1916–17 Brentford F.C. season
1916–17 season of Brentford F.C.
Brentford 1916–17 football season
During the 1916–17 English football season, Brentford competed in the London Combination , due to the cessation of competitive football for the duration of the First World War . Restricted by league rules mandating that all players must be members of the armed forces or munitions workers, Brentford finished third-from-bottom, having been forced to field over 50 guest players.
Season summary
Former Brentford forward Patrick Hagan was killed during the Battle of the Somme in July 1916. Straddling the middle period the First World War , the London Combination introduced a new rule that for the 1916–17 season, stating all players must be members of the armed forces or munitions workers, which meant Brentford secretary-manager Fred Halliday (himself a worker at the Ministry of Munitions ) had trouble securing players to play. Full back Dusty Rhodes , half back Alf Amos and forwards Patsy Hendren and Henry White would be the only pre-war Bees players to appear in more than half of the matches during the season.[ 2] Albert Chester joined the club from Millwall in December 1916 and also appeared in over half the matches.[ 2] Ted Price , Bradford Park Avenue 's Frank Drabble was the main goalkeeper during the season, while Croydon Common 's William Bushell was also a regular in the half back line.
Brentford had a torrid season, winning just 9 of the 40 matches.[ 3] [ 2] Luton Town .[ 2] Portsmouth at Griffin Park on 30 December 1916 and Henry White's performances, who top-scored for the third-consecutive season with 20 goals from 35 matches.[ 2]
The Battle of the Somme , which began on 1 July 1916, represented the lowest period so far for the British Army during the war and a number of former Brentford players were killed in the battle:[ 4] [ 5] [ 6] [ 7] [ 8]
Lieutenant Thomas Hamer, killed during the Battle of Mametz on 7 July 1916, while serving with the Royal Welch Fusiliers .Sergeant Patrick Hagan , killed during the Battle of Bazentin Ridge on 14 July 1916, while serving with the Royal Scots .Private John Hendren, killed during the Battle of Delville Wood on 27 July 1916, while serving with the Royal Fusiliers .Privates Louis D'Abadie and Henry Purver , killed during the Battle of Delville Wood on 31 July 1916, while serving with the Royal Fusiliers.
Private Harry Robotham , killed during the Battle of Flers–Courcelette on 12 September 1916, while serving with the Middlesex Regiment .
Private Percy Matthews, missing, presumed killed, during the Battle of Le Transloy on 12 October 1916, while serving with the Essex Regiment .
Sergeant Joshua Hardisty MM , killed during the Battle of the Ancre on 18 November 1916, while serving with the Border Regiment . Two other players died during the season:
League table
London Combination
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GR
Pts
11
Watford
39
8
9
22
69
115
0.600
25
12
Brentford
40
9
7
24
56
99
0.566
25
13
Portsmouth
40
9
4
27
58
117
0.496
22
Results
Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend
London Combination
No.
Date
Opponent
Venue
Result
Scorer(s)
1
2 September 1916
Crystal Palace A
0–4
2
9 September 1916
Southampton H
1–1
Kirby
3
16 September 1916
Chelsea H
0–3
4
23 September 1916
Arsenal A
0–0
5
30 September 1916
Luton Town H
1–3
Hendren (pen )
6
7 October 1916
Reading A
2–0
Gregson (2)
7
14 October 1916
Millwall
H
0–3
8
21 October 1916
Watford
A
2–4
Sloley , White
9
28 October 1916
Clapton Orient
H
3–0
White , Gregson , Clarkson
10
4 November 1916
Fulham
A
0–2
11
11 November 1916
Queens Park Rangers
H
1–4
Sloley
12
18 November 1916
West Ham United
A
0–4
13
25 November 1916
Crystal Palace H
3–1
White , Sloley , Kirby
14
2 December 1916
Southampton A
1–3
Hendren
15
9 December 1916
Chelsea A
2–7
White , Hendren
16
23 December 1916
Luton Town A
2–5
Bushell, Chester
17
25 December 1916
Tottenham Hotspur H
1–5
White
18
26 December 1916
Tottenham Hotspur A
2–5
White , Spencer
19
30 December 1916
Portsmouth H
7–0
White , Sloley , Hendren , Clarkson
20
6 January 1917
Millwall A
0–3
21
13 January 1917
Watford H
4–1
Sloley , White (2), Clarkson
22
20 January 1917
Clapton Orient A
2–5
White (2)
23
27 January 1917
Fulham H
1–1
Dillimore
24
3 February 1917
Queens Park Rangers A
0–2
25
10 February 1917
West Ham United H
1–1
Gregson
26
17 February 1917
Millwall
A
3–2
Chester , Dillimore , White
27
24 February 1917
Fulham H
1–4
Dillimore
28
3 March 1917
Chelsea
H
3–0
Gregson , White (2)
29
10 March 1917
Watford
A
2–5
White , Hendren
30
17 March 1917
Luton Town H
1–2
Hendren
31
24 March 1917
Queens Park Rangers A
2–2
Hendren , Dillimore
32
31 March 1917
Millwall H
1–3
Dillimore
33
6 April 1917
West Ham United A
0–2
34
7 April 1917
Fulham
A
2–0
Keenor , Gregson
35
9 April 1917
West Ham United H
1–2
Hendren (pen )
36
14 April 1917
Chelsea A
2–3
Hendren (2, 1 pen )
37
19 April 1917
Queens Park Rangers H
0–0
38
21 April 1917
Watford
H
2–1
White (2)
39
26 April 1917
Arsenal
H
0–0
40
28 April 1917
Luton Town A
0–6
Source: 100 Years Of Brentford [ 2]
Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1916–17 season. Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[ 2] [ 11] [ 12]
Coaching staff
Statistics
Appearances and goals
Brentford's highest appearance-makers in each position during the London Combination season.
Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford [ 2]
Goalscorers
Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford [ 2]
Management
Name
Nat
From
To
Record
P
W
D
L
W %
Fred Halliday
2 September 1916
28 April 1917
40
9
7
24
0 22.50 |
Summary
Games played
40
Games won
9
Games drawn
7
Games lost
24
Goals scored
56
Goals conceded
99
Clean sheets
8
Biggest win
7–0 versus Portsmouth , 30 December 1916
Worst defeat
6–0 versus Luton Town , 28 April 1917
Most appearances
39, Patsy Hendren
Top scorer
20, Henry White
Guest players' arrival and departure dates correspond to their first and last appearances of the season.
References
