1932–33 Torquay United F.C. season

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.

Torquay United
1932–33 season
ChairmanEngland Charles Dear
ManagerEngland Frank Brown
Third Division South10th
FA CupSecond round
Top goalscorerLeague:
George Stabb (24)

All:
George Stabb (26)
Highest home attendance7,683 v Exeter City, 17 September 1932
(Third Division South)
Lowest home attendance2,462 v Bristol Rovers, 26 April 1933
(Third Division South)
Average home league attendance3,991

Overview

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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

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Third Division South

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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
Source: [citation needed]

Results summary

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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

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Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundHAAHHHAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHA
ResultDLLDWLLWWWLLDWLDLWWDLDDLLWLWDWDWLDWWWLWDWD
Position1118202015202118139131516151616181612121516141617161715151312111213131313131010810
Source: statto.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Results

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Third Division South

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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
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
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
25 Feb 1933 Swindon Town 0 – 0 Torquay United County Ground
Attendance: 1,528
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
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

FA Cup

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Club statistics

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First team appearances

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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

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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

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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
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

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  1. ^ Holgate, Mike (1999). Torquay United Football Club 1899-1999. Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-1814-9
  2. ^ a b c Edwards, Leigh (1997). The Definitive Torquay United F.C.. The Association of Football Statisticians. ISBN 978-1-899468-09-6.
  3. ^ Edwards, Leigh; Gibbes, Jon; Lovis, John (1999). Torquay United, The Official Centenary History, 1899-1999. Yore Publications. ISBN 1-874427-38-0
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