Club: | Brentford |
Season: | 1930–31 |
Manager: | Harry Curtis |
Chairman: | Louis P. Simon |
Stadium: | Griffin Park |
League: | Third Division South |
League Result: | 3rd |
Cup1: | FA Cup |
Cup1 Result: | Fourth round |
League Topscorer: | W. Lane (27) |
Season Topscorer: | W. Lane (32) |
Highest Attendance: | 23,544 |
Lowest Attendance: | 2,306 |
Average Attendance: | 8,236 |
Pattern La1: | _red_stripes |
Pattern B1: | _redstripes2 |
Pattern Ra1: | _red_stripes |
Pattern So1: | _redtop_2whitestripes |
Shorts1: | 000000 |
Socks1: | 000000 |
Prevseason: | 1929–30 |
Nextseason: | 1931–32 |
During the 1930–31 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division South. Despite failing to challenge for promotion, the Bees finished in 3rd place and advanced to the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time in four years.
Brentford entered the 1930–31 Third Division South season with largely the same personnel which secured a runners-up finish the previous year. The only significant signing was goalkeeper Edward Nash from Swindon Town in September 1930, to cover for Freddie Fox, from whom Nash would take over the goalkeeping position during the second half of the season. The previous season's prolific forward line of Billy Lane, Jack Lane and Cecil Blakemore again showed excellent goalscoring form during the first half of the season, with Bill Berry returning to the fold after a season in the reserve team and replacing the out-of-form John Payne.
Despite the large number of goals, the team's form was patchy, though a run of 8 defeats in 15 league matches between 27 September and 27 December 1930 only dropped the Bees from 5th to 7th position.[1] An 8–2 victory over Crystal Palace on Christmas Day was Brentford's biggest win of the season and equalled the club record for highest aggregate score in a Football League match.[2] The Bees also embarked on a run to the fourth round of the FA Cup, falling to First Division Portsmouth at Griffin Park. Despite the transfer of 19-goal Jack Lane to Crystal Palace in January 1931, Brentford's form improved, with Billy Lane continuing to score and new forward signings George Robson and Les Wilkins making a contribution. 9 wins in the final 31 matches saw the Bees finish the season in 3rd place, 9 points behind champions Notts County.[3]
Brentford's 1930–31 season is notable for the amount of hat-tricks scored, with Billy Lane claiming three, Jack Lane two and Frederick Gamble one, which convinced West Ham United to sign Gamble in exchange for Les Wilkins in February 1931, despite Gamble having made only 13 appearances in just under two years. During the season, Billy Lane and Jack Lane each scored a hat-trick in the same match twice during a one-month period – in the 6–1 FA Cup first round victory over Ilford on 29 November 1930 and in the 8–2 league victory over Crystal Palace on Christmas Day.[4] Jack Lane's only goal of the game versus Norwich City in the FA Cup second round on 13 December 1930 marked the first time in the club's Football League history that three players had reached 10 goals for the season prior to Christmas Day.[5] The other goalscorers then on double figures were Billy Lane and Cecil Blakemore.
Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Win | Draw | Loss |
No. | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 30 August 1930 | Luton Town | A | 1–1 | 11,686 | Foster | ||
2 | 3 September 1930 | Northampton Town | H | 0–4 | 11,356 | |||
3 | 6 September 1930 | Bristol Rovers | H | 4–0 | 9,919 | Blakemore (2), W. Lane (2) | ||
4 | 8 September 1930 | Fulham | A | 1–1 | 12,248 | W. Lane | ||
