1919–20 Brentford F.C. season
# 1919–20 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1919–20 English football season, Brentford competed in the Southern League First Division. In the first season of competitive football since the end of the First World War in November 1918, Brentford consolidated with a mid-table finish. It was the club's final Southern League season, as 21 of the 22 First Division clubs were voted into the new Football League Third Division in May 1920.

## Season summary

Despite talk that Brentford would seek election to the Football League after the wartime London Combination title success of the previous season, the directors of the club decided to remain in the Southern League Second Division. As it was, by virtue of the Southern League First Division being expanded to 22 clubs and the departures of West Ham United and Croydon Common (voted into the Football League and resigned respectively), Brentford, Merthyr Town, Swansea Town and Newport County were all elevated from the Second Division to the First Division.

Four years of war meant that secretary-manager Fred Halliday needed to rebuild and expand his squad, with prolific forwards Henry White and guest Jack Cock having left the club, in addition to full backs Jack Peart, Dusty Rhodes and half back Bill Stanton. The only survivors of Brentford's final pre-war squad who made appearance during the 1919–20 season were goalkeeper Ted Price, half back Tom McGovern and outside left Patsy Hendren.

New centre forward Reginald Boyne's six goals in the opening six matches ensured Brentford started the season well, but once his goals dried up, due to a niggling knee injury, the team was robbed of potency in attack. A 10-match winless streak ended when the team went on a five-match unbeaten run through November and December 1919. While manager Fred Halliday was able to field a more or less a settled XI, numerous players were tried in the centre forward position before the arrival of Bert Spreadbury in February 1920. Despite scoring four goals in his first five appearances, Spreadbury failed to help the team gain any consistency and Brentford finished the season in 15th position.

## League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts | Qualification |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 13 | Swindon Town | 42 | 17 | 7 | 18 | 65 | 68 | 0.956 | 41 | Elected to the new Football League Third Division |
| 14 | Millwall | 42 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 52 | 55 | 0.945 | 40 | Elected to the new Football League Third Division |
| 15 | Brentford | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 52 | 59 | 0.881 | 40 | Elected to the new Football League Third Division |
| 16 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 42 | 14 | 8 | 20 | 60 | 72 | 0.833 | 36 | Elected to the new Football League Third Division |
| 17 | Bristol Rovers | 42 | 11 | 13 | 18 | 61 | 78 | 0.782 | 35 | Elected to the new Football League Third Division |

## Results

    Brentford's goal tally listed first.

