1930–31 Torquay United F.C. season

Torquay United
1930–31 season
Chairman	Charles Dear
Manager	Frank Womack
Third Division South	11th
FA Cup	Third round
Top goalscorer	League: ; Jimmy Trotter (26); All: ; Jimmy Trotter (28)
Highest home attendance	6,944 v Brentford, 11 October 1930 ; (Third Division South)
Lowest home attendance	1,745 v Bournemouth &; Boscombe Athletic, 21 January 1931 ; (Third Division South)
Average home league attendance	4,373
	Home colours
	Home colours
	← 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.^[1] 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.^[2]

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.^[1] 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.^[1]

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. Frank Womack now had to make sure the season was not to be just a one-off but the start of something bigger and better for Torquay United.

League statistics

Third Division South

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts
9	Fulham	42	18	7	17	77	75	1.027	43
10	Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic	42	15	13	14	72	73	0.986	43
11	Torquay United	42	17	9	16	80	84	0.952	43
12	Swindon Town	42	18	6	18	89	94	0.947	42
13	Exeter City	42	17	8	17	84	90	0.933	42

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

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	17	9	16	80	84	0.952	43	13	5	3	56	26	31	4	4	13	24	58	12

Source: rsssf.com

Results by round

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42
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

Source: statto.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Match of the season

BURY 1–1 TORQUAY UNITED
FA Cup third round
Gigg Lane, 10 January 1931

Wright

Hill

Clayson

Butler

Smith

Waller

Hutchinson

Trotter

Keeling

Bell

BURY

TORQUAY UNITED

TORQUAY UNITED:
GK	1	Joe Wright
RB	2	Jim Wright
LB	3	Dick Hill
RH	4	Billy Clayson
CH	5	Jack Butler
LH	6	Bob Smith
OR	7	Harry Waller
IR	8	Albert Hutchinson
CF	9	Jimmy Trotter
IL	10	Harry Keeling
OL	11	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.^[2] 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.^[2]

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.^[1] 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

