1920–21 Brentford F.C. season explained

Club:Brentford
Season:1920–21
Manager:Fred Halliday
Chairman:H. Jason-Saunders
Stadium:Griffin Park
League:Third Division
League Result:21st
Cup1:FA Cup
Cup1 Result:First round
League Topscorer:King (17)
Mgrtitle:Secretary Manager
Season Topscorer:King (18)
Pattern B1:_collar
Pattern So1:_2 white stripes
Leftarm1:FFFFFF
Body1:FFFFFF
Rightarm1:FFFFFF
Shorts1:000066
Socks1:000066
Average Attendance:8,660
Prevseason:1919–20
Nextseason:1921–22
Highest Attendance:16,379
Lowest Attendance:4,000

During the 1920–21 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. It was Brentford's inaugural season in the Football League and ended with the club successfully applying for re-election.

Season summary

After 18 seasons as members of the Southern League, Brentford were named as founder members of the new Football League Third Division for the 1920–21 campaign.[1] In preparation, 11 new players were signed and £2,000 was spent on improvements to Griffin Park.[2] Despite flirting with a position in mid-table during August and September 1920, the club endured a torrid season, sinking to the re-election places by October and largely remaining there for the rest of the season. The FA Cup was exited in the first round.[3] Brentford successfully applied for re-election to the Football League at the end of the season without going to a poll. Three directors resigned after the season, due to a deficit of nearly £6,000 (equivalent to £ in).

The goalscoring of former Arsenal forward Harry King provided one of the rare bright spots of the season, with his 18 goals accounting for nearly half that of the team's total. King also became the first Brentford player to register a Football League hat-trick in a 5–0 thrashing of Grimsby Town on 28 March 1921, the Bees' biggest win of the season. The result established the club record for the highest winning margin in a Football League match, which would stand until broken in September 1929. Secretary manager Fred Halliday stood down after the season and reverted to an administrative role within the club. Management adviser Billy Brawn also stepped down. Brentford's 9 league victories during the season is the joint-fewest in the club's history and Jimmy Hodson became the club's record-oldest player when he appeared in the final match of the season at age 40 years, 8 months and two days.

Results

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

WinDrawLoss

Football League Third Division

No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)
128 August 1920Exeter CityA0–36,000
230 August 1920MillwallH1–011,000Boyne
34 September 1920Exeter CityH0–010,000
46 September 1920MillwallA0–015,000
511 September 1920Brighton & Hove AlbionH2–08,000Amos, Challinor
618 September 1920Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–45,500
725 September 1920Crystal PalaceH0–413,000
82 October 1920Crystal PalaceA2–415,000King (2)
99 October 1920Norwich CityA0–09,000
1016 October 1920Norwich CityH3–18,000King (2), Thompson
1123 October 1920SouthamptonA0–310,000
1230 October 1920SouthamptonH1–17,000Thompson (pen)
136 November 1920Bristol RoversA1–28,500King
1413 November 1920Bristol RoversH0–06,000
1520 November 1920ReadingA1–24,000Spreadbury
1627 November 1920ReadingH3–25,000Boyne (2), King
174 December 1920Luton TownA0–26,000
1811 December 1920Luton TownH1–06,000Boyne
1918 December 1920Newport CountyH2–26,000King (2, 1 pen)
2025 December 1920Queens Park RangersH0–216,379
2127 December 1920Queens Park RangersA0–125,000
221 January 1921Newport CountyA1–34,000King
2315 January 1921GillinghamA3–17,000Boyne (2), King
2422 January 1921GillinghamH3–37,000Amos, King (pen), Boyne
255 February 1921Swansea TownH1–27,000Elliott
2612 February 1921Swindon TownA0–16,000
2719 February 1921Swindon TownH0–110,000
2826 February 1921PortsmouthA2–013,645Henery, Anstiss
295 March 1921PortsmouthH1–28,000Boyne
3012 March 1921WatfordA0–15,000
3119 March 1921WatfordH1–06,000Anstiss
3225 March 1921Grimsby TownA0–28,000
3326 March 1921Northampton TownH1–17,000King
3428 March 1921Grimsby TownH5–07,000King (3, 1 pen), Boyne, Anstiss
352 April 1921Northampton TownA2–66,000King, Elliott
369 April 1921Southend UnitedH2–24,000Spreadbury, Boyne
3716 April 1921Southend UnitedA1–46,000Anstiss
3825 April 1921Merthyr TownH0–07,000
3928 April 1921Swansea TownA1–15,000King (pen)
4030 April 1921Merthyr TownA1–34,000Challinor
412 May 1921Plymouth ArgyleA0–05,000
427 May 1921Plymouth ArgyleH0–14,000

FA Cup

See main article: 1920–21 FA Cup.

