Colonel William A. Phillips

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During the 1956–57 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division South. Despite topping the table early in the season, a poor run of form dropped the club to the lower reaches of mid-table by February 1957. A strong final two months of the season lifted the Bees to an 8th-place finish.

Season summary

With Brentford having failed to challenge for promotion since relegation to the Third Division South in 1954, reduced attendances at Griffin Park meant that manager Bill Dodgin Sr. again had little to spend in the transfer market, with his lone acquisition being full back Sid Russell from local Sunday league football.[1] Frank Latimer and Billy Sperrin were released after many years' service, in addition to more recent signings Leonard Geard, James Robertson and George Stobbart.[1]

Brentford had a dream start to the 1956–57 season, winning the opening four matches and sitting atop the table.[2] Three subsequent defeats dropped the Bees to as low as 13th-place, before top spot was again reached after another three wins in September 1956.[2] Forwards Jeff Taylor and George Francis (supported by Jim Towers) were in imperious form, with Taylor having scored 9 goals and Francis 8 goals after 10 matches.[3] A 4–0 defeat away to Ipswich Town on 22 September ended the run and Brentford won just three of next 20 league matches,[2] with Taylor and Francis completely losing form and Towers spending periods out injured.[3] The signing of Chelsea forward Eric Parsons had little impact.[1]

The Bees reached their nadir on 19 January 1957, losing 7–0 to Walsall, a scoreline which equalled the club's record defeat.[4] Three matches later, Brentford lost 5–1 to Northampton Town and completed a slide from 1st position on 18 September 1956 to 17th on 16 February 1957.[2] Jim Towers' return to full fitness coincided with the team's return to form in March, with George Francis scoring five goals amidst a run of four consecutive wins.[3] After victory over Southend United on 12 March, chairman Frank Davis announced that manager Bill Dodgin Sr. would be leaving Griffin Park at the end of the campaign.[1] Brentford lost just two of the remaining 11 matches of the season and battled to an 8th-place finish.[2]

A number of club records were set or equalled during the season:

  • Record league defeat: 0–7 versus Walsall, 19 January 1957[4]
  • Consecutive away league wins: 5 (21 April – 29 August 1956)[5]
  • Consecutive league draws: 5 (16 March – 6 April 1957)[5]
  • Most home league games without a clean sheet: 16 (3 March – 20 October 1956)[5]

League table

Main article: 1956–57 Football League Third Division South

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
6 Brighton & Hove Albion 46 19 14 13 86 65 1.323 52
7 Southend United 46 18 12 16 73 65 1.123 48
8 Brentford 46 16 16 14 78 76 1.026 48
9 Shrewsbury Town 46 15 18 13 72 79 0.911 48
10 Queens Park Rangers 46 18 11 17 61 60 1.017 47
Source: [citation needed]

Results

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Third Division South

No. Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s)
1 18 August 1956 Plymouth Argyle H 4–1 13,710 Newcombe, Goundry, Taylor, Towers
2 21 August 1956 Swindon Town H 4–1 13,510 Towers, Taylor (2), Bragg (pen)
3 25 August 1956 Aldershot A 2–0 7,043 Towers, Francis
4 29 August 1956 Swindon Town A 3–1 11,995 Taylor (2), Francis
5 1 September 1956 Watford H 1–5 18,760 Towers
6 4 September 1956 Brighton & Hove Albion H 2–5 12,191 Goundry, Towers
7 8 September 1956 Shrewsbury Town A 2–3 8,953 Francis, Taylor
8 12 September 1956 Brighton & Hove Albion A 2–1 14,317 Goundry, Francis
9 15 September 1956 Walsall H 6–2 11,492 Taylor (3), Bristow, Goundry, Francis
10 18 September 1956 Gillingham H 3–2 15,603 Francis (3)
11 22 September 1956 Ipswich Town A 0–4 12,888
12 26 September 1956 Gillingham A 1–2 7,903 Morgan
13 29 September 1956 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic H 2–2 12,604 Francis, Newcombe
14 6 October 1956 Northampton Town H 2–1 10,733 Coleman (og), Francis
15 13 October 1956 Southend United A 0–1 11,463
16 20 October 1956 Crystal Palace H 1–1 11,345 Taylor
17 27 October 1956 Exeter City A 1–1 8,482 Francis
18 3 November 1956 Southampton H 4–0 14,198 Francis (4)
19 10 November 1956 Coventry City A 1–1 9,884 Peplow (pen)
20 24 November 1956 Colchester United A 0–1 7,290
21 1 December 1956 Newport County H 0–0 11,130
22 15 December 1956 Plymouth Argyle A 0–2 6,823
23 22 December 1956 Aldershot H 2–2 7,284 Parsons, Towers
24 25 December 1956 Torquay United H 0–0 9,024
25 26 December 1956 Torquay United A 0–2 9,540
26 29 December 1956 Watford A 1–1 8,416 Dudley
27 12 January 1957 Shrewsbury Town H 3–1 8,952 Rainford, Dudley, Goundry
28 19 January 1957 Walsall A 0–7 13,892
29 2 February 1957 Ipswich Town H 1–1 10,538 Rees (og)
30 9 February 1957 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic A 0–3 10,898
31 16 February 1957 Northampton Town A 0–5 9,306
32 2 March 1957 Crystal Palace A 2–0 11,679 Parsons (2)
33 4 March 1957 Millwall H 5–0 6,088 Taylor, Towers, Francis, Coote, Goundry
34 9 March 1957 Reading H 4–0 10,223 Francis (2), Taylor, McLaren (og)
35 12 March 1957 Southend United H 3–2 11,941 Francis (2), Towers
36 16 March 1957 Southampton A 3–3 12,166 Parsons, Newcombe, Towers
37 18 March 1957 Millwall A 1–1 8,726 Towers
38 23 March 1957 Coventry City H 1–1 10,058 Taylor
39 30 March 1957 Norwich City A 1–1 11,685 McNeil (og)
40 6 April 1957 Colchester United H 1–1 12,846 Taylor
41 13 April 1957 Newport County A 0–3 5,415
42 19 April 1957 Queens Park Rangers H 2–0 13,841 Towers (2)
43 20 April 1957 Exeter City H 3–0 9,262 Taylor, Harvey (og), Francis
44 22 April 1957 Queens Park Rangers A 2–2 9,661 Dargie, Francis
45 27 April 1957 Norwich City H 1–1 8,764 Bragg (pen)
46 1 May 1957 Reading A 0–2 4,203

