1927–28 Torquay United F.C. season explained

Club:Torquay United
Season:1927–28
Manager: Percy Mackrill
Chairman: Charles Hore
League:Third Division South
League Result:22nd
Cup1:FA Cup
Cup1 Result:Did not enter
League Topscorer:Bert Turner (11)
Highest Attendance:10,749 v Exeter City, 27 August 1927
Lowest Attendance:2,156 v Brighton & Hove Albion, 1 October 1927
Average Attendance:4,175
Pattern La1:_black_stripes
Pattern B1:_3stripesonwhite
Pattern Ra1:_black_stripes
Pattern So1:_2whitestripes
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Shorts1:white
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Prevseason:1926–27
Nextseason:1928–29

The 1927–28 Torquay United F.C. season was Torquay United's first season in the Football League and their first season in Third Division South. The season runs from 1 July 1927 to 30 June 1928.

Overview

Under the guidance of player-manager Percy Mackrill, Torquay United won the Western section of the Southern League in 1927 in only their sixth season as a professional football club. This achievement (along with an impressive three-leg resistance against high-flying Reading in the 1925–26 FA Cup) earned Torquay election to the Football League in time for the 1927–28 Third Division South season, at the expense of Aberdare Athletic.[1]

After an encouraging Football League debut - a 1–1 draw against Exeter City in front of over 10,000 supporters at their Plainmoor home ground - Torquay then suffered a humiliating 9–1 defeat away to eventual champions Millwall two days later. Although United did manage to restore some dignity in their next game with a 3–1 win away to fellow strugglers Merthyr Town, the season would prove to be a challenge for the debutants. Among the few highlights of a tough campaign were Bert Turner's hat-trick during the 4–2 win over Norwich City in January and the home and away victories over Brentford and Queens Park Rangers. Incidentally, Torquay were excused from this season's FA Cup as the additional qualifying rounds which had already been allocated to them before their election would have caused a significant disruption to their League fixtures.[1]

Notable players during Torquay's first League season included the aforementioned Turner (top scorer with 11 goals), outside right Jim Mackey who played in all but two games and goalkeeper Archie Bayes who, despite missing out on the debut match against Exeter City, played a total of 37 games during the season. Significant contributions were also made by centre forwards Bob Ringland (9 goals in 14 appearances) and Lew Griffiths (8 goals in 12 appearances). However, of these players, only Mackey would still be lining up for Torquay during the following season.[2]

With only 8 wins from 42 games, Torquay United ended their first season in the Third Division South in last place and had to seek re-election in order to remain in the Football League for the 1928–29 season.[1]

League statistics

Third Division South

Results by round

Match of the season

TORQUAY UNITED 1–1 EXETER CITY
Third Division South
Plainmoor, 27 August 1927

TORQUAY UNITED:
GK1 Laurie Millsom
RB2 George Cook
LB3 George Smith
RH4 Maurice Wellock
CH5 Frank Wragge
LH6 Jack Connor
OR7 Jim Mackey
IR8
CF9
IL10 Tom McGovern
OL11 Dan Thomson

Torquay United's very first match in the Football League was a Devon derby with nearest rivals Exeter City. Percy Mackrill fielded a side which would have been largely unfamiliar to supporters who had watched the Magpies in the Southern League. Fourteen new players were signed by Torquay before their first League campaign began and ten of those made their debuts in the first match of the season.[3] Only Laurie Millsom had previously played for the Magpies before and he was only selected due to an injury to first choice keeper Archie Bayes (a Torquay veteran himself).[1]

Player-manager Mackrill declined to select himself at left back, instead choosing George Smith to partner George Cook in defence. Centre half Frank Wragge anchored the midfield with captain Jack Connor on his left and (despite being an experienced forward) Maurice Wellock playing as a right wing half. Meanwhile, Welsh centre forward Jimmy Jones was flanked by inside forwards Tom McGovern and Bert Turner while Dan Thomson and Jim Mackey adopted the outside forward positions.[2]

Torquay's debut Football League game ended in a 1–1 draw, with Bert Turner scoring the home side's goal from the penalty spot and Exeter's Billy Vaughan scoring a late equaliser for the visitors.[1]

Results

Third Division South

See main article: 1927–28 Football League.

