During the 1921–22 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division South. The club improved on its debut season in the league to finish 9th, which would be its highest placing until 1929–30.

Season summary

After a torrid first season in the Football League, Archie Mitchell joined Brentford as player-manager and the club's squad was overhauled. Outgoing manager Fred Halliday stayed at Griffin Park as secretary, which allowed Mitchell to focus solely on the team. New signings Charles Alton and John Bethune bolstered the defence, half backs Charles Fisher and James Kerr came in and Thomas Elliott and Harry Morris were signed to replace the previous season's departed leading goalscorers Harry King and Reginald Boyne. Cricketer and outside forward Patsy Hendren was available for much of the season.

Brentford began the season inconsistently and hovered around mid-table, before a run of just four defeats in 17 games firmly established the club in the top six by January 1922. Forwards Harry Morris and Harry Anstiss scored the majority of the team's goals and player-manager Mitchell had dropped himself from the team in favour of Cyril Hunter in December 1921. On 11 February 1922, Freddy Capper became the first Brentford player to be sent off in a Football League match. He received his marching orders from referee Harry Curtis, who would later be appointed as Brentford's manager in 1926. Five defeats in seven matches during February and March, coupled with poor away form throughout the season, ruled out the possibility of automatic promotion, but the team finished strongly and won five of the final eight matches to finish 9th. Brentford won just one away league match during the season, which is the joint-fewest in club history.

A rare event occurred on the final day of the season at Swansea Town's Vetch Field, when Brentford were able to field just 9 men at the kick off. William Young, Harry Anstiss and Freddy Capper missed their train at Paddington and manager Archie Mitchell was pressed into service as an emergency goalkeeper.

League table

Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League Third Division South No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)127 August 1921Merthyr TownH0–111,000229 August 1921Southend UnitedA1–16,000Morris33 September 1921Merthyr TownA0–26,00045 September 1921Southend UnitedH1–08,000Bertram510 September 1921WatfordH1–110,732Morris614 September 1921Bristol RoversA0–07,000717 September 1921WatfordA0–07,000824 September 1921Charlton AthleticH0–213,00091 October 1921Charlton AthleticA1–112,000Anstiss108 October 1921Northampton TownH1–09,000Morris1115 October 1921Northampton TownA0–26,0001221 October 1921Queens Park RangersH5–113,836Morris (3), T. Elliott, Bertram1329 October 1921Queens Park RangersA1–115,000Mitchell (pen)145 November 1921PortsmouthH2–211,000Mitchell (pen), Morris1512 November 1921PortsmouthA0–112,8941619 November 1921Norwich CityA0–06,0001726 November 1921Norwich CityH2–15,000Shields, Morris1810 December 1921ReadingA3–08,000Anstiss (2), Morris1924 December 1921Bristol RoversH4–210,000T. Elliott, Anstiss (2), Morris2026 December 1921Aberdare AthleticH2–112,000T. Elliott, Anstiss2127 December 1921Aberdare AthleticA0–211,0002231 December 1921SouthamptonA0–010,0002314 January 1922SouthamptonH1–010,000T. Elliott (pen)2421 January 1922Plymouth ArgyleH3–17,000Morris (2), Norton2528 January 1922Plymouth ArgyleA1–47,000Morris264 February 1922Newport CountyH1–06,000T. Elliott2711 February 1922Newport CountyA1–26,500Norton2818 February 1922Luton TownH0–29,0002925 February 1922Luton TownA0–35,000304 March 1922Swindon TownH3–05,000Anstiss, Norton, Amos3111 March 1922Swindon TownA1–26,000T. Elliott3218 March 1922GillinghamA0–08,0003325 March 1922GillinghamH0–16,000341 April 1922MillwallA1–112,000Morris358 April 1922MillwallH1–06,000Anstiss3614 April 1922Brighton & Hove AlbionH4–010,000Anstiss (3), Hendren3715 April 1922Exeter CityA0–15,0003817 April 1922Brighton & Hove AlbionA1–29,008Anstiss3918 April 1922ReadingH2–05,000Anstiss, T. Elliott4024 April 1922Exeter CityH5–24,000Anstiss, Kerr, Morris, Capper, Amos4129 April 1922Swansea TownA0–15,000426 May 1922Swansea TownH3–15,000Morris, T. Elliott, Anstiss

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)5QR3 December 1921Dulwich HamletH3–19,078Capper, Mitchell, Morris6QR17 December 1921Shildon AthleticH1–09,250T. ElliottR17 January 1922Tottenham HotspurH0–212,964

