The 1921–22 Torquay United F.C. season was Torquay United's first season in competitive football and their first season in the Western League. The season runs from 1 July 1921 to 30 June 1922.
| 1921–22 season | ||
|---|---|---|
| Chairman |  Charles Hore | |
| Manager |  Crad Evans | |
| Western League | 5th | |
| FA Cup | Fourth round qualifying | |
| Devon Senior Cup | Winners | |
|
| ||
Overview edit
When Devon's two most successful football clubs Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City became founder members of the Football League Third Division in 1920, questions were asked as to whether Devon's third largest town, Torquay, could support a Football League team of its own. The seaside resort's two foremost sides were Torquay Town and Babbacombe and, while they had both enjoyed success in the Plymouth & District League, it was felt that Torquay's best chance of creating a team strong enough for the Football League would be for the two fierce rivals to merge. Despite many years of friction between the sides, it was finally decided that the 1920–21 football season would be the last for both Torquay Town and Babbacombe and that a new professional football club would be formed.[1][2]
The new team was to be called Torquay United, which was a name that had previously been used from 1899 up until 1910 before the original United merged with Ellacombe to form Torquay Town. Crad Evans, Torquay Town's star striker, was installed as player-manager and the new team adopted a black and white strip which soon earned them the nickname of 'the Magpies'. Although Torquay United were initially denied entry into the Southern League, they were accepted into the Western League in time for the 1921–22 season.[1]
Despite an encouraging first game of the season, a 1–0 victory over Weymouth, Torquay's form soon dipped and they would not win another League game until the New Year. However, a run of five wins out of six at the end of the season led United to a respectable mid-table finish in a very competitive league. Torquay also enjoyed an extended run in the FA Cup, playing a total of eight fixtures (nine including the 75th minute abandonment of the first qualifying round fixture against Spencer Moulton). United made it as far as the fourth qualifying round before being knocked out by Boscombe. The newly professional Torquay United also made their last appearance in the Devon Senior Cup. It was a tournament the club had won under the name of Torquay Town in 1911 and the re-christened United repeated the feat by beating Oreston Rovers 1–0 in the final at Home Park.[1]
At the end of the season, Torquay United again applied to join the Southern League and, on this occasion, were successful in their bid.[1]
Competitions edit
Western League edit
Standings edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yeovil and Petters United | 14 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 26 | 9 | 2.889 | 22 | |
| 2 | Trowbridge Town | 14 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 18 | 15 | 1.200 | 17 | |
| 3 | Welton Rovers | 14 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 31 | 27 | 1.148 | 16 | |
| 4 | Cardiff Corinthians | 14 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 30 | 22 | 1.364 | 15 | |
| 5 | Torquay United | 14 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 25 | 17 | 1.471 | 14 | Moved to the Southern League English Section |
| 6 | Peasedown St John | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 21 | 19 | 1.105 | 13 | |
| 7 | Weymouth | 14 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 15 | 25 | 0.600 | 11 | |
| 8 | Horfield United | 14 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 10 | 42 | 0.238 | 4 | Left at the end of the season |
Matches edit
| 3 Sep 1921 | Torquay United | 1 – 0 | Weymouth | Plainmoor |
Sanders  |
Attendance: 3,000 |
| 17 Sep 1921 | Torquay United | 1 – 1 | Peasedown St John | Plainmoor |
| Frayn (pen.) |
|
| 29 Oct 1921 | Torquay United | 1 – 3 | Cardiff Corinthians | Plainmoor |
| Davis |
|
| 31 Dec 1921 | Trowbridge Town | 2 – 1 | Torquay United | Trowbridge |
| |
Frayn |
| 8 Feb 1922 | Welton Rovers | 3 – 1 | Torquay United | West Clewes |
| |
Pratt |
| 18 Feb 1922 | Torquay United | 0 – 1 | Yeovil & Petters United | Plainmoor |
| |
| 25 Feb 1922 | Peasedown St John | 2 – 1 | Torquay United | Peasedown St John |
| |
Burley |
| 11 Mar 1922 | Horfield United | 2 – 2 | Torquay United | Horfield |
| |
Nettesonne Chapman |
| 18 Mar 1922 | Torquay United | 2 – 1 | Welton Rovers | Plainmoor |
| Burch Harris |
|
| 5 Apr 1922 | Cardiff Corinthians | 0 – 6 | Torquay United | Pengam Farm |
| Burley Harris Jackman Lincoln |
| 8 Apr 1922 | Weymouth | 0 – 2 | Torquay United | Recreation Ground |
| Worden Stuckey (pen.) |
| 17 Apr 1922 | Torquay United | 4 – 0 | Trowbridge Town | Plainmoor |
| Burch (pen.) Stuckey Harris |
| 22 Apr 1922 | Yeovil & Petters United | 2 – 0 | Torquay United | Pen Mill Athletic Ground |
| |
| 29 Apr 1922 | Torquay United | 3 – 0 | Horfield United | Plainmoor |
| Burley Pratt Harris |
FA Cup edit
| 10 Sep 1921 Extra preliminary round | Minehead | 0 – 3 | Torquay United | Recreation Ground |
| Stuckey (pen.) Townsend |
| 24 Sep 1921 Preliminary round | Torquay United | 1 – 1 | Frome Town | Plainmoor |
| Stuckey |
|
| 27 Sep 1921 Pre. Round Replay | Frome Town | 1 – 3 | Torquay United | Badgers Hill |
| |
Davis (pen.) Stuckey |
| 12 Oct 1921[1] First round qualifying | Torquay United | 5 – 2 | Spencer Moulton | Plainmoor |
| Stuckey Lincoln Burch |
|
| 22 Oct 1921 Second round qualifying | Torquay United | 6 – 0 | St George's | Plainmoor |
| Stuckey Townsend Burch Merrick |
| 5 Nov 1921 Third round qualifying | Torquay United | 2 – 2 | Hanham Athletic | Plainmoor |
| Burch (pen.) Evans |
|
| 9 Nov 1921 Third round Q. Replay | Hanham Athletic | 1 – 3 | Torquay United | Hanham |
| |
Frayn Evans |
| 19 Nov 1921 Fourth round qualifying | Torquay United | 0 – 1 | Boscombe | Plainmoor |
| |
Devon Senior Cup edit
| 3 Dec 1921 First round | Dartmouth United | 0 – 3 | Torquay United | Long Cross |
| Frayn Townsend |
| 17 Dec 1921 Second round | Torquay United | 5 – 0 | Chudleigh | Plainmoor |
| Townsend Evans Pyne Burch (o.g.) |
| 11 Mar 1922 Quarter Final | Torquay United | 6 – 0 | Torrington | Plainmoor |
| Burch Stuckey Lincoln Harris Pridham |
| 29 Mar 1922 Semi Final | Teign Village | 0 – 7 | Torquay United | Newton Abbot |
| Stuckey (pen.) Nattesonne Martin Evans (o.g.) |
| 8 Apr 1922 Final | Oreston Rovers | 0 – 1 | Torquay United | Home Park |
| Frayn |
Notes edit
1 . Match originally played 8 Oct 1921 but was abandoned after 75 minutes due to fog. Torquay United were leading 2-0 at the time.
References edit
- ^ a b c d Edwards, Leigh; Gibbes, Jon; Lovis, John (1999). Torquay United, The Official Centenary History, 1899-1999. Yore Publications. ISBN 1-874427-38-0
- ^ Holgate, Mike (1999). Torquay United Football Club 1899-1999. Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-1814-9
External links edit
- "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.
- "Historical Football Kits".