During the 1923–24 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division South and finished in 17th place.

Season summary

Third Division South club Brentford decided not to conduct an overhaul of its squad during the 1923 off-season. Goalkeeper and half backs William Young, Cyril Hunter, Bill Inglis and James Kerr were retained, as was outside forward Patsy Hendren. Up front, Bobby Hughes, Henry Parkinson and Harry Williams were signed to boost the team's strikeforce. Forwards Freddy Capper, Billy Clayson and Sidney Mulford were all retained, despite scoring just 11 goals between them during the 1922–23 season.

Aside from a six-match unbeaten run in November and December 1923, Brentford spent much of the 1923–24 season in the bottom four of the Third Division South. Three wins in the final four matches lifted the club to a 17th-place finish. Youngster Reginald Parker proved to be a revelation up front and became the first Brentford player to hit 20 goals in a season since the club entered the Football League in 1920. Billy Clayson also scored 10 goals, which meant Parker and Clayson accounted for 30 of the 45 goals the Bees scored during the season. Brentford failed to draw an away league match during the campaign, a joint-club record.

League table

Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League Third Division South No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)125 August 1923Queens Park RangersA0–118,000227 August 1923Plymouth ArgyleH1–16,500Hughes31 September 1923Queens Park RangersH0–112,00043 September 1923Plymouth ArgyleA1–410,000Clayson58 September 1923Luton TownH2–110,000Clayson, Parkinson610 September 1923Aberdare AthleticA2–16,000Parkinson, Hughes715 September 1923Luton TownA1–28,000Hunter822 September 1923Brighton & Hove AlbionH1–25,000Hunter929 September 1923Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–27,000106 October 1923Bristol RoversA0–210,0001113 October 1923Bristol RoversH1–29,000Mulford1220 October 1923Southend UnitedA1–36,000Capper1327 October 1923Southend UnitedH3–15,000Hughes, Parker (2)143 November 1923PortsmouthA0–39,8671510 November 1923PortsmouthH1–19,000Capper1624 November 1923Exeter CityH1–04,000Williams178 December 1923Aberdare AthleticH1–16,000Clayson1822 December 1923GillinghamH3–25,000Johnstone, Clayson, Parker1925 December 1923Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticA4–25,000Parker (2)2026 December 1923Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticH2–07,000Clayson, Parker2129 December 1923MillwallA1–49,000Parker (pen)225 January 1924MillwallH1–37,000Amos (og)2326 January 1924Newport CountyH0–05,000242 February 1924Merthyr TownA0–26,000259 February 1924Merthyr TownH0–03,0002616 February 1924Charlton AthleticA1–33,000Parker2724 February 1924Charlton AthleticH0–05,000281 March 1924Norwich CityA3–27,000Parker (2), Williams298 March 1924Norwich CityH3–07,794Mulford, Parker, Inglis3015 March 1924Swindon TownH2–26,000Alton (pen), Parker3119 March 1924GillinghamA0–68,0003222 March 1924Swindon TownA1–26,000Parker3329 March 1924WatfordH4–16,500Parker (2), Garnish, Clayson342 April 1924Exeter CityA0–13,500355 April 1924WatfordA1–04,500Williams3612 April 1924Swansea TownH2–27,000Parker, Clayson3718 April 1924ReadingA0–111,87823819 April 1924Swansea TownA0–46,0003921 April 1924ReadingH4–15,000Williams (2), Parker, Alton (pen)4022 April 1924Newport CountyA2–36,000Hughes, Parker4126 April 1924Northampton TownH1–03,000Clayson423 May 1924Northampton TownA3–24,000Hughes (3)

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)Notes5QR1 December 1923Botwell MissionA1–27,629ParkerMatch played at RAF Stadium, Uxbridge.5QR (replay)5 December 1923Botwell MissionH2–06,200Clayson, Parker (pen)6QR15 December 1923PortsmouthH1–19,059Clayson6QR (replay)19 December 1923PortsmouthA0–111,664

