1897–98 Brentford F.C. season


During the 1897–98 English football season, Brentford competed in the London League First Division. A hugely successful season saw the Bees win the London Senior Cup, the Middlesex Senior Cup and finish as runners-up in the league.

Season summary

After winning promotion from the London League Second Division at the first attempt, the Brentford committee bolstered the team's firepower for its first season in the First Division by signing forwards Thomas Knapman, John Richardson and Ernest Booth. Goalkeeper Jack Foster, then one of the club's highest appearance-makers, elected to retire from football and Arthur Charlton, one of the club's first great players, moved to Nottingham and was succeeded as captain by Herbert Edney – though Charlton would return to play for Brentford sporadically through the season.
Brentford obliterated all opposition throughout the season, with the goals of forward Oakey Field providing the firepower to help the club win the London Senior Cup and the Middlesex Senior Cup. The pileup of London League fixtures meant that the Bees had to close the season with seven matches in just over three weeks, which included two matches in one day on 16 April. Brentford went into the final day of the season knowing that a victory over strugglers Barking Woodville would seal the league title, but the best the jaded team could manage was a 0–0 draw, which allowed Thames Ironworks, who won their final match, to finish the season as champions.

League table

Results

Legend

London League First Division

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultScorer
1QR25 September 18971st Coldstream GuardsH6–1Wade, Knapman, Field, untraced
2QR16 October 18973rd Grenadier GuardsH1–1Swann
2QR 20 October 18973rd Grenadier GuardsA1–4Richardson

London Senior Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultScorerNotes
1R22 January 1898StanleyH4–2Field, Dailley
2R19 February 1898ClaptonH4–1Dailley, Earle, Field, Swann
SF12 March 1898CasualsN4–3Field, Knapman
F2 April 1898IlfordN5–1Lloyd, Field, Booth

Middlesex Senior Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultScorerNotes
1R29 January 18981st Scots GuardsH4–2Field, Booth, Knapman
2R26 February 18982nd Grenadier GuardsH0–0
2R 5 March 18982nd Grenadier GuardsH3–1Newman, Booth
SF19 March 18983rd Grenadier GuardsN4–1Field, Booth, Richardson
F28 April 18982nd Scots GuardsN3–2 Field, Charlton, Knapman

Management

Summary