Bohemians began with a pre-season tournament in August of 1929. While the club had played matches in England and Scotland in the past this was to be our first foray onto the Continent and things could not have gone better with Bohemians winning every game on the tour and securing the Aciéries d’Angleur Tournoi trophy after victories over the likes of Standard Liege and R.F.C. Tilleur. The invitational tournament ran for many years and would feature the likes of PSV Eindhoven and Bohemians Prague. Bohemians became only the second Irish side, after Glentoran in 1914, to win a European trophy, though it is worth noting that it would not be Bohemians’ last such title.

In the league it was a case of third time’s a charm as Bohemians won our third title in the 1929-30 season. It was a much-changed line-up from that of the all-conquering 1927-28 side, many of whom had moved to pastures new, although the likes of Jimmy White, Jimmy Bermingham, Johnny McMahon and goalkeeper Harry Cannon remained in the side. Cannon once again was a feature on the scorers list, hitting yet another penalty-kick that season. Added to these Bohs veterans were newer players like Stephen McCarthy who hit thirteen goals in the league that year, as well as a young Fred Horlacher (shown in cartoon form on the left) who continued to delivery on his exceptional promise. Further back in the midfield was the likes of Paddy O’Kane, yet another future Irish international.

Bohs only lost twice all season in the League, both away fixtures, while winning every single game at fortress Dalymount, they ultimately pipped defending champions Shelbourne to the title by a solitary point. Shels had a fine side that year, propelled by the goals of Johnny Ledwidge signed from LSL side Richmond Rovers, as well as former Bohemian inside forward Christy Robinson, they had to content themselves with victory in the League of Ireland Shield that year. There were no other changes to the make up of the League from the previous season and while Bohs finished top, Jacobs would finish bottom, winless all season, amassing only a meagre three points, despite featuring the talented Luke Kelly Snr. (father of the future Dubliners’ frontman) in midfield.

In the cup there was high drama as Shamrock Rovers won a controversial final 1-0 against Brideville thanks to a “Hand of God” moment from David “Babby” Byrne, the diminutive striker fisting the ball past Brideville’s Charlie O’Callaghan (in the Peter Shilton role) to secure Rovers second consecutive Cup triumph. Despite losing to Fordsons in the second round of the Cup, Bohemians did make history that year when forward Billy Cleary scored six goals in a 7-3 win over Bray Unknowns in a first round replay. Cleary’s record for most individual goals scored in a Cup tie remains intact to this day.

At international level Ireland’s sole match was a 3-1 win against Belgium in Brussels in May 1930, with Jimmy Dunne scoring twice. Among the starting eleven were Bohemians’ Fred Horlacher and Jack McCarthy who returned to Belgium after their successful, pre-season trip to Liege, also in the line-up was Billy Lacey who became Ireland’s oldest ever international, just four months short of his 41st birthday. Lacey would later become a successful coach at Bohemians in the 1930s.

Part of a series in the Bohemian FC match programmes. The 1928-29 season review can be found here.