Aston Villa's 1919-20 season

<-1914-15

Season 37 | 1919-20

1920-21->

The Story of 1919-20

30 August 1919, Villa 1-2 Sunderland, Roker Park, Scorer: Clem Stephenson.

Following the end of hostilities the Football League is reformed post WWI with Villa’s 1,025th League and FA Cup match coming 4 years, 4 months and 3 days since game 1,024.

Clem Stephenson (pictured), scored Villa's first League goal in 1,586 days but Villa lose at Roker Park. Meanwhile, full back Ernie Blackburn made his debut aged 27 despite having joined Villa from youth football whilst winger Dicky York also made his first appearance aged 20 having joined from Birchfield Rangers in March 1915 aged 15.

1 September 1919, Villa 2-2 Derby County, Villa Park, Scorers: Hubert Bourne, Clem Stephenson.

In George Ramsay's remarkable 1,000th League and FA Cup game as Secretary Manager Villa secure a first point of the season as goalkeeper Jim Lee and forward Hubert Bourne (pictured) made their Villa debuts aged 27 and 23 after joining from Wulfurians and Manchester United in March and July 1919 respectively.

6 September 1919, Villa 0-3 Sunderland, Villa Park, Scorers: None

Sam Hardy (pictured) returns in goal but Villa lose for the second time in three games as they lose home and away to Sunderland.

8 September 1919, Villa 0-1 Derby County, Baseball Ground, Scorers: None.

Midfielder Joe Worrell and winger Arthur Dorrell (pictured) made their Villa debuts aged 33 and 23 after joining from Stourbridge FC and Carey Hall FC in May 1919 but Villa are defeated for the third time in four games on their return to League action as they are beaten at the Baseball Ground.

13 September 1919, Villa 1-2 Liverpool, Anfield, Scorer: Hubert Bourne.

Hubert Bourne (pictured) scored his second goal in four but Villa lose a third consecutive game and for the fourth time in five as they are beaten at Anfield. Meanwhile, forward Arthur Davis made his Villa debut aged 19 after joining from Evesham FC.

20 September 1919, Villa 0-1 Liverpool, Villa Park, Scorers: None.

Left back Jimmy Lawrence (pictured) made his debut aged 27 after having joined from Earlstown Boys Club in May 1918 but Villa lose a fourth consecutive game and for the fifth time in six as they are beaten home and away by Liverpool.

27 September 1919, Villa 1-6 Bradford Park Avenue, Park Avenue, Scorers: Clem Stephenson.

Clem Stephenson (pictured) scored but Villa’s troubling start to the season continues as they lose a fifth consecutive game suffering a hammering at Park Avenue to remain winless in seven division one games. Meanwhile, midfielder George Hadley made his Villa debut aged 30 after joining from Southampton in March 1919. Also making their debut was full back Walter Maiden who made his sole appearance for Villa aged 23 after joining from Kidderminster Harriers in March 1915 before moving on to Stourbridge FC in September 1920. Appearing for the last time after four games was midfielder Joe Worrell, 33, who subsequently moved on to Stourbridge FC in May 1921.

4 October 1919, Villa 1-0 Bradford Park Avenue, Villa Park, Scorers: Clem Stephenson.

Clem Stephenson (pictured) scored for the second successive game to clinch Villa's first win of the season at the eighth attempt and stop a run of five consecutive losses as forward Dick Sloley made his debut aged 24 after joining on loan from Corinthians.

11 October 1919, Villa 0-3 Preston North End, Deepdale, Scorers: None.

George Ramsay (pictured) named his first unchanged line up following a first win in eight this season but Villa return to losing ways at Deepdale to record a seventh defeat in nine games as forward Dick Sloley made his second and final appearance for Villa aged 24 before returning to Corinthians at the end of his loan spell.

