# 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.

## 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 £336,200 in 2024).
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

| Pos | Team v t e | 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 | Re-elected |

## Results

    Brentford's goal tally listed first.

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Football League Third Division

| No. | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
| 1 | 28 August 1920 | Exeter City | A | 0–3 | 6,000 | |
| 2 | 30 August 1920 | Millwall | H | 1–0 | 11,000 | Boyne |
| 3 | 4 September 1920 | Exeter City | H | 0–0 | 10,000 | |
| 4 | 6 September 1920 | Millwall | A | 0–0 | 15,000 | |
| 5 | 11 September 1920 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 2–0 | 8,000 | Amos, Challinor |
| 6 | 18 September 1920 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 0–4 | 5,500 | |
| 7 | 25 September 1920 | Crystal Palace | H | 0–4 | 13,000 | |
| 8 | 2 October 1920 | Crystal Palace | A | 2–4 | 15,000 | King (2) |
| 9 | 9 October 1920 | Norwich City | A | 0–0 | 9,000 | |
| 10 | 16 October 1920 | Norwich City | H | 3–1 | 8,000 | King (2), Thompson |
| 11 | 23 October 1920 | Southampton | A | 0–3 | 10,000 | |
| 12 | 30 October 1920 | Southampton | H | 1–1 | 7,000 | Thompson (pen) |
| 13 | 6 November 1920 | Bristol Rovers | A | 1–2 | 8,500 | King |
| 14 | 13 November 1920 | Bristol Rovers | H | 0–0 | 6,000 | |
| 15 | 20 November 1920 | Reading | A | 1–2 | 4,000 | Spreadbury |
| 16 | 27 November 1920 | Reading | H | 3–2 | 5,000 | Boyne (2), King |
| 17 | 4 December 1920 | Luton Town | A | 0–2 | 6,000 | |
| 18 | 11 December 1920 | Luton Town | H | 1–0 | 6,000 | Boyne |
| 19 | 18 December 1920 | Newport County | H | 2–2 | 6,000 | King (2, 1 pen) |
| 20 | 25 December 1920 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 0–2 | 16,379 | |
| 21 | 27 December 1920 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 0–1 | 25,000 | |
| 22 | 1 January 1921 | Newport County | A | 1–3 | 4,000 | King |
| 23 | 15 January 1921 | Gillingham | A | 3–1 | 7,000 | Boyne (2), King |
| 24 | 22 January 1921 | Gillingham | H | 3–3 | 7,000 | Amos, King (pen), Boyne |
| 25 | 5 February 1921 | Swansea Town | H | 1–2 | 7,000 | Elliott |
| 26 | 12 February 1921 | Swindon Town | A | 0–1 | 6,000 | |
| 27 | 19 February 1921 | Swindon Town | H | 0–1 | 10,000 | |
| 28 | 26 February 1921 | Portsmouth | A | 2–0 | 13,645 | Henery, Anstiss |
| 29 | 5 March 1921 | Portsmouth | H | 1–2 | 8,000 | Boyne |
| 30 | 12 March 1921 | Watford | A | 0–1 | 5,000 | |
| 31 | 19 March 1921 | Watford | H | 1–0 | 6,000 | Anstiss |
| 32 | 25 March 1921 | Grimsby Town | A | 0–2 | 8,000 | |
| 33 | 26 March 1921 | Northampton Town | H | 1–1 | 7,000 | King |
| 34 | 28 March 1921 | Grimsby Town | H | 5–0 | 7,000 | King (3, 1 pen), Boyne, Anstiss |
| 35 | 2 April 1921 | Northampton Town | A | 2–6 | 6,000 | King, Elliott |
| 36 | 9 April 1921 | Southend United | H | 2–2 | 4,000 | Spreadbury, Boyne |
| 37 | 16 April 1921 | Southend United | A | 1–4 | 6,000 | Anstiss |
| 38 | 25 April 1921 | Merthyr Town | H | 0–0 | 7,000 | |
| 39 | 28 April 1921 | Swansea Town | A | 1–1 | 5,000 | King (pen) |
| 40 | 30 April 1921 | Merthyr Town | A | 1–3 | 4,000 | Challinor |
| 41 | 2 May 1921 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 0–0 | 5,000 | |
| 42 | 7 May 1921 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 0–1 | 4,000 | |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer |
| R1 | 8 January 1921 | Huddersfield Town | H | 1–2 | 14,892 | King |
* 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 | Date of birth (age) | Signed from | Signed in | Notes |
| Goalkeepers |||||||
| GK | Jack Durston | (1893-07-11)11 July 1893 (aged 27) | Queens Park Rangers | 1919 | Played when his cricket commitments allowed |
| GK | William Young | (1892-08-04)4 August 1892 (aged 28) | South Shields | 1920 | |
| Defenders |||||||
| DF | Jimmy Hodson (c) | (1880-09-05)5 September 1880 (aged 39) | Belfast Celtic | 1919 | |
| DF | William Kearney | (1895-09-18)18 September 1895 (aged 24) | Sunderland Celtic | 1920 | |
| DF | Bertie Rosier | (1893-03-21)21 March 1893 (aged 27) | Southall | 1913 | |
| DF | Walter Spratt | (1889-04-14)14 April 1889 (aged 31) | Manchester United | 1920 | |
| Midfielders |||||||
| HB | Alf Amos | (1893-02-09)9 February 1893 (aged 27) | Old Kingstonians | 1913 | |
| HB | Samuel Challinor | (1890-04-02)2 April 1890 (aged 30) | Tranmere Rovers | 1920 | |
| HB | Jimmy Elliott | 1891 (aged 28–29) | Tottenham Hotspur | 1920 | |
| HB | Fred Howe | 1895 (aged 24–25) | Kimberworth Old Boys | 1920 | |
| HB | Sam Morris | (1886-10-23)23 October 1886 (aged 33) | Unattached | 1919 | |
| Forwards |||||||
| FW | Harry Anstiss | (1899-08-22)22 August 1899 (aged 21) | Hammersmith Athletic | 1920 | |
| FW | Reginald Boyne | (1891-11-16)16 November 1891 (aged 28) | Aston Villa | 1919 | |
| FW | Jack Cartmell | (1890-08-28)28 August 1890 (aged 30) | Unattached | 1919 | |
| FW | Herbert Cock | (1900-10-07)7 October 1900 (aged 19) | Unattached | 1921 | |
| FW | Patsy Hendren | (1889-02-05)5 February 1889 (aged 31) | Queens Park Rangers | 1911 | Played when his cricket commitments allowed |
| FW | John Henery | n/a | Houghton Rovers | 1920 | |
| FW | Harry King | (1886-01-04)4 January 1886 (aged 34) | Leicester City | 1920 | |
| FW | George Smith | n/a | South Shields | 1920 | |
| FW | Bert Spreadbury | (1892-04-30)30 April 1892 (aged 28) | Royal Ordnance Woolwich | 1920 | |
| FW | George Taylor | (1900-06-03)3 June 1900 (aged 20) | Brentford Thursday | 1920 | |
| FW | Alfred Thompson | (1891-04-28)28 April 1891 (aged 29) | Unattached | 1919 | |
| Players who left the club mid-season |||||||
| HB | Ernest Levitt | (1893-04-02)2 April 1893 (aged 27) | New Silksworth | 1920 | Transferred to West Stanley |
| FW | Billy Baker | (1894-01-08)8 January 1894 (aged 26) | Unattached | 1920 | Transferred to Manchester City |
| FW | Fred Morley | (1888-03-01)1 March 1888 (aged 32) | Blackpool | 1913 | Released |
* Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, Timeless Bees, Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939

