Mel Scott

[WisBee]

Scott was the best player I have ever seen at Brentford by a long way and that was when we had an abundance of good players. Even Higginson looks good now.

...........................even Jay Smith wouldn't look out of place nowadays..............

 

[TW1Bee]

Lawther had some skill too, he was strong and good in the air but had some ability - N Ireland international. Later had many years at Halifax as a centre half

Got sent off on his first appearance back at GP playing for Halifax. I remember everyone being shocked as it was a dreadful decision

 

[North London Bee]

Got sent off on his first appearance back at GP playing for Halifax. I remember everyone being shocked as it was a dreadful decision

forgot about that. Think it was a 1-1 draw with Olly Mansley scoring with a 20yard header.

Always remember Lawther for that headed equaliser in the 1-1 Southendhome game at the time of the abortive QPR takeover.

 

[62-63]

Mel Scott was a real top quality player.
Cakebread
Coote
Anthony
Higginson
Scott
Crowe
Block
Brooks
Mcadams
Dick
Mcleod.

Despite the passing of time and the fact that football has moved on none of our current players would get anywhere near that team.I say that with no pleasure it really is very sad.

 

[roddy]

Fred Ryecraft played in Goal for good few games as Cakebread was injured. The team photo I have shows Ryecraft in Goal.


What a great season that was , you felt that we would score whenever the fancy took us.

 

[Santa Barbara Bee]

Come to think of it, Fred would have slotted in quite nicely with the current XI.

 

[62-63]

Fred Ryecraft played in Goal for good few games as Cakebread was injured. The team photo I have shows Ryecraft in Goal.


What a great season that was , you felt that we would score whenever the fancy took us.

Yes Fred did play quite a few games,which makes it quite an achievement by the Bees to win the championship.
The team I quoted is the only Brentford side I can reel off withoiut having to stop and think.

 

[roddy]

Yes Fred did play quite a few games,which makes it quite an achievement by the Bees to win the championship.
The team I quoted is the only Brentford side I can reel off withoiut having to stop and think.

Same here and of course the 1966 England World Cup team.

 

[Santa Barbara Bee]

Ditto. And I also remember the 1961 Spurs double winning team (probably because my grandfather supported them). RE: the 1962-63 Bees team, don't forget Jimmy Gitsham, who played a significant role at left back. Happy Days!

 

[62-63]

I know this is the Mel Scott thread ,but do any of you oldies remember Mickey
Ball who played loads of games for the reserves.I don t remember him ever playing a first team game. Also did he remain as an amateur? I think he was a winger and seemed to score quite often.

 

[roddy]

Can't claim to know the Spurs team, but recall Jimmy Gitsham very well. I think he was got at by the crowd after a series of unfortuanate mistakes. I used to know Ian Dyke who is in fact Gregs brother who played in the youth team with Jimmy and Peter Gelson. Always said Jimmy was the best left back he ever played with. Gelson apparently struggled to get in the side.

 

[KGB]

Rumour was that Micky Ball had a rich dad who was a supporter - transport firm or something?? Seem to remember that little Micky was shaped a little like a ball, tho' a pretty large one.

If you were watching the reserves in that era, do you remember John Todd, a right winger from iirc a Sheffield junior-league team? Would have fitted into our 1st Xi well today, argh..................

 

[TW1Bee]

I know this is the Mel Scott thread ,but do any of you oldies remember Mickey
Ball who played loads of games for the reserves.I don t remember him ever playing a first team game. Also did he remain as an amateur? I think he was a winger and seemed to score quite often.

I think many of the the reserve team of that time would walk into today's 1st team. I remember also the likes of Eddie Reeves and Joe Gadston who scored loads for them.

 

[KGB]

Agree with your general point TW1, except for Micky Ball & Johnny Todd - trust me!!

Eddie Reeve, Hugh Mclaughlin, Joe Gadston, Charlie McInally -all goodish players who couldn't get into our first team at the time..

 

[62-63]

George Summers,John Hales.

 

[Wise old Bee]

Always remember Lawther for that headed equaliser in the 1-1 Southendhome game at the time of the abortive QPR takeover.

Lawther's sending off against us was the first one I ever saw. Presume it was for swearing. Not sure who the first Bee I ever saw sent off was though. In the Southend game John Etheridge missed an absolute sitter, pretty sure it was him anyway... it's all a sepia-tinted memory now.