18 October 1919, Villa 2-4 Preston North End, Villa Park, Scorers: Arthur Dorrell, Clem Stephenson.

Clem Stephenson (pictured) scored for the third time in four games and Arthur Dorrell hit his first for the club but Villa record consecutive home and away losses to Preston to make it one win, a draw and eight defeats in ten division one games so far this season as their post WWI got off to the worst imaginable start. Villa handed their latest debuts in this match to forward Walter Boyman and midfielder Jack Hampson, 28 and 22, after they joined from Cradley Heath St Luke’s and Leeds City in August and October 1919 respectively. As a result, having started the season with six of eleven players who had represented Villa in their final game of 1914-15, across the subsequent ten games Villa had handed debuts to thirteen players without finding the necessary combination to win football matches. Meanwhile, midfielder George Hadley became the latest of four new arrivals who also made their final appearances over that ten game period as he made his fourth and final appearance aged 30 before moving on to Coventry City in August 1920.

25 October 1919, Villa 4-1 Middlesbrough, Ayresome Park, Scorers: Walter Boyman (hat-trick), Arthur Dorrell.

Frank Barson (pictured) made his Villa debut as fellow new arrival Walter Boyman hit a hat-trick to earn Villa a second win in eleven games, losing eight. Meanwhile, centre back Barson became the fourteenth debutant of the season and a fifteenth followed with fellow cult hero forward Billy Kirton also making his Villa debut aged 22 after joining from Leeds City for a fee of £500.

1 November 1919, Villa 5-3 Middlesbrough, Villa Park, Scorers: Walter Boyman, Arthur Dorrell, Clem Stephenson (hat-trick).

Clem Stephenson (pictured) scored a hat-trick to make it six goals in six games to earn Villa a second successive win as Walter Boyman scored his fourth goal in two for good measure. Villa’s consecutive home and away wins over Boro had seen them score nine goals having scored just seven in their previous ten, losing eight. Villa's abrupt about turn in form was as welcome as it was unexpected but a much changed side was now beginning to settle.

10 November 1919, Villa 2-1 West Bromwich Albion, The Hawthorns, Scorers: Walter Boyman, Clem Stephenson.

Clem Stephenson (pictured) scored his seventh goal in seven games as Walter Boyman scored his fifth goal in three for good measure to help Villa record a third successive victory for the first time this campaign and for the first time since the 1913-14 season as they win at the Hawthorns and make it four wins, a draw and eight defeats in their thirteen division one games this season. Meanwhile, Villa handed their sixteenth debut in thirteen matches to right back Jack Thompson, 19, his arrival from Ashington in September 1919.

15 November 1919, Villa 2-4 West Bromwich Albion, Villa Park, Scorers: Walter Boyman, Billy Kirton.

Billy Kirton (pictured) scored his first goal for the club but Villa lose for the first time in four despite Walter Boyman also scoring his sixth goal in four appearances to make it four wins, a draw and nine defeats in their fourteen division one games this season.

22 November 1919, Villa 2-1 Sheffield United, Bramall Lane, Scorers: Billy Kirton (brace).

Billy Kirton (pictured) scored a brace to make it three goals in two games and a fourth win in five for Villa as they bounce back from a first defeat in four to win at Bramall Lane and make it five wins, a draw and nine defeats in their fifteen division one games this season.

29 November 1919, Villa 4-0 Sheffield United, Villa Park, Scorers: Clem Stephenson (four).

Clem Stephenson (pictured) hit all four goals as Villa make it successive wins and five victories in their last six games to record home and away triumphs over Sheffield United and make it five wins in their last six matches and six wins, a draw and nine defeats in their sixteen division one games this season.

6 December 1919, Villa 2-0 Manchester United, Villa Park, Scorers: Walter Boyman, Billy Kirton.

Billy Kirton (pictured) scored to make it four goals in as many games whilst Walter Boyman hit his seventh in seventh as Villa record a third consecutive victory for the second time in seven games and make it seven wins, a draw and nine defeats in their seventeen division one games this season.

13 December 1919, Villa 2-1 Manchester United, Old Trafford, Scorers: Clem Stephenson (brace).

Clem Stephenson (pictured) hit a brace to secure four consecutive wins for the first time since March 1914 and make it twelve goals in his last twelve games as Villa's vastly improved form continues as they make it eight wins, a draw and nine defeats in their eighteen division one games this season.

