1939–40 season of Brentford F.C.
Brentford 1939–40 football season
Brentford1939–40 season |
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Chairman | Louis P. Simon |
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Manager | Harry Curtis |
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Stadium | Griffin Park |
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First Division | 12th (abandoned) |
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Top goalscorer | League: Holliday (17) All: Holliday (17) |
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Highest home attendance | 12,079 |
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Average home league attendance | 12,079 |
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During the 1939–40 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League, playing three matches before competitive football was suspended due to the outbreak of the Second World War. The club played in three unofficial wartime competitions for the remainder of the season – groups B and C of the Football League South and the Football League War Cup.
Season summary
After narrowly avoiding relegation towards the end of the 1938–39 season,[1] Brentford manager Harry Curtis allowed full back Joe Wilson and half backs Sam Briddon and Tally Sneddon to transfer away from the club.[2][3] Curtis signed young Sunderland inside forward Percy Saunders and brought in former Manchester United wing half Tom Mansley as his new captain. The season opened with a heavy 5–1 Football League Jubilee Fund defeat to neighbours Chelsea on 19 August 1939. Brentford began the regular season with a win, a draw and a defeat, before competitive football was suspended following Britain's declaration of war on Germany on 3 September 1939.[6] Percy Saunders, who had scored on his debut on the opening day,[6] would be the only pre-war Brentford player to die on active service during the war, when his ship was torpedoed in the Indian Ocean in March 1942.
The cessation of competitive football was worrying for Brentford, with £12,000 having been spent on new players during the off-season (equivalent to £791,500 in 2024) and there was little prospect of recouping it through the turnstiles. 23 of Brentford's 30-man squad were called to arms, into the War Police Reserve or into the munitions industry. Within two weeks of the declaration of war, the Football League agreed that football could continue, in order to keep clubs in business and to raise funds.
Brentford entered Group B of the new Football League South in October 1939.[8] The squad was augmented by three guest players who had previously played for the club – Scottish half backs Duncan McKenzie and Archie Scott and inside forward Bert Stephens.[8] 30-year old centre forward Jack Holliday (a prolific goalscorer in the Third and Second Divisions between 1932 and 1935) experienced a renaissance, with 14 goals in 16 appearances.[8] Brentford finished the Group B campaign in mid-table.[9]
A further 18-match campaign followed in Group C in the first six months of 1940, with 13 players guesting, including two former international Brentford players – Scotland's David McCulloch and the United States' Jim Brown.[8] The Bees finished 4th in the 10-team group and exited the Football League War Cup in the first round.[8]
League tables
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
Source: Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation
Source: Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation
Results
- Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend
No. | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
1 | 21 October 1939 | Chelsea | H | 2–2 | 6,628 | Holliday, Gorman |
2 | 28 October 1939 | Portsmouth | A | 1–3 | 3,000 | Boulter |
3 | 4 November 1939 | Southampton | H | 3–1 | 4,757 | Boulter (2), Manley |
4 | 11 November 1939 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 0–1 | 8,000 | |
5 | 18 November 1939 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 4–1 | 3,533 | Holliday (3), Townsend |
6 | 25 November 1939 | Aldershot | A | 0–1 | 4,000 | |
7 | 2 December 1939 | Reading | H | 3–0 | 4,077 | Smith, Holliday (2) |
8 | 9 December 1939 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | H | 5–2 | 4,680 | Townsend (2), McKenzie, Hopkins, Boulter |
9 | 16 December 1939 | Fulham | A | 4–2 | 5,000 | Holliday, Hopkins, Manley |
10 | 25 December 1939 | Portsmouth | H | 4–0 | 4,811 | Holliday (3), Manley |
11 | 26 December 1939 | Southampton | A | 3–2 | 6,000 | Holliday, Hopkins, Townsend |
12 | 30 December 1939 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 0–7 | 3,942 | |
13 | 6 January 1940 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 2–3 | 2,071 | Manley (2) |
14 | 13 January 1940 | Aldershot | H | 4–3 | 1,836 | Townsend (2), W. Brown, Hopkins |
15 | 20 January 1940 | Reading | A | 1–3 | 1,900 | Hopkins |
16 | 24 January 1940 | Chelsea | A | 2–3 | 2,000 | Griffith (og), Holliday |
17 | 27 January 1940 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | A | 2–2 | 3,000 | James, Holliday |
18 | 14 February 1940 | Fulham | H | 2–5 | 1,885 | Wilkins, McKenzie |
No. | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
1 | 10 February 1940 | Arsenal | A | 1–3 | 5,000 | Boulter |
