1920–21 Football League

The Football League
Season 1920–21
Champions Burnley

The 1920–1921 season was the 29th season of The Football League.

The Football League Third Division is introduced, in effect the Third Division South of the following season, when Third Division North is introduced. This expands the League's operational radius all the way to the south coast of England.

Cardiff City are the first Welsh club to enter the League, and since they are the strongest club in Wales in the era, they are invited directly into the Second Division. Grimsby Town takes its place in the new Third Division, thereby being the first club relegated to the League's third tier. Leeds United is also elected into the Second Division to replace Leeds City after its debacle. Lincoln City is not re-elected to the Second Division and thus Port Vale's Second Division place is formalized as well.

Final league tables

The tables and results below are reproduced here in the exact form that they can be found at The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation website[1] and in Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79,[2] with home and away statistics separated.

Beginning with the season 1894–95, clubs finishing level on points were separated according to goal average (goals scored divided by goals conceded), or more properly put, goal ratio. In case one or more teams had the same goal difference, this system favoured those teams who had scored fewer goals. The goal average system was eventually scrapped beginning with the 1976–77 season.

Since the goal average was used for this purpose for such a long time, it is presented in the tables below even for the seasons prior to 1894–95, and since the goal difference is a more informative piece of information for a modern reader than the goal average, the goal difference is added in this presentation after the goal average.

During the first five seasons of the league, that is, until the season 1893–94, re-election process concerned the clubs which finished in the bottom four of the league. From the 1894–95 season and until the 1920–21 season the re-election process was required of the clubs which finished in the bottom three of the league.[2]

First Division

Football League
First Division
Season 1920–21
Champions Burnley (1st English title)
Relegated Derby County,
Bradford Park Avenue
FA Cup winners Tottenham Hotspur (2nd FA Cup title)
Matches played 462
Goals scored 1276 (2.76 per match)
Top goalscorer Joe Smith (Bolton Wanderers), 38 [3]
Biggest home win Burnley – Aston Villa 7–1 (5 Feb 1921)
Burnley – Oldham 7–1 (27 Nov 1920)
Burnley – Sheffield United 6–0 (25 Dec 1920)
Liverpool – Preston North End 6–0 (25 Sept 1920)
Biggest away win Arsenal – Sheffield United 2–6 (26 Mar 1921)
Aston Villa – Sunderland 1–5 (12 Feb 1921)
Chelsea – Tottenham 0–4 (16 Oct 1920)
Huddersfield Town – Arsenal 0–4 (20 Nov 1920)
Highest scoring Newcastle – Manchester United 6–3 (1 Jan 1921)
Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GA GD Pts
1Burnley42173156166105232079362.194+4359
2Manchester City42192050135412203770501.400+2054
3Bolton Wanderers4215605317489243677531.453+2452
4Liverpool4211734117786221863351.800+2851
5Newcastle United4214344318678232766451.467+2150
6Tottenham Hotspur42152446164710243270481.458+2247
7Everton429844026858262966551.200+1147
8Middlesbrough4210652921768243253531.000±046
9Arsenal429843125669283859630.937–444
10Aston Villa42114639217311244963700.900–743
11Blackburn Rovers427953627669213257590.966–241
12Sunderland4211463419399234157600.950–341
13Manchester United429483426669304264680.941–440
14West Bromwich Albion428763123579233554580.931–440
15Bradford City4279538285610233561630.968–239
16Preston North End42104738255511234061650.938–439
17Huddersfield Town42114626164512163342490.857–739
18Chelsea4297535244611133448580.828–1039
19Oldham Athletic4269623263612266049860.570–3733
20Sheffield United42511522191713204942680.618–2630
21Derby County42312621232415113532580.552–2626
22Bradford Park Avenue42651029352316144143760.566–3324

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against;
GA = Goal average; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

