1929–30 Southampton F.C. season

April 2022 Southampton F.C. 1929–30 Sloane Stanley Arthur Chadwick The Dell Second Division 7th FA Cup Third round Dick Rowley (25) Dick Rowley (26) 25,934 v Tottenham Hotspur(26 December 1929) 4,881 v Millwall(3 March 1930) 12,786 5–0 v Nottingham Forest(28 September 1929) 0–4 v Stoke City(19 October 1929)1–5 v Blackpool(4 January 1930)1–5 v West Bromwich Albion (3 May 1930) _red_stripes _redstripes2 _red_stripes _band_red FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF 003366 003366 1928–29 1930–31 The 1929–30 season was the 35th season of competitive football by Southampton, and the club's eighth in the Second Division of the Football League. After finishing fourth in the Second Division the previous season – their highest position in the league to date – Southampton continued their efforts towards achieving promotion to the First Division, but finished three places lower in seventh. The club struggled at the beginning of the league campaign, remaining in the bottom half of the table due to a run of poor results. A period of form including six wins in eight games followed between September and November, enabling the Saints to move up as high as third place. The team remained in the top half of the Second Division table for most of the rest of the season, finishing in seventh place with 17 wins, 11 draws and 14 losses. In the 1929–30 FA Cup, Southampton entered in the third round away to divisional rivals Bradford City, losing 4–1 to face elimination at the first hurdle for the third consecutive season (their worst run in the season since being knocked out of the first round in 1912, 1913 and 1914). The club ended their season as usual with two fixtures against local rivals Portsmouth, for the Hampshire Benevolent Cup and the Rowland Hospital Cup. The former (played at Fratton Park) ended in a goalless draw, while the latter (played at The Dell) ended in a 2–0 win for the travelling Pompey side. The Saints also played five friendly matches during the 1929–30 season, drawing with Aldershot Town in September, beating Corinthian in February, and drawing with a Salisbury District XI, beating Andover and losing to a Royal Air Force side in April. Southampton used 28 different players during the 1929–30 season and had thirteen different goalscorers. Their top scorer was centre-forward Dick Rowley, who scored 25 goals in 25 appearances in the Second Division, and the club's only goal in the FA Cup. Willie Haines, the club's top scorer the previous season, ranked second with 15 goals in the league, followed by Johnny Arnold on seven league goals. Nine players were signed by the club during the campaign, with eight released and sold to other clubs. The average attendance at The Dell during the 1929–30 season was 12,786. The highest attendance was 25,934 against Tottenham Hotspur on Boxing Day 1929, which surpassed the last season's new league record of 24,247. The lowest attendance of the season was 4,881 against Millwall on 3 March 1930. Background and transfers Several players left Southampton at the end of the 1928–29 season. In May, inside-forward Tommy Taylor joined Welsh side Rhyl Athletic,Chalk Holley Bull 2013 184 while centre-forward Douglas Vernon – signed as an emergency replacement for Willie Haines in February – was recalled by the Royal Air Force.Chalk Holley Bull 2013 194 In June, the club sold outside-left Billy Murphy to fellow Second Division club Oldham Athletic,Chalk Holley Bull 2013 140 with fellow winger Reg Watson moving the other way as part of the deal.Chalk Holley Bull 2013 198 Also in June, the Saints signed inside-forward Bill Fraser from Aldershot Town in an "unusually complicated deal" including an initial payment of £60, another £200 from a friendly match between the two sides, £50 if he made 20 appearances for the first team during the season (which he did not), and a 5% share of any future transfer fee.Chalk Holley Bull 2013 71 The following month, inside-left Charlie Petrie and Scottish centre-forward Archie Waterston both moved to the Third Division North – the former joined York City,Chalk Holley Bull 2013 150 while the latter joined Tranmere Rovers. In August, Southampton brought in two more players – inside-right