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

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]

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 GAv 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: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored

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

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

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 Scotland 2 December 1914 (aged 22) East Fife 1937
GK James Mathieson Scotland 10 May 1904 (aged 33) Middlesbrough 1934
Defenders
DF Arthur Bateman England 1 April 1908 (aged 29) Southend United 1934
DF Buster Brown England 6 September 1910 (aged 26) Huddersfield Town 1937
DF George Poyser England 6 February 1910 (aged 27) Port Vale 1934
DF Joe Wilson England 29 September 1911 (aged 25) Southend United 1935
Midfielders
HB Joe James (c) England 13 January 1910 (aged 27) Battersea Church 1929
HB Duncan McKenzie Scotland 10 August 1912 (aged 25) Albion Rovers 1932
HB Archie Scott Scotland 22 July 1905 (aged 31) Derby County 1934
HB Tally Sneddon Scotland 1 April 1914 (aged 23) Falkirk 1937
Forwards
FW George Eastham England 13 August 1914 (aged 23) Bolton Wanderers 1937
FW Maurice Edelston England 27 April 1918 (aged 19) Wimbledon 1937 Amateur
FW Jack Holliday England 19 December 1908 (aged 28) Middlesbrough 1932
FW Idris Hopkins Wales 11 October 1910 (aged 26) Crystal Palace 1932
FW Gerry McAloon Scotland 13 September 1916 (aged 20) St Francis 1934
FW David McCulloch Scotland 5 October 1912 (aged 24) Heart of Midlothian 1935
FW Bobby Reid Scotland 19 February 1911 (aged 26) Hamilton Academical 1936
FW Billy Scott England 6 December 1907 (aged 29) Middlesbrough 1932
FW Les Smith England 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
England Harry Curtis Manager
Scotland Jimmy Bain Assistant Manager
England Bob Kane Trainer
England Jack Cartmell Assistant Trainer
England 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 Scotland Joe Crozier 35 0 4 0 1 0 40 0
GK Scotland James Mathieson 7 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
DF England Arthur Bateman 31 0 4 0 1 0 36 0
DF EnglandBuster Brown 4104 0 1 0 460
DF EnglandGeorge Poyser 1600 0 1 0 170
DF England Joe Wilson 15 0 2 1 0 0 17 1
HB England Joe James 35 0 4 0 1 0 40 0
HB Scotland Duncan McKenzie 31 4 2 0 0 0 33 4
HB ScotlandArchie Scott 100 0 0 010
HB Scotland Tally Sneddon 39 0 4 0 1 0 44 0
FW England George Eastham 38 0 1 0 1 0 40 0
FW England Maurice Edelston 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 1
FW EnglandJack Holliday 824 1 0 0 123
FW Wales Idris Hopkins 31 5 3 0 1 0 35 5
FW Scotland Gerry McAloon 7 5 0 0 1 0 8 5
FW Scotland David McCulloch 41 26 3 3 1 0 45 29
FW Scotland Bobby Reid 40 17 4 1 1 0 45 18
FW England Billy Scott 29 8 4 0 0 0 33 8
FW England 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 Scotland David McCulloch 26 3 0 29
FW Scotland Bobby Reid 17 1 0 18
FW England Billy Scott 8 0 0 8
FW Wales Idris Hopkins 5 0 0 5
FW Scotland Gerry McAloon 5 0 0 5
HB Scotland Duncan McKenzie 4 0 0 4
FW England Jack Holliday 2 1 0 3
FW England Maurice Edelston 1 0 0 1
FW England Les Smith 1 0 0 1
FW England 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 Scotland Duncan McKenzie 1 0 [10]
FW Wales Idris Hopkins 2 0 [11]
FW Scotland David McCulloch 1 2 [12]
FW Scotland Bobby Reid 2 0 [13]

Amateur

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

Management

Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Harry Curtis England 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 Scotland Joe Crozier Scotland East Fife £1,000 [15]
May 1937 FW England George Eastham England Bolton Wanderers £4,000 [16]
May 1937 FW England Len Townsend England Hayes n/a [17]
25 June 1937 HB Scotland Tally Sneddon Scotland Falkirk £4,000 [15]
30 October 1937 GK England Ted Gaskell England Buxton £500 [18]
December 1937 FW England Maurice Edelston England Wimbledon Amateur [19]
1937 HB Ireland Vic Aicken Ireland Glentoran £1,000 [20]
1937 DF Scotland Doug Anderson Scotland Hibernian n/a [21]
1937 FW Scotland Magnus Mowatt Scotland Clyde n/a [15]
1937 HB England Les Sinton n/a n/a [22]
February 1938 FW England George Wilkins England Hayes n/a [23]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
May 1938 DF England George Dumbrell Retired [24]
May 1938 GK Scotland James Mathieson Scotland Queen of the South 1 June 1938 [15]
May 1938 FW Scotland Magnus Mowatt England Lincoln City 1938 [15]
May 1938 HB Scotland Joe Murray Scotland Partick Thistle 2 June 1938 [15]
May 1938 HB Scotland Archie Scott Retired [25]
May 1938 HB England Les Sinton England Gateshead n/a [22]

Notes

  1. ↑ Match played at Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow.

References

  1. 1 2 "Brentford". Football League 125. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 374. ISBN 0951526200.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "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. 1 2 Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Harefield, Middlesex: Yore Publications. p. 15. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  6. ↑ "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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 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. 1 2 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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