Wikipedia

1942–43 Brentford F.C. season

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.

Brentford
1942–43 season
ChairmanLouis P. Simon
ManagerHarry Curtis
StadiumGriffin Park
Football League South9th
Football League South War CupGroup stage
Top goalscorerLeague: Townsend (18)
All: Townsend (19)
Highest home attendance23,180
Lowest home attendance3,210
Average home league attendance25,768

Season summary

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Brentford returned to the Football League South for the 1942–43 season with cause for optimism, having generated over £20,000 (equivalent to £1,177,400 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

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Football League South

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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

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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

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Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

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Win Draw Loss

Football League South

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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

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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

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

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

Statistics

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Appearances and goals

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

Goalscorers

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Pos. Nat Player FLS FLC Total
FW   Len Townsend 18 1 19
FW   Douglas Hunt 12 2 14
FW   Tommy Kiernan 9 — 9
FW   Eddie Perry 5 0 5
FW   Idris Hopkins 3 2 5
HB   Duncan McKenzie 3 0 3
FW   Jack Holliday 2 1 3
FW   David McCulloch 2 — 2
FW   Les Smith 2 0 2
FW   Vic Aicken 1 — 1
FW   Matt Armstrong 1 — 1
FW   Les Henley 1 — 1
FW   Frank O'Donnell 1 — 1
HB   Tally Sneddon 1 — 1
FW   George Wilkins 1 — 1
HB   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

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

Management

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

Summary

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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

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

References

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  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. ^ "Season: 1942/1943". Watford Football Club Archive. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  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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