# 1956–57 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1956–57 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division South. Despite topping the table early in the season, a poor run of form dropped the club to the lower reaches of mid-table by February 1957. A strong final two months of the season lifted the Bees to an 8th-place finish.

## Season summary

With Brentford having failed to challenge for promotion since relegation to the Third Division South in 1954, reduced attendances at Griffin Park meant that manager Bill Dodgin Sr. again had little to spend in the transfer market, with his lone acquisition being full back Sid Russell from local Sunday league football. Frank Latimer and Billy Sperrin were released after many years' service, in addition to more recent signings Leonard Geard, James Robertson and George Stobbart.
Brentford had a dream start to the 1956–57 season, winning the opening four matches and sitting atop the table. Three subsequent defeats dropped the Bees to as low as 13th-place, before top spot was again reached after another three wins in September 1956. Forwards Jeff Taylor and George Francis (supported by Jim Towers) were in imperious form, with Taylor having scored 9 goals and Francis 8 goals after 10 matches. A 4–0 defeat away to Ipswich Town on 22 September ended the run and Brentford won just three of next 20 league matches, with Taylor and Francis completely losing form and Towers spending periods out injured. The signing of Chelsea forward Eric Parsons had little impact.
The Bees reached their nadir on 19 January 1957, losing 7–0 to Walsall, a scoreline which equalled the club's record defeat. Three matches later, Brentford lost 5–1 to Northampton Town and completed a slide from 1st position on 18 September 1956 to 17th on 16 February 1957. Jim Towers' return to full fitness coincided with the team's return to form in March, with George Francis scoring five goals amidst a run of four consecutive wins. After victory over Southend United on 12 March, chairman Frank Davis announced that manager Bill Dodgin Sr. would be leaving Griffin Park at the end of the campaign. Brentford lost just two of the remaining 11 matches of the season and battled to an 8th-place finish.
A number of club records were set or equalled during the season:
* Record league defeat: 0–7 versus Walsall, 19 January 1957
* Consecutive away league wins: 5 (21 April – 29 August 1956)
* Consecutive league draws: 5 (16 March – 6 April 1957)
* Most home league games without a clean sheet: 16 (3 March – 20 October 1956)

## League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
| 6 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 46 | 19 | 14 | 13 | 86 | 65 | 1.323 | 52 |
| 7 | Southend United | 46 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 73 | 65 | 1.123 | 48 |
| 8 | Brentford | 46 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 78 | 76 | 1.026 | 48 |
| 9 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 15 | 18 | 13 | 72 | 79 | 0.911 | 48 |
| 10 | Queens Park Rangers | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 61 | 60 | 1.017 | 47 |

## Results

    Brentford's goal tally listed first.

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Football League Third Division South

