1931–32_Torquay_United_F.C._season
1931–32 Torquay United F.C. season
Torquay United 1931–32 football season
The 1931–32 Torquay United F.C. season was Torquay United's fifth season in the Football League and their fifth consecutive season in Third Division South. The season runs from 1 July 1931 to 30 June 1932.
Quick Facts Chairman, Manager ...
| 1931–32 season | ||
|---|---|---|
| Chairman |  Charles Dear | |
| Manager | Frank Womack | |
| Third Division South | 19th | |
| FA Cup | First Round | |
| Top goalscorer | League: Billy Clayson (14) All: Billy Clayson (14) | |
| Highest home attendance | 6,000 v Southend United, 28 November 1931 (FA Cup) | |
| Lowest home attendance | 2,547 v Northampton Town, 5 December 1931 (Third Division South) | |
| Average home league attendance | 3,718 | |
|
| ||
Close
Having just enjoyed their most successful season so far in the Football League, Torquay United were keen to build upon last season's achievements. Unfortunately, the season got off to a terrible start with an opening day 7–0 defeat at Crystal Palace. After conceding six goals to Watford in their second home game of the season, Torquay then had to endure a mortifying 10–2 defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage. Results did slowly begin to improve after that humiliation but Torquay would never find themselves any higher than 15th in the League table all season. The team were also to make an early exit from the FA Cup, losing 3–1 at home to Southend United in the First Round.
Torquay also had to make do without last season's top goalscorer Jimmy Trotter for the second half of the season after he was sold to Watford in December.[1] Billy Clayson did his best to fill Trotter's boots, eventually becoming this season's top scorer. However, Cyril Hemingway, returning for his second spell at the club, could not recreate the form which saw him top Torquay's goalscoring charts for the 1928–29 season. Nevertheless, Paignton born striker George Stabb showed much potential after signing from Dartmouth United, while another local lad, Lew Tapp, was also a promising new addition to the defence.[1]
Torquay did at least have one memorable victory with an 8–1 defeat of Bristol Rovers on Easter Monday, but it was ultimately a hugely disappointing season for Frank Womack and the team. Finishing in 19th place and narrowly avoiding the need for re-election, it was clear that Torquay United were in desperate need of improvement.
Third Division South
Main article: 1931–32 Football League § Third Division South
More information Pos, Pld ...
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | Swindon Town | 42 | 14 | 6 | 22 | 70 | 84 | 0.833 | 34 | |
| 18 | Bristol Rovers | 42 | 13 | 8 | 21 | 65 | 92 | 0.707 | 34 | |
| 19 | Torquay United | 42 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 72 | 106 | 0.679 | 33 | |
| 20 | Mansfield Town[lower-alpha 1] | 42 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 75 | 108 | 0.694 | 32 | Transferred to the Third Division North |
| 21 | Gillingham | 42 | 10 | 8 | 24 | 40 | 82 | 0.488 | 28 | Re-elected |
Close
- New club in the league; elected from Midland League
Results summary
More information Overall, Home ...
| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
| 42 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 72 | 106 | 0.679 | 33 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 49 | 39 | 24 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 23 | 67 | 9 |
Close
Source: rsssf.com
Results by round
More information Round, Ground ...
