Brighton & Hove Albion 1912-13 Season

Brighton & Hove Albion 1912-13 Season Overview

After several years of success, Brighton & Hove Albion returned to mid table mediocrity in the Southern League in the 1912-13 season as Jack Robson’s side which had delivered such success began to break up.

Bullet Jones had started the departures when he left the Goldstone Ground for Birmingham City in December 1911. In the summer of 1912, Bill Hastings joined him at St Andrew’s for a fee of £100. Crosby Henderson left for Luton Town and Jimmy Coleman for Swansea Town while new recruits were thin on the ground, Robson only brining in two new additions in Jack Woodhouse and Frank Spencer.

Before that trophy-laden period at the start of the decade, Brighton’s campaigns were characterised by excellent home form and terrible away form. The 1912-13 season was a return to that as the Albion won just once on the road in the Southern League all year, a 1-0 win away at Norwich City on Saturday 8^th March 1913. Only nine goals were scored in 19 games and just one of those came before Christmas in a 1-1 draw against Coventry City on Saturday 14^th September.

The Albion’s goalscoring cause wasn’t helped by the sale of Jimmy Smith in November to Bradford (Park Avenue). Smith had only burst onto the scene a year earlier, scoring 24 goals in 29 appearances in the 1911-12 season before adding six in 13 in 1912-13. A huge £735 offer was too good for the Albion to turn down however and so Smith made the move to the Football League outfit.

In contrast to their away form, Brighton enjoyed a fine season at the Goldstone Ground. They lost only twice, going down 2-1 to Crystal Palace on Saturday 5^th October 1912 and 4-1 to eventual Southern League champions Plymouth Argyle on Saturday 15^th February 1913. Billy Booth missed the game with the Pilgrims as he was England’s reserve for their 2-1 defeat to Ireland in Belfast, the first Brighton player to receive an England callup.

Among the impressive home results were victories over seventh placed finishers Exeter City on Christmas Day (1-0) and against fourth-placed Queens Park Rangers (4-1) on Saturday 29^th March 1913. There was also a 2-0 victory over Swindon Town on the final day of the season, which ensured that the title went to Plymouth.

Brighton and Swindon had quite the rivalry at the time, the two having slugged it out for both the Southern League championship and the Southern Professional Charity Cup over the preceding years, so denying the Robins the title provided a satisfying end to the campaign for the Albion.

The good home performances were not just restricted to the league either. Brighton held the might of Everton to a 0-0 draw in the second round of the FA Cup at the Goldstone following a fine 2-1 win at Portsmouth in round one.

The Merseysiders offered to switch the tie to Goodison Park to ensure a bigger share of gate receipts for the Albion. Brighton said no and instead, Everton came south on Saturday 1^st February 1913. The visitors never got to grasp with a terrible pitch and the Albion dominated the tie, giving a brilliant performance that deserved more than a replay.

Over 30,000 packed into Goodison four days later and again Brighton were more than a match for their illustrious hosts. Everton needed extra time to finally break the Albion’s resistance, England international Frank Jeffries eventually beating Bob Whitting to send the Toffees into the third round.

There was further success in the Southern Charity Cup, where the Albion made it to the final for the third time in four seasons. Southampton were eliminated following a 4-1 first round replay win at the Goldstone on Wednesday 29^th January 1913. A replay was again required to see off Reading in round two as a 3-1 extra time victory set up a trip to Watford, who were beaten 2-1 in the semi final at Cassio Road. The final took place on Monday 28^th April 1913 at the Den, but Brighton found Queens Park Rangers too strong as they were well beaten 4-1.

The Southern Alliance, a new midweek competition, made its debut in the 1912-13 season. The league was the brainchild of Brighton chairman Peter Vey and nine Southern League clubs signed up for the additional income and matches the competition would provide. The Albion enjoyed themselves, finishing second in the table behind Croydon Common with eight wins, five draws and three defeats from their 16 games.

Charlie Webb ended the campaign as top scorer with 13 goals in all competitions. Gunner Higham played in 51 games, more than any other player.