 

[roddy]

Lawther's sending off against us was the first one I ever saw. Presume it was for swearing. Not sure who the first Bee I ever saw sent off was though. In the Southend game John Etheridge missed an absolute sitter, pretty sure it was him anyway... it's all a sepia-tinted memory now.

You may be thinking of Brian Etheridge , the ball was runnuig right accross the goal line. He rushed in and lunged at it ,whereupon it went up his leg and over the bar.First Brentford player I saw sent off was Ian Lawther away to Luton. Dropped ball on ground bounced up and hit the referee who thought he had thrown the ball at him deliberately

 

[Shirley Bee]

The photograph that hangs on my wall with Pride of place is the 4th Division Champions.The Bees of course.

Players shown are Ken Coote,Fred Ryecraft,Gerry Cakebread,Tom Anthony,Tommy Higginson,Mel Scott,Peter Gelson,Matt Crowe,Micky Block,Johnny Brooks,Bill McAdams,John Dick and George McLeod.

Fine players all of them,any would get in our team today although Paul Smith probably has the edge over Freddie Ryecraft who was later replaced by Chick Brodie.Happy days,I just got demobbed from National Service in October 62 to be met by the coldest winter on record (63).There was no games in January and only two in February.The season didn't finish until May 23rd,beating Workington 4-3 at home after being 4-0 at half time to win the Championship.

It was my first full season at Griffin Park (always was a glory hunter). I remember most of them very well, far better than many since. Having said that, I don't recall Tom Anthony. Was he a regular and what position did he play?

I also think there's a bit of rose-tinted spectacles going on here. They were in exactly the same league as we are now, and were almost certainly a lot less fit.

I don't deny the skill and entertainment – and they won the league – but I do wonder about the comparison with today. I know it's fashionable, even cathartic, to rubbish the present team, but I can't believe Kevin O'Connor, for example, wouldn't have got a game at right back.

 

[62-63]

Tom Anthony was a full back. Ken Coote who played more games for Brentford than anyone else or Kev. O , I ll stick with Ken.
I understand about looking back and say without hesitation that there are loads of players and indeed Brentford teams who were better than the 62-63 side. The team with Hurlock Kamara ,Mahoney ,Joseph Bowles etc. Holder s team promoted to Championship as they now call it.But given the same fitness levels the 62-63 side contained 3 full internationals,Mel scott u-23 Intl. there is no comparison to what we have now.

 

[roddy]

It was my first full season at Griffin Park (always was a glory hunter). I remember most of them very well, far better than many since. Having said that, I don't recall Tom Anthony. Was he a regular and what position did he play?

I also think there's a bit of rose-tinted spectacles going on here. They were in exactly the same league as we are now, and were almost certainly a lot less fit.

I don't deny the skill and entertainment – and they won the league – but I do wonder about the comparison with today. I know it's fashionable, even cathartic, to rubbish the present team, but I can't believe Kevin O'Connor, for example, wouldn't have got a game at right back.

I frankly doubt that Stanley Matthews would have got into many teams today due to increased fitness and pace of the game.

 

[brooks]

Bring back John Fielding.

 

[TW1Bee]

Bring back John Fielding.

I've mentioned John Fielding in another thread. Always thought he was class even for such a feather weight as he was.

First bees player I saw sent off was Tom Higginson after having a punch up with an animal called Eric Brodie v. Shrewsbury cica 1963, even though Higgy was only half his size

 

[brooks]

I've mentioned John Fielding in another thread. Always thought he was class even for such a feather weight as he was.

First bees player I saw sent off was Tom Higginson after having a punch up with an animal called Eric Brodie v. Shrewsbury cica 1963, even though Higgy was only half his size

I never appreciated Higginson's value to the team when I was young. If only we had 11 like him now. Or 1.

 

[roddy]

I've mentioned John Fielding in another thread. Always thought he was class even for such a feather weight as he was.

First bees player I saw sent off was Tom Higginson after having a punch up with an animal called Eric Brodie v. Shrewsbury cica 1963, even though Higgy was only half his size

I remember Higgy having a dispute with our own player Pat Terry a good player but IMO a nasty bit of work. I have often wonder if any relation to Chelsea John Terry

 

[North London Bee]

I remember the worst foul I ever saw when Pat Terry jumped up and did a 2 footed karate kick into the chest of Lawrie Brown in a 2-0 League Cup defeat by Norwich City.

Over 17,000 there that night I think!!!

