1920–21 Brentford F.C. season

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.

Brentford
1920–21 season
ChairmanH. Jason-Saunders
Secretary ManagerFred Halliday
StadiumGriffin Park
Third Division21st
FA CupFirst round
Top goalscorerLeague: King (17)
All: King (18)
Highest home attendance16,379
Lowest home attendance4,000
Average home league attendance8,660

Season summary
Harry King was the leading goalscorer during the season and was the first Brentford player to register a Football League hattrick.

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.[3] 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.[4] Three directors resigned after the season, due to a deficit of nearly £6,000 (equivalent to £283,200 in 2023).[2]

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.[5] 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,[5] the Bees' biggest win of the season.[3] The result established the club record for the highest winning margin in a Football League match, which would stand until broken in September 1929.[6] Secretary manager Fred Halliday stood down after the season and reverted to an administrative role within the club.[7] Management adviser Billy Brawn also stepped down.[8] 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.[9]

League table
Main article: 1920–21 Football League Third Division

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Promotion
18 Brighton & Hove Albion 42 14 8 20 42 61 0.689 36
19 Exeter City 42 10 15 17 39 54 0.722 35
20 Reading 42 12 7 23 42 59 0.712 31
21 Brentford 42 9 12 21 42 67 0.627 30 Re-elected
22 Gillingham 42 8 12 22 34 74 0.459 28
Source: fchd.info

Results
Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Football League Third Division
No. DateOpponentVenueResult AttendanceScorer(s)
1 28 August 1920Exeter CityA0–3 6,000
2 30 August 1920MillwallH1–0 11,000Boyne
3 4 September 1920Exeter CityH0–0 10,000
4 6 September 1920MillwallA0–0 15,000
5 11 September 1920Brighton & Hove Albion H2–0 8,000Amos, Challinor
6 18 September 1920Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–4 5,500
7 25 September 1920Crystal PalaceH0–4 13,000
8 2 October 1920Crystal Palace A2–4 15,000King (2)
9 9 October 1920Norwich City A0–0 9,000
10 16 October 1920Norwich City H3–1 8,000King (2), Thompson
11 23 October 1920Southampton A0–3 10,000
12 30 October 1920SouthamptonH1–1 7,000Thompson (pen)
13 6 November 1920Bristol Rovers A1–2 8,500King
14 13 November 1920Bristol RoversH0–0 6,000
15 20 November 1920ReadingA1–2 4,000Spreadbury
16 27 November 1920ReadingH3–2 5,000Boyne (2), King
17 4 December 1920Luton TownA0–2 6,000
18 11 December 1920Luton TownH1–0 6,000Boyne
19 18 December 1920Newport CountyH2–2 6,000King (2, 1 pen)
20 25 December 1920Queens Park RangersH0–2 16,379
21 27 December 1920Queens Park RangersA0–1 25,000
22 1 January 1921Newport CountyA1–3 4,000King
23 15 January 1921GillinghamA3–1 7,000Boyne (2), King
24 22 January 1921GillinghamH3–3 7,000Amos, King (pen), Boyne
25 5 February 1921Swansea Town H1–2 7,000Elliott
26 12 February 1921Swindon TownA0–1 6,000
27 19 February 1921Swindon Town H0–1 10,000
28 26 February 1921PortsmouthA2–0 13,645Henery, Anstiss
29 5 March 1921PortsmouthH1–2 8,000Boyne
30 12 March 1921WatfordA0–1 5,000
31 19 March 1921WatfordH1–0 6,000Anstiss
32 25 March 1921Grimsby TownA0–2 8,000
33 26 March 1921Northampton TownH1–1 7,000King
34 28 March 1921Grimsby TownH5–0 7,000King (3, 1 pen), Boyne, Anstiss
35 2 April 1921Northampton TownA2–6 6,000King, Elliott
36 9 April 1921Southend UnitedH2–2 4,000Spreadbury, Boyne
37 16 April 1921Southend United A1–4 6,000Anstiss
38 25 April 1921Merthyr TownH0–0 7,000
39 28 April 1921Swansea TownA1–1 5,000King (pen)
40 30 April 1921Merthyr TownA1–3 4,000Challinor
41 2 May 1921Plymouth ArgyleA0–0 5,000
42 7 May 1921Plymouth ArgyleH0–1 4,000

FA Cup
Main article: 1920–21 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResult Attendance Scorer
R18 January 1921Huddersfield Town H1–2 14,892King

