1940–41 Brentford F.C. season

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

London War Cup Group A

Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League South No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)Notes131 August 1940Clapton OrientH2–21,123Wilkins, McKenzie (pen)27 September 1940ChelseaA1–23,500WilkinsMatch abandoned after 70 minutes due to an air raid.314 September 1940Charlton AthleticH1–1600McKenzie (pen)421 September 1940ArsenalA1–31,700Hunt55 October 1940Clapton OrientA0–1500612 October 1940Charlton AthleticA4–1800Hunt (2), Townsend (2)Match abandoned after 55 minutes due to an air raid.719 October 1940FulhamH8–31,300Hunt (3), Hopkins, McKenzie (pen), Townsend (2), Muttitt826 October 1940ArsenalH3–31,200Townsend (2), Muttitt92 November 1940PortsmouthH3–1500Ferris, Cheetham, Hopkins1016 November 1940West Ham UnitedH0–24001123 November 1940FulhamA0–3600127 December 1940ReadingH2–3600Hopkins, McKenzie (pen)1314 December 1940MillwallA0–31,2501421 December 1940PortsmouthA3–21,814Holliday (2), Wilkins1525 December 1940Queens Park RangersH2–13,725Wilkins, Hunt1628 December 1940MillwallH3–21,759Hunt, Boulter1715 March 1941Crystal PalaceH2–34,000Perry, Hopkins1822 March 1941Crystal PalaceA0–52,6381919 April 1941MillwallH5–22,500Perry, Hopkins, Townsend203 May 1941West Ham UnitedA2–33,000Hopkins (2)2110 May 1941FulhamH2–32,670Bamford, Holliday2217 May 1941ReadingA4–15,000Perry (3), Holliday2324 May 1941ReadingH3–11,520Hopkins (3)

Football League War Cup RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)Notes1R (1st leg)15 February 1941SouthamptonA2–21,815Hunt, WilkinsMatch played at Fratton Park, Portsmouth due to bomb damage at The Dell, Southampton.1R (2nd leg)22 February 1941SouthamptonH5–2n/aJames, L. Smith, Perry (3)2R (1st leg)1 March 1941ChelseaH2–24,520Hunt, Hopkins2R (2nd leg)8 March 1941ChelseaA1–3 (lost 5–3 on aggregate)5,992Perry

London War Cup RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)NotesGrp4 January 1941Crystal PalaceH2–21,000Muttitt, BoulterGrp11 January 1941Crystal PalaceA2–22,841Muttitt, L. SmithGrp25 January 1941ChelseaA1–01,318DavieGrp1 February 1941FulhamA1–42,500L. SmithGrp8 February 1941FulhamH7–42,428Hunt, Hopkins (3), Perry (2), McKenzieGrp29 March 1941ChelseaH2–21,654L. Smith, TownsendGrp5 April 1941AldershotH4–21,960Perry (2), Hopkins (2)Grp12 April 1941AldershotA2–24,000Wilkins, PerryGrp14 April 1941Queens Park RangersH4–25,000Hopkins, Perry (2), L. SmithGrp26 April 1941Queens Park RangersA0–06,000SF31 May 1941Tottenham HotspurA2–06,405Perry, TownsendF7 June 1941ReadingN2–39,000Perry (2)Match played at Stamford Bridge, London. Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford

Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1940–41 season. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepersGKTed GaskellBuxton1937DefendersDFBuster BrownHuddersfield Town1937DFFrank GibsonJanuary 1920 (aged 20)Youth1939DFGeorge PoyserPort Vale1934MidfieldersHBVic AickenGlentoran1937HBJack HollidayMiddlesbrough1932HBJoe JamesBattersea Church1929HBBilly ScottMiddlesbrough1932ForwardsFWHarry BamfordHayes1936FWSidney BeasleyMay 1920 (aged 20)Youth1939FWLes BoulterCharlton Athletic1939FWCyril BrownFelixstowe1939FWTommy CheethamQueens Park Rangers1939FWStan CousinsAugust 1922 (aged 17–18)Youth1939Guest for Clapton OrientFWIdris HopkinsCrystal Palace1932FWErnest MuttittMiddlesbrough1932Guest for Clapton Orient and FulhamFWLes SmithPetersham1934FWBob ThomasGolders Green1939FWLen TownsendHayes1937Guest for Belfast Celtic and Leeds UnitedFWGeorge WilkinsHayes1939Guest playersGKGeorge DukeLuton Town1940Guest from Luton TownGKJohn JacksonChelsea1940Guest from ChelseaGKGeorge PolandWrexham1941Guest from WrexhamDFHarold ShepherdsonMiddlesbrough1940Guest from MiddlesbroughHBDuncan McKenzieMiddlesbrough1940Guest from MiddlesbroughFWPat BeasleyHuddersfield Town1941Guest from Huddersfield TownFWJock DavieBrighton & Hove Albion1940Guest from Brighton & Hove AlbionFWGeorge EasthamBlackpool1941Guest from BlackpoolFWRay FerrisLinfield1940Amateur, guest from LinfieldFWJackie GibbonsTottenham Hotspur1941Amateur, guest from Tottenham HotspurFWEric HoughtonAston Villa1941Guest from Aston VillaFWDouglas HuntSheffield Wednesday1940Guest from Sheffield WednesdayFWGeorge MillsChelsea1941Guest from ChelseaFWEddie PerryDoncaster Rovers1941Guest from Doncaster RoversFWTrevor SmithCrystal Palace1941Guest from Crystal PalaceFWBilly WrigglesworthManchester United1940Guest from Manchester United Sources: Timeless Bees, Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939, 100 Years Of Brentford

