During the 1934–35 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Second Division. The Bees led the division for much of the second half of the season and were promoted as champions to the First Division for the first time in the club's history. Brentford also won the London Challenge Cup for the first time.

Season summary Brentford manager Harry Curtis made two big-money signings during the 1934 off-season – left back George Poyser from Port Vale for a club record £1,550 fee (equivalent to £ in ) and centre half Archie Scott from Derby County for £1,000. Jim Brown was signed from Manchester United as outside right cover for Idris Hopkins and new first-choice goalkeeper James Mathieson was signed on a free transfer from Middlesbrough. After two years on the fringes, young right half Duncan McKenzie broke into the first team squad during the season and George Robson returned in attack, after being frozen out during the previous season. Former captain Jimmy Bain retired and became the club's assistant manager, a position he held until 1952.

Despite 1933–34's leading scorers Jack Holliday and Idris Hopkins finding the net with regularity, it was Ernest Muttitt who inspired the Bees to start the season with a seven-match unbeaten run. The run took the club to the top of the table, with Muttitt scoring seven goals in a five-match spell.

Aside from two separate spells of three defeats in five matches, Brentford went on two long unbeaten runs during the season. A 1–0 win over Notts County on 2 March 1934 returned the Bees to the top and they won promotion with three matches to spare. Three points from the final three matches confirmed Brentford as champions, five points above nearest challengers Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United. The promotion meant that Brentford would play in the First Division for the first time in the club's history and the championship shield was held aloft by captain Herbert Watson after the final match of the season at Griffin Park. A unique double was achieved with Brentford's first-ever victory in the London Challenge Cup, in which Millwall were beaten 2–1 after extra time in the final at Craven Cottage.

A number of Football League club records were set or equalled during the season, including:

Least home defeats (0, equalling the 1929–30 team's unbeaten home record)

Most consecutive home matches undefeated (24, a run which stretched back to April 1934) The club record for highest winning margin in a Football League match was broken twice during the season, firstly in a 8–1 victory over Barnsley in December 1934 and then in the 8–0 hammering of Port Vale in April 1935. The eight-goal winning margin stood as the club record until October 1963.

Billy Scott became the club's second Football League-era player to score five goals in a match, with five goals in the 8–1 win over Barnsley. He scored a hat-trick in the return match on 27 April 1935. With his hat-trick versus Port Vale on 20 April 1935, Jack Holliday set a club record of 9 hat-tricks.

League table

Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League Second Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)125 August 1934Norwich CityH2–121,565Holliday, Hopkins227 August 1934FulhamA2–226,656Fletcher, Holliday (pen)31 September 1934Newcastle UnitedA5–223,714Muttitt (3), Holliday, Hopkins45 September 1934FulhamH1–023,678Muttitt58 September 1934West Ham UnitedH4–120,818Holliday (3), Burns615 September 1934BlackpoolA2–224,223Muttitt, Scott722 September 1934BuryH2–113,729Muttitt (2)829 September 1934Hull CityA1–27,764Fletcher96 October 1934Nottingham ForestH1–116,098James1013 October 1934Bradford CityA0–313,1321120 October 1934Notts CountyH4–115,313Burns, Mills (og)1227 October 1934SouthamptonA0–110,268133 November 1934Bolton WanderersH1–022,322Holliday1410 November 1934Oldham AthleticA3–18,391Robson, Fletcher, Scott1517 November 1934BurnleyH6–115,459Holliday (3), Robson, Hopkins, Scott1624 November 1934Swansea TownA4–210,547Scott (2), Holliday (2)171 December 1934Manchester UnitedH3–121,744Hopkins, Fletcher, Holliday188 December 1934Port ValeA2–28,054Hopkins, Robson (pen)1915 December 1934BarnsleyH8–111,843Scott (5), Robson (2), Holliday2022 December 1934Sheffield UnitedA2–111,115Fletcher, Hopkins2125 December 1934Plymouth ArgyleH0–023,7862226 December 1934Plymouth ArgyleA1–132,509Scott2329 December 1934Norwich CityA1–213,371Hopkins245 January 1935Newcastle UnitedH3–026,079Hopkins, Fletcher (2)2519 January 1935West Ham UnitedA0–233,7882626 January 1935BlackpoolH2–113,087Holliday, Robson272 February 1935BuryA1–413,687Hopkins289 February 1935Hull CityH2–114,109Hopkins, Holliday2923 February 1935Bradford CityH2–015,824Fletcher, Hopkins3028 February 1935Nottingham ForestA0–08,137312 March 1935Notts CountyA1–010,252Holliday329 March 1935SouthamptonH3–213,111Hopkins, Scott (2)3323 March 1935Oldham AthleticH2–113,867Holliday (2)3430 March 1935BurnleyA3–011,206Robson, Scott, Hopkins356 April 1935Swansea TownH1–017,212Holliday3613 April 1935Manchester UnitedA0–032,9693719 April 1935Bradford Park AvenueH1–020,447Holliday3820 April 1935Port ValeH8–018,194Holliday (3), Robson (3), Burns, Hopkins3922 April 1935Bradford Park AvenueA3–212,729Bateman, Hopkins (2)4027 April 1935BarnsleyA3–37,021Scott (3)411 May 1935Bolton WanderersA0–246,554424 May 1935Sheffield UnitedH3–121,017Fletcher, Holliday, Scott (3)

