This month’s artefact from my collection is a postcard stamped on December 4 1914 and sent by Brentford Football Club’s Secretary at the time, John Frederick Halliday to a player ,Bert Gibson, asking if he is free to play a game for us !
‘Would you like a game versus Gillingham at Brentford tomorrow. Have selected you to play right half. Kick off 2:30pm . Let me know tonight, if you can not come. J.F.Halliday’.
Brentford’s players were due to report back for pre-season training in the first week of August 1914, but those preparations were disrupted somewhat by Britain’s declaration of war on Germany.
Just two players had been signed up and by the middle of October 1914, the squad was totally decimated by departures and those going to serve in the army for their country.
Guest players and local amateurs were brought in to fill the void seen in the squad and for the club to adequately compete in Southern League Second Division. Bert Gibson was one of these unattached ‘guest players’ for us.
The fixture against Gillingham, was a reserve team.
The Brentford player on the actual postcard, is Frederick John Chapple. He played for Brentford during the 1912-1913 season, having been signed from Crewe Alexandra for a princely sum of £150. Yes, £150. He made 30 appearances for us and scored 11.