# 1935–36 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1935–36 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League First Division for the first time in the club's history. A torrid run in the opening half of the season left Brentford in the relegation places, but after a number of key signings were made, just two defeats from Christmas Day 1935 through to the end of the season elevated the Bees to an impressive 5th-place finish, the club's highest-ever in the league pyramid. Brentford also reached the final of the London Challenge Cup for the second consecutive season, but were beaten by league rivals Arsenal. In 2013, the Brentford supporters voted 1935–36 as the club's third-best season.

## Season summary

In preparation for the 1935–36 season, Brentford manager Harry Curtis elected to stick with the nucleus of players that had elevated the club from the Third Division South to the First Division in just three seasons, his only significant signing being right back Joe Wilson from Southend United. The Bees had a dream start to their first season in the top-flight, going to the top of the division after a 2–0 opening day victory over Bolton Wanderers. A 2–1 home defeat to Huddersfield Town two matches later gave way to a run of 11 defeats in 17 matches, which left the club in the relegation places.
Previously-prolific scorers Jack Holliday and Idris Hopkins had had a difficult time adjusting to the higher level, with scoring just 13 goals between them by the time the Bees were mired in the relegation battle at the end of 1935. Manager Curtis recognised the need to strengthen the squad in mid-season, dropping and later selling full back Jack Astley, left half Jackie Burns and forwards Charlie Fletcher and George Robson. In addition, former captain Herbert Watson was dropped from the half back line. In came Welsh international left half Dai Richards for £3,500 and Scottish forwards David McCulloch and Bobby Reid, with McCulloch signing for a club record £6,000 fee.
The signings had an inspired effect, sending the Bees on a run of just two defeats in the remaining 23 matches of the season, with forward McCulloch netting an impressive 26 goals in 27 appearances to finish as top-scorer. Manager Harry Curtis also signed a new five-year contract in February 1936. Brentford finished their debut season in the First Division in 5th place, which as of the end of the 2015–16 season is the club's highest-ever in the pyramid. Brentford also reached the final of the London Challenge Cup for the second-successive season, but were defeated 4–2 by league rivals Arsenal. The Bees' club record attendance for a home Football League match was broken twice during the season, with 33,481 attending versus Huddersfield Town on 7 September 1935 and 33,486 for the West London derby with Chelsea on 28 March 1936.

## League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
| 3 | Huddersfield Town | 42 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 59 | 56 | 1.054 | 48 |
| 4 | Stoke City | 42 | 20 | 7 | 15 | 57 | 57 | 1.000 | 47 |
| 5 | Brentford | 42 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 81 | 60 | 1.350 | 46 |
| 6 | Arsenal | 42 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 78 | 48 | 1.625 | 45 |
| 7 | Preston North End | 42 | 18 | 8 | 16 | 67 | 64 | 1.047 | 44 |

## Results

    Brentford's goal tally listed first.

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Football League First Division

