1960–61 Brentford F.C. season
During the 1960–61 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. An abundance of draws led to a 17th-place finish and it was the last of seven seasons to feature the "Terrible Twins" strike partnership of Jim Towers and George Francis.
1960–61 season | ||
---|---|---|
Chairman | Frank Davis | |
Manager | Malky MacDonald | |
Stadium | Griffin Park | |
Third Division | 17th | |
FA Cup | First round | |
League Cup | Third round | |
Top goalscorer | League: Towers (21) All: Towers (22) | |
Highest home attendance | 21,000 | |
Lowest home attendance | 3,500 | |
Average home league attendance | 7,392 | |
| ||
Season summary
Despite making something of a name for themselves as the "nearly men" of the Third Division, manager Malky MacDonald made few changes to the Brentford squad for the fourth-consecutive off-season.[1] The one major change at Brentford was that of the club's traditional red and white-striped shirts, which were passed over in favour of an amber shirt with a blue 'V' neck, due to the number of times the club would be forced to wear its change strip during the season.[1] Negative feedback from the supporters ensured that the change of colours was a one-season experiment.[1]
Brentford started the 1960–61 season well and topped the table after winning the first two matches, but a 6–1 defeat to Watford at Vicarage Road on 30 August 1960 shook the team's confidence.[2] The same XI atoned for that display with a 4–0 victory over Shrewsbury Town four days later, but the view had become prevalent around Griffin Park that some of Brentford's settled XI were past their peak.[1] Manager MacDonald tinkered with his squad and bit-part, reserve or youth players Tommy Higginson, John Docherty, Ron Peplow and Johnny Hales were given runs in the team.[3] Amidst a run of just two wins in 19 league matches, the new Football League Cup gave the Bees some cheer when Second Division club Sunderland were defeated 4–3 at Griffin Park in the club's first-ever match in the competition.[2] The Bees were knocked out after a replay versus reigning Football League champions Burnley in the third round.[2] A first round exit in the FA Cup in November ensured that the Third Division would be Brentford's sole focus for the remainder of the season.[2]
Brentford entered 1961 in 15th place in the Third Division, only three points above the relegation zone.[4] Chairman Frank Davis posted a £7,000 loss, which took the club's debt over £50,000 and a players' strike (in support of their claim for the removal of the maximum wage) was also a real possibility.[1] In a bid to alleviate some of the club's debt, promising outside right John Docherty was sold to Sheffield United for a club record £17,000 in March 1961.[5] The club rallied and lost just five of the remaining 21 matches of the season, but a failure to convert the 11 draws into wins (four consecutive home draws in February and March equalled the club record) ensured that Brentford finished in a lowly 17th place.[2][6] Brentford's final match of the season versus Reading, although won 2–1, pushed the average league attendance at Griffin Park down to 7,392, which was the club's lowest since the 1924–25 season.[1]
The "Terrible Twins" (forwards Jim Towers and George Francis) had a mixed season, with Towers scoring 22 goals (low by the standards set for himself) and Francis just 10,[3] which led to him being dropped from the team in February 1961 – a decision which would have been considered unthinkable just six months earlier.[1] Despite scoring 13 goals in 10 matches for the reserve team, Francis failed to earn a recall to the first team squad.[1] Francis' replacement, teenager George Summers, scored six goals during the final months of the season.[3]
League table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
15 | Coventry City | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 80 | 83 | 0.964 | 44 |
