# 1955–56 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1955–56 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division South. A promising 6th-place finish was achieved with a squad mainly drawn from the club's youth system.

## Season summary

After finishing the previous season strongly, Brentford went into the 1955–56 Third Division South season full of optimism. Youth products Jim Towers and Dennis Heath had established themselves in the first team, while George Francis and Gerry Cakebread had also made their debuts. Full backs Alan Bassham, George Lowden and half backs Wally Bragg and George Bristow also made up the ranks of home-grown players in the first team squad and forward John Pearson was another to graduate from the youth team during the 1955–56 season. Chelsea full back Sid Tickridge was manager Bill Dodgin Sr.'s only major signing of the off-season and he replaced Frank Latimer as club captain.
Despite winning more games than they had lost, Brentford hovered in mid-table during the opening three months of the season. Forward Jeff Taylor led the attack and scored 11 goals in as many matches during a five-week period in September and October 1955. Buoyed by four goals in five league matches by Wendell Morgan and news from the boardroom that a £9,000 profit had been made on the year ending in May 1955 (equivalent to £298,300 in 2024), the Bees moved as high as 8th-place in early December, before losing form again later in the month.
Victory over Exeter City on 4 February 1956 was the first win of a strong run which lasted for the remainder of the season and resulted in a 6th-place finish, 11 points behind the top-three clubs. During the season, 22-goal forward Jim Towers and goalkeeper Gerry Cakebread established themselves as two of the best players in the Third Division South. After nearly 27 years as a player, assistant manager and caretaker manager at Griffin Park, long-serving Jimmy Bain retired in May 1956. He received a Long Service Medal from the Football League in recognition and was awarded a testimonial match to be played in October 1956.
Brentford's 4–0 defeat at the hands of Millwall on 5 September 1955 ended an 11-match unbeaten run in League London derbies, a club record which stretched back to February 1954. The record was equalled in August 2023.

## League table

| Pos | Team v t e | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
| 4 | Southend United | 46 | 21 | 11 | 14 | 88 | 80 | 1.100 | 53 |
| 5 | Torquay United | 46 | 20 | 12 | 14 | 86 | 63 | 1.365 | 52 |
| 6 | Brentford | 46 | 19 | 14 | 13 | 69 | 66 | 1.045 | 52 |
| 7 | Norwich City | 46 | 19 | 13 | 14 | 86 | 82 | 1.049 | 51 |
| 8 | Coventry City | 46 | 20 | 9 | 17 | 73 | 60 | 1.217 | 49 |

