Overview
In 1941, the 12 participating clubs were Aldershot, Arsenal, Brentford, Chelsea, Clapton Orient, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Millwall, Queens Park Rangers, Reading, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United. Charlton Athletic declined to enter. The applications of Portsmouth, Southend United and Luton Town were denied due to insufficient places. [2] In 1942, the competition increased to 16 teams and Brighton & Hove Albion, Portsmouth, Watford and Charlton were included. [3]
The opening round was a group stage played in a round robin format. Clubs would play every club in their group in home and away fixtures. In 1941, the group stage comprised two groups of six; the group winners and runners-up advanced to the semi-finals. In 1942, the format was changed to four groups of four, with the group winners advancing to the semi-finals. The semi-finals were single matches played at neutral venues in London. The 1941 final was staged at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea's home ground, with Reading beating Brentford by 3 goals to 2. The 1942 final was held at Wembley Stadium on 30 May, with Brentford prevailing by 2 goals to nil over Portsmouth.
On 6 June 1942, Brentford faced Wolverhampton Wanderers, winners of the Football League War Cup, in a cup winners play-off held at Stamford Bridge. The match ended 1–1 and was not replayed, so the clubs shared the honour. [1]
The Football League War Cup was an association football tournament held between 1939 and 1945. It aimed to fill the gap left in English football by the suspension of the FA Cup during the Second World War. Though it was often referred to in contemporary coverage as the "League Cup" or "Football League Cup", it is not to be confused with the later English football competition with the same name, which was formed in 1960 and is currently known as the EFL Cup. As with all wartime football in England, records and statistics from the competition are not considered official.
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