# 1958–59 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1958–59 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. Despite 32 goals from Jim Towers and 22 from George Francis, a number of defeats to low-placed clubs early in the season prevented the Bees from finishing higher than 3rd, one place away from promotion.

## Season summary

After narrowly missing out on promotion in 1957–58, Brentford entered the 1958–59 Third Division season full of confidence. Despite making a profit of £6,789 on the previous season (equivalent to £200,300 in 2024), manager Malky MacDonald decided not to add to his squad and instead planned for the future by bringing in a number of Scottish youngsters. Brentford began the season with a resounding 4–0 victory over Bradford City, hitting top spot, but dropped back after three consecutive defeats. By the time the Bees drew 1–1 with Chesterfield on 4 October 1958, the team's inconsistency could be clearly pointed to a lack of support for forwards Jim Towers and George Francis, who had scored 13 of the team's 17 goals by that point of the season. In response, manager MacDonald paid £6,000 for Luton Town's outside left George McLeod. After defeats to Stockport County and Reading in late October, the team recovered and began to perform on a consistent basis.
Brentford had a morale-boosting run to the fourth round of the FA Cup, eliminating Exeter City, King's Lynn and Barnsley on the way to a 2–0 defeat to First Division club West Bromwich Albion in front of 41,440 at The Hawthorns. A 6–0 win over Southampton at The Dell on 9 March 1959 (which set a new club record for biggest away Football League win) established the Bees as promotion contenders. Three victories and two draws from the following five matches (which included a win and a draw versus leaders Plymouth Argyle) saw Brentford increase their grip on 3rd place in the table, though at a cost to season-ending injuries to Ian Dargie and Len Newcombe. Defeats in crucial matches versus fellow promotion challengers Norwich City and Hull City in early April effectively ended the Bees' promotion charge and all hope of promotion mathematically ended with two matches left to play. Brentford finished the season in 3rd place.
Jim Towers' 37 goals scored in all competitions during the season was just two goals shy of Jack Holliday's club record of 39, set in the Third Division South in 1932–33. Towers' strike partner George Francis also finished amongst the top scorers in the Third Division, with 22 goals and 24 in all competitions. Brentford finished the 1958–59 season with the best defensive record in the Third Division, conceding only 49 goals and also conceding the fewest away goals (27). A new club record for most league away draws (10) was set during the season and the club record for fewest goalscorers in a season was equalled. The 20 players used in all competitions was the lowest since the end of the Second World War and three players finishing the season as ever-presents in all 50 matches was another post-war record.

## League table

| Pos | Team v t e | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 23 | 16 | 7 | 89 | 59 | 1.508 | 62 | Division Champions, promoted |
| 2 | Hull City | 46 | 26 | 9 | 11 | 90 | 55 | 1.636 | 61 | Promoted |
| 3 | Brentford | 46 | 21 | 15 | 10 | 76 | 49 | 1.551 | 57 | |
| 4 | Norwich City | 46 | 22 | 13 | 11 | 89 | 62 | 1.435 | 57 | |
| 5 | Colchester United | 46 | 21 | 10 | 15 | 71 | 67 | 1.060 | 52 | |

## Results

    Brentford's goal tally listed first.

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Football League Third Division

