1930–31 Torquay United F.C. season

March 2015 March 2015 Torquay United 1930–31 Frank Womack Charles Dear Third Division South 11th FA Cup Third round Jimmy Trotter (26) Jimmy Trotter (28) 6,944 v Brentford, 11 October 1930 (Third Division South) 1,745 v Bournemouth &Boscombe Athletic, 21 January 1931 (Third Division South) 4,373 _black_stripes _3stripesonwhite _black_stripes _2whitestripes 000000 ffffff white 000000 1929–30 1931–32 The 1930–31 Torquay United F.C. season was Torquay United's fourth season in the Football League and their fourth consecutive season in Third Division South. The season runs from 1 July 1930 to 30 June 1931. Overview After finishing no higher than 18th in their first three Football League campaigns, Torquay manager Frank Womack was determined to build a team that would make a more competitive showing in the Third Division South. With that in mind, Womack made several impressive signings during the close season, among them Arsenal centre half Jack Butler and Leicester City keeper Joe Wright.Edwards, Leigh; Gibbes, Jon; Lovis, John (1999). Torquay United, The Official Centenary History, 1899–1999. Yore Publications. 1-874427-38-0 Finally it appeared that the Magpies had hit upon a winning formula and by early October they were second in the Third Division South table, just four points behind leaders Notts County. Much of the upturn in Torquay's fortunes was due to the scoring prowess of new centre forward Jimmy Trotter who had already scored thirteen goals before the end of October and would go on to score a total of 28 goals in all competitions by the end of the season. Trotter was ably assisted by two more new forwards in Billy Clayson and Albert Hutchinson, who contributed another 25 goals between them. Hutchinson was to eventually prove a very loyal servant to Torquay, remaining with the club up until the outbreak of World War II.Edwards, Leigh (1997). The Definitive Torquay United F.C.. The Association of Football Statisticians. 978-1-899468-09-6. However, despite their blistering start to the season, Torquay then hit upon a run of bad form towards the end of the year in which they lost six out of seven games and saw them drop to 12th position by Christmas Day. Results began to improve again in the New Year when the talented young outside right Ralph Birkett was re-introduced into the team. However, despite Trotter, Clayson and Hutchinson appearing to be firing on all cylinders again, it would not be enough for the Magpies to make a challenge for promotion and they would have to settle for an 11th-place finish at the end of the season. Perhaps Torquay's mid-season slump may have been due to the distractions of the FA Cup which saw the Magpies defeat Southend United and Accrington Stanley to reach the third round for the first time in their history. They were rewarded with a trip to Second Division side Bury and, far from being overawed by the occasion, Torquay came back from Gigg Lane with a 1–1 draw, earning a replay at Plainmoor. Unfortunately, despite a battling performance from United which forced the replay into extra time, it was Bury who were to make it through to the fourth round. It had been by far Torquay's most successful season to date and there was now a sense that the club was finally making progress in the Football League. League statistics Third Division South 1930–31 Football League#Third Division South Third Division South y TOR Results summary 13 5 3 56 26 4 4 13 24 58 rsssf.com October 2016 Results by round table b Round Ground