# 1943–44 Brentford F.C. season

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. The biggest boost for the squad came with the availability of goalkeeper Joe Crozier, who had not appeared since 21 October 1939. 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. A whopping 36 guest players would be used during the campaign.
Despite an improved 7th-place finish in the Football League South, 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. He would return to football briefly with Colchester United in November 1945. 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. He remained on the club's books as assistant trainer of the reserve team.

## League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts |
| 6 | Portsmouth | 30 | 16 | 5 | 9 | 68 | 59 | 1.153 | 37 |
| 7 | Brentford | 30 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 71 | 51 | 1.392 | 35 |
| 8 | Chelsea | 30 | 16 | 2 | 12 | 79 | 55 | 1.436 | 34 |

## Results

    Brentford's goal tally listed first.

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Football League South

| No. | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
| 1 | 28 August 1943 | Clapton Orient | H | 4–2 | 4,820 | Hunt, Smith (2), Stewart |
| 2 | 4 September 1943 | Fulham | A | 3–4 | 7,737 | Stewart, Hunt (2) |
| 3 | 11 September 1943 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 2–3 | 5,310 | Hopkins, Hunt |
| 4 | 18 September 1943 | Chelsea | H | 3–1 | 6,400 | Smith, Hunt, Stewart |
| 5 | 25 September 1943 | Crystal Palace | A | 1–1 | 5,131 | W. Watson |
| 6 | 2 October 1943 | Watford | H | 4–1 | 6,720 | Durrant, Hunt (pen), McKennan (2) |
| 7 | 9 October 1943 | West Ham United | A | 0–0 | 12,000 | |
| 8 | 16 October 1943 | Arsenal | A | 3–3 | 17,658 | McKennan, Townsend, Hunt |
| 9 | 23 October 1943 | Aldershot | H | 2–4 | 9,940 | McKennan (2) |
| 10 | 30 October 1943 | Luton Town | A | 2–2 | 5,000 | Driver, McKennan |
| 11 | 6 November 1943 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 0–2 | 9,650 | |
| 12 | 13 November 1943 | Portsmouth | H | 2–0 | 6,880 | Smith, Hunt (pen) |
| 13 | 27 November 1943 | Clapton Orient | A | 4–1 | 1,000 | Smith (2), Little, McKennan |
| 14 | 4 December 1943 | Fulham | H | 0–0 | 7,510 | |
| 15 | 11 December 1943 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 2–0 | 2,500 | Thomas, Stewart |
| 16 | 18 December 1943 | Southampton | H | 7–2 | 3,000 | Smith (2), Hunt (2), McKennan (2), Stewart |
| 17 | 25 December 1943 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 2–5 | 11,200 | Thomas, McKennan |
| 18 | 27 December 1943 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 2–3 | 8,900 | Smith, Stewart |
| 19 | 1 January 1944 | Chelsea | A | 3–0 | 12,000 | McKennan (2), Hunt |
| 20 | 8 January 1944 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 0–1 | 16,917 | |
| 21 | 22 January 1944 | Watford | A | 4–4 | 2,759 | Hunt (2, 1 pen), W. Watson, McKennan |
| 22 | 29 January 1944 | West Ham United | H | 2–1 | 11,220 | Townsend, Hunt |
| 23 | 5 February 1944 | Arsenal | H | 4–1 | 20,270 | Soo, Westcott, Townsend (2) |
| 24 | 12 February 1944 | Aldershot | A | 2–4 | 4,000 | McKennan, Smith |
| 25 | 1 April 1944 | Luton Town | H | 2–0 | 2,340 | Hopkins, Baynham |
| 26 | 10 April 1944 | Crystal Palace | H | 2–0 | 4,440 | Stewart, Holliday |
| 27 | 15 April 1944 | Reading | H | 1–0 | 6,040 | Smith |
| 28 | 22 April 1944 | Southampton | A | 2–2 | 9,000 | Townsend, Stewart |
| 29 | 29 April 1944 | Portsmouth | A | 2–3 | 8,000 | Baynham, Townsend |
| 30 | 6 May 1944 | Reading | A | 3–0 | 3,500 | Townsend (2), Hunt |