| No. | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
| 1 | 31 August 1935 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 2–0 | 31,949 | Holliday (2) |
| 2 | 5 September 1935 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 3–1 | 25,047 | Fletcher (2), Holliday |
| 3 | 7 September 1935 | Huddersfield Town | H | 1–2 | 33,481 | Hopkins |
| 4 | 14 September 1935 | Middlesbrough | A | 0–0 | 38,107 | |
| 5 | 18 September 1935 | Derby County | A | 1–2 | 21,648 | Fletcher |
| 6 | 21 September 1935 | Aston Villa | H | 1–2 | 29,781 | Holliday |
| 7 | 28 September 1935 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 2–3 | 28,431 | Holliday, Scott |
| 8 | 5 October 1935 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | 2–2 | 25,338 | Robson, Scott |
| 9 | 12 October 1935 | Portsmouth | A | 3–1 | 22,316 | Hopkins (2), Holliday |
| 10 | 19 October 1935 | Stoke City | H | 0–0 | 24,960 | |
| 11 | 26 October 1935 | Manchester City | A | 1–2 | 29,868 | Hopkins |
| 12 | 2 November 1935 | Arsenal | H | 2–1 | 26,330 | Burns, Hopkins |
| 13 | 9 November 1935 | Birmingham | A | 1–2 | 28,673 | Dunn |
| 14 | 16 November 1935 | Sunderland | H | 1–5 | 24,720 | Hopkins |
| 15 | 23 November 1935 | Chelsea | A | 1–2 | 56,624 | Robson (pen) |
| 16 | 30 November 1935 | Leeds United | H | 2–2 | 23,914 | Scott, McCulloch |
| 17 | 7 December 1935 | Grimsby Town | A | 1–6 | 5,276 | Fletcher |
| 18 | 14 December 1935 | Liverpool | H | 1–2 | 18,508 | Robson |
| 19 | 21 December 1935 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 0–1 | 14,272 | |
| 20 | 25 December 1935 | Preston North End | H | 5–2 | 21,474 | Holliday, Muttitt, McCulloch (2), Scott |
| 21 | 26 December 1935 | Preston North End | A | 4–2 | 22,937 | Hopkins (3), McCulloch |
| 22 | 28 December 1935 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 4–0 | 27,156 | McCulloch (3), McKenzie |
| 23 | 1 January 1936 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 0–1 | 24,724 | |
| 24 | 4 January 1936 | Huddersfield Town | A | 2–2 | 17,682 | McCulloch, Fletcher |
| 25 | 18 January 1936 | Middlesbrough | H | 1–0 | 27,779 | Scott |
| 26 | 25 January 1936 | Aston Villa | A | 2–2 | 40,328 | Reid, Scott |
| 27 | 1 February 1936 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 5–0 | 25,123 | Morris (og), McCulloch (2), Scott, Holliday |
| 28 | 8 February 1936 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 3–3 | 20,757 | Holliday, McCulloch, Hopkins |
| 29 | 22 February 1936 | Stoke City | A | 2–2 | 18,045 | McCulloch, Scott |
| 30 | 29 February 1936 | Birmingham | H | 0–1 | 20,523 | |
| 31 | 7 March 1936 | Leeds United | A | 2–1 | 10,509 | Reid, Hopkins |
| 32 | 14 March 1936 | Manchester City | H | 0–0 | 28,364 | |
| 33 | 21 March 1936 | Sunderland | A | 3–1 | 26,348 | Holliday, McCulloch (2) |
| 34 | 25 March 1936 | Portsmouth | H | 3–1 | 15,379 | McCulloch (3) |
| 35 | 28 March 1936 | Chelsea | H | 2–1 | 33,486 | McCulloch, Hopkins |
| 36 | 4 April 1936 | Arsenal | A | 1–1 | 28,303 | Holliday |
| 37 | 10 April 1936 | Everton | A | 2–1 | 45,477 | McCulloch (2) |
| 38 | 11 April 1936 | Grimsby Town | H | 3–0 | 24,830 | McCulloch (2), Hopkins |
| 39 | 13 April 1936 | Everton | H | 4–1 | 29,790 | Holliday, Hopkins (2), Scott |
| 40 | 18 April 1936 | Liverpool | A | 0–0 | 28,463 | |
| 41 | 25 April 1936 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 2–2 | 24,527 | Scott, Reid |
| 42 | 2 May 1936 | Derby County | H | 6–0 | 20,521 | McCulloch (4), Holliday, Scott |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance |
| 3R | 11 January 1936 | Leicester City | A | 0–1 | 29,750 |
* Sources: Statto, 11v11, 100 Years of Brentford

