1919–20 Football League
Season | 1919–20 |
---|---|
Champions | West Bromwich Albion |
Relegated | Lincoln City |
Expelled | Leeds City |
New Clubs in League | Coventry City Stoke West Ham United South Shields Rotherham County Port Vale (Mid-season) |
← 1914–15 1920–21 → |
The 1919–20 season was the 28th season of The Football League, and the first season after football was suspended after outbreak of World War I
Compared to 1914–15, the number of Football League member clubs increased from 40 to 44, initially with five new clubs.
Team changes
Resuming after four years, the Football League expanded its numbers by four, maintaining competition in two Divisions of equal size. During previous such expansions, 1898 and 1905, the relegated clubs from the previous season were re-elected, while the top Second Division sides were promoted as usual.
Following that precedent, the two top Second Division sides in 1915, Derby and Preston did move on up. Chelsea, who had finished 19th that First Division season, were, as expected, re-elected.
Discussion of how the expansion should be handled began on 13 January 1919 when James Catton published an article in Athletic News raising the issue of match-fixing which had dogged the 1914/15 League season and been left unresolved because of the cessation of the League for the duration of the war.
In the article, Catton argued one of the two teams that ought to be returned to the first division (if that league was to be expanded, as had already been proposed), should be Chelsea as they had been relegated due to the match-fixing. Catton then considered the argument that Tottenham, who had also been relegated with Chelsea should likewise be reinstated, although he noted there was nothing to link Tottenham’s relegation with anything amiss in the final season before the cessation of the League for the duration.[1]
In 1915, Manchester United avoided relegation by winning a game against Liverpool 2-0 on 2 April 1915 which was fixed in United's favour, with players from both sides benefiting from bets placed upon the result 1915 British football betting scandal. At the end of the season, Manchester United finished one point and one place ahead of Chelsea. Had the game against Liverpool ended in a draw Chelsea would have finished ahead of United on goal average, if Liverpool had won then Chelsea would have finished one place and one point ahead of Manchester United.
Arsenal, who had finished 6th in the Second Division in 1914-15 (later amended to 5th place in 1975 after an error in the calculation of goal average was discovered) were also elected to the First Division.
It has been alleged that Arsenal Chairman Sir Henry Norris bribed or in some way unduly influenced the voting members of the Football League, in particular, Football League President John McKenna at the League's AGM and that McKenna made a speech recommending Arsenal's promotion ahead of Spurs thanks to the formers' longer spell in the League (Arsenal joined in 1893, Spurs in 1908), although Barnsley and Wolves, who both finished ahead of Arsenal, had been members of the league longer than Arsenal; Wolves since its inception in 1888.[2] However, detailed reports of the meeting in The Sportsman, Athletic News, Daily Mirror and The Times the following day made no mention of this. They did report that Football League Management Committee member C.E. Sutcliffe made a speech stating that the expansion would give them an opportunity to do right by Chelsea. It would seem strange if such a speech were made by the League President and somehow all the media failed to report it. Arsenal have not been relegated from the top flight of the English game since, the only club in continuous membership since 1919.
In the Second Division, Port Vale took over from Leeds City after 4 October 1919, when Leeds were disbanded by F.A. order following alleged irregular practices. Port Vale then inherited Leeds’ record up to that date.[3]
After the season, Grimsby Town were relegated to the newly formed Third Division. Lincoln City was not re-elected to Second Division and Leeds United was elected to replace it. Cardiff City were elected to take the second available place in Second Division.
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[4] and in Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79,[3] 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. 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.
First Division
Season | 1919–20 |
---|---|
Champions | West Bromwich Albion (1st English title) |
Relegated | Notts County, The Wednesday |
Matches played | 462 |
Goals scored | 1,332 (2.88 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Fred Morris (West Bromwich Albion), 37 [5] |
Biggest home win | West Bromwich Albion – Notts County 8–0 (25 Oct 1919) |
Biggest away win | Burnley – Bradford Park Avenue 2–6 (22 Nov 1919) Preston North End – Bradford City 1–5 (1 Sep 1919) Bradford Park Avenue – West Bromwich Albion 0–4 (3 Apr 1920) Derby County – West Bromwich Albion 0–4 (20 Dec 1919) |
Highest scoring | Manchester City – Blackburn Rovers 8–2 (8 Nov 1919) |
← 1914–15 1920–21 → |
Pos | Team | Pld | HW | HD | HL | HGF | HGA | AW | AD | AL | AGF | AGA | GAv | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | West Bromwich Albion | 42 | 17 | 1 | 3 | 65 | 21 | 11 | 3 | 7 | 39 | 26 | 2.213 | 60 | League Champions |
2 | Burnley | 42 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 43 | 27 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 22 | 32 | 1.102 | 51 | |
3 | Chelsea | 42 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 33 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 12 | 23 | 41 | 1.098 | 49 | |
4 | Liverpool | 42 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 35 | 18 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 24 | 26 | 1.341 | 48 | |
5 | Sunderland | 42 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 45 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 14 | 27 | 43 | 1.220 | 48 | |
6 | Bolton Wanderers | 42 | 11 | 3 | 7 | 35 | 29 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 37 | 36 | 1.108 | 47 | |
7 | Manchester City | 42 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 52 | 27 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 19 | 35 | 1.145 | 45 | |
8 | Newcastle United | 42 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 31 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 13 | 26 | 1.128 | 43 | |
9 | Aston Villa | 42 | 11 | 3 | 7 | 49 | 36 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 26 | 37 | 1.027 | 42 | FA Cup Winners |
10 | Arsenal | 42 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 32 | 21 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 24 | 37 | 0.966 | 42 | |
11 | Bradford Park Avenue | 42 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 31 | 26 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 29 | 37 | 0.952 | 42 | |