Key
League Champions
FA Cup Winners
Relegated

Results

Home ╲ Away ARS AST BLBBOLBRABPABURCHEDEREVEHUDLIVMCIMUNMIDNEWOLDPNESHUSUNTOTWBA
Arsenal 0–1 2–0 0–0 1–2 2–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 0–0 2–1 2–0 2–2 1–1 2–2 2–1 2–6 1–2 3–2 2–1
Aston Villa 5–0 3–0 2–0 1–2 4–1 0–0 3–0 1–0 1–3 0–0 0–2 3–1 3–4 0–1 0–0 3–0 1–0 4–0 1–5 4–2 0–0
Blackburn Rovers 2–2 0–1 2–2 2–3 1–0 1–3 0–0 2–0 0–0 1–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 3–2 3–3 5–1 2–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 5–1
Bolton Wanderers 1–1 5–0 2–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 1–0 4–2 3–1 1–0 3–0 1–1 6–2 3–1 1–1 3–0 2–2 6–2 1–0 3–0
Bradford City 3–1 3–0 3–4 2–2 2–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–2 0–2 0–0 1–2 1–1 0–1 1–1 1–3 6–2 4–0 2–2 1–0 1–1
Bradford Park Avenue 0–1 4–0 1–1 2–1 1–2 1–3 0–2 2–1 3–3 1–1 1–3 1–2 2–4 3–0 0–2 2–1 1–3 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–3
Burnley 1–0 7–1 4–1 3–1 1–4 1–0 4–0 2–1 1–1 3–0 1–0 2–1 1–0 2–1 3–1 7–1 2–0 6–0 2–2 2–0 1–1
Chelsea 1–2 5–1 1–2 1–0 3–1 4–1 1–1 1–1 0–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 1–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–1 3–1 0–4 3–0
Derby County 1–1 2–3 0–1 0–0 1–1 1–0 0–0 0–0 2–4 2–1 0–0 3–0 1–1 0–1 0–1 3–3 1–1 1–1 0–1 2–2 1–1
Everton 2–4 1–1 2–1 2–3 2–2 1–1 1–1 5–1 3–1 0–0 0–3 3–0 2–0 2–1 3–1 5–2 0–1 3–0 1–1 0–0 2–2
Huddersfield Town 0–4 1–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 1–0 2–0 2–0 0–1 1–2 0–1 5–2 0–1 1–3 3–1 1–0 1–0 0–0 2–0 5–1
Liverpool 3–0 4–1 2–0 2–3 2–1 0–1 0–0 2–1 1–1 1–0 4–1 4–2 2–0 0–0 0–1 5–2 6–0 2–2 0–0 1–1 0–0
Manchester City 3–1 3–1 0–0 3–1 1–0 1–0 3–0 1–0 0–0 2–0 3–2 3–2 3–0 2–1 3–1 3–1 5–1 2–1 3–1 2–0 4–0
Manchester United 1–1 1–3 0–1 2–3 1–1 5–1 0–3 3–1 3–0 1–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–1 2–0 4–1 1–0 2–1 3–0 0–1 1–4
Middlesbrough 2–1 1–4 1–1 4–1 2–1 2–1 0–0 0–0 1–0 3–1 2–0 0–1 3–1 2–4 0–0 1–2 0–0 2–2 2–0 1–0 0–1
Newcastle United 1–0 2–1 1–2 1–0 4–0 2–1 1–2 1–0 0–1 2–0 1–0 2–0 1–1 6–3 2–0 1–2 4–2 3–0 6–1 1–1 1–1
Oldham Athletic 1–1 1–1 1–0 0–0 2–0 1–0 2–2 1–2 2–1 0–1 1–2 0–0 2–0 2–2 3–3 0–0 0–2 0–0 2–1 2–5 0–3
Preston North End 0–1 6–1 4–2 1–2 1–1 3–3 0–3 0–1 2–1 1–0 0–1 2–3 0–1 0–0 2–0 3–2 4–0 2–0 1–1 4–1 2–1
Sheffield United 1–1 0–0 1–1 2–2 4–1 2–0 1–1 0–1 0–1 2–0 1–1 0–1 1–1 0–0 1–1 0–3 3–0 1–0 1–1 1–1 0–2
Sunderland 5–1 0–1 2–0 0–0 0–0 5–1 1–0 1–0 3–0 0–2 2–1 2–1 1–0 2–3 1–2 0–2 1–1 2–2 3–1 0–1 3–0
Tottenham Hotspur 2–1 1–2 1–2 5–2 2–0 2–0 1–2 5–0 2–0 2–0 1–0 1–0 2–0 4–1 2–2 2–0 5–1 1–2 4–1 0–0 1–0
West Bromwich Albion 3–4 2–1 1–1 2–1 2–0 0–1 2–0 1–1 3–0 1–2 3–0 1–1 2–2 0–2 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–3 1–1 4–1 3–1