Oswald Littler joined from Rochdale (after a Football Association suspension for the player was lifted upon appeal by the club),Chalk Holley Bull 2013 116 and full-back Arthur Roberts signed from Ardsley Athletic.Chalk Holley Bull 2013 159 Transfer activity continued during the course of the season. In September 1929, the Saints Supporters Club raised £400 to sign Scottish inside-left Peter Dougall (as well as teammate William Hood) from Clyde, with an additional £50 to be paid should either player make six appearances for the club.Chalk Holley Bull 2013 60 In October, recent amateur signing Ernie Warren left the club to sign another amateur deal with Southwick, although by March 1930 he had returned to sign for the Saints as a professional. The most significant transfer of the season came in February, when the campaign's top scorer Dick Rowley was sold to Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £3,750,Chalk Holley Bull 2013 163–164 the club's second highest transfer fee to date after the £3,860 received for Bill Rawlings two years earlier.Chalk Holley 1987 304 In March the club signed forward Thomas Groves from Blakenall and Scottish half-back Alex Sharp from Ayr United,Chalk Holley Bull 2013 79Chalk Holley Bull 2013 168 with Warren also returning on professional terms. Just before the end of the season, Oswald Littler left Southampton to join Southern League side Guildford City. Players transferred in NameNationalityPos. Playing positionClubDateFeeRef.Bill FraserEnglandFW ForwardENG Aldershot TownJune 1929£260+Reg WatsonEnglandFW ForwardENG Oldham AthleticJune 1929ExchangeOswald LittlerEnglandFW ForwardENG RochdaleAugust 1929UnknownArthur RobertsEnglandFB Full-backENG Ardsley AthleticAugust 1929UnknownPeter DougallScotlandFW ForwardSCO ClydeSeptember 1929£450William HoodEnglandunknownThomas GrovesEnglandFW ForwardENG BlakenallMarch 1930FreeThomas Groves initially joined on amateur terms in March 1930, before turning professional that May.Alex SharpScotlandHB Half-backSCO Ayr UnitedMarch 1930FreeErnie WarrenEnglandFW ForwardENG SouthwickMarch 1930Unknown Players transferred out NameNationalityPos. Playing positionClubDateFeeRef.Tommy TaylorEnglandFW ForwardWAL Rhyl AthleticMay 1929UnknownDouglas VernonEnglandFW ForwardENG Royal Air ForceMay 1929UnknownBilly MurphyEnglandFW ForwardENG Oldham AthleticJune 1929ExchangeCharlie PetrieEnglandFW ForwardENG York CityJuly 1929UnknownArchie WaterstonScotlandFW ForwardENG Tranmere RoversJuly 1929UnknownErnie WarrenEnglandFW ForwardENG SouthwickOctober 1929FreeDick RowleyIrelandFW ForwardENG Tottenham HotspurFebruary 1930£3,750Oswald LittlerEnglandFW ForwardENG Guildford CityApril 1930Unknown Second Division 1929–30 Football League Southampton began the 1929–30 Second Division campaign against Barnsley, who had finished the previous season just four points above relegation.Chalk Holley 1987 81 During the game, Jerry Mackie became the first Southampton player to be sent off since James Moore in December 1920, as the Saints lost 3–1 and started off in the bottom half of the Second Division league table.Chalk Holley 1987 82https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-two/31-august-1929/ League Division Two table after close of play on 31 August 1929 11v11.com 28 April 2018 A 2–2 draw with Hull City was followed by home wins over Blackpool and West Bromwich Albion,Chalk Holley 1987 83 which helped the Saints move up to seventh in the league.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-two/09-september-1929/ League Division Two table after close of play on 09 September 1929 11v11.com 28 April 2018 Dick Rowley quickly established himself as the season's top scorer with consecutive hat-tricks against Chelsea and Nottingham Forest in late September, the latter of which was a 5–0 away win, and later became the first Southampton player to score four goals in an away match when they beat Bradford City 5–2 on 2 November. A week later the club reached third in the Second Division table, their highest position of the season, after having picked up six wins in eight fixtures.