1940–41 Brentford F.C. season explained

Club:Brentford
Season:1940–41
Manager:Harry Curtis
Chairman:Louis P. Simon
Stadium:Griffin Park
League:Football League South
League Result:20th
Cup1:Football League War Cup
Cup1 Result:Second round
Cup2:London War Cup
Cup2 Result:Runners-up
League Topscorer:Hopkins (10)
Season Topscorer:Perry (21)
Highest Attendance:5,000
Lowest Attendance:400
Prevseason:1939–40
Nextseason:1941–42

During the 1940–41 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. Though the Bees finished well down in the league placings, the club enjoyed some measure of success in the London War Cup, finishing as runners-up to Reading.

Season summary

In Brentford's first full season of wartime football during the Second World War, low crowds and takings of just £30–40 per match during the first half of the Football League South season brought about fears that the club would be unable to fulfil the remaining fixtures of the season. Manager Harry Curtis, backed by his directors, elected to carry on and welcome respite was found in the new London War Cup, in which the Bees advanced to the final, largely helped by 8 goals in five matches from guest forward Eddie Perry. Despite a further two goals for Perry in the final, Brentford finished as runners-up to Reading, losing 3–2 at Stamford Bridge.

League tables

Football League South

See main article: article and 1940–41 in English football.

London War Cup Group A

Results

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

WinDrawLoss

Football League South

No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)Notes
131 August 1940Clapton OrientH2–21,123Wilkins, McKenzie (pen)
27 September 1940ChelseaA1–23,500Wilkins[1]
314 September 1940Charlton AthleticH1–1600McKenzie (pen)
421 September 1940ArsenalA1–31,700Hunt
55 October 1940Clapton OrientA0–1500
612 October 1940Charlton AthleticA4–1800Hunt (2), Townsend (2)[2]
719 October 1940FulhamH8–31,300Hunt (3), Hopkins, McKenzie (pen), Townsend (2), Muttitt
826 October 1940ArsenalH3–31,200Townsend (2), Muttitt
92 November 1940PortsmouthH3–1500Ferris, Cheetham, Hopkins
1016 November 1940West Ham UnitedH0–2400
1123 November 1940FulhamA0–3600
127 December 1940ReadingH2–3600Hopkins, McKenzie (pen)
1314 December 1940MillwallA0–31,250
1421 December 1940PortsmouthA3–21,814Holliday (2), Wilkins
1525 December 1940Queens Park RangersH2–13,725Wilkins, Hunt
1628 December 1940MillwallH3–21,759Hunt, Boulter
1715 March 1941Crystal PalaceH2–34,000Perry, Hopkins
1822 March 1941Crystal PalaceA0–52,638
1919 April 1941MillwallH5–22,500Perry, Hopkins, Townsend
203 May 1941West Ham UnitedA2–33,000Hopkins (2)
2110 May 1941FulhamH2–32,670Bamford, Holliday
2217 May 1941ReadingA4–15,000Perry (3), Holliday
2324 May 1941ReadingH3–11,520Hopkins (3)

Football League War Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)Notes
1R (1st leg)15 February 1941SouthamptonA2–21,815Hunt, Wilkins[3]
1R (2nd leg)22 February 1941SouthamptonH5–2n/aJames, L. Smith, Perry (3)
2R (1st leg)1 March 1941ChelseaH2–24,520Hunt, Hopkins
2R (2nd leg)8 March 1941ChelseaA1–3 (lost 5–3 on aggregate)5,992Perry

London War Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)Notes
Grp4 January 1941Crystal PalaceH2–21,000Muttitt, Boulter
Grp11 January 1941Crystal PalaceA2–22,841Muttitt, L. Smith
Grp25 January 1941ChelseaA1–01,318Davie
Grp1 February 1941FulhamA1–42,500L. Smith
Grp8 February 1941FulhamH7–42,428Hunt, Hopkins (3), Perry (2), McKenzie
Grp29 March 1941ChelseaH2–21,654L. Smith, Townsend
Grp5 April 1941AldershotH4–21,960Perry (2), Hopkins (2)
Grp12 April 1941AldershotA2–24,000Wilkins, Perry
Grp14 April 1941Queens Park RangersH4–25,000Hopkins, Perry (2), L. Smith
Grp26 April 1941Queens Park RangersA0–06,000
SF31 May 1941Tottenham HotspurA2–06,405Perry, Townsend
F7 June 1941ReadingN2–39,000Perry (2)[4]

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1940–41 season.

