The 1920–21 season was the second season in the history of Leeds United Association Football Club, a professional football club from Leeds, England. It was the club's first season in the Football League, having been elected into the League ahead of the new season from the Midland Football League. The club finished 14th in the Football League Second Division out of 20 teams, and also played in the FA Cup, taking part in two qualifying rounds before withdrawing from the competition.

Background Leeds' first football club, Leeds City F.C., were formed in 1904, but were expelled from the Football League after eight matches of the 1919–20 season, over allegations of making illegal payments to players during the First World War. Leeds City's playing squad and equipment were auctioned off by the Football League at the Hotel Metropole in Leeds on 17 October 1919, and Leeds United A.F.C. was founded at Salem Chapel later that day in a public meeting chaired by local solicitor Alf Masser. The club played in the Midland Football League during the 1919–20 season, occupying the space vacated by Leeds City's reserve team, and were initially managed by former Leeds City player Dick Ray. A merger with Huddersfield Town A.F.C. was proposed shortly after by their chairman Hilton Crowther, though the club's supporters instead bought out Crowther's share in the club, and he became chairman of Leeds United and invested a sum of £35,000 in the club. He also appointed Huddersfield manager Arthur Fairclough as manager of Leeds United, with Dick Ray stepping down to become Fairclough's assistant. Leeds were elected into the Football League on 31 May 1920 and were placed in the Second Division.

Season summary

Competitions Second Division

League table

Matches WinDrawLoss +First Division match resultsDateOpponentVenueResultF–AScorersAttendancePort ValeA0–215,000South ShieldsH1–2Armitage16,958Port ValeH3–1Best, Ellson (2)15,000South ShieldsA0–315,000Leicester CityA1–1Ellson16,000Leicester CityH3–1Ellson, Goldthorpe (2, 1 pen.)11,000BlackpoolA0–18,000BlackpoolH2–0Walton, Mason10,000Sheffield WednesdayA0–220,000Sheffield WednesdayH2–0Thompson, Ellson15,000Hull CityA1–0Thompson10,000Hull CityH1–1Ellson20,000StokeA0–410,000StokeH0–015,000Coventry CityA1–1Lyon18,000Coventry CityH4–0Thompson (2), Ellson, Mason10,000Notts CountyA2–1Lyon (2)14,000Notts CountyH3–0Thompson (3)12,000BirminghamA0–120,000FulhamH0–025,000FulhamA0–130,000BirminghamH1–0Baker (pen.)24,000Rotherham CountyH1–0Ellson18,000Wolverhampton WanderersA0–320,000Wolverhampton WanderersH3–0Thompson (2), Lyon14,000West Ham UnitedH1–2Thompson15,000West Ham UnitedA0–323,000Stockport CountyA1–3Thompson9,000Stockport CountyH0–220,000Clapton OrientA0–117,000Clapton OrientH2–1Musgrove, Baker (pen.)18,000BuryA1–1Howarth10,000BuryH1–0Musgrove16,000Bristol CityH0–120,000Cardiff CityA0–130,000Cardiff CityH1–2Howarth20,000Bristol CityA0–024,000BarnsleyH0–013,000BarnsleyA1–1Howarth12,000Nottingham ForestH1–1Howarth12,000Nottingham ForestA0–18,000Rotherham CountyA2–0Howarth (2, 1 pen.)10,000

FA Cup

+FA Cup match detailsRoundDateOpponentVenueResultF–AScorersAttendanceExtra preliminary roundBoothtownH5–2Armitage (2), O'Doherty (3)1,500Preliminary roundLeeds SteelworksH7–0Butler (3), Thompson, Hart, O'Doherty, Waterhouse3,000Leeds United withdrew from the FA Cup after the preliminary round.

References

Bibliography