## 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 | 20 August 1955 | Gillingham | H | 1–4 | 12,247 | Towers (pen) |
| 2 | 22 August 1955 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 1–1 | 11,688 | Stobbart |
| 3 | 27 August 1955 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | A | 0–0 | 10,451 | |
| 4 | 30 August 1955 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 2–0 | 12,947 | Towers, Taylor |
| 5 | 3 September 1955 | Norwich City | H | 1–2 | 12,565 | Dudley |
| 6 | 5 September 1955 | Millwall | A | 0–4 | 6,911 | |
| 7 | 10 September 1955 | Colchester United | A | 3–0 | 7,843 | Towers (2), Taylor |
| 8 | 12 September 1955 | Millwall | H | 2–2 | 7,597 | Taylor, Stobbart |
| 9 | 17 September 1955 | Leyton Orient | H | 1–0 | 17,847 | Taylor |
| 10 | 19 September 1955 | Watford | H | 0–0 | 6,864 | |
| 11 | 24 September 1955 | Exeter City | A | 3–2 | 9,454 | Taylor (3) |
| 12 | 26 September 1955 | Coventry City | A | 1–2 | 12,584 | Taylor |
| 13 | 1 October 1955 | Southend United | H | 2–1 | 14,329 | Taylor, Towers |
| 14 | 8 October 1955 | Aldershot | A | 1–4 | 7,395 | Towers |
| 15 | 15 October 1955 | Crystal Palace | H | 3–0 | 13,636 | Taylor (2), Towers |
| 16 | 22 October 1955 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 0–3 | 12,771 | |
| 17 | 29 October 1955 | Southampton | H | 2–1 | 12,300 | Morgan, Rainford |
| 18 | 5 November 1955 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 1–1 | 10,551 | Morgan |
| 19 | 12 November 1955 | Ipswich Town | H | 3–2 | 14,795 | Francis, Morgan, Towers |
| 20 | 26 November 1955 | Torquay United | H | 1–3 | 11,547 | Heath |
| 21 | 3 December 1955 | Newport County | A | 2–1 | 8,035 | Morgan, Dudley |
| 22 | 17 December 1955 | Gillingham | A | 2–1 | 5,867 | Francis, Bristow |
| 23 | 24 December 1955 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | H | 2–1 | 8,592 | Coote, Taylor |
| 24 | 26 December 1955 | Reading | H | 2–2 | 12,556 | Robertson, Rainford |
| 25 | 27 December 1955 | Reading | A | 2–5 | 11,910 | Bragg (pen), Francis |
| 26 | 31 December 1955 | Norwich City | A | 0–1 | 18,542 | |
| 27 | 14 January 1956 | Colchester United | H | 2–2 | 8,492 | Rainford, Taylor |
| 28 | 21 January 1956 | Leyton Orient | A | 1–2 | 14,009 | Morgan |
| 29 | 4 February 1956 | Exeter City | H | 2–0 | 6,309 | Francis (2) |
| 30 | 11 February 1956 | Southend United | A | 2–2 | 5,124 | Towers, Stirling (og) |
| 31 | 18 February 1956 | Aldershot | H | 2–0 | 7,026 | Towers (2) |
| 32 | 25 February 1956 | Crystal Palace | A | 2–0 | 10,054 | Towers (2) |
| 33 | 3 March 1956 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 4–2 | 11,061 | Robertson (2), Goundry, Francis |
| 34 | 10 March 1956 | Southampton | A | 1–1 | 11,678 | Towers |
| 35 | 12 March 1956 | Swindon Town | H | 1–2 | 7,249 | Towers |
| 36 | 17 March 1956 | Shrewsbury Town | H | 1–1 | 9,156 | Towers |
| 37 | 24 March 1956 | Ipswich Town | A | 1–1 | 13,672 | Towers |
| 38 | 31 March 1956 | Walsall | H | 2–2 | 8,933 | Towers, Coote |
| 39 | 2 April 1956 | Northampton Town | H | 2–1 | 9,527 | Towers (2) |
| 40 | 3 April 1956 | Northampton Town | A | 0–1 | 8,248 | |
| 41 | 7 April 1956 | Torquay United | A | 1–3 | 5,574 | Taylor |
| 42 | 14 April 1956 | Newport County | H | 1–1 | 5,291 | Towers |
| 43 | 21 April 1956 | Swindon Town | A | 1–0 | 5,790 | Peplow |
| 44 | 23 April 1956 | Coventry City | H | 1–1 | 6,078 | Bragg (pen) |
| 45 | 28 April 1956 | Watford | A | 2–0 | 7,192 | Robinson, Francis |
| 46 | 3 May 1956 | Walsall | A | 2–1 | 9,033 | Taylor, Newcombe |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
| 1R | 19 November 1955 | March Town United | H | 4–0 | 13,300 | Stobbart (2), Towers (pen), Francis |
| 2R | 10 December 1955 | Leyton Orient | A | 1–4 | 17,490 | Taylor |
* Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford, Statto, 11v11

