During the 1945–46 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League South, due to the cessation of competitive league football for one further season following the end of the Second World War in Europe in May 1945. A return to competitive cup football came in the form of the first FA Cup staged since before the war, with the Bees advancing to the sixth round and equalling the club record.

Season summary

Though the Second World War ended in Europe in May 1945, the first post-war football season would be played in the regionalised wartime format, due to players continuing to be dispersed on service around the world. Brentford again began the season with a shortage of first team players, though full back Bill Gorman would go on to be an ever-present, while centre half Buster Brown, outside forward Idris Hopkins and goalkeeper Joe Crozier would all miss just a handful of games each.

Just two defeats in the opening two Football League South games gave way to a downturn in form, which was not helped by the departure of misfiring former England international forward Les Smith to Aston Villa in October 1945. Pre-war forward Tommy Cheetham also left Griffin Park, so manager Harry Curtis strengthened the attack by re-signing Gerry McAloon from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Further signings came in the form of experienced half backs George Smith and Eric Jones. With excitement hard to come by in league play, Brentford's attention turned to the first FA Cup competition held since the 1938–39 season. Entering in the third round, the Bees battled through to the sixth round, equalling the club record, with Gerry McAloon scoring six goals in the eight matches played. With the return of competitive First Division football looming, a number of amateurs were trialled during the season, with future regulars Alf Jefferies, Frank Latimer and Roddy Munro all going on to sign professional contracts.

Former Brentford wartime guest player Albert Bonass was serving in the Royal Air Force and was killed when his Short Stirling, on a training flight, crashed in the village of Tockwith, North Yorkshire on 9 October 1945.

League table

Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League South No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)125 August 1945Newport CountyH2–113,980Sloan, Townsend21 September 1945Newport CountyA5–08,862Thomas (2), Sloan, Townsend (2)36 September 1945Leicester CityH1–211,620Sloan48 September 1945Wolverhampton WanderersA0–120,000513 September 1945Derby CountyH0–011,050615 September 1945Wolverhampton WanderersA0–020,080722 September 1945West Ham UnitedH1–118,800Thomas829 September 1945West Ham UnitedA2–023,000Sloan, Durrant96 October 1945West Bromwich AlbionA4–328,000Thomas (2), Tranter (og), Hunt1013 October 1945West Bromwich AlbionH2–020,160Durrant (2)1120 October 1945Birmingham CityH2–120,690Wilkins (2)1227 October 1945Birmingham CityA0–135,000133 November 1945Tottenham HotspurA0–128,0001410 November 1945Tottenham HotspurH1–319,269Thomas1517 November 1945Swansea TownA1–421,000Roberts1624 November 1945Swansea TownH2–212,090Durrant, Hunt171 December 1945ChelseaH4–428,170Townsend (2), Durrant (2)188 December 1945ChelseaA2–440,000Durrant, Thomas1915 December 1945MillwallH7–016,190Thomas, Townsend (4), Watson, Durrant2022 December 1945MillwallA1–322,000Townsend2125 December 1945SouthamptonH1–414,350McAloon2226 December 1945SouthamptonA4–320,000Townsend (2), McAloon, Thomas2329 December 1945Derby CountyA2–322,751McAloon, Durrant2412 January 1946Coventry CityA0–113,4502519 January 1946Coventry CityH1–210,300Metcalf (og)262 February 1946Luton TownA4–18,348Durrant, Gotts, Scott, Townsend2716 February 1946Aston VillaH0–127,1002823 February 1946ArsenalH6–322,250Thomas (3, 1 pen), Durrant, McAloon, Bamford2916 March 1946Charlton AthleticH1–114,900McAloon3023 March 1946FulhamH1–223,400McAloon3130 March 1946FulhamA2–227,475Thomas, Townsend326 April 1946Plymouth ArgyleA1–120,000McAloon3310 April 1946Charlton AthleticA3–420,000Thomas (3)3413 April 1946Plymouth ArgyleH3–213,200G. Smith, Thomas, McAloon3517 April 1946Aston VillaA1–1n/aMcAloon3619 April 1946PortsmouthH0–216,1843720 April 1946Nottingham ForestA0–219,7043822 April 1946PortsmouthA0–220,0003924 April 1946Luton TownH6–17,050McAloon (3), Durrant, Edelston, Jones4027 April 1946Nottingham ForestH5–18,140Scott (2), McAloon (3, 1 pen)4129 April 1946ArsenalA1–15,250Scott424 May 1946Leicester CityA3–110,000Durrant, McAloon (2)

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)3R (1st leg)5 January 1946Tottenham HotspurA2–230,202Durrant, Thomas3R (2nd leg)10 January 1946Tottenham HotspurH2–0 (won 4–2 on aggregate)21,050Hopkins (2)4R (1st leg)26 January 1946Bristol CityA1–235,684Townsend4R (2nd leg)31 January 1946Bristol CityH5–0 (won 6–2 on aggregate)18,000McAloon (3), Guy (og), Durrant5R (1st leg)9 February 1946Queens Park RangersA3–119,855McAloon, Durrant, Hopkins5R (2nd leg)14 February 1946Queens Park RangersH0–0 (won 3–1 on aggregate)20,0006R (1st leg)2 March 1946Charlton AthleticA3–640,060McAloon (2), Durrant6R (2nd leg)6 March 1946Charlton AthleticH1–3 (lost 4–9 on aggregate)36,000Scott

Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford, Statto, 11v11

Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1945–46 season. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepersGKJoe CrozierEast Fife1937GKTed GaskellBuxton1937DefendersDFBill GormanBury1938DFRoddy MunroRangers1946Amateur, guest for Colchester UnitedDFHarry OliverHartlepools United1938Guest for Leeds United and York CityMidfieldersHBBuster BrownHuddersfield Town1937HBBob Coulsonn/aUnattached1945AmateurHBAlbert HammondQueens Park Rangers1944HBTom ManleyManchester United1939HBBilly ScottMiddlesbrough1932HBGeorge SmithCharlton Athletic1945ForwardsFWHarry BamfordHayes1936Guest for Colchester UnitedFWJohnny BaynhamYouth1939Guest for Clapton OrientFWLes BoulterCharlton Athletic1939FWFred DurrantFolkestone1938FWJim GottsAshington1945Guest for Colchester UnitedFWEric JonesWest Bromwich Albion1945FWIdris HopkinsCrystal Palace1932Guest for West Ham UnitedFWDoug KeeneKingsbury Town1946AmateurFWGerry McAloonWolverhampton Wanderers1945FWErnest MuttittMiddlesbrough1932Guest for Colchester United and Luton TownFWMaurice RobertsUnattached1946FWRoy StroudGolders Green1945AmateurFWJohn Suttonn/aUnattached1945Guest for Bristol City and Colchester UnitedFWLen TownsendHayes1937Guest for Colchester UnitedFWGeorge WilkinsHayes1939Players who left the club mid-seasonDFGeorge PoyserPort Vale1934Transferred to Plymouth ArgyleFWLes SmithPetersham1934Guest for Queens Park RangersTransferred to Aston VillaFWBob ThomasGolders Green1944Transferred to Plymouth ArgyleGuest playersGKJohnny MapsonSunderland1945Guest from SunderlandDFHarry FerrierBarnsley1945Guest from BarnsleyHBTed FentonWest Ham United1945Guest from West Ham UnitedHBWillie PhillipsHeart of Midlothian1945Guest from Heart of MidlothianHBBill WhittakerCharlton Athletic1945Guest from Charlton AthleticHBRon WilsonWest Ham United1946Guest from West Ham UnitedFWMaurice EdelstonReading1946Amateur, guest from ReadingFWDouglas HuntSheffield Wednesday1945Guest from Sheffield WednesdayFWPaddy SloanTranmere Rovers1945Guest from Tranmere RoversFWWillie WatsonHuddersfield Town1945Guest from Huddersfield Town Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford, Timeless Bees, Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939

Coaching staff NameRole Harry CurtisManager Jimmy BainAssistant manager Bob KaneTrainer Jack CartmellAssistant trainer

Statistics

Appearances and goals

PosNatNameLeagueFA CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKJoe Crozier35080430GKTed Gaskell10—10DFBill Gorman42080500DFRoddy Munro50—50DFHarry Oliver702090DFGeorge Poyser26030290HBBuster Brown41080490HBBob Coulson10—10HBAlbert Hammond10—10HBTom Manley20—20HBBilly Scott31481395HBGeorge Smith25170321FWHarry Bamford112031FWJohnny Baynham70—70FWLes Boulter10—10FWFred Durrant27364337FWJim Gotts412061FWEric Jones20140241FWIdris Hopkins36083443FWDoug Keene20—20FWGerry McAloon2017762723FWErnest Muttitt10—10FWMaurice Roberts11—11FWLes Smith90—90FWRoy Stroud40—40FWJohn Sutton10—10FWBob Thomas3317814118FWLen Townsend1814312115FWGeorge Wilkins32—32Players guested during the seasonGKJohnny Mapson60—60DFHarry Ferrier20—20HBTed Fenton10—10HBWillie Phillips80—80HBBill Whittaker19040230HBRon Wilson10—10FWMaurice Edelston11—11FWDouglas Hunt122—122FWPaddy Sloan64—64FWWillie Watson11—11 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years Of Brentford

Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFLSFACTotalFWGerry McAloon17623FWBob Thomas17118FWLen Townsend14115FWFred Durrant347HBBilly Scott415FWPaddy Sloan4—4FWIdris Hopkins033FWDouglas Hunt2—2FWGeorge Wilkins2—2FWMaurice Edelston1—1FWWillie Watson1—1FWHarry Bamford101FWJim Gotts101FWEric Jones101FWMaurice Roberts101HBGeorge Smith101Opponents213Total821799 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years Of Brentford

Wartime international caps Pos.NatPlayerCapsGoalsRefFWLes Smith30

Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecordPWDLW %PWDLW %Harry Curtis25 August 19454 May 1946 |

Summary Games played 50 (42 Football League South, 8 FA Cup)Games won 17 (14 Football League South, 3 FA Cup)Games drawn 12 (10 Football League South, 2 FA Cup)Games lost 21 (18 Football League South, 3 FA Cup)Goals scored 99 (82 Football League South, 17 FA Cup)Goals conceded 86 (72 Football League South, 14 FA Cup)Clean sheets 9 (6 Football League South, 3 FA Cup)Biggest league win7–0 versus Millwall, 15 December 1945Worst league defeat4–1 on two occasionsMost appearances 50, Bill Gorman (42 Football League South, 8 FA Cup)Top scorer (league)17, Gerry McAloonTop scorer (all competitions)23, Gerry McAloon

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