1934–35 Brentford F.C. season

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.

Brentford
1934–35 season
ChairmanLouis P. Simon
ManagerHarry Curtis
StadiumGriffin Park
Second Division1st (promoted)
FA CupThird round
London Challenge CupWinners
Top goalscorerLeague: Holliday (25)
All: Holliday (25)
Highest home attendance26,079
Lowest home attendance11,843
Average home league attendance18,062

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

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGAvPtsPromotion or relegation
1Brentford (C, P)42269793481.93861Promotion to the First Division
2Bolton Wanderers (P)422641296482.00056
3West Ham United422641280631.27056
4Blackpool4221111079571.38653
5Manchester United422341576551.38250
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

WinDrawLoss

Football League Second Division

No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)
125 August 1934Norwich CityH2–121,565Holliday, Hopkins
227 August 1934FulhamA2–226,656Fletcher, Holliday (pen)
31 September 1934Newcastle UnitedA5–223,714Muttitt (3), Holliday, Hopkins
45 September 1934FulhamH1–023,678Muttitt
58 September 1934West Ham UnitedH4–120,818Holliday (3), Burns
615 September 1934BlackpoolA2–224,223Muttitt, Scott
722 September 1934BuryH2–113,729Muttitt (2)
829 September 1934Hull CityA1–27,764Fletcher
96 October 1934Nottingham ForestH1–116,098James
1013 October 1934Bradford CityA0–313,132
1120 October 1934Notts CountyH4–115,313Burns, Mills (og)
1227 October 1934SouthamptonA0–110,268
133 November 1934Bolton WanderersH1–022,322Holliday
1410 November 1934Oldham AthleticA3–18,391Robson, Fletcher, Scott
1517 November 1934BurnleyH6–115,459Holliday (3), Robson, Hopkins, Scott
1624 November 1934Swansea TownA4–210,547Scott (2), Holliday (2)
171 December 1934Manchester UnitedH3–121,744Hopkins, Fletcher, Holliday
188 December 1934Port ValeA2–28,054Hopkins, Robson (pen)
1915 December 1934BarnsleyH8–111,843Scott (5), Robson (2), Holliday
2022 December 1934Sheffield UnitedA2–111,115Fletcher, Hopkins
2125 December 1934Plymouth ArgyleH0–023,786
2226 December 1934Plymouth ArgyleA1–132,509Scott
2329 December 1934Norwich CityA1–213,371Hopkins
245 January 1935Newcastle UnitedH3–026,079Hopkins, Fletcher (2)
2519 January 1935West Ham UnitedA0–233,788
2626 January 1935BlackpoolH2–113,087Holliday, Robson
272 February 1935BuryA1–413,687Hopkins
289 February 1935Hull CityH2–114,109Hopkins, Holliday
2923 February 1935Bradford CityH2–015,824Fletcher, Hopkins
3028 February 1935Nottingham ForestA0–08,137
312 March 1935Notts CountyA1–010,252Holliday
329 March 1935SouthamptonH3–213,111Hopkins, Scott (2)
3323 March 1935Oldham AthleticH2–113,867Holliday (2)
3430 March 1935BurnleyA3–011,206Robson, Scott, Hopkins
356 April 1935Swansea TownH1–017,212Holliday
3613 April 1935Manchester UnitedA0–032,969
3719 April 1935Bradford Park AvenueH1–020,447Holliday
3820 April 1935Port ValeH8–018,194Holliday (3), Robson (3), Burns, Hopkins
3922 April 1935Bradford Park AvenueA3–212,729Bateman, Hopkins (2)
4027 April 1935BarnsleyA3–37,021Scott (3)
411 May 1935Bolton WanderersA0–246,554
424 May 1935Sheffield UnitedH3–121,017Fletcher, Holliday, Scott (3)

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueAttendanceResult
3R11 January 1935Plymouth ArgyleH24,5000–1