FA Cup

Main article: 1956–57 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s)
1R 17 November 1956 Guildford City H 3–0 13,450 Morton (og), Taylor, Beale (og)
2R 8 December 1956 Crystal Palace H 1–1 16,750 Taylor
2R (replay) 12 December 1956 Crystal Palace A 2–3 (a.e.t.) 23,136 Towers, Francis

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1956–57 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Gerry Cakebread England (1936-04-01)1 April 1936 (aged 20) Youth 1954
GK Sonny Feehan Republic of Ireland (1926-09-17)17 September 1926 (aged 29) Northampton Town 1954
Defenders
DF Alan Bassham England (1933-10-03)3 October 1933 (aged 22) Youth 1953
DF Wally Bragg England (1929-07-08)8 July 1929 (aged 27) Twickenham Celtic 1946
DF Ken Horne England (1926-06-25)25 June 1926 (aged 30) Blackpool 1950
DF George Lowden England (1933-03-02)2 March 1933 (aged 23) Unattached 1951
DF Sid Russell England (1937-10-04)4 October 1937 (aged 18) Jolly X 1956
Midfielders
HB George Bristow England (1933-06-25)25 June 1933 (aged 23) Youth 1950
HB Ken Coote England (1928-05-19)19 May 1928 (aged 28) Wembley 1949
HB Ian Dargie England (1931-10-03)3 October 1931 (aged 24) Tonbridge 1952
HB Wendell Morgan Wales (1935-04-22)22 April 1935 (aged 21) Cardiff City 1954
HB Ron Peplow England (1935-05-04)4 May 1935 (aged 21) Southall 1955
HB Terry Robinson England (1929-11-08)8 November 1929 (aged 26) Loughborough College 1954 Amateur
HB Len Roe England (1932-01-11)11 January 1932 (aged 24) Ruislip Manor 1951
Forwards
FW Vernon Avis England (1935-10-24)24 October 1935 (aged 20) Youth 1952
FW Billy Bloomfield England (1939-08-25)25 August 1939 (aged 16) Youth 1956
FW Frank Dudley England (1925-05-09)9 May 1925 (aged 31) Cardiff City 1953
FW George Francis England (1934-02-04)4 February 1934 (aged 22) Youth 1955
FW Billy Goundry England (1934-03-28)28 March 1934 (aged 22) Huddersfield Town 1955
FW Dennis Heath England (1934-09-28)28 September 1934 (aged 21) Youth 1954
FW Len Newcombe Wales (1931-02-28)28 February 1931 (aged 25) Fulham 1956
FW Eric Parsons England (1923-11-09)9 November 1923 (aged 32) Chelsea 1956
FW John Pearson England (1935-04-23)23 April 1935 (aged 21) Youth 1955
FW Johnny Rainford England (1930-12-11)11 December 1930 (aged 25) Cardiff City 1953
FW Jeff Taylor England (1930-09-20)20 September 1930 (aged 25) Fulham 1954
FW Jim Towers England (1933-04-15)15 April 1933 (aged 23) Youth 1954
Players who left the club mid-season
GK Reg Newton England (1926-06-30)30 June 1926 (aged 30) Leyton Orient 1949 Transferred to Tunbridge Wells United
DF Sid Tickridge (c) England (1923-04-10)10 April 1923 (aged 33) Chelsea 1955 Retired
  • Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford,[3] Timeless Bees[6]