| 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 | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | A |
| Result | L | D | L | L | W | L | D | L | W | W | D | D | L | D | D | L | W | L | W | L | L | W | L | L | D | W | L | L | W | W | L | W | L | D | W | W | L | D | L | L | L | L |
| Position | 19 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 19 |
Close
Third Division South
Main article: 1931–32 Football League
Crystal Palace v Torquay United
| 29 Aug 1931 | Crystal Palace | 7 – 0 | Torquay United | Selhurst Park |
 |
Attendance: 18,479 |
Torquay United v Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic
| 2 Sep 1931 | Torquay United | 1 – 1 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | Plainmoor |
| Trotter |
|
Attendance: 4,485 |
Torquay United v Watford
| 5 Sep 1931 | Torquay United | 3 – 6 | Watford | Plainmoor |
| Hutchinson Trotter |
|
Attendance: 4,559 |
Fulham v Torquay United
| 7 Sep 1931 | Fulham | 10 – 2 | Torquay United | Craven Cottage |
| |
Hutchinson Stabb |
Attendance: 9,706 |
Mansfield Town v Torquay United
| 12 Sep 1931 | Mansfield Town | 2 – 4 | Torquay United | Field Mill |
| |
Birkett Trotter Hutchinson |
Attendance: 8,499 |
Torquay United v Fulham
| 16 Sep 1931 | Torquay United | 2 – 3 | Fulham | Plainmoor |
| Birkett Trotter |
|
Attendance: 5,056 |
Torquay United v Brighton & Hove Albion
| 19 Sep 1931 | Torquay United | 1 – 1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Plainmoor |
| Trotter |
|
Attendance: 4,590 |
Norwich City v Torquay United
| 26 Sep 1931 | Norwich City | 2 – 0 | Torquay United | The Nest |
| |
Attendance: 10,583 |
Torquay United v Swindon Town
| 3 Oct 1931 | Torquay United | 2 – 1 | Swindon Town | Plainmoor |
| Waller Trotter |
Morris |
Attendance: 4,483 |
Clapton Orient v Torquay United
| 10 Oct 1931 | Clapton Orient | 1 – 3 | Torquay United | Lea Bridge Stadium |
|
Stabb Birkett Clayson |
Attendance: 8,998 |
Thames v Torquay United
| 17 Oct 1931 | Thames | 1 – 1 | Torquay United | West Ham Stadium |
|
Trotter |
Attendance: 2,491 |
Torquay United v Brentford
| 24 Oct 1931 | Torquay United | 1 – 1 | Brentford | Plainmoor |
| Hutchinson |
|
Attendance: 4,650 |
Exeter City v Torquay United
| 31 Oct 1931 | Exeter City | 3 – 1 | Torquay United | St James Park |
| |
Fowler (pen.) |
Attendance: 8,489 |
Torquay United v Coventry City
| 7 Nov 1931 | Torquay United | 3 – 3 | Coventry City | Plainmoor |
| Fowler (pen.) Hemingway |
|
Attendance: 3,065 |
Gillingham v Torquay United
| 14 Nov 1931 | Gillingham | 1 – 1 | Torquay United | Priestfield |
|
Fowler (pen.) |
Attendance: 3,919 |
Torquay United v Luton Town
| 21 Nov 1931 | Torquay United | 1 – 2 | Luton Town | Plainmoor |
| Birkett |
|
Attendance: 3,490 |
Torquay United v Northampton Town
| 5 Dec 1931 | Torquay United | 4 – 1 | Northampton Town | Plainmoor |
| Trotter Hutchinson Fowler Clayson |
|
Attendance: 2,547 |
Reading v Torquay United
| 12 Dec 1931 | Reading | 4 – 1 | Torquay United | Elm Park |
| |
Trotter |
Attendance: 5,507 |
Torquay United v Southend United
| 19 Dec 1931 | Torquay United | 2 – 1 | Southend United | Plainmoor |
| Cooper Hemingway |
|
Attendance: 2,900 |
Torquay United v Queens Park Rangers
| 25 Dec 1931 | Torquay United | 2 – 3 | Queens Park Rangers | Plainmoor |
| Clayson Birkett |
|
Attendance: 4,999 |
Queens Park Rangers v Torquay United
