1921–22 Nelson F.C. season
Encyclopedia
The 1921–22 season was the 41st season of football played by Nelson
. It was their first season as a professional club, and their first in the Football League Third Division North
, after the restructuring of the English league system
. The side ended the season in 16th place in the division, finishing behind Barrow
on goal average. The campaign started on 27 August 1921 with a 1–2 defeat to Wigan Borough
, which was attended by a then record crowd of 9,000 at Seedhill
. Nelson's first win in the Football League
came on 3 September 1921, when they beat Wigan Borough 4–1 at Springfield Park
. The season ended with a 0–0 draw at home to Tranmere Rovers
on 6 May 1922. By the end of the campaign, the side had a league record of 13 wins, seven draws and 18 defeats, giving them a total of 33 points.
In the FA Cup
, the side entered the competition in the Fourth Qualifying Round. They defeated Accrington Stanley
and then won their Fifth Qualifying Round match 3–2 at home to Rochdale
. However, they did not progess past the Sixth Qualifying Round, when they were knocked out by Worksop Town
.
, while the red area (positions 19 and 20) shows the teams who had to apply for re-election to the League at the end of the season. The highest position achieved by Nelson during the season was 1st place, after the fourth match. In the middle of the season Nelson slipped down the league table, eventually finishing in 16th position.
Pld = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, F = Goals scored, A = Goals against, GA = Goal average, Pts = Points (Win = 2 points, Draw = 1 point, Loss = 0 points)
Football League Third Division North
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Nelson F.C.
Nelson F.C. are an English football club, based in Nelson, Lancashire. They are currently members of the North West Counties Football League Division One, who played their home matches at Victoria Park, Lomeshaye Way. They are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association.-Early years:...
. It was their first season as a professional club, and their first in the Football League Third Division North
Football League Third Division North
The Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
, after the restructuring of the English league system
English football league system
The English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for association football clubs in England, with six teams from Wales also competing...
. The side ended the season in 16th place in the division, finishing behind Barrow
Barrow A.F.C.
Barrow A.F.C. are an English football club founded in 1901 based in the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria. Following promotion at the end of the 2007–08 season, they currently play in the Conference National. The club spent over fifty years in the Football League between 1921 and 1972, and have...
on goal average. The campaign started on 27 August 1921 with a 1–2 defeat to Wigan Borough
Wigan Borough F.C.
Wigan Borough Football Club was an English football club from the town of Wigan, Lancashire. It was a fourth attempt at establishing football in Wigan, their forerunners Wigan County, Wigan United and Wigan Town all having fallen into liquidation previously....
, which was attended by a then record crowd of 9,000 at Seedhill
Seedhill Football Ground
The Seedhill Football Ground was a football stadium in Nelson, Lancashire. It was the home of current North West Counties League Division One side Nelson F.C. from 1905 until 1968. Nelson later moved to Victoria Park, before the ground was demolished in 1980 to make way for the M65 motorway...
. Nelson's first win in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
came on 3 September 1921, when they beat Wigan Borough 4–1 at Springfield Park
Springfield Park (Wigan)
Springfield Park was a multi-purpose stadium in Wigan, England. It was the home ground of Wigan Athletic F.C. until the club moved to the new JJB Stadium after the 1999 season. At its largest, the stadium held 40,000...
. The season ended with a 0–0 draw at home to Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
on 6 May 1922. By the end of the campaign, the side had a league record of 13 wins, seven draws and 18 defeats, giving them a total of 33 points.
In the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
, the side entered the competition in the Fourth Qualifying Round. They defeated Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley F.C. (1891)
Accrington Stanley was an English football club based in Accrington, Lancashire. Established in 1891, the club played in the Football League between 1921 and 1962, when the club became only the second ever to resign from the League mid-season. The club went into liquidation in 1966...
and then won their Fifth Qualifying Round match 3–2 at home to Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
. However, they did not progess past the Sixth Qualifying Round, when they were knocked out by Worksop Town
Worksop Town F.C.
Worksop Town Football Club are a semi-professional English football club from Worksop, Nottinghamshire who play in the Northern Premier League Premier Division...
.
Events
- 27 August: Billy HalliganBilly HalliganWilliam "Billy" Halligan was an Irish professional association football player, who played as a centre forward. Born in Athlone, he started his career in his homeland before moving to England and playing for seven different Football League clubs. At the end of his career, he also played for two...
scores Nelson's first-ever goal in the Football LeagueThe Football LeagueThe Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
, two minutes into the first game of the season against Wigan BoroughWigan Borough F.C.Wigan Borough Football Club was an English football club from the town of Wigan, Lancashire. It was a fourth attempt at establishing football in Wigan, their forerunners Wigan County, Wigan United and Wigan Town all having fallen into liquidation previously....
