The 1925–26 Torquay United F.C. season was Torquay United's fifth season in competitive football and their fourth season in the Southern League. The season runs from 1 July 1925 to 30 June 1926.
| 1925–26 season | ||
|---|---|---|
| Chairman |  Charles Hore | |
| Manager |  Percy Mackrill | |
| Southern League Western Section | 6th | |
| Western League Professional Section | 3rd | |
| FA Cup | First round | |
| Devon Professional Cup | Semi-final | |
| Top goalscorer | League: George Appleyard (15) All: George Appleyard (29) | |
|
| ||
Overview
editTorquay United's fourth season in the Southern League saw them face a much depleted fixture list with the Western Section reduced to only fourteen teams due to the departure of six of the Welsh sides. As a result, the remaining English teams joined to form the Professional Section of the Western League to provide themselves with additional fixtures. This gave the Magpies an extra eighteen games to play on top of their Southern League commitments.[1]
Under new player-manager Percy Mackrill, Torquay made a hesitant start to their Southern League campaign and were without a win in their first six matches. However, the Plainmoor faithful were rewarded for their patience in December when the Magpies scored a total of twelve goals in their Christmas and Boxing Day fixtures against Taunton United and Bath City. Torquay eventually finished 6th in the Southern League which, even with just fourteen teams competing, was certainly an improvement on the previous season. Torquay also made a good showing in the Western League, finishing in 3rd place.
Much of the Torquay's success during the season was due to the goalscoring of new forward George Appleyard, signed from local rivals Exeter City. Effortlessly filling the boots of the recently departed Billy Kellock, Appleyard scored an impressive 29 goals in all competitions. He made a particular impression in the FA Cup, scoring in all five qualifying rounds and getting Torquay to the first round proper for the very first time. Their reward was a visit from high-flying Third Division South side Reading. 6,000 supporters at Plainmoor witnessed Torquay take a first half lead over their League opponents before Reading equalised through a penalty which forced a replay at Elm Park. A late equalising goal from George Appleyard in that match saw the fixture taken to a second replay, to be held at Bristol City's Ashton Gate ground. However, it was to be third time unlucky for the Magpies as the League side eventually emerged with a 2–0 victory.[1]
It was an outstanding performance by Torquay over the eventual Third Division South champions and certainly strengthened their case for election to the Football League.[2] However, for the time being at least, the Magpies made no attempt to enter the Third Division South at the end of the season and instead looked forward to another Southern League campaign.
League statistics
editSouthern League Western Section
edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts | Result[a] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Swindon Town II | 26 | 13 | 4 | 9 | 57 | 40 | 1.425 | 30 | |
| 5 | Ebbw Vale | 26 | 13 | 3 | 10 | 60 | 46 | 1.304 | 29 | |
| 6 | Torquay United | 26 | 12 | 5 | 9 | 59 | 46 | 1.283 | 29 | |
| 7 | Yeovil & Petters United | 26 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 43 | 48 | 0.896 | 26 | |
| 8 | Mid Rhondda United | 26 | 12 | 1 | 13 | 47 | 49 | 0.959 | 25 |
Rules for classification: The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used until the 1976–77 season. The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.
Notes:
- ^ Number of goals for and/or against is inaccurate.