### Football League South War Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
| Grp | 19 February 1944 | Crystal Palace | H | 3–4 | 4,110 | Townsend, Stevens |
| Grp | 26 February 1944 | Charlton Athletic | A | 3–5 | 5,023 | Townsend, Hunt (2) |
| Grp | 4 March 1944 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 8–0 | 5,020 | Westcott (4), Townsend (3), Hunt |
| Grp | 11 March 1944 | Crystal Palace | A | 2–1 | 8,659 | Westcott, Shepherd |
| Grp | 18 March 1944 | Charlton Athletic | H | 2–2 | 10,000 | Townsend, Smith |
| Grp | 25 March 1944 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 0–5 | 3,000 | |
* Source: 100 Years Of Brentford

## Playing squad

       Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1943–44 season.
| Pos. | Name | Date of birth (age) | Signed from | Signed in | Notes |
| Goalkeepers |||||||
| GK | Joe Crozier | (1914-12-02)2 December 1914 (aged 28) | East Fife | 1937 | |
| GK | Reg Saunders | (1920-07-29)29 July 1920 (aged 23) | Uxbridge Town | 1944 | Amateur |
| Defenders |||||||
| DF | Buster Brown | (1910-09-06)6 September 1910 (aged 32) | Huddersfield Town | 1937 | |
| DF | Bernard Floodgate | (1922-07-22)22 July 1922 (aged 21) | Youth | 1943 | |
| DF | George Poyser | (1910-02-06)6 February 1910 (aged 33) | Port Vale | 1934 | |
| Midfielders |||||||
| HB | Jack Holliday | (1908-12-19)19 December 1908 (aged 34) | Middlesbrough | 1932 | |
| HB | Joe James | (1910-01-13)13 January 1910 (aged 33) | Battersea Church | 1929 | |
| HB | Tom Manley | (1912-10-07)7 October 1912 (aged 30) | Manchester United | 1939 | Guest for Tottenham Hotspur |
| HB | Ernest Muttitt | (1908-07-24)24 July 1908 (aged 35) | Middlesbrough | 1932 | Guest for Chelsea, Watford, West Ham United |
| Forwards |||||||
| FW | Johnny Baynham | (1918-04-21)21 April 1918 (aged 25) | Youth | 1944 | |
| FW | Fred Durrant | (1921-06-19)19 June 1921 (aged 22) | Folkestone | 1938 | |
| FW | Idris Hopkins | (1910-10-11)11 October 1910 (aged 32) | Crystal Palace | 1932 | |
| FW | Maurice Richfield | October 1921 (aged 21) | Youth | 1944 | |
| FW | Les Smith | (1918-03-13)13 March 1918 (aged 25) | Petersham | 1934 | |
| FW | Bob Thomas | (1919-08-02)2 August 1919 (aged 24) | Golders Green | 1939 | |
| FW | Len Townsend | (1917-08-31)31 August 1917 (aged 25) | Hayes | 1937 | |
| Guest players |||||||
| GK | Gordon Bentley | October 1920 (aged 22) | Burnley | 1944 | Guest from Burnley |
| GK | Charlie Briggs | (1911-04-04)4 April 1911 (aged 32) | Halifax Town | 1943 | Guest from Halifax Town |
| GK | Harry Dukes | (1912-03-31)31 March 1912 (aged 31) | Norwich City | 1943 | Guest from Norwich City |
| GK | Freddie Houldsworth | (1911-05-29)29 May 1911 (aged 32) | Reading | 1944 | Guest from Reading |
| GK | John Jones | (1916-11-25)25 November 1916 (aged 26) | Northampton Town | 1943 | Guest from Northampton Town |
| GK | Bill Mason | (1908-10-31)31 October 1908 (aged 34) | Queens Park Rangers | 1944 | Guest from Queens Park Rangers |
| GK | Alec Roxburgh | (1910-09-19)19 September 1910 (aged 32) | Blackpool | 1944 | Guest from Blackpool |
