1927–28 Torquay United F.C. season

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.

Torquay United
1927–28 season
Chairman Charles Hore
Manager Percy Mackrill
Third Division South22nd
FA CupDid not enter
Top goalscorerBert Turner (11)
Highest home attendance10,749 v Exeter City, 27 August 1927
Lowest home attendance2,156 v Brighton & Hove Albion, 1 October 1927
Average home league attendance4,175

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
Main article: 1927–28 Football League § Third Division South
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Promotion
18 Walsall[lower-alpha 1] 42 12 9 21 75 101 0.743 33
19 Bristol Rovers 42 14 4 24 67 93 0.720 32
20 Coventry City 42 11 9 22 67 96 0.698 31
21 Merthyr Town 42 9 13 20 53 91 0.582 31 Re-elected
22 Torquay United[lower-alpha 2] 42 8 14 20 53 103 0.515 30
Source:
Notes:
  1. Walsall had been transferred to Third Division South for this season.
  2. New club in the league

Results summary
OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGAvPtsWDLGFGAPtsWDLGFGAPts
42 8 14 20 53 103 0.515 30 4 10 7 27 36 18 4 4 13 26 67 12

Source: rsssf.com

Results by round
Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundHAAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHAAHAAHAAHHAHAAH
ResultDLWLLLLDDWLLLWWDLDLLDLWDDLDWLDLLDWLLLDWLDD
Position111713182122222122182020212117171917212221212121202121212121212122222222222222222222
Source: statto.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Match of the season

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

Smith
Turner
Jones
McGovern
TORQUAY UNITED
EXETER CITY
TORQUAY UNITED:
GK 1 Laurie Millsom
RB 2 George Cook
LB 3 George Smith
RH 4 Maurice Wellock
CH 5 Frank Wragge
LH 6 Jack Connor
OR 7 Jim Mackey
IR 8 Bert Turner
CF 9 Jimmy Jones
IL 10 Tom McGovern
OL 11 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
Main article: 1927–28 Football League
27 Aug 1927 Torquay United1 – 1Exeter CityPlainmoor
Turner (pen.) Vaughan Attendance: 10,749
29 Aug 1927 Millwall9 – 1Torquay UnitedThe Den
Thomson Attendance: 6,204
3 Sep 1927 Merthyr Town1 – 3Torquay UnitedPenydarren Park
Jones
Thomson 		Attendance: 4,644
7 Sep 1927 Torquay United0 – 1MillwallPlainmoor
Attendance: 5,413
10 Sep 1927 Norwich City4 – 0Torquay UnitedThe Nest
Attendance: 12,887
17 Sep 1927 Torquay United1 – 5Northampton TownPlainmoor
Turner Attendance: 4,625
24 Sep 1927 Southend United1 – 0Torquay UnitedThe Kursaal
Attendance: 8,546
1 Oct 1927 Torquay United1 – 1Brighton & Hove AlbionPlainmoor
Jones Attendance: 2,156
8 Oct 1927 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic1 – 1Torquay UnitedDean Court
Wellock Attendance: 5,781
15 Oct 1927 Torquay United2 – 1BrentfordPlainmoor
Turner (pen.)
Pattison 		Attendance: 4,185
22 Oct 1027 Torquay United1 – 2Charlton AthleticPlainmoor
Daniel Attendance: 4,816
29 Oct 1927 Bristol Rovers5 – 1Torquay UnitedEastville Stadium
Wellock Attendance: 6,824
5 Nov 1927 Torquay United1 – 2Plymouth ArgylePlainmoor
Jones Forbes
Black 		Attendance: 9,172
12 Nov 1927 Watford1 – 2Torquay UnitedVicarage Road
Daniel
Turner 		Attendance: 6,929
19 Nov 1927 Torquay United1 – 0Queens Park RangersPlainmoor
Jones Attendance: 2,235
3 Dec 1927 Torquay United1 – 1Newport CountyPlainmoor
Wellock Waterston Attendance: 3,489
10 Dec 1927 Walsall4 – 0Torquay UnitedFellows Park
Attendance: 3,610
17 Dec 1927 Torquay United1 – 1GillinghamPlainmoor
Turner (pen.) Attendance: 2,992
27 Dec 1927 Torquay United0 – 2Crystal PalacePlainmoor
Attendance: 3,353
31 Dec 1927 Exeter City5 – 0Torquay UnitedSt James Park
Attendance: 8,224
7 Jan 1928 Torquay United2 – 2Merthyr TownPlainmoor
Jones
Ringland 		Attendance: 3,234
14 Jan 1928 Coventry City5 – 1Torquay UnitedHighfield Road
Ringland Attendance: 6,878
21 Jan 1928 Torquay United4 – 2Norwich CityPlainmoor
Turner
Ringland 		Attendance: 3,336
28 Jan 1928 Northampton Town4 – 4Torquay UnitedCounty Ground
Mackey
Turner
Pattison
Ringland 		Attendance: 4,832
4 Feb 1928 Torquay United3 – 3Southend UnitedPlainmoor
Ringland
McGovern 		Attendance: 3,419
11 Feb 1928 Brighton & Hove Albion3 – 0Torquay UnitedGoldstone Ground
Attendance: 7,430
18 Feb 1928 Torquay United2 – 2Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticPlainmoor
Ringland Attendance: 4,236
25 Feb 1928 Brentford1 – 2Torquay UnitedGriffin Park
Pattison
Ringland 		Attendance: 8,355
3 Mar 1928 Charlton Athletic1 – 0Torquay UnitedThe Valley
Attendance: 8,290
10 Mar 1928 Torquay United0 – 0Bristol RoversPlainmoor
Attendance: 4,078
14 Mar 1928 Crystal Palace3 – 2Torquay UnitedSelhurst Park
Mackey
Pattison 		Attendance: 4,842
17 Mar 1928 Plymouth Argyle4 – 1Torquay UnitedHome Park
Richards
Matthews 		Russell (o.g.) Attendance: 9,008
24 Mar 1928 Torquay United1 – 1WatfordPlainmoor
Turner Attendance: 3,750
31 Mar 1928 Queens Park Rangers2 – 3Torquay UnitedLoftus Road
Turner
Griffiths 		Attendance: 5,839
6 Apr 1928 Luton Town5 – 0Torquay UnitedKenilworth Road
Attendance: 10,397
7 Apr 1928 Torquay United2 – 3Coventry CityPlainmoor
Budd
Griffiths (pen.)		 Attendance: 3,275
9 Apr 1928 Torquay United0 – 4Luton TownPlainmoor
Attendance: 2,994
14 Apr 1928 Newport County2 – 2Torquay UnitedSomerton Park
Waterston
Barratt 		Budd
Griffiths 		Attendance: 3,199
21 Apr 1928 Torquay United2 – 1Swindon TownPlainmoor
Griffiths Attendance: 2,808
28 Apr 1928 Gillingham4 – 1Torquay UnitedPriestfield
Pattison Attendance: 3,868
2 May 1928 Swindon Town2 – 2Torquay UnitedCounty Ground
Griffiths Attendance: 2,528
5 May 1928 Torquay United1 – 1WalsallPlainmoor
Mackey Attendance: 3,365

