In May, amateur forward Bill Charlton joined divisional rivals Fulham, while former Cottagers left-back Arthur Tilford returned to the club after three months at the South Coast side. Frank Osborne also left the Saints after a season playing for the reserve side, retiring from football until returning as a director at Fulham a few years later. Backup goalkeeper Bob Foster joined Third Division North side Wrexham in June, while outside-left Jimmy Harris was sold to Aylesford Paper Mills. The club also signed several new players. In June, versatile forward Fred Tully joined from top-flight side Aston Villa, and in August half-back Johnny McIlwaine returned after a year at Welsh side Llanelli. During the summer, the club also signed winger Norman Catlin from Arsenal, full-back Frank Ward from Preston North End, and inside-forward Ted Withers from Clark's College, all on amateur terms initially. Shortly after the start of the season, Southampton signed outside-left Ben Burley from First Division side Sheffield United, centre-forward Vivian Gibbins from Third Division South club Bristol Rovers, and wing-half Henry Long from Hampshire League side Ryde Sports. In October, outside-right Fred Dunmore was sold to Blyth Spartans, and the following month inside-right Joe Cummins and amateur goalkeeper Eugene Bernard were signed. The most notable transfer of the season, however, took place late in the campaign when Ted Drake was sold to First Division title challengers Arsenal. Drake had previously rejected an approach from the Gunners, but moved to the club after a second offer in March 1934, breaking Southampton's transfer record with his fee of £6,000. At the time, Drake was the top scorer in the Second Division with 22 goals; in the ten games he played for Arsenal before the end of the season, he scored seven league goals to help them win the championship. Players transferred in Players transferred out  Southampton started the 1933–34 season strongly, picking up three wins in their first five games to secure a place in the top three of the Second Division league table. Centre-forward Ted Drake quickly established himself as the division's top scorer with eight goals in the opening five games, including a hat-trick on the opening day 4–1 win over Bradford City. The club's poor form away from home continued throughout the season, with only their strong home record keeping them safe from relegation. The Saints quickly slipped into the bottom half of the table, and by the end of 1933 were struggling in 13th place.