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. In preparation, 11 new players were signed and £2,000 was spent on improvements to Griffin Park. 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. 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.

League table

Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League Third Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)128 August 1920Exeter CityA0–36,000230 August 1920MillwallH1–011,000Boyne34 September 1920Exeter CityH0–010,00046 September 1920MillwallA0–015,000511 September 1920Brighton & Hove AlbionH2–08,000Amos, Challinor618 September 1920Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–45,500725 September 1920Crystal PalaceH0–413,00082 October 1920Crystal PalaceA2–415,000King (2)99 October 1920Norwich CityA0–09,0001016 October 1920Norwich CityH3–18,000King (2), Thompson1123 October 1920SouthamptonA0–310,0001230 October 1920SouthamptonH1–17,000Thompson (pen)136 November 1920Bristol RoversA1–28,500King1413 November 1920Bristol RoversH0–06,0001520 November 1920ReadingA1–24,000Spreadbury1627 November 1920ReadingH3–25,000Boyne (2), King174 December 1920Luton TownA0–26,0001811 December 1920Luton TownH1–06,000Boyne1918 December 1920Newport CountyH2–26,000King (2, 1 pen)2025 December 1920Queens Park RangersH0–216,3792127 December 1920Queens Park RangersA0–125,000221 January 1921Newport CountyA1–34,000King2315 January 1921GillinghamA3–17,000Boyne (2), King2422 January 1921GillinghamH3–37,000Amos, King (pen), Boyne255 February 1921Swansea TownH1–27,000Elliott2612 February 1921Swindon TownA0–16,0002719 February 1921Swindon TownH0–110,0002826 February 1921PortsmouthA2–013,645Henery, Anstiss295 March 1921PortsmouthH1–28,000Boyne3012 March 1921WatfordA0–15,0003119 March 1921WatfordH1–06,000Anstiss3225 March 1921Grimsby TownA0–28,0003326 March 1921Northampton TownH1–17,000King3428 March 1921Grimsby TownH5–07,000King (3, 1 pen), Boyne, Anstiss352 April 1921Northampton TownA2–66,000King, Elliott369 April 1921Southend UnitedH2–24,000Spreadbury, Boyne3716 April 1921Southend UnitedA1–46,000Anstiss3825 April 1921Merthyr TownH0–07,0003928 April 1921Swansea TownA1–15,000King (pen)4030 April 1921Merthyr TownA1–34,000Challinor412 May 1921Plymouth ArgyleA0–05,000427 May 1921Plymouth ArgyleH0–14,000

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorerR18 January 1921Huddersfield TownH1–214,892King

Sources: Statto, 100 Years of Brentford, The Complete History

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 NotesGoalkeepersGKJack DurstonQueens Park Rangers1919Played when his cricket commitments allowedGKWilliam YoungSouth Shields1920DefendersDFJimmy Hodson (c) Belfast Celtic1919DFWilliam KearneySunderland Celtic1920DFBertie Rosier Southall1913DFWalter Spratt Manchester United1920MidfieldersHBAlf AmosOld Kingstonians1913HBSamuel ChallinorTranmere Rovers1920HBJimmy Elliott1891 (aged 28–29)Tottenham Hotspur1920HBFred Howe1895 (aged 24–25)Kimberworth Old Boys1920HBSam MorrisUnattached1919ForwardsFWHarry Anstiss Hammersmith Athletic1920FWReginald BoyneAston Villa1919FWJack CartmellUnattached1919FWHerbert Cock Unattached1921 FWPatsy HendrenQueens Park Rangers1911Played when his cricket commitments allowedFWJohn Heneryn/aHoughton Rovers1920FWHarry KingLeicester City1920FWGeorge Smithn/aSouth Shields1920FWBert SpreadburyRoyal Ordnance Woolwich1920FWGeorge Taylor Brentford Thursday1920FWAlfred ThompsonUnattached1919Players who left the club mid-seasonHBErnest LevittNew Silksworth1920Transferred to West StanleyFWBilly BakerUnattached1920Transferred to Manchester CityFWFred Morley Blackpool1913Released Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, Timeless Bees, Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939

