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Brentford
1942–43 season
ChairmanLouis P. Simon
Manager Harry Curtis
Stadium Griffin Park
Football League South 9th
Football League South War Cup Group stage
Top goalscorerLeague: Townsend (18)
All: Townsend (19)
Highest home attendance23,180
Lowest home attendance3,210
Average home league attendance25,768
←  1941–42
1943–44 →

During the 1942–43 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League South, due to the cessation of competitive football for the duration of the Second World War. Early in a mid-table season for the club, inside forward Len Townsend notably scored six goals in a 9–4 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, the most-ever in any match by a Brentford player.

Season summary

Brentford returned to the Football League South for the 1942–43 season with cause for optimism, having generated over £20,000 (equivalent to £991,700 in 2024) from the semi-finals and the final of the club's victorious 1941–42 London War Cup campaign. [1] Again the first team squad would be hit by a lack of unavailability of players, with no goalkeeper available for the second season in succession. [2] Despite averaging only 12 appearances per season since the war began, centre forward Len Townsend had been averaging nearly a goal a game and was in fantastic form, scoring 17 goals in a 17 match spell, including six in a 9–4 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on 12 September 1942. [2] The record of six goals in a single match bettered the official club record of five, but due to the unofficial nature of wartime football, Townsend does not hold the club record outright. [3]

Brentford's league form held up until the turn of the year then fell apart, losing 10 of the final 15 matches of the season in all competitions. [2] Guest forwards Eddie Perry and Douglas Hunt, who had scored the bulk of the team's goals since the beginning of the 1940–41 season failed to find the net with such regularity, though Albion Rovers' guest Tommy Kiernan notably scored 9 goals in his 10 appearances. [2] The discontinuation of the London War Cup meant that the Bees would be unable to defend their crown, so the club were entered into the Football League South War Cup, which ended in elimination in the group stages. [4] Brentford finished the league season in 9th place and Len Townsend scored 19 goals in 20 appearances. [4]

League tables

Football League South

Main article: 1942–43 in English football
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts
8 Aldershot 28 14 2 12 87 77 1.130 30
9 Brentford 28 12 5 11 64 63 1.016 29
10 Charlton Athletic 28 13 3 12 68 75 0.907 29
Source: Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation

Football League South War Cup

Main article: Football League War Cup
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts
1 Queens Park Rangers 6 4 1 1 16 8 2.000 9
2 Southampton 6 4 0 2 14 6 2.333 8
3 Clapton Orient 6 1 2 3 6 14 0.429 4
4 Brentford 6 1 1 4 7 15 0.467 3
Source: A Record Of British Wartime Football [4]

Results

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League South

No. Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s)
1 29 August 1942 Clapton Orient H 2–2 3,210 Holliday, D. Hunt
2 5 September 1942 Fulham A 1–3 4,600 D. Hunt
3 12 September 1942 Brighton & Hove Albion H 9–4 4,020 Townsend (6), Kiernan (2), D. Hunt
4 19 September 1942 Chelsea H 0–2 8,480
5 26 September 1942 Queens Park Rangers A 1–4 8,000 Kiernan
6 3 October 1942 Watford H 3–0 3,590 Wilkins, Hopkins, D. Hunt
7 10 October 1942 West Ham United H 6–2 7,000 Kiernan, Fenton ( og), Townsend (2)
8 17 October 1942 Arsenal A 2–0 16,700 Smith, Kiernan
9 24 October 1942 Aldershot H 4–1 5,000 D. Hunt, Townsend, Aicken, Kiernan
10 31 October 1942 Luton Town H 2–2 5,000 Sneddon, Townsend
11 7 November 1942 Millwall A 2–1 4,557 D. Hunt, Perry
12 14 November 1942 Charlton Athletic A 4–1 3,000 Perry (2), Townsend, D. Hunt
13 21 November 1942 Reading H 3–3 5,390 Kiernan, D. Hunt (2)
14 28 November 1942 Clapton Orient A 0–2 2,500
15 5 December 1942 Fulham H 4–2 5,200 Townsend (3), McKenzie
16 12 December 1942 Brighton & Hove Albion A 2–7 4,000 Townsend, D. Hunt
17 19 December 1942 Chelsea A 4–2 8,154 Townsend, McKenzie (2), Hopkins
18 25 December 1942 Tottenham Hotspur A 1–1 14,621 Townsend
19 26 December 1942 Tottenham Hotspur H 2–1 12,540 Townsend, Hopkins
20 2 January 1943 Queens Park Rangers H 2–0 7,500 D. Hunt (2)
21 9 January 1943 Watford A 0–2 2,177
22 16 January 1943 West Ham United A 1–4 7,500 Perry
23 23 January 1943 Arsenal H 0–1 23,180
24 30 January 1943 Aldershot A 1–2 4,000 Townsend
25 6 February 1943 Luton Town A 1–1 3,000 Hunt ( og)
26 13 February 1943 Millwall H 3–1 5,150 McCulloch (2), Perry
27 20 February 1943 Charlton Athletic H 3–5 4,680 James, Armstrong, Smith
28 27 February 1943 Reading A 1–7 4,000 Henley