2 | 17 February 1940 | West Ham United | H | 4–3 | 1,885 | Smith, Boulter, McKenzie (pen), Wilkins |
3 | 24 February 1940 | Charlton Athletic | A | 2–3 | 7,000 | Wilkins, McKenzie (pen) |
4 | 2 March 1940 | Chelsea | H | 1–1 | 7,110 | McCulloch |
5 | 9 March 1940 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 1–1 | 9,815 | Yorston |
6 | 16 March 1940 | Southampton | H | 5–0 | 3,600 | Yorston (2), Hunt |
7 | 22 March 1940 | Portsmouth | H | 3–1 | 6,500 | Wilkins, McKenzie (2) |
8 | 23 March 1940 | Millwall | A | 1–4 | 14,490 | Hunt |
9 | 25 March 1940 | Portsmouth | A | 3–1 | 8,000 | Holliday, Wilkins, Hunt |
10 | 30 March 1940 | Fulham | H | 5–0 | 6,956 | Hunt (2), Yorston, Wilkins, W. Brown |
11 | 6 April 1940 | Arsenal | H | 2–4 | 8,000 | Yorston, Doherty |
12 | 10 April 1940 | Southampton | A | 1–4 | 4,000 | Wilkins |
13 | 13 April 1940 | West Ham United | A | 1–1 | 8,000 | Hunt |
14 | 17 April 1940 | Millwall | H | 1–1 | 5,000 | Doherty |
15 | 4 May 1940 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 2–3 | 5,521 | Wilkins, Hutchins (og) |
16 | 11 May 1940 | Chelsea | H | 2–0 | 3,168 | McKenzie (pen), Hopkins |
17 | 18 May 1940 | Charlton Athletic | H | 2–1 | 3,000 | Hunt, Hopkins |
18 | 3 June 1940 | Fulham | A | 5–3 | 1,000 | Wilkins (2), Burgess (2), Holliday |
Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer |
1R (1st leg) | 20 April 1940 | Fulham | A | 1–4 | 12,000 | Smith |
1R (2nd leg) | 27 April 1940 | Fulham | H | 1–2 (lost 6–2 on aggregate) | 7,695 | J. Brown |
- Sources: A-Z Of Bees,[6] Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79,[10] 100 Years Of Brentford[8]
Playing squad
- Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1939–40 season.
- Sources: Timeless Bees,[11] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939,[12] 100 Years Of Brentford[8]
Coaching staff
Name | Role |
Harry Curtis | Manager |
Jimmy Bain | Assistant manager |
Bob Kane | Trainer |
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 | League S B | League S C | L War Cup | Total |
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
GK | | Frank Clack | — | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
GK | | Joe Crozier | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 |
GK | | Ted Gaskell | — | 15 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 20 | 0 |
DF | | Jimmy Anderson | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 3 | 0 |
DF | | Bill Gorman | 3 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 1 |
DF | | George Poyser | — | 16 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 0 |
HB | | Vic Aicken | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
HB | | Buster Brown | 2 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 2 |
HB | | Joe James | 3 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 1 |
HB | | Tom Manley | 3 | 0 | 15 | 5 | — | 1 | 0 | 19 | 5 |
FW | | Les Boulter | 3 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 1 | — | 14 | 6 |
FW | | Tommy Cheetham | 2 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 |
FW | | Fred Durrant | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
FW | | Jack Holliday | 1 | 1 | 16 | 14 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 17 |
FW | | Idris Hopkins | 3 | 0 | 16 | 5 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 38 | 7 |
FW | | Johnny Kay | — | — | 3 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 |
FW | | Ernest Muttitt | — | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
FW | | Percy Saunders | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 1 |
FW | | Billy Scott | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
FW | | Les Smith | 3 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 29 | 4 |
FW | | Bob Thomas | — | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 |
FW | | Len Townsend | — | 6 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | 8 | 5 |
FW | | George Wilkins | — | 9 | 1 | 18 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 29 | 7 |
Players guested during the season |
GK | | Charlie Hillam | — | — | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 |
GK | | John Jackson | — | — | 6 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 |
GK | | Bill Mason | — | — | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 |
GK | | Vic Woodley | — | — | 3 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 |
DF | | Ted Reay | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 |
DF | | Harold Shepherdson | — | — | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 |
HB | | Alec Farmer | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
HB | | Duncan McKenzie | — | 16 | 2 | 18 | 5 | — | 34 | 7 |
HB | | Archie Scott | — | — | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 |
FW | | Jim Brown | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
FW | | Harry Burgess | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | 2 |
FW | | Peter Doherty | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | 3 | 2 |
FW | | Douglas Hunt | — | — | 10 | 9 | — | 10 | 9 |
FW | | David McCulloch | — | — | 5 | 2 | — | 5 | 2 |
FW | | Bert Stephens | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 |
FW | | Benny Yorston | — | — | 8 | 5 | — | 8 | 5 |
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[8]
Goalscorers
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[8]
