1953–54 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1953–54 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Second Division. With Brentford in the relegation places, player-manager Tommy Lawton transferred out of the club in September 1953 and his replacement Bill Dodgin Sr. was unable to turn things round, which culminated in relegation to the Third Division South on the final day of the season. Brentford would not play again in the second-tier of English football until the 1992–93 season.

Brentford
1953–54 season
ChairmanFrank Davis
ManagerTommy Lawton
(until September 1953)
Fred Monk
(September – 1 October 1953
Bill Dodgin Sr.
(from 1 October 1953)
StadiumGriffin Park
Second Division21st (relegated)
FA CupThird round
Top goalscorerLeague: Dudley (10)
All: Dudley (11)
Highest home attendance22,845
Lowest home attendance10,652
Average home league attendance15,626

Season summary

Without a transfer budget to speak of, Brentford player-manager Tommy Lawton could not rely entirely on filling his squad with the products of Alf Bew's youth team, which had reached the semi-finals of the inaugural FA Youth Cup during the previous season.[1] Lawton again relied on Wally Bragg and Ken Coote to hold two of the half back berths alongside Tony Harper.[2] He signed ageing forwards Frank Broome and Ian McPherson from his previous club Notts County as replacements for Les Smith and the injured Jimmy D'Arcy.[1]

Six defeats and just one win from the opening 9 Second Division matches saw Tommy Lawton quit the club in favour of a £10,000 move to Arsenal, a transfer which saw James Robertson arrive at Griffin Park in part-exchange.[1] Full back Fred Monk took over as caretaker manager until the appointment of Bill Dodgin Sr. on 1 October 1953.[1] Dodgin's arrival heralded three consecutive wins, which lifted the Bees out of the relegation places.[3] Ineffective forwards Broome and McPherson were transferred out and replaced by Cardiff City's Johnny Rainford and Frank Dudley.[1] Despite their arrivals, Brentford showed poor form over the Christmas and New Year period and a money-raising FA Cup run ended in a third round replay defeat to Hull City.[3] Gerry Gazzard arrived on loan from West Ham United in January 1954 and despite Gazzard and Dudley forming something of a strike partnership during the final 10 weeks of the season,[1] Brentford were relegated in 21st-place after the club's final match on 24 April.[4]

The solitary away league win during the season tied the club record for fewest league wins in a season.[5] In addition, Brentford were the joint-lowest scorers in the Second Division during the season.[4] Long-serving trainer Jack Cartmell retired at the end of the season, after over 30 years at Griffin Park as a player and a member of staff.[6]

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Promotion or relegation
18 Derby County 42 12 11 19 64 82 0.780 35
19 Plymouth Argyle 42 9 16 17 65 82 0.793 34
20 Swansea Town 42 13 8 21 58 82 0.707 34
21 Brentford 42 10 11 21 40 78 0.513 31 Relegated
22 Oldham Athletic 42 8 9 25 40 89 0.449 25
Source:

Results
Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Football League Second Division
No. DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
1 19 August 1953Stoke CityA1–1 22,413Broome
2 22 August 1953Derby County A1–4 18,927Lawton
3 27 August 1953Blackburn RoversH1–4 16,682Ledgerton
4 29 August 1953FulhamH2–1 21,689Monk (pen), Goodwin
5 31 August 1953Blackburn RoversA2–2 11,793Dare (2)
6 5 September 1953Bristol RoversH0–3 21,158
7 10 September 1953Doncaster RoversH1–4 14,047Lawton
8 12 September 1953Lincoln City A1–2 16,592Harper
9 16 September 1953Doncaster Rovers A0–3 19,463
10 19 September 1953Notts CountyH0–0 12,770
11 26 September 1953Hull CityA0–2 19,501
12 3 October 1953EvertonH1–0 17,367Dare
13 10 October 1953West Ham United A1–0 24,934Bloomfield
14 17 October 1953Leeds UnitedH2–1 18,329Dare, Bloomfield
15 24 October 1953Birmingham City A1–5 23,582Dare
16 31 October 1953Nottingham ForestH1–1 15,384Rainford
17 7 November 1953Luton TownA1–1 15,167Robertson
18 14 November 1953Plymouth ArgyleH1–0 17,327Dare
19 21 November 1953Swansea TownA0–1 16,627
20 28 November 1953Rotherham UnitedH0–1 16,740
21 5 December 1953Leicester CityA0–6 24,036
22 12 December 1953Stoke CityH0–0 11,848
23 19 December 1953Derby CountyH0–0 10,652
24 25 December 1953Oldham AthleticH3–1 15,309Rainford, Dudley, Bloomfield
25 26 December 1953Oldham Athletic A0–2 14,414
26 2 January 1954FulhamA1–4 24,372Dudley
27 16 January 1954Bristol RoversA0–0 20,541
28 23 January 1954Lincoln CityH0–1 11,431
29 30 January 1954BuryA1–1 9,035Robertson
30 6 February 1954Notts CountyA0–2 10,507
31 13 February 1954Hull CityH2–2 11,522Gazzard (2)
32 24 February 1954Everton A1–6 23,145Gazzard
33 27 February 1954West Ham United H3–1 16,458Gazzard, Dudley, Dare
34 6 March 1954Leeds UnitedA0–4 16,501
35 13 March 1954Birmingham CityH2–0 12,584Dudley (2)
36 20 March 1954Nottingham ForestA1–2 15,700Dudley
37 27 March 1954Swansea TownH3–1 14,023Gazzard, Robertson, Dudley
38 3 April 1954Rotherham UnitedA1–1 9,198Bragg
39 10 April 1954Luton TownH0–1 14,204
40 16 April 1954BuryH2–1 15,768Gazzard (pen), Dudley
41 17 April 1954Plymouth Argyle A2–3 23,405Dudley, Robertson
42 24 April 1954Leicester CityH1–3 22,845Dudley