16 | Swindon Town | 46 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 62 | 55 | 1.127 | 43 |
17 | Brentford | 46 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 56 | 70 | 0.800 | 43 |
18 | Reading | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 72 | 83 | 0.867 | 40 |
19 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 46 | 15 | 10 | 21 | 58 | 76 | 0.763 | 40 |
Results
- Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend
Win | Draw | Loss |
Football League Third Division
No. | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 20 August 1960 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 4–1 | 10,100 | Towers (2), Bristow, Goundry (pen) |
2 | 23 August 1960 | Watford | H | 2–1 | 16,500 | Heath, Goundry (pen) |
3 | 27 August 1960 | Halifax Town | A | 0–1 | 6,048 | |
4 | 30 August 1960 | Watford | A | 1–6 | 18,065 | Chung (og) |
5 | 3 September 1960 | Shrewsbury Town | H | 4–0 | 8,900 | Francis (3), Towers |
6 | 6 September 1960 | Torquay United | H | 2–3 | 8,800 | Rainford, Bettany (og) |
7 | 10 September 1960 | Walsall | A | 0–4 | 10,864 | |
8 | 14 September 1960 | Torquay United | A | 1–1 | 5,857 | Francis |
9 | 17 September 1960 | Bury | H | 1–5 | 8,800 | Francis |
10 | 19 September 1960 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 0–0 | 12,711 | |
11 | 24 September 1960 | Chesterfield | A | 1–1 | 5,617 | Rainford |
12 | 27 September 1960 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 2–0 | 15,000 | Rainford, Towers |
13 | 1 October 1960 | Southend United | H | 1–1 | 7,700 | Rainford |
14 | 3 October 1960 | Port Vale | A | 2–3 | 6,843 | Towers, Peplow |
15 | 8 October 1960 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | A | 1–0 | 5,791 | McLeod |
16 | 15 October 1960 | Bradford City | H | 2–2 | 7,300 | Towers, Peplow (pen) |
17 | 22 October 1960 | Barnsley | A | 1–1 | 7,124 | Peplow (pen) |
18 | 29 October 1960 | Newport County | H | 2–4 | 7,600 | Towers (2) |
19 | 12 November 1960 | Grimsby Town | H | 0–1 | 8,100 | |
20 | 19 November 1960 | Hull City | A | 0–3 | 7,798 | |
21 | 2 December 1960 | Coventry City | A | 0–2 | 13,589 | |
22 | 10 December 1960 | Bristol City | H | 2–0 | 5,200 | Towers, Francis |
23 | 19 December 1960 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 0–2 | 5,584 | |
24 | 23 December 1960 | Swindon Town | H | 2–1 | 4,480 | Higginson, Docherty |
25 | 31 December 1960 | Halifax Town | H | 2–0 | 7,000 | Francis, Towers |
26 | 7 January 1961 | Swindon Town | A | 1–1 | 8,663 | Docherty |
27 | 14 January 1961 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 0–3 | 6,856 | |
28 | 21 January 1961 | Walsall | H | 3–1 | 6,250 | Francis, Towers (2) |
29 | 28 January 1961 | Colchester United | A | 4–2 | 4,040 | Rainford, Bristow, Towers (2) |
30 | 4 February 1961 | Bury | A | 0–1 | 5,861 | |
31 | 11 February 1961 | Chesterfield | H | 2–2 | 6,250 | Towers (2) |
32 | 18 February 1961 | Southend United | A | 1–1 | 7,711 | Towers |
33 | 25 February 1961 | Coventry City | H | 1–1 | 5,500 | Summers |
34 | 4 March 1961 | Bradford City | A | 1–3 | 7,500 | McLeod |
35 | 11 March 1961 | Barnsley | H | 0–0 | 7,000 | |
36 | 18 March 1961 | Newport County | A | 1–0 | 3,000 | Summers |
37 | 25 March 1961 | Colchester United | H | 0–0 | 4,800 | |
38 | 1 April 1961 | Grimsby Town | A | 0–0 | 7,049 | |
39 | 3 April 1961 | Notts County | H | 3–0 | 5,400 | Summers, Towers (2) |
40 | 4 April 1961 | Notts County | A | 0–0 | 3,933 | |
41 | 8 April 1961 | Hull City | H | 2–2 | 6,380 | Towers, McLeod |
42 | 14 April 1961 | Reading | A | 0–4 | 10,900 | |
43 | 22 April 1961 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | H | 2–2 | 4,400 | Summers, Towers |
44 | 25 April 1961 | Port Vale | H | 0–0 | 3,500 | |
45 | 29 April 1961 | Bristol City | A | 0–3 | 8,466 | |
46 | 2 May 1961 | Reading | H | 2–1 | 4,700 | Summers (2) |
Playing squad
- Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1960–61 season.