| No. | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
| 1 | 18 August 1956 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 4–1 | 13,710 | Newcombe, Goundry, Taylor, Towers |
| 2 | 21 August 1956 | Swindon Town | H | 4–1 | 13,510 | Towers, Taylor (2), Bragg (pen) |
| 3 | 25 August 1956 | Aldershot | A | 2–0 | 7,043 | Towers, Francis |
| 4 | 29 August 1956 | Swindon Town | A | 3–1 | 11,995 | Taylor (2), Francis |
| 5 | 1 September 1956 | Watford | H | 1–5 | 18,760 | Towers |
| 6 | 4 September 1956 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 2–5 | 12,191 | Goundry, Towers |
| 7 | 8 September 1956 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 2–3 | 8,953 | Francis, Taylor |
| 8 | 12 September 1956 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 2–1 | 14,317 | Goundry, Francis |
| 9 | 15 September 1956 | Walsall | H | 6–2 | 11,492 | Taylor (3), Bristow, Goundry, Francis |
| 10 | 18 September 1956 | Gillingham | H | 3–2 | 15,603 | Francis (3) |
| 11 | 22 September 1956 | Ipswich Town | A | 0–4 | 12,888 | |
| 12 | 26 September 1956 | Gillingham | A | 1–2 | 7,903 | Morgan |
| 13 | 29 September 1956 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | H | 2–2 | 12,604 | Francis, Newcombe |
| 14 | 6 October 1956 | Northampton Town | H | 2–1 | 10,733 | Coleman (og), Francis |
| 15 | 13 October 1956 | Southend United | A | 0–1 | 11,463 | |
| 16 | 20 October 1956 | Crystal Palace | H | 1–1 | 11,345 | Taylor |
| 17 | 27 October 1956 | Exeter City | A | 1–1 | 8,482 | Francis |
| 18 | 3 November 1956 | Southampton | H | 4–0 | 14,198 | Francis (4) |
| 19 | 10 November 1956 | Coventry City | A | 1–1 | 9,884 | Peplow (pen) |
| 20 | 24 November 1956 | Colchester United | A | 0–1 | 7,290 | |
| 21 | 1 December 1956 | Newport County | H | 0–0 | 11,130 | |
| 22 | 15 December 1956 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 0–2 | 6,823 | |
| 23 | 22 December 1956 | Aldershot | H | 2–2 | 7,284 | Parsons, Towers |
| 24 | 25 December 1956 | Torquay United | H | 0–0 | 9,024 | |
| 25 | 26 December 1956 | Torquay United | A | 0–2 | 9,540 | |
| 26 | 29 December 1956 | Watford | A | 1–1 | 8,416 | Dudley |
| 27 | 12 January 1957 | Shrewsbury Town | H | 3–1 | 8,952 | Rainford, Dudley, Goundry |
| 28 | 19 January 1957 | Walsall | A | 0–7 | 13,892 | |
| 29 | 2 February 1957 | Ipswich Town | H | 1–1 | 10,538 | Rees (og) |
| 30 | 9 February 1957 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | A | 0–3 | 10,898 | |
| 31 | 16 February 1957 | Northampton Town | A | 0–5 | 9,306 | |
| 32 | 2 March 1957 | Crystal Palace | A | 2–0 | 11,679 | Parsons (2) |
| 33 | 4 March 1957 | Millwall | H | 5–0 | 6,088 | Taylor, Towers, Francis, Coote, Goundry |
| 34 | 9 March 1957 | Reading | H | 4–0 | 10,223 | Francis (2), Taylor, McLaren (og) |
| 35 | 12 March 1957 | Southend United | H | 3–2 | 11,941 | Francis (2), Towers |
| 36 | 16 March 1957 | Southampton | A | 3–3 | 12,166 | Parsons, Newcombe, Towers |
| 37 | 18 March 1957 | Millwall | A | 1–1 | 8,726 | Towers |
| 38 | 23 March 1957 | Coventry City | H | 1–1 | 10,058 | Taylor |
| 39 | 30 March 1957 | Norwich City | A | 1–1 | 11,685 | McNeil (og) |
| 40 | 6 April 1957 | Colchester United | H | 1–1 | 12,846 | Taylor |
| 41 | 13 April 1957 | Newport County | A | 0–3 | 5,415 | |
| 42 | 19 April 1957 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 2–0 | 13,841 | Towers (2) |
| 43 | 20 April 1957 | Exeter City | H | 3–0 | 9,262 | Taylor, Harvey (og), Francis |
| 44 | 22 April 1957 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 2–2 | 9,661 | Dargie, Francis |
| 45 | 27 April 1957 | Norwich City | H | 1–1 | 8,764 | Bragg (pen) |
| 46 | 1 May 1957 | Reading | A | 0–2 | 4,203 | |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
| 1R | 17 November 1956 | Guildford City | H | 3–0 | 13,450 | Morton (og), Taylor, Beale (og) |
| 2R | 8 December 1956 | Crystal Palace | H | 1–1 | 16,750 | Taylor |
| 2R (replay) | 12 December 1956 | Crystal Palace | A | 2–3 (a.e.t.) | 23,136 | Towers, Francis |
* Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford, Statto, 11v11

