Brentford manager Fred Halliday overhauled the club's squad during the 1925 off-season, with all but seven players being released.

[1] Despite running a deficit of £6,000 (equivalent to £432,300 in 2025), the board of directors pledged a "substantial sum of money" for the transfer of quality players and in came new goalkeeper John Thomson, four full backs, four half backs and new forwards Bill Finlayson and Bert Young.

[2][3] Griffin Park was closed by the Football League for the first and only time due to crowd disturbance during a 6–1 thrashing at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion on 12 September 1925.

[2] Five wins in the following seven matches lifted the Bees out of the re-election places,[2] with forwards Jack Lane, Bill Finlayson and full back Percival Whitton (who had been deployed up front by manager Halliday) all coming into form,[5] with half back Alex Graham converting a number of penalties.

[2] The signing of forward Ernie Watkins from Southend United for a then-club record fee of £1,000 in January 1928 proved to be money well-spent,[7] with Watkins scoring 11 goals in his first 12 matches, including a hat-trick in the Bees' biggest victory of the season, 5–1 versus Norwich City on 2 April.