1951–52 Brentford F.C. season

Brentford
1951–52 season
ChairmanFrank Davis
Secretary-ManagerJackie Gibbons
StadiumGriffin Park
Second Division10th
FA CupFourth round
Top goalscorerLeague: Dare (14)
All: Dare (16)
Highest home attendance35,827
Lowest home attendance10,243
Average home league attendance23,022

During the 1951–52 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Second Division. The Bees secured a third-consecutive top 10 finish and reached the fourth round of the FA Cup, taking Luton Town to two replays before being knocked out.

Season summary

After two consecutive 9th-place finishes in the Second Division, Brentford manager Jackie Gibbons elected to keep his squad together for the 1951–52 season, with former Brighton & Hove Albion utility player Frank Morrad being his only first team signing.[1]

Aided by the goalscoring of full back-cum-centre forward Fred Monk, Brentford showed excellent form in the first half of the season and just five losses in the opening 21 matches put the club into the promotion places.[2] The push for promotion was derailed during the Christmas period, after consecutive defeats to Southampton on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.[3] A dressing room ruckus ensued between manager Gibbons on one side and half backs Ron Greenwood and Jimmy Hill on the other.[4] The bust-up resulted in Greenwood and Hill requesting transfers, with Hill eventually moving to local rivals Fulham in March 1952 in exchange for inside forward Jimmy Bowie.[4]

Centre forward Billy Dare came into goalscoring in the second half of the season,[5] but the disruption to the Harper-Hill-Greenwood half back line (Greenwood later rescinded his transfer request) led to an increase in the number of goals conceded and Brentford drifted out of contention for promotion to finish in 10th place.[2] Amid much fanfare, former England international Tommy Lawton was signed for a club record £16,000 fee in March 1952,[6] but he managed to contribute only two goals in his 10 appearances.[5] In 2010, full back Ken Horne commented that "I'm sure we could have gone up that year but the spirit completely went out the team. We'd got by on spirit. The team had been kept together for so long that they had been fighting for each other".[3]

The end of the season saw the retirement of Brentford's final two players signed prior to the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939 – goalkeeper Ted Gaskell and utility man Tom Manley.[7] Both received a joint-testimonial in April 1954.[7]

League table

Main article: 1951–52 Football League Second Division

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
8 Luton Town 42 16 12 14 77 78 0.987 44
9 Rotherham United 42 17 8 17 73 71 1.028 42
10 Brentford 42 15 12 15 54 55 0.982 42
11 Sheffield United 42 18 5 19 90 76 1.184 41
12 West Ham United 42 15 11 16 67 77 0.870 41
Source:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored

Results

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Second Division

No. Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s) Notes
1 18 August 1951 Leeds United A 1–1 20,268 Paton
2 22 August 1951 Everton A 0–1 32,722
3 25 August 1951 Rotherham United H 2–0 24,904 Sperrin, Monk
4 27 August 1951 Everton H 1–0 19,525 Sperrin
5 1 September 1951 Cardiff City A 0–2 27,772
6 5 September 1951 Doncaster Rovers A 2–1 21,154 Goodwin, Monk (pen)
7 8 September 1951 Birmingham City H 1–0 25,029 Monk
8 15 September 1951 Leicester City A 1–1 23,757 Monk
9 22 September 1951 Nottingham Forest H 1–1 26,350 Hill
10 29 September 1951 Queens Park Rangers A 1–3 25,339 Monk
11 6 October 1951 Notts County H 1–0 28,214 Coote
12 13 October 1951 Luton Town A 2–0 18,521 Sperrin, Monk
13 20 October 1951 Bury H 4–0 20,726 Sperrin (2), Coote, Paton
14 27 October 1951 Swansea Town A 1–1 19,235 Sperrin
15 3 November 1951 Coventry City H 4–0 22,899 Monk
16 10 November 1951 West Ham United A 0–1 26,288
17 17 November 1951 Sheffield United H 4–1 26,288 Paton, Monk (2), Sperrin
18 24 November 1951 Barnsley A 0–0 10,149
19 1 December 1951 Hull City H 2–1 26,072 Monk (2)
20 8 December 1951 Blackburn Rovers A 0–3 13,617
21 15 December 1951 Leeds United H 2–1 17,957 Dare (2)
22 22 December 1951 Rotherham United A 1–1 14,809 Monk
23 25 December 1951 Southampton H 1–2 25,841 Dare
24 26 December 1951 Southampton A 1–2 21,625 Sperrin
25 29 December 1951 Cardiff City H 1–1 27,547 Paton
26 5 January 1952 Birmingham City A 2–1 28,368 Dare, Badham (og)
27 19 January 1952 Leicester City H 1–3 19,923 Dare
28 26 January 1952 Nottingham Forest A 0–2 21,649
29 9 February 1952 Queens Park Rangers H 0–0 25,645
30 16 February 1952 Notts County A 2–5 22,503 Dare, Sperrin
31 1 March 1952 Luton Town H 3–3 21,218 Dare (2), Horne
32 8 March 1952 Bury A 0–1 12,140
33 15 March 1952 Swansea Town H 3–1 29,753 Coote, Dare (2)
34 22 March 1952 Coventry City A 1–2 27,577 Dare
35 5 April 1952 Sheffield United A 4–1 23,435 Lawton, Paton, Dare, Harper
36 11 April 1952 Sheffield Wednesday H 2–3 35,827 Bragg, Dare
37 12 April 1952 Barnsley H 1–1 19,912 Goodwin
38 14 April 1952 Sheffield Wednesday A 0–2 43,935
39 19 April 1952 Hull City A 1–4 30,891 Dare
40 21 April 1952 West Ham United H 1–1 12,563 Lawton [nb 1]
41 26 April 1952 Blackburn Rovers H 1–1 16,195 Slater
42 30 April 1952 Doncaster Rovers H 1–0 10,243 Morrad

