# 1921–22 Brentford F.C. season

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

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 7 | Watford | 42 | 13 | 18 | 11 | 54 | 48 | +6 | 44 |
| 8 | Aberdare Athletic | 42 | 17 | 10 | 15 | 57 | 51 | +6 | 44 |
| 9 | Brentford | 42 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 52 | 43 | +9 | 43 |
| 10 | Swansea Town | 42 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 50 | 47 | +3 | 41 |
| 11 | Merthyr Town | 42 | 17 | 6 | 19 | 45 | 56 | −11 | 40 |
* ↑ New club in the league; elected from Southern League

## Results

    Brentford's goal tally listed first.

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Football League Third Division South

| No. | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
| 1 | 27 August 1921 | Merthyr Town | H | 0–1 | 11,000 | |
| 2 | 29 August 1921 | Southend United | A | 1–1 | 6,000 | Morris |
| 3 | 3 September 1921 | Merthyr Town | A | 0–2 | 6,000 | |
| 4 | 5 September 1921 | Southend United | H | 1–0 | 8,000 | Bertram |
| 5 | 10 September 1921 | Watford | H | 1–1 | 10,732 | Morris |
| 6 | 14 September 1921 | Bristol Rovers | A | 0–0 | 7,000 | |
| 7 | 17 September 1921 | Watford | A | 0–0 | 7,000 | |
| 8 | 24 September 1921 | Charlton Athletic | H | 0–2 | 13,000 | |
| 9 | 1 October 1921 | Charlton Athletic | A | 1–1 | 12,000 | Anstiss |
| 10 | 8 October 1921 | Northampton Town | H | 1–0 | 9,000 | Morris |
| 11 | 15 October 1921 | Northampton Town | A | 0–2 | 6,000 | |
| 12 | 21 October 1921 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 5–1 | 13,836 | Morris (3), T. Elliott, Bertram |
| 13 | 29 October 1921 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 1–1 | 15,000 | Mitchell (pen) |
| 14 | 5 November 1921 | Portsmouth | H | 2–2 | 11,000 | Mitchell (pen), Morris |
| 15 | 12 November 1921 | Portsmouth | A | 0–1 | 12,894 | |
| 16 | 19 November 1921 | Norwich City | A | 0–0 | 6,000 | |
| 17 | 26 November 1921 | Norwich City | H | 2–1 | 5,000 | Shields, Morris |
| 18 | 10 December 1921 | Reading | A | 3–0 | 8,000 | Anstiss (2), Morris |
| 19 | 24 December 1921 | Bristol Rovers | H | 4–2 | 10,000 | T. Elliott, Anstiss (2), Morris |
| 20 | 26 December 1921 | Aberdare Athletic | H | 2–1 | 12,000 | T. Elliott, Anstiss |
| 21 | 27 December 1921 | Aberdare Athletic | A | 0–2 | 11,000 | |
| 22 | 31 December 1921 | Southampton | A | 0–0 | 10,000 | |
| 23 | 14 January 1922 | Southampton | H | 1–0 | 10,000 | T. Elliott (pen) |
| 24 | 21 January 1922 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 3–1 | 7,000 | Morris (2), Norton |
| 25 | 28 January 1922 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 1–4 | 7,000 | Morris |
| 26 | 4 February 1922 | Newport County | H | 1–0 | 6,000 | T. Elliott |
| 27 | 11 February 1922 | Newport County | A | 1–2 | 6,500 | Norton |
| 28 | 18 February 1922 | Luton Town | H | 0–2 | 9,000 | |
| 29 | 25 February 1922 | Luton Town | A | 0–3 | 5,000 | |
| 30 | 4 March 1922 | Swindon Town | H | 3–0 | 5,000 | Anstiss, Norton, Amos |
| 31 | 11 March 1922 | Swindon Town | A | 1–2 | 6,000 | T. Elliott |
| 32 | 18 March 1922 | Gillingham | A | 0–0 | 8,000 | |