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |
| - | - | - |

### Southern League First Division

| No. | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorer(s) |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 30 August 1919 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 2–1 | Boyne, Morley |
| 2 | 1 September 1919 | Millwall | H | 2–2 | Boyne, Gilboy |
| 3 | 6 September 1919 | Newport County | A | 4–2 | Boyne (2), Gilboy, Morley |
| 4 | 8 September 1919 | Millwall | A | 2–0 | Boyne, Thompson |
| 5 | 13 September 1919 | Portsmouth | H | 0–2 | |
| 6 | 20 September 1919 | Northampton Town | A | 1–1 | Boyne |
| 7 | 24 September 1919 | Exeter City | A | 0–0 | |
| 8 | 27 September 1919 | Crystal Palace | H | 0–0 | |
| 9 | 4 October 1919 | Southend United | H | 1–3 | Hendren |
| 10 | 11 October 1919 | Norwich City | H | 1–1 | Boyne |
| 11 | 18 October 1919 | Watford | A | 0–1 | |
| 12 | 25 October 1919 | Merthyr Town | A | 0–2 | |
| 13 | 1 November 1919 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 0–0 | |
| 14 | 8 November 1919 | Bristol Rovers | A | 1–3 | Cannon |
| 15 | 15 November 1919 | Reading | H | 1–0 | Amos |
| 16 | 22 November 1919 | Southampton | A | 1–0 | Morley |
| 17 | 29 November 1919 | Luton Town | H | 3–1 | Searby, Morley, Cartmell |
| 18 | 6 December 1919 | Gillingham | A | 2–0 | Morley, Hendren |
| 19 | 13 December 1919 | Swansea Town | H | 1–1 | Hendren (pen) |
| 20 | 25 December 1919 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 0–2 | |
| 21 | 26 December 1919 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 2–1 | Searby, Boyne |
| 22 | 27 December 1919 | Cardiff City | H | 1–2 | Thompson |
| 23 | 3 January 1920 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 0–4 | |
| 24 | 17 January 1920 | Newport County | H | 2–1 | Searby, Embury |
| 25 | 24 January 1920 | Portsmouth | A | 0–3 | |
| 26 | 31 January 1920 | Northampton Town | H | 5–0 | Boyne (3), Thompson, Hendren (pen) |
| 27 | 7 February 1920 | Crystal Palace | A | 1–1 | Thompson |
| 28 | 14 February 1920 | Southend United | H | 2–0 | Cartmell, Lockwood |
| 29 | 21 February 1920 | Norwich City | A | 1–1 | Spreadbury |
| 30 | 28 February 1920 | Watford | H | 0–3 | |
| 31 | 6 March 1920 | Merthyr Town | H | 3–0 | Spreadbury (2), Hendren |
| 32 | 13 March 1920 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 2–3 | Thompson (2) |
| 33 | 20 March 1920 | Bristol Rovers | H | 3–0 | Hendren, Morley, Spreadbury |
| 34 | 27 March 1920 | Reading | A | 0–1 | |
| 35 | 2 April 1920 | Swindon Town | H | 2–0 | Morley, Boyne |
| 36 | 3 April 1920 | Southampton | H | 2–3 | Taylor, Morley |
| 37 | 5 April 1920 | Swindon Town | A | 1–3 | Gilboy |
| 38 | 10 April 1920 | Luton Town | A | 0–0 | |
| 39 | 17 April 1920 | Gillingham | H | 1–2 | Thompson |
| 40 | 24 April 1920 | Swansea Town | A | 0–6 | |
| 41 | 26 April 1920 | Exeter City | H | 2–1 | Thompson, Boyne |
| 42 | 1 May 1920 | Cardiff City | A | 0–2 | |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorer |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| R1 | 10 January 1920 | Huddersfield Town | A | 1–5 | Morris |

* Source: 100 Years of Brentford

## Playing squad

    Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1919–20 season.

| Pos. | Name | Date of birth (age) | Signed from | Signed in | Notes |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Goalkeepers |||||||
| GK | Jack Durston | (1893-07-11)11 July 1893 (aged 26) | Queens Park Rangers | 1919 | Played when his cricket commitments allowed |
| GK | Ted Price | (1883-06-13)13 June 1883 (aged 36) | Croydon Common | 1912 | |
| Defenders |||||||
| DF | Edward Hawkins | (1895-10-31)31 October 1895 (aged 23) | Portsmouth | 1919 | |
| DF | Jimmy Hodson | (1880-09-05)5 September 1880 (aged 38) | Belfast Celtic | 1919 | |
| DF | Bertie Rosier | (1893-03-21)21 March 1893 (aged 26) | Southall | 1913 | |
| DF | Fred Webster | (1887-04-03)3 April 1887 (aged 32) | Unattached | 1919 | |
| Midfielders |||||||
| HB | Alf Amos | (1893-02-09)9 February 1893 (aged 26) | Old Kingstonians | 1913 | |
| HB | Herbert Ashford | (1896-02-18)18 February 1896 (aged 23) | Southall | 1919 | |
| HB | Sam Morris | (1886-10-23)23 October 1886 (aged 32) | Unattached | 1919 | |
| HB | Fred Taylor | (1884-01-03)3 January 1884 (aged 35) | Unattached | 1919 | |
| Forwards |||||||
| FW | Reginald Boyne | (1891-11-16)16 November 1891 (aged 27) | Aston Villa | 1919 | |
| FW | Jack Cartmell | (1890-08-28)28 August 1890 (aged 29) | Unattached | 1919 | |
| FW | Sidney Embury | (1893-06-12)12 June 1893 (aged 26) | Park Royal Athletic | 1920 | |
| FW | Bertram Gilboy | (1894-08-15)15 August 1894 (aged 25) | Unattached | 1919 | |
| FW | Patsy Hendren (c) | (1889-02-05)5 February 1889 (aged 30) | Queens Park Rangers | 1911 | Played when his cricket commitments allowed |
| FW | John Henery | (1895-11-07)7 November 1895 (aged 23) | Houghton Rovers | 1920 | |
| FW | Fred Morley | (1888-03-01)1 March 1888 (aged 31) | Unattached | 1918 | |
| FW | John Searby | (1897-09-02)2 September 1897 (aged 21) | Atherstone Town | 1919 | |
| FW | Bert Spreadbury | (1892-04-30)30 April 1892 (aged 27) | Royal Ordnance Woolwich | 1920 | |
| FW | Alfred Thompson | (1891-04-28)28 April 1891 (aged 28) | Unattached | 1919 | |
| Players who left the club mid-season |||||||
| GK | Harry Dale | (1899-04-23)23 April 1899 (aged 20) | Hampstead Town | 1919 | Transferred to Reading |
| DF | Walter Loveday | (1890-06-30)30 June 1890 (aged 29) | Uxbridge | 1920 | n/a |
| HB | Tom McGovern | (1888-11-11)11 November 1888 (aged 30) | Halifax Town | 1913 | Transferred to Queens Park Rangers |
| FW | George Cannon | (1891-02-15)15 February 1891 (aged 28) | Unattached | 1919 | Transferred to Wimbledon |
| FW | Ernest Hanks | (1888-04-06)6 April 1888 (aged 31) | Unattached | 1919 | n/a |
| FW | James Lockwood | (1887-02-20)20 February 1887 (aged 32) | n/a | 1920 | n/a |
| FW | Robert Parr | (1899-09-04)4 September 1899 (aged 19) | Unattached | 1919 | n/a |

* Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, Timeless Bees, Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939

## Coaching staff

| Name | Role |
| - | - |
| Fred Halliday | Secretary Manager |
| Dusty Rhodes | Trainer |

## Statistics

### Appearances and goals

| Pos | Nat | Name | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | Total | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Pos | Nat | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| GK | | Harry Dale | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| GK | | Jack Durston | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| GK | | Ted Price | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| DF | | Edward Hawkins | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| DF | | Jimmy Hodson | 34 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 0 |
| DF | | Walter Loveday | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| DF | | Bertie Rosier | 26 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| HB | | Alf Amos | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 1 |
| HB | | Herbert Ashford | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| HB | | Tom McGovern | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 0 |
| HB | | Sam Morris | 36 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 37 | 1 |
| HB | | Fred Taylor | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 1 |
| FW | | Reginald Boyne | 27 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 13 |
| FW | | George Cannon | 6 | 1 | — | — | 6 | 1 |
| FW | | Jack Cartmell | 35 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 2 |
| FW | | Sidney Embury | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| FW | | Bertram Gilboy | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 3 |
| FW | | Ernest Hanks | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| FW | | Patsy Hendren | 30 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 6 |
| FW | | John Henery | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| FW | | James Lockwood | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| FW | | Fred Morley | 32 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 8 |
| FW | | Robert Parr | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| FW | | John Searby | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 3 |
| FW | | Bert Spreadbury | 10 | 4 | — | — | 10 | 4 |
| FW | | Alfred Thompson | 28 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 8 |
| FW | | Fred Webster | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |

* Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
* Source: 100 Years of Brentford

### Goalscorers

| Pos. | Nat | Player | SL1 | FAC | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| FW | | Reginald Boyne | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| FW | | Fred Morley | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| FW | | Alfred Thompson | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| FW | | Patsy Hendren | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| FW | | Bert Spreadbury | 4 | — | 4 |
| FW | | Bertram Gilboy | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| FW | | John Searby | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| FW | | Jack Cartmell | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| HB | | Alf Amos | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| FW | | George Cannon | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| FW | | Sidney Embury | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| FW | | James Lockwood | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| HB | | Fred Taylor | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| HB | | Sam Morris | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | 52 | 1 | 53 |

* Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
* Source: 100 Years of Brentford

### Victory international caps

| Pos. | Nat | Player | Caps | Goals | Ref |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| FW | | Patsy Hendren | 1 | 0 | |

### Management

| Name | Nat | From | To | Record All Comps | Record All Comps | Record All Comps | Record All Comps | Record All Comps | Record League | Record League | Record League | Record League | Record League |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Name | Nat | From | To | P | W | D | L | W % | P | W | D | L | W % |
| Fred Halliday | | 30 August 1919 | 1 May 1920 | 43 | 15 | 10 | 18 | 034.88| | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 035.71 |