## Coaching staff

| Name | Role |
| Fred Halliday | Secretary Manager |
| Billy Brawn | Advisory Manager |
| Michael Witham | Trainer |

## Statistics
### Appearances and goals

| Pos | Nat | Name | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | Total | Total |
| Pos | Nat | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| GK | | Jack Durston | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| GK | | William Young | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| DF | | Jimmy Hodson | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 0 |
| DF | | William Kearney | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| DF | | Bertie Rosier | 34 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 0 |
| DF | | Walter Spratt | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| HB | | Alf Amos | 35 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 2 |
| HB | | Samuel Challinor | 31 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 2 |
| HB | | Jimmy Elliott | 38 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 2 |
| HB | | Fred Howe | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| HB | | Ernest Levitt | 6 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 |
| HB | | Sam Morris | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| FW | | Harry Anstiss | 19 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 4 |
| FW | | Billy Baker | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| FW | | Reginald Boyne | 21 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 10 |
| FW | | Jack Cartmell | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 0 |
| FW | | Herbert Cock | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| FW | | Patsy Hendren | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| FW | | John Henery | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| FW | | Harry King | 33 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 34 | 18 |
| FW | | Fred Morley | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| FW | | George Smith | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| FW | | Bert Spreadbury | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 2 |
| FW | | George Taylor | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| FW | | Alfred Thompson | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 2 |
* Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
* Source: 100 Years of Brentford