A/H/H/A/A/H/H/H/A/A/H/H/A/H/A/H/A/A/H/A/A/H/H/A/H/H/A/H/H/A/A/H/A/H/A/H/A/A/H/A/H/A Result L/W/W/L/D/W/W/D/W/W/L/W/L/W/L/L/L/L/W/L/L/D/W/W/D/D/L/L/W/D/W/W/D/W/L/W/D/L/W/L/D/L Position 15/7/3/6/11/6/5/4/3/2/3/3/3/3/3/7/9/9/8/9/12/10/10/9/9/8/10/12/11/11/9/8/9/7/10/8/8/10/8/10/10/11 Home Away green2 Win yellow2 Draw red2 Loss green1 red1 statto.com June 2011 Match of the season BURY 1–1 TORQUAY UNITEDFA Cup third roundGigg Lane, 10 January 1931 335px 0.44 0.10 350 Wright 0.29 0.33 350 Wright 0.62 0.33 350 Hill 0.15 0.58 350 Clayson 0.45 0.58 350 Butler 0.70 0.58 350 Smith 0.08 0.82 350 Waller 0.22 0.94 350 Hutchinson 0.44 1.03 350 Trotter 0.61 0.94 350 Keeling 0.82 0.82 350 Bell none center _collar _whitestripe ffffff ffffff ffffff 000080 000080 BURY none center _black_stripes _3stripesonwhite _black_stripes _2whitestripes 000000 ffffff ffffff 000000 TORQUAY UNITED TORQUAY UNITED:GK1ENG Joe WrightRB2ENG Jim WrightLB3ENG Dick HillRH4ENG Billy ClaysonCH5ENG Jack ButlerLH6ENG Bob SmithOR7ENG Harry WallerIR8ENG Albert HutchinsonCF9ENG Jimmy Trotter IL10ENG Harry KeelingOL11ENG William Bell In keeping with a season which had perhaps exceeded many expectations, Torquay United found themselves in the third round of the FA Cup for the very first time in their history. Having first seen off Third Division South rivals Southend United and Accrington Stanley of the Third Division North in consecutive away 1–0 victories, the Magpies then had to make another long trip up north to face Second Division side Bury. With the Lancashire team currently lying in 7th place in Division Two, few would have expected Torquay to have gained any kind of result when they visited Gigg Lane. The side chosen by Frank Womack reflected the changes he had brought to the team for this season with only Bob Smith, Harry Waller and Harry Keeling having played for the Magpies during the previous campaign. This was a notable match for Bob Smith as he was making his 100th appearance for the club, the first player to reach that landmark for Torquay United and he was, in fact, an ever-present for the Magpies this season appearing in all 46 games. Protecting Joe Wright's goal was his namesake Jim Wright and Dick Hill while former Arsenal centre half Jack Butler was flanked in the midfield by Smith and Billy Clayson. Clayson was unusually playing in the right half position having been replaced in his more accustomed role of inside forward by Harry Keeling in the previous match, an away trip to Gillingham. Having scored two goals in that game, Keeling retained his position in the forward line forcing Clayson to make the switch into midfield, pushing Jim Wright into the right back position at the expense of Jack Fowler. Taking the outside forward positions were Harry Waller and William Bell with Albert Hutchinson and potent centre forward Jimmy Trotter completing the forward line. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it was Trotter who forced an unlikely replay by scoring his 18th goal of the season so far. With the replay taking place at Plainmoor four days later, Trotter scored once again to take the match into extra time. However, on this occasion the Shakers superiority prevailed and eventually won the tie 2–1 in extra time. Ironically, Bury were knocked out in the next round by Torquay's local rivals Exeter City. As for Torquay, it would be another seventeen years before they would reach the third round of the FA Cup again. Results Third Division South 1930–31 Football League 30 Aug 1930 Newport County 2–1 