1937–38 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1937–38 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League First Division. In the league, the Bees matched the previous season's finish of 6th and advanced to the 6th round of the FA Cup for the first time in club history. In 2013, the Brentford supporters voted 1937–38 as the club's second-best season.[1]

Brentford
1937–38 season
ChairmanLouis P. Simon
ManagerHarry Curtis
StadiumGriffin Park
First Division6th
FA CupSixth round
Empire Exhibition TrophyQuarter-final
Top goalscorerLeague: McCulloch (26)
All: McCulloch (29)
Highest home attendance37,586
Lowest home attendance14,609
Average home league attendance23,335

Season summary
Left half Tally Sneddon joined Brentford prior to the beginning of the season.

As in the past two off-seasons, Brentford manager Harry Curtis elected to bring in youngsters to supplement his squad, with left half Tally Sneddon and forwards George Eastham and Maurice Edelston being the only new outfield summer signings who would appear during the season. Two goalkeepers were signed to back up Jim Mathieson – Joe Crozier and Ted Gaskell.

Despite an opening-day defeat to Bolton Wanderers which left Brentford bottom of the First Division, the team rallied in mid-September 1937 and with forward David McCulloch in outstanding goalscoring form,[2] the Bees went on a six-match undefeated run which took them from 13th to the top of the table on 16 October.[3] With Bobby Reid and Billy Scott also supplementing McCulloch's goals up front,[2] Brentford remained unmoved from the top of the table between 30 September 1937 and 19 February 1938, only dropping back to 3rd position after a second defeat in three matches.[3] In the midst of the run, Brentford had advanced to the sixth round of the FA Cup for the first time in club history,[4] exiting after a 3–0 defeat to Preston North End,[3] which was played in front of a then-club record crowd of 37,586 at Griffin Park.[5]

Brentford won just four of the final 16 matches of the season and finished in 6th place,[3] matching the previous season's position.[6] The Bees took part in the one-off Empire Exhibition Trophy after the season, replacing Arsenal (who had dropped out of the competition), but fell at the first hurdle after being defeated 1–0 by Heart of Midlothian at Ibrox.[7] In 2013, the Brentford supporters voted 1937–38 as the club's second-best season.[1]

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts
4 Charlton Athletic 42 16 14 12 65 51 1.275 46
5 Middlesbrough 42 19 8 15 72 65 1.108 46
6 Brentford 42 18 9 15 69 59 1.169 45
7 Bolton Wanderers 42 15 15 12 64 60 1.067 45
8 Sunderland 42 14 16 12 55 57 0.965 44
Source:

Results
Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division
No. DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
1 28 August 1937Bolton Wanderers A0–2 31,572
2 1 September 1937Preston North EndH2–1 21,228W. Scott, Reid
3 4 September 1937Huddersfield TownH2–0 26,762McCulloch, McKenzie
4 6 September 1937Preston North EndA1–1 21,746McCulloch
5 11 September 1937EvertonA0–3 36,038
6 16 September 1937BlackpoolH2–4 14,816W. Scott, McCulloch
7 18 September 1937Wolverhampton Wanderers H2–1 28,945McCulloch (2)
8 20 September 1937BlackpoolA1–1 20,732McCulloch
9 25 September 1937Leicester City A1–0 23,416McCulloch
10 2 October 1937Sunderland H4–0 35,584W. Scott, McCulloch (2), Reid
11 9 October 1937Derby CountyA3–1 19,621McCulloch, Reid (2)
12 16 October 1937Charlton AthleticH5–2 34,861McCulloch (4), Reid
13 23 October 1937ChelseaA1–2 56,810Smith
14 30 October 1937PortsmouthH2–0 24,138Holliday, W. Scott
15 6 November 1937LiverpoolA4–3 30,492Reid (3), McCulloch
16 13 November 1937MiddlesbroughH3–3 25,682W. Scott (2), Reid
17 20 November 1937Grimsby TownA1–0 13,206McCulloch
18 27 November 1937West Bromwich AlbionH0–2 16,702
19 4 December 1937Stoke City A0–3 11,970
20 11 December 1937Leeds UnitedH1–1 18,184McCulloch
21 18 December 1937BirminghamA0–0 22,531
22 25 December 1937Manchester CityA2–0 37,478McKenzie (pen), Reid
23 27 December 1937Manchester CityH2–1 33,887W. Scott, Reid
24 1 January 1938Bolton WanderersH1–1 23,210Reid
25 15 January 1938Huddersfield TownA3–0 11,969Reid, Holliday, McCulloch
26 26 January 1938Everton H3–0 16,917McCulloch, W. Scott, Hopkins
27 29 January 1938Wolverhampton WanderersA1–2 35,989McCulloch
28 5 February 1938Leicester CityH1–1 21,309McCulloch
29 16 February 1938Sunderland A0–1 18,970
30 19 February 1938Derby CountyH2–3 20,561McKenzie (2 pens)
31 26 February 1938Charlton AthleticA0–1 35,572
32 9 March 1938ChelseaH1–1 20,401Hopkins
33 12 March 1938PortsmouthA1–4 23,366Reid
34 19 March 1938Liverpool H1–3 17,754Hopkins
35 26 March 1938MiddlesbroughA1–0 29,339Hopkins
36 2 April 1938Grimsby TownH6–1 17,994Edelston, McCulloch (2), Reid (2), McAloon
37 9 April 1938West Bromwich Albion A3–4 23,602McCulloch (2), McAloon
38 15 April 1938ArsenalA2–0 51,299McAloon, Hopkins
39 16 April 1938Stoke CityH0–0 21,885
40 18 April 1938ArsenalH3–0 34,601McCulloch, McAloon, Reid
41 23 April 1938Leeds UnitedA0–4 17,840
42 30 April 1938BirminghamH1–2 14,609McAloon

