1945–46 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1945–46 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League South, due to the cessation of competitive league football for one further season following the end of the Second World War in Europe in May 1945. A return to competitive cup football came in the form of the first FA Cup staged since before the war, with the Bees advancing to the sixth round and equalling the club record.

Brentford
1945–46 season
ChairmanFrank Davis
ManagerHarry Curtis
StadiumGriffin Park
Football League South14th
FA CupSixth round
Top goalscorerLeague: McAloon (17)
Thomas (17)
All: McAloon (23)
Highest home attendance36,000
Lowest home attendance7,050
Average home league attendance25,768

Season summary

Though the Second World War ended in Europe in May 1945, the first post-war football season would be played in the regionalised wartime format, due to players continuing to be dispersed on service around the world. Brentford again began the season with a shortage of first team players, though full back Bill Gorman would go on to be an ever-present, while centre half Buster Brown, outside forward Idris Hopkins and goalkeeper Joe Crozier would all miss just a handful of games each.[1]

Just two defeats in the opening two Football League South games gave way to a downturn in form,[1] which was not helped by the departure of misfiring former England international forward Les Smith to Aston Villa in October 1945.[2] Pre-war forward Tommy Cheetham also left Griffin Park,[3] so manager Harry Curtis strengthened the attack by re-signing Gerry McAloon from Wolverhampton Wanderers.[4] Further signings came in the form of experienced half backs George Smith and Eric Jones.[5][6] With excitement hard to come by in league play, Brentford's attention turned to the first FA Cup competition held since the 1938–39 season.[7] Entering in the third round, the Bees battled through to the sixth round, equalling the club record, with Gerry McAloon scoring six goals in the eight matches played.[1] With the return of competitive First Division football looming, a number of amateurs were trialled during the season, with future regulars Alf Jefferies, Frank Latimer and Roddy Munro all going on to sign professional contracts.[8][9][10]

Former Brentford wartime guest player Albert Bonass was serving in the Royal Air Force and was killed when his Short Stirling, on a training flight, crashed in the village of Tockwith, North Yorkshire on 9 October 1945.[11][12]

League table
Main article: Football League North and South

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts
12 Millwall 42 17 8 17 79 105 0.752 42
13 Coventry City 42 15 10 17 70 69 1.014 40
14 Brentford 42 14 10 18 82 72 1.139 38