Playing squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1920–21 season.
Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Jack Durston England (1893-07-11)11 July 1893 (aged 27) Queens Park Rangers 1919 Played when his cricket commitments allowed
GK William Young England (1892-08-04)4 August 1892 (aged 28) South Shields 1920
Defenders
DF Jimmy Hodson (c) England (1880-09-05)5 September 1880 (aged 39) Belfast Celtic 1919
DF William Kearney England (1895-09-18)18 September 1895 (aged 24) Sunderland Celtic 1920
DF Bertie Rosier England (1893-03-21)21 March 1893 (aged 27) Southall 1913
DF Walter Spratt England (1889-04-14)14 April 1889 (aged 31) Manchester United 1920
Midfielders
HB Alf Amos England (1893-02-09)9 February 1893 (aged 27) Old Kingstonians 1913
HB Samuel Challinor England (1890-04-02)2 April 1890 (aged 30) Tranmere Rovers 1920
HB Jimmy Elliott England 1891 (aged 28–29) Tottenham Hotspur 1920
HB Fred Howe England 1895 (aged 24–25) Kimberworth Old Boys 1920
HB Sam Morris England (1886-10-23)23 October 1886 (aged 33) Unattached 1919
Forwards
FW Harry Anstiss England (1899-08-22)22 August 1899 (aged 21) Hammersmith Athletic 1920
FW Reginald Boyne New Zealand (1891-11-16)16 November 1891 (aged 28) Aston Villa 1919
FW Jack Cartmell England (1890-08-28)28 August 1890 (aged 30) Unattached 1919
FW Herbert Cock England (1900-10-07)7 October 1900 (aged 19) Unattached 1921
FW Patsy Hendren England (1889-02-05)5 February 1889 (aged 31) Queens Park Rangers 1911 Played when his cricket commitments allowed
FW John Henery England n/a Houghton Rovers 1920
FW Harry King England (1886-01-04)4 January 1886 (aged 34) Leicester City 1920
FW George Smith England n/a South Shields 1920
FW Bert Spreadbury England (1892-04-30)30 April 1892 (aged 28) Royal Ordnance Woolwich 1920
FW George Taylor England (1900-06-03)3 June 1900 (aged 20) Brentford Thursday 1920
FW Alfred Thompson England (1891-04-28)28 April 1891 (aged 29) Unattached 1919
Players who left the club mid-season
HB Ernest Levitt England (1893-04-02)2 April 1893 (aged 27) New Silksworth 1920 Transferred to West Stanley
FW Billy Baker England (1894-01-08)8 January 1894 (aged 26) Unattached 1920 Transferred to Manchester City
FW Fred Morley England (1888-03-01)1 March 1888 (aged 32) Blackpool 1913 Released
  • Sources: 100 Years of Brentford,[10] Timeless Bees,[12] Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939[13]

Coaching staff
Name Role
England Fred Halliday Secretary Manager
England Billy Brawn Advisory Manager
England Michael Witham Trainer

Statistics

Appearances and goals
Brentford's highest appearance-makers in each position during the Football League season.
Pos Nat Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK EnglandJack Durston 24000240
GK England William Young 18 0 1 0 19 0
DF EnglandJimmy Hodson 33010340
DF EnglandWilliam Kearney 600 060
DF EnglandBertie Rosier 3401 0350
DF EnglandWalter Spratt 400 040
HB EnglandAlf Amos 35210362
HB EnglandSamuel Challinor 3121 0322
HB England Jimmy Elliott 38 2 1 0 39 2
HB EnglandFred Howe 200 020
HB EnglandErnest Levitt 60—60
HB EnglandSam Morris 2700 0270
FW England Harry Anstiss 19 4 0 0 19 4
FW EnglandBilly Baker 400040
FW New ZealandReginald Boyne 2110102210
FW EnglandJack Cartmell 2901 0300
FW EnglandHerbert Cock 10—10
FW EnglandPatsy Hendren 20—20
FW England John Henery 20 1 1 0 21 0
FW EnglandHarry King 3317113418
FW England Fred Morley 16 0 1 0 17 0
FW EnglandGeorge Smith 900 090
FW England Bert Spreadbury 12 2 0 0 12 2
FW EnglandGeorge Taylor 23000230
FW EnglandAlfred Thompson 1520 0152
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[10]

Goalscorers
Pos. Nat Player FL3 FAC Total
FW England Harry King 17 1 18
FW New Zealand Reginald Boyne 10 0 10
FW England Harry Anstiss 4 0 4
HB England Alf Amos 2 0 2
HB England Samuel Challinor202
HB England Jimmy Elliott 2 0 2
FW England Bert Spreadbury 2 0 2
FW England Alfred Thompson 2 0 2
Total42143
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: 100 Years of Brentford[10]

Management
Name Nat From To Record All Comps Record League
PWDLW %PWDLW %
Fred Halliday England 28 August 1920 7 May 1921 43 9 12 22 020.93|42 9 12 21 021.43

