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