1939–40 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1939–40 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League, playing three matches before competitive football was suspended due to the outbreak of the Second World War. The club played in three unofficial wartime competitions for the remainder of the season – groups B and C of the Football League South and the Football League War Cup.

Brentford
1939–40 season
ChairmanLouis P. Simon
ManagerHarry Curtis
StadiumGriffin Park
First Division12th (abandoned)
Top goalscorerLeague: Holliday (17)
All: Holliday (17)
Highest home attendance12,079
Average home league attendance12,079

Season summary
New captain Tom Manley transferred to Brentford in August 1939.

After narrowly avoiding relegation towards the end of the 1938–39 season,[1] Brentford manager Harry Curtis allowed full back Joe Wilson and half backs Sam Briddon and Tally Sneddon to transfer away from the club.[2][3] Curtis signed young Sunderland inside forward Percy Saunders and brought in former Manchester United wing half Tom Mansley as his new captain.[4] The season opened with a heavy 5–1 Football League Jubilee Fund defeat to neighbours Chelsea on 19 August 1939.[5] Brentford began the regular season with a win, a draw and a defeat before competitive football was suspended following Britain's declaration of war on Germany on 3 September 1939.[6] Percy Saunders, who had scored on his debut on the opening day,[6] would become the only pre-war Brentford player to die on active service during the war, when his ship was torpedoed in the Indian Ocean in March 1942.[7]

The cessation of competitive football was worrying for Brentford, with £12,000 having been spent on new players during the off-season (equivalent to £749,500 in 2021) and there was little prospect of recouping it through the turnstiles.[5] 23 of Brentford's 30-man squad were called to arms, into the War Police Reserve or into the munitions industry.[5] Within two weeks of the declaration of war, the Football League agreed that football could continue, in order to keep clubs in business and to raise funds.[5]

Brentford entered Group B of the new Football League South in October 1939 and the squad was augmented by three guest players who had previously played for the club – Scottish international half back Duncan McKenzie, fellow Scottish half back Archie Scott and inside forward Bert Stephens.[8] 30-year old centre forward Jack Holliday (previously prolific in the Third and Second Divisions between 1932 and 1935) experienced a renaissance, scoring 14 goals in 16 appearances,[8] though Brentford could finish no better than 5th.[9]

A further 18-match campaign followed in Group C in the first six months of 1940, with 13 players guesting, including two former international Brentford players – Scotland's David McCulloch and the United States' Jim Brown.[8] The Bees finished 4th in the 10-team group and exited the Football League War Cup in the first round.[8]

League tables

Football League First Division
Main article: 1939–40 Football League First Division
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
10 Manchester United 3 1 1 1 5 3 1.667 3
11 Chelsea 3 1 1 1 4 4 1.000 3
12 Brentford 3 1 1 1 3 3 1.000 3
13 Grimsby Town 3 1 1 1 2 4 0.500 3
14 Aston Villa 3 1 0 2 3 3 1.000 2
Source:

Football League South Group B
Main article: 1939–40 in English football
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts
1 Queens Park Rangers 18 12 2 4 49 26 1.885 26
2 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 18 11 2 5 52 37 1.405 24
3 Chelsea 18 9 5 4 44 37 1.189 23
4 Reading 18 10 2 6 47 42 1.119 22
5 Brentford 18 8 2 8 42 41 1.024 18
6 Fulham 18 7 4 7 50 51 0.980 18
7 Portsmouth 18 7 2 9 37 42 0.881 16
8 Aldershot 18 5 4 9 38 49 0.776 14
9 Brighton & Hove Albion 18 5 1 12 42 53 0.792 11
10 Southampton 18 4 0 14 41 64 0.641 8
Source: Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation

Football League South Group C
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts
1 Tottenham Hotspur 18 11 4 3 43 30 1.433 26
2 West Ham United 18 10 4 4 53 28 1.893 24
3 Arsenal 18 9 5 4 41 26 1.577 23
4 Brentford 18 8 4 6 42 34 1.235 20
5 Millwall 18 7 5 6 36 30 1.200 19
6 Charlton Athletic 18 7 4 7 39 36 1.083 18
7 Fulham 18 8 1 9 38 42 0.905 17
8 Southampton 18 5 3 10 28 55 0.509 13
9 Chelsea 18 4 3 11 33 53 0.623 11
10 Portsmouth 18 3 3 12 26 45 0.578 9
Source: Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation

Results
Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division
No.DateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer
1 26 August 1939 Everton A 1–1 30,466 Saunders
2 28 August 1939 Blackpool A 1–2 21,633 Boulter
3 2 September 1939 Huddersfield Town H 1–0 12,079 Holliday

Football League South Group B
No. DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
1 21 October 1939ChelseaH2–2 6,628Holliday, Gorman
2 28 October 1939Portsmouth A1–3 3,000Boulter
3 4 November 1939SouthamptonH3–1 4,757Boulter (2), Manley
4 11 November 1939Queens Park RangersA0–1 8,000
5 18 November 1939Brighton & Hove AlbionH4–1 3,533Holliday (3), Townsend
6 25 November 1939AldershotA0–1 4,000
7 2 December 1939ReadingH3–0 4,077Smith, Holliday (2)
8 9 December 1939Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic H5–2 4,680Townsend (2), McKenzie, Hopkins, Boulter
9 16 December 1939Fulham A4–2 5,000Holliday, Hopkins, Manley
10 25 December 1939PortsmouthH4–0 4,811Holliday (3), Manley
11 26 December 1939SouthamptonA3–2 6,000Holliday, Hopkins, Townsend
12 30 December 1939Queens Park RangersH0–7 3,942
13 6 January 1940Brighton & Hove AlbionA2–3 2,071Manley (2)
14 13 January 1940AldershotH4–3 1,836Townsend (2), W. Brown, Hopkins
15 20 January 1940Reading A1–3 1,900Hopkins
16 24 January 1940Chelsea A2–3 2,000Griffith (og), Holliday
17 27 January 1940Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticA2–2 3,000James, Holliday
18 14 February 1940FulhamH2–5 1,885Wilkins, McKenzie

Football League South Group C
No. DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
1 10 February 1940Arsenal A1–3 5,000Boulter
2 17 February 1940West Ham UnitedH4–3 1,885Smith, Boulter, McKenzie (pen), Wilkins
3 24 February 1940Charlton AthleticA2–3 7,000Wilkins, McKenzie (pen)
4 2 March 1940ChelseaH1–1 7,110McCulloch
5 9 March 1940Tottenham HotspurA1–1 9,815Yorston
6 16 March 1940SouthamptonH5–0 3,600Yorston (2), Hunt
7 22 March 1940PortsmouthH3–1 6,500Wilkins, McKenzie (2)
8 23 March 1940MillwallA1–4 14,490Hunt
9 25 March 1940Portsmouth A3–1 8,000Holliday, Wilkins, Hunt
10 30 March 1940Fulham H5–0 6,956Hunt (2), Yorston, Wilkins, W. Brown
11 6 April 1940ArsenalH2–4 8,000Yorston, Doherty
12 10 April 1940SouthamptonA1–4 4,000Wilkins
13 13 April 1940West Ham UnitedA1–1 8,000Hunt
14 17 April 1940MillwallH1–1 5,000Doherty
15 4 May 1940Tottenham Hotspur H2–3 5,521Wilkins, Hutchins (og)
16 11 May 1940ChelseaH2–0 3,168McKenzie (pen), Hopkins
17 18 May 1940Charlton AthleticH2–1 3,000Hunt, Hopkins
18 3 June 1940FulhamA5–3 1,000Wilkins (2), Burgess (2), Holliday

Football League War Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer
1R (1st leg) 20 April 1940 Fulham A 1–4 12,000 Smith
1R (2nd leg) 27 April 1940 Fulham H 1–2 (lost 6–2 on aggregate) 7,695 J. Brown
  • Sources: A-Z Of Bees,[6] Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79,[10] 100 Years Of Brentford[8]

Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1939–40 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Frank Clack (1912-03-30)30 March 1912 (aged 27) Birmingham 1939
GK Joe Crozier (1914-12-02)2 December 1914 (aged 24) East Fife 1937 Guest for Airdrieonians
GK Ted Gaskell (1916-12-19)19 December 1916 (aged 22) Buxton 1937
Defenders
DF Jimmy Anderson (1913-07-26)26 July 1913 (aged 26) Queen of the South 1939 Guest for Queen of the South
DF Bill Gorman (1911-01-13)13 January 1911 (aged 28) Bury 1938
DF George Poyser (1910-02-06)6 February 1910 (aged 29) Port Vale 1934
Midfielders
HB Vic Aicken (1914-10-29)29 October 1914 (aged 24) Glentoran 1937
HB Buster Brown (1910-09-06)6 September 1910 (aged 28) Huddersfield Town 1937
HB Joe James (1910-01-13)13 January 1910 (aged 29) Battersea Church 1929
HB Tom Manley (c) (1912-10-07)7 October 1912 (aged 26) Manchester United 1939
Forwards
FW Les Boulter (1913-08-31)31 August 1913 (aged 25) Charlton Athletic 1939
FW Tommy Cheetham (1910-10-11)11 October 1910 (aged 28) Queens Park Rangers 1939
FW Fred Durrant (1921-06-19)19 June 1921 (aged 18) Folkestone 1938
FW Jack Holliday (1908-12-19)19 December 1908 (aged 30) Middlesbrough 1932
FW Idris Hopkins (1910-10-11)11 October 1910 (aged 28) Crystal Palace 1932
FW Johnny Kay n/a Unattached 1939 Amateur
FW Ernest Muttitt (1908-07-24)24 July 1908 (aged 31) Middlesbrough 1932
FW Percy Saunders (1916-07-09)9 July 1916 (aged 23) Sunderland 1939
FW Billy Scott (1907-12-06)6 December 1907 (aged 31) Middlesbrough 1932 Guest for Newcastle United
FW Les Smith (1918-03-13)13 March 1918 (aged 21) Petersham 1934
FW Bob Thomas (1919-08-02)2 August 1919 (aged 20) Golders Green 1939
FW Len Townsend (1917-08-31)31 August 1917 (aged 21) Hayes 1937 Guest for Plymouth Argyle
FW George Wilkins (1919-10-27)27 October 1919 (aged 19) Hayes 1939
Guest players
GK Charlie Hillam (1908-10-06)6 October 1908 (aged 30) Southend United 1940 Guest from Southend United
GK John Jackson (1906-11-29)29 November 1906 (aged 32) Chelsea 1940 Guest from Chelsea
GK Bill Mason (1908-10-31)31 October 1908 (aged 30) Queens Park Rangers 1940 Guest from Queens Park Rangers
GK Vic Woodley (1910-02-26)26 February 1910 (aged 29) Chelsea 1940 Guest from Chelsea
DF Ted Reay (1914-08-05)5 August 1914 (aged 25) Queens Park Rangers 1940 Guest from Queens Park Rangers
DF Harold Shepherdson (1918-10-22)22 October 1918 (aged 20) Middlesbrough 1940 Guest from Middlesbrough
HB Alec Farmer (1908-10-09)9 October 1908 (aged 30) Queens Park Rangers 1940 Guest from Queens Park Rangers
HB Duncan McKenzie (1912-08-10)10 August 1912 (aged 27) Middlesbrough 1939 Guest from Middlesbrough
HB Archie Scott (1905-07-22)22 July 1905 (aged 34) Unattached 1939 Guest
FW Jim Brown (1908-12-31)31 December 1908 (aged 30) Guildford City 1940 Guest from Guildford City
FW Harry Burgess (1904-08-20)20 August 1904 (aged 35) Chelsea 1940 Guest from Chelsea
FW Peter Doherty (1913-06-05)5 June 1913 (aged 26) Manchester City 1940 Guest from Manchester City
FW Douglas Hunt (1914-05-19)19 May 1914 (aged 25) Sheffield Wednesday 1940 Guest from Sheffield Wednesday
FW David McCulloch (1912-10-05)5 October 1912 (aged 26) Derby County 1940 Guest from Derby County
FW Bert Stephens (1909-05-13)13 May 1909 (aged 30) Brighton & Hove Albion 1940 Guest from Brighton & Hove Albion
FW Benny Yorston (1905-10-14)14 October 1905 (aged 33) Middlesbrough 1940 Guest from Middlesbrough
  • Sources: Timeless Bees,[11] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939,[12] 100 Years Of Brentford[8]