| No. | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
| 1 | 25 August 1958 | Bradford City | H | 4–0 | 15,749 | Towers (2), Francis (2) |
| 2 | 28 August 1958 | Doncaster Rovers | A | 0–1 | 10,654 | |
| 3 | 30 August 1958 | Wrexham | A | 1–2 | 16,905 | Towers |
| 4 | 2 September 1958 | Doncaster Rovers | H | 0–1 | 14,845 | |
| 5 | 6 September 1958 | Southampton | H | 2–0 | 12,997 | Francis, Towers |
| 6 | 9 September 1958 | Mansfield Town | H | 2–0 | 13,625 | Towers (2) |
| 7 | 12 September 1958 | Accrington Stanley | A | 1–1 | 9,918 | Rainford |
| 8 | 15 September 1958 | Mansfield Town | A | 1–1 | 9,159 | Towers |
| 9 | 20 September 1958 | Halifax Town | H | 2–0 | 12,643 | Francis, Heath |
| 10 | 22 September 1958 | Hull City | A | 1–3 | 14,172 | Heath |
| 11 | 27 September 1958 | Newport County | A | 1–0 | 8,220 | Francis |
| 12 | 30 September 1958 | Hull City | H | 1–1 | 12,441 | Towers |
| 13 | 4 October 1958 | Chesterfield | H | 1–1 | 12,473 | Heath |
| 14 | 9 October 1958 | Notts County | A | 0–0 | 4,381 | |
| 15 | 11 October 1958 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 2–1 | 12,325 | Towers, Rainford |
| 16 | 18 October 1958 | Stockport County | H | 1–4 | 12,488 | Towers |
| 17 | 25 October 1958 | Reading | A | 1–3 | 16,186 | Towers |
| 18 | 1 November 1958 | Colchester United | H | 2–1 | 11,945 | Towers, Heath |
| 19 | 8 November 1958 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | A | 0–0 | 11,564 | |
| 20 | 22 November 1958 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 2–1 | 13,784 | Drinkwater (og), Towers |
| 21 | 29 November 1958 | Bury | H | 0–0 | 11,741 | |
| 22 | 13 December 1958 | Rochdale | H | 2–1 | 9,432 | Towers, Dargie |
| 23 | 20 December 1958 | Bradford City | A | 0–3 | 11,473 | |
| 24 | 25 December 1958 | Swindon Town | H | 2–2 | 12,504 | McLeod, Francis |
| 25 | 26 December 1958 | Swindon Town | A | 1–1 | 12,690 | Francis |
| 26 | 3 January 1959 | Wrexham | H | 2–1 | 11,723 | Francis (2) |
| 27 | 31 January 1959 | Accrington Stanley | H | 2–1 | 11,260 | Francis, Towers |
| 28 | 7 February 1959 | Halifax Town | A | 0–0 | 4,654 | |
| 29 | 14 February 1959 | Newport County | H | 3–0 | 10,392 | McLeod, Bristow, Towers |
| 30 | 21 February 1959 | Chesterfield | A | 2–1 | 9,649 | Francis, Towers (pen) |
| 31 | 28 February 1959 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 5–2 | 13,138 | Towers (2), Francis, Rainford (2) |
| 32 | 7 March 1959 | Stockport County | A | 1–1 | 7,973 | Towers (pen) |
| 33 | 9 March 1959 | Southampton | A | 6–0 | 7,756 | McLeod, Towers (4), Francis |
| 34 | 14 March 1959 | Reading | H | 3–1 | 18,209 | Francis (2), Rainford |
| 35 | 21 March 1959 | Colchester United | A | 4–0 | 8,775 | Francis (2), McLeod, Towers |
| 36 | 27 March 1959 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 3–0 | 28,725 | Towers, Rainford, Francis |
| 37 | 28 March 1959 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | H | 1–1 | 15,970 | McLeod |
| 38 | 30 March 1959 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 1–1 | 27,073 | Parsons |
| 39 | 4 April 1959 | Norwich City | A | 1–4 | 27,870 | Francis |
| 40 | 8 April 1959 | Southend United | A | 0–2 | 9,022 | |
| 41 | 11 April 1959 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 1–0 | 15,905 | Rainford |
| 42 | 18 April 1959 | Bury | A | 1–1 | 7,092 | Towers |
| 43 | 21 April 1959 | Notts County | H | 4–0 | 11,738 | Francis, Towers (3, 2 pens) |
| 44 | 25 April 1959 | Southend United | H | 6–1 | 11,264 | Rainford, Francis (2), Towers (2), Williamson (og) |
| 45 | 27 April 1959 | Rochdale | A | 0–0 | 2,191 | |
| 46 | 30 April 1959 | Norwich City | H | 0–4 | 19,035 | |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
| 1R | 15 November 1958 | Exeter City | H | 3–2 | 14,600 | Towers, Francis, Rainford |
| 2R | 6 December 1958 | King's Lynn | H | 3–1 | 14,100 | Towers (3) |
| 3R | 10 January 1959 | Barnsley | H | 2–0 | 16,890 | Towers, Francis |
| 4R | 24 January 1959 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 0–2 | 41,440 | |
* Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford, Statto, 11v11

