1932–33 Torquay United F.C. season
| 1932–33 season | ||
|---|---|---|
| Chairman |  Charles Dear | |
| Manager | Frank Brown | |
| Third Division South | 10th | |
| FA Cup | Second round | |
| Top goalscorer | League: George Stabb (24) All: George Stabb (26) | |
| Highest home attendance | 7,683 v Exeter City, 17 September 1932 (Third Division South) | |
| Lowest home attendance | 2,462 v Bristol Rovers, 26 April 1933 (Third Division South) | |
| Average home league attendance | 3,991 | |
|
| ||
The 1932–33 Torquay United F.C. season was Torquay United's sixth season in the Football League and their sixth consecutive season in Third Division South. The season runs from 1 July 1932 to 30 June 1933.
Overview
After finishing in 19th place in their previous Third Division South campaign, it was clear that Torquay United needed to make major changes if they had any intentions of challenging for promotion to the Second Division. However, believing the club lacked the ambition to do so, manager Frank Womack left Torquay at the end of the 1931–32 season.[1] His replacement was Frank Brown who had played for the Magpies in their non-League days and had subsequently become a trainer under Percy Mackrill and then Womack. His first task was to rebuild the team, replacing stalwarts such as Bob Smith, Jack Butler and Laurie Millsom with newer, younger faces. Of the team which lined up on the opening match of the season against Coventry City, eight out of the starting eleven were debutants, with new goalkeeper Percy Maggs and centre back Jack Tennant becoming ever-presents throughout the campaign, as was right half Ted Anderson who had joined the Magpies for the second half of the previous season.[2]
While two draws and two defeats in their opening four games suggested the unfamiliar team had yet to find their feet, an 8–1 victory over Southend United at Plainmoor in early September certainly helped the squad to settle into the new season. Torquay would prove to be particularly strong at home with only two defeats at Plainmoor throughout the entire season. However, away from home it was a slightly different story with the team suffering twelve losses and only four victories on the road. Nevertheless, by the penultimate game of the season, Torquay's excellent home form had propelled them up to 8th position in the table and a victory against Queens Park Rangers on the final day could have seen the club finish in an unprecedented 5th place. As it was, a 1–1 draw at the White City Stadium and with other results going against them, the Magpies had to ultimately settle for 10th place, which was still the club's best finish in the League to date.
Inevitably, with a much improved side, the Torquay players began attracting attention from other clubs. At the end of the season both Jack Tennant and Alf Gray were sold to First Division side Liverpool, while Ted Anderson was also lured away to Second Division West Ham United. Perhaps most heartbreaking of all to the Plainmoor faithful was the departure of Dartmouth born right winger Ralph Birkett. After 98 appearances and 20 goals for Torquay, the 20-year-old Birkett was sold to eventual First Division champions Arsenal, with manager Herbert Chapman willing to pay the significant amount of £1,588 to secure his services.[3] After later joining Middlesbrough, Birkett would go on to play for England in 1935.
Although losing such key players was a blow to the club, there was at least some hope for the future with the arrival of Don Welsh. The talented young centre half would soon develop into another Torquay legend and gave reason enough for Frank Brown to confident for the coming season.
