The following article is a summary of the 1920–21 football in Mandatory Palestine. As the local football association wasn't founded until July 1928, there were no officially organized competitions during the season.
Overview Following its occupation by British troops in 1917–1918, Palestine was governed by the Occupied Enemy Territory Administration. In July 1920, the military administration was replaced by a civilian administration headed by a High Commissioner,Official Records of the Second Session of the General Assembly, Supplement No. 11, United Nations Special Committee on Palestine, Report to the General Assembly, Volume 1. Lake Success, NY, 1947. A/364, 3 September 1947, Chapter II.C.68. allowing civil life to resume following the aftermath of The Great War. Maccabi societies resumed activities in several cities and settlements,In the Maccabi Union Do'ar HaYom, 7 December 1920, Historical Jewish Press including Jerusalem, Tel Aviv,The Jaffa Maccabi Branch Do'ar HaYom, 26 September 1920, Historical Jewish Press Petah TikvaOur Special Reports Do'ar HaYom, 28 November 1920, Historical Jewish Press and Hadera.Hadera Do'ar HaYom, 21 January 1921, Historical Jewish Press In Jerusalem, the Jerusalem Sports Club was established by the British in April 1921.
Known matches As no governing body existed at the time, and with limited possibilities for travel, the football sections of the Jerusalem and Tel Aviv societies played matches, mostly against teams of British soldiers stationed in the vicinity, played mostly between January and March 1921. Following the Jaffa riots in May 1921, footballing activity stopped, except for one match, played on 25 May 1921.Jaffa Echo Do'ar HaYom, 26 May 1921, Historical Jewish Press
Date VenueHomeAwayResultNotes25 September 1920 Ratisbonne Ground Maccabi JerusalemYorkshire Regiment 0–0Jerusalem Day by Day Do'ar HaYom, 26 September 1920, Historical Jewish Press 20 November 1920 Ratisbonne Ground Maccabi JerusalemRed Cross0–2Jerusalem Day by Day Do'ar HaYom, 22 November 1920, Historical Jewish Press 21 January 1921 Badrani Field Maccabi Tel AvivCavalry regiment, Sarona3–0The Sport in Jaffa Do'ar HaYom, 10 February 1921, Historical Jewish Press 28 January 1921 Sarona Ground Cavalry regiment, Sarona Maccabi Tel Aviv1–2 4 February 1921 Ajami Sports Ground Christian-Muslim Club Maccabi Tel Aviv0–5Jaffa Echo Do'ar HaYom, 16 February 1921, Historical Jewish Press 5 February 1921 Ratisbonne Ground Maccabi JerusalemLancashire Reginment2–1Interesting Contest Do'ar HaYom, 7 February 1921, Historical Jewish Press Goals for Maccabi: Itzhak Melamed, Peretz Kornfeld12 February 1921 Ratisbonne Ground Maccabi JerusalemLancashire Reginment4–6The Contest on 4th Adar Aleph Do'ar HaYom, 14 February 1921, Historical Jewish Press First goal for Maccabi: Itzhak Melamed12 March 1921 Sarona Ground British Army Officers Maccabi Tel Aviv n/aVictory of the Maccabi Do'ar HaYom, 14 March 1921, Historical Jewish Press The result wasn't given, Maccabi Tel Aviv won.16 April 1921 Ratisbonne Ground Maccabi JerusalemMaccabi Tel Aviv0–4Football Contest Jaffa-Jerusalem Do'ar HaYom, 18 April 1921, Historical Jewish Press 25 May 1921 Badrani FieldMaccabi Tel AvivIron Duke XIn/aThe result wasn't given, Iron Duke won.
Notable events During a youth football match between students from Mikveh Israel and Hebrew Gymnasium, a student from Kfar Tavor, learning in Mikveh Israel, sustained a fatal blow to the chest and died before help arrived.Latest News Do'ar HaYom, 25 January 1921, Historical Jewish Press Palestine Student Killed in Football Game The Sentinel, 4 March 1921, Historical Jewish Press On 5 May 1921, during the 1921 Jaffa riots, Maccabi Petah Tikva member Avshalom Gissin was killed by Arab assailants as he was defending Petah Tikva.Gissin, Avshalom Izkor The club was renamed after Gissin, adopting the name Maccabi Avshalom Petah Tikva.Avshalom Gissin, Willy Berger and Gaul Machlis Set a Tradition for the Luzons Asher Goldberg, 27 April 2003, HaAretz
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