5 | 13 September 1930 | Newport County | A | 2–0 | 2,758 | W. Lane | ||
6 | 17 September 1930 | Fulham | H | 4–1 | 9,564 | W. Lane (2), J. Lane, Payne | ||
7 | 20 September 1930 | Gillingham | H | 1–1 | 9,407 | Payne | ||
8 | 24 September 1930 | Notts County | H | 2–2 | 9,999 | Blakemore (pen), W. Lane | ||
9 | 27 September 1930 | Exeter City | A | 0–4 | 5,352 | |||
10 | 4 October 1930 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 3–2 | 9,348 | W. Lane, Blakemore, J. Lane | ||
11 | 11 October 1930 | Torquay United | A | 3–0 | 6,944 | J. Lane, Hill (og), W. Lane | ||
12 | 18 October 1930 | Coventry City | H | 1–2 | 10,244 | W. Lane | ||
13 | 25 October 1930 | Walsall | A | 4–1 | 2,943 | J. Lane, W. Lane, Berry | ||
14 | 1 November 1930 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 5–3 | 10,857 | Berry (2), J. Lane, Blakemore (2, 1 pen) | ||
15 | 8 November 1930 | Norwich City | A | 0–3 | 9,172 | |||
16 | 15 November 1930 | Thames | H | 6–1 | 7,211 | Berry (2), J. Lane, Blakemore (2), W. Lane (2) | ||
17 | 22 November 1930 | Clapton Orient | N | 0–3 | 8,319 | [6] | ||
18 | 6 December 1930 | Watford | A | 3–1 | 6,775 | W. Lane, Berry, Blakemore (pen) | ||
19 | 18 December 1930 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | H | 1–2 | 2,306 | J. Lane | ||
20 | 20 December 1930 | Swindon Town | A | 2–3 | 4,728 | Blakemore, J. Lane | ||
21 | 25 December 1930 | Crystal Palace | H | 8–2 | 11,770 | J. Lane (3), Berry (2), W. Lane (3) | ||
22 | 26 December 1930 | Crystal Palace | A | 1–5 | 15,853 | W. Lane | ||
23 | 27 December 1930 | Luton Town | H | 0–1 | 7,353 | |||
24 | 3 January 1931 | Bristol Rovers | A | 5–2 | 7,449 | W. Lane (3), Berry (2) | ||
25 | 17 January 1931 | Newport County | H | 3–2 | 7,170 | J. Lane, Berry, W. Lane | ||
26 | 28 January 1931 | Gillingham | A | 1–1 | 2,547 | J. Lane | ||
27 | 31 January 1931 | Exeter City | H | 2–1 | 7,575 | Gamble, Berry | ||
28 | 7 February 1931 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 0–1 | 9,451 | |||
29 | 14 February 1931 | Torquay United | H | 0–0 | 6,464 | |||
30 | 21 February 1931 | Coventry City | A | 1–0 | 9,651 | Blakemore | ||
31 | 28 February 1931 | Walsall | H | 6–1 | 7,117 | Berry (2), Gamble (3), John (og) | ||
32 | 7 March 1931 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 1–3 | 10,331 | Sherlaw | ||
33 | 14 March 1931 | Norwich City | H | 3–1 | 9,013 | Hannah (og), Robson, Wilkins | ||
34 | 21 March 1931 | Thames | A | 0–2 | 3,675 | |||
35 | 28 March 1931 | Clapton Orient | H | 3–0 | 7,757 | W. Lane, Robson, Berry | ||
36 | 3 April 1931 | Southend United | H | 3–1 | 6,027 | W. Lane, Blakemore, Robson | ||
37 | 4 April 1931 | Notts County | A | 0–1 | 14,759 | |||
38 | 6 April 1931 | Southend United | A | 1–0 | 9,969 | Berry | ||
39 | 11 April 1931 | Watford | H | 2–1 | 8,163 | W. Lane, Blakemore (pen) | ||
40 | 18 April 1931 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | A | 0–1 | 3,662 | |||
41 | 25 April 1931 | Swindon Town | H | 5–2 | 4,327 | Berry (2), W. Lane, Robson | ||
42 | 2 May 1931 | Northampton Town | A | 2–1 | 3,698 | Sherlaw, Berry |
See main article: 1930–31 FA Cup.
Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1R | 29 November 1930 | Ilford | A | 6–1 | 5,718 | W. Lane (3), J. Lane (3) | |
2R | 13 December 1930 | Norwich City | H | 1–0 | 12,000 | J. Lane | |
3R | 10 January 1931 | Cardiff City | H | 2–2 | 16,500 | Berry, W. Lane | |
3R (replay) | 14 January 1931 | Cardiff City | A | 2–1 | 25,000 | W. Lane, J. Lane | |
4R | 24 January 1931 | Portsmouth | H | 0–1 | 23,544 |
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1930–31 season.
