During the 1941–42 English football season, Brentford competed in the London League, due to the cessation of competitive football for the duration of the Second World War. Despite scoring over 80 goals in what proved to be a forgettable league season, the Bees won the London War Cup with what was the club's only victory at the old Wembley Stadium.
Season summary With the Second World War in full swing, the Football League's London clubs took a stand against the Football League and its upcoming regional competition for the 1941–42 season, citing the financial difficulties of raising a team during wartime and having to travel long distances to away matches. The rebel clubs broke away and competed in the London League during the 1941–42 season, which led to their expulsion from the Football League. Brentford began the season with a heavily depleted squad, with no goalkeeper available for the entirety of the season and just five of the club's 12 available outfield players made over 30 appearances during the 40-match campaign. Despite 16 goals in 19 appearances and 14 in 24 from returning guest forwards Eddie Perry and Douglas Hunt respectively, Brentford finished 9th of 16 teams in the London League. The team scored 80 goals, but the lack of a first team goalkeeper saw eight guests wear the jersey and concede 76 goals between them.
After finishing as runners-up in the previous season's London War Cup, attentions turned to the 1941–42 edition of the competition when the group stage kicked off on 21 March 1942. Aided by goals from all across the forward line, Brentford finished the group stage as unbeaten leaders. The Bees faced Arsenal in the semi-final at Stamford Bridge and drew 0–0. The two teams met again for the replay White Hart Lane a fortnight later, with goals from George Wilkins, Douglas Hunt and a late penalty save from John Jackson ensuring Brentford's passage through to the final versus Portsmouth. The two clubs faced off at Wembley Stadium on 30 May and a brace from Les Smith saw the Bees run out 2–0 winners, in what was the Bees' only victory at the old Wembley Stadium. The 69,792 crowd is still the largest attendance at any Brentford match. Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers met in a North versus South cup winners' charity match a week later, with the 1–1 draw at Stamford Bridge bringing an end to the 1941–42 season.
On the night of 1/2 March 1942, Percy Saunders, a pre-war Brentford player, was killed when his ship was torpedoed in the Indian Ocean. The inside forward had made his final appearance for the club in January 1940 and was serving as a sergeant in the 18th Divisional Workshops of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. Saunders was the only former Brentford player to be killed in action during the Second World War.
League tables
London League
London War Cup Group 2
Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend WinDrawLoss
London League No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)130 August 1941ArsenalH4–112,000Hapgood (og), Wilkins, Perry, L. Smith26 September 1941Queens Park RangersA4–38,000Hunt, Wilkins, Perry313 September 1941ReadingH3–26,100Perry (2), Wilkins420 September 1941Brighton & Hove AlbionA2–25,000Perry, Hunt527 September 1941Clapton OrientA3–13,500Perry, L. Smith, Hopkins64 October 1941Crystal PalaceH1–25,000Perry711 October 1941FulhamA3–46,000Townsend, Smale, Perry818 October 1941Tottenham HotspurH1–46,000Hunt925 October 1941PortsmouthA1–25,000Hunt101 November 1941ChelseaH3–14,650Perry, James, Hunt118 November 1941Charlton AthleticH2–16,320L. Smith, Hunt1215 November 1941West Ham UnitedH0–55,0001322 November 1941WatfordA6–14,000Hopkins (2), Perry (4)1429 November 1941AldershotH5–14,410Hopkins, Hunt (2), Townsend, Duns156 December 1941MillwallA2–42,000Muttitt, Townsend1613 December 1941ArsenalA3–19,739L. Smith, Duns, Perry1720 December 1941Queens Park RangersH4–33,500Townsend (3), Hunt1825 December 1941ReadingA3–4n/aTownsend, Hopkins, L. Smith1927 December 1941Brighton & Hove AlbionH4–25,000Townsend (2), Tooze (og), L. Smith203 January 1942Clapton OrientH5–23,420Barnes (og), Holliday (2), McKenzie2110 January 1942Crystal PalaceA0–26,0002217 January 1942FulhamH2–33,000L. Smith, Hopkins2331 January 1942PortsmouthH2–53,820Wilkins, Holliday247 February 1942ChelseaA1–13,135Wilkins2514 February 1942Charlton AthleticA2–33,909Perry, Duncan2621 February 1942West Ham UnitedA1–24,000Hunt2728 February 1942WatfordH5–33,110L. Smith, Hunt (2), Hopkins (2)287 March 1942AldershotA3–63,000Hopkins, Hunt, McKenzie2914 March 1942MillwallH4–34,500Hopkins, L. Smith, Cardwell (og), Hunt3025 April 1942Tottenham HotspurA1–26,000Sneddon
London War Cup RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)NotesGrp21 March 1942AldershotH6–25,120Hunt (2), L. Smith, Perry, WilkinsGrp28 March 1942MillwallH3–33,500Perry, McKenzie (pen)Grp4 April 1942Queens Park RangersA2–13,000Cheetham, Hunt Grp6 April 1942MillwallA2–2n/aCheetham (2)Grp11 April 1942Queens Park RangersH1–07,310PerryGrp18 April 1942AldershotA3–14,000Hopkins, L. Smith, J. SmithSF2 May 1942ArsenalN0–041,154Match played at Stamford Bridge, London.SF (replay)16 May 1942ArsenalN2–140,000Wilkins, HuntMatch played at White Hart Lane, London.F30 May 1942PortsmouthN2–069,752L. Smith (2)Match played at Wembley Stadium, London.
