1947–48 Brentford F.C. season explained

Club:Brentford
Season:1947–48
Manager:Harry Curtis
Chairman:Frank Davis
Stadium:Griffin Park
League:Second Division
League Result:15th
Cup1:FA Cup
Cup1 Result:Fourth round
League Topscorer:Gibbons (13)
Season Topscorer:Gibbons (14)
Highest Attendance:34,500
Lowest Attendance:13,723
Average Attendance:23,341
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Prevseason:1946–47
Nextseason:1948–49

During the 1947–48 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Second Division. In the Bees' first second-tier season since 1934–35, the club slumped to a 15th-place finish.

Season summary

After relegation to the Second Division at the end of the 1946–47 season, Brentford were forced to cash in on their assets and received £16,000 from the sales of George Smith and Scotland international Archie Macaulay. No less than 14 players departed Griffin Park during the off-season, with five players coming in at a cost of nearly £20,000 – half back David Nelson and forwards Peter Buchanan, Tommy Dawson, Tommy Dougall and Jackie Gibbons, with Gibbons rejoining the club after making 11 appearances while an amateur during the 1938–39 season. After a poor start to the season, Jimmy Hogan was brought in as a coach. It was long-serving trainer Bob Kane's final season with the club.[1]

Brentford had an awful start to the season, winning one and losing eight of the opening 9 matches to leave the club rooted to the bottom of the table.[2] Bit-part half back Cyril Toulouse was transferred to Tottenham Hotspur in exchange for Jack Chisholm, who lead the team's recovery from the centre of the field. Just three defeats in 13 matches between late-September and mid-December 1946 finally lifted the club out of the relegation places. More players came and went in the second half of the season – Tony Harper and Fred Monk came in from non-League football, with Percy Gleeson, George Stewart and Arthur Shaw transferring out.

Brentford finished a tumultuous season in 15th place, 11 points above the relegation zone and lost just four of the final 20 matches of the league campaign. The season ended with an irksome 1–0 defeat to local rivals (and Second Division champions) Queens Park Rangers in the Ealing Hospital Cup final. The club record for fewest goalscorers in a season was equalled, with just eight players registering a goal.[3]

Results

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

WinDrawLoss

Football League Second Division

No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)
123 August 1947FulhamA0–532,823
227 August 1947Luton TownH0–317,022
330 August 1947Coventry CityH1–419,107Gibbons
43 September 1947Luton TownA0–320,921
56 September 1947Newcastle UnitedA0–156,692
610 September 1947Nottingham ForestH3–115,005Buchanan, Nelson, Blakeman
713 September 1947Birmingham CityH1–225,523Dawson
817 September 1947Nottingham ForestA0–218,617
920 September 1947West Bromwich AlbionA2–329,445Buchanan, Gibbons
1027 September 1947BarnsleyH3–322,137Gleeson, Gibbons, Buchanan
114 October 1947Plymouth ArgyleA0–023,959
1211 October 1947Bradford Park AvenueH2–124,682Dawson, Girling
1318 October 1947Cardiff CityH0–034,483
1425 October 1947Sheffield WednesdayH1–029,112Gibbons
151 November 1947Tottenham HotspurA0–442,362
168 November 1947MillwallH2–126,251Buchanan, Girling
1715 November 1947ChesterfieldA0–411,320
1822 November 1947West Ham UnitedH1–124,105Dawson
1929 November 1947BuryA2–212,856Dawson, Gibbons
206 December 1947SouthamptonH2–218,735Dawson, Nelson
2113 December 1947Doncaster RoversA0–016,916
2220 December 1947FulhamH0–220,717
2325 December 1947Leicester CityH2–221,291Dawson (2)
2427 December 1947Leicester CityA2–132,440Dawson, Girling
253 January 1948Coventry CityA0–320,180
2617 January 1948Newcastle UnitedH1–029,684Gibbons
2731 January 1948Birmingham CityA0–037,542
287 February 1948West Bromwich AlbionH1–025,234Nelson
2914 February 1948BarnsleyA1–121,399Gibbons
3021 February 1948Plymouth ArgyleH0–013,723
3128 February 1948Bradford Park AvenueA1–111,666Buchanan
326 March 1948Cardiff CityA0–141,032
3320 March 1948Tottenham HotspurH2–031,297Buchanan, Monk
3426 March 1948Leeds UnitedH3–030,538Girling, Gibbons (2)
3527 March 1948MillwallA1–027,519Monk
3629 March 1948Leeds UnitedA1–126,775Dawson
373 April 1948ChesterfieldH0–324,164
3810 April 1948West Ham UnitedA1–021,471Gibbons
3912 April 1948Sheffield WednesdayA1–136,130Gibbons
4017 April 1948BuryH4–120,419Blakeman, Gibbons, Buchanan, Dawson
4124 April 1948SouthamptonA1–218,511Gibbons
421 May 1948Doncaster RoversH2–116,939Buchanan, Girling

FA Cup

See main article: 1947–48 FA Cup.

