1944–45 Brentford F.C. season

English football team season May 2026 November 2016 Brentford 1944–45 Harry Curtis Frank Davis Griffin Park Football League South 3rd Football League South War Cup Group stage Townsend (24) Townsend (31) 23,207 4,390 25,768 _red_stripes _redstripes2 _red_stripes _whitesides _redtop_2whitestripes 000000 000000 1943–44 1945–46 During the 1944–45 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. The Bees finished in a wartime-high of 3rd-place, scoring 100 goals in both the league and Football League War Cup, with forwards Len Townsend and Bob Thomas accounting for over half the team's total. Season summary thumb|upright|Former Brentford forward Ralph Shields died on 21 November 1944, while a prisoner of war. The familiar pattern of player unavailability prevailed as Brentford entered the 1944–45 Football League South season, with 60 players eventually being used over the course of the league, cup and friendly matches during the campaign.White 1989 177 A number of the club's amateur players were pressed into service during the regular season, as were 30 guests, many of whom made three appearances or less. Aided by prolific scoring from forwards Len Townsend and Bob Thomas, Brentford rocketed along in the first half of the season, losing just four of 22 matches and posting big wins by margins of four, five and six goals. The Bees' form evaporated when the Football League War Cup campaign got underway in February 1945, losing four of six matches to crash out in the group stage. Brentford lost four of the remaining six league matches of the season, with the final match away to Watford (which had been postponed in January 1945) taking place after VE Day, which marked the end of the Second World War in Europe. Two former Brentford players died during the season: Private Ralph Shields died as a prisoner of war in Sandakan Prisoner of War Camp, North Borneo on 21 November 1944.Brentford Remembers its fallen heroes https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/brentford-remembers-its-fallen-heroes-609489 23 April 2024 www.brentfordfc.com en-gbNSW. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of NX57251 Private Ralph Shields, No. 2 Company, Australian Army Service Corps. He was one of over 2000 Allied prisoners of war (POW) held in the ... https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10300070 25 June 201624 November 2017 173560 Ralph Shields He had been serving in the Australian Army Service Corps and played for Brentford during the 1921–22 season. Sub-lieutenant Stan Cousins was killed when "his aircraft flew into a barrage balloon cable and lost a wing" during a glide bomb attack on the Soengi Gerong oil refinery, Sumatra on 29 January 1945.Stanley Cousins https://www.natwestgroupremembers.com/our-fallen/our-fallen-ww2/c/stanley-cousins.html 5 November 2024 NatWest Group Remembers en Formerly an employee of Glyn, Mills & Co, he had joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and was serving on HMS Illustrious when he was killed. Cousins made a single Football League War Cup appearance during the 1940–41 season.White 1989 376 League table 1944–45 in English football main WDL 2 y BRE 2 WHU West Ham United BRE Brentford CHL Chelsea 22 3 5 96 47 17 4 9 87 57 16 5 9 100 55 complete Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation Results Brentford's goal tally listed