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1920–21 season.

Pos.NameNat.Date of birth (age)Signed fromSigned inNotes
Goalkeepers
GKJack DurstonAugust 28, 1920Queens Park Rangers1919Played when his cricket commitments allowed
GKWilliam YoungAugust 28, 1920South Shields1920
Defenders
DFJimmy Hodson (c)August 28, 1920Belfast Celtic1919
DFWilliam KearneyAugust 28, 1920Sunderland Celtic1920
DFBertie RosierAugust 28, 1920Southall1913
DFWalter SprattAugust 28, 1920Manchester United1920
Midfielders
HBAlf AmosAugust 28, 1920Old Kingstonians1913
HBSamuel ChallinorAugust 28, 1920Tranmere Rovers1920
HBJimmy Elliott1891 (aged 28–29)Tottenham Hotspur1920
HBFred Howe1895 (aged 24–25)Kimberworth Old Boys1920
HBSam MorrisAugust 28, 1920Unattached1919
Forwards
FWHarry AnstissAugust 28, 1920Hammersmith Athletic1920
FWReginald BoyneAugust 28, 1920Aston Villa1919
FWJack CartmellAugust 28, 1920Unattached1919
FWHerbert CockAugust 28, 1920Unattached1921
FWPatsy HendrenAugust 28, 1920Queens Park Rangers1911Played when his cricket commitments allowed
FWJohn Heneryn/aHoughton Rovers1920
FWHarry KingAugust 28, 1920Leicester City1920
FWGeorge Smithn/aSouth Shields1920
FWBert SpreadburyAugust 28, 1920Royal Ordnance Woolwich1920
FWGeorge TaylorAugust 28, 1920Brentford Thursday1920
FWAlfred ThompsonAugust 28, 1920Unattached1919
Players who left the club mid-season
HBErnest LevittAugust 28, 1920New Silksworth1920Transferred to West Stanley
FWBilly BakerAugust 28, 1920Unattached1920Transferred to Manchester City
FWFred MorleyAugust 28, 1920Blackpool1913Released

Coaching staff

NameRole
Fred HallidaySecretary Manager
Billy BrawnAdvisory Manager
Michael WithamTrainer

Statistics

Appearances and goals

PosNatNameLeagueFA CupTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GKJack Durston24000240
GKWilliam Young18010190
DFJimmy Hodson33010340
DFWilliam Kearney600060
DFBertie Rosier34010350
DFWalter Spratt400040
HBAlf Amos35210362
HBSamuel Challinor31210322
HBJimmy Elliott38210392
HBFred Howe200020
HBErnest Levitt60—60
HBSam Morris27000270
FWHarry Anstiss19400194
FWBilly Baker400040
FWReginald Boyne2110102210
FWJack Cartmell29010300
FWHerbert Cock10—10
FWPatsy Hendren20—20
FWJohn Henery20110210
FWHarry King3317113418
FWFred Morley16010170
FWGeorge Smith900090
FWBert Spreadbury12200122
FWGeorge Taylor23000230
FWAlfred Thompson15200152

Goalscorers

Pos.NatPlayerFL3FACTotal
FWHarry King17118
FWReginald Boyne10010
FWHarry Anstiss404
HBAlf Amos202
HBSamuel Challinor202
HBJimmy Elliott202
FWBert Spreadbury202
FWAlfred Thompson202
Total42143

Summary

Games played 43 (42 Third Division, 1 FA Cup)
Games won 9 (9 Third Division, 0 FA Cup)
Games drawn 12 (12 Third Division, 0 FA Cup)
Games lost 22 (21 Third Division, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored 43 (42 Third Division, 1 FA Cup)
Goals conceded 69 (67 Third Division, 2 FA Cup)
Clean sheets 12 (12 Third Division, 0 FA Cup)
Biggest league win 5–0 versus Grimsby Town, 28 March 1921
Worst league defeat 4–0 on two occasions, 6–2 versus Northampton Town, 2 April 1921
Most appearances 39, Jimmy Elliott (38 Third Division, 1 FA Cup)
Top scorer (league) 17, Harry King
Top scorer (all competitions) 18, Harry King

Transfers & loans

Cricketers are not included in this list.

