1899–1900 Brentford F.C. season

After a difficult first season in the Southern League Second Division, Brentford's AGM in May 1899 revealed that the club had lost £100 on the previous season, taking the overall debt to £180 (equivalent to £20,000 in 2025).^[1] After a series of meetings, a new committee was elected in July after it was decided that the club would continue to operate on an amateur basis.^[1] On the playing side, only six members of the team that finished the previous season remained at the club – goalkeeper Ben Brown, full back George Turner, half backs 'Nick' Mattocks, Billy Smith and forwards Richard Dailley, Thomas Knapman and Charlie Evans.^[1] Incoming transfers included full back Bert Lane, half back G. Pearce and forwards E. Andrews and John Bayne.^[1]

Brentford won and drew each of the opening two Second Division fixtures, with new forward John Bayne scoring in each, before he and George Turner, both soldiers, departed for service in the Second Boer War with their regiments.^[1] Things went from bad to worse in October when the Middlesex FA opened an enquiry into Brentford's "shamateurism", the results of which saw the club fined £10 and suspended from football for a month beginning 20 November.^[1] Additionally, a number of members of the club's committee were suspended sine die or until 30 April 1900.^[1] A new committee took charge of the club and elected to turn professional.^[1]

Following the resumption of competitive play on 23 December, Brentford showed appalling form, failing to win until late March 1900.^[1] A 13-match winless streak, which stretched back to 23 September, culminated in a 7–0 thrashing at the hands of Grays United on 24 March.^[2] Additionally, a meeting had been called in January to discuss if the club could even continue, but donations of £60 (equivalent to £6,700 in 2025) helped to ensure that the Bees would survive for the immediate future.^[1] Late in the season, professional half backs Frederick Broughton and Ralph McElhaney joined the club and immediately fortunes turned around on the pitch, with Brentford winning four and drawing one of the final six matches of the season to finish in 9th position, two places off the bottom.^[1]

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

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Pos. Nation Player GK  ENG S. Andrews GK  ENG Ben Brown GK  ENG Louis Hare GK  ENG S. Marshall DF  ENG R. Davis DF  ENG E. Dicks DF  ENG Herbert Edney DF  ENG Bert Lane DF  ENG John Pilgrim MF  ENG R. Allen MF  ENG Frederick Broughton MF  ENG F. Dean MF  ENG P. Duncan MF  ENG Billy Green MF   Hay MF  ENG Joseph Hood MF  WAL T. Jones MF  ENG J. Lucas MF  ENG Alfred Mattocks MF  ENG William Mehew

Pos. Nation Player MF  SCO Ralph McElhaney MF  ENG G. Pearce MF  ENG Billy Smith FW  ENG Bert Allen FW  ENG William Allwright FW  ENG E. Andrews FW  ENG Benjamin Asbury FW   "Bailey" FW  ENG Frederick Carte FW  ENG Richard Dailley (c) FW  ENG B. Edwards FW   Charlie Evans FW  ENG M. Granger FW  ENG Thomas Knapman FW  ENG J. Read FW  ENG John Richardson FW  ENG Harry Thurston FW  ENG Alfred Townsend FW  ENG S. Vincent FW  ENG A. Watt

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Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

More information Pos., Nation ...

Pos. Nation Player DF  SCO George Turner

Pos. Nation Player FW  SCO John Bayne

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• "Bailey" is an alias
• Source: 100 Years of Brentford^[2]