20 December 1919, Villa 3-0 Oldham Athletic, Villa Park, Scorers: Harold Edgley, Clem Stephenson, Billy Kirton.

Clem Stephenson (pictured) scored his thirteenth goal in thirteen games as Villa win for the fifth successive game for the first time since March 1914 and make it nine wins, a draw and nine defeats in their nineteen division one games this season.

25 December 1919, Villa 5-2 Chelsea, Villa Park, Scorers: Andy Ducat, Frank Barson, Clem Stephenson (brace), Billy Kirton.

Clem Stephenson (pictured) scored his fifteenth goal in fourteen games as Villa record six consecutive victories for the first time since March 1914 and make it ten wins, a draw and nine defeats in their twenty division one games this season. Villa’s first ten games of the campaign had delivered one win, one draw and eight defeats. A win rate of 10%, unbeaten rate of 20% and loss rate of 80%. By contrast, Villa’s second ten games of the campaign had delivered nine wins and one defeat. A win rate of 90%, unbeaten rate of 90% and loss rate of 10%. Meanwhile, Villa handed their seventeenth debut in twenty matches to centre forward Andy Young aged 23 after his arrival from Blyth Spartans in November 1919.

27 December 1919, Villa 3-0 Oldham Athletic, Boundary Park, Scorers: Billy Kirton, Andy Young (brace).

Andy Young (pictured) scored his first goals for the club - a brace - on his second appearance as Villa end 1919 having recorded seven consecutive victories for the first time since March 1914 and make it eleven wins, a draw and nine defeats in their twenty one division one games this season.

1 January 1920, Villa 0-2 Newcastle United, St James' Park, Scorers: None.

Charlie Wallace (pictured) returned to the side but Villa lose for the first time in eight to open 1920 with defeat and make it eleven wins, a draw and ten defeats in their twenty two division one games this season.

3 January 1920, Villa 2-2 Burnley, Villa Park, Scorers: Clem Stephenson (brace).

Clem Stephenson (pictured) scored for the seventeenth time in as many games but Villa are held at home by Burnley to make it eleven wins, two draws and ten defeats in their twenty three division one games this season. Meanwhile, legendary Villa centre forward Harry Hampton played his final game aged 34 after making a total of 374 appearances and scoring 242 goals and winning the 1909-10 League title and the FA Cup in 1909-10 & 1912-13 as well as finishing League runners up on four occasions.

10 January 1920, FA Cup 1st Round, Villa 2-1 Queens Park Rangers, Villa Park, Scorers: Billy Walker (brace).

Billy Walker (pictured) scored a brace on debut as Villa beat QPR in the FA Cup first round to win for the first time in three. Remarkably, one game after one Villa legend moves on in Harry Hampton, another arrives in Walker, 22, after joining from Wednesbury Old Athletic in March 1915 as a 17 year old. Walker became Villa’s eighteenth debutant in twenty three matches.

17 January 1920, Villa 0-0 Burnley, Turf Moor, Scorers: None.

Dicky York (pictured) comes into the side but Villa draw for the second time in three to leave them winless in the League so far in 1920 to make it eleven wins, three draws and ten defeats in their twenty four division one games this season.

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Image Credit

Season Summary

Division	Final League Position	FA Cup Progress	Biggest Win
Division One	9th	Winners	5-2 vs. Chelsea (h), Division One

Top Scorer		Most Appearances
29 \| Clem Stephenson		40 \| Sam Hardy

Manager Summary

P: Games Played; W: Games Won; D: Games Drawn; L: Games Lost; PPG: Points per Game (3 Points for a win, 1 Point for a draw); CS%: Clean Sheet percentage; W%: Win Rate; L%: Loss Rate; U: Games Unbeaten; U% Unbeaten Rate.

