1934–35_Brentford_F.C._season

1934–35 Brentford F.C. season

1934–35 Brentford F.C. season

1934–35 season of Brentford F.C.

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.

Quick Facts Chairman, Manager ...

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 £139,000 in 2024) and centre half Archie Scott from Derby County for £1,000.[1][2] 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.[3][4] 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,[5][6] after being frozen out during the previous season.[7] Former captain Jimmy Bain retired and became the club's assistant manager, a position he held until 1952.[6]

Despite 1933–34's leading scorers Jack Holliday and Idris Hopkins finding the net with regularity,[8] it was Ernest Muttitt who inspired the Bees to start the season with a seven-match unbeaten run.[9] The run took the club to the top of the table,[9] with Muttitt scoring seven goals in a five-match spell.[8]

Aside from two separate spells of three defeats in five matches, Brentford went on two long unbeaten runs during the season.[9] 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.[6][9] Three points from the final three matches confirmed Brentford as champions, five points above nearest challengers Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United.[9] 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.[10][11] 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.[12]

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.[13] The eight-goal winning margin stood as the club record until October 1963.[13]

Billy Scott became the club's second Football League-era player to score five goals in a match,[14] with five goals in the 8–1 win over Barnsley.[15] He scored a hat-trick in the return match on 27 April 1935.[15] With his hat-trick versus Port Vale on 20 April 1935, Jack Holliday set a club record of 9 hat-tricks.[16]

League table

Main article: 1934–35 Football League Second Division

More information Pos, Pld ...
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted

Results

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Second Division

More information No., Date ...

FA Cup

Main article: 1934–35 FA Cup
More information Round, Date ...

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1934–35 season.
More information Pos., Name ...
  • Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[8] Timeless Bees,[17] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939[18]

Coaching staff

More information Name, Role ...

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Brentford's highest appearance-makers in each position during the Football League season.
More information Pos, Nat ...
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[8]

Goalscorers

More information Pos., Nat ...
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[8]

International caps

Full

More information Pos., Nat ...

Amateur

More information Pos., Nat ...

Management

More information Name, Nat ...

Summary

Games played43 (42 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Games won26 (26 Second Division, 0 FA Cup)
Games drawn9 (9 Second Division, 0 FA Cup)
Games lost8 (7 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored93 (93 Second Division, 0 FA Cup)
Goals conceded49 (48 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Clean sheets12 (12 Second Division, 0 FA Cup)
Biggest league win8–0 versus Port Vale, 20 April 1935
Worst league defeat3–0 versus Bradford City, 13 October 1934; 4–1 versus Bury, 2 February 1935
Most appearances43, Charlie Fletcher, Jack Holliday, Idris Hopkins, James Mathieson (42 Second Division, 1 FA Cup)
Top scorer (league)25, Jack Holliday
Top scorer (all competitions)25, Jack Holliday

Transfers & loans

Cricketers are not included in this list.
More information Players transferred in, Date ...

References

  1. [1]
    Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 127.
  2. [2]
    Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 142.
  3. [3]
    Jex, Rob. "James Brown: Brentford's only member of the US National Soccer Hall of Fame". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  4. [4]
    Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 101.
  5. [5]
    Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 106.
  6. [6]
    White 1989, p. 142-145.
  7. [7]
    White 1989, p. 372.
  8. [8]
    White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 373. ISBN 0951526200.
  9. [9]
    "Brentford results for the 1934–1935 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  10. [10]
    "Brentford Complete History". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  11. [11]
    "Moment in time: Sheffield United". Brentford FC. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  12. [12]
    Haynes 1998, p. 82-83.
  13. [13]
    Haynes 1998, p. 133.
  14. [14]
    Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Harefield, Middlesex: Yore Publications. pp. 78–79. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  15. [15]
    Haynes 1998, p. 62.
  16. [16]
    Haynes 1998, p. 68.
  17. [17]
    Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  18. [18]
    Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN 190589161X.
  19. [19]
    "Dai Hopkins". 11v11.com. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  20. [20]
    "England Matches – The Amateurs 1906–1939". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  21. [21]
    Litster, John. Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
  22. [22]
    "Players – Digweed to Elkes" (PDF). Watford Football Club archive 1881–2016. p. 14. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  23. [23]
    "A New Centre Half – Brentford Sign On A. T. Scott From Derby County". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 13 July 1934.
  24. [24]
    ""Bees" New Capture – Centre Half From Jarrow". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 10 August 1934.
  25. [25]
    Argus (17 August 1934). "Power Of The "Bees". "Argus" Looks Ahead And Thinks The Opposition Will Be Stronger. Strength Of Newcastle And Bolton. New Players' Promise: Regulars All Fit: Mr. Curtis Talks". The Brentford & Chiswick Times.
  26. [26]
    Joyce 2012, p. 155.
  27. [27]
    Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 116.
  28. [28]
    Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 149.
  29. [29]
    Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 10.
  30. [30]
    Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 77.
  31. [31]
    "Bert Stephens". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  32. [32]
    Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 164.
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