League statistics
Third Division South
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Northampton Town | 42 | 18 | 8 | 16 | 76 | 66 | 1.152 | 44 |
| 9 | Bristol Rovers | 42 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 61 | 56 | 1.089 | 44 |
| 10 | Torquay United | 42 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 72 | 67 | 1.075 | 44 |
| 11 | Watford | 42 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 66 | 63 | 1.048 | 44 |
| 12 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 42 | 17 | 8 | 17 | 66 | 65 | 1.015 | 42 |
Results summary
| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
| 42 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 72 | 67 | 1.075 | 44 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 51 | 26 | 31 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 21 | 41 | 13 |
Source: rsssf.com
Results by round
Results
Third Division South
| 27 Aug 1932 | Torquay United | 3 – 3 | Coventry City | Plainmoor |
Davis  Fowler (pen.)Orr |
|
Attendance: 5,740 |
| 31 Aug 1932 | Bristol City | 2 – 0 | Torquay United | Ashton Gate |
| |
Attendance: 8,762 |
| 3 Sep 1932 | Brentford | 3 – 1 | Torquay United | Griffin Park |
| |
Stabb |
Attendance: 12,567 |
| 7 Sep 1932 | Torquay United | 0 – 0 | Bristol City | Plainmoor |
| Attendance: 4,695 |
| 10 Sep 1932 | Torquay United | 8 – 1 | Southend United | Plainmoor |
| Orr Stabb Hutchinson Bird |
|
Attendance: 4,488 |
| 17 Sep 1932 | Torquay United | 1 – 3 | Exeter City | Plainmoor |
| Orr |
|
Attendance: 7,683 |
| 24 Sep 1932 | Luton Town | 2 – 1 | Torquay United | Kenilworth Road |
| |
Stabb |
Attendance: 8,424 |
| 1 Oct 1932 | Torquay United | 4 – 0 | Newport County | Plainmoor |
| Birkett Stabb Bird |
Attendance: 3,960 |
| 8 Oct 1932 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 1 – 2 | Torquay United | Dean Court |
|
Bird Birkett |
Attendance: 6,124 |
| 15 Oct 1932 | Torquay United | 4 – 3 | Swindon Town | Plainmoor |
| Hutchinson Stabb |
|
Attendance: 4,273 |
| 22 Oct 1932 | Crystal Palace | 2 – 1 | Torquay United | Selhurst Park |
| |
Hutchinson |
Attendance: 10,031 |
| 29 Oct 1932 | Torquay United | 1 – 2 | Gillingham | Plainmoor |
| Hutchinson |
|
Attendance: 3,118 |
| 5 Nov 1932 | Watford | 0 – 0 | Torquay United | Vicarage Road |
| Attendance: 7,910 |
| 12 Nov 1932 | Torquay United | 4 – 1 | Cardiff City | Plainmoor |
| Bird Flavell Birkett |
Cribb |
Attendance: 3,911 |
| 19 Nov 1932 | Reading | 5 – 2 | Torquay United | Elm Park |
| |
Bird |
Attendance: 7,395 |
| 3 Dec 1932 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1 – 1 | Torquay United | Goldstone Ground |
|
Marsden (o.g.) |
Attendance: 5,417 |
| 17 Dec 1932 | Aldershot | 2 – 0 | Torquay United | Recreation Ground |
| |
Attendance: 4,132 |
| 24 Dec 1932 | Torquay United | 3 – 1 | Queens Park Rangers | Plainmoor |
| Stabb Bird |
|
Attendance: 2,825 |
| 26 Dec 1932 | Clapton Orient | 1 – 4 | Torquay United | Lea Bridge Stadium |
|
Flavell Stabb Bird |
Attendance: 5,549 |
| 27 Dec 1932 | Torquay United | 1 – 1 | Clapton Orient | Plainmoor |
| Stabb |
|
Attendance: 4,873 |
| 31 Dec 1932 | Coventry City | 5 – 0 | Torquay United | Highfield Road |
| |
Attendance: 12,143 |
| 7 Jan 1933 | Torquay United | 1 – 1 | Brentford | Plainmoor |
| Orr |
|
Attendance: 4,882 |
| 14 Jan 1933 | Torquay United | 2 – 2 | Norwich City | Plainmoor |
| Stabb Bird |
|
Attendance: 4,396 |
| 21 Jan 1933 | Southend United | 2 – 1 | Torquay United | The Kursaal |
| |
Birkett |
Attendance: 5,570 |
| 28 Jan 1933 | Exeter City | 5 – 0 | Torquay United | St James Park |
| |
Attendance: 9,591 |
| 4 Feb 1933 | Torquay United | 3 – 1 | Luton Town | Plainmoor |
| Kingham (o.g.) Hutchinson Stabb |
|
Attendance: 2,745 |
