1961–62 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1961–62 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. Financial cutbacks and a reduction in size of the playing squad led to Brentford's relegation to the Fourth Division for the first time in the club's history.

Brentford
1961–62 season
ChairmanFrank Davis
(until October 1961)
Jack Dunnett
(from October 1961)
ManagerMalky MacDonald
StadiumGriffin Park
Third Division23rd (relegated)
FA CupThird round
League CupFirst round
Top goalscorerLeague: Francis (14)
All: Francis (15)
Highest home attendance19,700
Lowest home attendance3,600
Average home league attendance8,483

Season summary

Off-season

After a number of seasons in which Brentford challenged and failed to win promotion from the Third Division with a wafer-thin squad, low attendances and a debt of over £50,000 meant that the 1961 off-season would be a period of turmoil.[1] A threat of a players' strike in support of the removal of the maximum wage during the second half of the previous season was averted and it was revealed that the club had turned down £12,000 and £9,000 bids respectively for prolific strike partners Jim Towers and George Francis during the 1959–60 season – a period when the club was still confident of promotion from the Third Division.[1] With those expectations dampened by mediocre performances in the 1960–61 season, up-and-coming outside left John Docherty was sold for £17,000 during the final months of the campaign.[1] Towers and particularly Francis performed poorly by their standards during the 1960–61 season and consequently bids of a similar amount to that of the previous year failed to materialise.[1]

Future Nottingham Central MP Jack Dunnett joined the board in July 1961 and took over as chairman from Frank Davis three months later.[2] For the first time since relegation to the Third Division South in 1953, Brentford conducted an end-of-season clearout in a bid to reduce the squad size and wage bill.[3] Ken Horne, Billy Goundry, George Bristow, Dennis Heath and Eric Parsons, who had each made over 100 appearances for the club, were released, as were five other bit-part players.[3] Most galling for the Brentford supporters was the sale of forwards Jim Towers and George Francis (who had accounted for 299 goals between them since 1954) to divisional and local rivals Queens Park Rangers for a combined £8,000 fee.[4] £6,000 Cardiff City forward Brian Edgley was signed as a replacement and Ray Reeves and Jimmy Belcher were brought in to strengthen the back lines.[3] The signings took the squad size to just 16 players, six of whom held a part-time status (Cakebread, Dargie, Gelson, Gitsham, Reeves and Ryecraft) and of those, two (Gelson and Ryecraft) were juniors who had yet to make their senior debuts.[3] In addition, assistant trainer Jack Holliday (the club's record goalscorer) was sacked and trainer Fred Monk resigned in April 1962.[3][5]

Season

Brentford had a dreadful start to the 1961–62 season, losing 8 of the first 9 matches in all competitions.[6] The signing of £6,000 former England international forward Johnny Brooks in early September 1961 helped boost the team's morale enough for them to register their first point of the season on 9 September 1961,[3] courtesy of a goalless draw with Southend United at Griffin Park.[6] After another loss and the Bees' first two victories of the season, three successive defeats led manager Malky MacDonald to re-sign forward George Francis from Queens Park Rangers on 6 October.[3] Francis' return helped inspire a victory over Swindon Town 24 hours later, courtesy of a Johnny Rainford goal.[3] The FA Cup provided a welcome distraction from the league, in which Brentford were firmly rooted in the relegation zone.[6] The Bees advanced to the third round of the FA Cup, taking high-flying Second Division club Leyton Orient to a replay before being knocked out.[6] After the defeat, the board again reached for the chequebook and signed outside forward Micky Block from Chelsea for a £5,000 fee.[3]

Poor form in the opening months of 1962 failed to avert the relegation threat and a bid to buy back Jim Towers from Queens Park Rangers failed,[3] but a run of three wins and one draw in late March and early April lifted Brentford to 21st, the club's highest position of the season so far.[6] Of the following four matches, a victory, a draw and two defeats left the Bees' in 23rd place, with their destiny out of their own hands.[6] Victory for 21st-place Barnsley over 20th-place Torquay United on 2 May ended the Bees' hopes of survival.[7] Brentford's 9-year stay in the Third Division officially ended the following day after a 2–0 defeat to Hull City at Boothferry Park.[6] The relegation completed a drop from the First Division in 1947 to the Fourth Division in 1962, a 15-year fall from grace.[3]

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Promotion or relegation
20 Barnsley 46 13 12 21 71 95 0.747 38
21 Torquay United 46 15 6 25 76 100 0.760 36 Relegated
22 Lincoln City 46 9 17 20 57 87 0.655 35
23 Brentford 46 13 8 25 53 93 0.570 34
24 Newport County 46 7 8 31 46 102 0.451 22
Source:

Results
Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Football League Third Division
No. DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
1 19 August 1961Queens Park Rangers A0–3 16,790
2 22 August 1961Halifax TownH0–2 7,509
3 26 August 1961ReadingH1–2 9,630Spiers (og)
4 28 August 1961Halifax TownA0–1 7,603
5 2 September 1961Newport County A1–6 5,757Edgley
6 5 September 1961Grimsby Town A0–1 8,800
7 9 September 1961Southend UnitedH0–0 7,100
8 16 September 1961Notts CountyA1–3 7,977Edgley
9 19 September 1961Coventry CityH2–1 6,100Higginson, Belcher
10 23 September 1961Shrewsbury TownH4–0 7,000Edgley (2), Brooks, Rainford
11 25 September 1961Coventry CityA0–2 10,243
12 30 September 1961Peterborough UnitedA0–6 12,654
13 3 October 1961Bristol CityA0–3 10,700
14 7 October 1961Swindon Town H1–0 7,500Rainford
15 10 October 1961Bristol CityH0–2 8,569
16 14 October 1961Torquay United A0–3 4,836
17 21 October 1961PortsmouthH3–2 9,600Brooks, Edgley, Francis
18 28 October 1961BarnsleyA2–2 6,478Summers, Edgley
19 11 November 1961Watford A1–2 8,333Francis
20 18 November 1961Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticH2–2 9,600Francis, Edgley
21 2 December 1961Lincoln CityH1–0 7,980Summers
22 9 December 1961Northampton TownA0–5 10,339
23 16 December 1961Queens Park Rangers H1–4 11,800Francis
24 23 December 1961ReadingA0–4 7,211
25 26 December 1961Bradford Park AvenueH2–0 5,100Edgley (pen), Francis
26 13 January 1962Newport CountyH3–1 7,750Francis, Higginson, McLeod
27 20 January 1962Southend UnitedA0–0 6,835
28 27 January 1962Crystal PalaceA2–2 19,323Brooks, Block
39 2 February 1962Notts CountyH0–1 9,200
30 10 February 1962Shrewsbury TownA3–1 6,037Brooks, Francis, McLeod
31 17 February 1962Peterborough United H2–0 11,000Brooks (pen), McLeod
32 23 February 1962Swindon TownA2–5 7,089Summers, Francis
33 3 March 1962Torquay UnitedH0–2 7,450
34 10 March 1962PortsmouthA0–4 15,256
35 17 March 1962 Barnsley H 1–1 6,050 Francis
36 24 March 1962Hull CityA0–3 3,432
37 30 March 1962WatfordH3–0 6,450Francis (2), Summers
38 4 April 1962Bradford Park AvenueA2–1 4,812Francis, Summers
39 7 April 1962Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticA1–1 10,736Block
40 13 April 1962 Crystal Palace H 4–2 9,900 Brooks (2, 1 pen), Francis, Wood (og)
41 20 April 1962Port ValeH1–2 11,160Brooks (pen)
42 21 April 1962Lincoln CityA3–3 5,402Summers (2), Gelson
43 23 April 1962 Port Vale A 0–3 5,871
44 27 April 1962Northampton TownH3–0 6,750Francis, Brooks, Summers
45 1 May 1962 Grimsby Town H 0–2 18,126
46 3 May 1962Hull City H0–2 3,600

FA Cup
Main article: 1961–62 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer(s)
1R 4 November 1961 Oxford United H 3–0 13,500 Summers, Edgley (2)
2R 25 November 1961 Aldershot A 2–2 12,846 Edgley, Francis
2R (replay) 28 November 1961 Aldershot H 2–0 17,800 Edgley, Brooks
3R 6 January 1962 Leyton Orient H 1–1 19,700 Summers
3R (replay)8 January 1962Leyton Orient A1–2 22,690 Higginson

Football League Cup
Main article: 1961–62 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer
1R13 September 1961Leeds United A1–4 4,500 McLeod

Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1961–62 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Gerry Cakebread (1936-04-01)1 April 1936 (aged 25) Youth 1954
Defenders
DF Ken Coote (c) (1928-05-19)19 May 1928 (aged 33) Wembley 1949
DF Jimmy Gitsham (1942-05-12)12 May 1942 (aged 19) Youth 1959
DF Ray Reeves (1931-08-12)12 August 1931 (aged 30) Reading 1961
DF Tom Wilson (1930-07-03)3 July 1930 (aged 31) Fulham 1957
Midfielders
HB Jimmy Belcher (1932-10-31)31 October 1932 (aged 28) Ipswich Town 1961
HB Ian Dargie (1931-10-03)3 October 1931 (aged 29) Tonbridge 1952
HB Peter Gelson (1941-10-18)18 October 1941 (aged 19) Youth 1961
HB Tommy Higginson (1937-01-06)6 January 1937 (aged 24) Kilmarnock 1959
Forwards
FW Micky Block (1940-01-28)28 January 1940 (aged 21) Chelsea 1962
FW Johnny Brooks (1931-12-23)23 December 1931 (aged 29) Chelsea 1961
FW Brian Edgley (1937-08-26)26 August 1937 (aged 23) Cardiff City 1961
FW George Francis (1934-02-04)4 February 1934 (aged 27) Queens Park Rangers 1961
FW Johnny Hales (1940-05-15)15 May 1940 (aged 21) St Roch's 1958
FW George McLeod (1932-11-30)30 November 1932 (aged 28) Luton Town 1958
FW Danny O'Donnell (1939-02-27)27 February 1939 (aged 22) Kirkintilloch Rob Roy 1960
FW George Summers (1941-07-30)30 July 1941 (aged 20) Shawfield 1959
Players who left the club mid-season
FW Johnny Rainford (1930-12-11)11 December 1930 (aged 30) Cardiff City 1953 Transferred to Tonbridge
  • Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford,[8] Timeless Bees[9]

