Reginald William Newton (26 June 1926 – 21 November 1976) was an English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper in the Football League for Brentford and Leyton Orient.

Reg Newton
Personal information
Full name Reginald William Newton[1]
Date of birth (1926-06-26)26 June 1926
Place of birth Limehouse, England
Date of death 21 November 1976(1976-11-21) (aged 50)[1]
Place of death Beaconsfield, England
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Dagenham Works
1948–1949 Leyton Orient 23 (0)
1949–1957 Brentford 87 (0)
1957 Tunbridge Wells United
1957–1958 Brentford 0 (0)
1958–1959 Yiewsley
1959–1960 Chelmsford City 29 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

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Leyton Orient

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A goalkeeper, Newton began his career with the Dagenham Works team and earned a move to the Football League with Leyton Orient in April 1948.[1] He made 23 league appearances for the struggling Third Division South club during the 1948–49 season and departed Brisbane Road at the end of the campaign.[2]

Brentford

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Newton moved across London to sign for Second Division club Brentford in July 1949,[1] in a part-exchange for Alan Smith.[3] Newton was a second-choice goalkeeper behind Alf Jefferies, Ted Gaskell and Gerry Cakebread for much of his time at Griffin Park,[2] but was first-choice during the 1953–54 season and made 42 appearances in a campaign which saw the Bees relegated to the Third Division South.[4] Newton left the club in February 1957, having made 87 appearances in just under eight years with Brentford.[4] Nonetheless, his service to the club was recognised when he was awarded the share of the benefits from a testimonial match shared with George Bristow, Ken Horne and Billy Sperrin in 1956.[2]

Later career

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Newton dropped into non-League football to sign for Kent League First Division club Tunbridge Wells United in February 1957.[2] New Brentford manager Malky McDonald re-signed Newton in July 1957, as backup for Gerry Cakebread and Sonny Feehan.[2] He failed to make an appearance during the 1957–58 season and was transfer-listed in May 1958.[5] Newton ended his career with spells at Southern League clubs Yiewsley and Chelmsford City.[2]

Personal life

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Upon the outbreak of the Second World War, Newton joined the Army and was trained at Aldershot to be a PT instructor.[6] While at Aldershot he was friends with Frank Swift, Denis Compton, Bill Shankly and Matt Busby.[6] During and after his later years as a player at Brentford, Newton worked as a decorator.[7] He died in November 1976, at the age of 50.[1]

Career statistics

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Brentford 1949–50[4] Second Division 2 0 0 0 2 0
1950–51[4] 5 0 0 0 5 0
1951–52[4] 10 0 0 0 10 0
1952–53[4] 7 0 0 0 7 0
1953–54[4] 39 0 3 0 42 0
1954–55[4] Third Division South 18 0 0 0 18 0
1955–56[4] 1 0 0 0 1 0
1956–57[4] 5 0 0 0 5 0
Career total 87 0 3 0 90 0

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Reg Newton". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Harefield: Yore Publications. p. 116. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  3. ^ "Alan Smith: 1921 – 2019". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 380–384. ISBN 0951526200.
  5. ^ "Sands of Time: When bad luck and bribery broke Bee's hearts". getwestlondon. 4 December 2009. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  6. ^ a b Lane, David (2005). Cult Bees & Legends: Volume Two. Hampton Hill: Legends Publishing. p. 105. ISBN 0954368282.
  7. ^ "Arrival And Departure". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 22 August 1958.