Jimmy Bain (footballer, born 1899)

James "Jimmy" Bain (6 February 1899 – 22 September 1969) was a Scottish professional footballer and manager who played in the Football League for Manchester United. He is best remembered for his 28 years as player, manager and assistant manager at Brentford. In 2013, Bain placed fifth in a Football League 125th Anniversary poll of Brentford's best ever captains and was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame in May 2015.

Bain grew up in Rutherglen, Scotland. A centre half, his first club was local junior side Rutherglen Glencairn. He moved on to Glasgow Strathclyde and off the back of his performances, earned a transfer to Division Two side Manchester United in October 1922. He failed to make an appearance for the first team during the 1922–23 and 1923–24 seasons. He finally made his professional debut during the 1924–25 season, playing in a 4–2 win over Leyton Orient on 7 February 1925. It proved to be his only appearance of the campaign, meaning he missed out on a Division Two winners' medal. Now back in Division One for the 1925–26 season, Bain managed just two appearances and did not appear for the first team at all during the 1926–27 season. His fourth and final appearance for the club came in a 3–0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers on 19 September 1927. He left the club in July 1928 and joined newly formed Lancashire Combination side Manchester Central. After a six-month spell, Bain joined Division Three South side Brentford in a £250 deal in late 1928. An immediate hit with the Bees, he was awarded the captaincy and helped the club to the 1932–33 Division Three South title. He retired from playing in 1934. He made 201 appearances and scored two goals for Brentford.

Bain won one cap for Scotland Juniors in a 2–2 draw versus England (represented by the Birmingham & District FA) on 22 April 1922.

Bain became assistant manager to Harry Curtis at Brentford in 1934. Under Curtis, he was a part of the most successful period in the club's history, which saw the Bees crowned Second Division and London Challenge Cup champions in the 1934–35 season, finish fifth in Division One in the 1935–36 season (the club's highest ever league placing) and win the 1941 London War Cup. After Curtis' departure in 1949, Bain served under Jackie Gibbons (1949–1952), Tommy Lawton (1953) and Bill Dodgin, Sr. (1953–1956). He retired from football at the end of the 1955–56 season, receiving a Football League Long Service Medal for the contribution he made at Griffin Park. He received a testimonial in 1956, in which Brentford drew 1–1 with an All-Star XI.

With the club in Division Two, Bain was named Brentford manager in August 1952, succeeding Jackie Gibbons. He lasted until January 1953, before being replaced by player-manager Tommy Lawton. Prior to the appointment and dismissal of Eddie May in 1997, Bain's tenure was the shortest on record for a Brentford manager.

Bain's younger brother David was also a professional footballer.

Club

Brentford

• Football League Division Three South: 1932–33

Individual

• Brentford Hall of Fame