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.
Season summary
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. 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. He also brought in his former Gillingham trainer Bob Kane. 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.
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. 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. Manager Curtis was offered the manager's job of an unnamed Second Division club in mid-October, but elected to stay at Griffin Park.
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. 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. 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. Just one draw from the final five matches of the season dropped Brentford to a final placing of 13th. A minor competition, the London Charity Fund, was won in November 1928 and gold medals were presented to the players involved.
League table
Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend WinDrawLoss
Football League Third Division South No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)125 August 1928Exeter CityH4–211,158Phillips (2), Drinnan, Berry21 September 1928Southend UnitedA1–18,082McKinley33 September 1928Charlton AthleticH1–06,850Lane48 September 1928Merthyr TownH2–19,153Lane, Phillips510 September 1928Swindon TownH2–07,231Lane, Phillips615 September 1928Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticA1–17,573Watkins722 September 1928Queens Park RangersH1–120,783Lane829 September 1928Luton TownH0–113,75896 October 1928Coventry CityA0–116,9931013 October 1928Northampton TownH2–29,260Watkins (2)1120 October 1928Bristol RoversA0–29,3161227 October 1928WatfordH0–18,301133 November 1928WalsallA0–27,9371410 November 1928Newport CountyH1–35,395Lane1517 November 1928Crystal PalaceA0–111,323161 December 1928Torquay UnitedA1–44,614Berry1715 December 1928Plymouth ArgyleA0–410,9401822 December 1928FulhamH1–28,876Watkins1925 December 1928Brighton & Hove AlbionA2–38,600Douglas, Durnion2026 December 1928Brighton & Hove AlbionH5–15,117Lane (4), Sherlaw2129 December 1928Exeter CityA3–26,124Drinnan, Watkins, Sherlaw225 January 1929Southend UnitedH1–04,588Drinnan2312 January 1929GillinghamH4–15,042Douglas (2), Watkins, Sherlaw2419 January 1929Merthyr TownA2–22,500Drinnan, Sherlaw2526 January 1929GillinghamA2–13,756Watkins, Douglas262 February 1929Queens Park RangersA2–210,590Sherlaw (2)279 February 1929Luton TownA1–28,148Lawson2816 February 1929Coventry CityH1–03,950Watkins2923 February 1929Northampton TownA1–18,555Watkins302 March 1929Bristol RoversH2–06,991Sherlaw, Drinnan319 March 1929WatfordA0–210,4533213 March 1929Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticH0–03,3663316 March 1929WalsallH1–07,111Douglas3423 March 1929Newport CountyA1–13,090Douglas3529 March 1929Norwich CityH4–010,049Stone (2), Watkins (2)3630 March 1929Crystal PalaceH2–413,314Watkins, Berry371 April 1929Norwich CityA4–29,713Berry (2), Watkins (2)386 April 1929Swindon TownA1–33,107Gamble3913 April 1929Torquay UnitedH0–04,5074022 April 1929Charlton AthleticA0–18,0174127 April 1929Plymouth ArgyleH0–26,532424 May 1929FulhamA0–116,524
FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)1R24 November 1928Brighton & Hove AlbionH4–110,000Drinnan, Lane (2), Sherlaw2R8 December 1928Plymouth ArgyleH0–110,681
Sources: Statto, 11v11, 100 Years of Brentford
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 NotesGoalkeepersGKHenry BaileyExeter City1927GKFreddie FoxHalifax Town1928DefendersDFGeorge DumbrellDartford1928DFAlexander StevensonArmadale1927DFTed Winship1900 (aged 27–28)Kidderminster Harriers1926MidfieldersHBJimmy BainManchester Central1928HBJack BeachamWeymouth1925HBReginald Davies (c)Portsmouth1928HBStephen Dearn March 1901 (aged 27)Portsmouth1926HBWilliam HodgeRangers1927HBCharlie Reddock1902 (aged 25–26)Gillingham1926HBTeddy WareChatham Town1928HBMartin Woosnam1903 (aged 24–25)Ealing Association1928AmateurForwardsFWBill BerryGillingham1926FWAlfred DouglasWashington Colliery1925FWJimmy DrinnanNewport County1927FWAndy DurnionSt Joseph's1928FWFrederick GambleSouthall1928FWJack Lane Chesterfield1925 FWHerbert LawsonArsenal1927FWCharles McKinleyLeyton1928FWAlbert RichardsChatham Town1928FWDavid SherlawCharlton Athletic1928FWNorman Stone1904 (aged 23–24)Corinthian1928AmateurFWErnie WatkinsSouthend United1926FWAlexander Wood1906 (aged 21–22)Airdrieonians1928Players who left the club mid-seasonDFBaden Herod Charlton Athletic1928Transferred to Tottenham HotspurHBAndrew HeepsAirdrieonians1928Transferred to Camelon JuniorsHBAlbert PurdySouthend United1928Transferred to DartfordFWJack PhillipsMerthyr Town1927Transferred to Bristol Rovers Sources: Timeless Bees, Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939, 100 Years Of Brentford
