1929–30 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1929–30 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division South. Brentford finished as runners-up, the club's highest finish in the pyramid at that time and statistically it is the club's best-ever season.[1] Brentford became the fifth club to win all their home Football League matches in a season and as of the end of the 2015–16 season, the Bees' total of 21 home victories from 21 matches has never been bettered. Billy Lane set a new club record of 33 goals in all competitions, which would stand for three years and the club also reached the final of the London Challenge Cup for the first time.

Brentford
1929–30 season
ChairmanLouis P. Simon
ManagerHarry Curtis
StadiumGriffin Park
Third Division South2nd
FA CupFirst round
London Challenge CupRunners-up
Top goalscorerLeague: W. Lane (33)
All: W. Lane (33)
Highest home attendance21,966
Lowest home attendance5,041
Average home league attendance12,123

Season summary

edit
 
Right half Reginald Davies was named as captain for the 1929–30 season.

Brentford manager Harry Curtis tinkered with his squad in the 1929 off-season, releasing half backs Jack Beacham, Stephen Dearn and a number of young forwards who failed to make the grade during the previous season. In came full back Tom Adamson, half backs Reginald Davies (the new captain),[2] Harry Salt and forwards Cecil Blakemore, Jackie Foster, Billy Lane and John Payne.[3] Brentford went on to have their best season at that time in the Football League, ending 1929 in second place and ascending to the top of the Third Division South on 25 January 1930.[4] The good results were due to a consistently fit starting XI, which went unchanged for 21 consecutive matches in all competitions between 2 November 1929 and 15 March 1930, a club record.[5] Top spot was held onto until a 0–0 draw with Exeter City on 29 March saw Plymouth Argyle overtake the Bees and automatic promotion was effectively conceded after successive defeats in mid-April.[4] Brentford finished as runners-up and would remain in the Third Division South for 1930–31.[4] The Bees finished the season with four players scoring 15 goals or more – Billy Lane (33), Jack Lane (19), John Payne (16) and Cecil Blakemore (15).[6]

Brentford became the fifth club to win all their home league matches in a season and as of the end of the 2015–16 season, the club's achievement of 21 wins from 21 matches is still a national record.[7] Billy Lane's 33 goals smashed Brentford's record for goals scored in a season,[8] which stood until surpassed by Jack Holliday in 1933.[9] A club record was also set for most league victories in a season (28, which would not be equalled until the Bees' promotion from League One in 2013–14), most home league goals scored in a season (66) and owing to the 100% winning home record, fewest home league draws and defeats (0).[1][10] The 6–0 victory over Merthyr Town on 14 September 1929 set a new club record for highest winning margin in a Football League match,[11] while the 5–1 victory over West London rivals Fulham on 22 February 1930 attracted a 21,966 crowd to Griffin Park, then a club record for a home match.[12] Brentford also reached the final of the London Challenge Cup for the first time, but lost 2–1 to West Ham United.[13] In 2013, 1929–30 was voted by the Brentford supporters as the club's fourth-best season.[7]

In recognition of the club's unbeaten home record, at the club's annual meeting in July 1930, chairman Louis P. Simon presented a silver shield, on which were inscribed the names of the principle XI which achieved the feat – Fox, Stevenson, Adamson, Davies, Bain, Salt, Foster, J. Lane, W. Lane, Blackmore and Payne.[14]

League table

edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Plymouth Argyle 42 30 8 4 98 38 2.579 68 Division Champions, promoted
2 Brentford 42 28 5 9 94 44 2.136 61
3 Queens Park Rangers 42 21 9 12 80 68 1.176 51
4 Northampton Town 42 21 8 13 82 58 1.414 50
5 Brighton & Hove Albion 42 21 8 13 87 63 1.381 50
Source: [citation needed]

