1943–44 Brentford F.C. season

English football team season May 2024 November 2016 Brentford 1943–44 Harry Curtis Frank Davis Griffin Park Football League South 7th Football League South War Cup Group stage Hunt (15) Hunt (18) 20,270 2,340 25,768 _red_stripes _redstripes2 _red_stripes _whitesides _redtop_2whitestripes 000000 000000 1942–43 1944–45 During the 1943–44 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 marginally improved on the previous season's 9th-place finish, ending in 7th. Season summary Brentford returned for the 1943–44 Football League South season again with a shortage of first team players, with just 10 available who made a senior appearance for the club prior to the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939.White 1989 175-176 The biggest boost for the squad came with the availability of goalkeeper Joe Crozier,White 1989 175-176 who had not appeared since 21 October 1939.White 1989 375 Reserve forwards Fred Durrant and Bob Thomas, signed before the war, would feature during the season, as would six junior and amateur players on the club's books.White 1989 175-176 A whopping 36 guest players would be used during the campaign.White 1989 175-176 Despite an improved 7th-place finish in the Football League South,England 1943/44 https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/eng44.html 23 June 2016 RSSSF 1943–44 proved to be as forgettable as the previous season, though there were a few memorable results – 7–2 versus Southampton on 18 December 1943, 4–1 versus Arsenal in front of 20,270 at Griffin Park on 4 February 1944 and 8–0 versus Brighton & Hove Albion a month later in the group stage of the Football League War Cup, from which Brentford failed to qualify for the knockout stages. Three players won wartime international caps during the season – Les Smith for England, Joe Crozier for Scotland and Idris Hopkins for Wales. Though he finished the season as second-leading scorer behind guest Douglas Hunt, Les Smith's 15 goals in 15 appearances led his case for a first international cap in over two years. The 1943–44 season ended with the retirements of two players who had contributed to Brentford's rise from the Third Division South to the First Division between 1932 and 1935. 34-year-old centre half Joe James elected to retire six months after failing to recover from a wrist injury suffered in the match versus Charlton Athletic on 26 February 1944.Haynes Coumbe 2006 86 He would return to football briefly with Colchester United in November 1945.Joe James – Players – Colchester United http://coludata.co.uk/item.php?pg=player&it=75 23 June 2016 coludata.co.uk 35-year-old centre forward Jack Holliday, who moved to the half back line in his later years, retired at the end of the season, having scored 122 goals in 222 matches from his arrival in May 1932 to the outbreak of war in September 1939.Haynes Coumbe 2006 79 He remained on the club's books as assistant trainer of the reserve team.Haynes Coumbe 2006 79 League table 1943–44 in English football main WDL 2 y BRE 6 POR Portsmouth BRE Brentford CHL Chelsea 16 5 9 68 59 14 7 9 71 51 16 2 12 79 55 complete Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation Results Brentford's goal tally listed first. Legend WinDrawLoss