FA Cup

Main article: 1951–52 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s) Notes
3R 12 January 1952 Queens Park Rangers H 3–1 35,000 Coote, Paton, Sperrin
4R 2 February 1952 Luton Town A 2–2 25,320 Sperrin (2)
4R (replay) 6 February 1952 Luton Town H 0–0 (a.e.t.) 29,500
4R (2nd replay) 18 February 1952 Luton Town N 2–3 (a.e.t.) 37,269 Dare (2) [nb 2]

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1951–52 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Ted Gaskell England (1916-12-19)19 December 1916 (aged 34) Buxton 1937
GK Alf Jefferies England (1922-02-09)9 February 1922 (aged 29) Oxford City 1945
GK Reg Newton England (1926-06-30)30 June 1926 (aged 25) Leyton Orient 1949
Defenders
DF Wally Bragg England (1929-07-08)8 July 1929 (aged 22) Twickenham Celtic 1946
DF Ian Dargie England (1931-10-03)3 October 1931 (aged 19) Tonbridge 1952
DF Ken Horne England (1926-06-25)25 June 1926 (aged 25) Blackpool 1950
DF Tecwyn Jones Wales (1930-01-03)3 January 1930 (aged 21) Holywell Town 1950
DF Frank Morrad England (1920-02-28)28 February 1920 (aged 31) Brighton & Hove Albion 1951
DF Roddy Munro Scotland (1920-07-27)27 July 1920 (aged 31) Rangers 1946
Midfielders
HB George Bristow England (1933-06-25)25 June 1933 (aged 18) Youth 1950
HB Ron Greenwood (c) England (1921-11-11)11 November 1921 (aged 29) Bradford Park Avenue 1949
HB Tony Harper England (1925-05-26)26 May 1925 (aged 26) Headington United 1948
HB Frank Latimer England (1923-10-03)3 October 1923 (aged 27) Snowdown Colliery Welfare 1945
HB Bill Slater England (1927-04-29)29 April 1927 (aged 24) Blackpool 1951 Amateur
Forwards
FW Jimmy Bowie Scotland (1924-08-09)9 August 1924 (aged 27) Fulham 1952
FW Ken Coote England (1928-05-19)19 May 1928 (aged 23) Wembley 1949
FW Billy Dare England (1927-02-14)14 February 1927 (aged 24) Hendon 1948
FW Verdi Godwin England (1926-02-11)11 February 1926 (aged 25) Grimsby Town 1952
FW Jackie Goodwin England (1920-09-29)29 September 1920 (aged 30) Birmingham City 1949
FW Tommy Lawton England (1919-10-06)6 October 1919 (aged 31) Notts County 1952
FW Terry Ledgerton England (1930-10-07)7 October 1930 (aged 20) Huyton 1950
FW Fred Monk England (1920-10-09)9 October 1920 (aged 30) Guildford City 1948
FW Johnny Paton Scotland (1923-04-02)2 April 1923 (aged 28) Celtic 1949
FW Billy Sperrin England (1922-04-09)9 April 1922 (aged 29) Guildford City 1949
Players who left the club mid-season
HB Jimmy Hill England (1928-07-22)22 July 1928 (aged 23) Reading 1949 Transferred to Fulham
  • Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford,[5] Timeless Bees[8]

Coaching staff

Name Role
England Jackie Gibbons Secretary-Manager
Scotland Jimmy Bain Assistant Manager
England David Richards Trainer
England Jack Cartmell Assistant Trainer
England Jimmy Hogan 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 England Ted Gaskell 15 0 4 0 19 0
GK England Alf Jefferies 17 0 0 0 17 0
GK England Reg Newton 10 0 0 0 10 0
DF England Wally Bragg 10 1 0 0 10 1
DF England Ian Dargie 1 0 — 1 0
DF England Ken Horne 34 1 4 0 38 1
DF Wales Tecwyn Jones 1 0 0 0 1 0
DF England Frank Morrad 1 1 0 0 1 1
DF Scotland Roddy Munro 40 0 4 0 44 0
HB England George Bristow 2 0 0 0 2 0
HB England Ron Greenwood 37 0 3 0 40 0
HB England Tony Harper 37 1 4 0 41 1
HB England Jimmy Hill 27 1 3 0 30 1
HB England Frank Latimer 4 0 1 0 5 0
HB England Bill Slater 7 1 1 0 8 1
FW Scotland Jimmy Bowie 9 0 — 9 0
FW England Ken Coote 24 3 4 1 28 4
FW England Billy Dare 42 14 4 2 46 16
FW England Verdi Godwin 1 0 — 1 0
FW England Jackie Goodwin 21 2 2 0 23 2
FW England Tommy Lawton 10 2 — 10 2
FW England Terry Ledgerton 5 0 1 0 6 0
FW England Fred Monk 40 12 2 0 42 12
FW Scotland Johnny Paton 36 5 3 1 39 6
FW England Billy Sperrin 31 9 4 2 35 11
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[5]

