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

Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League Third Division South No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)131 August 1929Swindon TownH3–211,084Blakemore, Payne (2)24 September 1929Clapton OrientH3–19,346Blakemore, Galbraith (og), W. Lane37 September 1929Plymouth ArgyleA1–112,161W. Lane414 September 1929Merthyr TownH6–011,040Whipp, W. Lane (4), Blakemore516 September 1929Clapton OrientA1–16,854Payne621 September 1929Torquay UnitedA1–25,012W. Lane725 September 1929Bristol RoversH2–16,265Foster, W. Lane828 September 1929Newport CountyH1–011,073Payne95 October 1929WatfordA2–110,814Payne, Bain1012 October 1929Coventry CityH3–111,957Blakemore, J. Lane, Bain1119 October 1929FulhamA0–225,8911226 October 1929Norwich CityH3–011,052W. Lane (2), Blakemore132 November 1929Crystal PalaceA1–216,939J. Lane149 November 1929GillinghamH2–19,603W. Lane (2)1516 November 1929Northampton TownA1–16,165Foster1623 November 1929Exeter CityH2–16,502Blakemore, J. Lane177 December 1929Luton TownH2–07,167J. Lane (2)1821 December 1929WalsallH6–25,041Payne (2), W. Lane (2), J. Lane, Blakemore (pen)1925 December 1929Brighton & Hove AlbionH5–214,612J. Lane (2), Payne, W. Lane, Blakemore2026 December 1929Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–219,1932128 December 1929Swindon TownA2–04,317Blakemore (2)224 January 1930Plymouth ArgyleH3–020,511Foster, J. Lane2311 January 1930Southend UnitedA0–26,4562418 January 1930Merthyr TownA3–22,103Blakemore, J. Lane (2)2525 January 1930Torquay UnitedH5–010,497J. Lane, Foster, W. Lane (3)261 February 1930Newport CountyA3–13,827W. Lane (2), Foster278 February 1930WatfordH5–011,356Payne, Blakemore, W. Lane (2), J. Lane2815 February 1930Coventry CityA1–212,146Blakemore2922 February 1930FulhamH5–121,966Blakemore, W. Lane, J. Lane (3)301 March 1930Norwich CityA2–214,081Foster (2)318 March 1930Crystal PalaceH2–019,555W. Lane, Payne3215 March 1930GillinghamA3–16,749Payne (2), W. Lane3322 March 1930Northampton TownH2–016,460W. Lane (2)3426 March 1930Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticA2–15,494W. Lane, Payne (pen)3529 March 1930Exeter CityA0–07,219365 April 1930Southend UnitedH2–113,255Payne (2)3712 April 1930Luton TownA1–211,150W. Lane3818 April 1930Queens Park RangersA1–222,179Blakemore3919 April 1930Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticH1–07,694J. Lane4021 April 1930Queens Park RangersH3–018,549W. Lane (3)4126 April 1930WalsallA2–12,917W. Lane, Sherlaw423 May 1930Bristol RoversA1–46,402J. Lane

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueAttendanceResult1R30 November 1929Southend UnitedAn/a0–1

Sources: Statto, 11v11, 100 Years of Brentford

Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1929–30 season. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepersGKFreddie FoxHalifax Town1928DefendersDFTom AdamsonBury1929DFGeorge DumbrellDartford1928DFWilliam HodgeRangers1927DFAlexander StevensonArmadale1927MidfieldersHBJimmy BainManchester Central1928HBBill Caesar Dulwich Hamlet1929AmateurHBReginald Davies (c)Portsmouth1928HBHarry SaltCrystal Palace1929HBTeddy WareChatham Town1928ForwardsFWCecil BlakemoreBristol City1929FWJackie FosterBristol City1929FWBilly LaneReading1929FWJack Lane Chesterfield1925 FWJohn PayneWest Ham United1929FWDavid SherlawCharlton Athletic1928FWPercy WhippAirdrieonians1929Players who left the club mid-seasonFWErnie WatkinsSouthend United1926Transferred to Millwall Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, Timeless Bees, Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939

Coaching staff NameRole Harry CurtisManager Bob KaneTrainer Jack CartmellAssistant Trainer

Statistics

Appearances and goals

PosNatNameLeagueFA CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKFreddie Fox42010430DFTom Adamson35010360DFGeorge Dumbrell900090DFWilliam Hodge800080DFAlexander Stevenson32010330HBJimmy Bain41210422HBBill Caesar100010HBReginald Davies42010430HBHarry Salt40010410HBTeddy Ware200020FWCecil Blakemore4215104315FWJackie Foster41610426FWBilly Lane4233104333FWJack Lane3419103519FWJohn Payne4216104316FWDavid Sherlaw110011FWErnie Watkins100010FWPercy Whipp710071 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford

Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL3FACTotalFWBilly Lane33033FWJack Lane19019FWJohn Payne16016FWCecil Blakemore15015FWJackie Foster606HBJimmy Bain202FWDavid Sherlaw101FWPercy Whipp101Opponents101Total94094 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford

Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Harry Curtis31 August 19293 May 1930 |

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 1929Worst league defeat 4–1 versus Bristol Rovers, 3 May 1930Most appearances 43, Freddie Fox, Reginald Davies, Cecil Blakemore, Billy Lane, John Payne (42 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)Top scorer (league) 33, Billy LaneTop scorer (all competitions) 33, Billy Lane

Transfers & loans Cricketers are not included in this list. Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.2 May 1929FW Cecil Blakemore Bristol City£2502 May 1929FW Jackie Foster Bristol City£250May 1929FW Billy Lane ReadingExchangeMay 1929FW John Payne West Ham UnitedFreeMay 1929HB Harry Salt Crystal PalaceFreeMay 1929DF George Weeks SouthallFreeMay 1929FW Percy Whipp AirdrieoniansFreeJuly 1929DF Tom Adamson BuryFree1929HB Joe James Battersea ChurchFree1929FWG. PrestonUnattachedn/aMarch 1930FW George Barnes Chesham UnitedAmateurApril 1930GK Frank McDonough Annfield PlainFreePlayers transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.May 1929FW Alfred Douglas ReadingExchangeOctober 1929FW Andy Durnion Gillinghamn/aFebruary 1930FW Ernie Watkins Millwalln/aPlayers releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.19 October 1929DF Ted WinshipDied of yellow jaundiceMay 1930FW George Barnes Chesham United1930May 1930FWG. PrestonUnattachedn/aMay 1930HB Charlie Reddock Thames1930May 1930FW Percy Whipp Swindon Town14 May 1930

References