first. Legend WinDrawLoss Football League South No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)126 August 1944Brighton & Hove AlbionH6–26,000Townsend (2), Boulter, Hunt (2, 1 pen), Soo22 September 1944PortsmouthA4–29,500Hunt, R. Thomas (2), Boulter39 September 1944ChelseaH0–516,100416 September 1944Luton TownA3–13,500Manley, Boulter, R. Thomas523 September 1944MillwallH4–18,750Townsend (2), R. Thomas (2)630 September 1944AldershotH5–210,270Smith (2, 1 pen), Hunt, R. Thomas (2)77 October 1944Charlton AthleticA4–07,143Boulter (2), Townsend (2)814 October 1944WatfordH4–15,387Townsend (2), R. Thomas (2), Hopkins921 October 1944Queens Park RangersH3–115,000Rose (og), R. Thomas, Townsend1028 October 1944Tottenham HotspurH2–223,207R. Thomas, Soo114 November 1944FulhamA2–025,000R. Thomas, Townsend1211 November 1944SouthamptonH0–111,0801318 November 1944Crystal PalaceH1–211,100Townsend1425 November 1944ReadingA4–46,000Hunt (2), Townsend (2)152 December 1944Brighton & Hove AlbionA7–25,000Townsend (3), Smith, R. Thomas (2), Hunt169 December 1944PortsmouthH7–19,550C. Brown (2), Hunt (2, 1 pen), Townsend (2), Hopkins1716 December 1944ChelseaA2–024,500Hunt, R. Thomas1823 December 1944ArsenalA2–518,527R. Thomas (2)1930 December 1944Luton TownH6–06,500Townsend (4), R. Thomas, Smith206 January 1945MillwallA0–05,4382113 January 1945AldershotA1–04,000Smith2220 January 1945Charlton AthleticH3–16,850Hunt, R. Thomas, Baynham2317 March 1945Queens Park RangersA1–15,900D. Thomas2424 March 1945Tottenham HotspurH0–216,7502531 March 1945FulhamH2–38,780Hopkins, Smith262 April 1945ArsenalH3–1n/aR. Thomas (2), D. Thomas2714 April 1945SouthamptonA2–47,549Hunt, Townsend2821 April 1945Crystal PalaceA1–66,492D. Thomas2928 April 1945ReadingH7–24,390R. Thomas (2), D. Thomas (2), Smith, Baynham (2)3019 May 1945WatfordA1–52,563Cheetham Football League South War Cup RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)Grp3 February 1945Brighton & Hove AlbionH3–510,110Townsend (3)Grp10 February 1945MillwallA2–38,553R. Thomas, HuntGrp17 February 1945FulhamA0–115,000Grp24 February 1945Brighton & Hove AlbionA4–210,000Townsend (3), R. ThomasGrp3 March 1945MillwallH2–211,830Baynham, R. ThomasGrp10 March 1945FulhamH2–510,380Townsend, R. Thomas Source: 100 Years Of Brentford100 Years Of Brentford Brentford FC 1989 0951526200 White Eric 378 Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1944–45 season. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepersGKReg SaundersENG1944 8 26 1920 7 29 yUxbridge Town1944AmateurDefendersDFBuster BrownENG1944 8 26 1910 9 6 yHuddersfield Town1937DFBill GormanIRL1944 8 26 1911 1 13 yBury1938DFGeorge PoyserENG1944 8 26 1910 2 6 yPort Vale1934MidfieldersHBAlbert BallardENGAugust 1923 (aged 20–21)Youth1944HBTed BallardENG1944 8 26 1920 6 16 yHayes1943AmateurHBAlbert HammondENG1944 8 26 1924 2 5 yQueens Park Rangers1944AmateurHBTom ManleyENG1944 8 26 1912 10 7 yManchester United1939HBErnest MuttittENG1944 8 26 1908 7 24 yMiddlesbrough1932Guest for Chelsea and FulhamHBBilly ScottENG1944 8 26 1907 12 6 yMiddlesbrough1932ForwardsFWJohnny BaynhamWAL1944 8 26 1918 4 21 yYouth1939FWLes BoulterWAL1944 8 26 1913 8 31 yCharlton Athletic1939FWCyril BrownENG1944 8 26 1918 5 25 yFelixstowe1939FWTommy CheethamENG1944 8 26 1910 10 11 yQueens Park Rangers1939Guest for Queens Park Rangers and West Ham UnitedFWIdris HopkinsWAL1944 8 26 1910 10 11 yCrystal