## Playing squad

    Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1955–56 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 19) | Youth | 1954 | |
| GK | Reg Newton | | (1926-06-30)30 June 1926 (aged 29) | Leyton Orient | 1949 | |
| Defenders |||||||
| DF | Alan Bassham | | (1933-10-03)3 October 1933 (aged 21) | Youth | 1953 | |
| DF | Ken Horne | | (1926-06-25)25 June 1926 (aged 29) | Blackpool | 1950 | |
| DF | George Lowden | | (1933-03-02)2 March 1933 (aged 22) | Unattached | 1951 | |
| DF | Sid Tickridge (c) | | (1923-04-10)10 April 1923 (aged 32) | Chelsea | 1955 | |
| Midfielders |||||||
| HB | Wally Bragg | | (1929-07-08)8 July 1929 (aged 26) | Twickenham Celtic | 1946 | |
| HB | George Bristow | | (1933-06-25)25 June 1933 (aged 22) | Youth | 1950 | |
| HB | Ken Coote | | (1928-05-19)19 May 1928 (aged 27) | Wembley | 1949 | |
| HB | Ian Dargie | | (1931-10-03)3 October 1931 (aged 23) | Tonbridge | 1952 | |
| HB | Leonard Geard | | (1934-02-12)12 February 1934 (aged 21) | Fulham | 1953 | |
| HB | Frank Latimer | | (1923-10-03)3 October 1923 (aged 31) | Snowdown Colliery Welfare | 1945 | |
| HB | Johnny Rainford | | (1930-12-11)11 December 1930 (aged 24) | Cardiff City | 1953 | |
| HB | Terry Robinson | | (1929-11-08)8 November 1929 (aged 25) | Loughborough College | 1954 | Amateur |
| HB | Len Roe | | (1932-01-11)11 January 1932 (aged 23) | Ruislip Manor | 1951 | |
| Forwards |||||||
| FW | Frank Dudley | | (1925-05-09)9 May 1925 (aged 30) | Cardiff City | 1953 | |
| FW | George Francis | | (1934-02-04)4 February 1934 (aged 21) | Youth | 1955 | |
| FW | Billy Goundry | | (1934-03-28)28 March 1934 (aged 21) | Huddersfield Town | 1955 | |
| FW | Dennis Heath | | (1934-09-28)28 September 1934 (aged 20) | Youth | 1954 | |
| FW | Wendell Morgan | | (1935-04-22)22 April 1935 (aged 20) | Cardiff City | 1954 | |
| FW | Len Newcombe | | (1931-02-28)28 February 1931 (aged 24) | Fulham | 1956 | |
| FW | John Pearson | | (1935-04-23)23 April 1935 (aged 20) | Youth | 1955 | |
| FW | Ron Peplow | | (1935-05-04)4 May 1935 (aged 20) | Southall | 1955 | |
| FW | James Robertson | | (1929-02-20)20 February 1929 (aged 26) | Arsenal | 1953 | |
| FW | Billy Sperrin | | (1922-04-09)9 April 1922 (aged 33) | Guildford City | 1949 | |
| FW | George Stobbart | | (1921-01-09)9 January 1921 (aged 34) | Millwall | 1954 | |
| FW | Jeff Taylor | | (1930-09-20)20 September 1930 (aged 24) | Fulham | 1954 | |
| FW | Jim Towers | | (1933-04-15)15 April 1933 (aged 22) | Youth | 1954 | |
* Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford, Timeless Bees

## Coaching staff

| Name | Role |
| Bill Dodgin Sr. | Manager |
| Jimmy Bain | Assistant manager |
| Tommy Eggleston | 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 | 2 | 0 | 47 | 0 |
| GK | | Reg Newton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| DF | | Alan Bassham | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| DF | | Ken Horne | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| DF | | George Lowden | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| DF | | Sid Tickridge | 39 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 41 | 0 |
| HB | | Wally Bragg | 29 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 2 |
| HB | | George Bristow | 27 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 1 |
| HB | | Ken Coote | 45 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 47 | 2 |
| HB | | Ian Dargie | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| HB | | Leonard Geard | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| HB | | Frank Latimer | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| HB | | Johnny Rainford | 37 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 3 |
| HB | | Terry Robinson | 15 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 1 |
| HB | | Len Roe | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| FW | | Frank Dudley | 14 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 2 |
| FW | | George Francis | 17 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 8 |
| FW | | Billy Goundry | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 1 |
| FW | | Dennis Heath | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 1 |
| FW | | Wendell Morgan | 16 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 5 |
| FW | | Len Newcombe | 3 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 1 |
| FW | | John Pearson | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| FW | | Ron Peplow | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| FW | | James Robertson | 22 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 3 |
| FW | | Billy Sperrin | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| FW | | George Stobbart | 12 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 4 |
| FW | | Jeff Taylor | 43 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 45 | 16 |
| FW | | Jim Towers | 39 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 41 | 22 |
* Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
* Source: 100 Years Of Brentford