15 Nottingham Forest 42 12 13 17 72 73 0.986 37
16 Southampton 42 14 9 19 97 105 0.924 37
Source: rsssf.com and War Hammers II[13]

Results
Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Football League South
No. Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s)
1 25 August 1945 Newport County H 2–1 13,980 Sloan, Townsend
2 1 September 1945 Newport County A 5–0 8,862 Thomas (2), Sloan, Townsend (2)
3 6 September 1945 Leicester City H 1–2 11,620 Sloan
4 8 September 1945 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 0–1 20,000
5 13 September 1945 Derby County H 0–0 11,050
6 15 September 1945 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 0–0 20,080
7 22 September 1945 West Ham United H 1–1 18,800 Thomas
8 29 September 1945 West Ham United A 2–0 23,000 Sloan, Durrant
9 6 October 1945 West Bromwich Albion A 4–3 28,000 Thomas (2), Tranter (og), Hunt
10 13 October 1945 West Bromwich Albion H 2–0 20,160 Durrant (2)
11 20 October 1945 Birmingham City H 2–1 20,690 Wilkins (2)
12 27 October 1945 Birmingham City A 0–1 35,000
13 3 November 1945 Tottenham Hotspur A 0–1 28,000
14 10 November 1945 Tottenham Hotspur H 1–3 19,269 Thomas
15 17 November 1945 Swansea Town A 1–4 21,000 Roberts
16 24 November 1945 Swansea Town H 2–2 12,090 Durrant, Hunt
17 1 December 1945 Chelsea H 4–4 28,170 Townsend (2), Durrant (2)
18 8 December 1945 Chelsea A 2–4 40,000 Durrant, Thomas
19 15 December 1945 Millwall H 7–0 16,190 Thomas, Townsend (4), Watson, Durrant
20 22 December 1945 Millwall A 1–3 22,000 Townsend
21 25 December 1945 Southampton H 1–4 14,350 McAloon
22 26 December 1945 Southampton A 4–3 20,000 Townsend (2), McAloon, Thomas
23 29 December 1945 Derby County A 2–3 22,751 McAloon, Durrant
24 12 January 1946 Coventry City A 0–1 13,450
25 19 January 1946 Coventry City H 1–2 10,300 Metcalf (og)
26 2 February 1946 Luton Town A 4–1 8,348 Durrant, Gotts, Scott, Townsend
27 16 February 1946 Aston Villa H 0–1 27,100
28 23 February 1946 Arsenal H 6–3 22,250 Thomas (3, 1 pen), Durrant, McAloon, Bamford
29 16 March 1946 Charlton Athletic H 1–1 14,900 McAloon
30 23 March 1946 Fulham H 1–2 23,400 McAloon
31 30 March 1946 Fulham A 2–2 27,475 Thomas, Townsend
32 6 April 1946 Plymouth Argyle A 1–1 20,000 McAloon
33 10 April 1946 Charlton Athletic A 3–4 20,000 Thomas (3)
34 13 April 1946 Plymouth Argyle H 3–2 13,200 G. Smith, Thomas, McAloon
35 17 April 1946 Aston Villa A 1–1 n/a McAloon
36 19 April 1946 Portsmouth H 0–2 16,184
37 20 April 1946 Nottingham Forest A 0–2 19,704
38 22 April 1946 Portsmouth A 0–2 20,000
39 24 April 1946 Luton Town H 6–1 7,050 McAloon (3), Durrant, Edelston, Jones
40 27 April 1946 Nottingham Forest H 5–1 8,140 Scott (2), McAloon (3, 1 pen)
41 29 April 1946 Arsenal A 1–1 5,250 Scott
42 4 May 1946 Leicester City A 3–1 10,000 Durrant, McAloon (2)