Club statistics

First team appearances

NatPosPlayerThird Division South
AppsGoals
GKArchie Bayes370
GKLaurie Millsom50
DFGeorge Cook290
DFJack Price260
DFPercy Mackrill60
DFGeorge Smith60
MFClaude Gough280
MFFrank Wragge270
MFJack Connor240
MFCharlie Davis180
MFHugh Good160
MFDavid Daniel152
MFFrank Clarke60
FWJim Mackey403
FWBert Turner3811
FWMaurice Wellock273
FWJack Pattison265
FWJimmy Jones206
FWTom McGovern181
FWBob Ringland149
FWLew Griffiths128
FWDan Thomson112
FWHerbert Budd72
FWAlwyn Thomas50
FWGeorge Orrick30
FWAlf Knapman10
Source:[2]

Top scorers

width=60Placewidth=60Positionwidth=60Nationwidth=150Namewidth=80Third Division South
1 FW 11
2 FW Bob Ringland 9
3 FW Lew Griffiths 8
4 FW 6
5 FW 5
6 FW 3
= FW 3
8 FW 2
= MF David Daniel 2
= FW 2
11 FW Tom McGovern 1
Own goals 1
TOTAL 53
Source:[2]

Transfers

In

width=125First appearanceNat.Pos.width=200Namewidth=200From
27 August 1927MFNewport County
27 August 1927DFPreston North End
27 August 1927FWAberdare Athletic
27 August 1927FWWest Stanley
27 August 1927FWTom McGovern Queen of the South
27 August 1927DFWalsall
27 August 1927FWBournemouth & Boscombe
27 August 1927FWBrierley Hill Alliance
27 August 1927FWOldham Athletic
27 August 1927MFStafford Rangers
3 September 1927MFCharlie Davis Bath City
3 September 1927DFBrentford
17 September 1927MFClaude Gough Queens Park Rangers
3 December 1927FWGeorge OrrickBristol City
17 December 1927FWHerbert BuddBude
27 December 1927FWBob RinglandCupar (Ireland)
14 January 1928FWLen KnapmanUnattached
18 February 1928MFHugh GoodBristol City
31 March 1928MFFrank ClarkeCoventry City

Out

width=125Last appearanceNat.Pos.width=200Namewidth=200To
17 September 1927DFGeorge SmithExmouth Town
17 December 1927FWGeorge OrrickShiney Row Swifts
27 December 1927MFDavid DanielReleased
31 December 1927FWDan ThomsonWalsall
14 January 1928FWWorcester City
14 January 1928FWAlf KnapmanDartmouth United
7 April 1928MFFrank ClarkeLeamington Town
7 April 1928FWMaurice WellockPeterborough & Fletton United
9 April 1928MFClaude GoughClapton Orient
9 April 1928FWBob RinglandBroadway United
28 April 1928FWTom McGovernSheppey United
5 May 1928MFJack ConnorReleased
5 May 1928DFGeorge CookCarlisle United
5 May 1928MFHugh GoodRaith Rovers
5 May 1928FWLew GriffithsCrystal Palace
5 May 1928FWJack PattisonTaunton United
5 May 1928FWBert TurnerBristol Rovers
5 May 1928MFFrank WraggeWalsall
Source:[2]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Edwards, Leigh; Gibbes, Jon; Lovis, John (1999). Torquay United, The Official Centenary History, 1899-1999. Yore Publications.
  2. Edwards, Leigh (1997). The Definitive Torquay United F.C.. The Association of Football Statisticians. .
  3. Holgate, Mike (1999). Torquay United Football Club 1899-1999. Tempus Publishing.

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