. - 3 September: Nelson get their first win in the Football League, defeating Wigan Borough 4–1 at Springfield ParkSpringfield Park (Wigan)Springfield Park was a multi-purpose stadium in Wigan, England. It was the home ground of Wigan Athletic F.C. until the club moved to the new JJB Stadium after the 1999 season. At its largest, the stadium held 40,000...
. - 8 October: Nelson's six-match unbeaten run in the league comes to an end following a 1–4 defeat away at Accrington StanleyAccrington Stanley F.C. (1891)Accrington Stanley was an English football club based in Accrington, Lancashire. Established in 1891, the club played in the Football League between 1921 and 1962, when the club became only the second ever to resign from the League mid-season. The club went into liquidation in 1966...
. - 19 November: Nelson progress through to the Fifth Qualifying Round of the FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
with a 1–0 win over Accrington Stanley. - 3 December: A 3–2 victory over RochdaleRochdale A.F.C.Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
sees Nelson through to the Sixth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup. - 17 December: Nelson are knocked out of the FA Cup, losing 1–2 away at Worksop TownWorksop Town F.C.Worksop Town Football Club are a semi-professional English football club from Worksop, Nottinghamshire who play in the Northern Premier League Premier Division...
. - 2 January: The side achieve their biggest win of the campaign, a 4–0 victory against Wrexham at SeedhillSeedhill Football GroundThe Seedhill Football Ground was a football stadium in Nelson, Lancashire. It was the home of current North West Counties League Division One side Nelson F.C. from 1905 until 1968. Nelson later moved to Victoria Park, before the ground was demolished in 1980 to make way for the M65 motorway...
. - 28 January: Hartlepools UnitedHartlepool United F.C.Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
inflict Nelson's heaviest defeat of the season, a 6–1 drubbing at Victoria ParkVictoria Park, HartlepoolVictoria Park is a 7,856 capacity football ground in Hartlepool, County Durham, England and it is the home of Hartlepool United.The four sides of the ground are known as the Town End Terrace , the Niramax Stand , the Cyril Knowles Stand and the Rink End Victoria Park is a 7,856 capacity football...
. - 6 May: Nelson draw their final league game of the season, a 0–0 draw at home to Tranmere RoversTranmere Rovers F.C.Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
.
League progress
The chart below shows Nelson's league positions throughout the course of the 1921–22 season. The green area (position 1) represents the automatic promotion place to the Football League Second DivisionFootball League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
, while the red area (positions 19 and 20) shows the teams who had to apply for re-election to the League at the end of the season. The highest position achieved by Nelson during the season was 1st place, after the fourth match. In the middle of the season Nelson slipped down the league table, eventually finishing in 16th position.
League position
| Barrow Barrow A.F.C. Barrow A.F.C. are an English football club founded in 1901 based in the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria. Following promotion at the end of the 2007–08 season, they currently play in the Conference National. The club spent over fifty years in the Football League between 1921 and 1972, and have... |
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| Nelson Nelson F.C. Nelson F.C. are an English football club, based in Nelson, Lancashire. They are currently members of the North West Counties Football League Division One, who played their home matches at Victoria Park, Lomeshaye Way. They are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association.-Early years:... |
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| Wigan Borough Wigan Borough F.C. Wigan Borough Football Club was an English football club from the town of Wigan, Lancashire. It was a fourth attempt at establishing football in Wigan, their forerunners Wigan County, Wigan United and Wigan Town all having fallen into liquidation previously.... |
Pld = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, F = Goals scored, A = Goals against, GA = Goal average, Pts = Points (Win = 2 points, Draw = 1 point, Loss = 0 points)
Player details
During the 1921–22 season, 29 different players appeared in at least one competitive match for Nelson. The table below shows the number of appearances and goals scored by each player.| Nat. | Position | Player | Third Division (North) Football League Third Division North The Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position... |
FA Cup FA Cup The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's... |
Total | |||
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| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
 |
Harold Andrews Harold Andrews Harold Edgar Ramsden Andrews was an English professional association footballer who played as an inside forward. Born in Earby, he played eight matches and scored one goal in the Football League Third Division North for Nelson during the 1921–22 season before going on to become a prolific... |
8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | |
| |
Richard Baird Richard Baird Richard Baird was an English professional association footballer who played as a winger. He played two matches in the Football League Third Division North for Nelson in the 1921–22 season.-References:... |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
 |
John Bennie John Bennie John Bennie was a Scottish professional association footballer who played as a centre forward. In the 1921–22 season, he played 12 league games and scored six goals for Nelson in the Football League Third Division North.... |
12 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 6 | |
| |
Robert Bruce Robert Bruce (footballer) Robert Fotheringham Bruce was a Scottish professional association footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He played seven matches in the Football League Third Division North and made three FA Cup appearances for Nelson in the 1921–22 season.-References:... |
7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| |
Harry Clegg Harry Clegg Harry Clegg was an English professional association footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He played five matches in the Football League Third Division North for Nelson in the 1921–22 season.-References:... |
5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| |
Eddie Eastwood Eddie Eastwood Edmund "Eddie" Eastwood was an English professional association footballer who played as a full-back.Born in Nelson, Lancashire, he began his football career with local club Barrowford. In June 1920, he signed as an amateur for Nelson, who at the time played in the Central League... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| |
