1925–26 Torquay United F.C. season

Torquay United 1925–26 football season
Torquay United
1925–26 season
ChairmanEngland Charles Hore
ManagerSouth Africa Percy Mackrill
Southern League
Western Section		6th
Western League
Professional Section		3rd
FA CupFirst round
Devon Professional CupSemi-final
Top goalscorerLeague:
George Appleyard (15)
All:
George Appleyard (29)
Home colours

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.

Overview

Torquay 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

Southern League Western Section

Pos Team
  • v
  • t
  • e
 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
Source: [citation needed]
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:
  1. ^ Number of goals for and/or against is inaccurate.

Western League Professional Section

Pos Team
  • v
  • t
  • e
 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
Source: [citation needed]

Results

Southern League Western Section

Barry v Torquay United
23 Jan 1926 Barry 2 – 2 Torquay United Jenner Park
Pither
Garratt
Torquay United v Barry
6 Feb 1926 Torquay United 3 – 0 Barry Plainmoor
Appleyard
Pither
Chambers
Weymouth v Torquay United
13 Feb 1926 Weymouth 3 – 1 Torquay United Recreation Ground
Dale
Bell
Caswell 		Appleyard
Torquay United v Weymouth
27 Feb 1926 Torquay United 4 – 1 Weymouth Plainmoor
Leslie (pen.) (pen.)
Bell
Bolt 		Bell
Yeovil & Petters United v Torquay United
6 Mar 1926 Yeovil & Petters United 1 – 0 Torquay United Pen Mill Athletic Ground
Torquay United v Pontypridd
13 Mar 1926 Torquay United 6 – 0 Pontypridd Plainmoor
Hughes
(o.g.) (o.g.)
Morgan
Bell
Bath City v Torquay United
5 Apr 1926 Bath City 1 – 2 Torquay United Belvoir
Appleyard
Bell
Pontypridd v Torquay United
6 Apr 1926 Pontypridd 6 – 3 Torquay United Pontypridd
Hughes (pen.) (pen.)
Pither

Western League Professional Section

Yeovil & Petters United v Torquay United
10 Oct 1925 Yeovil & Petters United 0 – 0 Torquay United Pen Mill Athletic Ground
Weymouth v Torquay United
6 Jan 1926 Weymouth 3 – 1 Torquay United Recreation Ground
Caswell
Bown 		Chambers

FA Cup

Torquay United v Green Waves
19 Sep 1925 Preliminary round Torquay United 5 – 1 Green Waves Plainmoor
Pither
Marlow
Appleyard
Taunton United v Torquay United
3 Oct 1925 First round qualifying Taunton United 1 – 2 Torquay United Taunton
Vallis
Appleyard
Kingswood v Torquay United
17 Oct 1925 Second round qualifying Kingswood 2 – 3 Torquay United Kingswood
Vallis
Marlow
Appleyard
Mid Rhondda United v Torquay United
31 Oct 1925 Third round qualifying Mid Rhondda United 1 – 2 Torquay United Mid Rhondda Ground
Appleyard
Torquay United v Yeovil & Petters United
14 Nov 1925 Fourth round qualifying Torquay United 3 – 1 Yeovil & Petters United Plainmoor
Morgan
Appleyard
Pither
Torquay United v Reading
28 Nov 1925 First round Torquay United 1 – 1 Reading Plainmoor
Vallis
Reading v Torquay United
2 Dec 1925 First round replay Reading 1 – 1 Torquay United Elm Park
Appleyard
Torquay United v Reading
7 Dec 1925 First round 2nd replay Torquay United 0 – 2 Reading Ashton Gate

Devon Professional Cup

References

  1. ^ a b Edwards, Leigh; Gibbes, Jon; Lovis, John (1999). Torquay United, The Official Centenary History, 1899-1999. Yore Publications. ISBN 1-874427-38-0
  2. ^ Holgate, Mike (1999). Torquay United Football Club 1899-1999. Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-1814-9

External links

  • "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.
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