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-two/09-november-1929/ League Division Two table after close of play on 09 November 1929 11v11.com 28 April 2018 The 5–2 win over Bradford City was Southampton's last away win of the season until April, with their poor form on the road holding back their hopes of promotion to the top flight. Three losses and two draws saw the club drop to tenth in the table by mid-December, although by the end of the year they had returned to the top four following three more wins.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-two/28-december-1929/ League Division Two table after close of play on 28 December 1929 11v11.com 28 April 2018 The home win over Tottenham Hotspur on 26 December was a new league record attendance at The Dell of 25,934. After Rowley was sold to Spurs in February, the club struggled to continue scoring and ultimately dropped too many points to remain in the fight for promotion. In March the club won just one game, a 2–1 home win over Bradford City, although managed to remain in the top seven of the league.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-two/29-march-1930/ League Division Two table after close of play on 29 March 1930 11v11.com 28 April 2018 Three wins out of six in April helped them move up to sixth, although a pair of thrashings at the hands of Charlton Athletic and West Bromwich Albion saw them drop back to seventh, where they finished with 17 wins, 11 draws and 14 losses. List of match results 1 31 August 1929 Barnsley 3–1 Southampton Haines Oakwell Barnsley 5,000 L 2 2 September 1929 Southampton 2–2 Hull City Weale Haines The Dell Southampton 11,419 D 3 7 September 1929 Southampton 4–2 Blackpool Watson Coates Rowley The Dell Southampton 9,838 W 4 9 September 1929 Southampton 3–2 West Bromwich Albion Rowley Weale The Dell Southampton 20,035 W 5 14 September 1929 Bury 4–2 Southampton Rowley Watson Gigg Lane Bury 14,000 L 6 16 September 1929 Hull City 2–0 Southampton Anlaby Road Kingston upon Hull 7,115 L 7 21 September 1929 Southampton 4–2 Chelsea Rowley Cribb The Dell Southampton 16,569 W 8 28 September 1929 Nottingham Forest 0–5 Southampton Rowley Littler City Ground West Bridgford 7,000 W 9 5 October 1929 Southampton 2–0 Oldham Athletic Rowley Coates The Dell Southampton 17,600 W 10 12 October 1929 Millwall 1–1 Southampton Harkus The Den London 20,000 D 11 19 October 1929 Stoke City 4–0 Southampton Victoria Ground Stoke-on-Trent 12,000 L 12 26 October 1929 Southampton 3–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Rowley Arnold The Dell Southampton 13,308 W 13 2 November 1929 Bradford City 2–5 Southampton Rowley Coates Valley Parade Bradford 14,000 W 14 9 November 1929 Southampton 2–1 Swansea Town Rowley Arnold The Dell Southampton 16,600 W 15 16 November 1929 Cardiff City 5–2 Southampton Rowley Littler Ninian Park Cardiff 12,000 L 16 23 November 1929 Southampton 1–2 Preston North End Rowley The Dell Southampton 10,110 L 17 30 November 1929 Bristol City 3–1 Southampton Watson Ashton Gate Stadium Bristol 9,000 L 18 7 December 1929 Southampton 2–2 Notts County Rowley Coates The Dell Southampton 9,235 D 19 14 December 1929 Reading 1–1 Southampton Cribb Elm Park Reading 10,000 D 20 21 December 1929 Southampton 2–0 Charlton Athletic Jepson Cribb The Dell Southampton 10,161 W 21 25 December 1929 Tottenham Hotspur 3–2 Southampton Cribb White Hart Lane London 26,564 L 22 26 December 1929 Southampton 1–0 Tottenham Hotspur Rowley The Dell Southampton 25,934 W 23 28 December 1929 Southampton 4–0 Barnsley Rowley Keeping Weale The Dell Southampton 8,168 W 24 4 January 1930 Blackpool 5–1 Southampton Rowley Bloomfield Road Blackpool 10,000 L 25 18 January 1930 Southampton 0–0 Bury The Dell Southampton 12,293 D 26 25 January 1930 Chelsea 2–0 Southampton Stamford Bridge London 25,000 L 27 1 February 1930 Southampton 2–0 Nottingham Forest Weale Haines The Dell Southampton 9,921 W 28 8 February 1930 Oldham Athletic 3–2 Southampton Haines Boundary Park Oldham 15,000 L 29 22 February 1930 Southampton 2–1 Stoke City Haines The Dell Southampton 10,924 W 30 1 March 1930 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–0 Southampton Molineux Stadium Wolverhampton 12,000 L 31 3 March 1930 Southampton 0–0 Millwall The Dell Southampton 4,881 D 32 8 March 1930 Southampton 2–1 Bradford City Mackie Arnold The Dell Southampton 11,091 W 33 15 March 