| 33 | 25 March 1922 | Gillingham | H | 0–1 | 6,000 | |
| 34 | 1 April 1922 | Millwall | A | 1–1 | 12,000 | Morris |
| 35 | 8 April 1922 | Millwall | H | 1–0 | 6,000 | Anstiss |
| 36 | 14 April 1922 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 4–0 | 10,000 | Anstiss (3), Hendren |
| 37 | 15 April 1922 | Exeter City | A | 0–1 | 5,000 | |
| 38 | 17 April 1922 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 1–2 | 9,008 | Anstiss |
| 39 | 18 April 1922 | Reading | H | 2–0 | 5,000 | Anstiss, T. Elliott |
| 40 | 24 April 1922 | Exeter City | H | 5–2 | 4,000 | Anstiss, Kerr, Morris, Capper, Amos |
| 41 | 29 April 1922 | Swansea Town | A | 0–1 | 5,000 | |
| 42 | 6 May 1922 | Swansea Town | H | 3–1 | 5,000 | Morris, T. Elliott, Anstiss |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorer(s) |
| 5QR | 3 December 1921 | Dulwich Hamlet | H | 3–1 | 9,078 | Capper, Mitchell, Morris |
| 6QR | 17 December 1921 | Shildon Athletic | H | 1–0 | 9,250 | T. Elliott |
| R1 | 7 January 1922 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 0–2 | 12,964 | |
* 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 | Date of birth (age) | Signed from | Signed in | Notes |
| Goalkeepers |||||||
| GK | William Young | (1892-08-04)4 August 1892 (aged 29) | South Shields | 1920 | |
| Defenders |||||||
| DF | Charles Alton | (1891-12-24)24 December 1891 (aged 29) | Rotherham County | 1921 | |
| DF | John Bethune | (1888-10-19)19 October 1888 (aged 32) | Bristol Rovers | 1921 | |
| DF | Bertie Rosier | (1893-03-21)21 March 1893 (aged 28) | Southall | 1913 | |
| Midfielders |||||||
| HB | Alf Amos | (1893-02-09)9 February 1893 (aged 28) | Old Kingstonians | 1913 | |
| HB | Jimmy Elliott | 1891 (aged 29–30) | Tottenham Hotspur | 1920 | |
| HB | Charles Fisher | (1899-06-09)9 June 1899 (aged 22) | Kidderminster Harriers | 1921 | |
| HB | Fred Howe | 1895 (aged 25–26) | Kimberworth Old Boys | 1920 | |
| HB | Cyril Hunter | (1898-02-08)8 February 1898 (aged 23) | Leadgate Park | 1921 | |
| HB | James Kerr | (1894-04-07)7 April 1894 (aged 27) | Blackburn Rovers | 1921 | Amateur |
| HB | Archie Mitchell | (1885-12-15)15 December 1885 (aged 35) | Queens Park Rangers | 1921 | Manager |
| Forwards |||||||
| FW | Harry Anstiss | (1899-08-22)22 August 1899 (aged 22) | Hammersmith Athletic | 1920 | |
| FW | George Bertram | (1896-01-15)15 January 1896 (aged 25) | Fulham | 1921 | |
| FW | Freddy Capper | 8 May 1892 (aged 30) | The Wednesday | 1921 | |
| FW | Thomas Elliott | (1890-04-06)6 April 1890 (aged 31) | Nottingham Forest | 1921 | |
| FW | Patsy Hendren (c) | (1889-02-05)5 February 1889 (aged 32) | Queens Park Rangers | 1911 | Played when his cricket commitments allowed |
| FW | Harry Morris | (1897-11-25)25 November 1897 (aged 23) | Fulham | 1921 | |
| FW | Horace Norton | (1896-09-15)15 September 1896 (aged 24) | Bradford City | 1921 | |
| FW | George Pither | (1899-06-24)24 June 1899 (aged 22) | Isleworth Town | 1921 | |
| FW | Ralph Shields | (1892-02-13)13 February 1892 (aged 29) | Exeter City | 1921 | |
* Sources: 100 Years of Brentford, Timeless Bees, Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939