| 11 Feb 1933 | Newport County | 3 – 1 | Torquay United | Somerton Park |
| Gardner Thomas |
Mills |
Attendance: 3,098 |
| 18 Feb 1933 | Torquay United | 2 – 1 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | Plainmoor |
| Hutchinson Orr |
|
Attendance: 2,904 |
| 25 Feb 1933 | Swindon Town | 0 – 0 | Torquay United | County Ground |
| Attendance: 1,528 |
| 4 Mar 1933 | Torquay United | 2 – 1 | Crystal Palace | Plainmoor |
| Birkett Hutchinson |
|
Attendance: 3,467 |
| 11 Mar 1933 | Gillingham | 1 – 1 | Torquay United | Priestfield |
|
Hutchinson |
Attendance: 5,786 |
| 18 Mar 1933 | Torquay United | 3 – 2 | Watford | Plainmoor |
| Stabb |
|
Attendance: 3,241 |
| 25 Mar 1933 | Cardiff City | 2 – 1 | Torquay United | Ninian Park |
| Henderson |
Hutchinson |
Attendance: 6,630 |
| 1 Apr 1933 | Torquay United | 1 – 1 | Reading | Plainmoor |
| Hutchinson |
|
Attendance: 3,649 |
| 8 Apr 1933 | Norwich City | 1 – 2 | Torquay United | The Nest |
|
Hutchinson |
Attendance: 11,464 |
| 15 Apr 1933 | Torquay United | 1 – 0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Plainmoor |
| Stabb |
Attendance: 3,937 |
| 17 Apr 1933 | Torquay United | 5 – 1 | Northampton Town | Plainmoor |
| Birkett Welsh Stabb Orr |
|
Attendance: 3,553 |
| 18 Apr 1933 | Northampton Town | 2 – 0 | Torquay United | County Ground |
| |
Attendance: 4,049 |
| 22 Apr 1933 | Bristol Rovers | 0 – 2 | Torquay United | Eastville Stadium |
| Gray Stabb |
Attendance: 5,606 |
| 26 Apr 1933 | Torquay United | 1 – 1 | Bristol Rovers | Plainmoor |
| Stabb |
|
Attendance: 2,462 |
| 29 Apr 1933 | Torquay United | 1 – 0 | Aldershot | Plainmoor |
| Anderson |
Attendance: 3,000 |
| 6 May 1933 | Queens Park Rangers | 1 – 1 | Torquay United | White City Stadium |
|
Stabb |
Attendance: 3,079 |
FA Cup
| 26 Nov 1932 First round | Torquay United | 0 – 0 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | Plainmoor |
| Attendance: 6,000 |
| 30 Nov 1932 First round replay | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 2 – 2 | Torquay United | Dean Court |
| |
Bird Tennant (pen.) |
| 5 Dec 1932 First round 2nd replay | Torquay United | 3 – 2 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | Ashton Gate |
| Stabb Birkett Hutchinson |
|
Attendance: 2,000 |
| 10 Dec 1932 Second round | Torquay United | 1 – 1 | Queens Park Rangers | Plainmoor |
| Hutchinson |
|
Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Stanley Rous |
| 15 Dec 1932 Second round replay | Queens Park Rangers | 3 – 1 | Torquay United | White City Stadium |
| |
Stabb |
Attendance: 7,100 |
Club statistics
First team appearances
| Nat | Pos | Player | Total | Third Division South | FA Cup | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
|
|
GK | Percy Maggs | 47 | 0 | 42 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
|
|
DF | Jack Tennant | 47 | 1 | 42 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
|
|
DF | Lew Tapp | 40 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
|
|
DF | Jack Fowler | 7 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
|
|
DF | Wally Webster | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
|
|
MF | Ted Anderson | 47 | 1 | 42 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
|
|
MF | Tom Robinson | 29 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
|
|
MF | Alf Gray | 22 | 1 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
|
|
MF | Fred Martin | 16 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
|
|
MF | Don Welsh | 16 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
|
MF | Don Hewitt | 11 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
|
FW | Don Bird | 45 | 10 | 40 | 9 | 5 | 1 |
|
|
FW | Albert Orr | 45 | 6 | 41 | 6 | 4 | 0 |
|
|