Coaching staff
Name Role
Harry Curtis Manager
Jimmy Bain Assistant Manager
Bob Kane Trainer
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 League S B League S C L War Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Frank Clack — 2 0 1 0 2 0 5 0
GK Joe Crozier 3 0 1 0 — — 4 0
GK Ted Gaskell — 15 0 5 0 — 20 0
DF Jimmy Anderson 3 0 — — — 3 0
DF Bill Gorman 3 0 17 1 17 0 2 0 39 1
DF George Poyser — 16 0 16 0 2 0 34 0
HB Vic Aicken — 1 0 — — 1 0
HB Buster Brown2 0 15 1 12 1 1 0 30 2
HB Joe James 3 0 16 1 14 0 1 0 34 1
HB Tom Manley 3 0 15 5 — 1 0 19 5
FW Les Boulter 3 1 9 4 2 1 — 14 6
FW Tommy Cheetham 2 0 — 1 0 — 3 0
FW Fred Durrant — — — 1 0 1 0
FW Jack Holliday 1 1 16 14 9 2 1 0 27 17
FW Idris Hopkins 3 0 16 5 17 2 2 0 38 7
FW Johnny Kay — — 3 0 — 3 0
FW Ernest Muttitt — 1 0 5 0 1 0 7 0
FW Percy Saunders 2 1 5 0 — — 7 1
FW Billy Scott 2 0 1 0 2 0 2 0 7 0
FW Les Smith 3 0 15 2 9 1 2 1 29 4
FW Bob Thomas — 2 0 1 0 — 3 0
FW Len Townsend — 6 5 2 0 — 8 5
FW George Wilkins — 9 1 18 6 2 0 29 7
Players guested during the season
GK Charlie Hillam — — 1 0 — 1 0
GK John Jackson — — 6 0 — 6 0
GK Bill Mason — — 1 0 — 1 0
GK Vic Woodley — — 3 0 — 3 0
DF Ted Reay — 1 0 1 0 — 2 0
DF Harold Shepherdson — — 1 0 — 1 0
HB Alec Farmer — — — 1 0 1 0
HB Duncan McKenzie — 16 2 18 5 — 34 7
HB Archie Scott — — 1 0 — 1 0
FW Jim Brown — — — 1 1 1 1
FW Harry Burgess — — 1 2 — 1 2
FW Peter Doherty — — 3 2 — 3 2
FW Douglas Hunt — — 10 9 — 10 9
FW David McCulloch — — 5 2 — 5 2
FW Bert Stephens — 1 1 — — 1 1
FW Benny Yorston — — 8 5 — 8 5
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[8]

Goalscorers
Pos. Nat Player FL1 FLB FLC LWC Total
FW Jack Holliday 1 14 2 0 17
FW Douglas Hunt — — 9 — 9
FW Idris Hopkins 0 5 2 0 7
HB Duncan McKenzie — 2 5 — 7
FW George Wilkins — 1 6 0 7
FW Les Boulter 1 4 1 — 6
HB Tom Manley 0 5 — 0 5
FW Len Townsend — 5 0 — 5
FW Benny Yorston — — 5 — 5
FW Les Smith 0 2 1 1 4
HB Buster Brown 0 1 1 0 2
FW Harry Burgess — — 2 — 2
FW Peter Doherty — — 2 — 2
FW David McCulloch — — 2 — 2
FW Percy Saunders 1 0 — — 1
FW Jim Brown — — — 1 1
FW Bert Stephens — 1 — — 1
DF Bill Gorman 0 1 0 0 1
HB Joe James 0 1 0 0 1
Opponents 0 1 1 0 1
Total3 42 42 2 89
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[8]

Wartime international caps
Pos. Nat Player Caps Goals Ref
FW Idris Hopkins 3 0 [13]
FW Les Smith 1 0 [14]

Management
Name Nat From To Record All Comps
PWDLW %
Harry Curtis 26 August 1939 3 June 1940 41 17 7 17 041.46

Summary
Games played41 (3 Football League, 18 Football League South Group B, 18 Football League South Group C, 2 Football League War Cup)
Games won17 (1 Football League, 8 Football League South Group B, 8 Football League South Group C, 0 Football League War Cup)
Games drawn7 (1 Football League, 2 Football League South Group B, 4 Football League South Group C, 0 Football League War Cup)
Games lost17 (1 Football League, 8 Football League South Group B, 6 Football League South Group C, 2 Football League War Cup)
Goals scored89 (3 Football League, 42 Football League South Group B, 42 Football League South Group C, 2 Football League War Cup)
Goals conceded84 (3 Football League, 41 Football League South Group B, 34 Football League South Group C, 6 Football League War Cup)
Clean sheets6 (1 Football League, 2 Football League South Group B, 3 Football League South Group C, 0 Football League War Cup)
Biggest league win5–0 on two occasions
Worst league defeat7–0 versus Queens Park Rangers, 30 December 1939
Most appearances39, Bill Gorman (3 Football League, 17 Football League South Group B, 17 Football League South Group C, 2 Football League War Cup)
Top scorer (league)17, Jack Holliday
Top scorer (all competitions) 17, Jack Holliday