FA Cup
Main article: 1937–38 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer(s)
3R 8 January 1938 Fulham H 3–1 29,867 Hindson (og), McCulloch (2)
4R 22 January 1938 Portsmouth H 2–1 36,718 Wilson, McCulloch
5R 12 February 1938 Manchester United H 2–0 27,147 Holliday, Reid
6R5 March 1938Preston North End H0–3 37,586

Empire Exhibition Trophy
Main article: Empire Exhibition Trophy
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Notes
QF1 June 1938Heart of Midlothian N0–1 46,000 [nb 1]

Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1937–38 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Joe Crozier (1914-12-02)2 December 1914 (aged 22) East Fife 1937
GK James Mathieson (1904-05-10)10 May 1904 (aged 33) Middlesbrough 1934
Defenders
DF Arthur Bateman (1908-04-01)1 April 1908 (aged 29) Southend United 1934
DF Buster Brown (1910-09-06)6 September 1910 (aged 26) Huddersfield Town 1937
DF George Poyser (1910-02-06)6 February 1910 (aged 27) Port Vale 1934
DF Joe Wilson (1911-09-29)29 September 1911 (aged 25) Southend United 1935
Midfielders
HB Joe James (c) (1910-01-13)13 January 1910 (aged 27) Battersea Church 1929
HB Duncan McKenzie (1912-08-10)10 August 1912 (aged 25) Albion Rovers 1932
HB Archie Scott (1905-07-22)22 July 1905 (aged 31) Derby County 1934
HB Tally Sneddon (1914-04-01)1 April 1914 (aged 23) Falkirk 1937
Forwards
FW George Eastham (1914-08-13)13 August 1914 (aged 23) Bolton Wanderers 1937
FW Maurice Edelston (1918-04-27)27 April 1918 (aged 19) Wimbledon 1937 Amateur
FW Jack Holliday (1908-12-19)19 December 1908 (aged 28) Middlesbrough 1932
FW Idris Hopkins (1910-10-11)11 October 1910 (aged 26) Crystal Palace 1932
FW Gerry McAloon (1916-09-13)13 September 1916 (aged 20) St Francis 1934
FW David McCulloch (1912-10-05)5 October 1912 (aged 24) Heart of Midlothian 1935
FW Bobby Reid (1911-02-19)19 February 1911 (aged 26) Hamilton Academical 1936
FW Billy Scott (1907-12-06)6 December 1907 (aged 29) Middlesbrough 1932
FW Les Smith (1918-03-13)13 March 1918 (aged 19) Petersham 1934
  • Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[2] Timeless Bees,[8] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939[9]

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 Empire Exh.
Trophy		 Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Joe Crozier 35 0 4 0 1 0 40 0
GK James Mathieson 7 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
DF Arthur Bateman 31 0 4 0 1 0 36 0
DF Buster Brown 4104 0 1 0 460
DF George Poyser 1600 0 1 0 170
DF Joe Wilson 15 0 2 1 0 0 17 1
HB Joe James 35 0 4 0 1 0 40 0
HB Duncan McKenzie 31 4 2 0 0 0 33 4
HB Archie Scott 100 0 0 010
HB Tally Sneddon 39 0 4 0 1 0 44 0
FW George Eastham 38 0 1 0 1 0 40 0
FW Maurice Edelston 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 1
FW Jack Holliday 824 1 0 0 123
FW Idris Hopkins 31 5 3 0 1 0 35 5
FW Gerry McAloon 7 5 0 0 1 0 8 5
FW David McCulloch 41 26 3 3 1 0 45 29
FW Bobby Reid 40 17 4 1 1 0 45 18
FW Billy Scott 29 8 4 0 0 0 33 8
FW Les Smith 15 1 1 0 0 0 16 1
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[2]

