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.
| 1920–21 season | ||
|---|---|---|
| Chairman |  William Hardcastle Joseph Barlow | |
| Manager | Ambrose Langley (until 23 March 1921) Herbert Chapman (from 31 March 1921) | |
| Football League First Division | 17th | |
| FA Cup | Third round | |
| Top goalscorer | League: Jack Swann (8) All: Jack Swann (8) | |
| Highest home attendance | 33,862 vs Sheffield United (29 March 1921) | |
| Lowest home attendance | 14,000 vs Oldham Athletic (2 May 1921) | |
| Biggest win | 5–1 vs West Bromwich Albion (23 October 1920) | |
| Biggest defeat | 0–4 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
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| 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
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
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| 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
| 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
| 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 |