### Summary

| Games played | 43 (42 Southern League First Division, 1 FA Cup) |
| - | - |
| Games won | 15 (15 Southern League First Division, 0 FA Cup) |
| Games drawn | 10 (10 Southern League First Division, 0 FA Cup) |
| Games lost | 18 (17 Southern League First Division, 1 FA Cup) |
| Goals scored | 53 (52 Southern League First Division, 1 FA Cup) |
| Goals conceded | 64 (59 Southern League First Division, 5 FA Cup) |
| Clean sheets | 13 (13 Southern League First Division, 0 FA Cup) |
| Biggest league win | 5–0 versus Northampton Town, 31 January 1920 |
| Worst league defeat | 6–0 versus Swansea Town, 24 April 1920 |
| Most appearances | 37, Sam Morris (36 Southern League First Division, 1 FA Cup) |
| Top scorer (league) | 13, Reginald Boyne |
| Top scorer (all competitions) | 13, Reginald Boyne |

## Transfers and loans

Players transferred in :

| Date | Pos. | Name | Previous Club | Fee | Ref. |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| May 1919 | FW | Mick O'Brien | Alloa Athletic | n/a | |
| 17 June 1919 | HB | Sam Morris | Unattached | n/a | |
| 17 June 1919 | HB | Fred Taylor | Unattached | n/a | |
| 17 June 1919 | FW | Alfred Thompson | Unattached | n/a | |
| 23 June 1919 | FW | Jack Cartmell | Unattached | n/a | |
| 11 July 1919 | DF | Fred Webster | Unattached | n/a | |
| 15 July 1919 | DF | Edward Hawkins | Portsmouth | n/a | |
| 17 July 1919 | FW | Reginald Boyne | Aston Villa | n/a | |
| 30 July 1919 | FW | Bertram Gilboy | Unattached | n/a | |
| 2 August 1919 | FW | Ernest Hanks | Unattached | n/a | |
| 2 August 1919 | DF | Jimmy Hodson | Belfast Celtic | n/a | |
| 9 August 1919 | FW | Robert Parr | Unattached | n/a | |
| 24 October 1919 | GK | Jack Durston | Queens Park Rangers | n/a | |
| 7 November 1919 | FW | John Searby | Atherstone Town | n/a | |
| 1919 | FW | George Cannon | Unattached | n/a | |
| 1919 | GK | Harry Dale | Hampstead Town | n/a | |
| December 1919 | HB | Herbert Ashford | Southall | n/a | |
| February 1920 | HB | Bert Spreadbury | Royal Ordnance Woolwich | n/a | |
| April 1920 | FW | John Henery | Houghton Rovers | n/a | |
| 1920 | FW | Sidney Embury | Park Royal Athletic | n/a | |
| 1920 | FW | James Lockwood | n/a | n/a | |
| Players transferred out ||||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Fee | Ref. |
| 1919 | FW | George Cannon | Wimbledon | n/a | |
| 1919 | GK | Harry Dale | Reading | n/a | |
| 1919 | FW | Ernest Hanks | n/a | n/a | |
| 1919 | FW | Robert Parr | n/a | n/a | |
| 1919 | FW | Henry White | Arsenal | n/a | |
| 1920 | FW | James Lockwood | n/a | n/a | |
| 1920 | DF | Walter Loveday | n/a | n/a | |
| April 1920 | HB | Tom McGovern | Queens Park Rangers | n/a | |
| Players released ||||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Join date | Ref. |
| August 1919 | FW | Mick O'Brien | Norwich City | August 1919 | |
| November 1919 | HB | Jimmy Kennedy | Gillingham | 26 November 1919 | |
| May 1920 | GK | Herbert Ashford | Queens Park Rangers | 1 September 1920 | |
| May 1920 | FW | Sidney Embury | n/a | n/a | |
| May 1920 | FW | Bertram Gilboy | Gillingham | 11 May 1920 | |
| May 1920 | DF | Edward Hawkins | Maidstone United | 25 May 1920 | |
| May 1920 | GK | Ted Price | Queens Park Rangers | 20 May 1920 | |
| May 1920 | DF | Fred Webster | Gainsborough Trinity | 24 June 1920 | |
| n/a | DF | Dusty Rhodes | Retired | | |