Coaching staff NameRole Fred HallidaySecretary Manager Billy BrawnAdvisory Manager Michael WithamTrainer

Statistics

Appearances and goals

PosNatNameLeagueFA CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKJack Durston24000240GKWilliam Young18010190DFJimmy Hodson33010340DFWilliam Kearney600060DFBertie Rosier34010350DFWalter Spratt400040HBAlf Amos35210362HBSamuel Challinor31210322HBJimmy Elliott38210392HBFred Howe200020HBErnest Levitt60—60HBSam Morris27000270FWHarry Anstiss19400194FWBilly Baker400040FWReginald Boyne2110102210FWJack Cartmell29010300FWHerbert Cock10—10FWPatsy Hendren20—20FWJohn Henery20110210FWHarry King3317113418FWFred Morley16010170FWGeorge Smith900090FWBert Spreadbury12200122FWGeorge Taylor23000230FWAlfred Thompson15200152 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford

Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL3FACTotalFWHarry King17118FWReginald Boyne10010FWHarry Anstiss404HBAlf Amos202HBSamuel Challinor202HBJimmy Elliott202FWBert Spreadbury202FWAlfred Thompson202Total42143 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford

Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Fred Halliday28 August 19207 May 1921 |

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 1921Worst league defeat 4–0 on two occasions, 6–2 versus Northampton Town, 2 April 1921Most appearances 39, Jimmy Elliott (38 Third Division, 1 FA Cup)Top scorer (league) 17, Harry KingTop scorer (all competitions) 18, Harry King

Transfers & loans Cricketers are not included in this list. Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.3 May 1920DF William Kearney Sunderland CelticFree7 May 1920DF Walter Spratt Manchester UnitedFree15 May 1920HB Jimmy Elliott Tottenham HotspurFree17 June 1920HB Ernest Levitt New SilksworthFree17 June 1920FW George Smith South ShieldsFree23 July 1920GK William Young South ShieldsFree26 August 1920HB Samuel Challinor Tranmere RoversFreeAugust 1920FW Harry Anstiss Hammersmith AthleticAmateur3 September 1920FW Harry King Leicester CityFree15 October 1920FW Billy BakerUnattachedFree29 October 1920FWT. Bainbridgen/an/a18 December 1920HB Fred Howe Kimberworth Old BoysFree30 December 1920n/aJ. Thomas Kimberworth Old Boysn/a31 December 1920FW George Taylor Brentford ThursdayFree7 February 1921FW Herbert Cockn/aAmateur1920FW Robert Bates Wolverhampton WanderersAmateur1920DF Archie Reay Gnome AthleticFreePlayers transferred outDatePos.NameSubsequent clubFeeRef.31 December 1920HB Ernest Levitt West Stanleyn/a27 January 1921n/aJ. Thomas Rotherham Countyn/a9 February 1921FW Billy Baker Manchester Cityn/aPlayers releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.January 1921FW Fred Morley Philadelphia Field Club1921May 1921FW Reginald BoyneRetiredMay 1921HB Jack Cartmell Boscombe1921May 1921HB Samuel Challinor Halifax TownJuly 1921May 1921FW Herbert CockRetiredMay 1921FW John Henery Darlington1921May 1921DF Jimmy Hodson Guildford UnitedMay 1921May 1921DF William KearneyRetiredMay 1921FW Harry KingRetiredMay 1921HB Sam Morris Maidstone United1921May 1921FW George SmithRetiredMay 1921DF Walter Spratt Sittingbourne1921May 1921FW Bert Spreadbury Woolwich1921May 1921FW George Taylor Millwall1921May 1921FW Alfred Thompson Guildford United1921

References