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After 18 seasons as members of the Southern League, Brentford were named as founder members of the new Football League Third Division for the 1920–21 campaign.[1] In preparation, 11 new players were signed and £2,000 was spent on improvements to Griffin Park.[2] Despite flirting with a position in mid-table during August and September 1920, the club endured a torrid season, sinking to the re-election places by October and largely remaining there for the rest of the season.[3] The FA Cup was exited in the first round.[3] Brentford successfully applied for re-election to the Football League at the end of the season without going to a poll.[4] Three directors resigned after the season, due to a deficit of nearly £6,000 (equivalent to £336,200 in 2024).[2]
The goalscoring of former ArsenalforwardHarry King provided one of the rare bright spots of the season, with his 18 goals accounting for nearly half that of the team's total.[5] King also became the first Brentford player to register a Football League hat-trick in a 5–0 thrashing of Grimsby Town on 28 March 1921,[5] the Bees' biggest win of the season.[3] The result established the club record for the highest winning margin in a Football League match, which would stand until broken in September 1929.[6] Secretary manager Fred Halliday stood down after the season and reverted to an administrative role within the club.[7] Management adviser Billy Brawn also stepped down.[8] Brentford's 9 league victories during the season is the joint-fewest in the club's history and Jimmy Hodson became the club's record-oldest player when he appeared in the final match of the season at age 40 years, 8 months and two days.[9]