Football League South War Cup

Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s)
Grp 6 March 1943 Queens Park Rangers H 1–2 10,520 O'Donnell
Grp 13 March 1943 Clapton Orient A 1–1 3,707 Hopkins
Grp 20 March 1943 Southampton H 1–6 6,600 Townsend
Grp 27 March 1943 Queens Park Rangers A 0–2 9,954
Grp 3 April 1943 Clapton Orient H 3–2 4,080 D. Hunt (2, 1 pen), Hopkins
Grp 10 April 1943 Southampton A 1–2 13,000 Holliday
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford [2]

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1942–43 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Defenders
DF Buster Brown England (1910-09-06)6 September 1910 (aged 31) Huddersfield Town 1937
DF George Poyser England (1910-02-06)6 February 1910 (aged 32) Port Vale 1934
Midfielders
HB Joe James England (1910-01-13)13 January 1910 (aged 32) Battersea Church 1929
HB Ernest Muttitt England (1908-07-24)24 July 1908 (aged 34) Middlesbrough 1932 Guest for Chelsea, West Ham United
Forwards
FW Vic Aicken Ireland (1914-10-29)29 October 1914 (aged 27) Glentoran 1937 Guest for Watford
FW Tommy Cheetham England (1910-10-11)11 October 1910 (aged 31) Queens Park Rangers 1939
FW Jack Holliday England (1908-12-19)19 December 1908 (aged 33) Middlesbrough 1932
FW Idris Hopkins Wales (1910-10-11)11 October 1910 (aged 31) Crystal Palace 1932
FW Billy Scott England (1907-12-06)6 December 1907 (aged 34) Middlesbrough 1932
FW Les Smith England (1918-03-13)13 March 1918 (aged 24) Petersham 1934
FW Len Townsend England (1917-08-31)31 August 1917 (aged 24) Hayes 1937 Guest for Belfast Celtic
FW George Wilkins England (1919-10-27)27 October 1919 (aged 22) Hayes 1939
Guest players
GK Harry Dukes England (1912-03-31)31 March 1912 (aged 30) Norwich City 1941 Guest from Norwich City
GK Ken Groves England (1921-10-09)9 October 1921 (aged 20) Preston North End 1943 Guest from Preston North End
GK John Jackson Scotland (1906-11-29)29 November 1906 (aged 35) Chelsea 1942 Guest from Chelsea
GK Bill Mason England (1908-10-31)31 October 1908 (aged 33) Queens Park Rangers 1942 Guest from Queens Park Rangers
GK Reg Saphin England (1916-08-08)8 August 1916 (aged 26) Walthamstow Avenue 1943 Guest from Walthamstow Avenue
DF Alex Muir Scotland n/a Albion Rovers 1942 Guest from Albion Rovers
HB Ernie Collett England (1914-11-17)17 November 1914 (aged 27) Arsenal 1943 Guest from Arsenal
HB Duncan McKenzie Scotland (1912-08-10)10 August 1912 (aged 30) Middlesbrough 1943 Guest from Middlesbrough