### Goalscorers

| Pos. | Nat | Player | FL3 | FAC | Total |
| FW | | Harry King | 17 | 1 | 18 |
| FW | | Reginald Boyne | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| FW | | Harry Anstiss | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| HB | | Alf Amos | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| HB | | Samuel Challinor | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| HB | | Jimmy Elliott | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| FW | | Bert Spreadbury | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| FW | | Alfred Thompson | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | Total | Total | 42 | 1 | 43 |
* Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
* Source: 100 Years of Brentford

### Management

| Name | Nat | From | To | Record All Comps | Record All Comps | Record All Comps | Record All Comps | Record All Comps | Record League | Record League | Record League | Record League | Record League |
| Name | Nat | From | To | P | W | D | L | W % | P | W | D | L | W % |
| Fred Halliday | | 28 August 1920 | 7 May 1921 | 43 | 9 | 12 | 22 | 020.93| | 42 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 021.43 |

### 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 :
| Date | Pos. | Name | Previous Club | Fee | Ref. |
| 3 May 1920 | DF | William Kearney | Sunderland Celtic | Free | |
| 7 May 1920 | DF | Walter Spratt | Manchester United | Free | |
| 15 May 1920 | HB | Jimmy Elliott | Tottenham Hotspur | Free | |
| 17 June 1920 | HB | Ernest Levitt | New Silksworth | Free | |
| 17 June 1920 | FW | George Smith | South Shields | Free | |
| 23 July 1920 | GK | William Young | South Shields | Free | |
| 26 August 1920 | HB | Samuel Challinor | Tranmere Rovers | Free | |
| August 1920 | FW | Harry Anstiss | Hammersmith Athletic | Amateur | |
| 3 September 1920 | FW | Harry King | Leicester City | Free | |
| 15 October 1920 | FW | Billy Baker | Unattached | Free | |
| 29 October 1920 | FW | T. Bainbridge | n/a | n/a | |
| 18 December 1920 | HB | Fred Howe | Kimberworth Old Boys | Free | |
| 30 December 1920 | n/a | J. Thomas | Kimberworth Old Boys | n/a | |
| 31 December 1920 | FW | George Taylor | Brentford Thursday | Free | |
| 7 February 1921 | FW | Herbert Cock | n/a | Amateur | |
| 1920 | FW | Robert Bates | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Amateur | |
| 1920 | DF | Archie Reay | Gnome Athletic | Free | |
| Players transferred out ||||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Fee | Ref. |
| 31 December 1920 | HB | Ernest Levitt | West Stanley | n/a | |
| 27 January 1921 | n/a | J. Thomas | Rotherham County | n/a | |
| 9 February 1921 | FW | Billy Baker | Manchester City | n/a | |
| Players released ||||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Join date | Ref. |
| January 1921 | FW | Fred Morley | Philadelphia Field Club | 1921 | |
| May 1921 | FW | Reginald Boyne | Retired | | |
| May 1921 | HB | Jack Cartmell | Boscombe | 1921 | |
| May 1921 | HB | Samuel Challinor | Halifax Town | July 1921 | |
| May 1921 | FW | Herbert Cock | Retired | | |
| May 1921 | FW | John Henery | Darlington | 1921 | |
| May 1921 | DF | Jimmy Hodson | Guildford United | May 1921 | |
| May 1921 | DF | William Kearney | Retired | | |
| May 1921 | FW | Harry King | Retired | | |
| May 1921 | HB | Sam Morris | Maidstone United | 1921 | |
| May 1921 | FW | George Smith | Retired | | |
| May 1921 | DF | Walter Spratt | Sittingbourne | 1921 | |
| May 1921 | FW | Bert Spreadbury | Woolwich | 1921 | |
| May 1921 | FW | George Taylor | Millwall | 1921 | |
| May 1921 | FW | Alfred Thompson | Guildford United | 1921 | |