# 1933–34 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1933–34 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Second Division for the first time in the club's history. A strong run in the middle of the season saw the Bees hold the second promotion place throughout March 1934, before a drop in form led the club to a 4th-place finish.

## Season summary

In preparation for Brentford's first-ever Second Division season and after a loss of £932 on the previous season (equivalent to £83,600 in 2025), manager Harry Curtis brought in a number of younger players to replace ageing full backs Tom Adamson, Alexander Stevenson and half back captain Jimmy Bain. Curtis stuck with the same free-scoring strikeforce of the previous season, electing to add only outside left Charlie Fletcher from Clapton Orient. Despite winning just 6 of the opening 16 matches of the season, Brentford found themselves in 8th place, before a run of 8 wins in 11 matches put the club into the second promotion place on 3 February 1934. Manager Curtis had made an astute purchase in the transfer market in January, recruiting Southend United's full back Arthur Bateman as a replacement for Tom Adamson.
2nd place was held until a defeat to Bradford City on 24 March dropped Brentford back to 3rd and results in the following four matches dropped the club to 4th. A 2–0 win over Swansea Town on 14 April saw the Bees rise back to the one remaining promotion place, with just three matches to play. Defeat to Millwall in the first of those matches dropped Brentford back to 4th, but a resounding 5–0 victory over Lincoln City in the penultimate match of the season left the Bees knowing that a draw and favourable results for 2nd-place Preston North End and 3rd-place Bolton Wanderers on the final day would be enough to secure promotion to the First Division. Despite Brentford's 2–1 victory over Bury at Gigg Lane on the final day, victory for Preston North End saw the Lilywhites pip Bolton Wanderers into the second promotion place. Brentford finished 4th in the club's first season in the second tier of English football.
Just one of Brentford's 85 goals during the season came from a player who was not a forward, centre half Joe James and the tally of 8 goalscorers for the season was at that time the lowest in club history. Jack Holliday top-scored with an impressive 27 goals and Idris Hopkins flourished at the higher level, scoring 21 times. Ernest Muttitt, Billy Scott and Charlie Fletcher ably supported Holliday and Hopkins by also scoring in double-figures.

## League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 2 | Preston North End (P) | 42 | 23 | 6 | 13 | 71 | 52 | 1.365 | 52 | Promotion to the First Division |
| 3 | Bolton Wanderers | 42 | 21 | 9 | 12 | 79 | 55 | 1.436 | 51 | |
| 4 | Brentford | 42 | 22 | 7 | 13 | 85 | 60 | 1.417 | 51 | |
| 5 | Bradford Park Avenue | 42 | 23 | 3 | 16 | 86 | 67 | 1.284 | 49 | |
| 6 | Bradford City | 42 | 20 | 6 | 16 | 73 | 67 | 1.090 | 46 | |

## Results

    Brentford's goal tally listed first.

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Football League Second Division

