# 1962–63 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1962–63 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Fourth Division for the first time in the club's history. 67 goals from former international forwards John Dick, Billy McAdams and Johnny Brooks helped fire the Bees to the division title and an immediate return to the Third Division.

## Season summary

After suffering relegation for the Fourth Division at the end of the 1961–62 season, Brentford was at one of the lowest points in its history. The relegation completed a 15-year fall from the First Division to the bottom tier and the average attendance at Griffin Park had fallen by 18,000 in that time. Chairman Jack Dunnett pledged that he and his directors would invest money in the first team squad, which had been ravaged by a mass clearout over the previous year (in a bid to cut costs amidst the abolition of the maximum wage). Club legend George Francis was sold to Gillingham for a £4,000 fee, ending a six-year Brentford career in which he scored 136 goals in 280 matches. Funds were made available to manager Malky MacDonald and he spent £5,000 on Norwich City wing half Matt Crowe and £10,000 on Leeds United's former Northern Ireland centre forward Billy McAdams. Tommy Cavanagh was appointed as trainer to replace the departed Fred Monk.
Three wins and four defeats from the opening seven matches led to the chequebook opening again, with the £17,500 purchase of West Ham United's experienced inside left John Dick breaking Brentford's incoming transfer record. The transfer meant the Fourth Division Bees could field a forward line of former international players – Dick (Scotland), McAdams (Northern Ireland) and Brooks (England). The team showed excellent form between September 1962 and the end of the year, rising from mid-table to 2nd place. John Dick had as yet failed to live up to his status, but Billy McAdams ended the year on 15 goals and Johnny Brooks on 12.
The football calendar was frozen out between late December 1962 and February 1963, but when league play got back underway, Brentford solidified their position in the promotion places. Another £18,500 was spent on new signings John Fielding and Mel Scott in March. John Dick came into form in mid-March and supported by McAdams and Brooks, his 15 goals in the final 17 matches helped fire Brentford to the Fourth Division title. The title win made Brentford the first club to win each of the Second, Third and Fourth Division championships.
Three records were set or equalled during the season:
* Most points in a league season: 62 (two points for a win)
* Most league goals scored in a season: 98
* Most consecutive league appearances: 168 – Gerry Cakebread (1 November 1958 – 18 August 1963)

## League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Brentford | 46 | 27 | 8 | 11 | 98 | 64 | 1.531 | 62 | Division Champions, promoted |
| 2 | Oldham Athletic | 46 | 24 | 11 | 11 | 95 | 60 | 1.583 | 59 | Promoted |
| 3 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 24 | 11 | 11 | 86 | 58 | 1.483 | 59 | Promoted |
| 4 | Mansfield Town | 46 | 24 | 9 | 13 | 108 | 69 | 1.565 | 57 | Promoted |
| 5 | Gillingham | 46 | 22 | 13 | 11 | 71 | 49 | 1.449 | 57 | |

## Results

    Brentford's goal tally listed first.

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Football League Fourth Division