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1934–35 season.
Pos.NameNat.Date of birth (age)Signed fromSigned inNotes
Goalkeepers
GKJames Mathieson (1904-05-10)10 May 1904 (aged 30)Middlesbrough1934
Defenders
DFJack Astley (1909-12-03)3 December 1909 (aged 24)Southport1933
DFArthur Bateman (1908-04-01)1 April 1908 (aged 26)Southend United1934
DFWalter Metcalf (1910-12-15)15 December 1910 (aged 23)Sunderland1934
DFGeorge Poyser (1910-02-06)6 February 1910 (aged 24)Port Vale1934
Midfielders
HBJackie Burns (1906-11-27)27 November 1906 (aged 27)Queens Park Rangers1931Amateur
HBJoe James (1910-01-13)13 January 1910 (aged 24)Battersea Church1929
HBDuncan McKenzie (1912-08-10)10 August 1912 (aged 22)Albion Rovers1932
HBJames Raven (1908-03-29)29 March 1908 (aged 26)Folkestone1934Amateur
HBArchie Scott (1905-07-22)22 July 1905 (aged 29)Derby County1934
HBHerbert Watson (c) (1908-11-20)20 November 1908 (aged 25)Middlesbrough1932
Forwards
FWCharlie Fletcher (1905-10-28)28 October 1905 (aged 28)Clapton Orient1933
FWJack Holliday (1908-12-19)19 December 1908 (aged 25)Middlesbrough1932
FWIdris Hopkins (1910-10-11)11 October 1910 (aged 23)Crystal Palace1932
FWErnest Muttitt (1908-07-24)24 July 1908 (aged 26)Middlesbrough1932
FWGeorge Robson (1908-06-17)17 June 1908 (aged 26)West Ham United1931
FWBilly Scott (1907-12-06)6 December 1907 (aged 26)Middlesbrough1932
  • Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[8] Timeless Bees,[17] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939[18]

Coaching staff

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

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Brentford's highest appearance-makers in each position during the Football League season.
PosNatNameLeagueFA CupTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GK James Mathieson42010430
DF Jack Astley100010
DF Arthur Bateman41110421
DF Walter Metcalf100010
DF George Poyser41010420
HB Jackie Burns28510295
HB Joe James39110401
HB Duncan McKenzie30010310
HB James Raven100010
HB Archie Scott200020
HB Herbert Watson27000270
FW Charlie Fletcher42910439
FW Jack Holliday4225104325
FW Idris Hopkins4216104316
FW Ernest Muttitt14700147
FW George Robson2710102810
FW Billy Scott4218104318
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[8]

Goalscorers

Pos.NatPlayerFL2FACTotal
FW Jack Holliday25025
FW Billy Scott18018
FW Idris Hopkins16016
FW George Robson10010
FW Charlie Fletcher909
FW Ernest Muttitt707
HB Jackie Burns505
DF Arthur Bateman101
HB Joe James101
Total93093
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[8]

International caps

Full

Pos.NatPlayerCapsGoalsRef
FW Idris Hopkins21[19]

Amateur

Pos.NatPlayerCapsGoalsRef
FW Jackie Burns31[20]

Management

NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Harry Curtis 25 August 19344 May 1935432698060.47422697061.90

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.
Players transferred in
DatePos.NamePrevious ClubFeeRef.
May 1934FW Jim Brown Manchester United£300[3]
13 June 1934FW Gerry McAloon St FrancisFree[21]
June 1934FW Charlie Drinkwater Golders GreenAmateur[22]
June 1934DF George Poyser Port Vale£1,550[1]
July 1934HB Archie Scott Derby County£1,000[23]
August 1934HBH. Wallace JarrowAmateur[24]
1934DF George Dumbrell Bournemouth & Boscombe Athleticn/a[25]
1934FW Matt Johnson Northwich Victorian/a[26]
1934GK James Mathieson MiddlesbroughFree[4]
1934GK James Nicholls Manchester CityFree[27]
1934FW Les Smith PetershamAmateur[28]
Players transferred out
DatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.
December 1933FW Ralph Allen Charlton Athletic£650[29]
Players loaned out
DatePos.NameSubsequent clubDate toRef.
August 1934FW Les Smith Wimbledon1935[28]
Players released
DatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.
May 1935FW Charlie Drinkwater Golders Green1935[22]
May 1935HB William HodgeRetired[30]
May 1935FW Bert Stephens Brighton & Hove AlbionJune 1935[31]
May 1935FW Charlie WalshRetired[32]

References