FA Cup
Main article: 1945–46 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer(s)
3R (1st leg) 5 January 1946 Tottenham Hotspur A 2–2 30,202 Durrant, Thomas
3R (2nd leg) 10 January 1946 Tottenham Hotspur H 2–0 (won 4–2 on aggregate) 21,050 Hopkins (2)
4R (1st leg) 26 January 1946 Bristol City A 1–2 35,684 Townsend
4R (2nd leg) 31 January 1946 Bristol City H 5–0 (won 6–2 on aggregate) 18,000 McAloon (3), Guy (og), Durrant
5R (1st leg) 9 February 1946 Queens Park Rangers A 3–1 19,855 McAloon, Durrant, Hopkins
5R (2nd leg) 14 February 1946 Queens Park Rangers H 0–0 (won 3–1 on aggregate) 20,000
6R (1st leg) 2 March 1946 Charlton Athletic A 3–6 40,060 McAloon (2), Durrant
6R (2nd leg)6 March 1946Charlton Athletic H1–3 (lost 4–9 on aggregate) 36,000 Scott

Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1945–46 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Joe Crozier Scotland (1914-12-02)2 December 1914 (aged 30) East Fife 1937
GK Ted Gaskell England (1916-12-19)19 December 1916 (aged 28) Buxton 1937
Defenders
DF Bill Gorman Republic of Ireland (1911-01-13)13 January 1911 (aged 34) Bury 1938
DF Roddy Munro Scotland (1920-07-27)27 July 1920 (aged 25) Rangers 1946 Amateur, guest for Colchester United
DF Harry Oliver England (1921-02-16)16 February 1921 (aged 24) Hartlepools United 1938 Guest for Leeds United and York City
Midfielders
HB Buster Brown England (1910-09-06)6 September 1910 (aged 34) Huddersfield Town 1937
HB Bob Coulson England n/a Unattached 1945 Amateur
HB Albert Hammond England (1924-02-05)5 February 1924 (aged 21) Queens Park Rangers 1944
HB Tom Manley England (1912-10-07)7 October 1912 (aged 32) Manchester United 1939
HB Billy Scott England (1907-12-06)6 December 1907 (aged 37) Middlesbrough 1932
HB George Smith England (1915-04-23)23 April 1915 (aged 30) Charlton Athletic 1945
Forwards
FW Harry Bamford England (1914-04-08)8 April 1914 (aged 31) Hayes 1936 Guest for Colchester United
FW Johnny Baynham Wales (1918-04-21)21 April 1918 (aged 27) Youth 1939 Guest for Clapton Orient
FW Les Boulter Wales (1913-08-31)31 August 1913 (aged 31) Charlton Athletic 1939
FW Fred Durrant England (1921-06-19)19 June 1921 (aged 24) Folkestone 1938
FW Jim Gotts England (1917-01-17)17 January 1917 (aged 28) Ashington 1945 Guest for Colchester United
FW Eric Jones England (1915-02-15)15 February 1915 (aged 30) West Bromwich Albion 1945
FW Idris Hopkins Wales (1910-10-11)11 October 1910 (aged 34) Crystal Palace 1932 Guest for West Ham United
FW Doug Keene England (1928-08-30)30 August 1928 (aged 16) Kingsbury Town 1946 Amateur
FW Gerry McAloon Scotland (1916-09-13)13 September 1916 (aged 28) Wolverhampton Wanderers 1945
FW Ernest Muttitt England (1908-07-24)24 July 1908 (aged 37) Middlesbrough 1932 Guest for Colchester United
FW Maurice Roberts England (1922-07-05)5 July 1922 (aged 23) Unattached 1946
FW Roy Stroud England (1925-03-16)16 March 1925 (aged 20) Golders Green 1945 Amateur
FW John Sutton England n/a Unattached 1945 Guest for Bristol City and Colchester United
FW Len Townsend England (1917-08-31)31 August 1917 (aged 27) Hayes 1937 Guest for Colchester United
FW George Wilkins England (1919-10-27)27 October 1919 (aged 25) Hayes 1939
Players who left the club mid-season
DF George Poyser England (1910-02-06)6 February 1910 (aged 35) Port Vale 1934 Transferred to Plymouth Argyle
FW Les Smith England (1918-03-13)13 March 1918 (aged 27) Petersham 1934 Guest for Queens Park Rangers
Transferred to Aston Villa
FW Bob Thomas England (1919-08-02)2 August 1919 (aged 26) Golders Green 1944 Transferred to Plymouth Argyle
Guest players
GK Johnny Mapson England (1917-05-02)2 May 1917 (aged 28) Sunderland 1945 Guest from Sunderland
DF Harry Ferrier Scotland (1920-05-20)20 May 1920 (aged 25) Barnsley 1945 Guest from Barnsley
HB Ted Fenton England (1914-11-07)7 November 1914 (aged 30) West Ham United 1945 Guest from West Ham United
HB Willie Phillips Scotland (1911-02-15)15 February 1911 (aged 34) Heart of Midlothian 1945 Guest from Heart of Midlothian
HB Bill Whittaker England (1922-12-20)20 December 1922 (aged 22) Charlton Athletic 1945 Guest from Charlton Athletic
HB Ron Wilson England (1924-09-10)10 September 1924 (aged 20) West Ham United 1946 Guest from West Ham United
FW Maurice Edelston England (1918-04-27)27 April 1918 (aged 27) Reading 1946 Amateur, guest from Reading
FW Douglas Hunt England (1914-05-19)19 May 1914 (aged 31) Sheffield Wednesday 1945 Guest from Sheffield Wednesday
FW Paddy Sloan Ireland (1920-04-30)30 April 1920 (aged 25) Tranmere Rovers 1945 Guest from Tranmere Rovers
FW Willie Watson England (1920-03-07)7 March 1920 (aged 25) Huddersfield Town 1945 Guest from Huddersfield Town
  • Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford,[1] Timeless Bees,[14] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939[15]

