1921–22 Tranmere Rovers F.C. season


The 1921–22 season was the first season of league football played by Tranmere Rovers. They joined the Football League Third Division North, when it was established after the restructuring of the English league system. The club played their first fixture, against Crewe Alexandra, at Prenton Park on 27 August 1921, winning 4–1.
Rovers ended the season in 18th place out of 20 teams, finishing ahead on goal average from Halifax Town, who had to apply for re-election. They were eliminated from the FA Cup in the Fourth Qualifying Round, losing a replay to non-league Altrincham.

Review

Prior to the start of the 1919–20 season, The Football League had formed a new Third Division, composed primarily of southern teams. On 7 March 1921, Tranmere – then members of the Central League – were invited to become founder members of the new Division Three North. At this time the team were managed by Bert Cooke, who did so for 23 years in total, the club record for longest serving manager.
In preparation for their new football league status, Tranmere made eleven new signings, meaning there were 25 professional players by the start of the season. They also bought the freehold on their ground, Prenton Park, for £7,500. Unlike their neighbours Everton and Liverpool, Tranmere could not sustain such growth and were forced to raise admission prices, causing an outcry amongst fans.
On 27 August 1921 at 3:15 pm, Tranmere started their first Football League match against Crewe Alexandra at Prenton Park. Attendance was affected by the new ticket prices, with 7,011 spectators present. Billy Caulfield scored first for Crewe, with Charles Milnes equalising for Tranmere as they went on to a 4–1 victory.
Tranmere's first six games produced two wins, two draws and two defeats. However, they performed poorly over the rest of the season. They were eliminated from the FA Cup in the Fourth Qualifying Round, losing 4–2 to non-league Altrincham at home, after a 4–4 away draw, and thus being the Robins' first ever league victims. They finished 18th of 20 in the league, only finishing ahead of Halifax Town on goal average, who had to apply for re-election.
The optimism felt by the directors at the start of the season about being on par with their Merseyside rivals changed to uncertainty. This is reflected in the statistics for the season: thirty-one players were used in total, with only seven making more than twenty appearances; the top league scorer was Fred Groves, with seven goals.

Third Division North

Results

All data relating to league, FA Cup and other matches, and own goal scorers are sourced from Upton and Wilson. In the results column, Tranmere's score is given first. H, A and N refer to home, away and neutral venues, respectively.

Football League Third Division North

FA Cup

DateOpponentsVenueResultScoreScorersAttendanceNotes
19 November 1921AltrinchamAD4–4Cook, Bullough, Prentice 2,000Fourth Qualifying Round
24 November 1921AltrinchamHL2–4Cook, Bullough4,000Replay

Secondary fixtures

DateCompetitionOpponentsVenueResultScoreScorersAttendanceNotes
28 September 1921Cheshire Senior MedalsStockport CountyAL0–3
5 April 1922Liverpool Senior CupNew BrightonAW4–2
1 May 1922Liverpool Senior CupEvertonNL0–1At Anfield
8 May 1922Liverpool County MedalsSkelmersdale UnitedNW2–0At Goodison Park
11 May 1922Liverpool County MedalsMarineNW2–0At Anfield, semi-final
13 May 1922Liverpool County MedalsLiverpoolAW2–014,000Final
23 February 1922FriendlyUnemployed XIHW4–0Raised £33 for the National Unemployed Workers' Movement
11 March 1922FriendlyCrewe AlexandraHW5–1
22 April 1922FriendlyLeague XIHL0–2
4 May 1922FriendlyStoke CityHW4–31,000Testimonial for Moreton, Cunningham and Leck

Player statistics

Bert Cooke used a total of 31 players during the 1921–22 season and there were fifteen different goalscorers. The team played in a 2–3–5 formation throughout the campaign, with two fullbacks, three halfbacks, two outside forwards, two inside forwards and a centre forward. Harry Bradshaw – the goalkeeper – played in every league and cup game, whilst Tom Stuart – a left back – missed just one match, the defeat to Accrington Stanley on 21 January. All data relating to appearances and first names are sourced from Upton and Wilson.
NamePositionLeague
apps		League
goals		FA Cup
apps		FA Cup
goals		Total
apps		Total
goals
CF100010
G38020400
CF9522117
WH26220280
OR16022182
IL32620386
LH800080
IR15400154
RB100010
CF830083
RB100010
IR12700127
RB17020190
LH800080
IR18200182
OL300030
CF100010
CF11200112
CH16120181
CH16200162
OL200020
OR26420284
LB17000170
OL23322254
IL15300153
OL32120341
IR400040
CF100010
LB37420394
RB300030
CH100010