HB Tally Sneddon Scotland (1914-04-01)1 April 1914 (aged 28) Swansea Town 1942 Guest from Swansea Town
HB Bill Whittaker England (1922-12-20)20 December 1922 (aged 19) Charlton Athletic 1942 Guest from Charlton Athletic
FW Matt Armstrong Scotland (1911-11-12)12 November 1911 (aged 30) Aberdeen 1942 Guest from Aberdeen
FW Albert Bonass England (1911-05-29)29 May 1911 (aged 31) Queens Park Rangers 1942 Guest from Queens Park Rangers
FW Walter Boyes England (1913-01-05)5 January 1913 (aged 29) Everton 1943 Guest from Everton
FW Edwin Cunningham England (1919-09-20)20 September 1919 (aged 22) Bristol City 1942 Guest from Bristol City
FW Harry Dooley England n/a Unattached 1943 Guest
FW Allenby Driver England (1919-09-29)29 September 1919 (aged 22) Sheffield Wednesday 1943 Guest from Sheffield Wednesday
FW Jack Finch England (1909-02-03)3 February 1909 (aged 33) Fulham 1943 Guest from Fulham
FW Dick Foss England (1912-11-12)12 November 1912 (aged 29) Chelsea 1942 Guest from Chelsea
FW Pat Gallacher Scotland (1913-01-09)9 January 1913 (aged 29) Bournemouth 1942 Guest from Bournemouth
FW Les Henley England (1922-09-26)26 September 1922 (aged 19) Arsenal 1943 Guest from Arsenal
FW Dennis Hillman England (1918-11-27)27 November 1918 (aged 23) Brighton & Hove Albion 1943 Guest from Brighton & Hove Albion
FW Douglas Hunt England (1914-05-19)19 May 1914 (aged 28) Sheffield Wednesday 1942 Guest from Sheffield Wednesday
FW Tommy Kiernan Scotland (1918-10-20)20 October 1918 (aged 23) Albion Rovers 1942 Guest from Albion Rovers
FW David McCulloch Scotland (1912-10-05)5 October 1912 (aged 29) Derby County 1943 Guest from Derby County
FW Milton England n/a Fulham 1943 Amateur, guest from Fulham
FW Frank O'Donnell Scotland (1911-08-31)31 August 1911 (aged 30) Blackpool 1943 Guest from Blackpool
FW Eddie Perry Wales (1909-01-19)19 January 1909 (aged 33) Doncaster Rovers 1942 Guest from Doncaster Rovers
FW Reg Pugh Wales (1917-07-28)28 July 1917 (aged 25) Cardiff City 1942 Guest from Cardiff City
FW Jack Vidler England (1905-06-13)13 June 1905 (aged 37) Bristol City 1943 Guest from Bristol City
  • Sources: Timeless Bees, [5] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939, [6] 100 Years Of Brentford [2]

Coaching staff

Name Role
England Harry Curtis Manager
Scotland Jimmy Bain Assistant Manager
England Bob Kane Trainer
England Jack Cartmell Assistant Trainer