Goalscorers
Pos. Nat Player FL1 FAC EET Total
FW David McCulloch 26 3 0 29
FW Bobby Reid 17 1 0 18
FW Billy Scott 8 0 0 8
FW Idris Hopkins 5 0 0 5
FW Gerry McAloon 5 0 0 5
HB Duncan McKenzie 4 0 0 4
FW Jack Holliday 2 1 0 3
FW Maurice Edelston 1 0 0 1
FW Les Smith 1 0 0 1
FW Joe Wilson 0 1 0 1
Opponents 0 1 0 1
Total697 076
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[2]

International caps

Full
Pos. Nat Player Caps Goals Ref
HB Duncan McKenzie 1 0 [10]
FW Idris Hopkins 2 0 [11]
FW David McCulloch 1 2 [12]
FW Bobby Reid 2 0 [13]

Amateur
Pos. Nat Player Caps Goals Ref
FW Maurice Edelston 1 1 [14]

Management
Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Harry Curtis 28 August 1937 30 April 1938 47 21 9 17 044.68|42 18 9 15 042.86

Summary
Games played47 (42 First Division, 4 FA Cup, 1 Empire Exhibition Trophy)
Games won21 (18 First Division, 3 FA Cup, 0 Empire Exhibition Trophy)
Games drawn9 (9 First Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 Empire Exhibition Trophy)
Games lost17 (15 First Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 Empire Exhibition Trophy)
Goals scored76 (69 First Division, 7 FA Cup, 0 Empire Exhibition Trophy)
Goals conceded65 (59 First Division, 5 FA Cup, 1 Empire Exhibition Trophy)
Clean sheets14 (13 First Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 Empire Exhibition Trophy)
Biggest league win6–1 versus Grimsby Town, 2 April 1938
Worst league defeat4–0 versus Leeds United, 23 April 1938
Most appearances46, Buster Brown (41 First Division, 4 FA Cup, 1 Empire Exhibition Trophy)
Top scorer (league)26, David McCulloch
Top scorer (all competitions)29, David McCulloch

Transfers & loans
Cricketers are not included in this list.
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
11 May 1937 GK Joe Crozier East Fife £1,000 [15]
May 1937 FW George Eastham Bolton Wanderers £4,000 [16]
May 1937 FW Len Townsend Hayes n/a [17]
25 June 1937 HB Tally Sneddon Falkirk £4,000 [15]
30 October 1937 GK Ted Gaskell Buxton £500 [18]
December 1937 FW Maurice Edelston Wimbledon Amateur [19]
1937 HB Vic Aicken Glentoran £1,000 [20]
1937 DF Doug Anderson Hibernian n/a [21]
1937 FW Magnus Mowatt Clyde n/a [15]
1937 HB Les Sinton n/a n/a [22]
February 1938 FW George Wilkins Hayes n/a [23]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
May 1938 DF George Dumbrell Retired [24]
May 1938 GK James Mathieson Queen of the South 1 June 1938 [15]
May 1938 FW Magnus Mowatt Lincoln City 1938 [15]
May 1938 HB Joe Murray Partick Thistle 2 June 1938 [15]
May 1938 HB Archie Scott Retired [25]
May 1938 HB Les Sinton Gateshead n/a [22]

Notes
  1. Match played at Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow.

References
  1. League, The Football. "Brentford – Football League 125". www.fl125.co.uk. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  2. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 374. ISBN 0951526200.
  3. Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1937-1938 season - Statto.com". Archived from the original on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  4. Haynes 1998, p. 48.
  5. Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Harefield, Middlesex: Yore Publications. p. 15. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  6. Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1936-1937 season - Statto.com". Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  7. Haynes 1998, p. 46.
  8. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  9. Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN 190589161X.
  10. "Duncan McKenzie". 11v11.com. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  11. "Dai Hopkins". 11v11.com. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  12. "David McCulloch". 11v11.com. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  13. "Robert Reid". 11v11.com. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  14. "England Matches – The Amateurs 1906–1939". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  15. Litster, John. Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
  16. "George Eastham". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  17. "Len Townsend". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  18. Brentford Football Supporters And Social Club Official Handbook – 1949–50. 1949. p. 30.
  19. "Maurice Edelston". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  20. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 8.
  21. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 11.
  22. Brentford Football Club Handbook – 1937–38. 1937. p. 35.
  23. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 168.
  24. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 50-51.
  25. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 142.
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