The 1930–31 Torquay United F.C. season was Torquay United's fourth season in the Football League and their fourth consecutive season in Third Division South. The season runs from 1 July 1930 to 30 June 1931.
Overview After finishing no higher than 18th in their first three Football League campaigns, Torquay manager Frank Womack was determined to build a team that would make a more competitive showing in the Third Division South. With that in mind, Womack made several impressive signings during the close season, among them Arsenal centre half Jack Butler and Leicester City keeper Joe Wright.Edwards, Leigh; Gibbes, Jon; Lovis, John (1999). Torquay United, The Official Centenary History, 1899–1999. Yore Publications. Finally it appeared that the Magpies had hit upon a winning formula and by early October they were second in the Third Division South table, just four points behind leaders Notts County. Much of the upturn in Torquay's fortunes was due to the scoring prowess of new centre forward Jimmy Trotter who had already scored thirteen goals before the end of October and would go on to score a total of 28 goals in all competitions by the end of the season. Trotter was ably assisted by two more new forwards in Billy Clayson and Albert Hutchinson, who contributed another 25 goals between them. Hutchinson was to eventually prove a very loyal servant to Torquay, remaining with the club up until the outbreak of World War II.Edwards, Leigh (1997). The Definitive Torquay United F.C.. The Association of Football Statisticians. .
However, despite their blistering start to the season, Torquay then hit upon a run of bad form towards the end of the year in which they lost six out of seven games and saw them drop to 12th position by Christmas Day. Results began to improve again in the New Year when the talented young outside right Ralph Birkett was re-introduced into the team. However, despite Trotter, Clayson and Hutchinson appearing to be firing on all cylinders again, it would not be enough for the Magpies to make a challenge for promotion and they would have to settle for an 11th-place finish at the end of the season.
Perhaps Torquay's mid-season slump may have been due to the distractions of the FA Cup which saw the Magpies defeat Southend United and Accrington Stanley to reach the third round for the first time in their history. They were rewarded with a trip to Second Division side Bury and, far from being overawed by the occasion, Torquay came back from Gigg Lane with a 1–1 draw, earning a replay at Plainmoor. Unfortunately, despite a battling performance from United which forced the replay into extra time, it was Bury who were to make it through to the fourth round.
It had been by far Torquay's most successful season to date and there was now a sense that the club was finally making progress in the Football League.
League statistics
Third Division South
Results summary
Results by round
Match of the season BURY 1–1 TORQUAY UNITEDFA Cup third roundGigg Lane, 10 January 1931
TORQUAY UNITED:GK1 Joe WrightRB2 Jim WrightLB3 Dick HillRH4 Billy ClaysonCH5 Jack ButlerLH6 Bob SmithOR7 Harry WallerIR8 Albert HutchinsonCF9 Jimmy Trotter IL10 Harry KeelingOL11 William Bell
In keeping with a season which had perhaps exceeded many expectations, Torquay United found themselves in the third round of the FA Cup for the very first time in their history. Having first seen off Third Division South rivals Southend United and Accrington Stanley of the Third Division North in consecutive away 1–0 victories, the Magpies then had to make another long trip up north to face Second Division side Bury. With the Lancashire team currently lying in 7th place in Division Two, few would have expected Torquay to have gained any kind of result when they visited Gigg Lane.
The side chosen by Frank Womack reflected the changes he had brought to the team for this season with only Bob Smith, Harry Waller and Harry Keeling having played for the Magpies during the previous campaign. This was a notable match for Bob Smith as he was making his 100th appearance for the club, the first player to reach that landmark for Torquay United and he was, in fact, an ever-present for the Magpies this season appearing in all 46 games. Protecting Joe Wright's goal was his namesake Jim Wright and Dick Hill while former Arsenal centre half Jack Butler was flanked in the midfield by Smith and Billy Clayson. Clayson was unusually playing in the right half position having been replaced in his more accustomed role of inside forward by Harry Keeling in the previous match, an away trip to Gillingham. Having scored two goals in that game, Keeling retained his position in the forward line forcing Clayson to make the switch into midfield, pushing Jim Wright into the right back position at the expense of Jack Fowler. Taking the outside forward positions were Harry Waller and William Bell with Albert Hutchinson and potent centre forward Jimmy Trotter completing the forward line. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it was Trotter who forced an unlikely replay by scoring his 18th goal of the season so far.
With the replay taking place at Plainmoor four days later, Trotter scored once again to take the match into extra time. However, on this occasion the Shakers superiority prevailed and eventually won the tie 2–1 in extra time. Ironically, Bury were knocked out in the next round by Torquay's local rivals Exeter City. As for Torquay, it would be another seventeen years before they would reach the third round of the FA Cup again.
Results
Third Division South
FA Cup
Club statistics
First team appearances NatPosPlayerTotalThird Division SouthFA CupAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKJoe Wright45041040GKLaurie Millsom101000DFJack Fowler38137110DFDick Hill32128140DFJim Wright30126140MFBob Smith46142140MFJack Butler35232230MFArthur Phoenix18018000MFStan High16116000MFWilf Freer403010MFArthur Weightman404000MFDon Hewitt202000FWAlbert Hutchinson4611421140FWJimmy Trotter4228382642FWBilly Clayson3914351440FWHarry Waller34730740FWWilliam Bell32728641FWRalph Birkett20320300FWFred Fisher717100FWHarry Keeling634320FWRobert Mackie626200FWLeslie Burrows312011 Source:
Top scorers PlacePositionNationNameThird Division SouthFA CupTotal1 FW Jimmy Trotter 26 2 282 FW Billy Clayson 14 0 143 FW Albert Hutchinson 11 0 114 FW William Bell 6 1 7= FW Harry Waller 7 0 76 FW Ralph Birkett 3 0 3= FW Harry Keeling 3 0 38 MF Jack Butler 2 0 2= FW Robert Mackie 2 0 210 FW Leslie Burrows 0 1 1= FW Fred Fisher 1 0 1= DF Jack Fowler 1 0 1= MF Stan High 1 0 1= DF Dick Hill 1 0 1= MF Bob Smith 1 0 1= DF Jim Wright 1 0 1Own goals 0 0 0 TOTAL 80 4 84 Source:
Transfers
In First appearanceNat.Pos.NameFrom30 August 1930FWWilliam BellLeicester City30 August 1930MFJack ButlerArsenal30 August 1930FWFred FisherNotts County30 August 1930DFDick HillMillwall30 August 1930FWAlbert HutchinsonLuton Town30 August 1930FWRobert MackieColeraine30 August 1930FWJimmy TrotterSheffield Wednesday30 August 1930GKJoe WrightLeicester City13 September 1930FWBilly ClaysonScarborough27 September 1930DFJim WrightOkehampton F.C.18 October 1930MFDon HewittCoventry City15 November 1930MFArthur WeightmanNewark Town23 November 1930FWLes BurrowsBristol City17 December 1930MFWilf FreerBirmingham City25 December 1930MFArthur PhoenixBath City
Out Last appearanceNat.Pos.NameTo31 January 1931FWLes BurrowsReleased7 March 1931FWHarry KeelingSwindon Town28 March 1931MFStan HighAccrington Stanley6 April 1931DFDick HillNewark Town25 April 1931FWWilliam BellReleased2 May 1931FWFred FisherMansfield Town2 May 1931FWRobert MackieReleased2 May 1931MFArthur PhoenixMansfield Town2 May 1931MFArthur WeightmanMansfield Town Source:
References
External links