Pos.NameNat.Date of birth (age)Signed fromSigned inNotes
Goalkeepers
GKTed GaskellAugust 31, 1940Buxton1937
Defenders
DFBuster BrownAugust 31, 1940Huddersfield Town1937
DFFrank GibsonJanuary 1920 (aged 20)Youth1939
DFGeorge PoyserAugust 31, 1940Port Vale1934
Midfielders
HBVic AickenAugust 31, 1940Glentoran1937
HBJack HollidayAugust 31, 1940Middlesbrough1932
HBJoe JamesAugust 31, 1940Battersea Church1929
HBBilly ScottAugust 31, 1940Middlesbrough1932
Forwards
FWHarry BamfordAugust 31, 1940Hayes1936
FWSidney BeasleyMay 1920 (aged 20)Youth1939
FWLes BoulterAugust 31, 1940Charlton Athletic1939
FWCyril BrownAugust 31, 1940Felixstowe1939
FWTommy CheethamAugust 31, 1940Queens Park Rangers1939
FWStan CousinsAugust 1922 (aged 17–18)Youth1939Guest for Clapton Orient
FWIdris HopkinsAugust 31, 1940Crystal Palace1932
FWErnest MuttittAugust 31, 1940Middlesbrough1932Guest for Clapton Orient
FWLes SmithAugust 31, 1940Petersham1934
FWBob ThomasAugust 31, 1940Golders Green1939
FWLen TownsendAugust 31, 1940Hayes1937Guest for Leeds United
FWGeorge WilkinsAugust 31, 1940Hayes1939
Guest players
GKGeorge DukeAugust 31, 1940Luton Town1940Guest from Luton Town
GKJohn JacksonAugust 31, 1940Chelsea1940Guest from Chelsea
GKGeorge PolandAugust 31, 1940Wrexham1941Guest from Wrexham
DFHarold ShepherdsonAugust 31, 1940Middlesbrough1940Guest from Middlesbrough
HBDuncan McKenzieAugust 31, 1940Middlesbrough1940Guest from Middlesbrough
FWPat BeasleyAugust 31, 1940Huddersfield Town1941Guest from Huddersfield Town
FWJock DavieAugust 31, 1940Brighton & Hove Albion1940Guest from Brighton & Hove Albion
FWGeorge EasthamAugust 31, 1940Blackpool1941Guest from Blackpool
FWRay FerrisAugust 31, 1940Linfield1940Amateur, guest from Linfield
FWJackie GibbonsAugust 31, 1940Tottenham Hotspur1941Amateur, guest from Tottenham Hotspur
FWEric HoughtonAugust 31, 1940Aston Villa1941Guest from Aston Villa
FWDouglas HuntAugust 31, 1940Sheffield Wednesday1940Guest from Sheffield Wednesday
FWGeorge MillsAugust 31, 1940Chelsea1941Guest from Chelsea
FWEddie PerryAugust 31, 1940Doncaster Rovers1941Guest from Doncaster Rovers
FWTrevor SmithAugust 31, 1940Crystal Palace1941Guest from Crystal Palace
FWBilly WrigglesworthAugust 31, 1940Manchester United1940Guest from Manchester United

Coaching staff

NameRole
Harry CurtisManager
Jimmy BainAssistant Manager
Bob KaneTrainer
Jack CartmellAssistant Trainer

Statistics

Appearances and goals

PosNatNameLeagueFL War CupLo War CupTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GKTed Gaskell10——10
DFBuster Brown18040120340
DFFrank Gibson10——10
DFGeorge Poyser19040120350
HBVic Aicken5010—60
HBJack Holliday19440120354
HBJoe James23041120390
HBBilly Scott20——20
FWHarry Bamford11—2031
FWSidney Beasley20——20
FWLes Boulter21—1132
FWCyril Brown10——10
FWTommy Cheetham11——11
FWStan Cousins—10—10
FWIdris Hopkins2310411163817
FWErnest Muttitt1124032184
FWLes Smith19031104325
FWBob Thomas—10—10
FWLen Townsend117—42159
FWGeorge Wilkins15411121286
Players guested during the season
GKGeorge Duke1804050270
GKJohn Jackson20—2040
GKGeorge Poland50—2070
DFHarold Shepherdson20——20
HBDuncan McKenzie234—121355
FWPat Beasley——1010
FWJock Davie20—2141
FWGeorge Eastham20——20
FWRay Ferris11——11
FWJackie Gibbons10——10
FWEric Houghton10——10
FWDouglas Hunt16942712712
FWGeorge Mills—10—10
FWEddie Perry77446101721
FWTrevor Smith——1010
FWBilly Wrigglesworth20——20

