Matchday Memories: On This Day 1929 – Bantams Get Gas Draw In Bristol On Season’s Last Day!

Billy Pick 1928-29

On this day (4th May) in 1929 Coventry City were not particularly making waves in the third tier of English football since they had been relegated from Division Two in 1924-25. They had spent the following season in the Northern Section of the Division Three finishing 16th before being transferred over to Division Three South and a completely different set of opponents. They had finished fifteenth in 1926/27, just survived in twentieth in 1927-28 and, today under the management of former player James McIntyre, were about to end up mid table – success of sorts! 

The City’s last match of the season today was away at Eastville against Bristol Rovers and CCFC were desperate for a win having last achieved two points at the end of March six matches ago. However it was not to be as the season ended with the third stalemate in succession, a goal apiece.

Billy Lake

Ernie Toseland

There were just 5,000 spectators in the Rovers ground including a good representation of CCFC fans who had travelled down by train. They were hoping, perhaps not too strongly, for a ‘double’ over the Bristolians having beaten them 2-0 at Highfield Road on 22nd December last thanks to goals from Ernie Toseland and Billy Lake.

However, today they saw no score by half time, but ten minutes into the second period Billy Compton, left winger of the Gas, gave the home side the lead.  The City had to rely on an equaliser from their own outside left Billy Pick on 67 minutes to grab the draw and the point.

CCFC Manager- James McIntyre

McIntyre’s men that day were:-

Tommy Allen; Laurie Crown & Teddy Watson; Frank Higham, Norman Dinsdale & Billy Bell; Bill Richards, Jack Starsmore, Jimmy Loughlin, Billy Lake & Billy Pick.

Rovers team lined up as follows:-

Jesse Whatley; George Barton & Jimmy Haydon; Cliff Britton, David Murray & Tom Roberts; George Reay, Mick Cosgrove, Maurice Dando, Jock Paterson & William Compton   

Referee:- R.O.Rees (Swansea)

George Reay went on to join CCFC and scored three goals in fourteen City appearances in 1930-31

CCFC 1928-29

So, the final position of Coventry City in Division Three South was eleventh, whilst their opponents on this day Bristol Rovers had to be content with the safety of nineteenth spot nine points behind City but, more importantly, four points ahead of the bottom two (on identical points) who had to seek re-election to the League, Exeter City and Gillingham (both were successful).

Charlton Athletic beat fellow south Londoners Crystal Palace to the title and promotion (albeit only on goal average)!

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.