoted to the first team squad after Bobby Reid was struck down by appendicitis on the eve of the season.[3]

After a mixed start to the season, Brentford kicked into gear in late September 1936, losing just four of 19 matches to establish themselves in the top three in the First Division.[4] In his first full season with the Bees, forward David McCulloch again showed prolific form, going on to score 33 goals in his 43 appearances.[5] Five goals in a six match spell also saw forward Billy Scott win an England cap in a British Home Championship match versus Wales in October 1937,[6] which made him Brentford's first full England international player.[7] Brentford's form dipped in mid-February 1937 and despite the signing of Buster Brown to replace the departed Dai Richards at left half,[8] the club dropped to a 6th-place finish.[4]

A 6–2 defeat to champions-elect Manchester City on 3 April equalled the club record for most goals conceded in a Football League match.[9][10] Despite a number of other heavy defeats, manager Harry Curtis did improve the team's winning percentage in both the league and FA Cup, with Brentford hammering Huddersfield Town 5–0 in the third round (the first time the Bees had scored in the FA Cup for over four years) before exiting at the hands of Derby County in the following round.[4]

At the end of the season, Brentford set off on a tour of Nazi Germany, beating Hamburger SV (3–0), Hertha BSC (4–0), drawing 2–2 with champions 1. FC Nürnberg and losing 4–0 to Schalke 04.[11] The Star published a picture of the team giving a Nazi salute prior to the Schalke match, which caused a minor stir in London.[11]

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Qualification or relegation
4 Derby County 42 21 7 14 96 90 1.067 49
5 Wolverhampton Wanderers 42 21 5 16 84 67 1.254 47
6 Brentford 42 18 10 14 82 78 1.051 46
7 Middlesbrough 42 19 8 15 74 71 1.042 46
8 Sunderland 42 19 6 17 89 87 1.023 44 FA Cup Winners
Source:

Results
Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division
No. DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
1 29 August 1936Bolton WanderersH2–2 27,524McCulloch, Wilson (pen)
2 3 September 1936ArsenalH2–0 31,056Hopkins, McCulloch
3 5 September 1936Everton A0–3 37,524
4 9 September 1936ArsenalA1–1 44,010Wilson (pen)
5 12 September 1936Huddersfield TownH1–1 25,386McCulloch
6 17 September 1936Charlton AthleticH4–2 21,373L. Smith, McCulloch, W. Scott, McKenzie (pen)
7 19 September 1936SunderlandA1–4 37,407Hopkins
8 26 September 1936Wolverhampton Wanderers H3–2 23,256McCulloch (2), McKenzie (pen)
9 3 October 1936Derby County A3–2 24,545W. Scott (2), McCulloch
10 10 October 1936Manchester United H4–0 28,019Reid, W. Scott (2), McCulloch
11 17 October 1936Grimsby TownA0–2 11,858
12 24 October 1936LiverpoolH5–2 25,934McCulloch (3), Holliday, Reid
13 31 October 1936Leeds UnitedA1–3 21,498Holliday
14 7 November 1936BirminghamH2–1 22,905McCulloch (2)
15 14 November 1936MiddlesbroughA0–3 23,064
16 21 November 1936West Bromwich AlbionH2–1 20,575Reid, McCulloch
17 5 December 1936PortsmouthH4–0 26,371McCulloch (2), Holliday (2)
18 12 December 1936Chelsea A1–2 51,079Reid
19 19 December 1936Stoke CityH2–1 18,167Holliday, Tutin (og)
20 25 December 1936Sheffield WednesdayH2–1 26,560Reid, W. Scott
21 26 December 1936Bolton WanderersA2–2 36,962McCulloch, W. Scott
22 28 December 1936Sheffield WednesdayA2–0 20,374W. Scott, Hopkins
23 2 January 1937EvertonH2–2 20,457Hopkins, McKenzie (pen)
24 9 January 1937Huddersfield TownA1–1 21,753McCulloch
25 23 January 1937SunderlandH3–3 29,389W. Scott (3)
26 6 February 1937Derby CountyH6–2 31,745Reid (2), Holliday (2), McCulloch (2)
27 10 February 1937Wolverhampton WanderersA0–4 19,373
28 13 February 1937Manchester United A3–1 31,942W. Scott, Reid (2)
29 27 February 1937LiverpoolA2–2 25,005Reid (pen), McCulloch
30 3 March 1937Grimsby Town H2–3 14,103McCulloch (2)
31 6 March 1937Leeds UnitedH4–1 16,588Holliday, McCulloch (2), Holley (og)
32 13 March 1937BirminghamA0–4 30,510
33 20 March 1937MiddlesbroughH4–1 23,872L. Smith, McCulloch (3)
34 26 March 1937Preston North End H1–1 31,069McCulloch
35 27 March 1937West Bromwich AlbionA0–1 29,858
36 29 March 1937Preston North EndA1–1 26,782W. Scott
37 3 April 1937Manchester CityH2–6 29,028W. Scott, Hopkins
38 7 April 1937Manchester City A1–2 24,629McCulloch
39 10 April 1937PortsmouthA3–1 19,208Hopkins, McCulloch, Muttitt
40 17 April 1937ChelseaH1–0 22,042McKenzie (pen)
41 24 April 1937Stoke CityA1–5 18,451McKenzie
42 1 May 1937Charlton AthleticA1–2 26,195W. Scott