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueAttendanceResult3R11 January 1935Plymouth ArgyleH24,5000–1

Sources: Statto, 11v11, 100 Years of Brentford

Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1934–35 season. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepersGKJames MathiesonMiddlesbrough1934DefendersDFJack AstleySouthport1933DFArthur BatemanSouthend United1934DFWalter MetcalfSunderland1934DFGeorge PoyserPort Vale1934MidfieldersHBJackie Burns Queens Park Rangers1931AmateurHBJoe JamesBattersea Church1929HBDuncan McKenzieAlbion Rovers1932HBJames RavenFolkestone1934AmateurHBArchie ScottDerby County1934HBHerbert Watson (c)Middlesbrough1932ForwardsFWCharlie FletcherClapton Orient1933FWJack HollidayMiddlesbrough1932FWIdris HopkinsCrystal Palace1932FWErnest MuttittMiddlesbrough1932FWGeorge RobsonWest Ham United1931FWBilly ScottMiddlesbrough1932 Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, Timeless Bees, Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939

Coaching staff NameRole Harry CurtisManager Jimmy BainAssistant Manager Bob KaneTrainer Jack CartmellAssistant Trainer Fred KeatchSecretary

Statistics

Appearances and goals

PosNatNameLeagueFA CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKJames Mathieson42010430DFJack Astley100010DFArthur Bateman41110421DFWalter Metcalf100010DFGeorge Poyser41010420HBJackie Burns28510295HBJoe James39110401HBDuncan McKenzie30010310HBJames Raven100010HBArchie Scott200020HBHerbert Watson27000270FWCharlie Fletcher42910439FWJack Holliday4225104325FWIdris Hopkins4216104316FWErnest Muttitt14700147FWGeorge Robson2710102810FWBilly Scott4218104318 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford

Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL2FACTotalFWJack Holliday25025FWBilly Scott18018FWIdris Hopkins16016FWGeorge Robson10010FWCharlie Fletcher909FWErnest Muttitt707HBJackie Burns505DFArthur Bateman101HBJoe James101Total93093 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford

International caps

Full Pos.NatPlayerCapsGoalsRefFWIdris Hopkins21

Amateur

Pos.NatPlayerCapsGoalsRefFWJackie Burns31

Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Harry Curtis25 August 19344 May 1935 |

Summary Games played 43 (42 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)Games won 26 (26 Second Division, 0 FA Cup)Games drawn 9 (9 Second Division, 0 FA Cup)Games lost 8 (7 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)Goals scored 93 (93 Second Division, 0 FA Cup)Goals conceded 49 (48 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)Clean sheets 12 (12 Second Division, 0 FA Cup)Biggest league win 8–0 versus Port Vale, 20 April 1935Worst league defeat 3–0 versus Bradford City, 13 October 1934; 4–1 versus Bury, 2 February 1935Most appearances 43, Charlie Fletcher, Jack Holliday, Idris Hopkins, James Mathieson (42 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)Top scorer (league) 25, Jack HollidayTop scorer (all competitions) 25, Jack Holliday

Transfers & loans Cricketers are not included in this list. Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.May 1934FW Jim Brown Manchester United£30013 June 1934FW Gerry McAloon St FrancisFreeJune 1934FW Charlie Drinkwater Golders GreenAmateurJune 1934DF George Poyser Port Vale£1,550July 1934HB Archie Scott Derby County£1,000August 1934HBH. Wallace JarrowAmateur1934DF George Dumbrell Bournemouth & Boscombe Athleticn/a1934FW Matt Johnson Northwich Victorian/a1934GK James Mathieson MiddlesbroughFree1934GK James Nicholls Manchester CityFree1934FW Les Smith PetershamAmateurPlayers transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.December 1933FW Ralph Allen Charlton Athletic£650Players loaned outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubDate toRef.August 1934FW Les Smith Wimbledon1935Players releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.May 1935FW Charlie Drinkwater Golders Green1935May 1935HB William HodgeRetiredMay 1935FW Bert Stephens Brighton & Hove AlbionJune 1935May 1935FW Charlie WalshRetired

References