Chairman Louis P. Simon Stadium Griffin Park FA Cup Fourth round | Manager Harry Curtis Third Division South 3rd | |
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Top goalscorer League: W. Lane (27)
All: W. Lane (32) | ||
During the 1930–31 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division South. Despite failing to challenge for promotion, the Bees finished in 3rd place and advanced to the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time in four years.
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Season summary
Brentford entered the 1930–31 Third Division South season with largely the same personnel which secured a runners-up finish the previous year. The only significant signing was goalkeeper Edward Nash from Swindon Town in September 1930, to cover for Freddie Fox, from whom Nash would take over the goalkeeping position during the second half of the season. The previous season's prolific forward line of Billy Lane, Jack Lane and Cecil Blakemore again showed excellent goalscoring form during the first half of the season, with Bill Berry returning to the fold after a season in the reserve team and replacing the out-of-form John Payne.
Despite the large number of goals, the team's form was patchy, though a run of 8 defeats in 15 league matches between 27 September and 27 December 1930 only dropped the Bees from 5th to 7th position. An 8–2 victory over Crystal Palace on Christmas Day was Brentford's biggest win of the season and equalled the club record for highest aggregate score in a Football League match. The Bees also embarked on a run to the fourth round of the FA Cup, falling to First Division Portsmouth at Griffin Park. Despite the transfer of 19-goal Jack Lane to Crystal Palace in January 1931, Brentford's form improved, with Billy Lane continuing to score and new forward signings George Robson and Les Wilkins making a contribution. 9 wins in the final 31 matches saw the Bees finish the season in 3rd place, 9 points behind champions Notts County.
Brentford's 1930–31 season is notable for the amount of hat-tricks scored, with Billy Lane claiming three, Jack Lane two and Frederick Gamble one, which convinced West Ham United to sign Gamble in exchange for Les Wilkins in February 1931, despite Gamble having made only 13 appearances in just under two years. During the season, Billy Lane and Jack Lane each scored a hat-trick in the same match twice during a one-month period - in the 6–1 FA Cup first round victory over Ilford on 29 November 1930 and in the 8–2 league victory over Crystal Palace on Christmas Day.
League table
Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against;
GA = Goal average; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points