| No. | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
| 1 | 26 August 1933 | Nottingham Forest | A | 1–1 | 12,702 | Hopkins |
| 2 | 31 August 1933 | Bradford Park Avenue | H | 2–0 | 13,667 | Holliday (2) |
| 3 | 2 September 1933 | West Ham United | H | 4–1 | 19,918 | Holliday (2), Hopkins (2) |
| 4 | 6 September 1933 | Bradford Park Avenue | A | 2–5 | 11,982 | Hopkins, Muttitt |
| 5 | 9 September 1933 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 1–1 | 20,945 | Watson |
| 6 | 16 September 1933 | Manchester United | H | 3–4 | 17,180 | Fletcher, Holliday, Muttitt |
| 7 | 23 September 1933 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 2–3 | 9,894 | Fletcher, Hopkins |
| 8 | 30 September 1933 | Hull City | H | 2–2 | 14,570 | Fletcher, Holliday |
| 9 | 7 October 1933 | Burnley | H | 5–2 | 14,797 | Hopkins (2), Holliday (2), Muttitt |
| 10 | 14 October 1933 | Oldham Athletic | A | 4–1 | 9,831 | James, Hopkins (2), Holliday |
| 11 | 21 October 1933 | Fulham | A | 1–1 | 35,421 | Holliday (pen) |
| 12 | 28 October 1933 | Southampton | H | 2–0 | 15,611 | Hopkins (2) |
| 13 | 4 November 1933 | Blackpool | A | 1–3 | 14,229 | Muttitt |
| 14 | 11 November 1933 | Bradford City | H | 2–1 | 12,932 | Muttitt, Holliday |
| 15 | 18 November 1933 | Port Vale | A | 0–1 | 11,349 | |
| 16 | 25 November 1933 | Notts County | H | 2–2 | 12,110 | Holliday, Scott |
| 17 | 2 December 1933 | Swansea Town | A | 3–2 | 4,269 | Fletcher (2), Muttitt |
| 18 | 9 December 1933 | Millwall | H | 3–0 | 12,017 | Scott (2), Holliday |
| 19 | 16 December 1933 | Lincoln City | A | 2–0 | 6,080 | Holliday (2, 1 pen) |
| 20 | 23 December 1933 | Bury | H | 2–3 | 12,761 | Muttitt, Fletcher |
| 21 | 25 December 1933 | Preston North End | H | 3–2 | 20,662 | Fletcher, Hopkins (2) |
| 22 | 26 December 1933 | Preston North End | A | 2–3 | 24,451 | Scott (2) |
| 23 | 30 December 1933 | Nottingham Forest | H | 2–1 | 12,795 | Hopkins, Scott |
| 24 | 6 January 1934 | West Ham United | A | 2–3 | 24,108 | Muttitt, Holliday |
| 25 | 20 January 1934 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 3–0 | 17,566 | Scott, Fletcher, Holliday |
| 26 | 27 January 1934 | Manchester United | A | 3–1 | 16,891 | Muttitt (2), Fletcher |
| 27 | 3 February 1934 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 3–1 | 16,037 | Holliday (2), Scott |
| 28 | 10 February 1934 | Hull City | A | 1–0 | 10,566 | Hopkins |
| 29 | 17 February 1934 | Burnley | A | 1–3 | 11,666 | Holliday |
| 30 | 24 February 1934 | Oldham Athletic | H | 2–1 | 15,927 | Scott, Muttitt |
| 31 | 3 March 1934 | Fulham | H | 1–2 | 25,184 | Holliday (pen) |
| 32 | 10 March 1934 | Southampton | A | 0–0 | 10,349 | |
| 33 | 17 March 1934 | Blackpool | H | 1–0 | 16,461 | Hopkins |
| 34 | 24 March 1934 | Bradford City | A | 1–2 | 12,394 | Hopkins |
| 35 | 30 March 1934 | Grimsby Town | A | 2–2 | 23,233 | Hopkins, Holliday |
| 36 | 31 March 1934 | Port Vale | H | 2–0 | 19,758 | Holliday, Scott |
| 37 | 2 April 1934 | Grimsby Town | H | 1–2 | 26,934 | Holliday |
| 38 | 7 April 1934 | Notts County | A | 2–1 | 11,657 | Allen, Hopkins |
| 39 | 14 April 1934 | Swansea Town | H | 2–0 | 14,848 | Hopkins, Muttitt |
| 40 | 21 April 1934 | Millwall | A | 0–2 | 21,671 | |
| 41 | 28 April 1934 | Lincoln City | H | 5–0 | 12,184 | Scott, Holliday (3), Hopkins |
| 42 | 5 May 1934 | Bury | A | 2–1 | 9,461 | Fletcher, Scott |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance |
| 3R | 13 January 1934 | Hull City | A | 0–1 | 18,000 |
* Sources: Statto, 11v11, 100 Years of Brentford