Western League Professional Section
edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bristol City Reserves | 18 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 58 | 19 | 3.053 | 27 |
| 2 | Bristol Rovers Reserves | 18 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 53 | 36 | 1.472 | 24 |
| 3 | Torquay United | 18 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 28 | 22 | 1.273 | 22 |
| 4 | Yeovil and Petters United | 18 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 33 | 27 | 1.222 | 21 |
| 5 | Swindon Town Reserves | 18 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 32 | 33 | 0.970 | 20 |
| 6 | Weymouth | 18 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 37 | 45 | 0.822 | 18 |
| 7 | Plymouth Argyle Reserves | 18 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 31 | 25 | 1.240 | 17 |
| 8 | Exeter City Reserves | 18 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 33 | 41 | 0.805 | 16 |
| 9 | Taunton United | 18 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 18 | 45 | 0.400 | 9 |
| 10 | Bath City Reserves | 18 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 20 | 50 | 0.400 | 6 |
Results
editSouthern League Western Section
edit| 29 Aug 1925 | Torquay United | 1 – 2 | Plymouth Argyle Reserves | Plainmoor |
Mackrill  (pen.) |
|
| 5 Sep 1925 | Torquay United | 0 – 1 | Exeter City Reserves | Plainmoor |
| |
| 12 Sep 1925 | Bristol Rovers Reserves | 1 – 1 | Torquay United | Eastville Stadium |
| |
Appleyard |
| 26 Sep 1925 | Exeter City Reserves | 2 – 2 | Torquay United | St James Park |
| |
Mackrill Hughes |
| 21 Nov 1925 | Swindon Town Reserves | 2 – 2 | Torquay United | County Ground |
| |
Marlow Chambers |
| 5 Dec 1925 | Ebbw Vale | 7 – 1 | Torquay United | Welfare Ground |
| |
Appleyard |
| 12 Dec 1925 | Torquay United | 2 – 1 | Mid Rhondda United | Plainmoor |
| Bell Chambers |
|
| 25 Dec 1925 | Torquay United | 5 – 0 | Taunton United | Plainmoor |
| Leslie (pen.) Appleyard Marlow Pither |
| 26 Dec 1925 | Torquay United | 7 – 2 | Bath City | Plainmoor |
| Appleyard Bell Chambers |
|
| 9 Jan 1926 | Torquay United | 1 – 1 | Yeovil & Petters United | Plainmoor |
| Appleyard |
|
| 23 Jan 1926 | Barry | 2 – 2 | Torquay United | Jenner Park |
| |
Pither Garratt |
| 27 Jan 1926 | Bristol City Reserves | 3 – 1 | Torquay United | Ashton Gate |
| |
Appleyard |
| 6 Feb 1926 | Torquay United | 3 – 0 | Barry | Plainmoor |
| Appleyard Pither Chambers |
| 13 Feb 1926 | Weymouth | 3 – 1 | Torquay United | Recreation Ground |
| Dale Bell Caswell |
Appleyard |
| 20 Feb 1926 | Torquay United | 3 – 1 | Swindon Town Reserves | Plainmoor |
| Chambers Hughes (pen.) |
|
| 27 Feb 1926 | Torquay United | 4 – 1 | Weymouth | Plainmoor |
| Leslie (pen.) (pen.) Bell Bolt |
Bell |
| 6 Mar 1926 | Yeovil & Petters United | 1 – 0 | Torquay United | Pen Mill Athletic Ground |
| |
| 13 Mar 1926 | Torquay United | 6 – 0 | Pontypridd | Plainmoor |
| Hughes (o.g.) (o.g.) Morgan Bell |
| 20 Mar 1926 | Mid Rhondda United | 1 – 2 | Torquay United | Mid Rhondda Ground |
| |
Appleyard |
| 27 Mar 1926 | Torquay United | 3 – 2 | Ebbw Vale | Plainmoor |
| Marlow (o.g.) Morgan |
|
| 2 Apr 1926 | Taunton United | 1 – 5 | Torquay United | Taunton |
| |
Marlow Appleyard Bell Pither |
| 3 Apr 1926 | Torquay United | 1 – 3 | Bristol Rovers Reserves | Plainmoor |
| Marlow |
|
| 5 Apr 1926 | Bath City | 1 – 2 | Torquay United | Belvoir |
