The 1920–21 Football League season was Birmingham Football Club's 25th in the Football League and their 17th in the Second Division. Needing to beat Port Vale away on the last day of the season to maintain their position ahead of Cardiff City and clinch the division title for the second time, they did so, thus earning promotion to the First Division for the 1921–22 season. They also took part in the FA Cup, entering at the first round proper and losing in that round to Luton Town.

Twenty-four players made at least one appearance in nationally organised first-team competition, and there were eleven different goalscorers. Forward Johnny Crosbie was ever-present over the 43-match season. Harry Hampton was leading scorer with 16 goals, all of which came in the league. A 19-year-old called Joe Bradford scored on his competitive debut on Christmas Day at West Ham United; he went on to set goalscoring records for the club of 467 goals, 414 in the league, was their leading scorer for twelve consecutive seasons from 1922 to 1933, and scored seven times in twelve appearances for England.

Off the field, the club bought the freehold of the St Andrew's Ground in 1921 for around £7,000.Matthews, Tony (2000). "Freehold". The Encyclopedia of Birmingham City Football Club 1875–2000. Britespot (Cradley Heath). p.87. .

Football League Second Division DateLeaguepositionOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendance28 August 192018thSouth ShieldsAL0–320,00031 August 192011thHull CityHW5–1Crosbie 2, Barton, Lane 225,0004 September 19209thSouth ShieldsHD1–1Whitehouse35,0006 September 192013thHull CityAL0–113,00011 September 192018thCardiff CityAL1–2Crosbie30,00018 September 192017thCardiff CityHD1–1Whitehouse45,00025 September 192019thLeicester CityAL0–317,0002 October 192017thLeicester CityHW5–0Lane 3, Hampton 212,0009 October 192018thBlackpoolAL0–310,00016 October 192017thBlackpoolHW3–0Whitehouse 2 (1 pen), Lane50,00023 October 192015thSheffield WednesdayAW4–1Whitehouse 225,00030 October 192011thSheffield WednesdayHW4–0Crosbie, Whitehouse, Hampton, Lane30,0006 November 192010thWolverhampton WanderersAW3–0Burkinshaw, Crosbie, McClure20,00013 November 19207thWolverhampton WanderersHW4–1Hampton 2, Barton, Lane35,00020 November 19204thStokeAW2–1Hampton 220,00027 November 19205thStokeHW3–0Lane, Burkinshaw, Crosbie16,0004 December 19205thCoventry CityHW3–2Whitehouse 2, Lawrence og25,00011 December 19203rdCoventry CityAW4–0Burkinshaw, Lane, Hampton 222,00018 December 19202ndLeeds UnitedHW1–0McClure25,00025 December 19203rdWest Ham UnitedAD1–1Bradford23,00027 December 19203rdWest Ham UnitedHW2–1Hampton 260,0171 January 19213rdLeeds UnitedAL0–122,00015 January 19211stStockport CountyAW3–0Crosbie, Lane, Whitehouse12,00022 January 19211stStockport CountyHW5–0Lane 2, Crosbie, Whitehouse, Linley35,0005 February 19211stNotts CountyHW2–1Burkinshaw 240,00012 February 19211stClapton OrientAD1–1Burkinshaw18,00016 February 19211stNotts CountyAD0–014,00019 February 19211stClapton OrientHD0–020,00026 February 19211stBuryAW1–0Hampton25,0005 March 19211stBuryHW4–0Crosbie 2, Linley, Barton40,00012 March 19211stBristol CityAW1–0Lane22,00019 March 19211stBristol CityHD0–030,00025 March 19211stFulhamAL0–540,00026 March 19211stBarnsleyHL1–3Hampton40,00029 March 19211stFulhamHW1–0Booth30,0002 April 19211stBarnsleyAD1–1Davies pen19,0009 April 19211stNottingham ForestHW3–0Crosbie, Lane 230,00016 April 19212ndNottingham ForestAD1–1Crosbie14,00023 April 19212ndRotherham CountyHW3–2Crosbie 2, Davies35,12730 April 19211stRotherham CountyAD1–1Barton17,0002 May 19211stPort ValeHW4–0Hampton, Davies 2 (1 pen), Barton25,0007 May 19211stPort ValeAW2–0Hampton, Davies10,000

League table (part)

+Final Second Division table (part)PosClubPldWDLFAGAPts1stBirmingham422410879382.08582ndCardiff City422410859321.84583rdBristol City4219131049291.69514thBlackpool4220101254421.29505thWest Ham United4219101351301.7048Key Pos = League position; Pld = Matches played;W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost;F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; Pts = PointsSource"Birmingham City 1920–1921: English Division Two (old) Table" . Statto Organisation. Retrieved 13 May 2012.

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceFirst round8 January 1921Luton TownAL1–2Barton12,700

Appearances and goals

This table includes appearances and goals in nationally organised competitive matchesthe Football League and FA Cuponly. For a description of the playing positions, see Formation (association football)#2–3–5 (Pyramid). Players marked left the club during the playing season.

+ Players' appearances and goals by competitionNamePositionLeagueFA CupTotalGoalsGoalsGoals Goalkeeper12000120 Goalkeeper30010310 Full back400040 Full back37010380 Full back400040 Full back38010390 Half back41511426 Half back610061 Half back11000110 Half back200020 Half back40210412 Half back200020 Half back22010230 Forward411051 Forward35610366 Forward4214104314 Forward10500105 Forward200020 Forward700070 Forward2916103016 Forward3415003415 Forward12200122 Forward500050 Forward3311103411

See also Birmingham City F.C. seasons

References General Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Breedon Books (Derby). . Matthews, Tony (2010). Birmingham City: The Complete Record. DB Publishing (Derby). . Source for match dates and results: "Birmingham City 1920–1921: Results". Statto Organisation. Retrieved 19 May 2012. Source for lineups, appearances, goalscorers and attendances: Matthews (2010), Complete Record, pp. 282–83. Source for kit: "Birmingham City". Historical Kits. Dave Moor. Retrieved 12 May 2021.

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