Source:
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Maps

Locations of the Football League First Division London teams

Second Division

Football League
Second Division
Season 1920–21
Champions Birmingham (2nd title)
Relegated Stockport County
Matches played 462
Goals scored 1061 (2.3 per match)
Top goalscorer Sydney (Syd) Puddefoot (West Ham), 29 [3]
Biggest home win West Ham – Coventry 7–0 (1 Jan 1921)
Biggest away win Rotherham – Bury 0–5 (11 Dec 1921)
Highest scoring Rotherham – South Shields 5–4 (2 Oct 1920)
Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GA GD Pts
1Birmingham4216415513867242579382.079+4158
2Cardiff City4213532791155322359321.844+2758
3Bristol City42143435125106141749291.690+2051
4Blackpool4212363219876222354421.286+1250
5West Ham United42135338116510131951301.700+2148
6Notts County4212543617669192355401.375+1547
7Clapton Orient4213623193711123343421.024+145
8South Shields42134441164611203061461.326+1544
9Fulham42144333122613103543470.915–442
10The Wednesday4297531146411173448481.000±041
11Bury42108329135214163645490.918–440
12Leicester City42108326112811133539460.848–740
13Hull City42710424183108193543530.811–1040
14Leeds United42115530143513103140450.889–538
15Wolverhampton Wanderers42114634245214154249660.742–1738
16Barnsley42910231171614173348500.960–236
17Port Vale427682819489153043490.878–636
18Nottingham Forest4296637263612112948550.873–736
19Rotherham County4289423214314143237530.698–1636
20Stoke4295726163612204046560.821–1035
21Coventry City4286724254512154539700.557–3135
22Stockport County4286730241614125142750.560–3330

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against;
GA = Goal average; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

Key
Division Champions, promoted
Promoted
New club in the league (see also Cardiff City)
Relegated

Results

Home ╲ Away BAR BIR BLPBRIBRYCARCLACOVFULHULLEELEINOTNTCPTVROTSSHSTPSTKWEDWHUWOL
Barnsley 1–1 0–1 1–1 5–0 0–2 1–0 2–2 3–1 0–0 1–1 2–1 0–0 2–2 3–0 2–1 1–1 2–0 1–0 0–0 1–1 3–2
Birmingham City 1–3 3–0 0–0 4–0 1–1 0–0 3–2 1–0 5–1 1–0 5–0 3–0 2–1 4–0 3–2 1–1 5–0 3–0 4–0 2–1 4–1
Blackpool 1–0 3–0 1–2 0–1 2–4 2–2 4–0 1–0 1–2 1–0 2–0 1–0 0–2 1–0 0–1 3–2 1–1 3–1 1–1 1–0 3–0
Bristol City 1–0 0–1 1–1 1–0 0–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–1 0–0 1–0 1–0 0–1 3–0 2–4 4–2 5–1 5–0 0–1 1–0 2–0
Bury 0–0 0–1 2–2 2–0 3–1 0–1 2–0 1–1 0–0 1–1 4–0 2–2 0–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–1 3–0 1–1 1–0 3–1
Cardiff City 3–2 2–1 0–0 1–0 2–1 0–0 0–1 3–0 0–0 1–0 2–0 3–0 1–1 1–2 1–0 1–0 3–0 0–1 1–0 0–0 2–0
Clapton Orient 3–2 1–1 0–0 0–0 1–0 2–0 0–0 3–0 1–1 1–0 2–0 2–1 3–0 0–0 2–0 1–0 5–0 3–2 1–0 0–1 0–1
Coventry City 3–1 0–4 0–2 2–1 1–0 2–4 1–1 0–2 3–2 1–1 1–0 0–0 1–1 0–0 0–1 1–0 1–1 1–0 2–3 0–1 4–0
Fulham 1–0 5–0 1–2 3–0 0–0 0–3 1–0 2–0 3–0 1–0 1–1 2–1 3–1 1–0 1–0 0–0 3–1 1–3 2–0 0–0 2–0
Hull City 3–0 1–0 2–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 3–0 1–1 0–0 0–1 1–1 0–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 0–1
Leeds United 0–0 1–0 2–0 0–1 1–0 1–2 2–1 4–0 0–0 1–1 3–1 1–1 3–0 3–1 1–0 1–2 0–2 0–0 2–0 1–2 3–0
Leicester City 2–0 3–0 0–1 0–0 4–0 2–0 2–1 0–1 1–1 0–0 1–1 2–0 0–3 0–0 1–1 2–0 0–0 3–1 2–1 1–0 0–0
Nottingham Forest 0–0 1–1 3–1 0–1 4–2 1–2 1–1 0–2 5–1 2–0 1–0 1–2 1–0 1–4 6–1 1–2 1–1 2–2 4–2 1–0 1–1
Notts County 1–0 0–0 1–2 2–2 2–1 1–2 3–1 1–1 2–1 4–1 1–2 1–1 2–0 0–1 1–0 2–0 3–0 3–0 3–0 1–1 2–1
Port Vale 1–1 0–2 0–1 0–2 3–0 0–0 4–0 0–0 0–0 4–0 2–0 0–0 0–1 1–2 1–1 0–2 6–1 2–1 1–0 1–2 2–3
Rotherham County 1–0 1–1 0–2 0–0 0–5 2–0 0–0 2–3 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–0 0–0 1–1 5–4 1–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–0
South Shields 3–2 3–0 1–0 0–0 2–0 0–1 3–0 4–1 3–0 0–0 3–0 4–3 0–1 1–0 6–1 1–0 3–1 1–1 2–3 0–0 1–2
Stockport County 3–2 0–3 2–2 0–2 1–2 2–5 6–0 3–0 1–1 2–2 3–1 0–0 1–0 1–0 0–0 0–1 0–0 2–0 0–1 2–0 1–2
Stoke City 3–2 1–2 1–1 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–1 4–1 1–2 1–3 4–0 1–1 4–0 1–0 0–1 2–0 0–0 1–0 0–1 1–0 1–0
The Wednesday 0–0 1–2 0–1 2–2 2–0 0–1 1–1 3–0 3–0 3–0 2–0 0–0 0–0 1–1 1–0 2–0 1–1 2–1 1–3 0–1 6–0
West Ham United 2–1 1–1 1–1 1–0 0–1 1–1 1–0 7–0 2–0 1–1 3–0 0–1 3–0 0–2 1–1 1–0 2–1 5–0 1–0 4–0 1–0
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 0–3 3–1 0–0 2–1 1–3 0–2 1–0 1–0 1–3 3–0 3–0 2–1 1–0 2–2 3–0 3–0 2–0 3–3 1–2 1–2

