1960–61 Brentford F.C. season
# 1960–61 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1960–61 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. An abundance of draws led to a 17th-place finish and it was the last of seven seasons to feature the "Terrible Twins" strike partnership of Jim Towers and George Francis.

## Season summary

Despite making something of a name for themselves as the "nearly men" of the Third Division, manager Malky MacDonald made few changes to the Brentford squad for the fourth-consecutive off-season. The one major change at Brentford was that of the club's traditional red and white-striped shirts, which were passed over in favour of an amber shirt with a blue 'V' neck, due to the number of times the club would be forced to wear its change strip during the season. Negative feedback from the supporters ensured that the change of colours was a one-season experiment.

Brentford started the 1960–61 season well and topped the table after winning the first two matches, but a 6–1 defeat to Watford at Vicarage Road on 30 August 1960 shook the team's confidence. The same XI atoned for that display with a 4–0 victory over Shrewsbury Town four days later, but the view had become prevalent around Griffin Park that some of Brentford's settled XI were past their peak. Manager MacDonald tinkered with his squad and bit-part, reserve or youth players Tommy Higginson, John Docherty, Ron Peplow and Johnny Hales were given runs in the team. Amidst a run of just two wins in 19 league matches, the new Football League Cup gave the Bees some cheer when Second Division club Sunderland were defeated 4–3 at Griffin Park in the club's first-ever match in the competition. The Bees were knocked out after a replay versus reigning Football League champions Burnley in the third round. A first round exit in the FA Cup in November ensured that the Third Division would be Brentford's sole focus for the remainder of the season.

Brentford entered 1961 in 15th place in the Third Division, only three points above the relegation zone. Chairman Frank Davis posted a £7,000 loss, which took the club's debt over £50,000 and a players' strike (in support of their claim for the removal of the maximum wage) was also a real possibility. In a bid to alleviate some of the club's debt, promising outside right John Docherty was sold to Sheffield United for a club record £17,000 in March 1961. The club rallied and lost just five of the remaining 21 matches of the season, but a failure to convert the 11 draws into wins (four consecutive home draws in February and March equalled the club record) ensured that Brentford finished in a lowly 17th place. Brentford's final match of the season versus Reading, although won 2–1, pushed the average league attendance at Griffin Park down to 7,392, which was the club's lowest since the 1924–25 season.

The "Terrible Twins" (forwards Jim Towers and George Francis) had a mixed season, with Towers scoring 22 goals (low by the standards set for himself) and Francis just 10, which led to him being dropped from the team in February 1961 – a decision which would have been considered unthinkable just six months earlier. Despite scoring 13 goals in 10 matches for the reserve team, Francis failed to earn a recall to the first team squad. Francis' replacement, teenager George Summers, scored six goals during the final months of the season.

## League table

| Pos | Team v t e | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 15 | Coventry City | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 80 | 83 | 0.964 | 44 |
| 16 | Swindon Town | 46 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 62 | 55 | 1.127 | 43 |
| 17 | Brentford | 46 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 56 | 70 | 0.800 | 43 |
| 18 | Reading | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 72 | 83 | 0.867 | 40 |
| 19 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 46 | 15 | 10 | 21 | 58 | 76 | 0.763 | 40 |

## Results

    Brentford's goal tally listed first.