Football League South No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)128 August 1943Clapton OrientH4–24,820Hunt, Smith (2), Stewart24 September 1943FulhamA3–47,737Stewart, Hunt (2)311 September 1943Brighton & Hove AlbionH2–35,310Hopkins, Hunt418 September 1943ChelseaH3–16,400Smith, Hunt, Stewart525 September 1943Crystal PalaceA1–15,131W. Watson62 October 1943WatfordH4–16,720Durrant, Hunt (pen), McKennan (2)79 October 1943West Ham UnitedA0–012,000816 October 1943ArsenalA3–317,658McKennan, Townsend, Hunt923 October 1943AldershotH2–49,940McKennan (2)1030 October 1943Luton TownA2–25,000Driver, McKennan116 November 1943Tottenham HotspurH0–29,6501213 November 1943PortsmouthH2–06,880Smith, Hunt (pen)1327 November 1943Clapton OrientA4–11,000Smith (2), Little, McKennan144 December 1943FulhamH0–07,5101511 December 1943Brighton & Hove AlbionA2–02,500Thomas, Stewart1618 December 1943SouthamptonH7–23,000Smith (2), Hunt (2), McKennan (2), Stewart1725 December 1943Queens Park RangersH2–511,200Thomas, McKennan1827 December 1943Queens Park RangersA2–38,900Smith, Stewart191 January 1944ChelseaA3–012,000McKennan (2), Hunt208 January 1944Tottenham HotspurA0–116,9172122 January 1944WatfordA4–42,759Hunt (2, 1 pen), W. Watson, McKennan2229 January 1944West Ham UnitedH2–111,220Townsend, Hunt235 February 1944ArsenalH4–120,270Soo, Westcott, Townsend (2)2412 February 1944AldershotA2–44,000McKennan, Smith251 April 1944Luton TownH2–02,340Hopkins, Baynham2610 April 1944Crystal PalaceH2–04,440Stewart, Holliday2715 April 1944ReadingH1–06,040Smith2822 April 1944SouthamptonA2–29,000Townsend, Stewart2929 April 1944PortsmouthA2–38,000Baynham, Townsend306 May 1944ReadingA3–03,500Townsend (2), Hunt Football League South War Cup RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)Grp19 February 1944Crystal PalaceH3–44,110Townsend, StevensGrp26 February 1944Charlton AthleticA3–55,023Townsend, Hunt (2)Grp4 March 1944Brighton & Hove AlbionH8–05,020Westcott (4), Townsend (3), HuntGrp11 March 1944Crystal PalaceA2–18,659Westcott, ShepherdGrp18 March 1944Charlton AthleticH2–210,000Townsend, SmithGrp25 March 1944Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–53,000 Source: 100 Years Of Brentford100 Years Of Brentford Brentford FC 1989 0951526200 White Eric 377 Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1943–44 season. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepersGKJoe CrozierSCO1943 8 28 1914 12 2 yEast Fife1937GKReg SaundersENG1943 8 28 1920 7 29 yUxbridge Town1944AmateurDefendersDFBuster BrownENG1943 8 28 1910 9 6 yHuddersfield Town1937DFBernard FloodgateENG1943 8 28 1922 7 22 yYouth1943DFGeorge PoyserENG1943 8 28 1910 2 6 yPort Vale1934MidfieldersHBJack HollidayENG1943 8 28 1908 12 19 yMiddlesbrough1932HBJoe JamesENG1943 8 28 1910 1 13 yBattersea Church1929HBTom ManleyENG1943 8 28 1912 10 7 yManchester United1939Guest for Tottenham HotspurHBErnest MuttittENG1943 8 28 1908 7 24 yMiddlesbrough1932Guest for Brighton & Hove Albion, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Leyton Orient, Reading, Watford, West Ham UnitedForwardsFWJohnny BaynhamWAL1943 8 28 1918 4 21 yYouth1944FWFred DurrantENG1943 8 28 1921 6 19 yFolkestone1938FWIdris HopkinsWAL1943 8 28 1910 10 11 yCrystal Palace1932FWMaurice RichfieldENGOctober 