Coaching staff
Name Role
England Harry Curtis Manager
Scotland Jimmy Bain Assistant manager
England Bob Kane Trainer
England 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 FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Scotland Joe Crozier 35 0 8 0 43 0
GK England Ted Gaskell 1 0 — 1 0
DF Republic of Ireland Bill Gorman 42 0 8 0 50 0
DF Scotland Roddy Munro 5 0 — 5 0
DF England Harry Oliver 7 0 2 0 9 0
DF EnglandGeorge Poyser 26 03 0 29 0
HB EnglandBuster Brown 41 08 0 49 0
HB England Bob Coulson 1 0 — 1 0
HB England Albert Hammond 1 0 — 1 0
HB England Tom Manley 2 0 — 2 0
HB England Billy Scott 31 4 8 1 39 5
HB England George Smith 25 1 7 0 32 1
FW England Harry Bamford 1 1 2 0 3 1
FW Wales Johnny Baynham 7 0 — 7 0
FW Wales Les Boulter 1 0 — 1 0
FW England Fred Durrant 27 3 6 4 33 7
FW England Jim Gotts 4 1 2 0 6 1
FW England Eric Jones 20 1 4 0 24 1
FW Wales Idris Hopkins 36 0 8 3 44 3
FW England Doug Keene 2 0 — 2 0
FW Scotland Gerry McAloon 20 17 7 6 27 23
FW England Ernest Muttitt 1 0 — 1 0
FW England Maurice Roberts 1 1 — 1 1
FW England Les Smith 9 0 — 9 0
FW England Roy Stroud 4 0 — 4 0
FW England John Sutton 1 0 — 1 0
FW England Bob Thomas 33 17 8 1 41 18
FW England Len Townsend 18 14 3 1 21 15
FW England George Wilkins 3 2 — 3 2
Players guested during the season
GK England Johnny Mapson 6 0 — 6 0
DF Scotland Harry Ferrier 2 0 — 2 0
HB England Ted Fenton 1 0 — 1 0
HB Scotland Willie Phillips 8 0 — 8 0
HB England Bill Whittaker 19 0 4 0 23 0
HB England Ron Wilson 1 0 — 1 0
FW England Maurice Edelston 1 1 — 1 1
FW England Douglas Hunt 12 2 — 12 2
FW Ireland Paddy Sloan 6 4 — 6 4
FW England Willie Watson 1 1 — 1 1
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[1]

Goalscorers
Pos. Nat Player FLS FAC Total
FW Scotland Gerry McAloon 17 6 23
FW England Bob Thomas 17 1 18
FW England Len Townsend 14 1 15
FW England Fred Durrant 3 4 7
HB England Billy Scott 4 1 5
FW Ireland Paddy Sloan 4 — 4
FW Wales Idris Hopkins 0 3 3
FW England Douglas Hunt 2 — 2
FW England George Wilkins 2 — 2
FW England Maurice Edelston 1 — 1
FW England Willie Watson 1 — 1
FW England Harry Bamford 1 0 1
FW England Jim Gotts 1 0 1
FW England Eric Jones 1 0 1
FW England Maurice Roberts 1 0 1
HB England George Smith 1 0 1
Opponents 2 1 3
Total 8217 99
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[1]

Wartime international caps
Pos. Nat Player Caps Goals Ref
FW England Les Smith 3 0 [16]

Management
Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record
P W D L W % PWDLW %
Harry Curtis England 25 August 1945 4 May 1946 50 17 12 21 034.00|42 14 10 18 033.33

Summary
Games played50 (42 Football League South, 8 FA Cup)
Games won17 (14 Football League South, 3 FA Cup)
Games drawn12 (10 Football League South, 2 FA Cup)
Games lost21 (18 Football League South, 3 FA Cup)
Goals scored99 (82 Football League South, 17 FA Cup)
Goals conceded86 (72 Football League South, 14 FA Cup)
Clean sheets9 (6 Football League South, 3 FA Cup)
Biggest league win7–0 versus Millwall, 15 December 1945
Worst league defeat4–1 on two occasions
Most appearances50, Bill Gorman (42 Football League South, 8 FA Cup)
Top scorer (league)17, Gerry McAloon
Top scorer (all competitions) 23, Gerry McAloon