## Playing squad

    Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1933–34 season.
| Pos. | Name | Date of birth (age) | Signed from | Signed in | Notes |
| Goalkeepers |||||||
| GK | Tom Baker | (1905-08-17)17 August 1905 (aged 28) | Southport | 1932 | |
| GK | Jack Clough | (1898-11-04)4 November 1898 (aged 34) | Mansfield Town | 1933 | |
| Defenders |||||||
| DF | Tom Adamson | (1901-02-12)12 February 1901 (aged 32) | Bury | 1929 | |
| DF | Jack Astley | (1909-12-03)3 December 1909 (aged 23) | Southport | 1933 | |
| DF | Arthur Bateman | (1908-04-01)1 April 1908 (aged 25) | Southend United | 1934 | |
| DF | William Hodge | (1904-08-31)31 August 1904 (aged 28) | Rangers | 1927 | |
| DF | Alexander Stevenson | (1903-10-24)24 October 1903 (aged 29) | Armadale | 1927 | |
| Midfielders |||||||
| HB | Jimmy Bain | (1899-02-06)6 February 1899 (aged 34) | Manchester Central | 1928 | |
| HB | Jackie Burns | (1906-11-27)27 November 1906 (aged 26) | Queens Park Rangers | 1931 | Amateur |
| HB | Joe James | (1910-01-13)13 January 1910 (aged 23) | Battersea Church | 1929 | |
| HB | Joe McClure | (1907-11-03)3 November 1907 (aged 25) | Everton | 1933 | |
| HB | Duncan McKenzie | (1912-08-10)10 August 1912 (aged 21) | Albion Rovers | 1932 | |
| HB | Cecil Smith | (1907-06-16)16 June 1907 (aged 26) | Brentford Market | 1931 | |
| HB | Herbert Watson (c) | (1908-11-20)20 November 1908 (aged 24) | Middlesbrough | 1932 | |
| Forwards |||||||
| FW | Ralph Allen | (1906-06-30)30 June 1906 (aged 27) | Fulham | 1930 | |
| FW | Charlie Fletcher | (1905-10-28)28 October 1905 (aged 27) | Clapton Orient | 1933 | |
| FW | Jack Holliday | (1908-12-19)19 December 1908 (aged 24) | Middlesbrough | 1932 | |
| FW | Idris Hopkins | (1910-10-11)11 October 1910 (aged 22) | Crystal Palace | 1932 | |
| FW | Ernest Muttitt | (1908-07-24)24 July 1908 (aged 25) | Middlesbrough | 1932 | |
| FW | George Robson | (1908-06-17)17 June 1908 (aged 25) | West Ham United | 1931 | |
| FW | Billy Scott | (1907-12-06)6 December 1907 (aged 25) | Middlesbrough | 1932 | |
| Players who left the club mid-season |||||||
| HB | William Smith | (1903-10-22)22 October 1903 (aged 29) | Sheffield Wednesday | 1933 | Transferred to Crystal Palace |
* Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, Timeless Bees, Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939

## Coaching staff

| Name | Role |
| Harry Curtis | Manager |
| Bob Kane | Trainer |
| Jack Cartmell | Assistant Trainer |
| Fred Keatch | Secretary |

## 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 | | Tom Baker | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
| GK | | Jack Clough | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| DF | | Tom Adamson | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| DF | | Jack Astley | 40 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 0 |
| DF | | Arthur Bateman | 18 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 0 |
| DF | | William Hodge | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| DF | | Alexander Stevenson | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| HB | | Jimmy Bain | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| HB | | Jackie Burns | 35 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 0 |
| HB | | Joe James | 34 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 1 |
| HB | | Joe McClure | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| HB | | Duncan McKenzie | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| HB | | Cecil Smith | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| HB | | William Smith | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| HB | | Herbert Watson | 35 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 0 |
| FW | | Ralph Allen | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| FW | | Charlie Fletcher | 42 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 10 |
| FW | | Jack Holliday | 41 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 27 |
| FW | | Idris Hopkins | 42 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 21 |
| FW | | Ernest Muttitt | 39 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 12 |
| FW | | George Robson | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| FW | | Billy Scott | 41 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 12 |
* Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
* Source: 100 Years of Brentford

