Full name Ernest Muttitt 1932–1947 Brentford Name Ernest Muttitt | Years Team Date of death 1996 1929–1932 Middlesbrough | |
Date of birth (1908-07-24)24 July 1908 | ||
Place of birth Middlesbrough, England | ||
Ernest 'Ernie' Muttitt (24 July 1908 – 1996) was an English football utility player who played in the Football League for Brentford and Middlesbrough. He was posthumously inducted into the Brentford Hall of Fame in 2015. He was nicknamed "Bulldog".
Contents
- Middlesbrough
- Brentford
- Colchester United loan
- Later years
- Personal life
- As a player
- As an individual
- References
Middlesbrough
An outside left, Muttitt began his career in his native north east with Northern League side South Bank, before transferring to newly promoted Division One side Middlesbrough in April 1929. Muttitt had to wait until 27 November 1929 to make his debut and had a dream start, scoring the winner in a 2–1 victory over Arsenal. Muttitt managed 14 appearances and three goals during the 1929–30 season as Middlesbrough consolidated their position with a mid-table finish. He found first team chances harder to come by in the following two seasons and departed Ayresome Park in the summer of 1932. Muttitt made 25 appearances and scored four goals during his three years with Middlesbrough.
Brentford
Muttitt joined Division Three South side Brentford in the summer of 1932 as part of a four-way transfer, with former Middlesbrough teammates Jack Holliday, Billy Scott and Herbert Watson all arriving at Griffin Park. Muttitt made 14 appearances and scored four goals during his first season with the Bees, a season in which the club finished as Division Three South champions. Muttitt broke into the team during the 1933–34 season, making 40 appearances and scoring 12 goals as Brentford finished fourth in the club's first season in the second tier. The 1934–35 season was a mixed campaign for Muttitt, scoring seven goals in only 14 appearances to claim a Division Two winner's medal. He spent much of the campaign in the reserve team and contributed to the side's London Challenge Cup triumph.
With Brentford now in Division One for the first time in the club's history, Muttitt spent long periods out of the team, making just 13 appearances between August 1935 and May 1937 and then spending nearly two years in the reserve team. He returned to first team action in February 1939 and made 13 appearances in what remained of the 1938–39 season. The outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 and the suspension of competitive football brought Muttitt's professional career to a halt, but he remained with Brentford throughout the war, making 100 further appearances and guesting for eight different teams. He was used as a utility player during this period and was deployed in forward and defensive roles. Muttitt remained with the Bees until 1947 and left Griffin Park after having made 94 competitive appearances and scored 25 goals for the club.
Colchester United (loan)
Muttitt joined Southern League side Colchester United on loan towards the end of the 1945–46 season, linking up with former Brentford teammate Roddy Munro. Muttitt made one appearance, in a 5–2 victory over Guildford City.
Later years
Muttitt signed for Kent League Division One side Dover in 1947, who were managed at the time by his former Brentford teammate George Poyser. He rounded out his career with a spell at Southern League side Dartford.
Personal life
In 1942, Muttitt moved into a house on Braemar Road (opposite Brentford's Griffin Park ground) and in later years was a regular spectator at matches. He was a member of the Special Police Force during the Second World War.
As a player
Brentford