| 26 Dec 1931 | Queens Park Rangers | 3 – 1 | Torquay United | White City Stadium |
| |
Hutchinson |
Attendance: 24,133 |
Torquay United v Crystal Palace
| 2 Jan 1932 | Torquay United | 3 – 1 | Crystal Palace | Plainmoor |
| Hemingway Waller Clayson |
|
Attendance: 2,703 |
Cardiff City v Torquay United
| 13 Jan 1932 | Cardiff City | 5 – 2 | Torquay United | Ninian Park |
| Emmerson McCambridge Keating Robbins |
Fowler (pen.) Hemingway |
Attendance: 3,890 |
Watford v Torquay United
| 16 Jan 1932 | Watford | 1 – 0 | Torquay United | Vicarage Road |
|
Attendance: 9,335 |
Torquay United v Mansfield Town
| 23 Jan 1932 | Torquay United | 2 – 2 | Mansfield Town | Plainmoor |
| Waller Clayson |
|
Attendance: 3,370 |
Brighton & Hove Albion v Torquay United
| 30 Jan 1932 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 – 2 | Torquay United | Goldstone Ground |
| Waller Fowler (pen.) |
Attendance: 7,079 |
Torquay United v Norwich City
| 6 Feb 1932 | Torquay United | 2 – 4 | Norwich City | Plainmoor |
| Birkett |
|
Attendance: 3,057 |
Swindon Town v Torquay United
| 13 Feb 1932 | Swindon Town | 3 – 0 | Torquay United | County Ground |
| Starsmore Morris |
Attendance: 3,457 |
Torquay United v Clapton Orient
| 20 Feb 1932 | Torquay United | 3 – 0 | Clapton Orient | Plainmoor |
| Fowler (pen.) Cooper Miller |
Attendance: 2,708 |
Torquay United v Thames
| 27 Feb 1932 | Torquay United | 3 – 1 | Thames | Plainmoor |
| Clayson Cooper |
|
Attendance: 3,003 |
Brentford v Torquay United
| 5 Mar 1932 | Brentford | 3 – 0 | Torquay United | Griffin Park |
| |
Attendance: 11,293 |
Torquay United v Exeter City
| 12 Mar 1932 | Torquay United | 2 – 1 | Exeter City | Plainmoor |
| Cooper Birkett |
|
Attendance: 5,839 |
Coventry City v Torquay United
| 19 Mar 1932 | Coventry City | 3 – 1 | Torquay United | Highfield Road |
| |
Cooper |
Attendance: 9,923 |
Bristol Rovers v Torquay United
| 25 Mar 1932 | Bristol Rovers | 1 – 1 | Torquay United | Eastville Stadium |
|
Cooper |
Attendance: 10,729 |
Torquay United v Gillingham
| 26 Mar 1932 | Torquay United | 1 – 0 | Gillingham | Plainmoor |
| Stabb |
Attendance: 3,038 |
Torquay United v Bristol Rovers
| 28 Mar 1932 | Torquay United | 8 – 1 | Bristol Rovers | Plainmoor |
| Anderson Clayson Hutchinson Griffiths |
|
Attendance: 2,830 |
Luton Town v Torquay United
| 2 Apr 1932 | Luton Town | 6 – 1 | Torquay United | Kenilworth Road |
| |
Hutchinson |
Attendance: 5,778 |
Torquay United v Cardiff City
| 9 Apr 1932 | Torquay United | 2 – 2 | Cardiff City | Plainmoor |
| Clayson |
McCambridge |
Attendance: 3,437 |
Northampton Town v Torquay United
| 16 Apr 1932 | Northampton Town | 2 – 0 | Torquay United | County Ground |
| |
Attendance: 2,882 |
Torquay United v Reading
| 23 Apr 1932 | Torquay United | 1 – 4 | Reading | Plainmoor |
| Cooper |
|
Attendance: 3,270 |
Southend United v Torquay United
| 30 Apr 1932 | Southend United | 4 – 2 | Torquay United | The Kursaal |
| |
Clayson Freer |
Attendance: 5,471 |
Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic v Torquay United
| 7 May 1932 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 5 – 0 | Torquay United | Dean Court |
| |
Attendance: 3,474 |
FA Cup
Main article: 1931–32 FA Cup
Torquay United v Southend United
| 28 Nov 1931 First Round | Torquay United | 1 – 3 | Southend United | Plainmoor |
| Trotter |
|
Attendance: 6,000 |
First team appearances
More information Nat, Pos ...