FA Cup
Main article: 1953–54 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer(s) Notes
3R 9 January 1954 Hull City H 0–0 16,000
3R (replay) 14 January 1954 Hull City A 2–2 16,000 Dudley, Rainford
3R (2nd replay)18 January 1954Hull City N2–5 10,150 Bly (og), Sperrin [nb 1]

Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1953–54 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Alf Jefferies (1922-02-09)9 February 1922 (aged 31) Oxford City 1945
GK Reg Newton (1926-06-30)30 June 1926 (aged 27) Leyton Orient 1949
Defenders
DF Alan Bassham (1933-10-03)3 October 1933 (aged 19) Youth 1953
DF Ken Horne (1926-06-25)25 June 1926 (aged 27) Blackpool 1950
DF Frank Latimer (1923-10-03)3 October 1923 (aged 29) Snowdown Colliery Welfare 1945
DF George Lowden (1933-03-02)2 March 1933 (aged 20) Unattached 1951
DF Fred Monk (c) (1920-10-09)9 October 1920 (aged 32) Guildford City 1948
Midfielders
HB Wally Bragg (1929-07-08)8 July 1929 (aged 24) Twickenham Celtic 1946
HB George Bristow (1933-06-25)25 June 1933 (aged 20) Youth 1950
HB Ken Coote (1928-05-19)19 May 1928 (aged 25) Wembley 1949
HB Ian Dargie (1931-10-03)3 October 1931 (aged 21) Tonbridge 1952
HB Tony Harper (1925-05-26)26 May 1925 (aged 28) Headington United 1948
Forwards
FW Vernon Avis (1935-10-24)24 October 1935 (aged 17) Youth 1952
FW Jimmy Bloomfield (1934-02-15)15 February 1934 (aged 19) Hayes 1952
FW Billy Dare (1927-02-14)14 February 1927 (aged 26) Hendon 1948
FW Frank Dudley (1925-05-09)9 May 1925 (aged 28) Cardiff City 1953
FW Gerry Gazzard (1925-03-15)15 March 1925 (aged 28) West Ham United 1954 On loan from West Ham United
FW Jackie Goodwin (1920-09-29)29 September 1920 (aged 32) Birmingham City 1949
FW Terry Ledgerton (1930-10-07)7 October 1930 (aged 22) Huyton 1950
FW Johnny Rainford (1930-12-11)11 December 1930 (aged 22) Cardiff City 1953
FW James Robertson (1929-02-20)20 February 1929 (aged 24) Arsenal 1953
FW Billy Sperrin (1922-04-09)9 April 1922 (aged 31) Guildford City 1949
Players who left the club mid-season
FW Frank Broome (1915-06-11)11 June 1915 (aged 38) Notts County 1953 Transferred to Crewe Alexandra
FW Tommy Lawton (c) (1919-10-06)6 October 1919 (aged 33) Notts County 1952 Manager, transferred to Arsenal
FW Ian McPherson (1920-07-26)26 July 1920 (aged 33) Notts County 1953 Transferred to Bedford Town
  • Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford,[2] Timeless Bees[7]

Coaching staff

Tommy Lawton (19 August – September 1953)
Name Role
Tommy Lawton Player-Manager
Jimmy Bain Assistant Manager
David Richards Trainer
Jack Cartmell Assistant Trainer

Fred Monk ( – 1 September October 1953)
Name Role
Fred Monk Player-Manager
Jimmy Bain Assistant Manager
David Richards Trainer
Jack Cartmell Assistant Trainer

Bill Dodgin Sr. (1 October 1953 – 24 April 1954)
Name Role
Bill Dodgin Sr. Player-Manager
Jimmy Bain Assistant Manager
David Richards Trainer
Jack Cartmell Assistant Trainer

