1920–21 Huddersfield Town A.F.C. season

Huddersfield Town's 1920–21 campaign was Town's first season in the Football League First Division. It was more a baptism of fire than a season of success. They finished in 17th place, after scoring only 42 goals in the league and no player getting into double figures.

Huddersfield Town
1920–21 season
ChairmanEngland William Hardcastle
England Joseph Barlow
ManagerEngland Ambrose Langley (until 23 March 1921)
England Herbert Chapman (from 31 March 1921)
Football League First Division17th
FA CupThird round
Top goalscorerLeague: Jack Swann (8)
All: Jack Swann (8)
Highest home attendance33,862 vs Sheffield United (29 March 1921)
Lowest home attendance14,000 vs Oldham Athletic (2 May 1921)
Biggest win5–1 vs West Bromwich Albion (23 October 1920)
Biggest defeat0–4 vs Arsenal (20 November 1920)

One notable thing from this season was the appointment of Herbert Chapman as manager in March, as his vision would lead Town to great success in the rest of the decade.

Squad at the start of the season

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
-- GK   ENG Ted Davis
-- GK   SCO Sandy Mutch
-- DF   ENG Harry Brough
-- DF   ENG Fred Bullock
-- DF   SCO Jimmy Campbell
-- DF   ENG Harry Linley
-- DF   SCO Colin McKay
-- DF   ENG Ralph Rodgerson
-- DF   ENG Charlie Slade
-- DF   ENG Billy Watson
-- DF   ENG Tom Wilson
No. Pos. Nation Player
-- DF   ENG James Wood
-- MF   ENG George Richardson
-- MF   ENG Billy Smith
-- FW   ENG Ernie Islip
-- FW   ENG Fred Lunn
-- FW   ENG Frank Mann
-- FW   ENG Ralph Shields
-- FW   ENG Billy E. Smith
-- FW   ENG Jack Swann
-- FW   ENG Sammy Taylor

Review

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After the previous season's successes in both Division 2 and FA Cup, many were wondering how Ambrose Langley's team would get on in the top-flight. After winning 5 of their first 6 games, Town were in line for a possible chance at the title, however the next 26 league games would only produce 3 more wins, which saw Town in the middle of a relegation battle.

Earlier in the season, a Mr. Herbert Chapman was brought in as the new club secretary and at the end of March, he replaced Langley as manager and in 4 of his 7 games, Town recorded the necessary wins which pulled Town out of any danger of relegation.

Squad at the end of the season

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
-- GK   ENG Ted Davis
-- GK   SCO Sandy Mutch
-- DF   ENG Frederick Brock
-- DF   ENG Harry Brough
-- DF   ENG Fred Bullock
-- DF   ENG Harry Linley
-- DF   SCO Colin McKay
-- DF   ENG Charlie Slade
-- DF   ENG Sam Wadsworth
-- DF   ENG Billy Watson
-- DF   ENG Tom Wilson
No. Pos. Nation Player
-- DF   ENG James Wood
-- MF   SCO Billy Johnston
-- MF   ENG George Richardson
-- MF   ENG Billy Smith
-- FW   ENG Ernie Islip
-- FW   ENG Fred Lunn
-- FW   ENG Frank Mann
-- FW   ENG Billy E. Smith
-- FW   ENG Clem Stephenson
-- FW   ENG Jack Swann
-- FW   ENG William Wright