FA Cup
Main article: 1936–37 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer(s)
3R 16 January 1937 Huddersfield Town H 5–0 n/a Reid (2, 1 pen), McCulloch (2), Holliday
4R30 January 1937Derby County A0–3 27,376

Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1936–37 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK James Mathieson (1904-05-10)10 May 1904 (aged 32) Middlesbrough 1934
GK James Nicholls (1908-09-24)24 September 1908 (aged 27) Manchester City 1934
Defenders
DF Arthur Bateman (c) (1908-04-01)1 April 1908 (aged 28) Southend United 1934
DF George Dumbrell (1906-09-23)23 September 1906 (aged 29) Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 1935
DF Walter Metcalf (1910-12-15)15 December 1910 (aged 25) Sunderland 1934
DF George Poyser (1910-02-06)6 February 1910 (aged 26) Port Vale 1934
DF Joe Wilson (1911-09-29)29 September 1911 (aged 24) Southend United 1935
Midfielders
HB Buster Brown (1910-09-06)6 September 1910 (aged 25) Huddersfield Town 1937
HB Joe James (1910-01-13)13 January 1910 (aged 26) Battersea Church 1929
HB Duncan McKenzie (1912-08-10)10 August 1912 (aged 24) Albion Rovers 1932
HB Joe Murray 1914 (aged 21–22) Ayr United 1936
HB Archie Scott (1905-07-22)22 July 1905 (aged 31) Derby County 1934
Forwards
FW Billy Dunn (1910-10-09)9 October 1910 (aged 25) Celtic 1935
FW Jack Holliday (1908-12-19)19 December 1908 (aged 27) Middlesbrough 1932
FW Idris Hopkins (1910-10-11)11 October 1910 (aged 25) Crystal Palace 1932
FW David McCulloch (1912-10-05)5 October 1912 (aged 23) Heart of Midlothian 1935
FW Ernest Muttitt (1908-07-24)24 July 1908 (aged 28) Middlesbrough 1932
FW Bobby Reid (1911-02-19)19 February 1911 (aged 25) Hamilton Academical 1936
FW Billy Scott (1907-12-06)6 December 1907 (aged 28) Middlesbrough 1932
FW Les Smith (1918-03-13)13 March 1918 (aged 18) Petersham 1934
Players who left the club mid-season
HB Dai Richards (1906-10-31)31 October 1906 (aged 29) Wolverhampton Wanderers 1935 Transferred to Birmingham
HB Cecil Smith (1907-06-16)16 June 1907 (aged 29) Brentford Market 1931 Transferred to Doncaster Rovers
  • Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[5] Timeless Bees,[12] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939[13]

Coaching staff
Name Role
Harry Curtis Manager
Jimmy Bain Assistant Manager
Bob Kane Trainer
Jack Cartmell Assistant Trainer
Fred Keatch Secretary