## Playing squad

    Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1956–57 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 20) | Youth | 1954 | |
| GK | Sonny Feehan | | (1926-09-17)17 September 1926 (aged 29) | Northampton Town | 1954 | |
| Defenders |||||||
| DF | Alan Bassham | | (1933-10-03)3 October 1933 (aged 22) | Youth | 1953 | |
| DF | Wally Bragg | | (1929-07-08)8 July 1929 (aged 27) | Twickenham Celtic | 1946 | |
| DF | Ken Horne | | (1926-06-25)25 June 1926 (aged 30) | Blackpool | 1950 | |
| DF | George Lowden | | (1933-03-02)2 March 1933 (aged 23) | Unattached | 1951 | |
| DF | Sid Russell | | (1937-10-04)4 October 1937 (aged 18) | Jolly X | 1956 | |
| Midfielders |||||||
| HB | George Bristow | | (1933-06-25)25 June 1933 (aged 23) | Youth | 1950 | |
| HB | Ken Coote | | (1928-05-19)19 May 1928 (aged 28) | Wembley | 1949 | |
| HB | Ian Dargie | | (1931-10-03)3 October 1931 (aged 24) | Tonbridge | 1952 | |
| HB | Wendell Morgan | | (1935-04-22)22 April 1935 (aged 21) | Cardiff City | 1954 | |
| HB | Ron Peplow | | (1935-05-04)4 May 1935 (aged 21) | Southall | 1955 | |
| HB | Terry Robinson | | (1929-11-08)8 November 1929 (aged 26) | Loughborough College | 1954 | Amateur |
| HB | Len Roe | | (1932-01-11)11 January 1932 (aged 24) | Ruislip Manor | 1951 | |
| Forwards |||||||
| FW | Vernon Avis | | (1935-10-24)24 October 1935 (aged 20) | Youth | 1952 | |
| FW | Billy Bloomfield | | (1939-08-25)25 August 1939 (aged 16) | Youth | 1956 | |
| FW | Frank Dudley | | (1925-05-09)9 May 1925 (aged 31) | Cardiff City | 1953 | |
| FW | George Francis | | (1934-02-04)4 February 1934 (aged 22) | Youth | 1955 | |
| FW | Billy Goundry | | (1934-03-28)28 March 1934 (aged 22) | Huddersfield Town | 1955 | |
| FW | Dennis Heath | | (1934-09-28)28 September 1934 (aged 21) | Youth | 1954 | |
| FW | Len Newcombe | | (1931-02-28)28 February 1931 (aged 25) | Fulham | 1956 | |
| FW | Eric Parsons | | (1923-11-09)9 November 1923 (aged 32) | Chelsea | 1956 | |
| FW | John Pearson | | (1935-04-23)23 April 1935 (aged 21) | Youth | 1955 | |
| FW | Johnny Rainford | | (1930-12-11)11 December 1930 (aged 25) | Cardiff City | 1953 | |
| FW | Jeff Taylor | | (1930-09-20)20 September 1930 (aged 25) | Fulham | 1954 | |
| FW | Jim Towers | | (1933-04-15)15 April 1933 (aged 23) | Youth | 1954 | |
| Players who left the club mid-season |||||||
| GK | Reg Newton | | (1926-06-30)30 June 1926 (aged 30) | Leyton Orient | 1949 | Transferred to Tunbridge Wells United |
| DF | Sid Tickridge (c) | | (1923-04-10)10 April 1923 (aged 33) | Chelsea | 1955 | Retired |
* Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford, Timeless Bees