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 Alf Jefferies 3 0 0 0 3 0
GK Reg Newton 39 0 3 0 42 0
DF Alan Bassham 2 0 0 0 2 0
DF Ken Horne 10 0 0 0 10 0
DF Frank Latimer 36 0 3 0 39 0
DF George Lowden 1 0 0 0 1 0
DF Fred Monk 23 1 2 0 25 1
HB Wally Bragg 41 1 3 0 44 1
HB George Bristow 24 0 3 0 27 0
HB Ken Coote 40 0 3 0 43 0
HB Ian Dargie 14 0 1 0 15 0
HB Tony Harper 26 1 0 0 26 1
FW Vernon Avis 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW Jimmy Bloomfield 27 3 2 0 29 3
FW Frank Broome 61—61
FW Billy Dare 38 7 2 0 40 7
FW Frank Dudley 20 10 3 1 23 11
FW Jackie Goodwin 19 1 1 0 20 1
FW Tommy Lawton 6 2 — 6 2
FW Terry Ledgerton 713 0 101
FW Ian McPherson 4 0 — 4 0
FW Johnny Rainford 29 2 3 1 32 3
FW James Robertson 31 4 0 0 31 4
FW Billy Sperrin 2 0 1 1 3 1
Players loaned in during the season
FW Gerry Gazzard 13 6 — 13 6
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[2]

Goalscorers
Pos. Nat Player FL2 FAC Total
FW Frank Dudley 10 1 11
FW Billy Dare 7 0 7
FW Gerry Gazzard 6 — 6
FW James Robertson 4 0 4
FW Jimmy Bloomfield 3 0 3
FW Johnny Rainford 2 1 3
FW Tommy Lawton 2 — 2
FW Frank Broome 1 — 1
HB Wally Bragg 1 0 1
FW Jackie Goodwin 1 0 1
HB Tony Harper 1 0 1
FW Terry Ledgerton 1 0 1
DF Fred Monk 1 0 1
FW Billy Sperrin 0 1 1
Opponents 0 1 1
Total40444
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[2]

Management
Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Tommy Lawton 19 August 1953 16 September 1953 9 1 2 6 011.11 9 1 2 6 011.11
Fred Monk (caretaker) 19 September 1953 26 September 1953 2 0 1 1 000.00 2 0 1 1 000.00
Bill Dodgin Sr. 3 October 1953 24 April 1954 34 9 10 15 026.47 31 9 8 14 029.03

Summary
Games played45 (42 Second Division, 3 FA Cup)
Games won10 (10 Second Division, 0 FA Cup)
Games drawn13 (11 Second Division, 2 FA Cup)
Games lost22 (21 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored44 (40 Second Division, 4 FA Cup)
Goals conceded85 (78 Second Division, 7 FA Cup)
Clean sheets9 (8 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Biggest league win2–0 versus Birmingham City, 13 March 1954; 3–1 on three occasions
Worst league defeat6–0 versus Leicester City, 5 December 1953
Most appearances44, Wally Bragg (41 Second Division, 3 FA Cup)
Top scorer (league)10, Frank Dudley
Top scorer (all competitions)11, Frank Dudley

Transfers & loans
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
July 1953 FW Frank Broome Notts County n/a [8]
July 1953 FW Ian McPherson Notts County n/a [9]
August 1953 DF Ken Moffitt Berwick Rangers n/a [10]
September 1953 FW James Robertson Arsenal Part-exchange [11]
October 1953 FW Johnny Rainford Cardiff City n/a [12]
December 1953 FW Frank Dudley Cardiff City n/a [13]
Players loaned in
Date from Pos. Name From Date to Ref.
January 1954 FW Gerry Gazzard West Ham United End of season [14]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
June 1953 FW Micky Bull Swindon Town n/a [15]
July 1953 GK Dave Jones Reading n/a [16]
July 1953 DF Tecwyn Jones Wrexham n/a [17]
August 1953 FW Les Smith Kidderminster Harriers n/a [18]
September 1953 FW Tommy Lawton Arsenal £10,000 [19]
October 1953 FW Frank Broome Crewe Alexandra n/a [8]
1953 FW Ian McPherson Bedford Town n/a [9]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
January 1954 FW Jimmy D'Arcy Retired [20]
April 1954 FW Verdi Godwin Southport July 1954 [21]
April 1954 FW Jackie Goodwin Dartford n/a [22]
April 1954 DF Fred Monk Aldershot July 1954 [23]

Notes
  1. Match played at Belle Vue, Doncaster.

References
  1. White 1989, p. 212-214.
  2. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 382. ISBN 0951526200.
  3. Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1953-1954 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 22 November 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  4. Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford League Table 1953-1954 - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 22 November 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  5. Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Yore Publications. pp. 78–79. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  6. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 35.
  7. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  8. "Frank Broome". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  9. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 107-108.
  10. "Ken Moffitt". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  11. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 136.
  12. "Johnny Rainford". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  13. "Frank Dudley". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  14. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 63.
  15. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 30.
  16. "Dave Jones". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  17. "Tecwyn Jones". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  18. "Les Smith". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  19. "Tommy Lawton | Arsenal.com". www.arsenal.com. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  20. "Jimmy D'Arcy". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  21. "Verdi Godwin". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  22. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 67.
  23. "Fred Monk". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
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