Goalscorers

Pos.NatPlayerFLSFLCLWCTotal
FWEddie Perry741021
FWIdris Hopkins101617
FWDouglas Hunt92112
FWLen Townsend7—29
FWGeorge Wilkins4116
HBDuncan McKenzie4—15
FWLes Smith0145
HBJack Holliday4004
FWErnest Muttitt2024
FWLes Boulter1—12
FWTommy Cheetham1——1
FWRay Ferris1——1
FWHarry Bamford1—01
FWJock Davie0—11
Total51102990

Summary

Games played 39 (23 Football League South, 4 Football League War Cup, 12 London War Cup)
Games won 15 (9 Football League South, 1 Football League War Cup, 5 London War Cup)
Games drawn 10 (3 Football League South, 2 Football League War Cup, 5 London War Cup)
Games lost 14 (11 Football League South, 1 Football League War Cup, 2 London War Cup)
Goals scored 90 (51 Football League South, 10 Football League War Cup, 29 London War Cup)
Goals conceded 83 (51 Football League South, 9 Football League War Cup, 23 London War Cup)
Clean sheets 3 (0 Football League South, 0 Football League War Cup, 3 London War Cup)
Biggest league win8–3 versus Fulham, 19 October 1940
Worst league defeat 5–0 versus Crystal Palace, 22 March 1941
Most appearances 39, Joe James (23 Football League South, 4 Football League War Cup, 12 London War Cup)
Top scorer (league)10, Idris Hopkins
Top scorer (all competitions)21, Eddie Perry

Transfers & loans

Guest players' arrival and departure dates correspond to their first and last appearances of the season.

Guest players in
Date fromPos.NamePrevious ClubDate toRef.
31 August 1940GK George Duke Luton Town3 May 1941
31 August 1940HB Duncan McKenzie MiddlesbroughEnd of season
31 August 1940DF Harold Shepherdson Middlesbrough7 September 1940
7 September 1940FW Douglas Hunt Sheffield Wednesday3 May 1941
7 September 1940FW Billy Wrigglesworth Manchester United14 September 1940
14 September 1940GK John Jackson Chelsea26 April 1941
2 November 1940FW Ray Ferris Linfield2 November 1940
16 November 1940FW Jock Davie Brighton & Hove Albion1 February 1941
8 February 1941FW Eddie Perry Doncaster RoversEnd of season
15 March 1941FW George Eastham Blackpool22 March 1941
5 April 1941GK George Poland WrexhamEnd of season[9]
26 April 1941FW Pat Beasley Huddersfield Town26 April 1941
26 April 1941FW Trevor Smith Crystal Palace26 April 1941
3 May 1941FW Eric Houghton Aston Villa3 May 1941
17 May 1941FW Jackie Gibbons Tottenham Hotspur17 May 1941
Guest players out
Date fromPos.NameToDate toRef.
7 August 1940GK Joe Crozier AirdrieoniansEnd of season
9 November 1940FW Len Townsend Leeds United22 March 1941[10]
n/aHB Stan Cousins Clapton Orientn/a[11]
n/aFW Ernest Muttitt Clapton Orientn/a
Players released
DatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.
25 October 1940DF Doug Anderson Falkirk25 October 1940[12]

Notes

  1. Match abandoned after 70 minutes due to an air raid.
  2. Match abandoned after 55 minutes due to an air raid.
  3. Match played at Fratton Park, Portsmouth due to bomb damage at The Dell, Southampton.
  4. Match played at Stamford Bridge, London.
  5. Book: 100 Years Of Brentford . Brentford FC . 1989 . 0951526200 . White . Eric . 376.
  6. Book: Haynes, Graham . Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006 . Coumbe . Frank . Yore Publications . 2006 . 978-0955294914.
  7. Book: Joyce, Michael . Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939 . Tony Brown . 2012 . 190589161X . Nottingham.
  8. Web site: Dai Hopkins . 23 May 2016 . 11v11.com.
  9. Book: Haynes, Graham . A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia . 1998 . Yore Publications . 1 874427 57 7 . Harefield, Middlesex . 83.
  10. Web site: Townsend: Leonard Francis (Len) . 22 June 2016 . Leeds United F.C. History.
  11. Web site: Kaufman . Neilson . VE Day WW2 players as at May 2020 . live . 18 July 2020 . 25. https://web.archive.org/web/20200609183620/https://www.leytonorient.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/VE-DAY-WW2-players-as-at-May-2020.pdf . 9 June 2020 .
  12. Book: Litster, John . Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players . PM Publications . Norwich.

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