Source: Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Maps

Locations of the Football League Second Division London teams

Third Division

Football League
Third Division
Season 1920–21
Champions Crystal Palace (1st title)
Failed re-election None
Matches played 462
Goals scored 1133 (2.45 per match)
Top goalscorer John Conner (Crystal Palace), 28
Ernie Simms (Luton Town), 28
George Whitworth (Northampton Town), 28 [3]
Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GA GD Pts
1Crystal Palace4215424517975251770342.059+3659
2Southampton42145246105115181864282.286+3654
3Queens Park Rangers4214433811858232161321.906+2953
4Swindon Town4214525117759223273491.490+2452
5Swansea Town4291023219957242656451.244+1151
6Watford4214434015641119295944.341+1548
7Millwall421155258768172242301.400+1247
8Merthyr Town42135346202109142960491.224+1145
9Luton Town42146151152613104161561.089+544
10Bristol Rovers42153351223414173568571.193+1143
11Plymouth Argyle42107425131146102135341.029+143
12Portsmouth42108328142712183446480.958–239
13Grimsby Town42125432163414174349590.831–1039
14Northampton Town42114632234413275259750.787–1638
15Newport County4285820236411234143640.672–2137
16Norwich City42910231141614133944530.830–936
17Southend United42132632201614124144610.721–1736
18Brighton & Hove Albion42116428203216144142610.689–1936
19Exeter City4297527151812123939540.722–1535
20Reading4284926224314163742590.712–1731
21Brentford4279527232316154442670.627–2530
22Gillingham4269619242316155034740.459–4028

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against;
GA = Goal average; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

Key
Division Champions, promoted
New club in the league: all except Grimsby Town
Re-elected
Failed re-election (none)