| DF | Ralph Cowan | n/a | Rangers | 1944 | Guest from Rangers |
| DF | Frank Jenner | n/a | St Mirren | 1944 | Guest from St Mirren |
| DF | Fred Lester | (1911-02-20)20 February 1911 (aged 32) | Sheffield Wednesday | 1943 | Guest from Sheffield Wednesday |
| DF | George Taylor | (1909-04-23)23 April 1909 (aged 34) | Bolton Wanderers | 1943 | Guest from Bolton Wanderers |
| HB | Len Jones | (1913-06-09)9 June 1913 (aged 30) | Plymouth Argyle | 1943 | Guest from Plymouth Argyle |
| HB | Duncan McKenzie | (1912-08-10)10 August 1912 (aged 31) | Middlesbrough | 1943 | Guest from Middlesbrough |
| HB | David Nelson | (1918-02-03)3 February 1918 (aged 25) | Arsenal | 1943 | Guest from Arsenal |
| HB | Frank Soo | (1914-03-12)12 March 1914 (aged 29) | Stoke City | 1943 | Guest from Stoke City |
| HB | Jack Watson | (1917-12-31)31 December 1917 (aged 25) | Bury | 1944 | Guest from Bury |
| HB | Jimmy Watson | (1914-01-01)1 January 1914 (aged 29) | Bristol Rovers | 1943 | Guest from Bristol Rovers |
| HB | Bill Whittaker | (1922-12-20)20 December 1922 (aged 20) | Charlton Athletic | 1943 | Guest from Charlton Athletic |
| FW | Dickie Davis | (1922-01-22)22 January 1922 (aged 21) | Sunderland | 1943 | Guest from Sunderland |
| FW | Johnny Deakin | n/a | St Mirren | 1944 | Guest from St Mirren |
| FW | Allenby Driver | (1919-09-29)29 September 1919 (aged 23) | Sheffield Wednesday | 1943 | Guest from Sheffield Wednesday |
| FW | Bobby Flavell | (1921-09-01)1 September 1921 (aged 21) | Airdrieonians | 1943 | Guest from Airdrieonians |
| FW | Dickie Girling | (1922-05-24)24 May 1922 (aged 21) | Crystal Palace | 1944 | Guest from Crystal Palace |
| FW | Douglas Hunt | (1914-05-19)19 May 1914 (aged 29) | Sheffield Wednesday | 1943 | Guest from Sheffield Wednesday |
| FW | Tommy Kiernan | (1918-10-20)20 October 1918 (aged 24) | Albion Rovers | 1943 | Guest from Albion Rovers |
| FW | Charlie Leyfield | (1911-10-30)30 October 1911 (aged 31) | Doncaster Rovers | 1943 | Guest from Doncaster Rovers |
| FW | George Little | (1915-12-01)1 December 1915 (aged 27) | Doncaster Rovers | 1943 | Guest from Doncaster Rovers |
| FW | Peter McKennan | (1918-07-16)16 July 1918 (aged 25) | Partick Thistle | 1943 | Guest from Partick Thistle |
| FW | Ernie Shepherd | (1919-08-14)14 August 1919 (aged 24) | Fulham | 1944 | Guest from Fulham |
| FW | Arthur Stevens | (1921-01-13)13 January 1921 (aged 22) | Fulham | 1944 | Guest from Fulham |
| FW | George Stewart | (1920-10-18)18 October 1920 (aged 22) | Hamilton Academical | 1943 | Guest from Hamilton Academical |
| FW | Harry Thompson | (1915-04-29)29 April 1915 (aged 28) | Sunderland | 1943 | Guest from Sunderland |
| FW | Dennis Westcott | (1917-07-02)2 July 1917 (aged 26) | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1944 | Guest from Wolverhampton Wanderers |
* Sources: Timeless Bees, Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939, 100 Years Of Brentford

## Coaching staff

| Name | Role |
| Harry Curtis | Manager |
| Jimmy Bain | Assistant manager |
| Bob Kane | Trainer |
| Jack Cartmell | Assistant trainer |