### Legend

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

### Football League Third Division

| No. | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 20 August 1960 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 4–1 | 10,100 | Towers (2), Bristow, Goundry (pen) |
| 2 | 23 August 1960 | Watford | H | 2–1 | 16,500 | Heath, Goundry (pen) |
| 3 | 27 August 1960 | Halifax Town | A | 0–1 | 6,048 | |
| 4 | 30 August 1960 | Watford | A | 1–6 | 18,065 | Chung (og) |
| 5 | 3 September 1960 | Shrewsbury Town | H | 4–0 | 8,900 | Francis (3), Towers |
| 6 | 6 September 1960 | Torquay United | H | 2–3 | 8,800 | Rainford, Bettany (og) |
| 7 | 10 September 1960 | Walsall | A | 0–4 | 10,864 | |
| 8 | 14 September 1960 | Torquay United | A | 1–1 | 5,857 | Francis |
| 9 | 17 September 1960 | Bury | H | 1–5 | 8,800 | Francis |
| 10 | 19 September 1960 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 0–0 | 12,711 | |
| 11 | 24 September 1960 | Chesterfield | A | 1–1 | 5,617 | Rainford |
| 12 | 27 September 1960 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 2–0 | 15,000 | Rainford, Towers |
| 13 | 1 October 1960 | Southend United | H | 1–1 | 7,700 | Rainford |
| 14 | 3 October 1960 | Port Vale | A | 2–3 | 6,843 | Towers, Peplow |
| 15 | 8 October 1960 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | A | 1–0 | 5,791 | McLeod |
| 16 | 15 October 1960 | Bradford City | H | 2–2 | 7,300 | Towers, Peplow (pen) |
| 17 | 22 October 1960 | Barnsley | A | 1–1 | 7,124 | Peplow (pen) |
| 18 | 29 October 1960 | Newport County | H | 2–4 | 7,600 | Towers (2) |
| 19 | 12 November 1960 | Grimsby Town | H | 0–1 | 8,100 | |
| 20 | 19 November 1960 | Hull City | A | 0–3 | 7,798 | |
| 21 | 2 December 1960 | Coventry City | A | 0–2 | 13,589 | |
| 22 | 10 December 1960 | Bristol City | H | 2–0 | 5,200 | Towers, Francis |
| 23 | 19 December 1960 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 0–2 | 5,584 | |
| 24 | 23 December 1960 | Swindon Town | H | 2–1 | 4,480 | Higginson, Docherty |
| 25 | 31 December 1960 | Halifax Town | H | 2–0 | 7,000 | Francis, Towers |
| 26 | 7 January 1961 | Swindon Town | A | 1–1 | 8,663 | Docherty |
| 27 | 14 January 1961 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 0–3 | 6,856 | |
| 28 | 21 January 1961 | Walsall | H | 3–1 | 6,250 | Francis, Towers (2) |
| 29 | 28 January 1961 | Colchester United | A | 4–2 | 4,040 | Rainford, Bristow, Towers (2) |
| 30 | 4 February 1961 | Bury | A | 0–1 | 5,861 | |
| 31 | 11 February 1961 | Chesterfield | H | 2–2 | 6,250 | Towers (2) |
| 32 | 18 February 1961 | Southend United | A | 1–1 | 7,711 | Towers |
| 33 | 25 February 1961 | Coventry City | H | 1–1 | 5,500 | Summers |
| 34 | 4 March 1961 | Bradford City | A | 1–3 | 7,500 | McLeod |
| 35 | 11 March 1961 | Barnsley | H | 0–0 | 7,000 | |
| 36 | 18 March 1961 | Newport County | A | 1–0 | 3,000 | Summers |
| 37 | 25 March 1961 | Colchester United | H | 0–0 | 4,800 | |
| 38 | 1 April 1961 | Grimsby Town | A | 0–0 | 7,049 | |
| 39 | 3 April 1961 | Notts County | H | 3–0 | 5,400 | Summers, Towers (2) |
| 40 | 4 April 1961 | Notts County | A | 0–0 | 3,933 | |
| 41 | 8 April 1961 | Hull City | H | 2–2 | 6,380 | Towers, McLeod |
| 42 | 14 April 1961 | Reading | A | 0–4 | 10,900 | |
| 43 | 22 April 1961 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | H | 2–2 | 4,400 | Summers, Towers |
| 44 | 25 April 1961 | Port Vale | H | 0–0 | 3,500 | |
| 45 | 29 April 1961 | Bristol City | A | 0–3 | 8,466 | |
| 46 | 2 May 1961 | Reading | H | 2–1 | 4,700 | Summers (2) |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1R | 5 November 1960 | Watford | A | 2–2 | 18,759 | Francis (2) |
| 1R (replay) | 8 November 1960 | Watford | H | 0–2 | 21,000 | |