Joe Eddleston Joe Eddleston Joseph "Joe" Eddleston was an English professional association footballer who played as an inside forward. He played in The Football League for Blackburn Rovers, Nelson, Swindon Town and Accrington Stanley. He made over 400 league appearances altogether, scoring 178 goals.-References:... |
37 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 40 | 17 | |
| |
Thomas Garnett | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Billy Halligan Billy Halligan William "Billy" Halligan was an Irish professional association football player, who played as a centre forward. Born in Athlone, he started his career in his homeland before moving to England and playing for seven different Football League clubs. At the end of his career, he also played for two... |
17 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 20 | 6 | ||
| |
Harry Hargreaves Harry Hargreaves Harold 'Harry' Hargreaves was a professional footballer who played for Great Harwood, East Lancashire Regiment, Nelson, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Pontypridd, Tottenham Hotspur, Burnley, Rossendale United and Barnoldswick Town. Outside of football, he was also a keen cricketer and bowls player.-... |
13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 2 | |
| |
Ray Hartley Ray Hartley Raymond "Ray" Hartley was an English professional association footballer who played as a wing half. He played one match in the Football League Third Division North for Nelson in the 1921–22 season.-References:... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| |
Harry Heyes Harry Heyes Henry "Harry" Heyes was an English professional association footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He played 26 matches in the Football League Third Division North for Nelson in the 1921–22 season. He also had spells in non-league football with Chorley, Coppull and Horwich RMI.-References:... |
26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | |
| |
Sid Hoad Sid Hoad Sidney James "Sid" Hoad was an English professional footballer who played as a winger. He played over 250 matches in the Football League, for a total of four different clubs.-Blackpool:... |
16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | |
| |
Thomas Jacques Thomas Jacques (footballer) Thomas Edgar Jacques was an English professional footballer who played as a half-back. He started his career in non-League football with Accrington Stanley and Darwen, before moving into the professional game with Blackburn Rovers in March 1912. Jacques made two League appearances for Blackburn... |
17 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 20 | 1 | |
| |
Bob Lilley Bob Lilley (footballer) Robert "Bob" Lilley was an English professional footballer who played as a defender. He played over 66 matches in the Football League for Nelson.-References:... |
34 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 37 | 1 | |
| |
William McGreevy William McGreevy William James McGreevy was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward. He made three appearances in the Football League for Nelson in the 1921–22 season.-References:... |
3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
| |
Cecil Marsh Cecil Marsh Cecil A. Marsh was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward.Born in Darnall, he started his career with local side Sheffield United before moving to Football League Second Division club Blackpool in the 1919–20 season... |
17 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 2 | |
| |
Harry Mellor | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| |
James Price James Price (footballer) James Price was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a defender.-References:... |
20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | |
| |
Wilfred Proctor Wilfred Proctor Wilfred Proctor was an English professional footballer who played as a winger. He started his career with his hometown club Blackpool but failed to make a first-team appearance and left the club in 1921 to join newly promoted Nelson... |
14 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 1 | |
| |
Clement Rigg Clement Rigg Clement Rigg was an English professional footballer who played as a full back. He played over 250 matches in the Football League for Nelson.-References:... |
29 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 32 | 0 | |
| |
John Steel | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 | |
| |
Albert Turner Albert Turner Albert James Turner was an English professional footballer who played as a wing half. He made one appearance in the Football League Third Division North for Nelson in the 1921–22 season.-References:... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| |
William Waller William Waller (footballer) William Waller was an English professional association footballer who played as an inside forward. He played in the Football League for Nelson, Burnley and Queens Park Rangers.-References:... |
25 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 28 | 10 | |
| |
John Walmsley John Walmsley John William Walmsley was an English professional association footballer who played predominantly as a wing half. Born in Accrington, he initially played Sunday league football for St Paul's and Accrington St Peter's... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| |
Bob Wilde Bob Wilde Robert "Bob" Wilde was an English professional footballer who played as a wing half. He made almost 100 appearances in the Football League between 1919 and 1924.-References:... |
36 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 39 | 0 | |
| |
David Wilson David Wilson (footballer born 1884) David Wilson was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a wing half. He started his career in the Scottish Football League and went on to play 475 matches in the Football League before retiring at the age of 40. He appeared in one international match for Scotland in 1913... |
34 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 37 | 3 | |
| |
William Wilson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| |
James Wootton James Wootton James Wootton was an English footballer.-Playing career:Wootton played as a guest for Walsall during World War I before joining Port Vale as a guest amateur in October 1916. After four goals in seventeen games in the war league he was unavailable from March 1917. He had a spell at Leek Alexandra... |
14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1 | |
Football League Third Division NorthFootball League Third Division NorthThe Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
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