 

[Wise old Bee]

I never appreciated Higginson's value to the team when I was young. If only we had 11 like him now. Or 1.

Quite true. I never thought much of him when I first came to GP as he was not exactly over-skilled compared to Docherty or Ross but he put the effort in.

To give Pat Terry credit, he had been kicked about all night against Norwich and he wasn't going to let that go unpunished was he?

 

[Sandhurstbee]

Bring back John Fielding.

He was my first `Hero/Favourite` player at Griffin Park

 

[roddy]

I remember the worst foul I ever saw when Pat Terry jumped up and did a 2 footed karate kick into the chest of Lawrie Brown in a 2-0 League Cup defeat by Norwich City.

Over 17,000 there that night I think!!!

I was there that night came down from Cambridge especially to see the game, I picked up winnings from the previous saturday at a bookies in Ealing Broadway ( got three horses in a Yankee up) . Struggling to remember the Hotshot in Norwich team at the time Hugh Curran I think. Crowd in excess of 19000.

 

[oldgreenfordian]

I was there that night came down from Cambridge especially to see the game, I picked up winnings from the previous saturday at a bookies in Ealing Broadway ( got three horses in a Yankee up) . Struggling to remember the Hotshot in Norwich team at the time Hugh Curran I think. Crowd in excess of 19000.

Yep, Hugh Curran and John Manning were a strong partnership at the front. One of them scored both of the goals, think it was Curran.
Laurie Brown spent most of the time jumping on Terry's back and the ref gave nothing.
Fairly well beaten on the night though.

 

[North London Bee]

Yep, Hugh Curran and John Manning were a strong partnership at the front. One of them scored both of the goals, think it was Curran.
Laurie Brown spent most of the time jumping on Terry's back and the ref gave nothing.
Fairly well beaten on the night though.

we murdered Hull 3-0 in the previous round with Olly Mansley running riot but wwe never got started agaonst Norwich.

 

[Wise old Bee]

17,240 odd wasn't it? It seemed rammed throughout the ground that night. I expect there were actually about 20,000+ inside GP but no doubt the club was up to its usual tricks re. attendances. It was pay at the turnstiles too. Not been too many big League Cup nights in my time but the atmosphere at the Hull and Norwich games that season was magic. I do enjoy these threads, they serve to take my mind away from the current situation at GP.

 

[roddy]

17,240 odd wasn't it? It seemed rammed throughout the ground that night. I expect there were actually about 20,000+ inside GP but no doubt the club was up to its usual tricks re. attendances. It was pay at the turnstiles too. Not been too many big League Cup nights in my time but the atmosphere at the Hull and Norwich games that season was magic. I do enjoy these threads, they serve to take my mind away from the current situation at GP.

Pretty certain it was 19000

 

[62-63]

I have the same figure as Wise ob just over 17,000.

 

[roddy]

I have the same figure as Wise ob just over 17,000.

I concede to both of you.

 

[brooks]

We used to get 17-18000 quite often even in the basement. Most of them must be dead as they aren't at the matches now. Can't think why.

 

[Savannah Bee]

19,000 against Chester in the O'Mara days. Think it was Boxing Day. Disappointing game (0-0) if I remember. I think the drains were blocked up also (again) and we had the usual six inches of water at the bottom of the terraces. More than a few booties that day!

 

[62-63]

I was reading an old programme the other day that said that John Dick was leaving the club and that he had scored 48 goals in 84 games.

 

[TW1Bee]

19,000 against Chester in the O'Mara days. Think it was Boxing Day. Disappointing game (0-0) if I remember. I think the drains were blocked up also (again) and we had the usual six inches of water at the bottom of the terraces. More than a few booties that day!

I remember that season so well. Sorry to correct you SB but I'm pretty sure the Chester game was on Easter Monday and we won 1-0. The Boxing Day fixture that season attracted 17,500 and was against Crewe when we drew
1-1 after taking the lead. Still, happy memories

 

[Savannah Bee]

I concede to your better recall TW1. Again (if I remember correctly) O'Mara had a bullet header that we all shouted goal when it left his head, somehow scrambled away by the Crewe goalie.

 

[TW1Bee]

Yup, I do remember that !!

 

[samwoodcock]

Micky Block

Hi i know its been a while since this post but im trying to track down some pictures of micheal playing football as a youngster. Im happy to say he is still with us, i play golf with him alot. Lovely man, would appreciate if any1 can help me out.

thanks, sam