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.
May 1939 FW Bob Thomas Golders Green n/a [15]
27 July 1939 DF Jimmy Anderson Queen of the South n/a [16]
July 1939 GK Frank Clack Birmingham n/a [17]
August 1939 HB Tom Manley Manchester United n/a [4]
1939 FW Percy Saunders Sunderland n/a [7]
Guest players in
Date from Pos. Name From Date to Ref.
28 October 1939 HB Archie Scott Unattached 28 October 1939 [8]
4 November 1939 HB Duncan McKenzie Middlesbrough End of season [8]
11 November 1939 FW Bert Stephens Brighton & Hove Albion 11 November 1939 [8]
24 January 1940 GK Bill Mason Queens Park Rangers 24 January 1940 [8]
24 January 1940 DF Harold Shepherdson Middlesbrough 24 January 1940 [8]
10 February 1940 FW David McCulloch Derby County 9 March 1940 [8]
14 February 1940 DF Ted Reay Queens Park Rangers 17 February 1940 [8]
9 March 1940 GK John Jackson Chelsea End of season [8]
9 March 1940 FW Benny Yorston Middlesbrough 4 May 1940 [8]
16 March 1940 GK Charlie Hillam Southend United 16 March 1940 [8]
16 March 1940 FW Douglas Hunt Sheffield Wednesday 18 May 1940 [8]
6 April 1940 FW Peter Doherty Manchester City 17 April 1940 [8]
17 April 1940 GK Vic Woodley Chelsea 18 May 1940 [8]
20 April 1940 HB Alec Farmer Queens Park Rangers 20 April 1940 [8]
27 April 1940 FW Jim Brown Guildford City 27 April 1940 [8]
3 June 1940 FW Harry Burgess Chelsea End of season [8]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
10 July 1939 HB Sam Briddon Swansea Town n/a [2]
10 July 1939 HB Tally Sneddon Swansea Town n/a [2]
14 August 1939 DF Joe Wilson Reading n/a [3]
Guest players out
Date from Pos. Name To Date to Ref.
7 October 1939 FW Billy Scott Newcastle United 13 January 1940 [18]
24 October 1939 GK Joe Crozier Airdrieonians End of season [16]
16 December 1939 DF Doug Anderson Aberdeen 2 March 1940 [16]
27 January 1940 FW Len Townsend Plymouth Argyle 27 April 1940 [19]
n/a DF Jimmy Anderson Queen of the South n/a [16]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
1939 FW Fred Rowell Bournemouth September 1941 [20]

References
  1. Brentford F.C. at the Football Club History Database
  2. "SNEDDON LEAVES. Brentford Transfer Two Players to Swansea. SUBSTANTIAL FEE. Bees" Hope to Sign Wing-Half and Full Back". The Brentford & Twickenham Times. 14 July 1939.
  3. "NEW STARS WERE ON SHOW. But Two "Unknowns" Stole Trial Match Limelight. BRENTFORD WELL EQUIPPED. New Players Impress: Brilliance of Young Kay and Waddell: Team for To-morrow". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 18 August 1939.
  4. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 99-100.
  5. White 1989, p. 166-167.
  6. Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Harefield, Middlesex: Yore Publications. p. 134. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  7. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 141.
  8. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 375. ISBN 0951526200.
  9. "England 1939/40". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  10. Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
  11. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  12. Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN 190589161X.
  13. "Dai Hopkins". 11v11.com. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  14. "Les Smith". 11v11.com. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  15. "Bob Thomas". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  16. Litster, John. Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
  17. "Frank Clack". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  18. "NUFC SEASON REVIEW 1939/40". www.nufctheyworethenewcastleshirt.btck.co.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  19. "GoS-DB Players". www.greensonscreen.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  20. "Fred Rowell". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
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