Goalscorers

Pos. Nat Player FL2 FAC Total
FW England Billy Dare 14 2 16
FW England Fred Monk 12 0 12
FW England Billy Sperrin 9 2 11
FW Scotland Johnny Paton 5 1 6
FW England Ken Coote 3 1 4
FW England Tommy Lawton 2 — 2
FW England Jackie Goodwin 2 0 2
DF England Wally Bragg 1 0 1
HB England Tony Harper 1 0 1
HB England Jimmy Hill 1 0 1
DF England Ken Horne 1 0 1
DF England Frank Morrad 1 0 1
HB England Bill Slater 1 0 1
Opponents 1 0 1
Total 54 7 61
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[5]

Amateur international caps

Pos. Nat Player Caps Goals Ref
HB England Bill Slater 5 0 [9]

Management

Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
P W D L W % P W D L W %
Jackie Gibbons England 18 August 1951 30 April 1952 46 16 14 16 034.78 42 15 12 15 035.71

Summary

Games played 46 (42 Second Division, 4 FA Cup)
Games won 16 (15 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Games drawn 14 (12 Second Division, 2 FA Cup)
Games lost 16 (15 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored 61 (54 Second Division, 7 FA Cup)
Goals conceded 61 (55 Second Division, 6 FA Cup)
Clean sheets 11 (10 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Biggest league win 4–0 on two occasions
Worst league defeat 3–0 versus Blackburn Rovers, 8 December 1951; 4–1 versus Hull City, 19 April 1952; 5–2 versus Notts County, 16 February 1952
Most appearances 46, Billy Dare (42 Second Division, 4 FA Cup)
Top scorer (league) 14, Billy Dare
Top scorer (all competitions) 16, Billy Dare

Transfers & loans

Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
May 1951 DF England George Lowden Unattached Amateur [10]
August 1951 DF England Frank Morrad England Brighton & Hove Albion n/a [1]
September 1951 HB Scotland Mike Skivington England Gillingham n/a [11]
December 1951 GK Wales Dave Jones England Dover n/a [12]
December 1951 HB England Bill Slater England Blackpool Amateur [13]
25 February 1952 DF England Ian Dargie England Tonbridge n/a [14]
March 1952 FW Scotland Jimmy Bowie England Fulham Exchange [4]
March 1952 FW England Verdi Godwin England Grimsby Town n/a [15]
March 1952 FW England Tommy Lawton England Notts County £16,000 [6]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
December 1951 n/a Scotland Jack Nicholson Scotland Dundee United n/a [16]
March 1952 HB England Jimmy Hill England Fulham Exchange [4]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
October 1951 FW England Joe Corr England Snowdown Colliery Welfare October 1951 [17]
May 1952 GK England Ted Gaskell Retired [18]
May 1952 FW England Bernard Kelly England Deal Town 1952 [19]
May 1952 HB England Tom Manley Retired [7]
May 1952 FW England Tommy Mycock England Tranmere Rovers May 1952 [20]
May 1952 HB Scotland Mike Skivington Retired [11]

Notes

  1. ^ The original fixture on 29 March 1952 was abandoned at half time due to snow, with the score at 1–1.
  2. ^ Match played at Arsenal Stadium, London.

References

  1. ^ a b Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 110-111.
  2. ^ a b "Brentford results for the 1951–1952 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 10 September 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  3. ^ a b Bruzon, Nick. "Where Are They Now? Ken Horne – Part 2". Archived from the original on 15 February 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d White 1989, p. 202-207.
  5. ^ a b c d e f White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 381. ISBN 0951526200.
  6. ^ a b Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 95-96.
  7. ^ a b c Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 99-100.
  8. ^ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  9. ^ "England Matches – The Amateurs 1947–1962". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  10. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 98.
  11. ^ a b "Mike Skivington". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  12. ^ "Dave Jones". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  13. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 146.
  14. ^ "Ian Dargie 1931–2015". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  15. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 67.
  16. ^ "Player Appearances and goalscoring records – N". Scottish Football Historical Archive. p. 577. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  17. ^ "Joe Corr". Margate FC Players History. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  18. ^ Lane, David (2005). Cult Bees & Legends: Volume Two. Hampton Hill: Legends Publishing. pp. 98–115. ISBN 0954368282.
  19. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 91.
  20. ^ "Tommy Mycock". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
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