1931–32 Torquay United F.C. 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.

Torquay United
1931–32 season
Chairman Charles Dear
Manager Frank Womack
Third Division South19th
FA CupFirst Round
Top goalscorerLeague:
Billy Clayson (14)
All:
Billy Clayson (14)
Highest home attendance6,000 v Southend United, 28 November 1931
(FA Cup)
Lowest home attendance2,547 v Northampton Town, 5 December 1931
(Third Division South)
Average home league attendance3,718

Overview

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.

League statistics

Third Division South
Main article: 1931–32 Football League § Third Division South
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][lower-alpha 2] 42 11 10 21 75 108 0.694 32
21 Gillingham 42 10 8 24 40 82 0.488 28 Re-elected
Source:
Notes:
  1. Mansfield Town was transferred to Third Division North for the following season.
  2. New club in the league

Results summary
OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGAvPtsWDLGFGAPtsWDLGFGAPts
42 12 9 21 72 106 0.679 33 9 6 6 49 39 24 3 3 15 23 67 9

Source: rsssf.com

Results by round
Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundAHHAAHHAHAAHAHAHHAHHAHAAHAHAHHAHAAHHAHAHAA
ResultLDLLWLDLWWDDLDDLWLWLLWLLDWLLWWLWLDWWLDLLLL
Position191921212121212120171516161615161616151618181919201819201918181718181716171717191919
Source: statto.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Results