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Brentford's highest appearance-makers in each position during the Football League South season.
Pos Nat Name League FL War Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
DF England Buster Brown 28 0 6 0 34 0
DF England George Poyser 25 0 6 0 31 0
HB England Joe James 27 1 6 0 33 1
HB England Ernest Muttitt 6 0 4 0 10 0
FW Ireland Vic Aicken 2 1 — 2 1
FW England Tommy Cheetham 2 0 — 2 0
FW England Jack Holliday 5 2 1 1 6 3
FW Wales Idris Hopkins 22 3 6 2 28 5
FW England Billy Scott 2 0 — 2 0
FW England Les Smith 20 2 6 0 26 2
FW England Len Townsend 19 18 1 1 20 19
FW England George Wilkins 4 1 — 4 1
Players guested during the season
GK England Harry Dukes 1 0 — 1 0
GK England Ken Groves — 1 0 1 0
GK Scotland John Jackson 26 0 3 0 29 0
GK England Bill Mason 1 0 — 1 0
GK England Reg Saphin — 1 0 1 0
DF Scotland Alex Muir 2 0 — 2 0
HB England Ernie Collett — 3 0 3 0
HB Scotland Duncan McKenzie 25 3 4 0 29 3
HB Scotland Tally Sneddon 18 1 — 18 1
HB England Bill Whittaker 8 0 1 0 9 0
FW Scotland Matt Armstrong 3 1 — 3 1
FW England Albert Bonass 1 0 — 1 0
FW England Walter Boyes 2 0 — 2 0
FW England Edwin Cunningham 1 0 — 1 0
FW England Harry Dooley — 1 0 1 0
FW England Allenby Driver 1 0 — 1 0
FW England Jack Finch 1 0 1 0 1 0
FW England Dick Foss 1 0 — 1 0
FW Scotland Pat Gallacher 1 0 — 1 0
FW England Les Henley 1 1 — 1 1
FW England Dennis Hillman 1 0 — 1 0
FW England Douglas Hunt 24 12 5 2 29 14
FW Scotland Tommy Kiernan 10 9 — 10 9
FW Scotland David McCulloch 2 2 — 2 2
FW England Milton 1 0 1 0 2 0
FW Scotland Frank O'Donnell 1 1 — 1 1
FW Wales Reg Pugh 1 0 — 1 0
FW Wales Eddie Perry 13 5 5 0 18 5
FW England Jack Vidler 1 0 — 1 0
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford [2]

Goalscorers

Pos. Nat Player FLS FLC Total
FW England Len Townsend 18 1 19
FW England Douglas Hunt 12 2 14
FW Scotland Tommy Kiernan 9 — 9
FW Wales Eddie Perry 5 0 5
FW Wales Idris Hopkins 3 2 5
HB Scotland Duncan McKenzie 3 0 3
FW England Jack Holliday 2 1 3
FW Scotland David McCulloch 2 — 2
FW England Les Smith 2 0 2
FW Ireland Vic Aicken 1 — 1
FW Scotland Matt Armstrong 1 — 1
FW England Les Henley 1 — 1
FW Scotland Frank O'Donnell 1 — 1
HB Scotland Tally Sneddon 1 — 1
FW England George Wilkins 1 — 1
HB England Joe James 1 0 1
Opponents 2 0 2
Total 64 7 71
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford [2]

Wartime international caps

Pos. Nat Player Caps Goals Ref
FW Wales Idris Hopkins 2 0 [7]

Management

Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
P W D L W % P W D L W %
Harry Curtis England 29 August 1942 10 April 1943 34 13 6 15 038.24 28 12 5 11 042.86

Summary

Games played 34 (28 London League, 6 Football League War Cup)
Games won 13 (12 London League, 1 Football League War Cup)
Games drawn 6 (5 London League, 1 Football League War Cup)
Games lost 15 (11 London League, 4 Football League War Cup)
Goals scored 71 (64 London League, 7 Football League War Cup)
Goals conceded 78 (63 London League, 15 Football League War Cup)
Clean sheets 3 (3 London League, 0 Football League War Cup)
Biggest league win 9–4 versus Brighton & Hove Albion, 12 September 1942
Worst league defeat 7–1 versus Reading, 27 February 1943
Most appearances 34, Buster Brown (28 London League, 6 Football League War Cup)
Top scorer (league) 18, Len Townsend
Top scorer (all competitions) 19, Len Townsend