Pos. | Name | Nat. | Date of birth (age) | Signed from | Signed in | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Goalkeepers | ||||||
GK | Gerry Cakebread | ![]() |
1 April 1936 (aged 24) | Youth | 1954 | |
Defenders | ||||||
DF | Vernon Avis | ![]() |
24 October 1935 (aged 24) | Youth | 1952 | |
DF | Ken Coote (c) | ![]() |
19 May 1928 (aged 32) | Wembley | 1949 | |
DF | Jimmy Gitsham | ![]() |
12 May 1942 (aged 18) | Youth | 1959 | |
DF | Tom Wilson | ![]() |
3 July 1930 (aged 30) | Fulham | 1957 | |
Midfielders | ||||||
HB | George Bristow | ![]() |
25 June 1933 (aged 27) | Youth | 1950 | |
HB | Ian Dargie | ![]() |
3 October 1931 (aged 28) | Tonbridge | 1952 | |
HB | Billy Goundry | ![]() |
28 March 1934 (aged 26) | Huddersfield Town | 1955 | |
HB | Tommy Higginson | ![]() |
6 January 1937 (aged 23) | Kilmarnock | 1959 | |
HB | Ron Peplow | ![]() |
4 May 1935 (aged 25) | Southall | 1955 | |
Forwards | ||||||
FW | Terry Curran | ![]() |
29 June 1940 (aged 20) | Tottenham Hotspur | 1957 | |
FW | John Docherty | ![]() |
29 April 1940 (aged 20) | St Roch's | 1959 | |
FW | George Francis | ![]() |
4 February 1934 (aged 26) | Youth | 1955 | |
FW | Johnny Hales | ![]() |
15 May 1940 (aged 20) | St Roch's | 1958 | |
FW | Dennis Heath | ![]() |
28 September 1934 (aged 25) | Youth | 1954 | |
FW | George McLeod | ![]() |
30 November 1932 (aged 27) | Luton Town | 1958 | |
FW | Danny O'Donnell | ![]() |
27 February 1939 (aged 21) | Kirkintilloch Rob Roy | 1960 | Loaned to Dumbarton |
FW | Eric Parsons | ![]() |
9 November 1923 (aged 36) | Chelsea | 1956 | |
FW | Johnny Rainford | ![]() |
11 December 1930 (aged 29) | Cardiff City | 1953 | |
FW | George Summers | ![]() |
30 July 1941 (aged 19) | Shawfield | 1959 | |
FW | Jim Towers | ![]() |
15 April 1933 (aged 27) | Youth | 1954 |
Coaching staff
Name | Role |
---|---|
![]() |
Manager |
![]() |
Trainer |
![]() |
Assistant Trainer |
Statistics
Appearances and goals
Pos | Nat | Name | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
GK | ![]() |
Gerry Cakebread | 46 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 51 | 0 |
DF | ![]() |
Vernon Avis | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
DF | ![]() |
Ken Coote | 41 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 46 | 0 |
DF | ![]() |
Jimmy Gitsham | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
DF | ![]() |
Tom Wilson | 40 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 45 | 0 |
HB | ![]() |
George Bristow | 23 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 2 |
HB | ![]() |
Ian Dargie | 46 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 51 | 0 |
HB | ![]() |
Billy Goundry | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 2 |
HB | ![]() |
Tommy Higginson | 32 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 37 | 1 |
HB | ![]() |
Ron Peplow | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 3 |
FW | ![]() |
Terry Curran | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
FW | ![]() |
John Docherty | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 19 | 3 |
FW | ![]() |
George Francis | 31 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 10 |
FW | ![]() |
Johnny Hales | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
FW | ![]() |
Dennis Heath | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 |
FW | ![]() |
George McLeod | 36 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 41 | 4 |
FW | ![]() |
Danny O'Donnell | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
FW | ![]() |
Eric Parsons | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
FW | ![]() |
Johnny Rainford | 41 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 46 | 8 |
FW | ![]() |
George Summers | 15 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 6 |
FW | ![]() |
Jim Towers | 42 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 47 | 22 |
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[3]
Goalscorers
Pos. | Nat | Player | FL3 | FAC | FLC | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FW | ![]() |
Jim Towers | 21 | 0 | 1 | 22 |
FW | ![]() |
George Francis | 8 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
FW | ![]() |
Johnny Rainford | 5 | 0 | 3 | 8 |
FW | ![]() |
George Summers | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
FW | ![]() |
George McLeod | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
HB | ![]() |
