Brentford manager Harry Curtis' additions to his squad for the 1931–32 Third Division South season were minor – backup goalkeeperDave Smith, amateur half backJackie Gibbons and forwardsGeorge Cook, George Robson and Bert Stephens. The team had a very strong first half of the season, rising to the top of the table by 5 December 1931 and staying there until 13 February 1932, when a run of just five defeats in 31 matches in all competitions came to an end.[1]Billy Lane kept up his prolific goalscoring form from the previous two seasons, scoring 20 goals in a 27 match spell, with Jackie Foster, Bill Berry and Jackie Gibbons also supporting with regular goals.[2]
As in the previous two seasons, Brentford's suffered a slump in the second half of the campaign, losing 9 of 14 matches between mid-February and late April to drop to as low as 9th, though two wins from the final two matches of the season elevated the side to a 5th-place finish.[1] Brentford had also reached the fourth round of the FA Cup for the second successive season, exiting the competition after a heavy 6–1 defeat at the hands of top-flightManchester City at Maine Road.[1] It had been rumoured in April 1932 that manager Curtis had tendered his resignation, but chairman Louis P. Simon recognised his good work over the previous six years and persuaded him to stay.[3] A run of four successive home Football League draws during the season equalled the club record,[4] while Billy Lane's seventh and final Brentford hattrick (scored versus Coventry City on 12 September 1931) set a new club record.[5]
Reserve team
Brentford's reserve team finished as champions of the London Combination for the first time.[6] The team went undefeated at home from 21 November 1931, setting off a run which extended until 4 November 1933.[7]Ralph Allencaptained the team and scored a large percentage of the goals.[7][8]
^ a b c"Brentford results for the 1931–1932 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
^ a b c d eWhite 1989, p. 371.
^ a b cWhite, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 132–135. ISBN0951526200.
^Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Harefield, Middlesex: Yore Publications. p. 78. ISBN1 874427 57 7.
^"They played for both: Bristol City". Brentford FC. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
^Haynes 1998, p. 83.
^ a bHaynes 1998, p. 108-110.
^Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 10.
^Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN978-0955294914.
^Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN190589161X.
^ a b"England Matches – The Amateurs 1906–1939". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
^"Andrew Anderson, outside-left of Blyth Spartans, by Brentford". Daily Herald. 8 May 1931.
^"Seasonal Stats – 1931–32". QPRnet. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
^"On The Wing – Latest Movements Of Players". The Athletic News. 1 June 1931.
^"Brentford have signed on J. McPhee, a 19-year-old outside-right from Sunderland". Daily Herald. 16 May 1931.
^Argus (8 May 1931). "I note that Thames have engaged Martin Woosnam (half-back) and F. J. McDonough (goalkeeper), whom Brentford placed on the free transfer list last week". Brentford & Chiswick Times.
^"Brentford have signed S. Fieldus, inside-forward, last season with Millwall". Daily Herald. 12 August 1931.
^"Brentford have signed C. S. Smith, inside left of Brentford Market F.C, as a professional". Daily Herald. 28 August 1931.
^"On This Day". www.gillinghamfootballclub.com. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
^Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 64.
^Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 42.
^"Brentford Ready. To Fight All The Way For Promotion. The Season's Prospects. Promise Of Brilliant Attack And Sound Defence". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 14 August 1931.
^ a bLitster, John. Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
^Matthews, Tony (21 November 2013). Manchester City: Player by Player. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN9781445617374.
^Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 39.
^Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 45-46.
^"Gibbins Leaves The "Bees"". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 10 June 1932.
^Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 114.
^"J. Cunningham, the Queens Park Rangers' goalkeeper, and H. Salt, a Brentford half-back, have been signed by Walsall". Daily Herald. 24 May 1932.
^Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 147.
^"Player: George Bartholomew Weeks". Watford Football Club Archive. Retrieved 28 April 2024.