Palace1932Guest for West Ham UnitedFWPeter SheldonENGApril 1927 (aged 17)Youth1944FWLes SmithENG1944 8 26 1918 3 13 yPetersham1934Guest for ChelseaFWBob ThomasENG1944 8 26 1919 8 2 yGolders Green1939Guest for West Ham UnitedFWLen TownsendENG1944 8 26 1917 8 31 yHayes1937Guest for Brighton & Hove Albion, Swansea Town and West Ham UnitedGuest playersGKJohnny BoydSCOn/aUnattached1945Amateur, guestGKHarry BrownENG1944 8 26 1924 4 9 yQueens Park Rangers1944Guest from Queens Park RangersGKJohn JacksonSCO1944 8 26 1906 11 29 yChelsea1944Guest from ChelseaGKJohn JonesWAL1944 8 26 1916 11 25 yNorthampton Town1944Guest from Northampton TownDFArthur BannerENG1944 8 26 1918 6 28 yWest Ham United1945Guest from West Ham UnitedDFRalph CowanSCOn/aRangers1944Guest from RangersDFPeter CrokerENG1944 8 26 1921 12 21 yCharlton Athletic1945Guest from Charlton AthleticDFFred DawesENG1944 8 26 1911 5 2 yCrystal Palace1945Guest from Crystal PalaceDFJames FullwoodENG1944 8 26 1911 2 17 yReading1944Guest from ReadingDFLes GoldbergENG1944 8 26 1918 1 3 yLeeds United1944Guest from Leeds UnitedDFDick JalesENG1944 8 26 1922 4 3 yBradford City1945Guest from Bradford CityDFCliff LloydENG1944 8 26 1916 11 14 yWrexham1944Guest from WrexhamDFReg MountfordENG1944 8 26 1908 7 16 yHuddersfield Town1945Guest from Huddersfield TownHBSam BriddonENG1944 8 26 1915 7 26 ySwansea Town1944Guest from Swansea TownHBMatt BusbySCO1944 8 26 1909 5 26 yLiverpool1944Guest from LiverpoolHBErnie CollettENG1944 8 26 1914 11 17 yArsenal1945Guest from ArsenalHBHarold HobbisENG1944 8 26 1913 3 9 yCharlton Athletic1945Guest from Charlton AthleticHBJoe JoblingENG1944 8 26 1906 7 29 yCharlton Athletic1945Guest from Charlton AthleticHBDuncan McKenzieSCO1944 8 26 1912 8 10 yMiddlesbrough1945Guest from MiddlesbroughHBJack OakesENG1944 8 26 1905 9 13 yCharlton Athletic1945Guest from Charlton AthleticHBTaffy O'CallaghanWAL1944 8 26 1906 10 6 yFulham1945Guest from FulhamHBBobby RussellSCO1944 8 26 1919 12 27 yChelsea1945Guest from ChelseaHBFrank SooENG1944 8 26 1914 3 12 yStoke City1944Guest from Stoke CityHBR. TunnicliffeENGn/aUnattached1945GuestHBBill F. WhittakerENG1944 8 26 1911 4 18 yKingstonian1945Guest from KingstonianHBBill P. WhittakerENG1944 8 26 1922 12 20 yCharlton Athletic1944Guest from Charlton AthleticFWMaurice EdelstonENG1944 8 26 1918 4 27 yReading1944Amateur, guest from ReadingFWDouglas HuntENG1944 8 26 1914 5 19 ySheffield Wednesday1944Guest from Sheffield WednesdayFWArchie LivingstoneSCO1944 8 26 1915 11 15 yBury1945Guest from BuryFWBert StephensENG1944 8 26 1909 5 13 yBrighton & Hove Albion1945Guest from Brighton & Hove AlbionFWMaurice TadmanENG1944 8 26 1921 6 28 yCharlton Athletic1945Guest from Charlton AthleticFWDave ThomasENG1944 8 26 1917 7 6 yPlymouth Argyle1944Guest from Plymouth Argyle Sources: Timeless Bees,Haynes Graham Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006 Coumbe Frank Yore Publications 2006 978-0955294914 Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939,Joyce Michael Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939 Tony Brown 2012 190589161X Nottingham 100 Years Of Brentford Coaching staff NameRoleENG Harry CurtisManagerSCO Jimmy BainAssistant ManagerENG Bob KaneTrainerENG Jack CartmellAssistant Trainer Statistics Appearances and goals right Jackson W. Brown Poyser Muttitt Manley (c) W. P. Whittaker Hopkins R. Thomas Townsend Boulter Smith