Club statistics

First team appearances
Nat Pos Player Third Division South
Apps Goals
GK Archie Bayes 37 0
GK Laurie Millsom 5 0
DF George Cook 29 0
DF Jack Price 26 0
DF Percy Mackrill 6 0
DF George Smith 6 0
MF Claude Gough 28 0
MF Frank Wragge 27 0
MF Jack Connor 24 0
MF Charlie Davis 18 0
MF Hugh Good 16 0
MF David Daniel 15 2
MF Wally Clark 6 0
FW Jim Mackey 40 3
FW Bert Turner 38 11
FW Maurice Wellock 27 3
FW Jack Pattison 26 5
FW Jimmy Jones 20 6
FW Tom McGovern 18 1
FW Bob Ringland 14 9
FW Lew Griffiths 12 8
FW Dan Thomson 11 2
FW Herbert Budd 7 2
FW Alwyn Thomas 5 0
FW George Orrick 3 0
FW Len Knapman 1 0

Source:[2]

Top scorers
Place Position Nation Name Third Division South
1FWBert Turner11
2FWBob Ringland9
3FWLew Griffiths8
4FWJimmy Jones6
5FWJack Pattison5
6FWJim Mackey3
=FWMaurice Wellock3
8FWHerbert Budd2
=MFDavid Daniel2
=FWDan Thomson2
11FWTom McGovern1
Own goals1
TOTAL 53

Source:[2]

Transfers

In
First appearance Nat. Pos. Name From
27 August 1927 MF Jack Connor Newport County
27 August 1927 DF George Cook Preston North End
27 August 1927 FW Jimmy Jones Aberdare Athletic
27 August 1927 FW Jim Mackey West Stanley
27 August 1927 FW Tom McGovern Queen of the South
27 August 1927 DF George Smith Walsall
27 August 1927 FW Dan Thomson Bournemouth & Boscombe
27 August 1927 FW Bert Turner Brierley Hill Alliance
27 August 1927 FW Maurice Wellock Oldham Athletic
27 August 1927 MF Frank Wragge Stafford Rangers
3 September 1927 MF Charlie Davis Bath City
3 September 1927 DF Jack Price Brentford
17 September 1927 MF Claude Gough Queens Park Rangers
3 December 1927 FW George Orrick Unattached
17 December 1927 FW Herbert Budd Exeter City
27 December 1927 FW Bob Ringland Unattached
14 January 1928 FW Len Knapman Unattached
18 February 1928 MF Hugh Good Bristol City
31 March 1928 MF Wally Clark Barrow

Out
Last appearance Nat. Pos. Name To
17 September 1927 DF George Smith Exmouth Town
17 December 1927 FW George Orrick Bristol City
27 December 1927 MF David Daniel Released
31 December 1927 FW Dan Thomson Walsall
14 January 1928 FW Jimmy Jones Worcester City
14 January 1928 FW Len Knapman Dartmouth United
7 April 1928 MF Wally Clark Connah's Quay & Shotton
7 April 1928 FW Maurice Wellock Peterborough & Fletton United
9 April 1928 MF Claude Gough Clapton Orient
9 April 1928 FW Bob Ringland Broadway United
28 April 1928 FW Tom McGovern Sheppey United
5 May 1928 MF Jack Connor Released
5 May 1928 DF George Cook Carlisle United
5 May 1928 MF Hugh Good Raith Rovers
5 May 1928 FW Lew Griffiths Crystal Palace
5 May 1928 FW Jack Pattison Taunton United
5 May 1928 FW Bert Turner Bristol Rovers
5 May 1928 MF Frank Wragge Walsall

Source:[2]

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.
  3. Holgate, Mike (1999). Torquay United Football Club 1899-1999. Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-1814-9
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