Middle row (l-r);
Front row (l-r);
By Jim Brown
After finishing runners-up in the previous season hopes were high that promotion would be achieved in 1934-35. Harry Storer made no big moves in the close season but signed two wingers Everton reserve Bob Birtley to play on the right and Gillingham’s Jimmy Liddle on the left. Between them the formidable trio of Lauderdale-Bourton-Jones promised a hatful of goals. As it turned out the team failed to hit the 100-goal target for the first time in three seasons, netting 86, but a tighter defence conceded only 50 goals, the best record since the club joined the league.
The Bantams started the season like a train with four wins without conceding a goal and were early league leaders but it was soon clear that it would be a three horse race for the one promotion place. Charlton and Reading were the main adversaries and City went top after beating the South London club 4-0 at home in October. Silly results though hampered City’s promotion challenge and a home defeat to Brighton in November was a blow.
A 0-4 defeat at Luton just before Christmas pushed City down to fourth but spurred City to a five game winning run with 21 goals scored, ten of them from Les Jones’ boot. After going top in mid-January, their form became patchy again and although they retained second place well into March, two defeats to Reading over Easter were disastrous. Charlton romped away in the spring and finished on 61 points, eight ahead of Reading with City third on 51. Over 30,000 were at the Valley in March to see a thrilling 3-3 draw between Charlton and City.
The FA Cup saw City progress to the Third Round for the first time in five years thanks to big wins over non-league Scunthorpe and North section Hartlepools United. The third round draw paired the Bantams with First Division Birmingham and a large contingent of City fans were in the 40,000 crowd at St Andrews that saw City lose 5-1.
Clarrie Bourton’s scoring reputation meant he was heavily marked and scored only 26 goals but Les Jones, not renowned for his goalscoring, found more room as a result and notched 27. As Storer realised he had to play a tighter game, especially away from home, George Mason finally made the pivot role his and the defence had a much tighter look. The home crowds continued to grow with the average 15,060, the best since 1928-29, with four crowds over 20,000, and a better average than five First Division clubs.
