1942–43 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1942–43 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. Early in a mid-table season for the club, inside forward Len Townsend notably scored six goals in a 9–4 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, the most-ever in any match by a Brentford player.

Season summary Brentford returned to the Football League South for the 1942–43 season with cause for optimism, having generated over £20,000 (equivalent to £ in ) from the semi-finals and the final of the club's victorious 1941–42 London War Cup campaign. Again the first team squad would be hit by a lack of unavailability of players, with no goalkeeper available for the second season in succession. Despite averaging only 12 appearances per season since the war began, centre forward Len Townsend had been averaging nearly a goal a game and was in fantastic form, scoring 17 goals in a 17 match spell, including six in a 9–4 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on 12 September 1942. The record of six goals in a single match bettered the official club record of five, but due to the unofficial nature of wartime football, Townsend does not hold the club record outright.

Brentford's league form held up until the turn of the year then fell apart, losing 10 of the final 15 matches of the season in all competitions. Guest forwards Eddie Perry and Douglas Hunt, who had scored the bulk of the team's goals since the beginning of the 1940–41 season failed to find the net with such regularity, though Albion Rovers' guest Tommy Kiernan notably scored 9 goals in his 10 appearances. The discontinuation of the London War Cup meant that the Bees would be unable to defend their crown, so the club were entered into the Football League South War Cup, which ended in elimination in the group stages. Brentford finished the league season in 9th place and Len Townsend scored 19 goals in 20 appearances.

League tables

Football League South

Football League South War Cup

Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League South No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)129 August 1942Clapton OrientH2–23,210Holliday, D. Hunt25 September 1942FulhamA1–34,600D. Hunt312 September 1942Brighton & Hove AlbionH9–44,020Townsend (6), Kiernan (2), D. Hunt419 September 1942ChelseaH0–28,480526 September 1942Queens Park RangersA1–48,000Kiernan63 October 1942WatfordH3–03,590Wilkins, Hopkins, D. Hunt710 October 1942West Ham UnitedH6–27,000Kiernan, Fenton (og), Townsend (2)817 October 1942ArsenalA2–016,700Smith, Kiernan924 October 1942AldershotH4–15,000D. Hunt, Townsend, Aicken, Kiernan1031 October 1942Luton TownH2–25,000Sneddon, Townsend117 November 1942MillwallA2–14,557D. Hunt, Perry1214 November 1942Charlton AthleticA4–13,000Perry (2), Townsend, D. Hunt1321 November 1942ReadingH3–35,390Kiernan, D. Hunt (2)1428 November 1942Clapton OrientA0–22,500155 December 1942FulhamH4–25,200Townsend (3), McKenzie1612 December 1942Brighton & Hove AlbionA2–74,000Townsend, D. Hunt1719 December 1942ChelseaA4–28,154Townsend, McKenzie (2), Hopkins1825 December 1942Tottenham HotspurA1–114,621Townsend1926 December 1942Tottenham HotspurH2–112,540Townsend, Hopkins202 January 1943Queens Park RangersH2–07,500D. Hunt (2)219 January 1943WatfordA0–22,1772216 January 1943West Ham UnitedA1–47,500Perry2323 January 1943ArsenalH0–123,1802430 January 1943AldershotA1–24,000Townsend256 February 1943Luton TownA1–13,000Hunt (og)2613 February 1943MillwallH3–15,150McCulloch (2), Perry2720 February 1943Charlton AthleticH3–54,680James, Armstrong, Smith2827 February 1943ReadingA1–74,000Henley

Football League South War Cup RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)Grp6 March 1943Queens Park RangersH1–210,520O'DonnellGrp13 March 1943Clapton OrientA1–13,707HopkinsGrp20 March 1943SouthamptonH1–66,600TownsendGrp27 March 1943Queens Park RangersA0–29,954Grp3 April 1943Clapton OrientH3–24,080D. Hunt (2, 1 pen), HopkinsGrp10 April 1943SouthamptonA1–213,000Holliday Source: 100 Years Of Brentford

Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1942–43 season. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesDefendersDFBuster BrownHuddersfield Town1937DFGeorge PoyserPort Vale1934MidfieldersHBJoe JamesBattersea Church1929HBErnest MuttittMiddlesbrough1932Guest for Aldershot, Chelsea, Fulham and West Ham UnitedForwardsFWVic AickenGlentoran1937Guest for WatfordFWTommy CheethamQueens Park Rangers1939FWJack HollidayMiddlesbrough1932FWIdris HopkinsCrystal Palace1932FWBilly ScottMiddlesbrough1932FWLes SmithPetersham1934FWLen TownsendHayes1937Guest for Belfast CelticFWGeorge WilkinsHayes1939Guest playersGKHarry DukesNorwich City1941Guest from Norwich CityGKKen GrovesPreston North End1943Guest from Preston North EndGKJohn JacksonChelsea1942Guest from ChelseaGKBill MasonQueens Park Rangers1942Guest from Queens Park RangersGKReg SaphinWalthamstow Avenue1943Guest from Walthamstow AvenueDFAlex Muirn/aAlbion Rovers1942Guest from Albion RoversHBErnie CollettArsenal1943Guest from ArsenalHBDuncan McKenzieMiddlesbrough1943Guest from MiddlesbroughHBTally SneddonSwansea Town1942Guest from Swansea TownHBBill WhittakerCharlton Athletic1942Guest from Charlton AthleticFWMatt ArmstrongAberdeen1942Guest from AberdeenFWAlbert BonassQueens Park Rangers1942Guest from Queens Park RangersFWWalter BoyesEverton1943Guest from EvertonFWEdwin CunninghamBristol City1942Guest from Bristol CityFWHarry Dooleyn/aUnattached1943GuestFWAllenby DriverSheffield Wednesday1943Guest from Sheffield WednesdayFWJack FinchFulham1943Guest from FulhamFWDick FossChelsea1942Guest from ChelseaFWPat GallacherBournemouth1942Guest from BournemouthFWLes HenleyArsenal1943Guest from ArsenalFWDennis HillmanBrighton & Hove Albion1943Guest from Brighton & Hove AlbionFWDouglas HuntSheffield Wednesday1942Guest from Sheffield WednesdayFWTommy KiernanAlbion Rovers1942Guest from Albion RoversFWDavid McCullochDerby County1943Guest from Derby CountyFWMiltonn/aFulham1943Amateur, guest from FulhamFWFrank O'DonnellBlackpool1943Guest from BlackpoolFWEddie PerryDoncaster Rovers1942Guest from Doncaster RoversFWReg PughCardiff City1942Guest from Cardiff CityFWJack VidlerBristol City1943Guest from Bristol City 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 CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsDFBuster Brown28060340DFGeorge Poyser25060310HBJoe James27160331HBErnest Muttitt6040100FWVic Aicken21—21FWTommy Cheetham20—20FWJack Holliday521163FWIdris Hopkins22362285FWBilly Scott20—20FWLes Smith20260262FWLen Townsend1918112019FWGeorge Wilkins41—41Players guested during the seasonGKHarry Dukes10—10GKKen Groves—1010GKJohn Jackson26030290GKBill Mason10—10GKReg Saphin—1010DFAlex Muir20—20HBErnie Collett—3030HBDuncan McKenzie25340293HBTally Sneddon181—181HBBill Whittaker801090FWMatt Armstrong31—31FWAlbert Bonass10—10FWWalter Boyes20—20FWEdwin Cunningham10—10FWHarry Dooley—1010FWAllenby Driver10—10FWJack Finch101010FWDick Foss10—10FWPat Gallacher10—10FWLes Henley11—11FWDennis Hillman10—10FWDouglas Hunt2412522914FWTommy Kiernan109—109FWDavid McCulloch22—22FWMilton101020FWFrank O'Donnell11—11FWReg Pugh10—10FWEddie Perry13550185FWJack Vidler10—10 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years Of Brentford

Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFLSFLCTotalFWLen Townsend18119FWDouglas Hunt12214FWTommy Kiernan9—9FWEddie Perry505FWIdris Hopkins325HBDuncan McKenzie303FWJack Holliday213FWDavid McCulloch2—2FWLes Smith202FWVic Aicken1—1FWMatt Armstrong1—1FWLes Henley1—1FWFrank O'Donnell1—1HBTally Sneddon1—1FWGeorge Wilkins1—1HBJoe James101Opponents202Total64771 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years Of Brentford

Wartime international caps Pos.NatPlayerCapsGoalsRefFWIdris Hopkins20

Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Harry Curtis29 August 194210 April 1943 |

Summary Games played 34 (28 London League, 6 Football League War Cup)Games won 13 (12 London League, 1 Football League War Cup)Games drawn 6 (5 London League, 1 Football League War Cup)Games lost 15 (11 London League, 4 Football League War Cup)Goals scored 71 (64 London League, 7 Football League War Cup)Goals conceded 78 (63 London League, 15 Football League War Cup)Clean sheets 3 (3 London League, 0 Football League War Cup)Biggest league win9–4 versus Brighton & Hove Albion, 12 September 1942Worst league defeat 7–1 versus Reading, 27 February 1943Most appearances 34, Buster Brown (28 London League, 6 Football League War Cup)Top scorer (league)18, Len TownsendTop scorer (all competitions)19, Len Townsend

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.29 August 1942FW Albert Bonass Queens Park Rangers29 August 194229 August 1942FW Douglas Hunt Sheffield WednesdayEnd of season29 August 1942GK Bill Mason Queens Park Rangers29 August 194229 August 1942HB Duncan McKenzie MiddlesbroughEnd of season5 September 1942FW Edwin Cunningham Bristol City5 September 19425 September 1942GK John Jackson Chelsea20 March 19435 September 1942HB Tally Sneddon Swansea Town27 February 19435 September 1942HB Bill Whittaker Charlton AthleticEnd of season12 September 1942FW Tommy Kiernan Albion Rovers19 December 194226 September 1942FW Pat Gallacher Portsmouth26 September 194226 September 1942FW Reg Pugh Cardiff City26 September 194210 October 1942FW Matt Armstrong Aberdeen20 February 194331 October 1942FW Eddie Perry Doncaster Rovers3 April 194312 December 1942GK Harry Dukes Norwich City12 December 194219 December 1942FW Dick Foss Chelsea19 December 194225 December 1942DF Alex Muir Albion Rovers26 December 19422 January 1943FW Allenby Driver Sheffield Wednesday2 January 19432 January 1943FW Jack Finch Fulham6 March 19439 January 1943FW Jack Vidler Bristol City9 January 194323 January 1943FW David McCulloch Derby County13 February 19436 February 1943FW Walter Boyes Everton13 February 194320 February 1943FW MiltonUnattached13 March 194327 February 1943FW Les Henley Arsenal27 February 194327 February 1943FW Dennis Hillman Brighton & Hove Albion27 February 19436 March 1943FW Frank O'Donnell Blackpool6 March 194320 March 1943HB Ernie Collett Arsenal3 April 194327 March 1943FW Harry DooleyUnattachedEnd of season27 March 1943GK Ken Groves Preston North End27 March 19433 April 1943GK Reg Saphin Walthamstow AvenueEnd of seasonGuest players outDate fromPos.NameToDate toRef.8 August 1942GK Joe Crozier Hibernian5 September 194212 December 1942HB Vic Aicken Watford19 December 194219 September 1942HB Ernest Muttitt Chelsea19 September 19429 January 1943HB Ernest Muttitt West Ham United9 January 194327 March 1943HB Ernest Muttitt Chelsea10 April 1943n/aHB Ernest Muttitt Aldershotn/an/aHB Ernest Muttitt Fulhamn/an/aFW Len Townsend Belfast Celtic1943

References