Torquay United
1926–27 season
ChairmanEngland Charles Hore
ManagerSouth Africa Percy Mackrill
Southern League
Western Section		1st
Promoted to
Third Division South
Western League
Professional Section		2nd
FA CupFirst Round
Devon Professional
Trophy		Semi-final
Top goalscorerLeague:
Lew Griffiths (15)
All:
Lew Griffiths &
Len Marlow (25)

The 1926–27 Torquay United F.C. season was Torquay United's sixth season in competitive football and their fifth season in the Southern League. The season ran from 1 July 1926 to 30 June 1927.

Overview

For the second season in succession, Torquay United found themselves competing in both the Southern League and the Western League. With the Professional Section of the Western League now expanded to include twelve teams, United had to play a total of 48 games spread across the two leagues. The Magpies certainly rose to the challenge in both competitions. In the Southern League, Percy Mackrill's men were particularly impressive at Plainmoor where only a shock Boxing Day defeat to Bath City prevented the team from achieving a 100% home record. United also suffered just one home defeat in their Western League campaign, a 2–0 loss to eventual champions Bristol City Reserves. However, in the Southern League, it was the Magpies who prevailed over City's Reserves and Torquay United were crowned winners of the Western Section in April.[1] As Western champions, Torquay met the winners of the Eastern Section, Brighton & Hove Albion Reserves, in the Southern League play-off final. However, United lost the game 4-0 making Brighton's Reserves the overall Southern League champions.[2]

Following an impressive display against Third Division South side Reading in the previous season's FA Cup, Torquay were this season given a bye to the First Round proper. United again gave a good account of themselves against Football League opposition when, after holding Bristol Rovers to a 1–1 draw at Plainmoor, they were unfortunate to be beaten 1–0 in the replay at the Eastville Stadium in a game in which Torquay missed a penalty.[1]

Having enjoyed such a successful season, Torquay United now made a second attempt to gain membership of the Football League. Although they hadn't received a single vote in their previous attempt to enter the Third Division South in 1922, United's bid was now far more credible and was reflected in the votes cast this time around. At the Football League's meeting in London's Connaught Rooms on 30 May, one of the two current League clubs up for re-election, Watford, won a respectable 44 votes, while the other, Aberdare Athletic, found themselves tied with Torquay in second place on 21 votes each. Despite claims by Aberdare's secretary of a biased scrutineer, a second vote went in the Magpies favour with a 26–19 split meaning that Torquay United would now be taking the Welsh team's place in the 1927–28 season of the Third Division South.[2]

After nearly thirty years of organised football and various team mergers and name changes, the town of Torquay finally had a Football League club of its own.

League statistics

Southern League Western Section

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Qualification
1 Torquay United 26 17 4 5 63 30 2.100 38 Elected to the Football League Third Division South
2 Bristol City II 26 14 10 2 77 37 2.081 38
3 Plymouth Argyle II 26 15 4 7 56 38 1.474 34
4 Ebbw Vale 26 14 2 10 67 45 1.489 30
5 Bristol Rovers II 26 12 4 10 51 43 1.186 28
Source:
Rules for classification: The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used up until the 1976–77 season. The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.

Western League Professional Section

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Result
1 Bristol City Reserves 22 16 2 4 59 32 1.844 34
2 Torquay United 22 14 4 4 47 27 1.741 32 Elected to Football League Third Division South
3 Plymouth Argyle Reserves 22 13 1 8 63 37 1.703 27
4 Lovells Athletic 22 11 5 6 47 36 1.306 27
5 Bristol Rovers Reserves 22 12 3 7 49 41 1.195 27
6 Exeter City Reserves 22 10 3 9 61 53 1.151 23
7 Yeovil and Petters United 22 10 1 11 48 44 1.091 21
8 Swindon Town Reserves 22 9 2 11 41 47 0.872 20 Left at the end of the season
9 Bath City Reserves 22 8 3 11 35 50 0.700 19
10 Poole 22 6 2 14 40 69 0.580 14 Left at the end of the season
11 Taunton United 22 4 3 15 28 55 0.509 11
12 Weymouth 22 3 3 16 30 57 0.526 9
Source:

Results

Southern League Western Section

28 Aug 1926 Torquay United 4 – 1 Taunton United Plainmoor
Bloxham
Hughes
Daniel
Andrews
4 Sep 1926 Torquay United 3 – 2 Weymouth Plainmoor
Marlow
Pattison
Daniel 		Camp
Caswell
4 Dec 1926 Yeovil & Petters United 2 – 2 Torquay United Pen Mill Athletic Ground
Marlow
Hughes
5 Feb 1927 Torquay United 3 – 1 Barry Plainmoor
Pattison
Griffiths
4 Mar 1927 Mid Rhondda United 0 – 3 Torquay United Mid Rhondda Ground
Pattison
Marlow
Griffiths
19 Mar 1927 Weymouth 0 – 2 Torquay United Recreation Ground
Griffiths Attendance: 756
9 Apr 1927 Barry 2 – 4 Torquay United Jenner Park
Griffiths
Pattison
Andrews
18 Apr 1927 Bath City 0 – 0 Torquay United Belvoir

Southern League play-off final

Western League Professional Section

13 Oct 1926 Weymouth 0 – 1 Torquay United Recreation Ground
Daniel
18 Nov 1926 Bath City 2 – 6 Torquay United Belvoir
Andrews
Marlow
Leslie
Daniel
13 Jan 1927 Lovells Athletic 1 – 1 Torquay United Rexville
Leslie (pen.)
26 Mar 1927 Yeovil & Petters United 2 – 3 Torquay United Pen Mill Athletic Ground
Griffiths
Andrews
15 Apr 1927 Poole 2 – 1 Torquay United Poole
Griffiths

FA Cup

27 Nov 1926 First Round Torquay United 1 – 1 Bristol Rovers Plainmoor
Bloxham

Devon Professional Trophy

References

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