Jimmy Brain

Who was Jimmy Brain?

James "Jimmy" Brain was an English football player.

Born in Bristol, Brain started his career playing in Wales, having an unsuccessful trial at Cardiff City, before gaining a regular place at Ton Pentre. In 1923, he moved to Arsenal, and in his eight years with the Gunners became one of the club's most successful goalscorers. After a year in the reserve side, Brain started his Arsenal first-team career with a goal on his debut, a 1–0 win against local rivals Tottenham Hotspur on 25 October 1924.

Brain was a prolific striker throughout his career, and was the club's top scorer for four seasons in a row, from 1924–25 to 1928–29; this included 39 goals in the 1925–26 season, which included four hat tricks. The next season, 1926–27, Brain scored 34 goals, this haul including two four-goal tallies against Sheffield Wednesday and Burnley. Brain's goalscoring feats helped Arsenal reach their first FA Cup final, in 1926–27, though a mistake by goalkeeper Dan Lewis meant Arsenal lost 1–0 to Cardiff City.

However Brain's form dropped and in 1929–30 he lost out in competing for the front spot with Jack Lambert, David Jack and Dave Halliday all getting the nod ahead of him, meaning Brain only played six league matches this season. Brain therefore missed the Gunners' 1930 Cup final win over Huddersfield Town; Jack and Lambert led the line that day. However, the following season, 1930–31, Brain finally won a medal after playing sixteen matches in Arsenal's very first First Division title-winning season. Brain's final appearance in an Arsenal shirt was a 2–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday on 21 March 1931.