1921 (aged 21)Youth1944FWLes SmithENG1943 8 28 1918 3 13 yPetersham1934FWBob ThomasENG1943 8 28 1919 8 2 yGolders Green1939FWLen TownsendENG1943 8 28 1917 8 31 yHayes1937Guest playersGKGordon BentleyENGOctober 1920 (aged 22)Burnley1944Guest from BurnleyGKCharlie BriggsENG1943 8 28 1911 4 4 yHalifax Town1943Guest from Halifax TownGKHarry DukesENG1943 8 28 1912 3 31 yNorwich City1943Guest from Norwich CityGKFreddie HouldsworthENG1943 8 28 1911 5 29 yReading1944Guest from ReadingGKJohn JonesWAL1943 8 28 1916 11 25 yNorthampton Town1943Guest from Northampton TownGKBill MasonENG1943 8 28 1908 10 31 yQueens Park Rangers1944Guest from Queens Park RangersGKAlec RoxburghENG1943 8 28 1910 9 19 yBlackpool1944Guest from BlackpoolDFRalph CowanSCOn/aRangers1944Guest from RangersDFFrank JennerSCOn/aSt Mirren1944Guest from St MirrenDFFred LesterENG1943 8 28 1911 2 20 ySheffield Wednesday1943Guest from Sheffield WednesdayDFGeorge TaylorENG1943 8 28 1909 4 23 yBolton Wanderers1943Guest from Bolton WanderersHBLen JonesENG1943 8 28 1913 6 9 yPlymouth Argyle1943Guest from Plymouth ArgyleHBDuncan McKenzieSCO1943 8 28 1912 8 10 yMiddlesbrough1943Guest from MiddlesbroughHBDavid NelsonSCO1943 8 28 1918 2 3 yArsenal1943Guest from ArsenalHBFrank SooENG1943 8 28 1914 3 12 yStoke City1943Guest from Stoke CityHBJack WatsonSCO1943 8 28 1917 12 31 yBury1944Guest from BuryHBJimmy WatsonENG1943 8 28 1914 1 1 yBristol Rovers1943Guest from Bristol RoversHBBill WhittakerENG1943 8 28 1922 12 20 yCharlton Athletic1943Guest from Charlton AthleticFWDickie DavisENG1943 8 28 1922 1 22 ySunderland1943Guest from SunderlandFWJohnny DeakinSCO1943 8 28 1919 5 15 ySt Mirren1944Guest from St MirrenFWAllenby DriverENG1943 8 28 1919 9 29 ySheffield Wednesday1943Guest from Sheffield WednesdayFWBobby FlavellSCO1943 8 28 1921 9 1 yAirdrieonians1943Guest from AirdrieoniansFWDickie GirlingENG1943 8 28 1922 5 24 yCrystal Palace1944Guest from Crystal PalaceFWDouglas HuntENG1943 8 28 1914 5 19 ySheffield Wednesday1943Guest from Sheffield WednesdayFWTommy KiernanSCO1943 8 28 1918 10 20 yAlbion Rovers1943Guest from Albion RoversFWCharlie LeyfieldENG1943 8 28 1911 10 30 yDoncaster Rovers1943Guest from Doncaster RoversFWGeorge LittleENG1943 8 28 1915 12 1 yDoncaster Rovers1943Guest from Doncaster RoversFWPeter McKennanSCO1943 8 28 1918 7 16 yPartick Thistle1943Guest from Partick ThistleFWErnie ShepherdENG1943 8 28 1919 8 14 yFulham1944Guest from FulhamFWArthur StevensENG1943 8 28 1921 1 13 yFulham1944Guest from FulhamFWGeorge StewartSCO1943 8 28 1920 10 18 yHamilton Academical1943Guest from Hamilton AcademicalFWHarry ThompsonENG1943 8 28 1915 4 29 ySunderland1943Guest from SunderlandFWDennis WestcottENG1943 8 28 1917 7 2 yWolverhampton Wanderers1944Guest from Wolverhampton Wanderers 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 Crozier W. Brown Poyser McKenzie James Soo Hopkins McKennan Watson Hunt Smith Brentford's highest appearance-makers in each position during the Football League South season. PosNatNameLeagueFL War CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKSCOJoe Crozier15010160GKENGReg Saunders301040DFENGBuster Brown30050350DFENGBernard Floodgate10—10DFENGGeorge Poyser24060300HBENGJack Holliday31—31HBENGJoe James22010230HBENGTom