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.

Season summary

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. 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. 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.

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. 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. The other goalscorers then on double figures were Billy Lane and Cecil Blakemore.

League table

Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League Third Division South No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)Notes130 August 1930Luton TownA1–111,686Foster23 September 1930Northampton TownH0–411,35636 September 1930Bristol RoversH4–09,919Blakemore (2), W. Lane (2)48 September 1930FulhamA1–112,248W. Lane513 September 1930Newport CountyA2–02,758W. Lane617 September 1930FulhamH4–19,564W. Lane (2), J. Lane, Payne720 September 1930GillinghamH1–19,407Payne824 September 1930Notts CountyH2–29,999Blakemore (pen), W. Lane927 September 1930Exeter CityA0–45,352104 October 1930Brighton & Hove AlbionH3–29,348W. Lane, Blakemore, J. Lane1111 October 1930Torquay UnitedA3–06,944J. Lane, Hill (og), W. Lane1218 October 1930Coventry CityH1–210,244W. Lane1325 October 1930WalsallA4–12,943J. Lane, W. Lane, Berry141 November 1930Queens Park RangersH5–310,857Berry (2), J. Lane, Blakemore (2, 1 pen)158 November 1930Norwich CityA0–39,1721615 November 1930ThamesH6–17,211Berry (2), J. Lane, Blakemore (2), W. Lane (2)1722 November 1930Clapton OrientN0–38,319Match played at Wembley Stadium, London due to Clapton Orient's Lea Bridge Stadium being temporarily closed due it failing to satisfy Football League requirements. This is the only occasion on which Brentford have played a league match on neutral territory.186 December 1930WatfordA3–16,775W. Lane, Berry, Blakemore (pen)1918 December 1930Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticH1–22,306J. Lane2020 December 1930Swindon TownA2–34,728Blakemore, J. Lane2125 December 1930Crystal PalaceH8–211,770J. Lane (3), Berry (2), W. Lane (3)2226 December 1930Crystal PalaceA1–515,853W. Lane2327 December 1930Luton TownH0–17,353243 January 1931Bristol RoversA5–27,449W. Lane (3), Berry (2)2517 January 1931Newport CountyH3–27,170J. Lane, Berry, W. Lane2628 January 1931GillinghamA1–12,547J. Lane2731 January 1931Exeter CityH2–17,575Gamble, Berry287 February 1931Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–19,4512914 February 1931Torquay UnitedH0–06,4643021 February 1931Coventry CityA1–09,651Blakemore3128 February 1931WalsallH6–17,117Berry (2), Gamble (3), John (og)327 March 1931Queens Park RangersA1–310,331Sherlaw3314 March 1931Norwich CityH3–19,013Hannah (og), Robson, Wilkins3421 March 1931ThamesA0–23,6753528 March 1931Clapton OrientH3–07,757W. Lane, Robson, Berry363 April 1931Southend UnitedH3–16,027W. Lane, Blakemore, Robson374 April 1931Notts CountyA0–114,759386 April 1931Southend UnitedA1–09,969Berry3911 April 1931WatfordH2–18,163W. Lane, Blakemore (pen)4018 April 1931Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticA0–13,6624125 April 1931Swindon TownH5–24,327Berry (2), W. Lane, Robson422 May 1931Northampton TownA2–13,698Sherlaw, Berry

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)1R29 November 1930IlfordA6–15,718W. Lane (3), J. Lane (3)2R13 December 1930Norwich CityH1–012,000J. Lane3R10 January 1931Cardiff CityH2–216,500Berry, W. Lane3R (replay)14 January 1931Cardiff CityA2–125,000W. Lane, J. Lane4R24 January 1931PortsmouthH0–123,544

Sources: Statto, 11v11, 100 Years of Brentford

Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1930–31 season. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepersGKFreddie FoxHalifax Town1928GKFrank McDonoughAnnfield Plain1930GKEdward NashSwindon Town1930DefendersDFTom AdamsonBury1929DFBill BannTottenham Hotspur1930DFWilliam HodgeRangers1927DFAlexander StevensonArmadale1927MidfieldersHBJimmy BainManchester Central1928HBReginald Davies (c)Portsmouth1928HBHarry SaltCrystal Palace1929HBTeddy WareChatham Town1928ForwardsFWRalph AllenFulham1930FWBill BerryGillingham1926FWCecil BlakemoreBristol City1929FWJackie FosterBristol City1929FWBilly LaneReading1929FWHerbert LawsonArsenal1927FWGeorge RobsonWest Ham United1931FWJames ShawArsenal1930FWDavid SherlawCharlton Athletic1928FWNorman ThomsonNorwich City1930FWLes WilkinsWest Ham United1931Players who left the club mid-seasonFWFrederick GambleSouthall1928Transferred to West Ham UnitedFWJack Lane Chesterfield1925Transferred to Crystal PalaceFWJohn PayneWest Ham United1929Transferred to Manchester CityFWLes RobertsSwindon Town1930Transferred to Manchester City 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 Fox19020210GKFrank McDonough200020GKEdward Nash21030240DFTom Adamson36050410DFBill Bann300030DFWilliam Hodge19000190DFAlexander Stevenson26050310HBJimmy Bain42050470HBReginald Davies38040420HBHarry Salt25050300HBTeddy Ware17000170FWRalph Allen20—20FWBill Berry3218513719FWCecil Blakemore3513504013FWJackie Foster39150441FWFrederick Gamble640064FWBilly Lane3327553832FWJack Lane2514553019FWHerbert Lawson401050FWJohn Payne10200102FWLes Roberts500050FWGeorge Robson135—135FWJames Shaw100010FWDavid Sherlaw620062FWNorman Thomson100010FWLes Wilkins21—21 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford

Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL3FACTotalFWBilly Lane27532FWBill Berry18119FWJack Lane14519FWCecil Blakemore13013FWGeorge Robson5—5FWFrederick Gamble404FWJohn Payne202FWDavid Sherlaw202FWLes Wilkins1—1FWJackie Foster101Opponents303Total9011101 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford

Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Harry Curtis30 August 19302 May 1931 |

Summary 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 1930Worst league defeat 4–0 on two occasionsMost appearances 47, Jimmy Bain (42 Third Division South, 5 FA Cup)Top scorer (league) 27, Billy LaneTop scorer (all competitions) 32, Billy Lane

Transfers & loans Cricketers are not included in this list. Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.May 1930FW James Shaw ArsenalFree2 June 1930FW Les Roberts Swindon TownFree3 June 1930DF Bill Bann Tottenham HotspurFreeAugust 1930FW Norman Thomson Norwich CityNominal19 September 1930GK Edward Nash Swindon Townn/aFebruary 1931FW George Robson West Ham Unitedn/aFebruary 1931FW Bert Stephens Ealing AssociationFreeFebruary 1931FW Les Wilkins West Ham UnitedExchangeMarch 1931FW Ralph Allen FulhamFreePlayers transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.May 1930DF George Dumbrell Leicester City£1,75029 January 1931FW Jack Lane Crystal Palacen/aJanuary 1931FW John Payne Manchester Cityn/aJanuary 1931FW Les Roberts Manchester Cityn/aFebruary 1931FW Frederick Gamble West Ham UnitedExchangePlayers releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.May 1931GK Freddie Fox Truro Cityn/aMay 1931GK Frank McDonough ThamesMay 1931May 1931FW James Shaw GillinghamMay 1931May 1931HB Martin Woosnam ThamesMay 1931

Notes

References