1928–29 Brentford F.C. season

During the 1928–29 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division South. An unbeaten start to the season was cancelled out by a run of 11 defeats in 12 games which left the Bees bottom of the Football League, but the team recovered to finish in mid-table.

Brentford
1928–29 season
ChairmanLouis P. Simon
ManagerHarry Curtis
StadiumGriffin Park
Third Division South13th
FA CupSecond round
Top goalscorerLeague: Watkins (14)
All: Watkins (14)
Highest home attendance20,783
Lowest home attendance3,366
Average home league attendance8,159

Season summary
Brentford's 1928–29 team photograph.

Still in search of a winning formula after two mid-table finishes, Brentford manager Harry Curtis elected to add to rather than remodel of his squad during the 1928 off-season.[1] In came goalkeeper Freddie Fox, full back Baden Herod for a £1,500 club record fee, half back Reginald Davies and a number of young forwards.[1] He also brought in his former Gillingham trainer Bob Kane.[2] Youngster Joe Wiggins broke Brentford's outgoing transfer record in May 1928, with Leicester City paying £1,400 for a centre forward who had made just four senior appearances and scored two goals.[3]

Good goalscoring form from Jack Lane and Jack Phillips at the start of the season saw Brentford go seven matches unbeaten and rise to the top of the table.[4] Phillips was then sold to Bristol Rovers and a run of 12 league matches without a win (including a club record-equalling 9 league defeats in a row) plummeted the club to the bottom of the Football League.[5][6][7] Manager Curtis was offered the manager's job of an unnamed Second Division club in mid-October, but elected to stay at Griffin Park.[8]

In November 1928, Manager Harry Curtis pulled off a crucial £500 signing of Jimmy Bain from Manchester Central and the centre half galvanised the team.[9] Just three defeats in 18 matches between Boxing Day 1928 and April Fools' Day 1929 averted any fears of having to campaign for re-election.[7] Manager Curtis decided to cash in on club record signing Baden Herod, who was sold for a then-club record outgoing fee of £4,000 to Tottenham Hotspur in February 1929.[1] Just one draw from the final five matches of the season dropped Brentford to a final placing of 13th.[7] A minor competition, the London Charity Fund, was won in November 1928 and gold medals were presented to the players involved.[10]

League table
Main article: 1928–29 Football League Third Division South
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
11 Coventry City 42 14 14 14 62 57 1.088 42
12 Southend United 42 15 11 16 80 75 1.067 41
13 Brentford 42 14 10 18 56 60 0.933 38
14 Walsall 42 13 12 17 73 79 0.924 38
15 Brighton & Hove Albion 42 16 6 20 58 76 0.763 38
Source:

Results
Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Football League Third Division South
No. DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
1 25 August 1928Exeter CityH4–2 11,158 Phillips (2), Drinnan, Berry
2 1 September 1928Southend UnitedA1–1 8,082 McKinley
3 3 September 1928Charlton AthleticH1–0 6,850 Lane
4 8 September 1928Merthyr Town H2–1 9,153 Lane, Phillips
5 10 September 1928Swindon TownH2–0 7,231 Lane, Phillips
6 15 September 1928Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticA1–1 7,573 Watkins
7 22 September 1928Queens Park RangersH1–1 20,783 Lane
8 29 September 1928Luton TownH0–1 13,758
9 6 October 1928Coventry City A0–1 16,993
10 13 October 1928Northampton Town H2–2 9,260 Watkins (2)
11 20 October 1928Bristol RoversA0–2 9,316
12 27 October 1928WatfordH0–1 8,301
13 3 November 1928Walsall A0–2 7,937
14 10 November 1928Newport CountyH1–3 5,395 Lane
15 17 November 1928Crystal PalaceA0–1 11,323
16 1 December 1928Torquay United A1–4 4,614 Berry
17 15 December 1928Plymouth ArgyleA0–4 10,940
18 22 December 1928Fulham H1–2 8,876 Watkins
19 25 December 1928Brighton & Hove AlbionA2–3 8,600 Douglas, Durnion
20 26 December 1928Brighton & Hove Albion H5–1 5,117 Lane (4), Sherlaw
21 29 December 1928Exeter CityA3–2 6,124 Drinnan, Watkins, Sherlaw
22 5 January 1929Southend United H1–0 4,588 Drinnan
23 12 January 1929GillinghamH4–1 5,042 Douglas (2), Watkins, Sherlaw
24 19 January 1929Merthyr TownA2–2 2,500 Drinnan, Sherlaw
25 26 January 1929GillinghamA2–1 3,756 Watkins, Douglas
26 2 February 1929Queens Park RangersA2–2 10,590 Sherlaw (2)
27 9 February 1929Luton TownA1–2 8,148 Lawson
28 16 February 1929Coventry CityH1–0 3,950 Watkins
29 23 February 1929Northampton TownA1–1 8,555 Watkins
30 2 March 1929Bristol RoversH2–0 6,991 Sherlaw, Drinnan
31 9 March 1929WatfordA0–2 10,453
32 13 March 1929Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticH0–0 3,366
33 16 March 1929WalsallH1–0 7,111 Douglas
34 23 March 1929Newport CountyA1–1 3,090 Douglas
35 29 March 1929Norwich CityH4–0 10,049 Stone (2), Watkins (2)
36 30 March 1929Crystal PalaceH2–4 13,314 Watkins, Berry
37 1 April 1929Norwich CityA4–2 9,713 Berry (2), Watkins (2)
38 6 April 1929Swindon Town A1–3 3,107 Gamble
39 13 April 1929Torquay UnitedH0–0 4,507
40 22 April 1929Charlton AthleticA0–1 8,017
41 27 April 1929Plymouth ArgyleH0–2 6,532
42 4 May 1929FulhamA0–1 16,524

FA Cup
Main article: 1928–29 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer(s)
1R 24 November 1928 Brighton & Hove Albion H 4–1 10,000 Drinnan, Lane (2), Sherlaw
2R8 December 1928Plymouth Argyle H0–1 10,681

Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1928–29 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Henry Bailey (1897-12-02)2 December 1897 (aged 30) Exeter City 1927
GK Freddie Fox (1898-11-22)22 November 1898 (aged 29) Halifax Town 1928
Defenders
DF George Dumbrell (1906-09-23)23 September 1906 (aged 21) Dartford 1928
DF Alexander Stevenson (1903-10-24)24 October 1903 (aged 24) Armadale 1927
DF Ted Winship 1900 (aged 27–28) Kidderminster Harriers 1926
Midfielders
HB Jimmy Bain (1899-02-06)6 February 1899 (aged 29) Manchester Central 1928
HB Jack Beacham (1902-08-15)15 August 1902 (aged 26) Weymouth 1925
HB Reginald Davies (c) (1897-09-30)30 September 1897 (aged 30) Portsmouth 1928
HB Stephen Dearn March 1901 (aged 27) Portsmouth 1926
HB William Hodge (1904-08-31)31 August 1904 (aged 23) Rangers 1927
HB Charlie Reddock 1902 (aged 25–26) Gillingham 1926
HB Teddy Ware (1906-09-17)17 September 1906 (aged 21) Chatham Town 1928
HB Martin Woosnam 1903 (aged 24–25) Ealing Association 1928 Amateur
Forwards
FW Bill Berry (1904-08-18)18 August 1904 (aged 24) Gillingham 1926
FW Alfred Douglas (1899-03-26)26 March 1899 (aged 29) Washington Colliery 1925
FW Jimmy Drinnan (1906-05-28)28 May 1906 (aged 22) Newport County 1927
FW Andy Durnion (1907-02-18)18 February 1907 (aged 21) St Joseph's 1928
FW Frederick Gamble (1905-05-29)29 May 1905 (aged 23) Southall 1928
FW Jack Lane (1898-05-29)29 May 1898 (aged 30) Chesterfield 1925
FW Herbert Lawson (1905-04-12)12 April 1905 (aged 23) Arsenal 1927
FW Charles McKinley (1902-09-13)13 September 1902 (aged 25) Leyton 1928
FW Albert Richards (1903-07-18)18 July 1903 (aged 25) Chatham Town 1928
FW David Sherlaw (1901-09-17)17 September 1901 (aged 26) Charlton Athletic 1928
FW Norman Stone 1904 (aged 23–24) Corinthian 1928 Amateur
FW Ernie Watkins (1898-04-03)3 April 1898 (aged 30) Southend United 1926
FW Alexander Wood 1906 (aged 21–22) Airdrieonians 1928
Players who left the club mid-season
DF Baden Herod (1900-05-16)16 May 1900 (aged 28) Charlton Athletic 1928 Transferred to Tottenham Hotspur
HB Andrew Heeps (1899-12-15)15 December 1899 (aged 28) Airdrieonians 1928 Transferred to Camelon Juniors
HB Albert Purdy (1899-03-15)15 March 1899 (aged 29) Southend United 1928 Transferred to Dartford
FW Jack Phillips (1903-05-28)28 May 1903 (aged 25) Merthyr Town 1927 Transferred to Bristol Rovers
  • Sources: Timeless Bees,[11] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939,[12] 100 Years Of Brentford[4]