Summary
Games played43 (42 Third Division, 1 FA Cup)
Games won9 (9 Third Division, 0 FA Cup)
Games drawn12 (12 Third Division, 0 FA Cup)
Games lost22 (21 Third Division, 1 FA Cup)
Goals scored43 (42 Third Division, 1 FA Cup)
Goals conceded69 (67 Third Division, 2 FA Cup)
Clean sheets12 (12 Third Division, 0 FA Cup)
Biggest league win5–0 versus Grimsby Town, 28 March 1921
Worst league defeat4–0 on two occasions, 6–2 versus Northampton Town, 2 April 1921
Most appearances39, 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
Date Pos. Name Previous Club Fee Ref.
3 May 1920DFEngland William KearneyEngland Sunderland CelticFree[14]
7 May 1920 DF England Walter Spratt England Manchester United Free [15]
15 May 1920 HB England Jimmy Elliott England Tottenham Hotspur Free [16]
17 June 1920 HB England Ernest Levitt England New Silksworth Free [17]
17 June 1920 FW England George Smith England South Shields Free [18]
23 July 1920GKEngland William YoungEngland South ShieldsFree[19]
26 August 1920 HB England Samuel Challinor England Tranmere Rovers Free [20]
August 1920 FW England Harry Anstiss England Hammersmith Athletic Amateur [21]
3 September 1920 FW England Harry King England Leicester City Free [18]
15 October 1920 FW England Billy Baker Unattached Free [22]
29 October 1920 FW T. Bainbridge n/a n/a [23]
18 December 1920 HB England Fred Howe England Kimberworth Old Boys Free [24]
30 December 1920 n/a J. Thomas England Kimberworth Old Boys n/a [23]
31 December 1920 FW England George Taylor England Brentford Thursday Free [25]
7 February 1921 FW England Herbert Cock n/a Amateur [26]
1920 FW England Robert Bates England Wolverhampton Wanderers Amateur [27]
1920 DF England Archie Reay England Gnome Athletic Free [28]
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Fee Ref.
31 December 1920 HB England Ernest Levitt England West Stanley n/a [23]
27 January 1921 n/a J. Thomas England Rotherham County n/a [23]
9 February 1921 FW England Billy Baker England Manchester City n/a [23]
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
January 1921 FW England Fred Morley United States Philadelphia Field Club 1921 [29]
May 1921 FW New Zealand Reginald Boyne Retired [30]
May 1921 HB England Jack Cartmell England Boscombe 1921 [31]
May 1921 HB England Samuel Challinor England Halifax Town July 1921 [32]
May 1921 FW England Herbert Cock Retired [33]
May 1921 FW England John Henery England Darlington 1921 [34]
May 1921 DF England Jimmy Hodson England Guildford United May 1921 [35]
May 1921DFEngland William KearneyRetired[14]
May 1921 FW England Harry King Retired [5]
May 1921 HB England Sam Morris England Maidstone United 1921 [36]
May 1921 FW England George Smith Retired [18]
May 1921 DF England Walter Spratt England Sittingbourne 1921 [15]
May 1921 FW England Bert Spreadbury England Woolwich 1921 [15]
May 1921 FW England George Taylor England Millwall 1921 [25]
May 1921 FW England Alfred Thompson England Guildford United 1921 [25]

References
  1. Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopedia. Harefield, Middlesex: Yore Publications. p. 55. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  2. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 113–114. ISBN 0951526200.
  3. "Brentford results for the 1920–1921 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 1 June 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  4. Haynes 1998, p. 107.
  5. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 92.
  6. Haynes 1998, p. 133.
  7. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 174-175.
  8. Haynes 1998, p. 20-21.
  9. Haynes 1998, p. 78, 99.
  10. White 1989, p. 366.
  11. Haynes, Graham; Twydell, Dave (2008). Brentford F.C.: The Complete History 1889–2008. Harefield: Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0-9557889-5-6. OCLC 528356934.
  12. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  13. Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. ISBN 190589161X.
  14. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 91.
  15. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 153.
  16. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 53.
  17. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 97.
  18. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 148.
  19. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 172.
  20. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 36.
  21. "Players – Abdi to Aston" (PDF). Watford Football Club archive 1881–2016. p. 26. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  22. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 15.
  23. "The Football Association – Season 1920–21 – Summary Of Professional Registrations". Sky is Blue – The Chesterfield FC history resource. Archived from the original on 11 January 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  24. "Notes On The Players". Brentford F.C. Handbook 1921–22. 1921.
  25. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 158.
  26. "Gleanings – Notes And News About Clubs And Players". The Athletic News. 24 January 1921.
  27. Bystander, The (1920). Brentford Football Club Official Handbook 1920–21. F. W. Dimbleby & Sons. p. 18.
  28. "Brentford Football Club – Players Signed On". The Chiswick Times. 13 August 1920.
  29. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 110.
  30. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 25.
  31. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 35.
  32. "Challinor Sam Halifax Town 1921". Vintage Footballers. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  33. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 38.
  34. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 75.
  35. "Hodson Jimmy Brentford 1920". Vintage Footballers. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  36. Haynes & Coumbe 2006, p. 111.
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