### Goalscorers

| Pos. | Nat | Player | FL3 | FAC | Total |
| FW | | Jim Towers | 21 | 1 | 22 |
| FW | | Jeff Taylor | 15 | 1 | 16 |
| FW | | George Francis | 7 | 1 | 8 |
| FW | | Wendell Morgan | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| FW | | George Stobbart | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| HB | | Johnny Rainford | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| FW | | James Robertson | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| HB | | Wally Bragg | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| HB | | Ken Coote | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| FW | | Frank Dudley | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| FW | | Len Newcombe | 1 | — | 1 |
| HB | | George Bristow | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| FW | | Billy Goundry | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| FW | | Dennis Heath | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| FW | | Ron Peplow | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| HB | | Terry Robinson | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Opponents | Opponents | Opponents | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | 69 | 5 | 74 |
* Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
* Source: 100 Years Of Brentford

### Amateur international caps

| Pos. | Nat | Player | Caps | Goals | Ref |
| HB | | Terry Robinson | 2 | 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. | | 20 August 1955 | 3 May 1956 | 48 | 20 | 14 | 14 | 041.67 | 46 | 19 | 14 | 13 | 041.30 |

### Summary

| Games played | 48 (46 Third Division South, 2 FA Cup) |
| Games won | 20 (19 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup) |
| Games drawn | 14 (14 Third Division South, 0 FA Cup) |
| Games lost | 14 (13 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup) |
| Goals scored | 74 (69 Third Division South, 5 FA Cup) |
| Goals conceded | 70 (66 Third Division South, 4 FA Cup) |
| Clean sheets | 12 (11 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup) |
| Biggest league win | 3–0 on two occasions |
| Worst league defeat | 4–0 versus Millwall, 5 September 1955 |
| Most appearances | 47, Gerry Cakebread, Ken Coote (45 Third Division South, 2 FA Cup) |
| Top scorer (league) | 21, Jim Towers |
| Top scorer (all competitions) | 22, Jim Towers |

## Transfers & loans

Players transferred in :
| Date | Pos. | Name | Previous Club | Fee | Ref. |
| May 1955 | FW | Billy Goundry | Huddersfield Town | Free | |
| July 1955 | DF | Sid Tickridge | Chelsea | n/a | |
| August 1955 | FW | Ken Morgan | Northampton Town | n/a | |
| August 1955 | FW | Ron Peplow | Southall | n/a | |
| April 1956 | FW | Len Newcombe | Fulham | n/a | |
| Players transferred out ||||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Fee | Ref. |
| October 1955 | FW | Ken Morgan | Crystal Palace | n/a | |
| April 1956 | DF | Ken Moffitt | Berwick Rangers | n/a | |
| Players released ||||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Join date | Ref. |
| May 1956 | HB | Leonard Geard | Kettering Town | August 1956 | |
| May 1956 | HB | Frank Latimer | Gravesend & Northfleet | July 1956 | |
| May 1956 | FW | James Robertson | Gravesend & Northfleet | July 1956 | |
| May 1956 | FW | Billy Sperrin | Tunbridge Wells United | 1956 | |
| May 1956 | FW | George Stobbart | Bedford Town | 1956 | |