Coaching staff
Name Role
Harry Curtis Manager
Dick Hendrie Assistant Manager
Bob Kane Trainer
Jack Cartmell Assistant Trainer

Statistics

Appearances and goals
Brentford's highest appearance-makers in each position during the Football League season.
Pos Nat Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Henry Bailey 29 0 1 0 30 0
GK Freddie Fox 13 0 1 0 14 0
DF George Dumbrell 300030
DF Baden Herod 2802 0300
DF Alexander Stevenson 21 0 0 0 21 0
DF Ted Winship 3402 0360
HB Jimmy Bain 2501 0260
HB Jack Beacham 15 0 0 0 15 0
HB Reginald Davies 3602 0380
HB Stephen Dearn 1200 0120
HB Andrew Heeps 2 0 0 0 2 0
HB William Hodge 302 0 50
HB Albert Purdy 100 010
HB Charlie Reddock 3 0 0 0 3 0
HB Teddy Ware 25 0 0 0 25 0
HB Martin Woosnam 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW Bill Berry 23 5 1 0 24 5
FW Alfred Douglas 24 6 1 0 25 6
FW Jimmy Drinnan 25521276
FW Andy Durnion 2 1 0 0 2 1
FW Frederick Gamble 7 1 — 7 1
FW Jack Lane 3291 23311
FW Herbert Lawson 8 1 1 0 9 1
FW Charles McKinley 14 1 1 0 15 1
FW Jack Phillips 6 4 — 6 4
FW Albert Richards 2 0 0 0 2 0
FW David Sherlaw 27 7 2 1 29 8
FW Norman Stone 4 2 0 0 4 2
FW Ernie Watkins 36142 03814
FW Alexander Wood 1 0 0 0 1 0
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[4]

Goalscorers
Pos. Nat Player FL3 FAC Total
FW Ernie Watkins 14 0 14
FW Jack Lane 9 2 11
FW David Sherlaw 7 1 8
FW Alfred Douglas606
FW Jimmy Drinnan 5 1 6
FW Bill Berry 5 0 5
FW Jack Phillips 4 — 4
FW Norman Stone 2 0 2
FW Frederick Gamble 1 — 1
FW Andy Durnion 1 0 1
FW Herbert Lawson 1 0 1
FW Charles McKinley 1 0 1
Total56460
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[4]

Amateur international caps
Pos. Nat Player Caps Goals Ref
HB Martin Woosnam 1 0 [13]

Management
Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Harry Curtis 25 August 1928 4 May 1929 44 15 10 19 034.09|42 14 10 18 033.33

Summary
Games played44 (42 Third Division South, 2 FA Cup)
Games won15 (14 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)
Games drawn10 (10 Third Division South, 0 FA Cup)
Games lost19 (18 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored60 (56 Third Division South, 4 FA Cup)
Goals conceded62 (60 Third Division South, 2 FA Cup)
Clean sheets9 (9 Third Division South, 0 FA Cup)
Biggest league win4–0 versus Norwich City, 29 March 1929; 5–1 versus Brighton & Hove Albion, 26 December 1928
Worst league defeat4–0 versus Plymouth Argyle, 15 December 1928
Most appearances38, Reginald Davies, Ernie Watkins (36 Third Division South, 2 FA Cup)
Top scorer (league)14, Ernie Watkins
Top scorer (all competitions)14, Ernie Watkins