Brentford's highest appearance-makers in each position during the Football League South season. PosNatNameLeagueFL War CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKENGReg Saunders30—30DFENGBuster Brown29060350DFIRLBill Gorman204060DFENGGeorge Poyser20060260HBENGAlbert Ballard10—10HBENGTed Ballard10—10HBENGAlbert Hammond10—10HBENGTom Manley131—131HBENGErnest Muttitt15030180HBENGBilly Scott201030FWWALJohnny Baynham8341124FWWALLes Boulter125—125FWENGCyril Brown222042FWENGTommy Cheetham21—21FWWALIdris Hopkins28360343FWENGPeter Sheldon10—10FWENGLes Smith20710217FWENGBob Thomas2823543327FWENGLen Townsend2324572831Players guested during the seasonGKSCOJohnny Boyd101020GKENGHarry Brown10—10GKSCOJohn Jackson16020180GKWALJohn Jones9030120DFENGArthur Banner101020DFSCORalph Cowan30—30DFENGPeter Croker10—10DFENGFred Dawes—1010DFENGJames Fullwood10—10DFENGLes Goldberg10—10DFENGDick Jales—1010DFENGCliff Lloyd20—20DFENGReg Mountford10—10HBENGSam Briddon50—50HBSCOMatt Busby10—10HBENGErnie Collett60—60HBENGHarold Hobbis10—10HBENGJoe Jobling10—10HBSCODuncan McKenzie40—40HBENGJack Oakes20—20HBWALTaffy O'Callaghan10—10HBSCOBobby Russell10—10HBENGFrank Soo9210102HBENGR. Tunnicliffe10—10HBENGBill F. Whittaker10—10HBENGBill P. Whittaker18040240FWENGMaurice Edelston10—10FWENGDouglas Hunt2112512613FWSCOArchie Livingstone10—10FWENGBert Stephens10—10FWENGMaurice Tadman10—10FWENGDave Thomas6540105 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years Of Brentford Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFLSFLCTotalFWENGLen Townsend24731FWENGBob Thomas23427FWENGDouglas Hunt12113FWENGLes Smith707FWWALLes Boulter5—5FWENGDave Thomas505FWWALJohnny Baynham314FWWALIdris Hopkins303FWENGCyril Brown202HBENGFrank Soo202FWENGTommy Cheetham1—1HBENGTom Manley1—1Opponents101Total8713100 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years Of Brentford Wartime international caps Pos.NatPlayerCapsGoalsRefFWENGLes Smith52Les Smith http://www.11v11.com/players/les-smith-28096/ 23 June 2016 11v11.com Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Harry CurtisENG26 August 194419 May 1945 36 18 5 13|30 17 4 9 Summary Games played 36 (30 Football League South, 6 Football League War Cup)Games won 18 (17 Football League South, 1 Football League War Cup)Games drawn 5 (4 Football League South, 1 Football League War Cup)Games lost 13 (9 Football League South, 4 Football League War Cup)Goals scored 100 (87 Football League South, 13 Football League War Cup)Goals conceded 75 (57 Football League South, 18 Football League War Cup)Clean sheets 7 (6 Football League South, 0 Football League War Cup)Biggest league win6–0 versus Luton Town, 30 December 1944; 7–1 versus Portsmouth, 9 December 1944Worst league defeat 5–0 versus Chelsea, 9 September 1944; 6–1 versus Crystal Palace, 21 April 1945Most appearances 35, Buster Brown (29 Football League South, 6 Football League War Cup)Top scorer (league)23, Len TownsendTop scorer (all competitions)30, Len Townsend Transfers & loans Guest players' arrival and departure dates correspond to their first and last appearances of the season. Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.1944HBENG Albert HammondENG Queens Park RangersAmateur10 May 1946 Captures The Brentford & Chiswick TimesGuest players inDate fromPos.NamePrevious clubDate toRef.26 August 1944FWENG Douglas HuntENG Sheffield Wednesday28 April 194526 August 1944HBENG Frank SooENG Stoke City10 February 194526 August 1944HBENG Bill P. WhittakerENG Charlton Athletic21 April 19452 September 1944HBENG Sam BriddonWAL Swansea Town7 October 194416 September 1944GKWAL John JonesENG Northampton Town17 February 194514 October 1944GKENG Harry BrownENG Queens Park Rangers14 October 194414 October 1944DFENG Cliff LloydWAL Wrexham28 October 194421 October 1944GKSCO John JacksonENG ChelseaEnd of season23 December 1944HBSCO Matt BusbyENG Liverpool23 December 194423 December 1944FWENG Maurice EdelstonENG Reading23 December 194423 December 1944DFENG James FullwoodENG Reading23 December 194423 December 1944DFENG Les GoldbergENG Leeds United23 December 194430 December 1944DFSCO Ralph CowanSCO Rangers20 January 194513 January 1945DFENG Reg MountfordENG Huddersfield Town13 January 194517 February 1945DFENG Arthur BannerENG West Ham United24 March 194517 February 1945FWENG Dave ThomasENG Plymouth ArgyleEnd of season24 February 1945DFENG Fred DawesENG Crystal Palace24 February 194510 March 1945GKSCO Johnny BoydUnattached28 April 194510 March 1945DFENG Dick JalesENG Bradford City10 March 194517 March 1945DFENG Peter CrokerENG Charlton Athletic17 March 194517 March 1945FWSCO Archie LivingstoneENG Bury17 March 194517 March 1945HBENG Jack OakesENG Charlton Athletic2 April 194524 March 1945HBSCO Bobby RussellENG Chelsea24 March 194524 March 1945HBENG R. TunnicliffeUnattached28 April 194531 March 1945HBENG Harold HobbisENG Charlton Athletic31 March 19452 April 1945HBSCO Duncan McKenzieENG Middlesbrough2 April 194514 April 1945HBWAL Taffy O'CallaghanENG FulhamEnd of season9 May 1945HBENG Joe JoblingENG Charlton AthleticEnd of season9 May 1945FWENG Bert StephensENG Brighton & Hove AlbionEnd of season9 May 1945FWENG Maurice TadmanENG Charlton AthleticEnd of season9 May 1945HBENG Bill F. WhittakerENG KingstonianEnd of seasonGuest players outDate fromPos.NameToDate toRef.26 August 1944FWENG Bob ThomasENG West Ham United26 August 1944Robert [ww 2] Thomas http://www.westhamstats.info/westham.php?west=2&ham=1039&united=Robert_%5Bww_2%5D_Thomas 27 June 2016 www.westhamstats.info7 October 1944FWENG Tommy CheethamENG Queens Park Rangers17 March 1945Seasonal Stats – Files – 1944–45 http://www.qprnet.com/uploads/1/2/0/8/120823999/qpr1944.xls 14 May 2019 QPRnet5 May 1945FWWAL Idris HopkinsENG West Ham United5 May 1945Idris [ww 2] Hopkins http://www.westhamstats.info/westham.php?west=2&ham=953&united=Idris_%5Bww_2%5D_Hopkins 26 June 2016 www.westhamstats.info12 May 1945FWENG Tommy CheethamENG West Ham United12 May 1945Tom [ww 2] Cheetham http://www.westhamstats.info/westham.php?west=2&ham=900&united=Tom_%5Bww_2%5D_Cheetham 26 June 2016 www.westhamstats.infon/aDFENG Jimmy AndersonSCO Hamilton Academicaln/aLitster John Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players PM Publications Norwichn/aFWENG Fred DurrantENG Blackburn Roversn/aHaynes Coumbe 2006 51n/aFWENG Ernest MuttittENG Chelsean/aWhite 1989 177n/aFWENG Ernest MuttittENG Fulhamn/aErnie Muttitt – Players https://www.coludata.co.uk/player/ernie-muttitt 19 May 2026 www.coludata.co.uk enn/aFWENG Len TownsendENG Brighton & Hove Albionn/aLen Townsend – Players https://www.coludata.co.uk/player/lentownsend 20 May 2026 www.coludata.co.uk enn/aFWENG Len TownsendWAL Swansea Townn/an/aFWENG Len TownsendENG West Ham Unitedn/a References 30em Category:Brentford F.C. seasons Brentford