FW | George Stabb | 45 | 26 | 40 | 24 | 5 | 2 |
|
|
FW | Albert Hutchinson | 38 | 17 | 34 | 15 | 4 | 2 |
|
|
FW | Ralph Birkett | 35 | 9 | 32 | 8 | 3 | 1 |
|
|
FW | Fred Flavell | 10 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
|
|
FW | Fred Avey | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
|
FW | Tommy Davis | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
|
|
FW | Leslie Mills | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
|
FW | Maldwyn Owens | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Source:[2]
Top scorers
| Place | Position | Nation | Name | Third Division South | FA Cup | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FW | |
George Stabb | 24 | 2 | 26 |
| 2 | FW | |
Albert Hutchinson | 15 | 2 | 17 |
| 3 | FW | |
Don Bird | 9 | 1 | 10 |
| 4 | FW | |
Ralph Birkett | 8 | 1 | 9 |
| 5 | FW | |
Albert Orr | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 6 | FW | |
Fred Flavell | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | MF | |
Ted Anderson | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| = | FW | |
Tom Davis | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| = | DF | |
Jack Fowler | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| = | MF | |
Alf Gray | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| = | MF | |
Leslie Mills | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| = | DF | |
Jack Tennant | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Own goals | 2 | 0 | 2 | |||
| TOTAL | 72 | 7 | 79 | |||
Source:[2]
Transfers
In
| First appearance | Nat. | Pos. | Name | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 August 1932 |
|
FW | Fred Avey | Fulham |
| 27 August 1932 |
|
FW | Don Bird | Bury |
| 27 August 1932 |
|
FW | Tommy Davis | Boston Town |
| 27 August 1932 |
|
MF | Alf Gray | Oldham Athletic |
| 27 August 1932 |
|
GK | Percy Maggs | Blackpool |
| 27 August 1932 |
|
MF | Fred Martin | Millwall |
| 27 August 1932 |
|
FW | Albert Orr | Chesterfield |
| 27 August 1932 |
|
DF | Jack Tennant | Stoke City |
| 31 August 1932 |
|
MF | Tom Robinson | Bury |
| 5 November 1932 |
|
FW | Fred Flavell | Oldham Athletic |
| 15 December 1932 |
|
FW | Maldwyn Owens | Unattached |
| 4 February 1933 |
|
FW | Leslie Mills | Unattached |
| 4 February 1933 |
|
MF | Don Welsh | R.N. Devonport |
Out
| Last appearance | Nat. | Pos. | Name | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 December 1932 |
|
FW | Maldwyn Owens | Released |
| 28 January 1933 |
|
MF | Fred Martin | Released |
| 11 February 1933 |
|
MF | Tom Robinson | Retired |
| 18 April 1933 |
|
FW | Ralph Birkett | Arsenal |
| 22 April 1933 |
|
FW | Fred Avey | Tunbridge Wells |
| 6 May 1933 |
|
MF | Ted Anderson | West Ham United |
| 6 May 1933 |
|
FW | Tommy Davis | New Brighton |
| 6 May 1933 |
|
MF | Alf Gray | Liverpool |
| 6 May 1933 |
|
DF | Jack Tennant | Liverpool |
| 6 May 1933 |
|
DF | Wally Webster | Rochdale |
References
- ^ Holgate, Mike (1999). Torquay United Football Club 1899-1999. Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-1814-9
- ^ a b c Edwards, Leigh (1997). The Definitive Torquay United F.C.. The Association of Football Statisticians. ISBN 978-1-899468-09-6.
- ^ Edwards, Leigh; Gibbes, Jon; Lovis, John (1999). Torquay United, The Official Centenary History, 1899-1999. Yore Publications. ISBN 1-874427-38-0
External links
- "Torquayunited.com". Archived from the original on 27 December 2009.
- "TFF History Room". Archived from the original on 26 February 2011.
- "TUFC History". Archived from the original on 12 May 2008.
- "Football Club History Database".
- "Statto.com". Archived from the original on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
- "Historical Football Kits".