Season 1950/1951

In the close season leading up to the 1950/1951 campaign, Stade Rennais found themselves in dire financial straits, and the Managing Director of the committee chose to put the entire playing staff of the professional team on the transfer list. Thus a number of starters for Stade Rennais University Club from the previous season departed the club, including Battistella, Minci and Cousin. There were few arrivals in the other direction, but there was a return to Rennes for the historic figure Jean Prouff, two years after leaving the club. Having finished the 1949/1950 season on a good note, finishing 9th, the Red and Blacks got off to a flying start in the league championship, winning seven of their first nine league matches, notching up no fewer than 18 goals in the first three games alone. With such an impressive attack, Rennes even occupied the top spot in the league on three occasions in that time. Alas, the rest of the season would prove to be less than glorious, and Rennes would fall away gradually from the top as time went by. They still managed to stay in the top eight until Matchday 23, before sliding to finish in 14th place at the end of the season, suffering 8 defeats in the last 12 matches. In a top-flight consisting of 18 clubs, Rennes still had the 4th best attack, but the 16th-ranked defence. Jean Grumellon finished 4th in the top scoring lists, scoring 21 goals - one-third of all the goals scored by Rennes. Paradoxically, Rennes would be the only side to lose both home and away against the bottom club, Stade Français (0-6/1-3), whilst they would be the only club to do the double over eventual Champions, Nice (6-3/3-1). Rennes presence in the French Club was short-lived, knocked out by Nice in the Round of 32 (suffering a 1-6 thrashing). This season would also mark the 50th anniversary of the club, and on 1st May 1951, Rennes lost a showpiece match against English side Charlton Athletic (2-4).