## Playing squad

    Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1935–36 season.
| Pos. | Name | Date of birth (age) | Signed from | Signed in | Notes |
| Goalkeepers |||||||
| GK | James Mathieson | (1904-05-10)10 May 1904 (aged 31) | Middlesbrough | 1934 | |
| Defenders |||||||
| DF | Arthur Bateman (c) | (1908-04-01)1 April 1908 (aged 27) | Southend United | 1934 | |
| DF | George Dumbrell | (1906-09-23)23 September 1906 (aged 28) | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 1934 | |
| DF | Walter Metcalf | (1910-12-15)15 December 1910 (aged 24) | Sunderland | 1934 | |
| DF | George Poyser | (1910-02-06)6 February 1910 (aged 25) | Port Vale | 1934 | |
| DF | Joe Wilson | (1911-09-29)29 September 1911 (aged 23) | Southend United | 1935 | |
| Midfielders |||||||
| HB | Joe James | (1910-01-13)13 January 1910 (aged 25) | Battersea Church | 1929 | |
| HB | Duncan McKenzie | (1912-08-10)10 August 1912 (aged 23) | Albion Rovers | 1932 | |
| HB | Dai Richards | (1906-10-31)31 October 1906 (aged 28) | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1935 | |
| HB | Cecil Smith | (1907-06-16)16 June 1907 (aged 28) | Brentford Market | 1931 | |
| Forwards |||||||
| FW | Jim Brown | (1908-12-31)31 December 1908 (aged 26) | Manchester United | 1934 | |
| FW | Billy Dunn | (1910-10-09)9 October 1910 (aged 24) | Celtic | 1935 | |
| FW | Jack Holliday | (1908-12-19)19 December 1908 (aged 26) | Middlesbrough | 1932 | |
| FW | Idris Hopkins | (1910-10-11)11 October 1910 (aged 24) | Crystal Palace | 1932 | |
| FW | David McCulloch | (1912-10-05)5 October 1912 (aged 22) | Heart of Midlothian | 1935 | |
| FW | Ernest Muttitt | (1908-07-24)24 July 1908 (aged 27) | Middlesbrough | 1932 | |
| FW | Bobby Reid | (1911-02-19)19 February 1911 (aged 24) | Hamilton Academical | 1936 | |
| FW | Billy Scott | (1907-12-06)6 December 1907 (aged 27) | Middlesbrough | 1932 | |
| Players who left the club mid-season |||||||
| DF | Jack Astley | (1909-12-03)3 December 1909 (aged 25) | Southport | 1933 | Transferred to Coventry City |
| HB | Jackie Burns | (1906-11-27)27 November 1906 (aged 28) | Queens Park Rangers | 1931 | Amateur, transferred to Leyton |
| HB | Herbert Watson | (1908-11-20)20 November 1908 (aged 26) | Middlesbrough | 1932 | Transferred to Bristol Rovers |
| FW | Charlie Fletcher | (1905-10-28)28 October 1905 (aged 29) | Clapton Orient | 1933 | Transferred to Burnley |
| FW | George Robson | (1908-06-17)17 June 1908 (aged 27) | West Ham United | 1931 | Transferred to Heart of Midlothian |
* Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, Timeless Bees, Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939

## Coaching staff

| Name | Role |
| Harry Curtis | Manager |
| Jimmy Bain | Assistant 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 | | James Mathieson | 42 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 0 |
| DF | | Jack Astley | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| DF | | Arthur Bateman | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| DF | | George Dumbrell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| DF | | Walter Metcalf | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| DF | | George Poyser | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 0 |
| DF | | Joe Wilson | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| HB | | Jackie Burns | 9 | 1 | — | — | 9 | 1 |
| HB | | Joe James | 41 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 0 |
| HB | | Duncan McKenzie | 38 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 1 |
| HB | | Dai Richards | 26 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| HB | | Cecil Smith | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| HB | | Herbert Watson | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| FW | | Jim Brown | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FW | | Billy Dunn | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| FW | | Charlie Fletcher | 20 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 5 |
| FW | | Jack Holliday | 37 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 13 |
| FW | | Idris Hopkins | 42 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 15 |
| FW | | David McCulloch | 26 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 26 |
| FW | | Ernest Muttitt | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| FW | | Bobby Reid | 18 | 3 | — | — | 18 | 3 |
| FW | | George Robson | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 3 |
| FW | | Billy Scott | 39 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 11 |
* Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
* Source: 100 Years of Brentford