### Football League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2R | 25 October 1960 | Sunderland | H | 4–3 | 10,400 | Towers, McLeod, Rainford |
| 3R | 22 November 1960 | Burnley | H | 1–1 | 9,900 | Rainford |
| 3R (replay) | 6 December 1960 | Burnley | A | 1–2 | 12,757 | Docherty |

* Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford, Statto

## Playing squad

    Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1960–61 season.

| Pos. | Name | Date of birth (age) | Signed from | Signed in | Notes |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Goalkeepers |||||||
| GK | Gerry Cakebread | (1936-04-01)1 April 1936 (aged 24) | Youth | 1954 | |
| Defenders |||||||
| DF | Vernon Avis | (1935-10-24)24 October 1935 (aged 24) | Youth | 1952 | |
| DF | Ken Coote (c) | (1928-05-19)19 May 1928 (aged 32) | Wembley | 1949 | |
| DF | Jimmy Gitsham | (1942-05-12)12 May 1942 (aged 18) | Youth | 1959 | |
| DF | Tom Wilson | (1930-07-03)3 July 1930 (aged 30) | Fulham | 1957 | |
| Midfielders |||||||
| HB | George Bristow | (1933-06-25)25 June 1933 (aged 27) | Youth | 1950 | |
| HB | Ian Dargie | (1931-10-03)3 October 1931 (aged 28) | Tonbridge | 1952 | |
| HB | Billy Goundry | (1934-03-28)28 March 1934 (aged 26) | Huddersfield Town | 1955 | |
| HB | Tommy Higginson | (1937-01-06)6 January 1937 (aged 23) | Kilmarnock | 1959 | |
| HB | Ron Peplow | (1935-05-04)4 May 1935 (aged 25) | Southall | 1955 | |
| Forwards |||||||
| FW | Terry Curran | (1940-06-29)29 June 1940 (aged 20) | Tottenham Hotspur | 1957 | |
| FW | John Docherty | (1940-04-29)29 April 1940 (aged 20) | St Roch's | 1959 | |
| FW | George Francis | (1934-02-04)4 February 1934 (aged 26) | Youth | 1955 | |
| FW | Johnny Hales | (1940-05-15)15 May 1940 (aged 20) | St Roch's | 1958 | |
| FW | Dennis Heath | (1934-09-28)28 September 1934 (aged 25) | Youth | 1954 | |
| FW | George McLeod | (1932-11-30)30 November 1932 (aged 27) | Luton Town | 1958 | |
| FW | Danny O'Donnell | (1939-02-27)27 February 1939 (aged 21) | Kirkintilloch Rob Roy | 1960 | Loaned to Dumbarton |
| FW | Eric Parsons | (1923-11-09)9 November 1923 (aged 36) | Chelsea | 1956 | |
| FW | Johnny Rainford | (1930-12-11)11 December 1930 (aged 29) | Cardiff City | 1953 | |
| FW | George Summers | (1941-07-30)30 July 1941 (aged 19) | Shawfield | 1959 | |
| FW | Jim Towers | (1933-04-15)15 April 1933 (aged 27) | Youth | 1954 | |

* Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford, Timeless Bees

## Coaching staff

| Name | Role |
| - | - |
| Malky MacDonald | Manager |
| Fred Monk | Trainer |
| Jack Holliday | Assistant Trainer |

