 Unlike the First World War back in 1914-18, when Albion along with many other clubs refrained from participation in the friendly matches which took place because they would not do anything which might keep men from joining the forces.
Recruiting
during the first world war was on a voluntary basis and Britain at that time needed all the soldiers she could get
especially seeing as conscription did not come in until later, and before then footballers had made a great tremendous
response to the Nations call.
The Second World War was brought an
abrupt end in the 1939-40 season before it had really started with
Albion having only played 3 competitive League games before league
football as we know it end on the 2nd September 1939. The day before
the declaration of the World War II.
The links below
will take you through the War records of West Bromwich Albion
Football during the Second World War, year by year which
include a few pictures of which a few are shown below. More War Years
Below, there's a few points of interest from a combination of the
years themselves, to give you a taste for what's contained in year by year
pages.
1939/40
A mini division two
table was drawn up on
the
abandonment of this seasons league programme on 2nd September 1939.
At the start of the
campaign Albion had 35 professionals on
their books.
Albion lost £6,099.
16s.
on their first
war-time season
1940/41
Three times during
this season Albion played home games in front of less than a thousand
fans.
The average gate takings
for a first team game at The Hawthorns were £110.00.
1941/42
Seven successive games
saw Albion notch 47
goals
during this season.
W.G. Richardson made his
400th first team appearance against Stoke (6-1)
on April 6th.
1942/43
Albion used 54 players
during this league and cup season. A club record.
W.G. Richardson scored
his 300th league and cup goal in the last minute of the game v Walsall
(4-0).
1943/44
Albion won the Midland
Cup this year defeating Nottingham Forest 6-5 in a two legged final.
Click on the year link for details.
The Baggies failed to
even qualify for the League Cup this season having lost out in a 5-4 loss
to Stoke in their final match. This despite a Billy Elliot hat trick.
1944/45
This season, W.G.
Richardson scored his 350th senior goal for Albion v Northampton
(4-1) on the 26th August.
Albion reserves played
and beat a Smethwick league team 17-0 in a friendly on the 13th January
1945 in front of 1,105 fans. Tommy Bowen
1945/46
The 20th October 1945 saw an England 'Victory' international v Wales
played at The Hawthorns. See year link for details.
The two Albion v Chelsea games produced 20 goals, 12 of them to the
Baggies.
Directors and Officials of West Bromwich Albion
1939-46
Directors:
Mr L. J Nurse (Chairman) 1939-46
Mr J. S Round (Vice Chairman)
1939-40
Major H. Wlson Keys M.C.T.D 1939-46 (Vice Chairman
1941-46)
Mr A. Claude Jephcott 1939-46
Coun N W.
Bassett 1939-46
Mr W. H. Thursfield 1939-46 (Major 1943-45)
Mr
W. E. Jephott 1941-46
Secretary: Mr Fred Everisss
1939-46 (J.P. 1943-45)
Assistant Secretary: Mr Ephraim Smith 1939-46
Trainers: Mr Fred Reed 1939-46
Mr Samuel Short
1939-40
Mr
Samuel Guest 1939-40
|
Pictures
|
Thumb nail Images from the 1939-40 War-time years. Clicking on any of the
images will open up a new window for a larger view. |
|
|
|
Harry Jones |
Jimmy Adams |
Jack Sankey |
| |
Albion line up 1939-40 |
More War Years
|