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)
3R10 January 1948Rotherham UnitedA3–022,000Dawson, Gibbons, Buchanan
4R24 January 1948MiddlesbroughH1–234,500Girling

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1947–48 season.

Pos.NameNat.Date of birth (age)Signed fromSigned inNotes
Goalkeepers
GKJoe CrozierAugust 23, 1947East Fife1937
GKTed GaskellAugust 23, 1947Buxton1937
Defenders
DFBill GormanAugust 23, 1947Bury1938
DFMalky MacDonaldAugust 23, 1947Kilmarnock1946
DFRoddy MunroAugust 23, 1947Rangers1946
DFHarry OliverAugust 23, 1947Hartlepools United1938
DFEric VentomAugust 23, 1947Unattached1946
Midfielders
HBJack ChisholmAugust 23, 1947Tottenham Hotspur1947
HBFrank LatimerAugust 23, 1947Snowdown Colliery Welfare1945
HBTom ManleyAugust 23, 1947Manchester United1939
HBJohn MooreAugust 23, 1947Unattached1938
HBDavid NelsonAugust 31, 1946Fulham1947
HBGeorge Paterson (c)August 23, 1947Celtic1946
Forwards
FWAlec BlakemanAugust 23, 1947Oxford City1946
FWPeter BuchananAugust 23, 1947Fulham1947
FWTommy DawsonAugust 23, 1947Charlton Athletic1947
FWTommy DougallAugust 23, 1947Coventry City1947
FWJosé GallegoAugust 23, 1947Cambridge City1947
FWJackie GibbonsAugust 23, 1947Bradford Park Avenue1947
FWDickie GirlingAugust 23, 1947Crystal Palace1947
FWFred MonkAugust 23, 1947Guildford City1948
Players who left the club mid-season
HBCyril ToulouseAugust 23, 1947St Cuthberts1946Transferred to Tottenham Hotspur
FWPercy GleesonAugust 23, 1947Hounslow Town1947Transferred to Guildford City
FWGeorge StewartAugust 23, 1947Hamilton Academical1946Transferred to Queens Park Rangers

Coaching staff

NameRole
Harry CurtisManager
Jimmy BainAssistant Manager
Jimmy HoganCoach
Bob KaneTrainer
Jack CartmellAssistant Trainer

Statistics

Appearances and goals

PosNatNameLeagueFA CupTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GKJoe Crozier40020420
GKTed Gaskell200020
DFBill Gorman17020190
DFMalky MacDonald41020430
DFRoddy Munro21000210
DFHarry Oliver400040
DFEric Ventom100010
HBJack Chisholm19020210
HBFrank Latimer16000160
HBTom Manley27020290
HBJohn Moore200020
HBDavid Nelson40320423
HBGeorge Paterson26000260
HBCyril Toulouse30—30
FWAlec Blakeman25220272
FWPeter Buchanan40821429
FWTommy Dawson3610213811
FWTommy Dougall200020
FWJosé Gallego500050
FWJackie Gibbons4113214314
FWDickie Girling33521356
FWPercy Gleeson910091
FWFred Monk42—42
FWGeorge Stewart800080

Goalscorers

Pos.NatPlayerFL2FACTotal
FWJackie Gibbons13114
FWTommy Dawson10111
FWPeter Buchanan819
FWDickie Girling516
HBDavid Nelson303
FWAlec Blakeman202
FWFred Monk202
FWPercy Gleeson101
Total44448

Summary

Games played 44 (42 Second Division, 2 FA Cup)
Games won 14 (13 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Games drawn 14 (14 Second Division, 0 FA Cup)
Games lost 16 (15 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored 48 (44 Second Division, 4 FA Cup)
Goals conceded 63 (61 Second Division, 2 FA Cup)
Clean sheets 13 (12 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Biggest league win 3–0 versus Leeds United, 26 March 1948; 4–1 versus Bury, 17 April 1948
Worst league defeat 5–0 versus Fulham, 23 August 1947
Most appearances 46, Jackie Gibbons, Malky MacDonald (41 Second Division, 2 FA Cup)
Top scorer (league) 13, Jackie Gibbons
Top scorer (all competitions) 14, Jackie Gibbons

Transfers & loans

Cricketers are not included in this list.