Coaching staff NameRole Harry CurtisManager Dick HendrieAssistant manager Bob KaneTrainer Jack CartmellAssistant trainer
Statistics
Appearances and goals
PosNatNameLeagueFA CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKHenry Bailey29010300GKFreddie Fox13010140DFGeorge Dumbrell300030DFBaden Herod28020300DFAlexander Stevenson21000210DFTed Winship34020360HBJimmy Bain25010260HBJack Beacham15000150HBReginald Davies36020380HBStephen Dearn12000120HBAndrew Heeps200020HBWilliam Hodge302050HBAlbert Purdy100010HBCharlie Reddock300030HBTeddy Ware25000250HBMartin Woosnam100010FWBill Berry23510245FWAlfred Douglas24610256FWJimmy Drinnan25521276FWAndy Durnion210021FWFrederick Gamble71—71FWJack Lane329123311FWHerbert Lawson811091FWCharles McKinley14110151FWJack Phillips64—64FWAlbert Richards200020FWDavid Sherlaw27721298FWNorman Stone420042FWErnie Watkins3614203814FWAlexander Wood100010 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford
Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL3FACTotalFWErnie Watkins14014FWJack Lane9211FWDavid Sherlaw718FWAlfred Douglas606FWJimmy Drinnan516FWBill Berry505FWJack Phillips4—4FWNorman Stone202FWFrederick Gamble1—1FWAndy Durnion101FWHerbert Lawson101FWCharles McKinley101Total56460 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford
Amateur international caps Pos.NatPlayerCapsGoalsRefHBMartin Woosnam10
Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Harry Curtis25 August 19284 May 1929 |
Summary Games played 44 (42 Third Division South, 2 FA Cup)Games won 15 (14 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)Games drawn 10 (10 Third Division South, 0 FA Cup)Games lost 19 (18 Third Division South, 1 FA Cup)Goals scored 60 (56 Third Division South, 4 FA Cup)Goals conceded 62 (60 Third Division South, 2 FA Cup)Clean sheets 9 (9 Third Division South, 0 FA Cup)Biggest league win 4–0 versus Norwich City, 29 March 1929; 5–1 versus Brighton & Hove Albion, 26 December 1928Worst league defeat 4–0 versus Plymouth Argyle, 15 December 1928Most appearances 38, Reginald Davies, Ernie Watkins (36 Third Division South, 2 FA Cup)Top scorer (league) 14, Ernie WatkinsTop scorer (all competitions) 14, Ernie Watkins
Transfers & loans Cricketers are not included in this list. Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.May 1928HB Andrew Heeps AirdrieoniansFreeMay 1928FW Charles McKinley LeytonFree17 June 1928DF Baden Herod Charlton Athletic£1,500June 1928HB Reginald Davies Portsmouth£250June 1928HB Albert Purdy Southend UnitedFreeSeptember 1928FW David Sherlaw Charlton Athleticn/aNovember 1928HB Jimmy Bain Manchester Central£500November 1928FW Norman Stone CorinthianAmateur1928DF George Dumbrell DartfordFree1928FW Frederick Gamble SouthallFree1928FW Albert Richards Chatham TownFree1928FW Alexander Wood AirdrieoniansFree1928HB Martin Woosnam Ealing AssociationAmateurPlayers transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.May 1928FW Joe Wiggins Leicester City£1,40026 September 1928FW Jack Phillips Bristol Roversn/aDecember 1928HB Albert Purdy Dartfordn/a27 February 1929DF Baden Herod Tottenham Hotspur£4,000Players releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.14 July 1928HB Frank MarshallDied of tuberculosisFebruary 1929HB Andrew Heeps Camelon Juniorsn/aMay 1929GK Henry Bailey Thames1929May 1929HB Jack Beacham Gillingham1929May 1929FW Thomas Brennan GillinghamAugust 1929May 1929FW Stephen DearnRetiredMay 1929FW Jimmy Drinnan Luton Town1929May 1929FW Dick HendrieRetiredMay 1929FW Jim McCafferty Shieldmuir Celtic1929May 1929FW Charles McKinleyRetiredMay 1929FW Len RamsellRetiredMay 1929FW Albert Richards Dartford1929May 1929FW Norman StoneRetiredMay 1929FW Alexander Wood Charlton Athletic1929
References