Wartime international caps
Management
Name | Nat | From | To | Record All Comps |
P | W | D | L | W % |
Harry Curtis | | 26 August 1939 | 3 June 1940 | 41 | 17 | 7 | 17 | 041.46 |
Summary
Games played | 41 (3 Football League, 18 Football League South Group B, 18 Football League South Group C, 2 Football League War Cup) |
Games won | 17 (1 Football League, 8 Football League South Group B, 8 Football League South Group C, 0 Football League War Cup) |
Games drawn | 7 (1 Football League, 2 Football League South Group B, 4 Football League South Group C, 0 Football League War Cup) |
Games lost | 17 (1 Football League, 8 Football League South Group B, 6 Football League South Group C, 2 Football League War Cup) |
Goals scored | 89 (3 Football League, 42 Football League South Group B, 42 Football League South Group C, 2 Football League War Cup) |
Goals conceded | 84 (3 Football League, 41 Football League South Group B, 34 Football League South Group C, 6 Football League War Cup) |
Clean sheets | 6 (1 Football League, 2 Football League South Group B, 3 Football League South Group C, 0 Football League War Cup) |
Biggest league win | 5–0 on two occasions |
Worst league defeat | 7–0 versus Queens Park Rangers, 30 December 1939 |
Most appearances | 39, Bill Gorman (3 Football League, 17 Football League South Group B, 17 Football League South Group C, 2 Football League War Cup) |
Top scorer (league) | 17, Jack Holliday |
Top scorer (all competitions) | 17, Jack Holliday |
Transfers & loans
- Guest players' arrival and departure dates correspond to their first and last appearances of the season.
References
- ^ Brentford F.C. at the Football Club History Database
- ^ a b c "Sneddon Leaves. Brentford Transfer Two Players To Swansea. Substantial Fee. "Bees" Hope To Sign Wing-half And Full Back". The Brentford & Twickenham Times. 14 July 1939.
- ^ a b "New Stars Were On Show. But Two "Unknowns" Stole Trial Match Limelight. Brentford Well Equipped. New Players Impress: Brilliance Of Young Kay And Waddell: Team For To-Morrow". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 18 August 1939.
- ^ a b c Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Harefield, Middlesex: Yore Publications. p. 134. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
- ^ 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 White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 375. ISBN 0951526200.
- ^ "England 1939/40". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
- ^ Laschke, Ian (1980). Rothmans Book Of Football League Records, 1888–89 To 1978–79. London & Sydney: Macdonald and Jane's. ISBN 0-354-08552-2. OCLC 16476378.
- ^ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
- ^ Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN 190589161X.
- ^ "Dai Hopkins". 11v11.com. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
- ^ "Les Smith". 11v11.com. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
- ^ "Bob Thomas". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
- ^ a b c d Litster, John. Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
- ^ "Frank Clack". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
- ^ "Nufc Season Review 1939/40". www.nufctheyworethenewcastleshirt.btck.co.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
- ^ "Len Townsend". GoS-DB. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
- ^ "Fred Rowell". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
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FA competitions | - FA Cup (Qualifying rounds
- Final)
- FA Charity Shield
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Football League | |
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Lower leagues | |
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Related to national team | |
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Wartime League | |
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Club seasons | First Division | |
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Second Division | - Barnsley
- Birmingham
- Bradford Park Avenue
- Burnley
- Bury
- Chesterfield
- Coventry City
- Fulham
- Leicester City
- Luton Town
- Manchester City
- Millwall
- Newcastle United
- Newport County
- Nottingham Forest
- Plymouth Argyle
- Sheffield Wednesday
- Southampton
- Swansea Town
- Tottenham Hotspur
- West Bromwich Albion
- West Ham United
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Third Division | North | - Accrington Stanley
- Barrow
- Bradford City
- Carlisle United
- Chester
- Crewe Alexandra
- Darlington
- Doncaster Rovers
- Gateshead
- Halifax Town
- Hartlepools United
- Hull City
- Lincoln City
- New Brighton
- Oldham Athletic
- Rochdale
- Rotherham County
- Southport
- Stockport County
- Tranmere Rovers
- Wrexham
- York City
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South | - Aldershot
- Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic
- Brighton & Hove Albion
- Bristol City
- Bristol Rovers
- Cardiff City
- Clapton Orient
- Crystal Palace
- Exeter City
- Ipswich Town
- Mansfield Town
- Northampton Town
- Norwich City
- Notts County
- Port Vale
- Queens Park Rangers
- Reading
- Southend United
- Swindon Town
- Torquay United
- Walsall
- Watford
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Other | |
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