From	To	Manager		P	W	D	L	U	W%	L%	U%	CS%	PPG
Ongoing	Ongoing	George Ramsay led Management Committee		48	24	6	18	30	50%	38%	62%	25%	1.63

Manager	Chairman		Club Secretary
George Ramsay led Management Committee	Fred Rinder		George Ramsay

Season Statistics

Pos: Final League Position; P: Games Played; W: Games Won; D: Games Drawn; L: Games Lost; F: Goals Scored; A: Goals Conceded; Pts: Final League Points; GD: Goal Difference (A-F); PPG: Points per Game (3 Points for a win, 1 Point for a draw); GR: Goal Ratio (F/A); GPG: Goals Scored per Game; CPG: Goals Conceded per Game; CS: Clean Sheets; CS%: Clean Sheet percentage; W%: Win Rate; L%: Loss Rate; U: Games Unbeaten; U% Unbeaten Rate.

Results - All Competitions

	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	GR	GPG	CPG	CS	CS%	W%	L%	U	U%	PPG
1919-20	48	24	6	18	85	76	9	1.12	1.77	1.58	12	25%	50%	37%	30	63%	1.63

Results - League

	Pos	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	GD	GPG	CPG	GR	CS	CS%	W%	L%	U%	PPG
1919-20	9th	42	18	6	18	75	73	42	2	1.79	1.74	1.03	9	21%	43%	43%	57%	1.43

Sequences

Season	Wins in a Row	League Wins in a Row	Games Unbeaten	Games without a Win	Losing Run
1919-20	7	7	11	7	5

League Table

Pos	Club	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	West Bromwich Albion	42	28	4	10	104	47	57	60
2	Burnley	42	21	9	12	65	59	6	51
3	Chelsea	42	22	5	15	56	51	5	49
4	Liverpool	42	19	10	13	59	44	15	48
5	Sunderland	42	22	4	16	72	59	13	48
6	Bolton Wanderers	42	19	9	14	72	65	7	47
7	Manchester City	42	18	9	15	71	62	9	45
8	Newcastle United	42	17	9	16	44	39	5	43
9	Aston Villa	42	18	6	18	75	73	2	42
10	Arsenal	42	15	12	15	56	58	-2	42
11	Bradford Park Avenue	42	15	12	15	60	63	-3	42
12	Manchester United	42	13	14	15	54	50	4	40
13	Middlesbrough	42	15	10	17	61	65	-4	40
14	Sheffield United	42	16	8	18	59	69	-10	40
15	Bradford City	42	14	11	17	54	63	-9	39
16	Everton	42	12	14	16	69	68	1	38
17	Oldham Athletic	42	15	8	19	49	52	-3	38
18	Derby County	42	13	12	17	47	57	-10	38
19	Preston North End	42	14	10	18	57	73	-16	38
20	Blackburn Rovers	42	13	11	18	64	77	-13	37
21	Notts County	42	12	12	18	56	74	-18	36
22	The Wednesday	42	7	9	26	28	64	-36	23

Matches

Select a row for detailed match reports

Competition	Date	Home		Away	W	D	L	Game
Division One	30 Aug 1919	Sunderland	2-1	Aston Villa			L	1025
Division One	1 Sep 1919	Aston Villa	2-2	Derby County		D		1026
Division One	6 Sep 1919	Aston Villa	0-3	Sunderland			L	1027
Division One	8 Sep 1919	Derby County	1-0	Aston Villa			L	1028
Division One	13 Sep 1919	Liverpool	2-1	Aston Villa			L	1029
Division One	20 Sep 1919	Aston Villa	0-1	Liverpool			L	1030
Division One	27 Sep 1919	Bradford Park Avenue	6-1	Aston Villa			L	1031
Division One	4 Oct 1919	Aston Villa	1-0	Bradford Park Avenue	W			1032
Division One	11 Oct 1919	Preston North End	3-0	Aston Villa			L	1033
Division One	18 Oct 1919	Aston Villa	2-4	Preston North End			L	1034
Division One	25 Oct 1919	Middlesbrough	1-4	Aston Villa	W			1035
Division One	1 Nov 1919	Aston Villa	5-3	Middlesbrough	W			1036
Division One	10 Nov 1919	West Brom	1-2	Aston Villa	W			1037
Division One	15 Nov 1919	Aston Villa	2-4	West Brom			L	1038
Division One	22 Nov 1919	Sheffield United

Season #2 | 1880-81 | Games #3 - #6

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Season 37 | 1919-20