| |
Appleyard Bell |
| 6 Apr 1926 | Pontypridd | 6 – 3 | Torquay United | Pontypridd |
| |
Hughes (pen.) (pen.) Pither |
| 10 Apr 1926 | Torquay United | 1 – 0 | Bristol City Reserves | Plainmoor |
| Marlow |
| 17 Apr 1926 | Plymouth Argyle Reserves | 2 – 0 | Torquay United | Home Park |
| |
Western League Professional Section
edit| 31 Aug 1925 | Plymouth Argyle Reserves | 2 – 3 | Torquay United | Home Park |
| |
Marlow Pither |
| 21 Sep 1925 | Torquay United | 0 – 0 | Swindon Town Reserves | Plainmoor |
| 10 Oct 1925 | Yeovil & Petters United | 0 – 0 | Torquay United | Pen Mill Athletic Ground |
| 24 Oct 1925 | Torquay United | 4 – 2 | Bath City | Plainmoor |
| Appleyard Vallis Marlow |
|
| 28 Oct 1925 | Torquay United | 1 – 2 | Taunton United | Plainmoor |
| Vallis |
|
| 17 Dec 1925 | Torquay United | 0 – 2 | Yeovil & Petters United | Plainmoor |
| |
| 6 Jan 1926 | Weymouth | 3 – 1 | Torquay United | Recreation Ground |
| Caswell Bown |
Chambers |
| 13 Jan 1926 | Torquay United | 2 – 0 | Bristol Rovers Reserves | Plainmoor |
| Bell Leslie (pen.) |
| 16 Jan 1926 | Exeter City Reserves | 1 – 2 | Torquay United | St James Park |
| |
Pither Bell |
| 30 Jan 1926 | Torquay United | 4 – 2 | Bristol City Reserves | Plainmoor |
| Hughes (pen.) (pen.) Marlow Bell |
|
| 4 Feb 1926 | Taunton United | 0 – 1 | Torquay United | Taunton |
| Appleyard |
| 10 Mar 1926 | Bristol City Reserves | 0 – 0 | Torquay United | Ashton Gate |
| 17 Mar 1926 | Torquay United | 3 – 1 | Weymouth | Plainmoor |
| Bell Marlow |
Bell |
| 25 Mar 1926 | Bath City | 0 – 2 | Torquay United | Belvoir |
| Appleyard Marlow |
| 14 Apr 1926 | Torquay United | 3 – 1 | Exeter City Reserves | Plainmoor |
| Appleyard |
|
| 21 Apr 1926 | Torquay United | 1 – 1 | Plymouth Argyle Reserves | Plainmoor |
| Marlow |
|
| 24 Apr 1926 | Bristol Rovers Reserves | 3 – 0 | Torquay United | Eastville Stadium |
| |
| 28 Apr 1926 | Swindon Town Reserves | 1 – 0 | Torquay United | County Ground |
| |
FA Cup
edit| 19 Sep 1925 Preliminary round | Torquay United | 5 – 1 | Green Waves | Plainmoor |
| Pither Marlow Appleyard |
|
| 3 Oct 1925 First round qualifying | Taunton United | 1 – 2 | Torquay United | Taunton |
| |
Vallis Appleyard |
| 17 Oct 1925 Second round qualifying | Kingswood | 2 – 3 | Torquay United | Kingswood |
| |
Vallis Marlow Appleyard |
| 31 Oct 1925 Third round qualifying | Mid Rhondda United | 1 – 2 | Torquay United | Mid Rhondda Ground |
| |
Appleyard |
| 14 Nov 1925 Fourth round qualifying | Torquay United | 3 – 1 | Yeovil & Petters United | Plainmoor |
| Morgan Appleyard Pither |
|
| 28 Nov 1925 First round | Torquay United | 1 – 1 | Reading | Plainmoor |
| Vallis |
|
| 2 Dec 1925 First round replay | Reading | 1 – 1 | Torquay United | Elm Park |
| |
Appleyard |
| 7 Dec 1925 First round 2nd replay | Torquay United | 0 – 2 | Reading | Ashton Gate |
| |
Devon Professional Cup
edit| 18 Nov 1925 Semi Final | Torquay United | 1 – 2 | Plymouth Argyle Reserves | Plainmoor |
| Pither |
|
References
edit- ^ a b 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. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
- "TFF History Room". Archived from the original on 26 February 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
- "TUFC History". Archived from the original on 12 May 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
- "Historical Football Kits". Retrieved 13 July 2011.