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 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 would be 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, 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 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 at the end of season. He received a Long Service Medal from the Football League in recognition.
League table
Results
Legend
Football League Third Division South
FA Cup
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer |
| 1R | 19 November 1955 | March Town United | H | 4–0 | 13,300 | Stobbart, Towers, Francis |
| 2R | 10 December 1955 | Leyton Orient | A | 1–4 | 17,490 | Taylor |
- Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford, ,
Playing squad
- Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford, Timeless Bees
Coaching staff
Statistics
Appearances and goals
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: 100 Years Of Brentford
Goalscorers
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: 100 Years Of Brentford
Amateur international caps