Results

Home ╲ Away BRE BHA BROCRYEXEGILGRILUTMERMILNPCNORNORPLYPORQPRREASOUSTDSWASWIWAT
Brentford 2–0 0–0 0–4 0–0 3–3 5–0 1–0 0–0 1–0 2–2 1–1 3–1 0–0 1–2 0–2 3–2 1–1 2–2 1–2 0–1 1–0
Brighton & Hove Albion 4–0 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–0 1–3 1–1 0–0 1–0 1–0 3–2 2–0 1–0 3–0 2–1 2–2 1–1 1–0 1–1 0–3 0–3
Bristol Rovers 2–1 3–1 2–1 5–0 2–0 2–0 5–0 1–1 1–2 3–2 4–2 2–2 2–0 2–2 3–0 3–2 1–2 2–1 1–2 3–1 2–0
Crystal Palace 4–2 3–2 3–0 2–1 4–1 2–0 2–1 3–0 3–2 2–0 5–1 1–0 0–0 3–0 0–0 2–0 1–1 2–3 0–1 1–0 2–2
Exeter City 3–0 1–0 1–0 1–1 2–1 1–1 1–0 3–3 4–0 0–1 4–0 1–1 1–1 0–0 0–1 0–1 1–0 0–0 1–2 1–0 1–2
Gillingham 1–3 1–0 1–0 0–1 2–1 2–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–4 2–5 0–0 0–1 1–1 1–2 1–0 1–1 1–1 2–1 1–1 1–1
Grimsby Town 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–0 2–0 2–0 0–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–3 2–1 2–0 3–0 1–0 0–2 3–0 3–0
Luton Town 2–0 3–2 1–2 2–2 3–0 5–0 3–1 1–0 0–0 2–2 3–1 4–0 1–1 2–2 2–1 6–0 1–1 4–0 3–0 2–0 1–0
Merthyr Town 3–1 4–1 2–2 2–1 7–1 6–1 3–1 4–1 0–1 1–2 1–0 0–0 0–0 2–1 3–1 1–0 1–1 2–0 0–3 2–2 2–0
Millwall 0–0 0–1 2–0 0–1 2–0 4–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 1–0 1–0 2–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 2–0 0–1 4–2 0–2 5–0 1–0
Newport County 3–1 0–4 0–2 0–1 2–0 1–0 2–1 2–0 0–3 3–1 1–1 2–0 0–0 1–0 1–3 0–1 0–0 1–1 1–1 0–1 0–2
Northampton Town 6–2 1–0 1–2 2–2 3–3 2–0 4–1 1–0 2–2 0–2 0–2 1–0 1–1 1–0 0–3 1–0 2–0 1–0 2–0 1–2 0–1
Norwich City 0–0 3–0 1–1 0–1 0–0 2–1 0–0 3–0 0–0 2–0 3–0 3–3 0–0 2–2 2–0 2–0 0–1 3–1 1–1 3–2 1–1
Plymouth Argyle 1–0 5–0 2–1 0–1 0–0 3–1 0–0 1–0 2–1 0–2 5–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–0 1–1 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 0–2
Portsmouth 0–2 3–0 1–0 0–0 2–1 2–2 2–1 3–0 0–0 0–0 0–2 2–0 2–1 1–1 0–0 2–2 0–1 3–0 3–0 1–1 1–0
Queens Park Rangers 1–0 4–0 2–1 3–0 2–1 0–1 2–0 4–1 4–2 0–0 2–0 1–2 2–0 4–0 0–0 2–0 0–0 2–0 1–1 1–0 1–2
Reading 2–1 0–1 2–1 1–0 0–1 1–2 4–1 0–1 2–0 0–1 4–0 4–0 0–1 1–1 1–0 0–0 0–4 1–1 1–3 2–3 0–0
Southampton 3–0 1–0 4–0 1–1 3–0 3–0 0–1 1–1 5–0 1–1 0–0 3–1 1–0 1–0 2–0 2–2 1–2 3–0 3–0 4–0 4–1
Southend 4–1 2–0 1–0 0–2 0–0 1–0 3–1 1–1 0–1 1–2 2–1 1–2 3–1 2–1 2–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–2 1–3 4–1
Swansea Town 1–1 0–0 2–2 0–0 2–1 2–0 3–1 1–1 1–0 0–0 1–2 2–2 5–2 3–0 0–0 1–3 2–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–1
Swindon Town 1–0 2–0 2–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 0–0 9–1 3–0 4–1 5–0 2–1 4–2 1–1 5–2 0–1 2–0 3–2 3–0 0–0 2–0
Watford 1–0 1–0 2–1 1–1 0–0 3–1 4–2 1–0 1–0 1–0 5–1 7–1 2–0 1–1 3–2 0–2 1–2 0–0 3–0 3–0 0–1

Source: Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Maps

Locations of the Football League Third Division South London teams

See also

References

  1. ↑ "England 1920-21". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 5 February 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  2. 1 2 Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
  3. 1 2 3 "English League Leading Goalscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 2010-10-31.
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