## Statistics
### Appearances and goals

| Pos | Nat | Name | League | League | FL War Cup | FL War Cup | Total | Total |
| Pos | Nat | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| GK | | Joe Crozier | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| GK | | Reg Saunders | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| DF | | Buster Brown | 30 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 35 | 0 |
| DF | | Bernard Floodgate | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| DF | | George Poyser | 24 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 30 | 0 |
| HB | | Jack Holliday | 3 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 1 |
| HB | | Joe James | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| HB | | Tom Manley | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| HB | | Ernest Muttitt | 8 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| FW | | Johnny Baynham | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 2 |
| FW | | Fred Durrant | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| FW | | Idris Hopkins | 12 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 2 |
| FW | | Maurice Richfield | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| FW | | Les Smith | 21 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 25 | 13 |
| FW | | Bob Thomas | 8 | 2 | — | — | 8 | 2 |
| FW | | Len Townsend | 10 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 15 | 15 |
| Players guested during the season |||||||||
| GK | | Gordon Bentley | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| GK | | Charlie Briggs | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| GK | | Harry Dukes | 4 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 |
| GK | | Freddie Houldsworth | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| GK | | John Jones | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| GK | | Bill Mason | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| GK | | Alec Roxburgh | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| DF | | Ralph Cowan | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| DF | | Frank Jenner | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| DF | | Fred Lester | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| DF | | George Taylor | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| HB | | Len Jones | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| HB | | Duncan McKenzie | 18 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 0 |
| HB | | David Nelson | 5 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 |
| HB | | Frank Soo | 12 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 1 |
| HB | | Jimmy Watson | 14 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 20 | 2 |
| HB | | Jack Watson | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| HB | | Bill Whittaker | 20 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| FW | | Dickie Davis | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| FW | | Johnny Deakin | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| FW | | Allenby Driver | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| FW | | Bobby Flavell | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| FW | | Dickie Girling | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| FW | | Douglas Hunt | 26 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 30 | 18 |
| FW | | Tommy Kiernan | 4 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 |
| FW | | Charlie Leyfield | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| FW | | George Little | 2 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 1 |
| FW | | Peter McKennan | 18 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 14 |
| FW | | Ernie Shepherd | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| FW | | Arthur Stevens | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| FW | | George Stewart | 22 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 28 | 8 |
| FW | | Harry Thompson | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| FW | | Dennis Westcott | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
* Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
* Source: 100 Years Of Brentford

### Goalscorers

| Pos. | Nat | Player | FLS | FLC | Total |
| FW | | Douglas Hunt | 15 | 3 | 18 |
| FW | | Len Townsend | 8 | 7 | 15 |
| FW | | Peter McKennan | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| FW | | Les Smith | 12 | 1 | 13 |
| FW | | George Stewart | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| FW | | Dennis Westcott | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| FW | | Johnny Baynham | 2 | — | 2 |
| FW | | Bob Thomas | 2 | — | 2 |
| FW | | Idris Hopkins | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| HB | | Jimmy Watson | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| FW | | Allenby Driver | 1 | — | 1 |
| FW | | Fred Durrant | 1 | — | 1 |
| HB | | Jack Holliday | 1 | — | 1 |
| FW | | George Little | 1 | — | 1 |
| HB | | Frank Soo | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| FW | | Ernie Shepherd | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| FW | | Arthur Stevens | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | 71 | 18 | 89 |
* Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
* Source: 100 Years Of Brentford

### Wartime international caps

| Pos. | Player | Caps | Goals |
| GK | Joe Crozier | 3 | 0 |
| FW | Idris Hopkins | 1 | 0 |
| FW | Les Smith | 3 | 1 |

### Management

| Name | Nat | From | To | Record All Comps | Record All Comps | Record All Comps | Record All Comps | Record All Comps | Record League | Record League | Record League | Record League | Record League |
| Name | Nat | From | To | P | W | D | L | W % | P | W | D | L | W % |
| Harry Curtis | | 28 August 1943 | 6 May 1944 | 36 | 16 | 8 | 12 | 044.44| | 30 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 046.67 |

