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, equalling the club record.
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. 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. Further signings came in the form of experienced half backs George Smith and Eric Jones. 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. 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.[9]
Tables
Football League South
Source: War Hammers II[11]
Results
- Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend
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
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result |
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 1946 | Charlton Athletic |
H | 1–3 (lost 4–9 on aggregate) |
36,000 |
Scott |
Playing squad
- Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1945–46 season.
- Sources: 100 Years Of Brentford,[1] Timeless Bees,[12] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939[13]
Coaching staff
Statistics
Appearances and goals
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[1]
Goalscorers
- Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
- Source: 100 Years Of Brentford[1]
Wartime international caps
Management
| Name |
Nat |
From |
To |
Record All Comps |
Record |
| P |
W |
D |
L |
W % |
P | W | D | L | W % |
| Harry Curtis |
 |
25 August 1945 |
4 May 1946 |
7001500000000000000♠50 |
7001170000000000000♠17 |
7001120000000000000♠12 |
7001210000000000000♠21 |
7001340000000000000♠34.00| | 7001420000000000000♠42 |
7001140000000000000♠14 |
7001100000000000000♠10 |
7001180000000000000♠18 |
7001333300000000000♠33.33 |
Summary
| Games played | 50 (42 Football League South, 8 FA Cup) |
| Games won | 17 (14 Football League South, 3 FA Cup) |
| Games drawn | 12 (10 Football League South, 2 FA Cup) |
| Games lost | 21 (18 Football League South, 3 FA Cup) |
| Goals scored | 99 (82 Football League South, 17 FA Cup) |
| Goals conceded | 86 (72 Football League South, 14 FA Cup) |
| Clean sheets | 9 (6 Football League South, 3 FA Cup) |
| Biggest league win | 7–0 versus Millwall, 15 December 1945 |
| Worst league defeat | 4–1 on two occasions |
| Most appearances | 50, 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.
References
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| Rivalries | |
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- 1890–91
- 1891–92
- 1892–93
- 1893–94
- 1894–95
- 1895–96
- 1896–97
- 1897–98
- 1898–99
- 1899–00
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- 1900–01
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- 1903–04
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- 1905–06
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| FA competitions | |
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Club seasons
- Accrington Stanley
- Aldershot
- Arsenal
- Aston Villa
- Barnsley
- Barrow
- Birmingham City
- Blackburn Rovers
- Blackpool
- Bolton Wanderers
- Bournemouth
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- Chesterfield
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- West Ham United
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- Wrexham
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