Torquay United Riley Mason Mackie Somerton Park 3,905 L 3 Sep 1930 Torquay United 3–1 Crystal Palace Bell Fisher Hutchinson Plainmoor 6,163 W 6 Sep 1930 Torquay United 3–0 Gillingham Hutchinson Mackie High Plainmoor 5,728 W 8 Sep 1930 Southend United 6–3 Torquay United Trotter Bell The Kursaal 5,656 L 13 Sep 1930 Exeter City 2–2 Torquay United Trotter St James Park 8,734 D 17 Sep 1930 Torquay United 3–1 Southend United Trotter Clayson Plainmoor 3,077 W 20 Sep 1930 Torquay United 3–1 Brighton & Hove Albion Bell Smith Butler Plainmoor 4,789 W 24 Sep 1930 Torquay United 3–3 Bristol Rovers Trotter Clayson Plainmoor 5,057 D 27 Sep 1930 Walsall 0–4 Torquay United Trotter (pen.)Bell Fellows Park 6,490 W 4 Oct 1930 Northampton Town 0–3 Torquay United Waller County Ground 11,852 W 11 Oct 1930 Torquay United 0–3 Brentford Plainmoor 6,944 L 18 Oct 1930 Torquay United 6–2 Queens Park Rangers Trotter Clayson Hutchinson Plainmoor 5,123 W 25 Oct 1930 Norwich City 3–0 Torquay United The Nest 9,012 L 1 Nov 1930 Torquay United 5–1 Thames Hutchinson Clayson Trotter Plainmoor 3,698 W 8 Nov 1930 Clapton Orient 4–0 Torquay United Lea Bridge Stadium 5,403 L 15 Nov 1930 Torquay United 1–4 Notts County Hutchinson Plainmoor 6,730 L 22 Nov 1930 Watford 6–0 Torquay United Vicarage Road 4,950 L 6 Dec 1930 Swindon Town 4–0 Torquay United County Ground 3,658 L 17 Dec 1930 Torquay United 3–1 Fulham Waller Trotter Bell Plainmoor 2,846 W 20 Dec 1930 Coventry City 6–1 Torquay United Trotter Highfield Road 8,289 L 25 Dec 1930 Luton Town 3–1 Torquay United Hill Kenilworth Road 7,553 L 26 Dec 1930 Torquay United 1–1 Luton Town Hutchinson Plainmoor 6,619 D 27 Dec 1930 Torquay United 3–0 Newport County Wright Trotter Waller Plainmoor 4,561 W 3 Jan 1931 Gillingham 2–3 Torquay United Keeling Bell Priestfield 3,381 W 17 Jan 1931 Torquay United 0–0 Exeter City Plainmoor 4,903 D 21 Jan 1931 Torquay United 4–4 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Birkett Trotter Clayson Plainmoor 1,745 D 28 Jan 1931 Brighton & Hove Albion 3–0 Torquay United Goldstone Ground 4,763 L 31 Jan 1931 Torquay United 0–1 Walsall Plainmoor 1,993 L 7 Feb 1931 Torquay United 3–0 Northampton Town Waller Birkett Trotter Plainmoor 4,270 W 14 Feb 1931 Brentford 0–0 Torquay United Griffin Park 6,464 D 21 Feb 1931 Queens Park Rangers 1–2 Torquay United Clayson Hutchinson Loftus Road 9,830 W 28 Feb 1931 Torquay United 2–0 Norwich City Butler Hutchinson Plainmoor 3,282 W 7 Mar 1931 Thames 1–1 Torquay United Keeling West Ham Stadium 1,076 D 14 Mar 1931 Torquay United 5–2 Clapton Orient Birkett Trotter Hutchinson Clayson Waller Plainmoor 3,672 W 21 Mar 1931 Notts County 2–0 Torquay United Meadow Lane 11,951 L 28 Mar 1931 Torquay United 3–1 Watford Fowler (pen.) Clayson Trotter Plainmoor 3,547 W 4 Apr 1931 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 2–2 Torquay United Trotter Dean Court 5,381 D 6 Apr 1931 Bristol Rovers 3–1 Torquay United Clayson Eastville Stadium 5,863 L 11 Apr 1931 Torquay United 5–0 Swindon Town Clayson Trotter Hutchinson Plainmoor 3,814 W 18 Apr 1931 Fulham 3–0 Torquay United Craven Cottage 8,840 L 25 Apr 1931 Torquay United 0–0 Coventry City Plainmoor 3,270 D 2 May 1931 Crystal Palace 5–0 Torquay United Selhurst Park 12,172 L FA Cup 1930–31 FA Cup 29 Nov 1930 First round Southend United 0–1 Torquay United Burrows The Kursaal 10,000 W 13 Dec 1930 Second round Accrington Stanley 0–1 Torquay United Bell Peel Park 6,009 W 10 Jan 1931 Third round Bury 1–1 Torquay United Trotter Gigg Lane 9,783 D 14 Jan 1931 Third round replay