## Playing squad

    Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1958–59 season.
| Pos. | Name | Nat. | Date of birth (age) | Signed from | Signed in | Notes |
| Goalkeepers | Goalkeepers | Goalkeepers | Goalkeepers | Goalkeepers | Goalkeepers | |
| GK | Gerry Cakebread | | (1936-04-01)1 April 1936 (aged 22) | Youth | 1954 | |
| GK | Sonny Feehan | | (1926-09-17)17 September 1926 (aged 31) | Northampton Town | 1954 | |
| Defenders |||||||
| DF | Ken Horne | | (1926-06-25)25 June 1926 (aged 32) | Blackpool | 1950 | |
| DF | Tom Wilson (c) | | (1930-07-03)3 July 1930 (aged 28) | Fulham | 1957 | |
| Midfielders |||||||
| HB | George Bristow | | (1933-06-25)25 June 1933 (aged 25) | Youth | 1950 | |
| HB | Ken Coote | | (1928-05-19)19 May 1928 (aged 30) | Wembley | 1949 | |
| HB | Ian Dargie | | (1931-10-03)3 October 1931 (aged 26) | Tonbridge | 1952 | |
| HB | Billy Goundry | | (1934-03-28)28 March 1934 (aged 24) | Huddersfield Town | 1955 | |
| HB | Ron Peplow | | (1935-05-04)4 May 1935 (aged 23) | Southall | 1955 | |
| HB | Sid Russell | | (1937-10-04)4 October 1937 (aged 20) | Jolly X | 1956 | |
| Forwards |||||||
| FW | John Caven | | (1934-07-06)6 July 1934 (aged 24) | Kilmarnock | 1957 | |
| FW | George Francis | | (1934-02-04)4 February 1934 (aged 24) | Youth | 1955 | |
| FW | Johnny Hales | | (1940-05-15)15 May 1940 (aged 18) | St Roch's | 1958 | |
| FW | Dennis Heath | | (1934-09-28)28 September 1934 (aged 23) | Youth | 1954 | |
| FW | Billy Horn | | (1938-05-13)13 May 1938 (aged 20) | Kilmarnock | 1958 | Amateur |
| FW | George McLeod | | (1932-11-30)30 November 1932 (aged 25) | Luton Town | 1958 | |
| FW | Len Newcombe | | (1931-02-28)28 February 1931 (aged 27) | Fulham | 1956 | |
| FW | Eric Parsons | | (1923-11-09)9 November 1923 (aged 34) | Chelsea | 1956 | |
| FW | Johnny Rainford | | (1930-12-11)11 December 1930 (aged 27) | Cardiff City | 1953 | |
| FW | Jim Towers | | (1933-04-15)15 April 1933 (aged 25) | 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 | Total | Total |
| Pos | Nat | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| GK | | Gerry Cakebread | 45 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 49 | 0 |
| GK | | Sonny Feehan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| DF | | Ken Horne | 45 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 48 | 0 |
| DF | | Tom Wilson | 46 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 50 | 0 |
| HB | | George Bristow | 37 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 41 | 1 |
| HB | | Ken Coote | 44 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 48 | 0 |
| HB | | Ian Dargie | 37 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 41 | 1 |
| HB | | Billy Goundry | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| HB | | Ron Peplow | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| HB | | Sid Russell | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| FW | | John Caven | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FW | | George Francis | 45 | 22 | 4 | 2 | 49 | 24 |
| FW | | Johnny Hales | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FW | | Dennis Heath | 25 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 29 | 4 |
| FW | | Billy Horn | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FW | | George McLeod | 29 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 33 | 5 |
| FW | | Len Newcombe | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| FW | | Eric Parsons | 34 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 1 |
| FW | | Johnny Rainford | 46 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 50 | 9 |
| FW | | Jim Towers | 46 | 32 | 4 | 5 | 50 | 37 |
* Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
* Source: 100 Years Of Brentford

### Goalscorers

| Pos. | Nat | Player | FL3 | FAC | Total |
| FW | | Jim Towers | 32 | 5 | 37 |
| FW | | George Francis | 22 | 2 | 24 |
| FW | | Johnny Rainford | 8 | 1 | 9 |
| FW | | George McLeod | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| FW | | Dennis Heath | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| HB | | George Bristow | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| HB | | Ian Dargie | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| FW | | Eric Parsons | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Opponents | Opponents | Opponents | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | Total | Total | 76 | 8 | 84 |
* 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 | | 25 August 1958 | 30 April 1959 | 50 | 24 | 15 | 11 | 048.00 | 46 | 21 | 15 | 10 | 045.65 |

### Summary

| Games played | 50 (46 Third Division, 4 FA Cup) |
| Games won | 24 (21 Third Division, 3 FA Cup) |
| Games drawn | 15 (15 Third Division, 0 FA Cup) |
| Games lost | 11 (10 Third Division, 1 FA Cup) |
| Goals scored | 84 (76 Third Division, 8 FA Cup) |
| Goals conceded | 54 (49 Third Division, 5 FA Cup) |
| Clean sheets | 17 (16 Third Division, 1 FA Cup) |
| Biggest league win | 6–0 versus Southampton, 9 March 1959 |
| Worst league defeat | 4–0 versus Norwich City, 30 April 1959 |
| Most appearances | 50, Johnny Rainford, Tom Wilson (46 Third Division, 4 FA Cup) |
| Top scorer (league) | 32, Jim Towers |
| Top scorer (all competitions) | 37, Jim Towers |

## Transfers & loans

Players transferred in :
| Date | Pos. | Name | Previous Club | Fee | Ref. |
| August 1958 | HB | Jimmy Lafferty | n/a | n/a | |
| 6 September 1958 | HB | Charlie McInally | St Roch's | n/a | |
| September 1958 | FW | Johnny Hales | St Roch's | n/a | |
| 25 October 1958 | FW | Billy Horn | Kilmarnock | Amateur | |
| October 1958 | FW | George McLeod | Luton Town | £6,000 | |
| 1958 | DF | Peter Gelson | n/a | n/a | |
| 10 January 1959 | FW | George Summers | Shawfield | n/a | |
| Players transferred out ||||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Fee | Ref. |
| December 1958 | HB | Len Roe | Yiewsley | n/a | |
| Players released ||||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Join date | Ref. |
| May 1959 | DF | Alan Bassham | Folkestone Town | 1959 | |
| May 1959 | FW | John Caven | n/a | n/a | |
| May 1959 | FW | Sonny Feehan | Headington United | 1959 | |
| May 1959 | FW | Christy Fletcher | Peterborough United | 1959 | |
| May 1959 | FW | Billy Horn | Kilmarnock | 1959 | |
| May 1959 | DF | George Lowden | Hounslow Town | n/a | |