| No. | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
| 1 | 18 August 1962 | Doncaster Rovers | A | 2–0 | 8,247 | McAdams (2) |
| 2 | 21 August 1962 | Gillingham | H | 1–2 | 11,914 | Edgley |
| 3 | 25 August 1962 | Mansfield Town | H | 1–3 | 8,340 | McAdams |
| 4 | 29 August 1962 | Gillingham | A | 4–1 | 8,832 | Brooks (3), Block |
| 5 | 1 September 1962 | Workington | A | 1–3 | 3,373 | Summers |
| 6 | 8 September 1962 | Exeter City | H | 3–1 | 11,153 | McAdams, Dick, Hughes (og) |
| 7 | 12 September 1962 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 0–3 | 6,673 | |
| 8 | 15 September 1962 | Chesterfield | A | 1–1 | 6,114 | McAdams |
| 9 | 18 September 1962 | Stockport County | H | 2–1 | 10,146 | Dick, McAdams |
| 10 | 22 September 1962 | Rochdale | H | 1–0 | 10,753 | McLeod |
| 11 | 29 September 1962 | Barrow | H | 2–1 | 9,541 | Dick (2) |
| 12 | 2 October 1962 | Hartlepools United | H | 4–0 | 10,729 | Dick (2), McAdams, Block |
| 13 | 6 October 1962 | Darlington | A | 3–1 | 4,683 | Brooks (2, 1 pen), Block |
| 14 | 13 October 1962 | Southport | H | 3–3 | 11,651 | McAdams, Brooks (2, 1 pen) |
| 15 | 20 October 1962 | Aldershot | A | 0–0 | 8,609 | |
| 16 | 27 October 1962 | Newport County | H | 3–1 | 11,312 | McAdams (2), Block |
| 17 | 10 November 1962 | Bradford City | H | 5–2 | 8,396 | McAdams (3), McLeod, Brooks (pen) |
| 18 | 24 November 1962 | Stockport County | A | 1–2 | 3,337 | Block |
| 19 | 1 December 1962 | Lincoln City | A | 3–1 | 5,470 | Brooks, Summers, McAdams |
| 20 | 8 December 1962 | Oldham Athletic | H | 2–1 | 12,144 | Anthony, Brooks |
| 21 | 15 December 1962 | Doncaster Rovers | H | 1–0 | 9,589 | Meadows (og) |
| 22 | 22 December 1962 | Mansfield Town | A | 2–1 | 9,468 | Brooks (2) |
| 23 | 26 December 1962 | Chester | H | 2–1 | 9,724 | Dick, McAdams |
| 24 | 16 February 1963 | Barrow | A | 1–1 | 4,187 | Summers |
| 25 | 23 February 1963 | Darlington | H | 1–3 | 9,272 | Dick |
| 26 | 2 March 1963 | Southport | A | 0–1 | 3,136 | |
| 27 | 4 March 1963 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 2–1 | 8,226 | Summers (2) |
| 28 | 9 March 1963 | Aldershot | H | 4–2 | 8,390 | Brooks (2, 1 pen), Henry (og), McAdams |
| 29 | 12 March 1963 | Torquay United | H | 2–2 | 13,084 | Block, Brooks |
| 30 | 16 March 1963 | Newport County | A | 4–1 | 2,891 | McAdams, Dick (2), Brooks (pen) |
| 31 | 20 March 1963 | Rochdale | A | 5–3 | 5,680 | Dick (3), McAdams, Brooks |
| 32 | 23 March 1963 | Oxford United | H | 4–0 | 13,756 | Block, Higginson, McAdams (2) |
| 33 | 29 March 1963 | Torquay United | A | 1–1 | 5,570 | McAdams |
| 34 | 3 April 1963 | Chester | A | 2–1 | 5,991 | Dick (2) |
| 35 | 6 April 1963 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 4–0 | 13,383 | McLeod (2), Dick, Brooks (pen) |
| 36 | 12 April 1963 | York City | A | 1–1 | 7,757 | Brooks (pen) |
| 37 | 13 April 1963 | Bradford City | A | 1–2 | 3,070 | Dick |
| 38 | 15 April 1963 | York City | H | 2–1 | 15,070 | Dick (2) |
| 39 | 20 April 1963 | Lincoln City | H | 3–2 | 11,384 | Dick, Block, McAdams |
| 40 | 22 April 1963 | Hartlepools United | A | 1–2 | 3,755 | Dick |
| 41 | 27 April 1963 | Oldham Athletic | A | 1–2 | 17,771 | Brooks |
| 42 | 30 April 1963 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 3–1 | 15,820 | Brooks (pen), Dick |
| 42 | 4 May 1963 | Chesterfield | H | 2–1 | 13,903 | Dick, Fielding |
| 44 | 11 May 1963 | Oxford United | A | 1–2 | 11,247 | Summers |
| 45 | 18 May 1963 | Exeter City | A | 2–2 | 3,600 | Hales, Scott |
| 46 | 23 May 1963 | Workington | H | 4–3 | 13,158 | Fielding (2), Hales, Brown (og) |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance |
| 1R | 3 November 1962 | Aldershot | A | 0–1 | 12,200 |

### Football League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
| 1R | 4 September 1962 | Wrexham | H | 3–0 | 6,800 | Summers, McAdams, Edgley |
| 2R | 26 September 1962 | Sheffield United | H | 1–4 | 13,850 | Dick |
* Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford, Statto

## Playing squad

    Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1962–63 season.
| Pos. | Name | Date of birth (age) | Signed from | Signed in | Notes |
| Goalkeepers |||||||
| GK | Gerry Cakebread | (1936-04-01)1 April 1936 (aged 26) | Youth | 1954 | |
| GK | Fred Ryecraft | (1939-08-28)28 August 1939 (aged 22) | Southall | 1959 | |
| Defenders |||||||
| DF | Tom Anthony | (1943-08-16)16 August 1943 (aged 19) | Youth | 1961 | |
| DF | Ken Coote (c) | (1928-05-19)19 May 1928 (aged 34) | Wembley | 1949 | |
| DF | Jimmy Gitsham | (1942-05-12)12 May 1942 (aged 20) | Youth | 1959 | |
| DF | Alan Hawley | (1946-06-07)7 June 1946 (aged 16) | Youth | 1962 | |
| Midfielders |||||||
| HB | Matt Crowe | (1932-07-04)4 July 1932 (aged 30) | Norwich City | 1962 | |
| HB | Ian Dargie | (1931-10-03)3 October 1931 (aged 30) | Tonbridge | 1952 | |
| HB | Peter Gelson | (1941-10-18)18 October 1941 (aged 20) | Youth | 1961 | |
| HB | Tommy Higginson | (1937-01-06)6 January 1937 (aged 25) | Kilmarnock | 1959 | |
| HB | Mel Scott | (1939-09-26)26 September 1939 (aged 22) | Chelsea | 1963 | |
| Forwards |||||||
| FW | Micky Block | (1940-01-28)28 January 1940 (aged 22) | Chelsea | 1962 | |
| FW | Johnny Brooks | (1931-12-23)23 December 1931 (aged 30) | Chelsea | 1961 | |
| FW | John Dick | (1930-03-19)19 March 1930 (aged 32) | West Ham United | 1962 | |
| FW | John Fielding | (1939-09-02)2 September 1939 (aged 22) | Southport | 1963 | |
| FW | Johnny Hales | (1940-05-15)15 May 1940 (aged 22) | St Roch's | 1958 | |
| FW | Billy McAdams | (1934-01-20)20 January 1934 (aged 28) | Leeds United | 1962 | |
| FW | George McLeod | (1932-11-30)30 November 1932 (aged 29) | Luton Town | 1958 | |
| FW | George Summers | (1941-07-30)30 July 1941 (aged 21) | Shawfield | 1959 | |
| Players who left the club mid-season |||||||
| FW | Brian Edgley | (1937-08-26)26 August 1937 (aged 24) | Cardiff City | 1961 | Transferred to Barnsley |
* Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford, Timeless Bees