### Goalscorers

| Pos. | Nat | Player | FL1 | FAC | Total |
| FW | | David McCulloch | 26 | 0 | 26 |
| FW | | Idris Hopkins | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| FW | | Jack Holliday | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| FW | | Billy Scott | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| FW | | Charlie Fletcher | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| FW | | Bobby Reid | 3 | — | 3 |
| FW | | George Robson | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| HB | | Jackie Burns | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| FW | | Billy Dunn | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| HB | | Duncan McKenzie | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| FW | | Ernest Muttitt | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Opponents | Opponents | Opponents | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | 81 | 0 | 81 |
* Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
* Source: 100 Years of Brentford

### International caps

| Pos. | Player | Caps | Goals |
| FW | Idris Hopkins | 2 | 0 |
| FW | David McCulloch | 1 | 0 |
| FW | Dai Richards | 2 | 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 | | 31 August 1935 | 2 May 1936 | 43 | 17 | 12 | 14 | 039.53| | 42 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 040.48 |

### Summary

| Games played | 43 (42 First Division, 1 FA Cup) |
| Games won | 17 (17 First Division, 0 FA Cup) |
| Games drawn | 12 (12 First Division, 0 FA Cup) |
| Games lost | 14 (13 First Division, 1 FA Cup) |
| Goals scored | 81 (81 First Division, 0 FA Cup) |
| Goals conceded | 61 (60 First Division, 1 FA Cup) |
| Clean sheets | 10 (10 First Division, 0 FA Cup) |
| Biggest league win | 6–0 versus Derby County, 2 May 1936 |
| Worst league defeat | 6–1 versus Grimsby Town, 7 December 1935 |
| Most appearances | 43, Idris Hopkins, James Mathieson (42 First Division, 1 FA Cup) |
| Top scorer (league) | 26, David McCulloch |
| Top scorer (all competitions) | 26, David McCulloch |

## Transfers & loans

    Cricketers are not included in this list.
Players transferred in :
| Date | Pos. | Name | Previous Club | Fee | Ref. |
| May 1935 | GK | Thomas Lynch | Yeovil & Petters United | n/a | |
| 7 June 1935 | FW | Billy Dunn | Celtic | n/a | |
| 18 July 1935 | FW | Les Sullivan | Rochdale | Exchange | |
| July 1935 | DF | Joe Wilson | Southend United | Free | |
| August 1935 | HB | Sam Briddon | Port Vale | Free | |
| 30 November 1935 | FW | David McCulloch | Heart of Midlothian | £6,000 | |
| 30 November 1935 | HB | Dai Richards | Wolverhampton Wanderers | £3,500 | |
| 1935 | FW | Isaac Fenton | Burnley | n/a | |
| 1935 | HB | H. Marley | Leyton | n/a | |
| 17 January 1936 | FW | Bobby Reid | Hamilton Academical | n/a | |
| Players transferred out ||||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Fee | Ref. |
| 18 July 1935 | FW | Matt Johnson | Rochdale | Exchange | |
| 19 December 1935 | FW | George Robson | Heart of Midlothian | n/a | |
| December 1935 | HB | Jackie Burns | Leyton | Amateur | |
| February 1936 | DF | Jack Astley | Coventry City | n/a | |
| February 1936 | FW | Charlie Fletcher | Burnley | n/a | |
| 22 April 1936 | HB | James Raven | Bristol Rovers | n/a | |
| 22 April 1936 | FW | Les Sullivan | Bristol Rovers | n/a | |
| 22 April 1936 | HB | Herbert Watson | Bristol Rovers | n/a | |
| Players loaned out ||||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Date to | Ref. |
| 1935 | FW | Les Smith | Hayes | 1936 | |
| Players released ||||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Join date | Ref. |
| May 1936 | FW | Jim Brown | Tottenham Hotspur | 1936 | |