1919–20 Huddersfield Town A.F.C. season explained

Season:1919–20
Manager: Arthur Fairclough (until 23 December 1919)
Ambrose Langley (from 23 December 1919)
League Result:2nd (promoted)
Cup1 Result:Runners-Up
League Topscorer:Sammy Taylor (35)
Season Topscorer:Sammy Taylor (41)
Highest Attendance:47,527 vs Liverpool (6 March 1920)
Lowest Attendance:3,000 vs Fulham (1 November 1919)
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Pattern Ra1:_blue_stripes
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Largest Win:7–1 vs Rotherham County (25 December 1919)
Largest Loss:0–2 vs Bury (1 September 1919)
2–4 vs Birmingham (27 September 1919)
0–2 vs Blackpool (6 December 1919)
0–2 vs Tottenham Hotspur (16 February 1920)
Nextseason:1920–21

Huddersfield Town's 1919–20 season was one of the most memorable season in Town's entire history. It could even have been their last, after just 12 years. This was mainly because of plans to amalgamate the club with the new Leeds United team. However, Town's fan bought shares in the team, which saw the team survive and then gain promotion to the top-flight, as well as an appearance in the FA Cup Final against Aston Villa.[1]

Review

After the end of World War I, the league schedule was returned to its normal status with Town still in Division 2. However, people were starting to wonder what the future would hold for the club after the club's first England international Jack Cock was sold to Chelsea. Then it was revealed that the club was to amalgamate with the new Leeds United team, formed following the demise of Leeds City. But, the people of Huddersfield rallied round and bought £30,000 worth of shares, which saw the club survive for the time being.

Following the club's rescue, the team's form dramatically improved and Town were fighting for an automatic promotion place. This was primarily achieved thanks to a run of losing only 1 out of their last 25 matches. That got them a finishing position of 2nd place behind Tottenham Hotspur.

The season is also noted for the club's first FA Cup Final, reached after beating Brentford, Newcastle United, Plymouth Argyle, Liverpool and Bristol City, before playing Aston Villa in the final at Stamford Bridge, before losing to Billy Kirton's goal in extra time.

Results

Division Two

DateOpponentsHome/
Away
Result
F – A
ScorersAttendancePosition
30 August 1919Clapton OrientH2–1Cock, Baker5,0008th
1 September 1919BuryA0–24,00013th
6 September 1919Clapton OrientA1–0Taylor10,0008th
9 September 1919BuryH5–0Cock (4), Mann4,0005th
13 September 1919Grimsby TownA0–15,0009th
20 September 1919Grimsby TownH3–0Baker (2, 1 pen), Mann4,0004th
27 September 1919BirminghamA2–4Shields, Cock16,0009th
4 October 1919BirminghamH0–06,00010th
11 October 1919Leicester CityA4–0Taylor (2), Mann, Shields12,0006th
18 October 1919Leicester CityH0–04,0009th
25 October 1919FulhamA2–2Chaplin (og), Taylor18,00010th
1 November 1919FulhamH3–0Taylor (2), Mann3,0008th
8 November 1919Coventry CityA2–0Mann (pen), Taylor15,0005th
15 November 1919Coventry CityH5–0Taylor (2), Swann (2), Roberts (og)5,0005th
22 November 1919Bristol CityH1–0Smith7,8974th
29 November 1919Bristol CityA1–2Shields10,0006th
6 December 1919BlackpoolH1–3Taylor6,5006th
13 December 1919BlackpoolA3–0Smith (2), Richardson5,0005th
20 December 1919West Ham UnitedH2–0Swann, Smith7,0004th
25 December 1919Rotherham CountyH7–1Swann (3), Mann (3), Smith26,0004th
26 December 1919Rotherham CountyA3–1Swann, Taylor (2)10,0002nd
27 December 1919West Ham UnitedA1–1Taylor20,0003rd
31 December 1919Lincoln CityA3–1Mann, Taylor, Swann3,0002nd
3 January 1920Port ValeH4–1Taylor, Swann (3)8,0002nd
24 January 1920Tottenham HotspurH1–1Mann27,0002nd
7 February 1920South ShieldsH2–2Smith, Swann12,7002nd
14 February 1920South ShieldsA2–1Taylor, Richardson12,0703rd
16 February 1920Tottenham HotspurA0–218,0003rd
28 February 1920Wolverhampton WanderersA3–2Mann, Smith, Richardson12,0003rd
13 March 1920Hull CityH2–0Taylor (2)8,0483rd
18 March 1920Hull CityA4–1Taylor (3), Swann12,0003rd
20 March 1920Stockport CountyA2–1Taylor (2)15,0002nd
29 March 1920Port ValeA0–010,0002nd
3 April 1920BarnsleyA3–3Mann, Taylor (2)21,3592nd
5 April 1920StokeA1–0Taylor20,0002nd
6 April 1920StokeH3–0Taylor (2), Mann28,0002nd
10 April 1920BarnsleyH4–1T.J. Tindall (og), Taylor, Swann (2)10,0002nd
12 April 1920Stockport CountyH5–1Mann (2), Taylor (3)12,7002nd
14 April 1920Wolverhampton WanderersH2–0Swann, Taylor14,0002nd
17 April 1920Nottingham ForestA2–1Mann, Taylor20,0002nd
26 April 1920Nottingham ForestH2–1Swann (2)11,5002nd
1 May 1920Lincoln CityH4–2Taylor, Richardson, Swann, Mann12,0002nd

FA Cup

DateRoundOpponentsHome/
Away
Result
F – A
ScorersAttendance
10 January 1920Round 1BrentfordH5–1Smith, Taylor (2), Swann, Shields10,670
31 January 1920Round 2Newcastle UnitedA1–0Mann46,462
21 February 1920Round 3Plymouth ArgyleH3–1Taylor, Slade, Swann35,000
6 March 1920Round 4LiverpoolH2–1Swann, Taylor47,527
27 March 1920Semi-FinalBristol CityN2–1Taylor (2)35,463
24 April 1920FinalAston VillaN0–1 (aet: 90 mins: 0–0)50,018

Appearances and goals

NameNationPositionLeague AppsLeague GoalsFA Cup AppsFA Cup GoalsTotal AppsTotal Goals
Jim BakerDF19300193
Harry BroughDF18000180
Fred BullockDF33060390
Jack CockFW960096
Ted DavisGK600060
Thomas ElliottFW100010
Rennie HarrisonDF100010
Ernie IslipFW301040
Harry LinleyDF500050
Frank MannFW3717614318
Sandy MutchGK35060410
George RichardsonMF34460404
Ralph RodgersonDF11000110
Ralph ShieldsFW13311144
Charlie SladeDF17051221
Billy SmithMF39751448
Jack SwannFW3219633822
Sammy TaylorFW4235664841
Percy TompkinMF100010
Billy WatsonDF41060470
Tom WilsonDF26060320
James WoodDF39060450

References

https://www.fifamuseum.com/en/blog-stories/blog/turning-back-the-clock-football-a-hundred-years-ago-the-1920-fa-cup-fi-2622333/

https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/1104

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Burnton . Simon . The forgotten story of … Frank Barson’s seven-month ban . theguardian.com . 10 August 2024.