## Coaching staff

| Name | Role |
| Archie Mitchell | 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 | | William Young | 41 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 44 | 0 |
| DF | | Charles Alton | 36 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 39 | 0 |
| DF | | John Bethune | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| DF | | Bertie Rosier | 34 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 37 | 0 |
| HB | | Alf Amos | 40 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 43 | 2 |
| HB | | Jimmy Elliott | 27 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 30 | 0 |
| HB | | Charles Fisher | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| HB | | Fred Howe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| HB | | Cyril Hunter | 21 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 0 |
| HB | | James Kerr | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 1 |
| HB | | Archie Mitchell | 13 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 3 |
| FW | | Harry Anstiss | 23 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 15 |
| FW | | George Bertram | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 |
| FW | | Freddy Capper | 35 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 38 | 2 |
| FW | | Thomas Elliott | 39 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 42 | 9 |
| FW | | Patsy Hendren | 35 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 38 | 1 |
| FW | | Harry Morris | 36 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 39 | 17 |
| FW | | Horace Norton | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 3 |
| FW | | George Pither | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| FW | | Ralph Shields | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
* Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
* Source: 100 Years of Brentford

### Goalscorers

| Pos. | Nat | Player | FL3 | FAC | Total |
| FW | | Harry Morris | 16 | 1 | 17 |
| FW | | Harry Anstiss | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| FW | | Thomas Elliott | 8 | 1 | 9 |
| FW | | Horace Norton | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| HB | | Archie Mitchell | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| HB | | Alf Amos | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| FW | | George Bertram | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| HB | | Jimmy Elliott | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| FW | | Freddy Capper | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| FW | | Patsy Hendren | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| HB | | James Kerr | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| FW | | Ralph Shields | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | 52 | 4 | 58 |
* 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 % |
| Archie Mitchell | | 27 August 1921 | 6 May 1922 | 45 | 18 | 11 | 16 | 040.00| | 42 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 038.10 |

### 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 1921 |
| Worst league defeat | 3–0 versus Luton Town, 25 February 1922 |
| Most appearances | 44, William Young (41 Third Division South, 3 FA Cup) |
| Top scorer (league) | 16, Harry Morris |
| Top scorer (all competitions) | 17, Harry Morris |

## Transfers & loans

    Cricketers are not included in this list.
Players transferred in :
| Date | Pos. | Name | Previous Club | Fee | Ref. |
| June 1921 | FW | George Bertram | Fulham | Free | |
| June 1921 | FW | Harry Morris | Fulham | Free | |
| July 1921 | FW | Ralph Shields | Exeter City | Free | |
| 20 August 1921 | FW | George Pither | Isleworth Town | Amateur | |
| August 1921 | DF | John Bethune | Bristol Rovers | Free | |
| August 1921 | FW | Freddy Capper | The Wednesday | Free | |
| August 1921 | FW | Thomas Elliott | Nottingham Forest | Free | |
| August 1921 | HB | Archie Mitchell | Queens Park Rangers | Free | |
| August 1921 | GK | Edmund Wright | Aston Villa | Free | |
| September 1921 | GK | Ted Price | Queens Park Rangers | Free | |
| October 1921 | HB | Cyril Hunter | Leadgate Park | Free | |
| 1921 | DF | Charles Alton | Rotherham County | Free | |
| 1921 | HB | Charles Fisher | Kidderminster Harriers | Free | |
| 1921 | HB | James Kerr | Blackburn Rovers | Amateur | |
| 1921 | FW | Horace Norton | Bradford City | Free | |
| Players released ||||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Join date | Ref. |
| May 1922 | FW | George Bertram | Sittingbourne | 1922 | |
| May 1922 | DF | John Bethune | Sittingbourne | July 1922 | |
| May 1922 | HB | Charles Fisher | Margate | n/a | |
| May 1922 | HB | Fred Howe | Peterborough & Fletton United | n/a | |
| May 1922 | HB | Archie Mitchell | Retired | | |
| May 1922 | FW | Horace Norton | Darlington | 1922 | |
| May 1922 | DF | Archie Reay | Gillingham | July 1922 | |
| May 1922 | FW | Ralph Shields | Sittingbourne | 1922 | |