## Statistics

### Appearances and goals

| Pos | Nat | Name | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Total | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Pos | Nat | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| GK | | Gerry Cakebread | 46 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 51 | 0 |
| DF | | Vernon Avis | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| DF | | Ken Coote | 41 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 46 | 0 |
| DF | | Jimmy Gitsham | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| DF | | Tom Wilson | 40 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 45 | 0 |
| HB | | George Bristow | 23 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 2 |
| HB | | Ian Dargie | 46 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 51 | 0 |
| HB | | Billy Goundry | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 2 |
| HB | | Tommy Higginson | 32 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 37 | 1 |
| HB | | Ron Peplow | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 3 |
| FW | | Terry Curran | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| FW | | John Docherty | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 19 | 3 |
| FW | | George Francis | 31 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 10 |
| FW | | Johnny Hales | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
| FW | | Dennis Heath | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 |
| FW | | George McLeod | 36 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 41 | 4 |
| FW | | Danny O'Donnell | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| FW | | Eric Parsons | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| FW | | Johnny Rainford | 41 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 46 | 8 |
| FW | | George Summers | 15 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 6 |
| FW | | Jim Towers | 42 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 47 | 22 |

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

### Goalscorers

| Pos. | Nat | Player | FL3 | FAC | FLC | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| FW | | Jim Towers | 21 | 0 | 1 | 22 |
| FW | | George Francis | 8 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| FW | | Johnny Rainford | 5 | 0 | 3 | 8 |
| FW | | George Summers | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| FW | | George McLeod | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| HB | | Ron Peplow | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| FW | | John Docherty | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| HB | | George Bristow | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| HB | | Billy Goundry | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| FW | | Dennis Heath | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| HB | | Tommy Higginson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Opponents | Opponents | Opponents | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | Total | Total | 56 | 2 | 6 | 64 |

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

### 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 % |
| Malky MacDonald | | 20 August 1960 | 2 May 1961 | 51 | 14 | 19 | 18 | 027.45 | 46 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 028.26 |

### Summary

| Games played | 51 (46 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 3 League Cup) |
| - | - |
| Games won | 14 (13 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup) |
| Games drawn | 19 (17 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup) |
| Games lost | 18 (16 Third Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup) |
| Goals scored | 64 (56 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 6 League Cup) |
| Goals conceded | 80 (70 Third Division, 4 FA Cup, 6 League Cup) |
| Clean sheets | 13 (13 Third Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup) |
| Biggest league win | 4–0 versus Shrewsbury Town, 3 September 1960 |
| Worst league defeat | 6–1 versus Watford, 30 August 1960 |
| Most appearances | 51, Gerry Cakebread, Ian Dargie (46 Third Division, 2 FA Cup, 3 League Cup) |
| Top scorer (league) | 21, Jim Towers |
| Top scorer (all competitions) | 22, Jim Towers |

## Transfers & loans

Players transferred in :

| Date | Pos. | Name | Previous Club | Fee | Ref. |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| October 1960 | FW | Barry Rowan | Watford | n/a | |
| Players transferred out ||||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Fee | Ref. |
| 10 September 1960 | HB | Charlie McInally | Albion Rovers | n/a | |
| March 1961 | FW | John Docherty | Sheffield United | £17,000 | |
| Players loaned out ||||||
| Date from | Pos. | Name | To | Date to | Ref. |
| 24 September 1960 | FW | Danny O'Donnell | Dumbarton | n/a | |
| Players released ||||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Join date | Ref. |
| May 1961 | DF | Vernon Avis | Bedford Town | 1961 | |
| May 1961 | HB | George Bristow | Queens Park Rangers | May 1961 | |
| May 1961 | FW | Terry Curran | Kettering Town | 1961 | |
| May 1961 | HB | Billy Goundry | Bedford Town | 1961 | |
| May 1961 | FW | Dennis Heath | Bedford Town | 1961 | |
| May 1961 | DF | Ken Horne | Dover | 1961 | |
| May 1961 | FW | Eric Parsons | Dover | 1961 | |
| May 1961 | HB | Ron Peplow | Folkestone Town | 1961 | |
| May 1961 | FW | Barry Rowan | Dover | 1961 | |
| May 1961 | HB | Sid Russell | Bexleyheath & Welling | 1961 | |