Transfers & loans

Guest players' arrival and departure dates correspond to their first and last appearances of the season.
Guest players in
Date from Pos. Name Previous Club Date to Ref.
29 August 1942 FW England Albert Bonass England Queens Park Rangers 29 August 1942 [2]
29 August 1942 FW England Douglas Hunt England Sheffield Wednesday End of season [2]
29 August 1942 GK England Bill Mason England Queens Park Rangers 29 August 1942 [2]
29 August 1942 HB Scotland Duncan McKenzie England Middlesbrough End of season [2]
5 September 1942 FW England Edwin Cunningham England Bristol City 5 September 1942 [2]
5 September 1942 GK Scotland John Jackson England Chelsea 20 March 1943 [2]
5 September 1942 HB Scotland Tally Sneddon Wales Swansea Town 27 February 1943 [2]
5 September 1942 HB England Bill Whittaker England Charlton Athletic End of season [2]
12 September 1942 FW Scotland Tommy Kiernan Scotland Albion Rovers 19 December 1942 [2]
26 September 1942 FW Scotland Pat Gallacher England Portsmouth 26 September 1942 [2]
26 September 1942 FW Wales Reg Pugh Wales Cardiff City 26 September 1942 [2]
10 October 1942 FW Scotland Matt Armstrong Scotland Aberdeen 20 February 1943 [2]
31 October 1942 FW Wales Eddie Perry England Doncaster Rovers 3 April 1943 [2]
12 December 1942 GK England Harry Dukes England Norwich City 12 December 1942 [2]
19 December 1942 FW England Dick Foss England Chelsea 19 December 1942 [2]
25 December 1942 DF Scotland Alex Muir Scotland Albion Rovers 26 December 1942 [2]
2 January 1943 FW England Allenby Driver England Sheffield Wednesday 2 January 1943 [2]
2 January 1943 FW England Jack Finch England Fulham 6 March 1943 [2]
9 January 1943 FW England Jack Vidler England Bristol City 9 January 1943 [2]
23 January 1943 FW Scotland David McCulloch England Derby County 13 February 1943 [2]
6 February 1943 FW England Walter Boyes England Everton 13 February 1943 [2]
20 February 1943 FW England Milton Unattached 13 March 1943 [2]
27 February 1943 FW England Les Henley England Arsenal 27 February 1943 [2]
27 February 1943 FW England Dennis Hillman England Brighton & Hove Albion 27 February 1943 [2]
6 March 1943 FW Scotland Frank O'Donnell England Blackpool 6 March 1943 [2]
20 March 1943 HB England Ernie Collett England Arsenal 3 April 1943 [2]
27 March 1943 FW England Harry Dooley Unattached End of season [2]
27 March 1943 GK England Ken Groves England Preston North End 27 March 1943 [2]
3 April 1943 GK England Reg Saphin England Walthamstow Avenue End of season [2]
Guest players out
Date from Pos. Name To Date to Ref.
8 August 1942 GK Scotland Joe Crozier Scotland Hibernian 5 September 1942 [8]
12 December 1942 HB Ireland Vic Aicken England Watford 19 December 1942 [9]
9 January 1943 HB England Ernest Muttitt England West Ham United 9 January 1943 [10]
27 March 1943 HB England Ernest Muttitt England Chelsea 10 April 1943 [11]
n/a FW England Len Townsend Ireland Belfast Celtic 1943 [12]

References

  1. ^ White 1989, p. 174.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 377. ISBN  0951526200.
  3. ^ Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z of Bees: Brentford Encyclopaedia. Yore Publications. pp. 62–63. ISBN  1 874427 57 7.
  4. ^ a b c McColl, Brian (2014). A Record of British Wartime Football. lulu.com. pp. 171–174. ISBN  1291840893.
  5. ^ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN  978-0955294914.
  6. ^ Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN  190589161X.
  7. ^ "Dai Hopkins". 11v11.com. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  8. ^ "Hibernian Player Joseph Crozier, Games Played". www.fitbastats.com. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  9. ^ "Seasons – 1940–41 to 1949–50" (PDF). Watford Football Club archive 1881–2017. p. 5. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  10. ^ "Ernie [ww 2] Muttitt". www.westhamstats.info. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  11. ^ "1942–43 Wartime League". TheChels.info – The Chelsea Football Club Wiki. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  12. ^ Haynes 1998, p. 74.
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