Coaching staff
Name Role
Malky MacDonald Manager
Fred Monk Trainer

Statistics

Appearances and goals
Brentford's highest appearance-makers in each position during the Football League season.
Pos Nat Name League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Gerry Cakebread 46 0 5 0 1 0 52 0
DF Ken Coote 45 0 5 0 1 0 51 0
DF Jimmy Gitsham 34 0 5 0 0 0 39 0
DF Ray Reeves 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
DF Tom Wilson 16 0 0 0 1 0 17 0
HB Jimmy Belcher 30 1 5 0 1 0 36 1
HB Ian Dargie 35 0 1 0 1 0 37 0
HB Peter Gelson 24 1 4 0 0 0 28 1
HB Tommy Higginson 46 2 5 1 1 0 52 3
FW Micky Block 20 2 — — 20 2
FW Johnny Brooks 38 10 5 1 0 0 43 11
FW Brian Edgley 27 8 5 4 1 0 33 12
FW George Francis 32 14 5 1 — 37 15
FW Johnny Hales 8 0 0 0 1 0 9 0
FW George McLeod 4635 0 1 1524
FW Danny O'Donnell 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
FW Johnny Rainford 15 2 1 0 1 0 17 2
FW George Summers 30 8 4 2 1 0 35 10
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[8]

Goalscorers
Pos. Nat Player FL3 FAC FLC Total
FW George Francis 14 1 — 15
FW Brian Edgley 8 4 0 12
FW Johnny Brooks 10 1 0 11
FW George Summers 8 2 0 10
FW George McLeod 3 0 1 4
HB Tommy Higginson 2 1 0 3
FW Micky Block 2 — — 2
FW Johnny Rainford 2 0 0 2
HB Jimmy Belcher 1 0 0 1
HB Peter Gelson 1 0 0 1
Opponents 2 0 0 2
Total539 163
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[8]

Management
Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Malky MacDonald 19 August 1961 3 May 1962 52 15 10 27 028.85 46 13 8 25 028.26

Summary
Games played52 (46 Third Division, 5 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Games won15 (13 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Games drawn10 (8 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Games lost27 (25 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Goals scored63 (53 Third Division, 9 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Goals conceded102 (93 Third Division, 5 FA Cup, 4 League Cup)
Clean sheets12 (10 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Biggest league win4–0 versus Shrewsbury Town, 23 September 1961
Worst league defeat6–0 versus Peterborough United, 30 September 1961
Most appearances52, Gerry Cakebread, Tommy Higginson, George McLeod (46 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 3 League Cup)
Top scorer (league)14, George Francis
Top scorer (all competitions)15, George Francis

Transfers & loans
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
5 June 1961 FW Brian Edgley Cardiff City £6,000 [10]
July 1961 HB Jimmy Belcher Ipswich Town n/a [11]
July 1961 DF Ray Reeves Reading n/a [12]
2 September 1961 FW Dick Lowrie St Roch's n/a [13]
2 September 1961 FW Hugh McLaughlin St Roch's n/a [13]
September 1961 FW Johnny Brooks Chelsea £6,000 [14]
6 October 1961 FW George Francis Queens Park Rangers n/a [4]
December 1961 DF Tom Anthony n/a n/a [15]
1961 DF Tim Soutar n/a n/a [16]
January 1962 FW Micky Block Chelsea £5,000 [3]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
31 May 1961 FW George Francis Queens Park Rangers £4,000 [17]
31 May 1961 FW Jim Towers Queens Park Rangers £4,000 [17]
1962 FW Johnny Rainford Tonbridge Free [3]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
May 1962 HB Jimmy Belcher Margate 1962 [11]
May 1962 DF Ray Reeves Dover 1962 [12]
May 1962 DF Tom Wilson Folkestone Town 1962 [18]

Awards
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References
  1. White 1989, p. 240-241.
  2. Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopaedia. Yore Publications. p. 27. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  3. White 1989, p. 242-245.
  4. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 186-188.
  5. White 1989, p. 246.
  6. Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1961-1962 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 1 December 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  7. Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Torquay United results for the 1961-1962 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 1 December 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  8. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 386. ISBN 0951526200.
  9. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  10. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 52.
  11. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 18-19.
  12. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 132.
  13. "Scottish Football Historical Archive – 1961". Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  14. White 1989, p. 28.
  15. "Tom Anthony". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  16. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 152.
  17. "QPRnet – Seasonal Stats – 1961–62". Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  18. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 170-171.
  19. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 41.
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