Results

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Date Opponents Home/
Away
Result
F – A
Scorers Attendance Position
28 August 1920 Preston North End A 1–0 Taylor 26,000 1st
30 August 1920 Burnley H 1–0 B. Smith 22,500 1st
4 September 1920 Preston North End H 1–0 Mann (pen) 18,000 1st
6 September 1920 Burnley A 0–3 30,000 3rd
11 September 1920 Bradford City H 1–0 Lunn 27,500 2nd
18 September 1920 Bradford City A 2–0 Lunn, Islip 25,000 1st
25 September 1920 Sunderland H 0–0 31,000 3rd
2 October 1920 Sunderland A 1–2 Taylor 45,000 6th
9 October 1920 Everton H 0–1 26,500 6th
16 October 1920 Everton A 0–0 50,000 8th
23 October 1920 West Bromwich Albion H 5–1 Taylor, Mann (pen), Shields (2), Islip 24,020 5th
30 October 1920 West Bromwich Albion A 0–3 44,049 7th
6 November 1920 Manchester City H 0–1 26,400 8th
13 November 1920 Manchester City A 2–3 Islip, Watson 30,000 13th
20 November 1920 Arsenal H 0–4 19,000 16th
27 November 1920 Arsenal A 0–2 35,000 17th
4 December 1920 Bolton Wanderers H 0–0 14,500 15th
11 December 1920 Bolton Wanderers A 1–3 Taylor 27,500 17th
18 December 1920 Derby County H 2–0 Wright, Swann 15,000 17th
25 December 1920 Middlesbrough A 0–2 35,000 18th
27 December 1920 Middlesbrough H 0–1 32,430 18th
29 December 1920 Sheffield United A 1–1 Sturgess (og) 37,500 18th
1 January 1921 Derby County A 1–2 Wright 12,000 18th
15 January 1921 Bradford (Park Avenue) A 1–1 Wright 20,000 18th
22 January 1921 Bradford (Park Avenue) H 0–0 20,700 18th
5 February 1921 Blackburn Rovers H 0–0 19,800 18th
10 February 1921 Blackburn Rovers A 2–1 B. Smith, Islip 25,000 18th
12 February 1921 Newcastle United A 0–1 46,500 18th
23 February 1921 Newcastle United H 1–3 Johnston 30,000 18th
26 February 1921 Liverpool A 1–4 Wright 35,000 18th
5 March 1921 Liverpool H 1–2 Johnston 18,000 18th
12 March 1921 Aston Villa A 0–0 20,000 18th
19 March 1921 Aston Villa H 1–0 Swann 25,000 17th
26 March 1921 Manchester United H 5–2 Swann (2), Stephenson, Wilson, Mann 20,468 18th
29 March 1921 Sheffield United H 1–0 Mann 33,862 18th
2 April 1921 Manchester United A 0–2 30,000 18th
9 April 1921 Chelsea H 2–0 Johnston, Mann 14,200 18th
16 April 1921 Chelsea A 1–1 Islip 37,500 18th
25 April 1921 Tottenham Hotspur H 2–0 Swann (2) 28,000 18th
30 April 1921 Tottenham Hotspur A 0–1 32,500 18th
2 May 1921 Oldham Athletic H 3–1 Johnston, Mann, Swann 14,000 18th
7 May 1921 Oldham Athletic A 2–1 Swann, B. Smith 12,029 17th
Date Round Opponents Home/
Away
Result
F – A
Scorers Attendance
8 January 1921 Round 1 Brentford A 2–1 Islip, Wright 14,439
29 January 1921 Round 2 Bradford Park Avenue A 1–0 Mann 30,303
19 February 1921 Round 3 Aston Villa A 0–2 60,627

Appearances and goals

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Name Nation Position League Apps League Goals FA Cup Apps FA Cup Goals Total Apps Total Goals
Frederick Brock   England DF 1 0 0 0 1 0
Harry Brough   England DF 19 0 0 0 19 0
Fred Bullock   England DF 25 0 3 0 28 0
Jimmy Campbell   Scotland DF 1 0 0 0 1 0
Ted Davis   England GK 1 0 0 0 1 0
Ernie Islip   England FW 24 5 3 1 27 6
Billy Johnston   Scotland FW 14 4 0 0 14 4
Harry Linley   England DF 3 0 0 0 3 0
Fred Lunn   England FW 6 2 0 0 6 2
Frank Mann   England FW 33 6 3 1 36 7
Colin McKay   Scotland DF 4 0 0 0 4 0
Sandy Mutch   Scotland GK 41 0 3 0 44 0
George Richardson   England MF 27 0 3 0 30 0
Ralph Rodgerson   England DF 14 0 1 0 15 0
Ralph Shields   England FW 4 2 0 0 4 2
Charlie Slade   England DF 34 0 3 0 37 0
Billy E. Smith   England FW 2 0 0 0 2 0
Billy H. Smith   England MF 33 3 2 0 35 3
Clem Stephenson   England FW 9 1 0 0 9 1
Jack Swann   England FW 26 8 1 0 27 8
Sammy Taylor   England FW 19 4 0 0 19 4
Sam Wadsworth   England DF 6 0 0 0 6 0
Billy Watson   England DF 31 0 3 0 34 0
Tom Wilson   England DF 42 2 3 0 45 2
James Wood   England DF 34 0 2 0 36 0
William Wright   England FW 9 4 3 1 12 5