1930 Swansea Town 2–2 Southampton Mackie Arnold Vetch Field Swansea 7,000 D 34 22 March 1930 Southampton 1–1 Cardiff City Haines The Dell Southampton 14,000 D 35 29 March 1930 Preston North End 1–1 Southampton Haines Deepdale Preston 6,000 D 36 5 April 1930 Southampton 3–0 Bristol City Jepson Haines Dougall The Dell Southampton 9,788 W 37 12 April 1930 Notts County 1–2 Southampton Jepson Haines Meadow Lane Nottingham 10,500 W 38 19 April 1930 Southampton 4–2 Reading Haines Jepson Arnold The Dell Southampton 11,346 W 39 21 April 1930 Southampton 2–2 Bradford Park Avenue Mackie Arnold The Dell Southampton 15,302 D 40 22 April 1930 Bradford Park Avenue 1–1 Southampton Haines Park Avenue Bradford 10,038 D 41 26 April 1930 Charlton Athletic 4–1 Southampton Haines The Valley London 8,000 L 42 3 May 1930 West Bromwich Albion 5–1 Southampton Arnold The Hawthorns West Bromwich 10,000 L Final league table Second Division y SOU Results by matchday table b Round Ground A /H /H /H /A /A /H /A /H /A /A /H /A /H /A /H /A /H /A /H /A /H /H /A /H /A /H /A /H /A /H /H /A /H /A /H /A /H /H /A /A /A Result L /D /W /W /L /L /W /W /W /D /L /W /W /W /L /L /L /D /D /W /L /W /W /L /D /L /W /L /W /L /D /W /D /D /D /W /W /W /D /D /L /L Position 16/15/10 /7/12/14/10 /9 /6 /6/11 /8 /4 /3 /7 /9 /9 /9/10 /8 /8 /7 /4 /9 /8 /8 /6 /7 /7 /8 /8 /8 /8 /7 /7 /6 /5 /6 /6 /6 /7 /7 Home Away green2 Win yellow2 Draw red2 Loss 1st 2nd 3rd red1 11v11.comhttps://www.11v11.com/league-tables/ 11v11 league table generator 11v11.com 28 April 2018 FA Cup 1929–30 FA Cup Southampton entered the 1929–30 FA Cup in the third round against Second Division rivals Bradford City, who they had recently beaten 5–2 in the league. The Saints were described by club historians as being in poor form defensively, with "an awful defensive mix-up" leading to an opening goal for the hosts. Dick Rowley equalised later, but Bradford were able to score three more goals and advance. Southampton's elimination marked the third consecutive season in which they had failed to win a game in the FA Cup – their worst run since the three seasons between 1911–12 and 1913–14.https://www.fchd.info/SOUTHAMP.HTM Southampton Football Club History Database 28 April 2018 Round 3 11 January 1930 Bradford City 4–1 Southampton Rowley Valley Parade Bradford 25,000 L Other matches Outside of the league and the FA Cup, Southampton played seven additional first-team matches during the 1929–30 season. The first was a friendly match against Southern League side Aldershot Town on 25 September, which ended in a 3–3 draw. Goals for the Saints were scored by Dick Rowley (two) and Johnny Arnold.Chalk Holley 1987 212 The club hosted amateur side Corinthian in February, winning 2–0 thanks to a brace from Willie Haines. Three more friendlies followed in April. The first, against a Salisbury District XI, ended in a 2–2 draw with Bill Fraser and Jerry Mackie scoring for Southampton; the second was a 6–1 thrashing of Hampshire League side Andover, with goals scored by Haines (three), Fraser (two) and Arnold; and the third was a 1–0 loss at a Royal Air Force team. The club ended the season with two games against local rivals Portsmouth, in the annual Hampshire Benevolent Cup and Rowland Hospital Cup fixtures. The former game took place at Fratton Park on 5 May and ended goalless, with both sides dominating a half each according to the Southern Daily Echo.Juson Aldworth Bendel Bull 2004 126 Two days later, Southampton hosted Pompey in the Rowland Hospital Cup. The First Division visitors won the match 2–0 thanks to a pair of goals from centre-forward Methuen, although the Evening News admitted that Portsmouth were "somewhat lucky to win". Friendly 25 September 1925 Aldershot Town 3–3 Southampton Rowley Arnold Recreation Ground Aldershot D Friendly 15 February 1930 Southampton 2–0 Corinthian Haines The Dell Southampton W Friendly 9 April 1930 Salisbury District XI 2–2 Southampton Fraser Mackie Salisbury D Friendly 16 April 1930 Andover 6–1 Southampton Haines Fraser Arnold Walled Meadow Andover W Friendly 28 April 1930 Royal Air Force 1–0 Southampton L Hampshire BC 5 May 1930 Portsmouth 0–0 Southampton Fratton Park Portsmouth 4,240 Gibbs D Rowland Hospital Cup 7 May 1930 Southampton 0–2 Portsmouth