Transfers & loans
Guest players' arrival and departure dates correspond to their first and last appearances of the season.
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
19 November 1945 HB England George Smith England Charlton Athletic £4,000 [17]
November 1945 HB England Frank Latimer England Snowdown Colliery Welfare Free [9]
24 December 1945 FW Scotland Gerry McAloon England Wolverhampton Wanderers £500 [18]
December 1945 HB England Eric Jones England West Bromwich Albion n/a [6]
1945 GK England Alf Jefferies England Oxford City Amateur [8]
January 1946 FW England Jim Gotts England Ashington Free [19]
March 1946 DF England Eric Ventom Scotland Ayr Newton Rovers n/a [20]
April 1946 FW England Doug Keene England Kingsbury Town Amateur [21]
April 1946 DF Scotland Roddy Munro Scotland Rangers Amateur [10]
Guest players in
Date Pos. Name From Date to Ref.
25 August 1945 FW England Douglas Hunt England Sheffield Wednesday 24 November 1945 [1]
25 August 1945 GK England Johnny Mapson England Sunderland 15 September 1945 [1]
25 August 1945 FW Ireland Paddy Sloan England Tranmere Rovers 29 September 1945 [1]
25 August 1945 HB England Bill Whittaker England Charlton Athletic 29 April 1946 [1]
6 September 1945 DF Scotland Harry Ferrier England Barnsley 13 September 1945 [1]
13 September 1945 HB England Ted Fenton England West Ham United 13 September 1945 [1]
15 September 1945 HB Scotland Willie Phillips Scotland Heart of Midlothian 15 December 1945 [1]
15 December 1945 FW England Willie Watson England Huddersfield Town 15 December 1945 [1]
16 February 1946 HB England Ron Wilson England West Ham United 16 February 1946 [1]
24 April 1946 FW England Maurice Edelston England Reading 24 April 1946 [1]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
October 1945 FW England Les Smith England Aston Villa £6,000 [2]
October 1945 FW England Tommy Cheetham England Lincoln City n/a [3]
April 1946 DF England Ted Ballard England Clapton Orient n/a [22]
April 1946 FW England Cyril Brown England Sunderland n/a [23]
April 1946 DF England George Poyser England Plymouth Argyle £3,500 [24]
April 1946 FW England Bob Thomas England Plymouth Argyle £3,500 [25]
Guest players out
Date from Pos. Name To Date to Ref.
1 September 1945 DF England Harry Oliver England Leeds United 1 September 1945 [26]
19 September 1945 FW England Les Smith England Queens Park Rangers 19 September 1945 [27]
13 October 1945 FW Wales Idris Hopkins England West Ham United 13 October 1945 [28]
19 January 1946 FW England Len Townsend England Colchester United 19 January 1946 [29]
9 March 1946 GK England Alf Jefferies England Colchester United 9 March 1946 [30]
March 1946 FW Wales Johnny Baynham England Clapton Orient n/a [31]
13 April 1946 DF England Harry Bamford England Colchester United 13 April 1946 [32]
13 April 1946 FW England Jim Gotts England Colchester United 13 April 1946 [33]
13 April 1946 DF Scotland Roddy Munro England Colchester United 13 April 1946 [34]
13 April 1946 FW England Ernest Muttitt England Colchester United 13 April 1946 [35]
13 April 1946 FW England John Sutton England Colchester United 13 April 1946 [36]
n/a DF England Jimmy Anderson Scotland Queen of the South n/a [37]
n/a DF England Harry Oliver England York City n/a [26]
n/a FW England John Sutton England Bristol City n/a

References
  1. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 378. ISBN 0951526200.
  2. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 149.
  3. "Tommy Cheetham". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  4. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 102-103.
  5. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 148.
  6. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 89.
  7. White 1989, p. 178.
  8. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 87.
  9. "Frank Latimer". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  10. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 112.
  11. "Former Chesterfield F.C. player killed in aeroplane crash". Derbyshire Times. 12 October 1945. p. 7 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. "Brentford FC Remembrance List". Brentford FC. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  13. Belton, Brian (2015). War Hammers II: The Story of West Ham United During the Second World War. The History Press. ISBN 075095602X.
  14. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  15. Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN 190589161X.
  16. "Les Smith". 11v11.com. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  17. "Smith George Brentford 1946". Vintage Footballers. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  18. White 1989, p. 182.
  19. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 68.
  20. "Eric Ventom". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  21. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 91.
  22. "Bacon – Bandy". Hayes & Yeading United FC: The Official Website. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  23. "Cyril Brown". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  24. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 127.
  25. "Bob Thomas". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  26. "Oliver: Henry Spoors (Harry)". Leeds United F.C. History. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  27. "Seasonal Stats – Files – 1945–46". QPRnet. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  28. "Idris [ww 2] Hopkins". www.westhamstats.info. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  29. "Len Townsend – Players – Colchester United". www.coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  30. "Alf Jeffries – Players – Colchester United". www.coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  31. "Johnny Baynham". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  32. "Harry Bamford – Players – Colchester United". www.coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  33. "Jim Gotts – Players – Colchester United". www.coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  34. "Roddie Munro – Players – Colchester United". www.coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  35. "Ernie Muttitt – Players – Colchester United". www.coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  36. "John Sutton – Players – Colchester United". www.coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  37. Litster, John. Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
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