Third Division South
Main article: 1931–32 Football League
29 Aug 1931 Crystal Palace 7 – 0 Torquay United Selhurst Park
Attendance: 18,479
2 Sep 1931 Torquay United 1 – 1 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Plainmoor
Trotter Attendance: 4,485
5 Sep 1931 Torquay United 3 – 6 Watford Plainmoor
Hutchinson
Trotter 		Attendance: 4,559
7 Sep 1931 Fulham 10 – 2 Torquay United Craven Cottage
Hutchinson
Stabb 		Attendance: 9,706
12 Sep 1931 Mansfield Town 2 – 4 Torquay United Field Mill
Birkett
Trotter
Hutchinson 		Attendance: 8,499
16 Sep 1931 Torquay United 2 – 3 Fulham Plainmoor
Birkett
Trotter 		Attendance: 5,056
19 Sep 1931 Torquay United 1 – 1 Brighton & Hove Albion Plainmoor
Trotter Attendance: 4,590
26 Sep 1931 Norwich City 2 – 0 Torquay United The Nest
Attendance: 10,583
3 Oct 1931 Torquay United 2 – 1 Swindon Town Plainmoor
Waller
Trotter 		Attendance: 4,483
10 Oct 1931 Clapton Orient 1 – 3 Torquay United Lea Bridge Stadium
Stabb
Birkett
Clayson 		Attendance: 8,998
17 Oct 1931 Thames 1 – 1 Torquay United West Ham Stadium
Trotter Attendance: 2,491
24 Oct 1931 Torquay United 1 – 1 Brentford Plainmoor
Hutchinson Attendance: 4,650
31 Oct 1931 Exeter City 3 – 1 Torquay United St James Park
Fowler (pen.) Attendance: 8,489
7 Nov 1931 Torquay United 3 – 3 Coventry City Plainmoor
Fowler (pen.)
Hemingway 		Attendance: 3,065
14 Nov 1931 Gillingham 1 – 1 Torquay United Priestfield
Fowler (pen.) Attendance: 3,919
21 Nov 1931 Torquay United 1 – 2 Luton Town Plainmoor
Birkett Attendance: 3,490
5 Dec 1931 Torquay United 4 – 1 Northampton Town Plainmoor
Trotter
Hutchinson
Fowler
Clayson 		Attendance: 2,547
12 Dec 1931 Reading 4 – 1 Torquay United Elm Park
Trotter Attendance: 5,507
19 Dec 1931 Torquay United 2 – 1 Southend United Plainmoor
Cooper
Hemingway 		Attendance: 2,900
25 Dec 1931 Torquay United 2 – 3 Queens Park Rangers Plainmoor
Clayson
Birkett 		Attendance: 4,999
26 Dec 1931 Queens Park Rangers 3 – 1 Torquay United White City Stadium
Hutchinson Attendance: 24,133
2 Jan 1932 Torquay United 3 – 1 Crystal Palace Plainmoor
Hemingway
Waller
Clayson 		Attendance: 2,703
13 Jan 1932 Cardiff City 5 – 2 Torquay United Ninian Park
Fowler (pen.)
Hemingway 		Attendance: 3,890
16 Jan 1932 Watford 1 – 0 Torquay United Vicarage Road
Attendance: 9,335
23 Jan 1932 Torquay United 2 – 2 Mansfield Town Plainmoor
Waller
Clayson 		Attendance: 3,370
30 Jan 1932 Brighton & Hove Albion 0 – 2 Torquay United Goldstone Ground
Waller
Fowler (pen.)		 Attendance: 7,079
6 Feb 1932 Torquay United 2 – 4 Norwich City Plainmoor
Birkett Attendance: 3,057
13 Feb 1932 Swindon Town 3 – 0 Torquay United County Ground
Attendance: 3,457
20 Feb 1932 Torquay United 3 – 0 Clapton Orient Plainmoor
Fowler (pen.)
Cooper
Miller 		Attendance: 2,708
27 Feb 1932 Torquay United 3 – 1 Thames Plainmoor
Clayson
Cooper 		Attendance: 3,003
5 Mar 1932 Brentford 3 – 0 Torquay United Griffin Park
Attendance: 11,293
12 Mar 1932 Torquay United 2 – 1 Exeter City Plainmoor
Cooper
Birkett 		Attendance: 5,839
19 Mar 1932 Coventry City 3 – 1 Torquay United Highfield Road
Cooper Attendance: 9,923
25 Mar 1932 Bristol Rovers 1 – 1 Torquay United Eastville Stadium
Cooper Attendance: 10,729
26 Mar 1932 Torquay United 1 – 0 Gillingham Plainmoor
Stabb Attendance: 3,038
28 Mar 1932 Torquay United 8 – 1 Bristol Rovers Plainmoor
Anderson
Clayson
Hutchinson
Griffiths 		Attendance: 2,830
2 Apr 1932 Luton Town 6 – 1 Torquay United Kenilworth Road
Hutchinson Attendance: 5,778
9 Apr 1932 Torquay United 2 – 2 Cardiff City Plainmoor
Clayson Attendance: 3,437
16 Apr 1932 Northampton Town 2 – 0 Torquay United County Ground
Attendance: 2,882
23 Apr 1932 Torquay United 1 – 4 Reading Plainmoor
Cooper Attendance: 3,270
30 Apr 1932 Southend United 4 – 2 Torquay United The Kursaal
Clayson
Freer 		Attendance: 5,471
7 May 1932 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 5 – 0 Torquay United Dean Court
Attendance: 3,474

FA Cup
Main article: 1931–32 FA Cup
28 Nov 1931 First Round Torquay United 1 – 3 Southend United Plainmoor
Trotter Attendance: 6,000

Club statistics

First team appearances
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

Source:[2]

Top scorers
Place Position Nation Name Third Division South FA Cup Total
1FWBilly Clayson14014
2FWJimmy Trotter10111
3FWAlbert Hutchinson10010
4FWRalph Birkett808
=DFJack Fowler808
6FWJack Cooper707
7FWCyril Hemingway404
=FWHarry Waller404
9FWGeorge Stabb303
10MFTed Anderson101
=MFWilf Freer101
=FWArthur Griffiths101
=FWWillie Miller101
TOTAL 72173

Source:[2]

In
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

Out
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

References
  1. Edwards, Leigh; Gibbes, Jon; Lovis, John (1999). Torquay United, The Official Centenary History, 1899-1999. Yore Publications. ISBN 1-874427-38-0
  2. Edwards, Leigh (1997). The Definitive Torquay United F.C.. The Association of Football Statisticians. ISBN 1-899468-09-9.
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