Len Newcombe

Bernard John Newcombe (28 February 1931 – March 1996) was a Welsh professional footballer who played in the Football League for Brentford and Fulham as an outside forward. He later returned to Fulham as a scout.

Len Newcombe
Personal information
Full name Bernard John Newcombe[1]
Date of birth (1931-02-28)28 February 1931
Place of birth Swansea, Wales
Date of death March 1996 (1996-04) (aged 65)[1]
Place of death Swansea, Wales
Position(s) Outside forward
Youth career
1947–1948 Fulham
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1948–1956 Fulham 23 (3)
1948 → Margate (loan) 1 (0)
1956–1959 Brentford 85 (8)
1959–1960 Guildford City
1960–1961 Sittingbourne
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Fulham

Newcombe was spotted playing youth football in Wales by former Fulham goalkeeper Ossie Evans, who recommended the young outside forward to his former club.[2] Newcombe transferred to the Second Division club in 1947.[2] He joined high-flying Kent League First Division club Margate on loan in January 1948, but made just one appearance during his spell.[2]

By the time Newcombe made his professional debut in a 1–0 defeat to Burnley on the final day of the 1950–51 season, the Cottagers were members of the First Division.[2] He was always on the fringes of the first team at Craven Cottage and left the club in April 1956,[1] having made 23 appearances and scored three goals.[3]

Brentford

In April 1956, Newcombe transferred to Third Division South club Brentford and played in the final three games of the 1955–56 season.[1][3] He established himself in the team in the 1956–57 season, making 46 appearances and he was a regular again the following year.[4] Newcombe's professional career was effectively ended by a broken collarbone suffered in a match versus Torquay United in April 1958.[3] Brentford were forced to play the rest of the match with 10 men and the resulting 1–0 defeat saw the Bees finish as runners-up in the Third Division South and miss out on promotion to the Second Division.[3]

Newcombe made just one appearance during the 1958–59 season and departed the club at the end of the campaign.[3][4] He made 89 appearances and scored eight goals during three years at Griffin Park.[3]

Non-League football

Newcombe ended his career with spells at Southern League clubs Guildford City and Sittingbourne.[3]

Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Fulham 1951–52[5] First Division 5 1 0 0 5 1
Margate (loan) 1947–48[2] Kent League 1 0 — 1 0
Brentford 1955–56[4] Third Division South 3 1 — 3 1
1956–57[4] 43 3 3 0 46 3
1957–58[4] 37 4 1 0 38 4
1958–59[4] Third Division 2 0 0 0 2 0
Total 85 8 4 0 89 8
Career total 91 9 4 0 95 9

References
  1. "Len Newcombe". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  2. "Len Newcombe". margatefchistory.com. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  3. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Harefield: Yore Publications. p. 63. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  4. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 383–385. ISBN 0951526200.
  5. Len Newcombe at WorldFootball.net
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