War Cup Winners' Match DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorerNotes6 June 1942Wolverhampton WanderersN1–120,174Collett Source: 100 Years Of Brentford
Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1941–42 season. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesDefendersDFBuster BrownHuddersfield Town1937DFGeorge PoyserPort Vale1934MidfieldersHBVic AickenGlentoran1937Guest for Clapton OrientHBJack HollidayMiddlesbrough1932HBJoe JamesBattersea Church1929HBTom ManleyManchester United1939HBErnest MuttittMiddlesbrough1932Guest for Charlton Athletic, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Millwall and ReadingForwardsFWTommy CheethamQueens Park Rangers1939Guest for Lincoln City and Queens Park RangersFWIdris HopkinsCrystal Palace1932FWLes SmithPetersham1934FWLen TownsendHayes1937Guest for ChelseaFWGeorge WilkinsHayes1939Guest playersGKSam BartramCharlton Athletic1941Guest from Charlton AthleticGKHarry BrownQueens Park Rangers1942Guest from Queens Park RangersGKDavid Davisonn/aBlackburn Rovers1941Guest from Blackburn RoversGKHarry DukesNorwich City1941Guest from Norwich CityGKJohn JacksonChelsea1941Guest from ChelseaGKGeorge PolandWrexham1941Guest from WrexhamGKJock PurdieBradford City1942Guest from Bradford CityGKHorace RickettSouthend United1942Guest from Southend UnitedDFDoug AndersonAberdeen1941Guest from AberdeenDFJimmy HarrisonLeicester City1941Guest from Leicester CityHBErnie CollettArsenal1942Guest from ArsenalHBDuncan McKenzieMiddlesbrough1941Guest from MiddlesbroughHBTally SneddonSwansea Town1942Guest from Swansea TownHBBill WhittakerCharlton Athletic1942Guest from Charlton AthleticFWAlbert BonassQueens Park Rangers1941Guest from Queens Park RangersFWAndy DuncanTottenham Hotspur1942Guest from Tottenham HotspurFWLen DunsSunderland1941Guest from SunderlandFWDouglas HuntSheffield Wednesday1942Guest from Sheffield WednesdayFWEric JonesWest Bromwich Albion1942Guest from West Bromwich AlbionFWTommy KiernanAlbion Rovers1942Guest from Albion RoversFWDavid McCullochDerby County1941Guest from Derby CountyFWTom PeacockNottingham Forest1942Guest from Nottingham ForestFWEddie PerryDoncaster Rovers1941Guest from Doncaster RoversFWDouglas SmaleChelsea1941Guest from ChelseaFWJohn Smith1921 (aged 20–21)Chelsea1942Guest from ChelseaFWTrevor SmithCrystal Palace1941Guest from Crystal Palace 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
PosNatNameLeagueL War CupCup Win.TotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsDFBuster Brown2909010390DFGeorge Poyser2408010330HBVic Aicken70——70HBJack Holliday183——183HBJoe James3017010381HBErnest Muttitt12110—131HBTom Manley—10—10FWTommy Cheetham—23—23FWIdris Hopkins281191103812FWLes Smith20994103013FWLen Townsend139——139FWGeorge Wilkins1757310258Players guested during the seasonGKHarry Brown1010—20GKDavid Davison10——10GKHarry Dukes10——10GKJohn Jackson803010120GKGeorge Poland14050—190GKJock Purdie20——20GKHorace Rickett20——20GKSam Bartram10——10DFDoug Anderson50——50DFJimmy Harrison20——20HBErnie Collett——1111HBDuncan McKenzie2629110363HBTally Sneddon8180—161HBBill Whittaker—20—20FWAlbert Bonass10——10FWAndy Duncan11——11FWLen Duns5220—72FWDouglas Hunt241484103318FWEric Jones40——40FWTommy Kiernan10——10FWDavid McCulloch10——10FWTom Peacock10——10FWEddie Perry191674102720FWDouglas Smale31——31FWJohn Smith—11—11FWTrevor Smith10——10 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years Of Brentford
Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerLFLLWCCWMTotalFWEddie Perry164020FWDouglas Hunt144018FWLes Smith94013FWIdris Hopkins111012FWLen Townsend9——9FWGeorge Wilkins5308HBJack Holliday3——3HBDuncan McKenzie2103FWTommy Cheetham—3—3FWLen Duns20—2FWAndy Duncan1——1FWDouglas Smale1——1HBJoe James10—1FWErnest Muttitt10—1HBTally Sneddon10—1HBErnie Collett——11FWJohn Smith—1—1Opponents4004Total80211102 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years Of Brentford
Wartime international caps Pos.NatPlayerCapsGoalsRefFWIdris Hopkins21FWLes Smith10
Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Harry Curtis30 August 19416 June 1942 |
Summary Games played 40 (30 London League, 9 London War Cup, 1 War Cup Winners' Match)Games won 20 (14 London League, 6 London War Cup, 0 War Cup Winners' Match)Games drawn 6 (2 London League, 3 London War Cup, 1 War Cup Winners' Match)Games lost 14 (14 London League, 0 London War Cup, 0 War Cup Winners' Match)Goals scored 102 (80 London League, 21 London War Cup, 1 War Cup Winners' Match)Goals conceded 87 (76 London League, 10 London War Cup, 1 War Cup Winners' Match)Clean sheets 3 (0 London League, 3 London War Cup, 0 War Cup Winners' Match)Biggest league win6–1 versus Watford, 22 November 1941Worst league defeat 5–0 versus West Ham United, 15 November 1941Most appearances 40, Buster Brown (29 London League, 9 London War Cup, 1 War Cup Winners' Match)Top scorer (league)16, Eddie PerryTop scorer (all competitions)20, Eddie Perry
Transfers & loans Guest players' arrival and departure dates correspond to their first and last appearances of the season.