Players transferred in
DatePos.NamePrevious ClubFeeRef.
3 May 1920DF William Kearney Sunderland CelticFree
7 May 1920DF Walter Spratt Manchester UnitedFree
15 May 1920HB Jimmy Elliott Tottenham HotspurFree
17 June 1920HB Ernest Levitt New SilksworthFree
17 June 1920FW George Smith South ShieldsFree
23 July 1920GK William Young South ShieldsFree
26 August 1920HB Samuel Challinor Tranmere RoversFree
August 1920FW Harry Anstiss Hammersmith AthleticAmateur[7]
3 September 1920FW Harry King Leicester CityFree
15 October 1920FW Billy BakerUnattachedFree
29 October 1920FWT. Bainbridgen/an/a[8]
18 December 1920HB Fred Howe Kimberworth Old BoysFree[9]
30 December 1920n/aJ. Thomas Kimberworth Old Boysn/a
31 December 1920FW George Taylor Brentford ThursdayFree
7 February 1921FW Herbert Cockn/aAmateur[10]
1920FW Robert Bates Wolverhampton WanderersAmateur[11]
1920DF Archie Reay Gnome AthleticFree[12]
Players transferred out
DatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.
31 December 1920HB Ernest Levitt West Stanleyn/a
27 January 1921n/aJ. Thomas Rotherham Countyn/a
9 February 1921FW Billy Baker Manchester Cityn/a
Players released
DatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.
January 1921FW Fred Morley Philadelphia Field Club1921
May 1921FW Reginald BoyneRetired
May 1921HB Jack Cartmell Boscombe1921
May 1921HB Samuel Challinor Halifax TownJuly 1921[13]
May 1921FW Herbert CockRetired
May 1921FW John Henery Darlington1921
May 1921DF Jimmy Hodson Guildford UnitedMay 1921[14]
May 1921DF William KearneyRetired
May 1921FW Harry KingRetired
May 1921HB Sam Morris Maidstone United1921
May 1921FW George SmithRetired
May 1921DF Walter Spratt Sittingbourne1921
May 1921FW Bert Spreadbury Woolwich1921
May 1921FW George Taylor Millwall1921
May 1921FW Alfred Thompson Guildford United1921

Notes and References

  1. Book: Haynes, Graham . A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia . 1998 . Yore Publications . 1 874427 57 7 . Harefield, Middlesex . 55.
  2. Book: 100 Years Of Brentford . Brentford FC . 1989 . 0951526200 . White . Eric . 113–114.
  3. Web site: Brentford results for the 1920–1921 season . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160601224853/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brentford/1920-1921/results . 1 June 2016 . 9 May 2016 . Statto.com.
  4. Book: Haynes, Graham . Brentford F.C.: The Complete History 1889–2008 . Twydell . Dave . Yore Publications . 2008 . 978-0-9557889-5-6 . Harefield . 528356934.
  5. Book: Haynes, Graham . Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006 . Coumbe . Frank . Yore Publications . 2006 . 978-0955294914.
  6. Book: Joyce, Michael . Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939 . Tony Brown . 2012 . 190589161X . Nottingham.
  7. Web site: Player: Henry Augustus Anstiss . 29 May 2024 . Watford Football Club Archive . en.
  8. Web site: The Football Association – Season 1920–21 – Summary Of Professional Registrations . 1 January 2021 . Sky is Blue – The Chesterfield FC history resource.
  9. News: 1921 . Notes On The Players . Brentford F.C. Handbook 1921–22.
  10. News: 24 January 1921 . Gleanings – Notes And News About Clubs And Players . The Athletic News.
  11. Book: Bystander, The . Brentford Football Club Official Handbook 1920–21 . F. W. Dimbleby & Sons . 1920 . 18.
  12. News: 13 August 1920 . Brentford Football Club – Players Signed On . The Chiswick Times.
  13. Web site: Challinor Sam Halifax Town 1921 . 4 January 2021 . Vintage Footballers . en-GB.
  14. Web site: Hodson Jimmy Brentford 1920 . 7 July 2019 . Vintage Footballers . en-GB.

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