Name | Role | |
---|---|---|
Harry Curtis | Manager | |
Bob Kane | Trainer | |
Jack Cartmell | Assistant trainer |
Pos | Nat | Name | League | FA Cup | Total | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
GK | Freddie Fox | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 0 | ||
GK | Frank McDonough | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
GK | Edward Nash | 21 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 24 | 0 | ||
DF | Tom Adamson | 36 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 41 | 0 | ||
DF | Bill Bann | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
DF | William Hodge | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | ||
DF | Alexander Stevenson | 26 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 31 | 0 | ||
HB | Jimmy Bain | 42 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 47 | 0 | ||
HB | Reginald Davies | 38 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 42 | 0 | ||
HB | Harry Salt | 25 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 30 | 0 | ||
HB | Teddy Ware | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | ||
FW | Ralph Allen | 2 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |||
FW | Bill Berry | 32 | 18 | 5 | 1 | 37 | 19 | ||
FW | Cecil Blakemore | 35 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 40 | 13 | ||
FW | Jackie Foster | 39 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 44 | 1 | ||
FW | Frederick Gamble | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | ||
FW | Billy Lane | 33 | 27 | 5 | 5 | 38 | 32 | ||
FW | Jack Lane | 25 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 30 | 19 | ||
FW | Herbert Lawson | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
FW | John Payne | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | ||
FW | Les Roberts | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
FW | George Robson | 13 | 5 | — | 13 | 5 | |||
FW | James Shaw | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
FW | David Sherlaw | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | ||
FW | Norman Thomson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
FW | Les Wilkins | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | 1 |
Pos. | Nat | Player | FL3 | FAC | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FW | Billy Lane | 27 | 5 | 32 | ||
FW | Bill Berry | 18 | 1 | 19 | ||
FW | Jack Lane | 14 | 5 | 19 | ||
FW | Cecil Blakemore | 13 | 0 | 13 | ||
FW | George Robson | 5 | — | 5 | ||
FW | Frederick Gamble | 4 | 0 | 4 | ||
FW | John Payne | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||
FW | David Sherlaw | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||
FW | Les Wilkins | 1 | — | 1 | ||
FW | Jackie Foster | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
Opponents | 3 | 0 | 3 | |||
Total | 90 | 11 | 101 |
Games played | 47 (42 Third Division South, 5 FA Cup) | |
Games won | 25 (22 Third Division South, 3 FA Cup) | |
Games drawn | 7 (6 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup) | |
Games lost | 15 (14 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup) | |
Goals scored | 101 (90 Third Division South, 11 FA Cup) | |
Goals conceded | 69 (64 Third Division South, 5 FA Cup) | |
Clean sheets | 8 (7 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup) | |
Biggest league win | 8–2 versus Crystal Palace, 25 December 1930 | |
Worst league defeat | 4–0 on two occasions | |
Most appearances | 47, Jimmy Bain (42 Third Division South, 5 FA Cup) | |
Top scorer (league) | 27, Billy Lane | |
Top scorer (all competitions) | 32, Billy Lane |
Cricketers are not included in this list.
Players transferred in | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date | Pos. | Name | Previous Club | Fee | Ref. | |
May 1930 | FW | James Shaw | Arsenal | Free | [10] | |
3 June 1930 | DF | Bill Bann | Tottenham Hotspur | Free | [11] | |
June 1930 | FW | Les Roberts | Swindon Town | Free | ||
August 1930 | FW | Norman Thomson | Norwich City | Nominal | [12] | |
September 1930 | GK | Edward Nash | Swindon Town | n/a | ||
February 1931 | FW | George Robson | West Ham United | n/a | ||
February 1931 | FW | Bert Stephens | Ealing Association | Free | ||
February 1931 | FW | Les Wilkins | West Ham United | Exchange | ||
March 1931 | FW | Ralph Allen | Fulham | Free | [13] | |
Players transferred out | ||||||
Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Fee | Ref. | |
May 1930 | DF | George Dumbrell | Leicester City | £1,750 | ||
29 January 1931 | FW | Jack Lane | Crystal Palace | n/a | [14] | |
January 1931 | FW | John Payne | Manchester City | n/a | ||
January 1931 | FW | Les Roberts | Manchester City | n/a | ||
February 1931 | FW | Frederick Gamble | West Ham United | Exchange | ||
Players released | ||||||
Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Join date | Ref. | |
May 1931 | GK | Freddie Fox | Truro City | n/a | ||
May 1931 | GK | Frank McDonough | Thames | May 1931 | [15] | |
May 1931 | FW | James Shaw | Gillingham | May 1931 | [16] | |
May 1931 | HB | Martin Woosnam | Thames | May 1931 |