Results

edit
Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

edit
Win Draw Loss

Football League Third Division South

edit
No. Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorer(s)
1 31 August 1929 Swindon Town H 3–2 11,084 Blakemore, Payne (2)
2 4 September 1929 Clapton Orient H 3–1 9,346 Blakemore, Galbraith (og), W. Lane
3 7 September 1929 Plymouth Argyle A 1–1 12,161 W. Lane
4 14 September 1929 Merthyr Town H 6–0 11,040 Whipp, W. Lane (4), Blakemore
5 16 September 1929 Clapton Orient A 1–1 6,854 Payne
6 21 September 1929 Torquay United A 1–2 5,012 W. Lane
7 25 September 1929 Bristol Rovers H 2–1 6,265 Foster, W. Lane
8 28 September 1929 Newport County H 1–0 11,073 Payne
9 5 October 1929 Watford A 2–1 10,814 Payne, Bain
10 12 October 1929 Coventry City H 3–1 11,957 Blakemore, J. Lane, Bain
11 19 October 1929 Fulham A 0–2 25,891
12 26 October 1929 Norwich City H 3–0 11,052 W. Lane (2), Blakemore
13 2 November 1929 Crystal Palace A 1–2 16,939 J. Lane
14 9 November 1929 Gillingham H 2–1 9,603 W. Lane (2)
15 16 November 1929 Northampton Town A 1–1 6,165 Foster
16 23 November 1929 Exeter City H 2–1 6,502 Blakemore, J. Lane
17 7 December 1929 Luton Town H 2–0 7,167 J. Lane (2)
18 21 December 1929 Walsall H 6–2 5,041 Payne (2), W. Lane (2), J. Lane, Blakemore (pen)
19 25 December 1929 Brighton & Hove Albion H 5–2 14,612 J. Lane (2), Payne, W. Lane, Blakemore
20 26 December 1929 Brighton & Hove Albion A 0–2 19,193
21 28 December 1929 Swindon Town A 2–0 4,317 Blakemore (2)
22 4 January 1930 Plymouth Argyle H 3–0 20,511 Foster, J. Lane
23 11 January 1930 Southend United A 0–2 6,456
24 18 January 1930 Merthyr Town A 3–2 2,103 Blakemore, J. Lane (2)
25 25 January 1930 Torquay United H 5–0 10,497 J. Lane, Foster, W. Lane (3)
26 1 February 1930 Newport County A 3–1 3,827 W. Lane (2), Foster
27 8 February 1930 Watford H 5–0 11,356 Payne, Blakemore, W. Lane (2), J. Lane
28 15 February 1930 Coventry City A 1–2 12,146 Blakemore
29 22 February 1930 Fulham H 5–1 21,966 Blakemore, W. Lane, J. Lane (3)
30 1 March 1930 Norwich City A 2–2 14,081 Foster (2)
31 8 March 1930 Crystal Palace H 2–0 19,555 W. Lane, Payne
32 15 March 1930 Gillingham A 3–1 6,749 Payne (2), W. Lane
33 22 March 1930 Northampton Town H 2–0 16,460 W. Lane (2)
34 26 March 1930 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic A 2–1 5,494 W. Lane, Payne (pen)
35 29 March 1930 Exeter City A 0–0 7,219
36 5 April 1930 Southend United H 2–1 13,255 Payne (2)
37 12 April 1930 Luton Town A 1–2 11,150 W. Lane
38 18 April 1930 Queens Park Rangers A 1–2 22,179 Blakemore
39 19 April 1930 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic H 1–0 7,694 J. Lane
40 21 April 1930 Queens Park Rangers H 3–0 18,549 W. Lane (3)
41 26 April 1930 Walsall A 2–1 2,917 W. Lane, Sherlaw
42 3 May 1930 Bristol Rovers A 1–4 6,402 J. Lane

FA Cup

edit
Round Date Opponent Venue Attendance Result
1R 30 November 1929 Southend United A n/a 0–1