Manley202040HBENGErnest Muttitt8030110FWWALJohnny Baynham22—22FWENGFred Durrant11—11FWWALIdris Hopkins12220142FWENGMaurice Richfield10—10FWENGLes Smith2112412513FWENGBob Thomas82—82FWENGLen Townsend108571515Players guested during the seasonGKENGGordon Bentley502070GKENGCharlie Briggs10—10GKENGHarry Dukes40—40GKENGFreddie Houldsworth—1010GKWALJohn Jones20—20GKENGBill Mason10—10GKENGAlec Roxburgh—1010DFSCORalph Cowan—1010DFSCOFrank Jenner10—10DFENGFred Lester10—10DFENGGeorge Taylor10—10HBENGLen Jones10—10HBSCODuncan McKenzie180—180HBSCODavid Nelson50—50HBENGFrank Soo12130151HBENGJimmy Watson14260202HBSCOJack Watson10—10HBENGBill Whittaker20040240FWENGDickie Davis20—20FWSCOJohnny Deakin10—10FWENGAllenby Driver11—11FWSCOBobby Flavell10—10FWENGDickie Girling10—10FWENGDouglas Hunt2615433018FWSCOTommy Kiernan40—40FWENGCharlie Leyfield10—10FWENGGeorge Little21—21FWSCOPeter McKennan1814202014FWENGErnie Shepherd101121FWENGArthur Stevens—1111FWSCOGeorge Stewart22860288FWENGHarry Thompson10—10FWENGDennis Westcott114556 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years Of Brentford Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFLSFLCTotalFWENGDouglas Hunt15318FWENGLen Townsend8715FWSCOPeter McKennan14014FWENGLes Smith12113FWSCOGeorge Stewart808FWENGDennis Westcott156FWWALJohnny Baynham2—2FWENGBob Thomas2—2FWWALIdris Hopkins202HBENGJimmy Watson202FWENGAllenby Driver1—1FWENGFred Durrant1—1HBENGJack Holliday1—1FWENGGeorge Little1—1HBENGFrank Soo101FWENGErnie Shepherd011FWENGArthur Stevens011Total711889 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years Of Brentford Wartime international caps Pos.NatPlayerCapsGoalsRefGKSCOJoe Crozier30Joe Crozier http://www.11v11.com/players/joe-crozier-170137/ 23 June 2016 11v11.comFWWALIdris Hopkins10Dai Hopkins http://www.11v11.com/players/dai-hopkins-33258/ 23 May 2016 11v11.comFWENGLes Smith31Les Smith http://www.11v11.com/players/les-smith-28096/ 23 June 2016 11v11.com Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Harry CurtisENG28 August 19436 May 1944 36 16 8 12| 30 14 7 9 Summary Games played 36 (30 Football League South, 6 Football League War Cup)Games won 16 (14 Football League South, 2 Football League War Cup)Games drawn 8 (7 Football League South, 1 Football League War Cup)Games lost 12 (9 Football League South, 3 Football League War Cup)Goals scored 89 (71 Football League South, 18 Football League War Cup)Goals conceded 68 (51 Football League South, 17 Football League War Cup)Clean sheets 10 (9 Football League South, 1 Football League War Cup)Biggest league win7–2 versus Southampton, 18 December 1943Worst league defeat 5–2 versus Queens Park Rangers, 25 December 1943Most appearances 35, Buster Brown (30 Football League South, 5 Football League War Cup)Top scorer (league)15, Douglas HuntTop scorer (all competitions)18, Douglas Hunt 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.28 August 1943FWENG Douglas HuntENG Sheffield WednesdayEnd of season28 August 1943HBENG Len JonesENG Plymouth Argyle28 August 194328 August 1943HBSCO Duncan McKenzieENG Middlesbrough22 January 194428 August 1943FWSCO George StewartSCO Hamilton AcademicalEnd of season28 August 1943HBENG Jimmy WatsonENG Bristol Rovers22 April 19444 September 1943GKWAL John JonesENG Northampton Town11 