### Goalscorers

| Pos. | Nat | Player | FL2 | FAC | Total |
| FW | | Jack Holliday | 27 | 0 | 27 |
| FW | | Idris Hopkins | 21 | 0 | 21 |
| FW | | Ernest Muttitt | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| FW | | Billy Scott | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| FW | | Charlie Fletcher | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| FW | | Ralph Allen | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| HB | | Joe James | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | 85 | 0 | 85 |
* Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
* Source: 100 Years of Brentford

### Amateur international caps

| Pos. | Nat | Player | Caps | Goals | Ref |
| FW | | Jackie Burns | 3 | 1 | |

### 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 % |
| Harry Curtis | | 26 August 1933 | 5 May 1933 | 43 | 22 | 7 | 14 | 051.16| | 42 | 22 | 7 | 13 | 052.38 |

### Summary

| Games played | 43 (42 Second Division, 1 FA Cup) |
| Games won | 22 (22 Second Division, 0 FA Cup) |
| Games drawn | 7 (7 Second Division, 0 FA Cup) |
| Games lost | 14 (13 Second Division, 1 FA Cup) |
| Goals scored | 85 (85 Second Division, 0 FA Cup) |
| Goals conceded | 61 (60 Second Division, 1 FA Cup) |
| Clean sheets | 11 (11 Second Division, 0 FA Cup) |
| Biggest league win | 5–0 versus Lincoln City, 28 April 1934 |
| Worst league defeat | 5–2 versus Bradford Park Avenue, 6 September 1933 |
| Most appearances | 43, Charlie Fletcher, Idris Hopkins (42 Second Division, 1 FA Cup) |
| Top scorer (league) | 27, Jack Holliday |
| Top scorer (all competitions) | 27, Jack Holliday |

## Transfers & loans

    Cricketers are not included in this list.
Players transferred in :
| Date | Pos. | Name | Previous Club | Fee | Ref. |
| June 1933 | DF | Jack Astley | Southport | Free | |
| June 1933 | GK | Jack Clough | Mansfield Town | £100 | |
| June 1933 | HB | Joe McClure | Everton | Free | |
| 17 August 1933 | FW | Charlie Fletcher | Clapton Orient | Part-exchange | |
| 1933 | FW | Maurice Batchelor | Gillingham | Amateur | |
| 1933 | FW | Peter Clarke | Edinburgh University | Amateur | |
| 1933 | FW | R. E. Gibbons | Tunbridge Wells Rangers | n/a | |
| 1933 | FW | George Goddard | Queens Park Rangers | n/a | |
| 1933 | FW | Bob Mortimer | Northampton Town | n/a | |
| 1933 | FW | William Smith | Sheffield Wednesday | Free | |
| January 1934 | DF | Arthur Bateman | Southend United | n/a | |
| March 1934 | DF | Walter Metcalf | Sunderland | n/a | |
| April 1934 | HB | James Raven | Folkestone | Amateur | |
| Players transferred out ||||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Fee | Ref. |
| 17 August 1933 | HB | Teddy Ware | Clapton Orient | Part-exchange | |
| 27 October 1933 | FW | William Smith | Crystal Palace | n/a | |
| 1933 | FW | George Goddard | Wolverhampton Wanderers | n/a | |
| Players released ||||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Join date | Ref. |
| September 1933 | FW | Maurice Batchelor | Hounslow Town | Amateur | |
| May 1934 | DF | Tom Adamson | Stockport County | 1934 | |
| May 1934 | HB | Jimmy Bain | Retired | | |
| May 1934 | GK | Tom Baker | Northampton Town | 1934 | |
| May 1934 | GK | Jack Clough | Rotherham United | May 1934 | |
| May 1934 | DF | Jack French | Tunbridge Wells Rangers | n/a | |
| May 1934 | HB | Joe McClure | Exeter City | 1934 | |
| May 1934 | FW | Bob Mortimer | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 1934 | |
| May 1934 | FW | Alexander Stevenson | Southend United | 1934 | |