Playing squad

edit
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1929–30 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Freddie Fox   (1898-11-22)22 November 1898 (aged 30) Halifax Town 1928
Defenders
DF Tom Adamson   (1901-02-12)12 February 1901 (aged 28) Bury 1929
DF George Dumbrell   (1906-09-23)23 September 1906 (aged 22) Dartford 1928
DF William Hodge   (1904-08-31)31 August 1904 (aged 25) Rangers 1927
DF Alexander Stevenson   (1903-10-24)24 October 1903 (aged 25) Armadale 1927
Midfielders
HB Jimmy Bain   (1899-02-06)6 February 1899 (aged 30) Manchester Central 1928
HB Bill Caesar   (1899-11-25)25 November 1899 (aged 29) Dulwich Hamlet 1929 Amateur
HB Reginald Davies (c)   (1897-09-30)30 September 1897 (aged 31) Portsmouth 1928
HB Harry Salt   (1899-01-20)20 January 1899 (aged 30) Crystal Palace 1929
HB Teddy Ware   (1906-09-17)17 September 1906 (aged 22) Chatham Town 1928
Forwards
FW Cecil Blakemore   (1897-12-08)8 December 1897 (aged 31) Bristol City 1929
FW Jackie Foster   (1903-03-21)21 March 1903 (aged 26) Bristol City 1929
FW Billy Lane   (1904-10-23)23 October 1904 (aged 24) Reading 1929
FW Jack Lane   (1898-05-29)29 May 1898 (aged 31) Chesterfield 1925
FW John Payne   (1906-01-03)3 January 1906 (aged 23) West Ham United 1929
FW David Sherlaw   (1901-09-17)17 September 1901 (aged 27) Charlton Athletic 1928
FW Percy Whipp   (1897-06-28)28 June 1897 (aged 32) Airdrieonians 1929
Players who left the club mid-season
FW Ernie Watkins   (1898-04-03)3 April 1898 (aged 31) Southend United 1926 Transferred to Millwall
  • Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[6] Timeless Bees,[15] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939[16]

Coaching staff

edit
Name Role
  Harry Curtis Manager
  Bob Kane Trainer
  Jack Cartmell Assistant Trainer

Statistics

edit

Appearances and goals

edit
Brentford's starting lineup for 21 consecutive matches in all competitions during the season.
Pos Nat Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK   Freddie Fox 42 0 1 0 43 0
DF   Tom Adamson 35 0 1 0 36 0
DF   George Dumbrell 9 0 0 0 9 0
DF   William Hodge 8 0 0 0 8 0
DF   Alexander Stevenson 32 0 1 0 33 0
HB   Jimmy Bain 41 2 1 0 42 2
HB   Bill Caesar 1 0 0 0 1 0
HB   Reginald Davies 42 0 1 0 43 0
HB   Harry Salt 40 0 1 0 41 0
HB   Teddy Ware 2 0 0 0 2 0
FW   Cecil Blakemore 42 15 1 0 43 15
FW   Jackie Foster 41 6 1 0 42 6
FW   Billy Lane 42 33 1 0 43 33
FW   Jack Lane 34 19 1 0 35 19
FW   John Payne 42 16 1 0 43 16
FW   David Sherlaw 1 1 0 0 1 1
FW   Ernie Watkins 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW   Percy Whipp 7 1 0 0 7 1
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[6]

Goalscorers

edit
Pos. Nat Player FL3 FAC Total
FW   Billy Lane 33 0 33
FW   Jack Lane 19 0 19
FW   John Payne 16 0 16
FW   Cecil Blakemore 15 0 15
FW   Jackie Foster 6 0 6
HB   Jimmy Bain 2 0 2
FW   David Sherlaw 1 0 1
FW   Percy Whipp 1 0 1
Opponents 1 0 1
Total 94 0 94
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[6]

Management

edit
Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
P W D L W % P W D L W %
Harry Curtis   31 August 1929 3 May 1930 43 28 5 10 065.12 42 28 5 9 066.67

Summary

edit
Games played 43 (42 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)
Games won 28 (28 Third Division South, 0 FA Cup)
Games drawn 5 (5 Third Division South, 0 FA Cup)
Games lost 10 (9 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored 94 (94 Third Division South, 0 FA Cup)
Goals conceded 45 (44 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)
Clean sheets 13 (13 Third Division South, 0 FA Cup)
Biggest league win 6–0 versus Merthyr Town, 14 September 1929
Worst league defeat 4–1 versus Bristol Rovers, 3 May 1930
Most appearances 43, Freddie Fox, Reginald Davies, Cecil Blakemore, Billy Lane, John Payne (42 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)
Top scorer (league) 33, Billy Lane
Top scorer (all competitions) 33, Billy Lane