Coaching staff NameRole Harry CurtisManager Jimmy BainAssistant Manager Bob KaneTrainer Jack CartmellAssistant Trainer

Statistics

Appearances and goals

PosNatNameLeagueFL War CupLo War CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKTed Gaskell10——10DFBuster Brown18040120340DFFrank Gibson10——10DFGeorge Poyser19040120350HBVic Aicken5010—60HBJack Holliday19440120354HBJoe James23041120390HBBilly Scott20——20FWHarry Bamford11—2031FWSidney Beasley20——20FWLes Boulter21—1132FWCyril Brown10——10FWTommy Cheetham11——11FWStan Cousins—10—10FWIdris Hopkins2310411163817FWErnest Muttitt1124032184FWLes Smith19031104325FWBob Thomas—10—10FWLen Townsend117—42159FWGeorge Wilkins15411121286Players guested during the seasonGKGeorge Duke1804050270GKJohn Jackson20—2040GKGeorge Poland50—2070DFHarold Shepherdson20——20HBDuncan McKenzie234—121355FWPat Beasley——1010FWJock Davie20—2141FWGeorge Eastham20——20FWRay Ferris11——11FWJackie Gibbons10——10FWEric Houghton10——10FWDouglas Hunt16942712712FWGeorge Mills—10—10FWEddie Perry77446101721FWTrevor Smith——1010FWBilly Wrigglesworth20——20 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years Of Brentford

Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFLSFLCLWCTotalFWEddie Perry741021FWIdris Hopkins101617FWDouglas Hunt92112FWLen Townsend7—29FWGeorge Wilkins4116HBDuncan McKenzie4—15FWLes Smith0145HBJack Holliday4004FWErnest Muttitt2024FWLes Boulter1—12FWTommy Cheetham1——1FWRay Ferris1——1FWHarry Bamford1—01FWJock Davie0—11Total51102990 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years Of Brentford

Wartime international caps Pos.NatPlayerCapsGoalsRefFWIdris Hopkins10

Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Harry Curtis31 August 19407 June 1941 |

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 1940Worst league defeat 5–0 versus Crystal Palace, 22 March 1941Most appearances 39, Joe James (23 Football League South, 4 Football League War Cup, 12 London War Cup)Top scorer (league)10, Idris HopkinsTop 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 inDate fromPos.NamePrevious clubDate toRef.31 August 1940GK George Duke Luton Town3 May 194131 August 1940HB Duncan McKenzie MiddlesbroughEnd of season31 August 1940DF Harold Shepherdson Middlesbrough7 September 19407 September 1940FW Douglas Hunt Sheffield Wednesday3 May 19417 September 1940FW Billy Wrigglesworth Manchester United14 September 194014 September 1940GK John Jackson Chelsea26 April 19412 November 1940FW Ray Ferris Linfield2 November 194016 November 1940FW Jock Davie Brighton & Hove Albion1 February 19418 February 1941FW Eddie Perry Doncaster RoversEnd of season15 March 1941FW George Eastham Blackpool22 March 19415 April 1941GK George Poland WrexhamEnd of season26 April 1941FW Pat Beasley Huddersfield Town26 April 194126 April 1941FW Trevor Smith Crystal Palace26 April 19413 May 1941FW Eric Houghton Aston Villa3 May 194117 May 1941FW Jackie Gibbons Tottenham Hotspur17 May 1941Guest players outDate fromPos.NameToDate toRef.7 August 1940GK Joe Crozier AirdrieoniansEnd of season9 November 1940FW Len Townsend Leeds United22 March 1941n/aHB Stan Cousins Clapton Orientn/an/aFW Ernest Muttitt Clapton Orientn/an/aFW Ernest Muttitt Fulhamn/an/aFW Len Townsend Belfast Celticn/aPlayers releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.25 October 1940DF Doug Anderson Falkirk25 October 1940

Notes

References