Middle row (l-r);
Front row (l-r);
By Jim Brown
Ex-City player Jimmy McIntyre was appointed as the new manager in the summer of 1928 and once again it was all change as the new boss brought in his own players with seven debutants for the opening league game with Norwich, which attracted over 16,000 one of the biggest crowds at Highfield Road since the club had been relegated in 1925. Over the years there had been much criticism of the players fitness and discipline and the new manager introduced ‘McIntyre’s ticket’, a set of rules for the players which forbade, among other things ‘attendance at whist drives’ and ‘driving automobiles’.
The season started well and a run of four successive wins in November saw the Bantams lying in second place as Christmas approached. Then home and away defeats to Charlton over the holiday burst the bubble and the side slipped in the New Year to finish a creditable 11th. The average attendance of 15,610 was the highest for six years and over 22,000 watched the Christmas morning game with Charlton. The biggest crowd however was for the FA Cup First Round tie against fellow Third Division South side Fulham. A record 26,000 passed through the turnstiles to see City given a football lesson by the Cottagers. It was to be one of ‘Cute’ Herbert’s final games for the club and his goal tally of 82 in 187 league games was a club record that would stand until Clarrie Bourton came along. Herbert’s replacement was another prolific goalscorer Billy Lake who would also become a Highfield Road legend.
McIntyre’s side was a nice mixture of experience and youth. For experience he signed 31-year old Southampton goalkeeper Tommy ‘Shadow’ Allen and Bury full-back Laurie Crown, at 6 foot a giant of a man who captained the team. For youth he promoted a young right-winger called Ernie Toseland who had suffered several injuries in his three years at the club. Toseland, nicknamed ‘Twinke toes’ for his speed down the wing, was a sensation and one of the key reasons for the strong autumn form. He scored 11 goals in 22 games and set up many more but the big clubs were soon aware of him and in March 1929 Manchester City paid £3,000, a club record fee for Coventry, to sign him. Toseland went on to win League and FA Cup medals at Maine Road and was close to winning a full England cap.
Despite ending the season without a win in seven games there was a sense of optimism not seen around the football club for many years and the new season was anticipated with great enthusiasm.