Transfers & loans

edit
Cricketers are not included in this list.
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
2 May 1929 FW   Cecil Blakemore   Bristol City £250 [3]
2 May 1929 FW   Jackie Foster   Bristol City £250 [3]
May 1929 FW   Billy Lane   Reading Exchange [8]
May 1929 FW   John Payne   West Ham United Free [17]
May 1929 HB   Harry Salt   Crystal Palace Free [18]
May 1929 DF   George Weeks   Southall Free [19]
May 1929 FW   Percy Whipp   Airdrieonians Free [20]
July 1929 DF   Tom Adamson   Bury Free [21]
1929 HB   Joe James   Battersea Church Free [22]
1929 FW G. Preston Unattached n/a [23]
March 1930 FW   George Barnes   Chesham United Amateur [24]
April 1930 GK   Frank McDonough   Annfield Plain Free [25]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
May 1929 FW   Alfred Douglas   Reading Exchange [26]
October 1929 FW   Andy Durnion   Gillingham n/a [26]
February 1930 FW   Ernie Watkins   Millwall n/a [27]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
19 October 1929 DF   Ted Winship Died of yellow jaundice [28]
May 1930 FW   George Barnes   Chesham United 1930 [24]
May 1930 FW G. Preston Unattached n/a [29]
May 1930 HB   Charlie Reddock   Thames 1930 [30]
May 1930 FW   Percy Whipp   Swindon Town 14 May 1930 [31]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Wickham, Chris. "Brentford FC 2013/14 squad break a string of Club Records". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  2. ^ Haynes 1998, p. 41.
  3. ^ a b c White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 126–128. ISBN 0951526200.
  4. ^ a b c "Brentford results for the 1929–1930 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 17 March 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  5. ^ Haynes 1998, p. 132.
  6. ^ a b c d e White 1989, p. 370.
  7. ^ a b "Brentford". Football League 125. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  8. ^ a b Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 94.
  9. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 79.
  10. ^ Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Harefield, Middlesex: Yore Publications. p. 78. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  11. ^ Haynes 1998, p. 133.
  12. ^ Haynes 1998, p. 15.
  13. ^ Haynes 1998, p. 83.
  14. ^ "Brentford Football Club. The Annual Meeting: Gratifying Balance Sheet. A Presentation: Home Record". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 7 July 1930.
  15. ^ Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  16. ^ Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN 190589161X.
  17. ^ "Transfers Of Players. League Clubs Busy For Next Season". Star Green 'Un. 18 May 1929.
  18. ^ "Harold (Henry) Salt". Holmesdale Online. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  19. ^ "Player: George Bartholomew Weeks". Watford Football Club Archive. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  20. ^ "Whipp Percy Leeds United 1925". Vintage Footballers. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  21. ^ "To Fill Winship's Place". County of Middlesex Independent. 3 August 1929.
  22. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 86-87.
  23. ^ "A New "Bee" And Another Expected". Middlesex County Times (Ealing Edition). 27 July 1929.
  24. ^ a b "Player: George Henry Barnes". Watford Football Club Archive. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  25. ^ ""Bees" Start Training. Trainer Pleased. The New Players: A Strong Forward Line: Two Rumours: The Practice Matches: Brentford v. Chelsea — At Cricket". County of Middlesex Independent. 9 August 1930.
  26. ^ a b Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 50-51.
  27. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 165.
  28. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 171.
  29. ^ ""Bees" for Next Season". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 9 May 1930.
  30. ^ Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 131.
  31. ^ ""Bees" Brilliant Season Reviewed. The Weak Spot Remedied. Reason For Away Failures; Making Of The Side; Why Manager Deserves Praise; Tribute To Trainers; Dumbrell Goes To Leicester". County of Middlesex Independent. 17 May 1930.