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

Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 1921–22 season. Pos. Name Nat. Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepersGKWilliam YoungSouth Shields1920DefendersDFCharles AltonRotherham County1921DFJohn BethuneBristol Rovers1921DFBertie RosierSouthall1913MidfieldersHBAlf AmosOld Kingstonians1913HBJimmy Elliott1891 (aged 29–30)Tottenham Hotspur1920HBCharles FisherKidderminster Harriers1921HBFred Howe1895 (aged 25–26)Kimberworth Old Boys1920HBCyril HunterLeadgate Park1921HBJames KerrBlackburn Rovers1921AmateurHBArchie MitchellQueens Park Rangers1921ManagerForwardsFWHarry Anstiss Hammersmith Athletic1920FWGeorge BertramFulham1921FWFreddy Capper8 May 1892 (aged 30)The Wednesday1921FWThomas Elliott Nottingham Forest1921 FWPatsy Hendren (c)Queens Park Rangers1911Played when his cricket commitments allowedFWHarry MorrisFulham1921FWHorace NortonBradford City1921FWGeorge Pither Isleworth Town1921FWRalph ShieldsExeter City1921 Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, Timeless Bees, Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939

Coaching staff NameRole Archie MitchellManager Michael WithamTrainer

Statistics

Appearances and goals

PosNatNameLeagueFA CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKWilliam Young41030440DFCharles Alton36030390DFJohn Bethune10000100DFBertie Rosier34030370HBAlf Amos40230432HBJimmy Elliott27030300HBCharles Fisher600060HBFred Howe100010HBCyril Hunter210—210HBJames Kerr21100211HBArchie Mitchell13231163FWHarry Anstiss2315202515FWGeorge Bertram10200102FWFreddy Capper35131382FWThomas Elliott39831429FWPatsy Hendren35130381FWHarry Morris3616313917FWHorace Norton19300193FWGeorge Pither700070FWRalph Shields811091 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford

Goalscorers Pos.NatPlayerFL3FACTotalFWHarry Morris16117FWHarry Anstiss15015FWThomas Elliott819FWHorace Norton303HBArchie Mitchell213HBAlf Amos202FWGeorge Bertram202HBJimmy Elliott202FWFreddy Capper112FWPatsy Hendren101HBJames Kerr101FWRalph Shields101Total52458 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: 100 Years of Brentford

Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Archie Mitchell27 August 19216 May 1922 |

Summary Games played 45 (42 Third Division South, 3 FA Cup)Games won 18 (16 Third Division South, 2 FA Cup)Games drawn 11 (11 Third Division, 0 FA Cup)Games lost 16 (15 Third Division, 1 FA Cup)Goals scored 56 (52 Third Division, 4 FA Cup)Goals conceded 46 (43 Third Division, 3 FA Cup)Clean sheets 15 (14 Third Division, 1 FA Cup)Biggest league win 4–0 versus Brighton & Hove Albion, 14 April 1922; 5–1 versus Queens Park Rangers, 21 October 1921Worst league defeat 3–0 versus Luton Town, 25 February 1922Most appearances 44, William Young (41 Third Division South, 3 FA Cup)Top scorer (league) 16, Harry MorrisTop scorer (all competitions) 17, Harry Morris

Transfers & loans Cricketers are not included in this list. Players transferred inDatePos.NamePrevious clubFeeRef.June 1921FW George Bertram FulhamFreeJune 1921FW Harry Morris FulhamFreeJuly 1921FW Ralph Shields Exeter CityFree20 August 1921FW George Pither Isleworth TownAmateurAugust 1921DF John Bethune Bristol RoversFreeAugust 1921FW Freddy Capper The WednesdayFreeAugust 1921FW Thomas Elliott Nottingham ForestFreeAugust 1921HB Archie Mitchell Queens Park RangersFreeAugust 1921GK Edmund Wright Aston VillaFreeSeptember 1921GK Ted Price Queens Park RangersFreeOctober 1921HB Cyril Hunter Leadgate ParkFree1921DF Charles Alton Rotherham CountyFree1921HB Charles Fisher Kidderminster HarriersFree1921HB James Kerr Blackburn RoversAmateur1921FW Horace Norton Bradford CityFreePlayers releasedDatePos.NameSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.May 1922FW George Bertram Sittingbourne1922May 1922DF John Bethune SittingbourneJuly 1922May 1922HB Charles Fisher Margaten/aMay 1922HB Fred Howe Peterborough & Fletton Unitedn/aMay 1922HB Archie MitchellRetiredMay 1922FW Horace Norton Darlington1922May 1922DF Archie Reay GillinghamJuly 1922May 1922FW Ralph Shields Sittingbourne1922

References