Editing Tranmere Rovers F.C. (section)

===Inter-war years===

[[File:Tranmere Rovers 27 August 1921.jpg|left|thumb|alt=First Football League match in 1921|First Football League match in 1921<ref name="bishop 98" />]]

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Following the expulsion of [[Leeds City F.C.|Leeds City]] Reserves in 1919, Tranmere were able to enter [[Central League (England)|the Central League]].{{failed verification|date=February 2024|not mentioned in next source.}} Their timing was excellent as the following season, four Central League clubs&nbsp;– including Tranmere&nbsp;– were invited to join the new [[Football League Third Division North|Division Three North]].{{failed verification|date=February 2024|not mentioned in next source. even if it was, 'Their timing was excellent' is not impartial.}} On 27 August 1921, as founder members of the division,{{failed verification|date=February 2024|reason=does not mention 'founder members', or show that this was the first year it happened.}}<ref name="1921-22" /> they won their first [[The Football League|Football League]] match 4–1 against [[Crewe Alexandra]] at Prenton Park.{{failed verification|date=February 2024|reason=source does not mention result of game. or that Tranmere Rovers won.}}<ref name="official site history" /> 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.{{primary source inline|date=February 2024|reason=ideally with confirmation that this is 'the club record for longest serving manager'. the club does not even say that. and source only goes as far as 2012.}}<ref name="managers" />

In 1924, local boy [[Dixie Dean]] made his debut aged 16 years 355 days. He played 30 games for Rovers, scoring 27 goals, before being transferred to [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] for £3,000.{{close paraphrasing inline|date=February 2024|reason=compare: 'before being transferred... to Everton for £3,000...'}}<ref name="official site history" /> In the 1927–28 season, Dean scored a [[English football records|record]] 60 League goals for Everton.<ref name="goal records" /> After Dean's departure, several talented young players also left for [[Football League First Division|Division One]] clubs, leading to Cooke's reputation as a shrewd businessman.<ref name="bishop 98" /> Among those sold was [[Tom Waring|Pongo Waring]] who&nbsp;– having scored six goals in the 11–1 victory over [[Durham City F.C.|Durham City]]&nbsp;– went to [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] for £4,700. As of 2010, Waring retains the record of scoring most goals for Villa in a single season.<ref name="TheCowsheds History" />

In 1934, an FA Cup tie between Rovers and [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] was watched at [[Anfield]] by 61,036 fans, then a record crowd for a game involving Rovers.{{close paraphrasing inline|date=February 2024|reason=compare: 'In 1934 an FA Cup tie between Rovers and Liverpool was switched to Anfield where 61,036 fans..., then a record crowd for a game involving Rovers. One year later, Robert Bunny Bell (next sentence here).}}<ref name="official site history" /> One year later, [[Robert Bell (footballer)|Bunny Bell]] netted 57 goals during the 1933–34 season, and nine goals in the 13–4 Boxing Day 1935 victory over Oldham Athletic.{{failed verification|date=February 2024|reason=source is for the '13–4' game, and does not mention 'netted 57 goals during the 1933–34 season'.}}<ref name="indy festive feats" /> As of 2011, the aggregate of 17 goals in one game remained a league record.<ref name="goal records" />

During this same period, Tranmere made several appearances in the Welsh Cup, reaching the final on two occasions.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} In 1934, they lost 3–0 to Bristol City in a replay, after a 1–1 draw.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} The following season, they went one better by beating local rivals Chester 1–0 to win their first silverware since joining the Football League.{{failed verification|date=February 2024|reason=none of this paragraph is in the next source.}}

Rovers won their first championship in the Football League in 1938, with victory in Division Three North, and, hence, [[Promotion and relegation|promotion]] to [[Football League Second Division|Division Two]] for the first time.{{close paraphrasing inline|date=February 2024|reason=compare 'Rovers claimed their first ever Championship in the Football League in 1938... and a place in Division Two for the first time'.}}<ref name="official site history" /><ref name="1937-38" /> It is still Rovers's only championship in the Football League.{{when|date=February 2024|reason=insert 'As of' and year here, because this can become outdated.}} However, they were [[Promotion and relegation|relegated]] the next season, winning six matches&nbsp;– the record for the worst performance of any team in Division Two.{{additional citation needed|date=February 2024|reason='the record for the worst performance of any team in Division Two' not in source.}}<ref name="1938-39" />