Coaching staff

Name Role
England Bill Dodgin Sr. Manager
England Tom Egglestone Trainer
England Jack Holliday 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 Gerry Cakebread 38 0 3 0 41 0
GK Republic of Ireland Sonny Feehan 3 0 0 0 3 0
GK England Reg Newton 5 0 0 0 5 0
DF England Alan Bassham 12 0 2 0 14 0
DF England Wally Bragg 33 1 1 0 34 1
DF England Ken Horne 5 0 0 0 5 0
DF England George Lowden 3 0 0 0 3 0
DF England Sid Russell 22 0 0 0 22 0
DF England Sid Tickridge 23 0 3 0 26 0
HB England George Bristow 16 1 0 0 16 1
HB England Ken Coote 44 1 3 0 47 1
HB England Ian Dargie 27 1 3 0 30 1
HB Wales Wendell Morgan 26 1 1 0 27 1
HB England Ron Peplow 14 1 3 0 17 1
HB England Terry Robinson 12 0 0 0 12 0
HB England Len Roe 2 0 0 0 2 0
FW England Vernon Avis 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW England Billy Bloomfield 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW England Frank Dudley 4 2 0 0 4 2
FW England George Francis 41 23 3 1 44 24
FW England Billy Goundry 31 6 2 0 33 6
FW England Dennis Heath 3 0 1 0 4 0
FW Wales Len Newcombe 43 3 3 0 46 3
FW England Eric Parsons 27 4 2 0 29 4
FW England John Pearson 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW England Johnny Rainford 7 1 0 0 7 1
FW England Jeff Taylor 38 15 2 2 40 17
FW England Jim Towers 24 12 1 1 25 13
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[3]

Goalscorers

Pos. Nat Player FL3 FAC Total
FW England George Francis 23 1 24
FW England Jeff Taylor 15 2 17
FW England Jim Towers 12 1 13
FW England Billy Goundry 6 0 6
FW England Eric Parsons 4 0 4
FW Wales Len Newcombe 3 0 3
FW England Frank Dudley 2 0 2
DF England Wally Bragg 1 0 1
HB England George Bristow 1 0 1
HB England Ken Coote 1 0 1
HB England Ian Dargie 1 0 1
HB Wales Wendell Morgan 1 0 1
HB England Ron Peplow 1 0 1
FW England Johnny Rainford 1 0 1
Opponents 5 2 7
Total 78 6 84
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[3]

Representative caps

Pos. Nat Player Team Caps Goals Ref
HB England Terry Robinson  Great Britain 8 0 [7]

Management

Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
P W D L W % P W D L W %
Bill Dodgin Sr. England 18 August 1956 1 May 1957 49 17 17 15 034.69 46 16 16 14 034.78

Summary

Games played 49 (46 Third Division South, 3 FA Cup)
Games won 17 (16 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)
Games drawn 17 (16 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)
Games lost 15 (14 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored 84 (78 Third Division South, 6 FA Cup)
Goals conceded 80 (76 Third Division South, 4 FA Cup)
Clean sheets 10 (9 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)
Biggest league win 5–0 versus Millwall, 4 March 1957
Worst league defeat 7–0 versus Walsall, 19 January 1957
Most appearances 47, Ken Coote (44 Third Division South, 3 FA Cup)
Top scorer (league) 23, George Francis
Top scorer (all competitions) 24, George Francis

Transfers & loans

Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
August 1956 DF England Sid Russell England Jolly X Free [8]
November 1956 FW England Eric Parsons England Chelsea n/a [8]
Players loaned in
Date from Pos. Name From Date to Ref.
August 1956 FW Scotland Tommy Henaughan Scotland Kilmarnock n/a [9]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
February 1957 GK England Reg Newton England Tunbridge Wells Rangers n/a [10]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
January 1957 DF England Sid Tickridge Retired [11]
May 1957 HB England Wally Bragg Retired [12]

References

  1. ^ a b c d White 1989, p. 221-224.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Brentford results for the 1956–1957 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 25 November 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 384. ISBN 0951526200.
  4. ^ a b Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Yore Publications. p. 42. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  5. ^ a b c "Brentford scoring and sequence records". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  6. ^ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  7. ^ "England Matches – The Amateurs 1947–1962". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  8. ^ a b Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 139-140.
  9. ^ "Player Appearances and goalscoring records – H". Scottish Football Historical Archive. p. 286. Archived from the original on 17 December 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  10. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 116.
  11. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 161.
  12. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 25-26.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1956%E2%80%9357_Brentford_F.C._season