September 19434 September 1943HBENG Bill WhittakerENG Charlton AthleticEnd of season11 September 1943FWENG Harry ThompsonENG Sunderland11 September 194318 September 1943FWSCO Peter McKennanSCO Partick Thistle10 April 194418 September 1943HBENG Frank SooENG Stoke City18 March 194416 October 1943GKENG Charlie BriggsENG Halifax Town19 December 194223 October 1943DFENG Fred LesterENG Sheffield Wednesday23 October 194323 October 1943FWENG Charlie LeyfieldENG Doncaster Rovers23 October 194330 October 1943FWENG Allenby DriverENG Sheffield Wednesday30 October 19436 November 1943FWENG Dickie DavisENG Sunderland13 November 19436 November 1943GKENG Harry DukesENG Norwich City27 December 19436 November 1943FWSCO Bobby FlavellSCO Airdrieonians6 November 19436 November 1943FWENG George LittleENG Doncaster Rovers27 November 194313 November 1943HBSCO David NelsonENG Arsenal8 January 19444 December 1943FWSCO Tommy KiernanSCO Albion Rovers22 January 194427 December 1943DFENG George TaylorENG Bolton Wanderers27 December 19431 January 1944GKENG Gordon BentleyENG Burnley11 March 194422 January 1944FWENG Ernie ShepherdENG Fulham11 March 194429 January 1944FWSCO Johnny DeakinSCO St Mirren29 January 19445 February 1944FWENG Dennis WestcottENG Wolverhampton Wanderers18 March 194419 February 1944GKENG Freddie HouldsworthENG Reading19 February 194419 February 1944FWENG Arthur StevensENG Fulham19 February 194426 February 1944GKENG Alec RoxburghENG Blackpool27 March 19434 March 1944DFSCO Ralph CowanSCO Rangers4 March 19441 April 1944GKENG Bill MasonENG Queens Park Rangers1 April 19441 April 1944HBSCO Jack WatsonENG Bury1 April 194410 April 1944HBSCO Frank JennerSCO St Mirren10 April 19446 May 1944FWENG Dickie GirlingENG Crystal PalaceEnd of seasonGuest players outDate fromPos.NameToDate toRef.9 October 1943HBENG Ernest MuttittENG Watford9 October 1943Season: 1943/1944 https://www.watfordfcarchive.co.uk/season/1943-1944 12 May 2024 Watford Football Club Archive en4 December 1943HBENG Ernest MuttittENG Chelsea4 December 1943Chelsea 0–1 Brighton & Hove Albion (1943–44 League South) http://thechels.info/wiki/Chelsea_0-1_Brighton_&_Hove_Albion_(1943-44_League_South) 11 January 2018 TheChels.info – The Chelsea Football Club Wiki en22 January 1944HBENG Tom ManleyENG Tottenham Hotspur22 January 1944Goodwin Bob The Spurs Alphabet 2017 Lulu.com 978-0-9540434-2-1 290 en5 February 1944HBENG Ernest MuttittENG West Ham United5 February 1944Ernie [ww 2] Muttitt http://www.westhamstats.info/westham.php?west=2&ham=996&united=Ernie_%5Bww_2%5D_Muttitt 26 June 2016 www.westhamstats.infon/aDFENG Jimmy AndersonSCO Hamilton Academicaln/aLitster John Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players PM Publications Norwichn/aHBENG Ernest MuttittENG Crystal Palacen/aErnie Muttitt – Players https://www.coludata.co.uk/player/ernie-muttitt 19 May 2026 www.coludata.co.uk enn/aHBENG Ernest MuttittENG Clapton Orientn/an/aHBENG Ernest MuttittENG Fulhamn/an/aHBENG Ernest MuttittENG Readingn/an/aHBENG Ernest MuttittENG Brighton & Hove Albionn/aPlayers releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.May 1944FWENG Jack HollidayRetiredHaynes Coumbe 2006 79May 1944HBENG Joe JamesRetiredHaynes Coumbe 2006 86 References Category:Brentford F.C. seasons Brentford