Brentford
1960–61 season
ChairmanFrank Davis
ManagerMalky MacDonald
StadiumGriffin Park
Third Division17th
FA CupFirst round
League CupThird round
Top goalscorerLeague: Towers (21)
All: Towers (22)
Highest home attendance21,000
Lowest home attendance3,500
Average home league attendance7,392

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.[1] 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.[1] Negative feedback from the supporters ensured that the change of colours was a one-season experiment.[1]

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.[2] 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.[1] 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.[3] 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.[2] The Bees were knocked out after a replay versus reigning Football League champions Burnley in the third round.[2] 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.[2]

Brentford entered 1961 in 15th place in the Third Division, only three points above the relegation zone.[4] 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.[1] 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.[5] 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.[2][6] 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.[1]

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,[3] which led to him being dropped from the team in February 1961 – a decision which would have been considered unthinkable just six months earlier.[1] Despite scoring 13 goals in 10 matches for the reserve team, Francis failed to earn a recall to the first team squad.[1] Francis' replacement, teenager George Summers, scored six goals during the final months of the season.[3]

League table

Pos Team 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
Source:

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

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1960–61 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Gerry Cakebread England 1 April 1936 (aged 24) Youth 1954
Defenders
DF Vernon Avis England 24 October 1935 (aged 24) Youth 1952
DF Ken Coote (c) England 19 May 1928 (aged 32) Wembley 1949
DF Jimmy Gitsham England 12 May 1942 (aged 18) Youth 1959
DF Tom Wilson England 3 July 1930 (aged 30) Fulham 1957
Midfielders
HB George Bristow England 25 June 1933 (aged 27) Youth 1950
HB Ian Dargie England 3 October 1931 (aged 28) Tonbridge 1952
HB Billy Goundry England 28 March 1934 (aged 26) Huddersfield Town 1955
HB Tommy Higginson Scotland 6 January 1937 (aged 23) Kilmarnock 1959
HB Ron Peplow England 4 May 1935 (aged 25) Southall 1955
Forwards
FW Terry Curran England 29 June 1940 (aged 20) Tottenham Hotspur 1957
FW John Docherty Scotland 29 April 1940 (aged 20) St Roch's 1959
FW George Francis England 4 February 1934 (aged 26) Youth 1955
FW Johnny Hales Scotland 15 May 1940 (aged 20) St Roch's 1958
FW Dennis Heath England 28 September 1934 (aged 25) Youth 1954
FW George McLeod Scotland 30 November 1932 (aged 27) Luton Town 1958
FW Danny O'Donnell Scotland 27 February 1939 (aged 21) Kirkintilloch Rob Roy 1960 Loaned to Dumbarton
FW Eric Parsons England 9 November 1923 (aged 36) Chelsea 1956
FW Johnny Rainford England 11 December 1930 (aged 29) Cardiff City 1953
FW George Summers Scotland 30 July 1941 (aged 19) Shawfield 1959
FW Jim Towers England 15 April 1933 (aged 27) Youth 1954
  • Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford,[3] Timeless Bees[7]

Coaching staff

Name Role
Scotland Malky MacDonald Manager
England Fred Monk 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 League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England Gerry Cakebread 46 0 2 0 3 0 51 0
DF England Vernon Avis 6 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
DF England Ken Coote 41 0 2 0 3 0 46 0
DF England Jimmy Gitsham 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
DF England Tom Wilson 40 0 2 0 3 0 45 0
HB England George Bristow 23 2 2 0 1 0 26 2
HB England Ian Dargie 46 0 2 0 3 0 51 0
HB England Billy Goundry 23 2 0 0 1 0 24 2
HB Scotland Tommy Higginson 32 1 2 0 3 0 37 1
HB England Ron Peplow 17 3 0 0 1 0 18 3
FW England Terry Curran 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
FW Scotland John Docherty 17 2 0 0 2 1 19 3
FW England George Francis 31 8 2 2 2 0 35 10
FW Scotland Johnny Hales 22 0 0 0 0 0 22 0
FW England Dennis Heath 15 1 0 0 0 0 15 1
FW Scotland George McLeod 36 3 2 0 3 1 41 4
FW Scotland Danny O'Donnell 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
FW England Eric Parsons 2 0 2 0 0 0 4 0
FW England Johnny Rainford 41 5 2 0 3 3 46 8
FW Scotland George Summers 15 6 0 0 1 0 16 6
FW England Jim Towers 42 21 2 0 3 1 47 22
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[3]

Goalscorers

Pos. Nat Player FL3 FAC FLC Total
FW England Jim Towers 21 0 1 22
FW England George Francis 8 2 0 10
FW England Johnny Rainford 5 0 3 8
FW Scotland George Summers 6 0 0 6
FW Scotland George McLeod 3 0 1 4
HB England Ron Peplow 3 0 0 3
FW Scotland John Docherty 2 0 1 3
HB England George Bristow 2 0 0 2
HB England Billy Goundry 2 0 0 2
FW England Dennis Heath 1 0 0 1
HB Scotland Tommy Higginson 1 0 0 1
Opponents 2 0 0 2
Total 56 2 6 64
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[3]

Management

Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
P W D L W % P W D L W %
Malky MacDonald Scotland 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 England Barry Rowan England Watford n/a [8]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
10 September 1960 HB Scotland Charlie McInally Scotland Albion Rovers n/a [9]
March 1961 FW Scotland John Docherty England Sheffield United £17,000 [5]
Players loaned out
Date from Pos. Name To Date to Ref.
24 September 1960 FW Scotland Danny O'Donnell Scotland Dumbarton n/a [9]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
May 1961 DF England Vernon Avis England Bedford Town 1961 [10]
May 1961 HB England George Bristow England Queens Park Rangers May 1961 [11]
May 1961 FW England Terry Curran England Kettering Town 1961 [12]
May 1961 HB England Billy Goundry England Bedford Town 1961 [13]
May 1961 FW England Dennis Heath England Bedford Town 1961 [14]
May 1961 DF England Ken Horne England Dover 1961 [15]
May 1961 FW England Eric Parsons England Dover 1961 [16]
May 1961 HB England Ron Peplow England Folkestone Town 1961 [17]
May 1961 FW England Barry Rowan England Dover 1961 [18]
May 1961 HB England Sid Russell England Bexleyheath & Welling 1961 [19]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 White 1989, p. 238-241.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Brentford results for the 1960–1961 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 12 September 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 386. ISBN 0951526200.
  4. ↑ "11v11 league table generator". www.11v11.com. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  5. 1 2 Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 49.
  6. ↑ "Brentford scoring and sequence records". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
  7. ↑ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  8. ↑ "Barry Rowan". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  9. 1 2 "Players' Transfers – 1960". Scottish Football Historical Archive. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  10. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 14.
  11. ↑ "Seasonal Stats – 1961–62". QPRnet. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  12. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 44.
  13. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 68.
  14. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 74.
  15. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 81-82.
  16. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 121.
  17. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 123.
  18. ↑ "Rowan, Barry". The Grecian Archive. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  19. ↑ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 139.
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