Torquay United 1–2 y Bury Trotter Plainmoor 6,167 L Club statistics First team appearances NatPosPlayerTotalThird Division SouthFA CupAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsEnglandGKJoe Wright45041040EnglandGKLaurie Millsom101000EnglandDFJack Fowler38137110EnglandDFDick Hill32128140EnglandDFJim Wright30126140EnglandMFBob Smith46142140EnglandMFJack Butler35232230EnglandMFArthur Phoenix18018000EnglandMFStan High16116000EnglandMFWilf Freer403010EnglandMFArthur Weightman404000EnglandMFDon Hewitt202000EnglandFWAlbert Hutchinson4611421140EnglandFWJimmy Trotter4228382642EnglandFWBilly Clayson3914351440EnglandFWHarry Waller34730740EnglandFWWilliam Bell32728641EnglandFWRalph Birkett20320300EnglandFWFred Fisher717100EnglandFWHarry Keeling634320ScotlandFWRobert Mackie626200EnglandFWLeslie Burrows312011 Source: Top scorers PlacePositionNationNameThird Division SouthFA CupTotal1 FW ENG Jimmy Trotter 26 2 282 FW ENG Billy Clayson 14 0 143 FW ENG Albert Hutchinson 11 0 114 FW ENG William Bell 6 1 7= FW ENG Harry Waller 7 0 76 FW ENG Ralph Birkett 3 0 3= FW ENG Harry Keeling 3 0 38 MF ENG Jack Butler 2 0 2= FW SCO Robert Mackie 2 0 210 FW ENG Leslie Burrows 0 1 1= FW ENG Fred Fisher 1 0 1= DF ENG Jack Fowler 1 0 1= MF ENG Stan High 1 0 1= DF ENG Dick Hill 1 0 1= MF ENG Bob Smith 1 0 1= DF ENG Jim Wright 1 0 1Own goals 0 0 0 TOTAL 80 4 84 Source: Transfers In First appearanceNat.Pos.NameFrom30 August 1930ENGFWWilliam BellLeicester City30 August 1930ENGMFJack ButlerArsenal30 August 1930ENGFWFred FisherNotts County30 August 1930ENGDFDick HillMillwall30 August 1930ENGFWAlbert HutchinsonLuton Town30 August 1930SCOFWRobert MackieColeraine30 August 1930ENGFWJimmy TrotterSheffield Wednesday30 August 1930ENGGKJoe WrightLeicester City13 September 1930ENGFWBilly ClaysonScarborough27 September 1930ENGDFJim WrightOkehampton F.C.18 October 1930ENGMFDon HewittCoventry City15 November 1930ENGMFArthur WeightmanNewark Town23 November 1930ENGFWLes BurrowsBristol City17 December 1930ENGMFWilf FreerBirmingham City25 December 1930ENGMFArthur PhoenixBath City Out Last appearanceNat.Pos.NameTo31 January 1931ENGFWLes BurrowsReleased7 March 1931ENGFWHarry KeelingSwindon Town28 March 1931ENGMFStan HighAccrington Stanley6 April 1931ENGDFDick HillNewark Town25 April 1931ENGFWWilliam BellReleased2 May 1931ENGFWFred FisherMansfield Town2 May 1931SCOFWRobert MackieReleased2 May 1931ENGMFArthur PhoenixMansfield Town2 May 1931ENGMFArthur WeightmanMansfield Town Source: References External links http://www.torquayunited.com/page/History/0,,10445,00.html Torquayunited.com dead https://web.archive.org/web/20091227032211/http://www.torquayunited.com/page/History/0%2C%2C10445%2C00.html 27 December 2009 http://torquayfansforum.com/index.cgi?board=tufchistory TFF History Room dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110226004959/http://www.torquayfansforum.com/index.cgi?board=tufchistory 26 February 2011 http://www.tufchistory.ulmb.com/ TUFC History dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080512082229/http://tufchistory.ulmb.com/ 12 May 2008 https://www.fchd.info/lghist/fl1931.htm Football Club History Database http://www.statto.com/football/teams/torquay-united/1930-1931 Statto.com 17 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110128034611/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/torquay-united/1930-1931 28 January 2011 live dmy-all http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/ Historical Football Kits Torquay United F.C. Category:Torquay United F.C. seasons