Transfers & loans
Cricketers are not included in this list.
Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
May 1928 HB Andrew Heeps Airdrieonians Free [14]
May 1928 FW Charles McKinley Leyton Free [14]
June 1928 HB Reginald Davies Portsmouth £250 [15]
June 1928 HB Albert Purdy Southend United Free [15]
July 1928 DF Baden Herod Charlton Athletic £1,500 [1]
September 1928 FW David Sherlaw Charlton Athletic n/a [16]
November 1928 HB Jimmy Bain Manchester Central £500 [9]
November 1928 FW Norman Stone Corinthian Amateur [17]
1928 DF George Dumbrell Dartford Free [18]
1928 FW Frederick Gamble Southall Free [19]
1928 FW Albert Richards Chatham Town Free [20]
1928 FW Alexander Wood Airdrieonians Free [21]
1928 HB Martin Woosnam Ealing Association Amateur [22]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
May 1928 FW Joe Wiggins Leicester City £1,400 [3]
26 September 1928FW Jack Phillips Bristol Roversn/a[5]
December 1928 HB Albert Purdy Dartford n/a [23]
February 1929 DF Baden Herod Tottenham Hotspur £4,000 [1]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
14 July 1928 HB Frank Marshall Died of tuberculosis [24]
February 1929 HB Andrew Heeps Camelon Juniors n/a [25]
May 1929 GK Henry Bailey Thames 1929 [26]
May 1929 HB Jack Beacham Gillingham 1929 [27]
May 1929 FW Thomas Brennan Gillingham n/a [15]
May 1929 FW Stephen Dearn Retired [28]
May 1929 FW Jimmy Drinnan Luton Town 1929 [29]
May 1929 FW Dick Hendrie Retired [30]
May 1929FW Jim McCafferty Shieldmuir Celtic1929[31]
May 1929 FW Charles McKinley Retired [32]
May 1929 FW Len Ramsell Retired [33]
May 1929 FW Albert Richards Dartford 1929 [20]
May 1929 FW Norman Stone Retired [34]
May 1929 FW Alexander Wood Charlton Athletic 1929 [21]

References
  1. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 76.
  2. Haynes 1998, p. 129.
  3. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 168.
  4. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 370. ISBN 0951526200.
  5. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 125.
  6. Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Harefield, Middlesex: Yore Publications. p. 79. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  7. Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Brentford results for the 1928-1929 season - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  8. "Brentford's Secretary Manager – Offer By Second Division Club". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 19 October 1928.
  9. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 14-15.
  10. Argus (16 November 1928). "A Changed Brentford". The Brentford & Chiswick Times.
  11. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  12. Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN 190589161X.
  13. "FORGOTTEN GLORIES – British Amateur Internationals 1901–1974" (PDF). p. 81. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 July 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  14. "Brentford's New Players – Charlton Outside Right Secured As Professional". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 11 May 1928.
  15. Dorey, F.W. (1928). Brentford Football Club Season 1928–29 Official Handbook. pp. 21–23.
  16. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 144.
  17. Argus (2 November 1928). "The London Cup". The Brentford & Chiswick Times.
  18. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 50-51.
  19. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 62.
  20. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 133.
  21. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 171.
  22. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 172.
  23. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 129.
  24. "Brentford Player Dead. FRANK MARSHALL SUCCUMBS TO LONG ILLNESS IN SCOTLAND". The Brentford & Chiswick Times. 20 July 1928.
  25. "By mutual consent the agreement between A. Heeps and Brentford has been cancelled". The Athletic News. 4 February 1929.
  26. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 14.
  27. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 18.
  28. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 47.
  29. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 50.
  30. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 75.
  31. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 103.
  32. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 106-107.
  33. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 165.
  34. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 155.
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