Ron Peplow | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
FW | ![]() |
John Docherty | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
HB | ![]() |
George Bristow | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
HB | ![]() |
Billy Goundry | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
FW | ![]() |
Dennis Heath | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
HB | ![]() |
Tommy Higginson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Opponents | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
Total | 56 | 2 | 6 | 64 |
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[3]
Management
Name | Nat | From | To | Record All Comps | Record League | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
P | W | D | L | W % | P | W | D | L | W % | ||||
Malky MacDonald | ![]() |
20 August 1960 | 2 May 1961 | 51 | 14 | 19 | 18 | 27.45 | 46 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 28.26 |
Summary
Games played | 51 (46 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 3 League Cup) |
Games won | 14 (13 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup) |
Games drawn | 19 (17 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup) |
Games lost | 18 (16 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup) |
Goals scored | 64 (56 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 6 League Cup) |
Goals conceded | 80 (70 Third Division, 4 FA Cup, 6 League Cup) |
Clean sheets | 13 (13 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup) |
Biggest league win | 4–0 versus Shrewsbury Town, 3 September 1960 |
Worst league defeat | 6–1 versus Watford, 30 August 1960 |
Most appearances | 51, Gerry Cakebread, Ian Dargie (46 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 3 League Cup) |
Top scorer (league) | 21, Jim Towers |
Top scorer (all competitions) | 22, Jim Towers |
Transfers & loans
Players transferred in | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date | Pos. | Name | Previous Club | Fee | Ref. |
October 1960 | FW | ![]() |
![]() |
n/a | [8] |
Players transferred out | |||||
Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Fee | Ref. |
10 September 1960 | HB | ![]() |
![]() |
n/a | [9] |
March 1961 | FW | ![]() |
![]() |
£17,000 | [5] |
Players loaned out | |||||
Date from | Pos. | Name | To | Date to | Ref. |
24 September 1960 | FW | ![]() |
![]() |
n/a | [9] |
Players released | |||||
Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Join date | Ref. |
May 1961 | DF | ![]() |
![]() |
1961 | [10] |
May 1961 | HB | ![]() |
![]() |
May 1961 | [11] |
May 1961 | FW | ![]() |
![]() |
1961 | [12] |
May 1961 | HB | ![]() |
![]() |
1961 | [13] |
May 1961 | FW | ![]() |
![]() |
1961 | [14] |
May 1961 | DF | ![]() |
![]() |
1961 | [15] |
May 1961 | FW | ![]() |
![]() |
1961 | [16] |
May 1961 | HB | ![]() |
![]() |
1961 | [17] |
May 1961 | FW | ![]() |
![]() |
1961 | [18] |
May 1961 | HB | ![]() |
![]() |
1961 | [19] |
References
- White 1989, p. 238-241.
- Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1960-1961 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 12 September 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
- White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 386. ISBN 0951526200.
- "11v11 league table generator". www.11v11.com. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
- Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 49.
- Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford scoring and sequence records - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
- Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
- "Barry Rowan". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
- "Scottish Football Historical Archive: Players' Transfers – 1960". Retrieved 5 September 2019.
- Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 14.
- "QPRnet – Seasonal Stats – 1961–62". Retrieved 9 May 2018.
- Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 44.
- Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 68.
- Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 74.
- Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 81-82.
- Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 121.
- Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 123.
- "Rowan, Barry – The Grecian Archive". grecianarchive.exeter.ac.uk. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
- Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 139.