Methuen The Dell Southampton Gibbs W Player details Southampton used 28 different players during the 1929–30 season, 13 of whom scored during the campaign. The team played in a 2–3–5 formation throughout, using two full-backs, three half-backs, two outside forwards, two inside forwards and a centre-forward. Goalkeeper Willie White made the most appearances for the club during the campaign, missing only two league games and the FA Cup fixture. Left-back Michael Keeping played in all but three league games and both end-of-season games. Centre-forward Dick Rowley finished as the season's top scorer with 25 goals in the Second Division and one in the cup, despite leaving the club four three months before the end of the season. Willie Haines, who took Rowley's place in the side after his departure, scored 15 goals in the league, while Johnny Arnold scored seven. Squad statistics NamePos. Playing positionNat. NationalityLeagueFA CupOther"Other" includes the Rowland Hospital Cup and Hampshire Benevolent Cup matches.TotalApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsBill AdamsHB Half-backENG00001010Johnny ArnoldFW ForwardENG1870010197Arthur BradfordHB Half-backENG3301020360Herbert CoatesFW ForwardENG2541020284Stan CribbFW ForwardENG1151000125Peter DougallFW ForwardSCO1210000121Bill FraserFW ForwardENG1000020120Thomas GrovesFW ForwardENG00001010Willie HainesFW ForwardENG191500001915George HarkusHB Half-backENG3010000301Ted HoughFB Full-backENG2100020230Bert JepsonFW ForwardENG1440000144Michael KeepingFB Full-backENG3911000401Bill LuckettHB Half-backENG1201000130Jerry MackieFW ForwardSCO2031010223A. NewmanA player named "A. Newman" is listed in the lineups for the Hampshire Benevolent Cup and Rowland Hospital Cup matches, however no first name is given.FW ForwardENG00002020Alex SharpHB Half-backSCO10000010Bert ShelleyHB Half-backENG1100010120Bill StoddartHB Half-backENG801020110George ThompsonGK GoalkeeperENG20100030Ernie WarrenFW ForwardENG10000010Reg WatsonFW ForwardENG1440010154Bobby WealeFW ForwardWAL2741000284Willie WhiteGK GoalkeeperSCO4000020420Arthur WilsonHB Half-backENG2401000250Stan WoodhouseHB Half-backENG3300020350Players with appearances who left before the end of the seasonOswald LittlerFW ForwardENG1230000123Dick RowleyFW ForwardIRL252511002626 Most appearances RankNamePos. Playing positionLeagueFA CupOtherTotalApps. Appearances% Percentage of totalApps. Appearances% Percentage of totalApps. Appearances% Percentage of totalApps. Appearances% Percentage of total1Willie WhiteGK Goalkeeper4095.2400.002100.004293.332Michael KeepingFB Full-back3992.861100.0000.004088.893Arthur BradfordHB Half-back3378.571100.002100.003680.004Stan WoodhouseHB Half-back3378.5700.002100.003577.785George HarkusHB Half-back3071.4300.0000.003066.676Bobby WealeFW Forward2764.291100.0000.002862.22Herbert CoatesFW Forward2559.521100.002100.002862.228Dick RowleyFW Forward2559.521100.0000.002657.789Arthur WilsonFW Forward2457.141100.0000.002555.5610Ted HoughFB Full-back210.5000.002100.002351.11 Top goalscorers RankNamePos. Playing positionLeagueFA CupOtherTotalGls. GoalsGPG Goals per gameGls. GoalsGPG Goals per gameGls. GoalsGPG Goals per gameGls. GoalsGPG Goals per game1Dick RowleyFW Forward251.0011.0000.00261.002Willie HainesFW Forward150.7800.0000.00150.783Johnny ArnoldFW Forward70.3800.0000.0070.364Stan CribbFW Forward50.4500.0000.0050.415Bert JepsonFW Forward40.2800.0000.0040.28Reg WatsonFW Forward40.2800.0000.0040.26Herbert CoatesFW Forward40.1600.0000.0040.14Bobby WealeFW Forward40.1400.0000.0040.149Oswald LittlerFW Forward30.2500.0000.0030.25Jerry MackieFW Forward30.1500.0000.0030.13 Footnotes References Bibliography Chalk Gary Holley Duncan A Complete Record of Southampton Football Club: 1885–1987 Derby, England Breedon Books 10 August 1987 978-0907969228 Chalk Gary Holley Duncan Bull David All the Saints: A Complete Who's Who of Southampton FC Bristol, England Hagiology Publishing 28 November 2013 978-0992686406 Juson Dave Aldworth Clay Bendel Barry Bull David Chalk Gary Saints v Pompey: A History of Unrelenting Rivalry Bristol, England Hagiology Publishing 10 November 2004 978-0953447459 External links Southampton F.C. official website Category:Southampton F.C. seasons Southampton