Players transferred in
DatePos.NamePrevious ClubFeeRef.
June 1947HBR. Goddardn/an/a[6]
11 August 1947FW Jackie Gibbons Bradford Park Avenue£8,000
13 August 1947FW Tommy Dougall Coventry Cityn/a[7]
August 1947FW Peter Buchanan Fulham£3,000
August 1947n/a Tommy Connorsn/an/a[8]
August 1947FW Tommy Dawson Charlton Athletic£5,000
August 1947HB David Nelson Fulham£3,000
August 1947n/a Les Smithn/an/a[9]
October 1947HB Jack Chisholm Tottenham HotspurExchange
March 1948FW Fred Monk Guildford CityExchange
April 1948WHBernard Gardnern/an/a[10]
April 1948HB Tony Harper Headington Unitedn/a
1948FWConnors Wembleyn/a[11]
Players transferred out
DatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.
15 May 1947GK Frank Clack Bristol City£1,500[12]
4 June 1947FW Bill Naylor Leyton Orient£2,000[13]
June 1947HB George Smith Queens Park Rangers£6,000
July 1947FW Archie Macaulay Arsenal£10,000
October 1947HB Cyril Toulouse Tottenham HotspurExchange
March 1948FW George Stewart Queens Park Rangers£4,000[14]
14 April 1948HB Arthur Shaw Arsenaln/a[15]
April 1948FW Percy Gleeson Guildford CityExchange
Players released
DatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.
May 1948FWConnorsn/an/a
May 1948FW José Gallego SouthamptonMay 1948
May 1948HBR. Goddardn/an/a
May 1948HB John Moore Gloucester City1948
May 1948DF Eric VentomRetired

Notes and References

  1. News: Lucas . Eric . 21 May 1948 . Jimmy Hogan Will Be Leaving Brentford – Famous Coach's Contract Not To Be Renewed – Four Teams Next Season – Junior Side For Up To Eighteen Will Compete In Hounslow League . The Brentford & Chiswick Times.
  2. Web site: Brentford results for the 1947–1948 season . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160809012830/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1947-1948/results . 9 August 2016 . 23 June 2016 . Statto.com.
  3. Book: Haynes, Graham . A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia . Yore Publications . 1998 . 1 874427 57 7 . 63.
  4. Book: 100 Years Of Brentford . Brentford FC . 1989 . 0951526200 . White . Eric . 379.
  5. Book: Haynes, Graham . Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006 . Coumbe . Frank . Yore Publications . 2006 . 978-0955294914.
  6. News: 1 August 1947 . Signatures To-Day . The Brentford & Chiswick Times.
  7. News: 15 August 1947 . Critical Days Are Ahead At Griffin Park Preview Of Prospects – Confidence And Team Spirit – Key To Success . The Brentford & Chiswick Times.
  8. Web site: Appearance Records – C . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210417115254/http://sfha.org.uk/Appearance%20Records%20-%20C.doc . 17 April 2021 . 9 May 2018 . Scottish Football Historical Archive . 137.
  9. News: Lucas . Eric . 22 August 1947 . Famous Irish International Not For Brentford – Dr. O'Flanagan Decides To Again Help Arsenal – Gallego Gets His Place – Surprises In Saturday's Public Trial . The Brentford & Chiswick Times.
  10. News: 30 April 1948 . Sportsman's Roundabout – "Bees" Sign Centre-Forward and Centre-Half . The Brentford & Chiswick Times.
  11. News: 23 April 1948 . Paterson Makes Request To Be Transferred – Brentford Place Oliver, Gleeson and Moore On List . The Brentford & Chiswick Times.
  12. Web site: Frank Clack . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160813013021/http://www.citystats.org.uk/playerdetail.asp?id=132&filter=C . 13 August 2016 . 13 June 2016 . Citystats – Unofficial archive of results, players and managers.
  13. News: 6 June 1947 . Two More. Naylor And Brown For Third Division Club. Surprise In Store . The Brentford & Chiswick Times.
  14. Web site: Seasonal Stats – 1947/48 . 9 May 2018 . QPRnet.
  15. Web site: Arthur Shaw, 1924–2015 . 13 June 2016 . www.arsenal.com.

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