30 Aug 1930	Newport County	2 – 1	Torquay United	Somerton Park
	Riley Mason		Mackie	Attendance: 3,905

3 Sep 1930	Torquay United	3 – 1	Crystal Palace	Plainmoor
	Bell Fisher Hutchinson			Attendance: 6,163

6 Sep 1930	Torquay United	3 – 0	Gillingham	Plainmoor
	Hutchinson Mackie High			Attendance: 5,728

8 Sep 1930	Southend United	6 – 3	Torquay United	The Kursaal
			Trotter Bell	Attendance: 5,656

13 Sep 1930	Exeter City	2 – 2	Torquay United	St James Park
			Trotter	Attendance: 8,734

17 Sep 1930	Torquay United	3 – 1	Southend United	Plainmoor
	Trotter Clayson			Attendance: 3,077

20 Sep 1930	Torquay United	3 – 1	Brighton & Hove Albion	Plainmoor
	Bell Smith Butler			Attendance: 4,789

24 Sep 1930	Torquay United	3 – 3	Bristol Rovers	Plainmoor
	Trotter Clayson			Attendance: 5,057

27 Sep 1930	Walsall	0 – 4	Torquay United	Fellows Park
			Trotter (pen.) Bell	Attendance: 6,490

4 Oct 1930	Northampton Town	0 – 3	Torquay United	County Ground
			Waller	Attendance: 11,852

11 Oct 1930	Torquay United	0 – 3	Brentford	Plainmoor
				Attendance: 6,944

18 Oct 1930	Torquay United	6 – 2	Queens Park Rangers	Plainmoor
	Trotter Clayson Hutchinson			Attendance: 5,123

25 Oct 1930	Norwich City	3 – 0	Torquay United	The Nest
				Attendance: 9,012

1 Nov 1930	Torquay United	5 – 1	Thames	Plainmoor
	Hutchinson Clayson Trotter			Attendance: 3,698

8 Nov 1930	Clapton Orient	4 – 0	Torquay United	Lea Bridge Stadium
				Attendance: 5,403

15 Nov 1930	Torquay United	1 – 4	Notts County	Plainmoor
	Hutchinson			Attendance: 6,730

22 Nov 1930	Watford	6 – 0	Torquay United	Vicarage Road
				Attendance: 4,950

6 Dec 1930	Swindon Town	4 – 0	Torquay United	County Ground
				Attendance: 3,658

17 Dec 1930	Torquay United	3 – 1	Fulham	Plainmoor
	Waller Trotter Bell			Attendance: 2,846

20 Dec 1930	Coventry City	6 – 1	Torquay United	Highfield Road
			Trotter	Attendance: 8,289

25 Dec 1930	Luton Town	3 – 1	Torquay United	Kenilworth Road
			Hill	Attendance: 7,553

26 Dec 1930	Torquay United	1 – 1	Luton Town	Plainmoor
	Hutchinson			Attendance: 6,619

27 Dec 1930	Torquay United	3 – 0	Newport County	Plainmoor
	Wright Trotter Waller			Attendance: 4,561

3 Jan 1931	Gillingham	2 – 3	Torquay United	Priestfield
			Keeling Bell	Attendance: 3,381

17 Jan 1931	Torquay United	0 – 0	Exeter City	Plainmoor
				Attendance: 4,903

21 Jan 1931	Torquay United	4 – 4	Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic	Plainmoor
	Birkett Trotter Clayson			Attendance: 1,745

28 Jan 1931	Brighton & Hove Albion	3 – 0	Torquay United	Goldstone Ground
				Attendance: 4,763

31 Jan 1931	Torquay United	0 – 1	Walsall	Plainmoor
				Attendance: 1,993

7 Feb 1931	Torquay United	3 – 0	Northampton Town	Plainmoor
	Waller Birkett Trotter			Attendance: 4,270

14 Feb 1931	Brentford	0 – 0	Torquay United	Griffin Park
				Attendance: 6,464

21 Feb 1931	Queens Park Rangers	1 – 2	Torquay United	Loftus Road
			Clayson Hutchinson	Attendance: 9,830

28 Feb 1931	Torquay United	2 – 0	Norwich City	Plainmoor
	Butler Hutchinson			Attendance: 3,282

7 Mar 1931	Thames	1 – 1	Torquay United	West Ham Stadium
			Keeling	Attendance: 1,076

14 Mar 1931	Torquay United	5 – 2	Clapton Orient	Plainmoor
	Birkett Trotter Hutchinson Clayson Waller			Attendance: 3,672

21 Mar 1931	Notts County	2 – 0	Torquay United	Meadow Lane
				Attendance: 11,951

28 Mar 1931	Torquay United	3 – 1	Watford	Plainmoor
	Fowler (pen.) Clayson Trotter			Attendance: 3,547

4 Apr 1931	Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic	2 – 2	Torquay United	Dean Court
			Trotter	Attendance: 5,381