## Coaching staff

| Name | Role |
| Bill Dodgin Sr. | Manager |
| Tom Egglestone | 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 | 38 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 41 | 0 |
| GK | | Sonny Feehan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| GK | | Reg Newton | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| DF | | Alan Bassham | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| DF | | Wally Bragg | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 1 |
| DF | | Ken Horne | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| DF | | George Lowden | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| DF | | Sid Russell | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
| DF | | Sid Tickridge | 23 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
| HB | | George Bristow | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1 |
| HB | | Ken Coote | 44 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 47 | 1 |
| HB | | Ian Dargie | 27 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 30 | 1 |
| HB | | Wendell Morgan | 26 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 1 |
| HB | | Ron Peplow | 14 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 1 |
| HB | | Terry Robinson | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| HB | | Len Roe | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| FW | | Vernon Avis | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FW | | Billy Bloomfield | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FW | | Frank Dudley | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| FW | | George Francis | 41 | 23 | 3 | 1 | 44 | 24 |
| FW | | Billy Goundry | 31 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 33 | 6 |
| FW | | Dennis Heath | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| FW | | Len Newcombe | 43 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 46 | 3 |
| FW | | Eric Parsons | 27 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 29 | 4 |
| FW | | John Pearson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FW | | Johnny Rainford | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| FW | | Jeff Taylor | 38 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 40 | 17 |
| FW | | Jim Towers | 24 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 25 | 13 |
* Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
* Source: 100 Years Of Brentford

### Goalscorers

| Pos. | Nat | Player | FL3 | FAC | Total |
| FW | | George Francis | 23 | 1 | 24 |
| FW | | Jeff Taylor | 15 | 2 | 17 |
| FW | | Jim Towers | 12 | 1 | 13 |
| FW | | Billy Goundry | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| FW | | Eric Parsons | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| FW | | Len Newcombe | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| FW | | Frank Dudley | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| DF | | Wally Bragg | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| HB | | George Bristow | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| HB | | Ken Coote | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| HB | | Ian Dargie | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| HB | | Wendell Morgan | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| HB | | Ron Peplow | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| FW | | Johnny Rainford | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Opponents | Opponents | Opponents | 5 | 2 | 7 |
| Total | Total | Total | 78 | 6 | 84 |
* Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
* Source: 100 Years Of Brentford

### Representative caps

| Pos. | Nat | Player | Team | Caps | Goals | Ref |
| HB | | Terry Robinson | Great Britain | 8 | 0 | |

### 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 % |
| Bill Dodgin Sr. | | 18 August 1956 | 1 May 1957 | 49 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 034.69 | 46 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 034.78 |

### Summary

| Games played | 49 (46 Third Division South, 3 FA Cup) |
| Games won | 17 (16 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup) |
| Games drawn | 17 (16 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup) |
| Games lost | 15 (14 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup) |
| Goals scored | 84 (78 Third Division South, 6 FA Cup) |
| Goals conceded | 80 (76 Third Division South, 4 FA Cup) |
| Clean sheets | 10 (9 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup) |
| Biggest league win | 5–0 versus Millwall, 4 March 1957 |
| Worst league defeat | 7–0 versus Walsall, 19 January 1957 |
| Most appearances | 47, Ken Coote (44 Third Division South, 3 FA Cup) |
| Top scorer (league) | 23, George Francis |
| Top scorer (all competitions) | 24, George Francis |

## Transfers & loans

Players transferred in :
| Date | Pos. | Name | Previous Club | Fee | Ref. |
| August 1956 | DF | Sid Russell | Jolly X | Free | |
| November 1956 | FW | Eric Parsons | Chelsea | n/a | |
| Players loaned in ||||||
| Date from | Pos. | Name | From | Date to | Ref. |
| August 1956 | FW | Tommy Henaughan | Kilmarnock | n/a | |
| Players transferred out ||||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Fee | Ref. |
| February 1957 | GK | Reg Newton | Tunbridge Wells Rangers | n/a | |
| Players released ||||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Join date | Ref. |
| January 1957 | DF | Sid Tickridge | Retired | | |
| May 1957 | HB | Wally Bragg | Retired | | |