# 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. 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.

## Season summary

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), Harry Salt and forwards Cecil Blakemore, Jackie Foster, Billy Lane and John Payne. 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. 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. 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. Brentford finished as runners-up and would remain in the Third Division South for 1930–31. 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).
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. Billy Lane's 33 goals smashed Brentford's record for goals scored in a season, which stood until surpassed by Jack Holliday in 1933. 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). 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, 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. Brentford also reached the final of the London Challenge Cup for the first time, but lost 2–1 to West Ham United. In 2013, 1929–30 was voted by the Brentford supporters as the club's fourth-best season.
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.

## League table

| Pos | Team v t e | 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 | |

## Results

    Brentford's goal tally listed first.

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Football League Third Division South

| 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

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Attendance | Result |
| 1R | 30 November 1929 | Southend United | A | n/a | 0–1 |
* Sources: Statto, 11v11, 100 Years of Brentford

## Playing squad

    Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1929–30 season.
| Pos. | Name | 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, Timeless Bees, Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939

## Coaching staff

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

## Statistics
### Appearances and goals

| Pos | Nat | Name | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | Total | Total |
| Pos | Nat | Name | 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

### Goalscorers

| 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 | Opponents | Opponents | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | 94 | 0 | 94 |
* Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
* Source: 100 Years of Brentford

### Management

| Name | Nat | From | To | Record All Comps | Record All Comps | Record All Comps | Record All Comps | Record All Comps | Record League | Record League | Record League | Record League | Record League |
| Name | Nat | From | To | 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

| 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

    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 | |
| 2 May 1929 | FW | Jackie Foster | Bristol City | £250 | |
| May 1929 | FW | Billy Lane | Reading | Exchange | |
| May 1929 | FW | John Payne | West Ham United | Free | |
| May 1929 | HB | Harry Salt | Crystal Palace | Free | |
| May 1929 | DF | George Weeks | Southall | Free | |
| May 1929 | FW | Percy Whipp | Airdrieonians | Free | |
| July 1929 | DF | Tom Adamson | Bury | Free | |
| 1929 | HB | Joe James | Battersea Church | Free | |
| 1929 | FW | G. Preston | Unattached | n/a | |
| March 1930 | FW | George Barnes | Chesham United | Amateur | |
| April 1930 | GK | Frank McDonough | Annfield Plain | Free | |
| Players transferred out ||||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Fee | Ref. |
| May 1929 | FW | Alfred Douglas | Reading | Exchange | |
| October 1929 | FW | Andy Durnion | Gillingham | n/a | |
| February 1930 | FW | Ernie Watkins | Millwall | n/a | |
| Players released ||||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Join date | Ref. |
| 19 October 1929 | DF | Ted Winship | Died of yellow jaundice | | |
| May 1930 | FW | George Barnes | Chesham United | 1930 | |
| May 1930 | FW | G. Preston | Unattached | n/a | |
| May 1930 | HB | Charlie Reddock | Thames | 1930 | |
| May 1930 | FW | Percy Whipp | Swindon Town | 14 May 1930 | |