| Nat | Pos | Player | Total | Third Division South | FA Cup | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
|
GK | Joe Wright | 29 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
|
GK | Laurie Millsom | 14 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
DF | Jack Fowler | 43 | 8 | 42 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
|
DF | Wally Webster | 24 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
DF | Lew Tapp | 19 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
|
DF | Jim Wright | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
MF | Don Hewitt | 28 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
|
MF | Bob Smith | 28 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
|
MF | Ted Anderson | 19 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
MF | Jack Butler | 18 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
MF | George Parkin | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
MF | Wilf Freer | 6 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
|
MF | Bob Meacock | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
FW | Albert Hutchinson | 43 | 10 | 42 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
|
FW | Billy Clayson | 41 | 14 | 40 | 14 | 1 | 0 |
|
FW | Ralph Birkett | 37 | 8 | 37 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
|
FW | Harry Waller | 28 | 4 | 28 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
|
FW | Cyril Hemingway | 24 | 4 | 23 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
|
FW | Jimmy Trotter | 19 | 11 | 18 | 10 | 1 | 1 |
|
FW | Jack Cooper | 14 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
|
FW | George Stabb | 12 | 3 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
 |
FW | Willie Miller | 7 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
|
FW | Arthur Griffiths | 5 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
|
FW | ? Rodgers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Close
Source:[2]
Top scorers
More information Place, Position ...
| Place | Position | Nation | Name | Third Division South | FA Cup | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FW | | Billy Clayson | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 2 | FW | | Jimmy Trotter | 10 | 1 | 11 |
| 3 | FW | | Albert Hutchinson | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 4 | FW | | Ralph Birkett | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| = | DF | | Jack Fowler | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 6 | FW | | Jack Cooper | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 7 | FW | | Cyril Hemingway | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| = | FW | | Harry Waller | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 9 | FW | | George Stabb | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 10 | MF | | Ted Anderson | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| = | MF | | Wilf Freer | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| = | FW | | Arthur Griffiths | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| = | FW | | Willie Miller | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| TOTAL | 72 | 1 | 73 | |||
Close
Source:[2]
Transfers
In
More information First appearance, Nat. ...
| First appearance | Nat. | Pos. | Name | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 August 1931 | |
MF | George Parkin | West Ham United |
| 2 September 1931 | |
MF | Bob Meacock | Blackpool |
| 5 September 1931 | |
DF | Wally Webster | Sheffield United |
| 7 September 1931 | |
FW | Jack Cooper | Walsall |
| 7 September 1931 | |
FW | George Stabb | Dartmouth United |
| 12 September 1931 | |
DF | Lew Tapp | Newton Abbot F.C. |
| 16 September 1931 | |
FW | Cyril Hemingway | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
| 26 December 1931 | |
MF | Ted Anderson | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
| 30 January 1932 | |
FW | Willie Miller | St Johnstone |
| 28 March 1932 | |
FW | Arthur Griffiths | Unattached |
Close
Out
More information Last appearance, Nat. ...
| Last appearance | Nat. | Pos. | Name | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 September 1931 | |
DF | Jim Wright | Grimsby Town |
| 26 September 1931 | |
MF | Bob Meacock | Tranmere Rovers |
| 12 December 1931 | |
MF | George Parkin | Halifax Town |
| 12 December 1931 | |
FW | Jimmy Trotter | Watford |
| 13 February 1932 | |
GK | Joe Wright | Brighton & Hove Albion |
| 20 February 1932 | |
FW | Cyril Hemingway | Dartmouth United |
| 19 March 1932 | |
FW | Willie Miller | Released |
| 9 Apr 1932 | |
MF | Bob Smith | Released |
| 23 Apr 1932 | |
FW | Jack Cooper | Released |
| 30 Apr 1932 | |
MF | Wilf Freer | Released |
| 7 May 1932 | |
MF | Jack Butler | Daring Club |
| 7 May 1932 | |
FW | Billy Clayson | Scarborough |
| 7 May 1932 | |
FW | Arthur Griffiths | Newport County |
| 7 May 1932 | |
GK | Laurie Millsom | Released |
| 7 May 1932 | |
FW | Harry Waller | Wrexham |
Close
- Edwards, Leigh; Gibbes, Jon; Lovis, John (1999). Torquay United, The Official Centenary History, 1899-1999. Yore Publications. ISBN 1-874427-38-0
- Edwards, Leigh (1997). The Definitive Torquay United F.C.. The Association of Football Statisticians. ISBN 1-899468-09-9.
- "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 10 December 2011.
- "Historical Football Kits".