## Coaching staff

| Name | Role |
| Malky MacDonald | Manager |
| Tommy Cavanagh | 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 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 0 |
| GK | | Fred Ryecraft | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| DF | | Tom Anthony | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 1 |
| DF | | Ken Coote | 46 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 49 | 0 |
| DF | | Jimmy Gitsham | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| DF | | Alan Hawley | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| HB | | Matt Crowe | 39 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 42 | 0 |
| HB | | Ian Dargie | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| HB | | Peter Gelson | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 0 |
| HB | | Tommy Higginson | 46 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 49 | 1 |
| HB | | Mel Scott | 17 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 17 | 1 |
| FW | | Micky Block | 42 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 45 | 8 |
| FW | | Johnny Brooks | 39 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 22 |
| FW | | John Dick | 38 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 40 | 24 |
| FW | | Brian Edgley | 4 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| FW | | John Fielding | 7 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 3 |
| FW | | Johnny Hales | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| FW | | Billy McAdams | 34 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 37 | 23 |
| FW | | George McLeod | 46 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 49 | 4 |
| FW | | George Summers | 15 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 7 |
* Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
* Source: 100 Years Of Brentford

### Goalscorers

| Pos. | Nat | Player | FL4 | FAC | FLC | Total |
| FW | | John Dick | 23 | 0 | 1 | 24 |
| FW | | Billy McAdams | 22 | 0 | 1 | 23 |
| FW | | Johnny Brooks | 22 | 0 | 0 | 22 |
| FW | | Micky Block | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| FW | | George Summers | 6 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| FW | | George McLeod | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| FW | | John Fielding | 3 | — | — | 3 |
| FW | | Johnny Hales | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| FW | | Brian Edgley | 1 | — | 1 | 2 |
| HB | | Mel Scott | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| DF | | Tom Anthony | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| HB | | Tommy Higginson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Opponents | Opponents | Opponents | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Total | Total | Total | 98 | 0 | 4 | 102 |
* 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 | | 18 August 1962 | 23 May 1963 | 49 | 28 | 8 | 13 | 057.14 | 46 | 27 | 8 | 11 | 058.70 |

### Summary

| Games played | 49 (46 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup) |
| Games won | 28 (27 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup) |
| Games drawn | 8 (8 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup) |
| Games lost | 13 (11 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup) |
| Goals scored | 102 (98 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 4 League Cup) |
| Goals conceded | 69 (64 Fourth Division, 1 FA Cup, 4 League Cup) |
| Clean sheets | 8 (7 Fourth Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup) |
| Biggest league win | 4–0 on three occasions |
| Worst league defeat | 3–0 versus Crewe Alexandra, 12 September 1962 |
| Most appearances | 49, Ken Coote, Tommy Higginson, George McLeod (46 Fourth Division, 2 FA Cup, 3 League Cup) |
| Top scorer (league) | 23, John Dick |
| Top scorer (all competitions) | 24, John Dick |

## Transfers & loans

Players transferred in :
| Date | Pos. | Name | Previous Club | Fee | Ref. |
| June 1962 | DF | Alan Hawley | n/a | n/a | |
| July 1962 | HB | Matt Crowe | Norwich City | £5,000 | |
| July 1962 | FW | Billy McAdams | Leeds United | £10,000 | |
| September 1962 | FW | John Dick | West Ham United | £17,500 | |
| 26 March 1963 | FW | John Fielding | Southport | £7,000 | |
| March 1963 | HB | Mel Scott | Chelsea | £12,500 | |
| Players transferred out ||||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Fee | Ref. |
| 9 June 1962 | FW | Dick Lowrie | Morton | n/a | |
| August 1962 | FW | George Francis | Gillingham | £4,000 | |
| 1 September 1962 | FW | Danny O'Donnell | Brechin City | n/a | |
| November 1962 | FW | Brian Edgley | Barnsley | n/a | |
| Players released ||||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Join date | Ref. |
| May 1963 | HB | Ian Dargie | Yiewsley | 1963 | |
| May 1963 | DF | Jimmy Gitsham | Romford | 1963 | |