West Bromwich Albion: Champions of England 1919-1920

By 1919 it seemed West Bromwich Albion would never win the Championship. The League founder-members were renowned Cup-fighters, and had squandered the promise of a bright young team by failing to take the title before the First World War. Football was starting up again, amid a country in crisis. 1919-20 became the first 42-game season after the League fudged the rules to ensure that London clubs were not absent from the First Division. Albion saved the day - their team of Black Countrymen, symbolising the tradition of locality in English sport and playing with irresistible attack, restored football's healthy image. Follow Albion's one-and-only Championship journey match-by-match, from the autumn battles with the pre-season title favourites; through snowfights with the old enemy Aston Villa; to title-deciding mudbaths with the last remaining challengers. Albion's domination was shown by them scoring four goals fifteen times. Thomas Taw captures the drama, poetry and sheer vitality that football provided, so soon after a wartime of death. Those were the days, when the Throstles were Champions of England.