1945–46_Brentford_F.C._season

1945–46 Brentford F.C. season

1945–46 Brentford F.C. season

1945–46 season of Brentford F.C.

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.

Quick Facts Chairman, Manager ...

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

More information Pos, Pld ...
Source: rsssf.com and War Hammers II[13]

Results

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League South

More information No., Date ...

FA Cup

Main article: 1945–46 FA Cup
More information Round, Date ...

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1945–46 season.
More information Pos., Name ...
  • Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford,[1] Timeless Bees,[14] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939[15]

Coaching staff

More information Name, Role ...

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Brentford's highest appearance-makers in each position during the Football League South season.
More information Pos, Nat ...
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[1]

Goalscorers

More information Pos., Nat ...
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[1]

Wartime international caps

More information Pos., Nat ...

Management

More information Name, Nat ...

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.
More information Players transferred in, Date ...

References

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