Sources: Statto, 100 Years of Brentford, The Complete History

Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1923–24 season. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepersGKWilliam YoungSouth Shields1920DefendersDFPhilip AllenGrenadier Guards1922DFCharles Alton Rotherham County1921DFGeorge KellThe Wednesday1922DFJohn PearsonBurnley1923MidfieldersHBCyril HunterLeadgate Park1921HBBill InglisDerby County1922HBRoland JamesWest Bromwich Albion1922HBHorace Jonesn/aTon Pentre1922HBJames KerrBlackburn Rovers1921ForwardsFWFreddy Capper (c)8 May 1892 (aged 32)The Wednesday1921FWBilly Clayson Wellingborough Town1922FWTom GarnishWandsworth1923FWPatsy HendrenQueens Park Rangers1911Played when his cricket commitments allowedFWBobby HughesSheffield United1923FWGordon JohnstoneHoughton Rovers1922FWSidney MulfordKew Association1922FWReginald Parker Boldon Comrades1922FWHenry Parkinson Hazel Grove1923 FWHarry WilliamsManchester United1923Players who left the club mid-seasonDFBert Gower Ealing Celtic1923Amateur, transferred to Southall Sources: Timeless Bees, Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939, 100 Years Of Brentford

Coaching staff NameRole Archie MitchellManager Dusty RhodesTrainer

Statistics

Appearances and goals

PosNatNameLeagueFA CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKWilliam Young42040460DFBert Gower200020DFPhilip Allen200020DFCharles Alton31200312DFGeorge Kell24040280DFJohn Pearson26040300HBCyril Hunter31230342HBBill Inglis30140341HBRoland James15000150HBHorace Jones12010130HBJames Kerr23040270FWFreddy Capper23340273FWBilly Clayson268322910FWTom Garnish19110201FWPatsy Hendren27040310FWBobby Hughes16710177FWGordon Johnstone29100291FWSidney Mulford14200142FWReginald Parker3918424320FWHenry Parkinson720072FWHarry Williams25530285 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford

Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL3FACTotalFWReginald Parker18220FWBilly Clayson9211FWBobby Hughes707HBHarry Williams505FWFreddy Capper303DFCharles Alton202HBCyril Hunter202FWSidney Mulford202FWHenry Parkinson202FWTom Garnish101HBBill Inglis101FWGordon Johnstone101Opponents101Total41445 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford

Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Archie Mitchell25 August 19233 May 1924 |

Summary Games played 46 (42 Third Division South, 4 FA Cup)Games won 14 (13 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)Games drawn 14 (12 Third Division South, 2 FA Cup)Games lost 18 (17 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)Goals scored 45 (41 Third Division South, 4 FA Cup)Goals conceded 55 (51 Third Division South, 4 FA Cup)Clean sheets 9 (8 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)Biggest league win 3–0 versus Norwich City, 8 March 1924; 4–1 on two occasionsWorst league defeat 6–0 versus Gillingham, 19 March 1924Most appearances 46, William Young (42 Third Division South, 4 FA Cup)Top scorer (league) 18, Reginald ParkerTop scorer (all competitions) 20, Reginald Parker

Transfers & loans Cricketers are not included in this list. Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.July 1923FW Henry Parkinson Hazel GroveFreeJuly 1923DF John Pearson BurnleyFreeAugust 1923DF Bert Gower Ealing CelticFreeAugust 1923FW Bobby Hughes Sheffield UnitedFreeSeptember 1923FW Harry Williams Manchester United£3001923FW James Batchelor Gillinghamn/a1923FW Tom Garnish WandsworthFree1923FW Arthur Isaac Cambridge TownAmateurPlayers transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.February 1924DF Bert Gower SouthallAmateurPlayers releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.May 1924DF Philip Allen Peterborough & Fletton United1924May 1924FW Freddy CapperRetiredMay 1924FW Bobby Hughes Rochdale1924May 1924HB Cyril Hunter South ShieldsSeptember 1924May 1924HB Roland James Stockport County1924May 1924HB James Kerr Annandale United1924May 1924FW Sidney Mulford Northfleet United1924May 1924FW Henry Parkinson Lytham1924May 1924DF John Pearson Grimsby Town1924

Notes

References