6 Apr 1931	Bristol Rovers	3 – 1	Torquay United	Eastville Stadium
			Clayson	Attendance: 5,863

11 Apr 1931	Torquay United	5 – 0	Swindon Town	Plainmoor
	Clayson Trotter Hutchinson			Attendance: 3,814

18 Apr 1931	Fulham	3 – 0	Torquay United	Craven Cottage
				Attendance: 8,840

25 Apr 1931	Torquay United	0 – 0	Coventry City	Plainmoor
				Attendance: 3,270

2 May 1931	Crystal Palace	5 – 0	Torquay United	Selhurst Park
				Attendance: 12,172

FA Cup

29 Nov 1930 First round	Southend United	0 – 1	Torquay United	The Kursaal
			Burrows	Attendance: 10,000

13 Dec 1930 Second round	Accrington Stanley	0 – 1	Torquay United	Peel Park
			Bell	Attendance: 6,009

10 Jan 1931 Third round	Bury	1 – 1	Torquay United	Gigg Lane
			Trotter	Attendance: 9,783

14 Jan 1931 Third round replay	Torquay United	1 – 2 (a.e.t.)	Bury	Plainmoor
	Trotter			Attendance: 6,167

Club statistics

First team appearances

Nat	Pos	Player	Total		Third Division South		FA Cup
Nat	Pos	Player	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
	GK	Joe Wright	45	0	41	0	4	0
	GK	Laurie Millsom	1	0	1	0	0	0
	DF	Jack Fowler	38	1	37	1	1	0
	DF	Dick Hill	32	1	28	1	4	0
	DF	Jim Wright	30	1	26	1	4	0
	MF	Bob Smith	46	1	42	1	4	0
	MF	Jack Butler	35	2	32	2	3	0
	MF	Arthur Phoenix	18	0	18	0	0	0
	MF	Stan High	16	1	16	0	0	0
	MF	Wilf Freer	4	0	3	0	1	0
	MF	Arthur Weightman	4	0	4	0	0	0
	MF	Don Hewitt	2	0	2	0	0	0
	FW	Albert Hutchinson	46	11	42	11	4	0
	FW	Jimmy Trotter	42	28	38	26	4	2
	FW	Billy Clayson	39	14	35	14	4	0
	FW	Harry Waller	34	7	30	7	4	0
	FW	William Bell	32	7	28	6	4	1
	FW	Ralph Birkett	20	3	20	3	0	0
	FW	Fred Fisher	7	1	7	1	0	0
	FW	Harry Keeling	6	3	4	3	2	0
	FW	Robert Mackie	6	2	6	2	0	0
	FW	Leslie Burrows	3	1	2	0	1	1

Source:^[2]

Top scorers

Place	Position	Name	Third Division South	FA Cup	Total
1	FW	Jimmy Trotter	26	2	28
2	FW	Billy Clayson	14	0	14
3	FW	Albert Hutchinson	11	0	11
4	FW	William Bell	6	1	7
=	FW	Harry Waller	7	0	7
6	FW	Ralph Birkett	3	0	3
=	FW	Harry Keeling	3	0	3
8	MF	Jack Butler	2	0	2
=	FW	Robert Mackie	2	0	2
10	FW	Leslie Burrows	0	1	1
=	FW	Fred Fisher	1	0	1
=	DF	Jack Fowler	1	0	1
=	MF	Stan High	1	0	1
=	DF	Dick Hill	1	0	1
=	MF	Bob Smith	1	0	1
=	DF	Jim Wright	1	0	1
		Own goals	0	0	0
		TOTAL	80	4	84

Source:^[2]

Transfers

In

First appearance	Pos.	Name	From
30 August 1930	FW	William Bell	Leicester City
30 August 1930	MF	Jack Butler	Arsenal
30 August 1930	FW	Fred Fisher	Notts County
30 August 1930	DF	Dick Hill	Millwall
30 August 1930	FW	Albert Hutchinson	Luton Town
30 August 1930	FW	Robert Mackie	Coleraine
30 August 1930	FW	Jimmy Trotter	Sheffield Wednesday
30 August 1930	GK	Joe Wright	Leicester City
13 September 1930	FW	Billy Clayson	Scarborough
27 September 1930	DF	Jim Wright	Okehampton F.C.
18 October 1930	MF	Don Hewitt	Coventry City
15 November 1930	MF	Arthur Weightman	Newark Town
23 November 1930	FW	Les Burrows	Bristol City
17 December 1930	MF	Wilf Freer	Birmingham City
25 December 1930	MF	Arthur Phoenix	Bath City

Out

Last appearance	Pos.	Name	To
31 January 1931	FW	Les Burrows	Released
7 March 1931	FW	Harry Keeling	Swindon Town
28 March 1931	MF	Stan High	Accrington Stanley
6 April 1931	DF	Dick Hill	Newark Town
25 April 1931	FW	William Bell	Released
2 May 1931	FW	Fred Fisher	Mansfield Town
2 May 1931	FW	Robert Mackie	Released
2 May 1931	MF	Arthur Phoenix	Mansfield Town
2 May 1931	MF	Arthur Weightman	Mansfield Town

Source:^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Edwards, Leigh; Gibbes, Jon; Lovis, John (1999). Torquay United, The Official Centenary History, 1899-1999. Yore Publications. ISBN 1-874427-38-0
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Edwards, Leigh (1997). The Definitive Torquay United F.C.. The Association of Football Statisticians. ISBN 978-1-899468-09-6.

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 28 January 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
"Historical Football Kits".

[Edwards_et_al-1] Edwards, Leigh; Gibbes, Jon; Lovis, John (1999). Torquay United, The Official Centenary History, 1899-1999. Yore Publications. ISBN 1-874427-38-0

[Edwards-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Edwards, Leigh (1997). The Definitive Torquay United F.C.. The Association of Football Statisticians. ISBN 978-1-899468-09-6.

[1]

[2]