Statistics

Appearances and goals
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 James Mathieson 35 0 2 0 37 0
GK James Nicholls 7 0 0 0 7 0
DF Arthur Bateman 26 0 2 0 28 0
DF George Dumbrell 4 0 0 0 4 0
DF Walter Metcalf 5 0 0 0 5 0
DF George Poyser 3102 0 330
DF Joe Wilson 13 0 2 0 15 0
HB Buster Brown 100— 100
HB Joe James 42 0 2 0 44 0
HB Duncan McKenzie 42 5 2 0 44 5
HB Joe Murray 1 0 0 0 1 0
HB Dai Richards 29 0 2 0 31 0
HB Cecil Smith 1 0 — 1 0
HB Archie Scott 200 020
FW Billy Dunn 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW Jack Holliday 4182 1 439
FW Idris Hopkins 41 6 2 0 43 6
FW David McCulloch 41 31 2 2 43 33
FW Ernest Muttitt 7 1 0 0 7 1
FW Bobby Reid 28 10 2 2 30 12
FW Billy Scott 41 15 2 0 43 15
FW Les Smith 14 2 0 0 14 2
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[5]

Goalscorers
Pos. Nat Player FL1 FAC Total
FW David McCulloch 31 2 33
FW Billy Scott 15 0 15
FW Bobby Reid 10 2 12
FW Jack Holliday 8 1 9
FW Idris Hopkins 6 0 6
HB Duncan McKenzie 5 0 5
FW Les Smith 2 0 2
FW Ernest Muttitt 1 0 1
Opponents 2 0 2
Total82587
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[5]

International caps
Pos. Nat Player Caps Goals Ref
FW Idris Hopkins 3 0 [14]
FW David McCulloch 2 1 [15]
FW Dai Richards 2 0 [16]
FW Billy Scott 1 0 [6]

Management
Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Harry Curtis 29 August 1936 2 May 1937 44 19 10 15 043.18|42 18 10 14 042.86

Summary
Games played44 (42 First Division, 2 FA Cup)
Games won19 (18 First Division, 1 FA Cup)
Games drawn10 (10 First Division, 0 FA Cup)
Games lost15 (14 First Division, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored87 (82 First Division, 5 FA Cup)
Goals conceded81 (78 First Division, 3 FA Cup)
Clean sheets6 (5 First Division, 1 FA Cup)
Biggest league win4–0 on two occasions; 6–2 versus Derby County, 6 February 1937
Worst league defeat4–0 on two occasions; 6–2 versus Manchester City, 3 April 1937; 5–1 versus Stoke City, 24 April 1937
Most appearances44, Joe James, Duncan McKenzie (42 First Division, 2 FA Cup)
Top scorer (league)31, David McCulloch
Top scorer (all competitions)33, David McCulloch

Transfers & loans
Cricketers are not included in this list.
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
September 1936 FW Bert Knott Arsenal n/a [17]
1936 DF Harry Bamford Hayes Free [18]
1936 HB Joe Murray Ayr United Free [19]
March 1937 HB Buster Brown Huddersfield Town £3,000 [8]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
November 1936 HB Cecil Smith Doncaster Rovers Free [20]
January 1937 GK Thomas Lynch Watford Undisclosed [21]
March 1937 HB Dai Richards Birmingham £3,500 [22]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
n/a FW Bert Knott Stourbridge n/a [23]
May 1937 FW Billy Dunn Southampton May 1937 [24]
May 1937 DF Walter Metcalf Coventry City 1937 [25]
May 1937 GK James Nicholls Port Vale June 1937 [26]
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References
  1. Brentford F.C. at the Football Club History Database
  2. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 16, 29, 113, 166.
  3. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 149.
  4. "Brentford results for the 1936-1937 season - Statto.com". Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  5. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 374. ISBN 0951526200.
  6. "William Scott". 11v11.com. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  7. Chapman, Mark. "Boro Connections: Five players that shaped Brentford football Club's history". www.brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  8. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 29.
  9. "Brentford League Table 1936-1937 - Statto.com". Archived from the original on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  10. "Brentford scoring and sequence records - Statto.com". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  11. Brentford's Official Matchday Magazine versus Peterborough United. 3 May 1997. p. 20.
  12. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  13. Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN 190589161X.
  14. "Dai Hopkins". 11v11.com. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  15. "David McCulloch". 11v11.com. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  16. "David Richards". 11v11.com. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  17. Kaufman, Neilson. "VE Day WW2 players as at May 2020" (PDF). pp. 66–67. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  18. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 16.
  19. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 113.
  20. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 147.
  21. "Watford Football Club archive 1881–2016: Players – Layún to Lyttle" (PDF). Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  22. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 104, 131–134, 166.
  23. "Bert Knott". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  24. Litster, John. Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
  25. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 108.
  26. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 116.
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