### 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 win | 7–2 versus Southampton, 18 December 1943 |
| Worst league defeat | 5–2 versus Queens Park Rangers, 25 December 1943 |
| Most appearances | 35, Buster Brown (30 Football League South, 5 Football League War Cup) |
| Top scorer (league) | 15, Douglas Hunt |
| Top 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 in :
| Date from | Pos. | Name | Previous Club | Date to | Ref. |
| 28 August 1943 | FW | Douglas Hunt | Sheffield Wednesday | End of season | |
| 28 August 1943 | HB | Len Jones | Plymouth Argyle | 28 August 1943 | |
| 28 August 1943 | HB | Duncan McKenzie | Middlesbrough | 22 January 1944 | |
| 28 August 1943 | FW | George Stewart | Hamilton Academical | End of season | |
| 28 August 1943 | HB | Jimmy Watson | Bristol Rovers | 22 April 1944 | |
| 4 September 1943 | GK | John Jones | Northampton Town | 11 September 1943 | |
| 4 September 1943 | HB | Bill Whittaker | Charlton Athletic | End of season | |
| 11 September 1943 | FW | Harry Thompson | Sunderland | 11 September 1943 | |
| 18 September 1943 | FW | Peter McKennan | Partick Thistle | 10 April 1944 | |
| 18 September 1943 | HB | Frank Soo | Stoke City | 18 March 1944 | |
| 16 October 1943 | GK | Charlie Briggs | Halifax Town | 19 December 1942 | |
| 23 October 1943 | DF | Fred Lester | Sheffield Wednesday | 23 October 1943 | |
| 23 October 1943 | FW | Charlie Leyfield | Doncaster Rovers | 23 October 1943 | |
| 30 October 1943 | FW | Allenby Driver | Sheffield Wednesday | 30 October 1943 | |
| 6 November 1943 | FW | Dickie Davis | Sunderland | 13 November 1943 | |
| 6 November 1943 | GK | Harry Dukes | Norwich City | 27 December 1943 | |
| 6 November 1943 | FW | Bobby Flavell | Airdrieonians | 6 November 1943 | |
| 6 November 1943 | FW | George Little | Doncaster Rovers | 27 November 1943 | |
| 13 November 1943 | HB | David Nelson | Arsenal | 8 January 1944 | |
| 4 December 1943 | FW | Tommy Kiernan | Albion Rovers | 22 January 1944 | |
| 27 December 1943 | DF | George Taylor | Bolton Wanderers | 27 December 1943 | |
| 1 January 1944 | GK | Gordon Bentley | Burnley | 11 March 1944 | |
| 22 January 1944 | FW | Ernie Shepherd | Fulham | 11 March 1944 | |
| 29 January 1944 | FW | Johnny Deakin | St Mirren | 29 January 1944 | |
| 5 February 1944 | FW | Dennis Westcott | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 18 March 1944 | |
| 19 February 1944 | GK | Freddie Houldsworth | Reading | 19 February 1944 | |
| 19 February 1944 | FW | Arthur Stevens | Fulham | 19 February 1944 | |
| 26 February 1944 | GK | Alec Roxburgh | Blackpool | 27 March 1943 | |
| 4 March 1944 | DF | Ralph Cowan | Rangers | 4 March 1944 | |
| 1 April 1944 | GK | Bill Mason | Queens Park Rangers | 1 April 1944 | |
| 1 April 1944 | HB | Jack Watson | Bury | 1 April 1944 | |
| 10 April 1944 | HB | Frank Jenner | St Mirren | 10 April 1944 | |
| 6 May 1944 | FW | Dickie Girling | Crystal Palace | End of season | |
| Guest players out ||||||
| Date from | Pos. | Name | To | Date to | Ref. |
| 9 October 1943 | HB | Ernest Muttitt | Watford | 9 October 1943 | |
| 4 December 1943 | HB | Ernest Muttitt | Chelsea | 4 December 1943 | |
| 22 January 1944 | HB | Tom Manley | Tottenham Hotspur | 22 January 1944 | |
| 5 February 1944 | HB | Ernest Muttitt | West Ham United | 5 February 1944 | |
| n/a | DF | Jimmy Anderson | Hamilton Academical | n/a | |
| Players released ||||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Join date | Ref. |
| May 1944 | FW | Jack Holliday | Retired | | |
| May 1944 | HB | Joe James | Retired | | |