The 1932–33 Torquay United F.C. season was Torquay United's sixth season in the Football League and their sixth consecutive season in Third Division South. The season runs from 1 July 1932 to 30 June 1933.

Overview After finishing in 19th place in their previous Third Division South campaign, it was clear that Torquay United needed to make major changes if they had any intentions of challenging for promotion to the Second Division. However, believing the club lacked the ambition to do so, manager Frank Womack left Torquay at the end of the 1931–32 season.Holgate, Mike (1999). Torquay United Football Club 1899–1999. Tempus Publishing. His replacement was Frank Brown who had played for the Magpies in their non-League days and had subsequently become a trainer under Percy Mackrill and then Womack. His first task was to rebuild the team, replacing stalwarts such as Bob Smith, Jack Butler and Laurie Millsom with newer, younger faces. Of the team which lined up on the opening match of the season against Coventry City, eight out of the starting eleven were debutants, with new goalkeeper Percy Maggs and centre back Jack Tennant becoming ever-presents throughout the campaign, as was right half Ted Anderson who had joined the Magpies for the second half of the previous season.Edwards, Leigh (1997). The Definitive Torquay United F.C.. The Association of Football Statisticians. .

While two draws and two defeats in their opening four games suggested the unfamiliar team had yet to find their feet, an 8–1 victory over Southend United at Plainmoor in early September certainly helped the squad to settle into the new season. Torquay would prove to be particularly strong at home with only two defeats at Plainmoor throughout the entire season. However, away from home it was a slightly different story with the team suffering twelve losses and only four victories on the road. Nevertheless, by the penultimate game of the season, Torquay's excellent home form had propelled them up to 8th position in the table and a victory against Queens Park Rangers on the final day could have seen the club finish in an unprecedented 5th place. As it was, a 1–1 draw at the White City Stadium and with other results going against them, the Magpies had to ultimately settle for 10th place, which was still the club's best finish in the League to date.

Inevitably, with a much improved side, the Torquay players began attracting attention from other clubs. At the end of the season both Jack Tennant and Alf Gray were sold to First Division side Liverpool, while Ted Anderson was also lured away to Second Division West Ham United. Perhaps most heartbreaking of all to the Plainmoor faithful was the departure of Dartmouth born right winger Ralph Birkett. After 98 appearances and 20 goals for Torquay, the 20-year-old Birkett was sold to eventual First Division champions Arsenal, with manager Herbert Chapman willing to pay the significant amount of £1,588 to secure his services.Edwards, Leigh; Gibbes, Jon; Lovis, John (1999). Torquay United, The Official Centenary History, 1899–1999. Yore Publications. After later joining Middlesbrough, Birkett would go on to play for England in 1935.

Though losing key players was detrimental to the club, there was hope for the future with the arrival of Don Welsh. The centre half would soon develop and give a reason for Frank Brown to confident for the coming season.

League statistics

Third Division South

Results summary

Results by round

Results

Third Division South

FA Cup

Club statistics

First team appearances NatPosPlayerTotalThird Division SouthFA CupAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKPercy Maggs47042050DFJack Tennant47142051DFLew Tapp40035050DFJack Fowler717100DFWally Webster504010MFTed Anderson47142150MFTom Robinson29024050MFAlf Gray22122100MFFred Martin16011050MFDon Welsh16016000MFDon Hewitt11011000FWDon Bird451040951FWAlbert Orr45641640FWGeorge Stabb4526402452FWAlbert Hutchinson3817341542FWRalph Birkett35932831FWFred Flavell1039310FWFred Avey403010FWTommy Davis414100FWLeslie Mills212100FWMaldwyn Owens201010 Source:

Top scorers PlacePositionNationNameThird Division SouthFA CupTotal1 FW George Stabb 24 2 262 FW Albert Hutchinson 15 2 173 FW Don Bird 9 1 104 FW Ralph Birkett 8 1 95 FW Albert Orr 6 0 66 FW Fred Flavell 3 0 37 MF Ted Anderson 1 0 1= FW Tom Davis 1 0 1= DF Jack Fowler 1 0 1= MF Alf Gray 1 0 1= MF Leslie Mills 1 0 1= DF Jack Tennant 0 1 1Own goals 2 0 2 TOTAL 72 7 79 Source:

Transfers

In First appearanceNat.Pos.NameFrom27 August 1932FWFred AveyFulham27 August 1932FWDon BirdBury27 August 1932FWTommy DavisBoston Town27 August 1932MFAlf GrayOldham Athletic27 August 1932GKPercy MaggsBlackpool27 August 1932MFFred MartinMillwall27 August 1932FWAlbert OrrChesterfield27 August 1932DFJack TennantStoke City31 August 1932MFTom RobinsonBury5 November 1932FWFred FlavellOldham Athletic15 December 1932FWMaldwyn OwensUnattached4 February 1933FWLeslie MillsUnattached4 February 1933MFDon WelshR.N. Devonport

Out Last appearanceNat.Pos.NameTo17 December 1932FWMaldwyn OwensReleased28 January 1933MFFred MartinReleased11 February 1933MFTom RobinsonRetired18 April 1933FWRalph BirkettArsenal22 April 1933FWFred AveyTunbridge Wells6 May 1933MFTed AndersonWest Ham United6 May 1933FWTommy DavisNew Brighton6 May 1933MFAlf GrayLiverpool6 May 1933DFJack TennantLiverpool6 May 1933DFWally WebsterRochdale

References

External links