12 | Manchester United | 42 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 20 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 34 | 33 | 1.080 | 40 | |
13 | Middlesbrough | 42 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 35 | 23 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 26 | 42 | 0.938 | 40 | |
14 | Sheffield United | 42 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 43 | 20 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 16 | 49 | 0.855 | 40 | |
15 | Bradford City | 42 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 36 | 25 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 18 | 38 | 0.857 | 39 | |
16 | Everton | 42 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 42 | 29 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 27 | 39 | 1.015 | 38 | |
17 | Oldham Athletic | 42 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 33 | 19 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 16 | 33 | 0.942 | 38 | |
18 | Derby County | 42 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 18 | 1 | 7 | 13 | 11 | 39 | 0.825 | 38 | |
19 | Preston North End | 42 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 35 | 27 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 22 | 46 | 0.781 | 38 | |
20 | Blackburn Rovers | 42 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 48 | 30 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 16 | 47 | 0.831 | 37 | |
21 | Notts County | 42 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 39 | 25 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 17 | 49 | 0.757 | 36 | Relegated |
22 | The Wednesday | 42 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 14 | 23 | 1 | 5 | 15 | 14 | 41 | 0.438 | 23 |
Results
Maps
Second Division
Season | 1919–20 |
---|---|
Champions | Tottenham Hotspur (1st title) |
Relegated | Grimsby Town |
Failed re-election | Lincoln City |
Matches played | 462 |
Goals scored | 1,285 (2.78 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Sammy Taylor (Huddersfield Town), 35 [5] |
Biggest home win | Birmingham – Nottingham Forest 8–0 (10 Mar 1920) |
Biggest away win | Barnsley – Birmingham 0–5 (14 Feb 1920) Leicester City – Bury 0–5 (10 Apr 1920) |
Highest scoring | Hull City – Wolverhampton Wanderers 10–3 (27 Dec 1919) |
← 1914–15 1920–21 → |
Pos | Team | Pld | HW | HD | HL | HGF | HGA | AW | AD | AL | AGF | AGA | GAv | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 42 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 60 | 11 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 42 | 21 | 3.188 | 70 | Division Champions, promoted |
2 | Huddersfield Town | 42 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 58 | 13 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 39 | 25 | 2.553 | 64 | Promoted |
3 | Birmingham | 42 | 14 | 3 | 4 | 54 | 16 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 31 | 18 | 2.500 | 56 | |
4 | Blackpool | 42 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 40 | 18 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 25 | 29 | 1.383 | 52 | |
5 | Bury | 42 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 35 | 15 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 25 | 29 | 1.364 | 48 | |
6 | Fulham | 42 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 36 | 18 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 25 | 32 | 1.220 | 47 | |
7 | West Ham United[a] | 42 | 14 | 3 | 4 | 34 | 14 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 13 | 26 | 1.175 | 47 | |
8 | Bristol City | 42 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 30 | 18 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 16 | 25 | 1.070 | 43 | |
9 | South Shields[a] | 42 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 47 | 18 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 11 | 30 | 1.208 | 42 | |
10 | Stoke[a] | 42 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 37 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 13 | 23 | 39 | 1.111 | 42 | |
11 | Hull City | 42 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 53 | 23 | 5 | 2 | 14 | 25 | 49 | 1.083 | 42 | |
12 | Barnsley | 42 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 41 | 28 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 20 | 27 | 1.109 | 40 | |
13 | Port Vale[a] | 42 | 11 | 3 | 7 | 35 | 27 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 24 | 35 | 0.952 | 40[b] | |
14 | Leicester City | 42 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 26 | 29 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 15 | 32 | 0.672 | 40 | |
15 | Clapton Orient | 42 | 14 | 3 | 4 | 34 | 17 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 17 | 42 | 0.864 | 38 | |
16 | Stockport County | 42 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 34 | 24 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 37 | 0.852 | 37 | |
17 | Rotherham County[a] | 42 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 32 | 27 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 19 | 56 | 0.614 | 34 | |
18 | Nottingham Forest | 42 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 23 | 22 | 2 | 5 | 14 | 20 | 51 | 0.589 | 31 | |
19 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 42 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 41 | 32 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 14 | 48 | 0.688 | 30 | |
20 | Coventry City[a] | 42 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 26 | 2 | 4 | 15 | 15 | 47 | 0.479 | 29 | Re-elected |
21 | Lincoln City | 42 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 27 | 30 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 17 | 71 | 0.436 | 27 | Failed re-election[c] |
22 | Grimsby Town | 42 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 23 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 11 | 51 | 0.453 | 25 | Relegated[d] |
Notes:
- ^ a b c d e f New club in the league
- ^ Leeds City were expelled from the league after 8 games; Port Vale, formerly Burslem Port Vale, took their place and inherited their record.
- ^ Lincoln City were not re-elected, but they returned to the league later, for the season 1921–22, surfacing this time in 3rd Division North, after having been absent only for one season.
- ^ Grimsby Town participated in the Football League Third Division during the following season.
Results
Maps
See also
References
- ^ "Norris at the Arsenal: The first suggestion that Arsenal could be elected to the 1st division. | the History of Arsenal". 21 December 2017.
- ^ Spurling (2004). Rebels for the Cause. p. 40.
- ^ a b Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
- ^ "England 1919-20". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 5 February 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
- ^ a b "English League Leading Goalscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
Sources
- Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.