1928–29 Torquay United F.C. season

The 1928–29 Torquay United F.C. season was Torquay United's second season in the Football League and their second consecutive season in Third Division South. The season runs from 1 July 1928 to 30 June 1929.

Torquay United
1928–29 season
ChairmanCharles Hore
ManagerPercy Mackrill
(until March 1929)
Third Division South18th
FA CupSecond Round
Top goalscorerLeague:
Cyril Hemingway (11)
All:
Cyril Hemingway (12)
Highest home attendance11,114 v Exeter City, 8 December 1928
(FA Cup)
Lowest home attendance2,928 v Bristol Rovers, 5 January 1929
(Third Division South)
Average home league attendance4,918

Overview

Having finished bottom of the table for the 1927–28 season in only their first year in the Football League, Torquay United needed to apply for re-election in order to remain in the Third Division South.[1] Fortunately, for the Magpies, the League members voted in their favour and manager Percy Mackrill set about rebuilding the team in an attempt to make a more competitive showing in their second League campaign. Mackrill made wholesale changes which meant an entirely new first eleven took to the field at Plainmoor on the first day of the season.[2] Despite losing their opening game 4–3 to Queens Park Rangers, it wasn't long before Torquay began producing a much more attacking style of football, demonstrated by high scoring victories over Brighton & Hove Albion and Merthyr Town.

Perhaps the most impressive of all the new signings was the former Morton centre forward Bill Henderson who scored 10 goals in 15 games before his season was ended by injury in the home defeat to Coventry City in November.[1] Also coming up with the goals were Cyril Hemingway and Bill Gardner, with Hemingway ending the season as top scorer with 12 in all competitions. Two other strong additions to the team were ex-England goalkeeper Harold Gough and full-back Jack Fowler who would become a crucial part of the Torquay defence for several seasons to come.[3] Mackrill also managed to discover some local talent in the form of Babbacombe born Sid Cann. The promising young defender was only 16 when he made his League debut against Crystal Palace in September and made an impressive 17 appearances in his first season at United.[1][2]

Despite some encouraging performances at the start season (including a 5–1 demolition of Gillingham in the FA Cup), Torquay's form took a serious dip in the New Year. February and March saw the Magpies lose 9 out of their 10 League games and only a late rally towards the end of the season steered the club away from the need for re-election for a second consecutive year. Although an 18th-place finish represented some kind of progress for United, with Percy Mackrill leaving the club before the end of the season, another fresh start would be required for Torquay's third year in the Football League.[1]

League statistics

Third Division South
Main article: 1928–29 Football League § Third Division South
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
16 Newport County 42 13 9 20 69 86 0.802 35
17 Norwich City 42 14 6 22 69 81 0.852 34
18 Torquay United 42 14 6 22 66 84 0.786 34
19 Bristol Rovers 42 13 7 22 60 79 0.759 33
20 Merthyr Town 42 11 8 23 55 103 0.534 30
Source:

Results summary
OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGAvPtsWDLGFGAPtsWDLGFGAPts
42 14 6 22 66 84 0.786 34 10 3 8 46 36 23 4 3 14 20 48 11

Source: rsssf.com

Results by round
Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAAHHAHAAAH
ResultLDLWWLWLLWWLWLLWWLLDLLWWLLLLWLLLLLDDDWDLWW
Position14161814101391414131214101214141214141414141515151515171516171819201818181918191818
Source: statto.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Match of the season

FULHAM 2–1 TORQUAY UNITED
Third Division South
Craven Cottage, 25 December 1928

Chamberlain
Davis
Smeaton
Thomas
Gardner
Hemingway
Waller
FULHAM
TORQUAY UNITED
TORQUAY UNITED:
GK 1 Harold Gough
RB 2 Jack Fowler
LB 3 Willie Brown
RH 4 Arthur Chamberlain
CH 5 Charlie Davis
LH 6 Arthur Smeaton
OR 7 Jim Mackey
IR 8 Alwyn Thomas
CF 9 Bill Gardner
IL 10 Cyril Hemingway
OL 11 Harry Waller

With an attendance of 20,327, this Christmas Day meeting at Craven Cottage was the largest crowd that a Torquay United team had yet to play in front of.[2] This was Fulham's first season in Third Division South after having been in the Second Division since 1907 and this would have been viewed as one of toughest fixtures of the season by the Magpies, who had been beaten 3–0 away to Southend just three days previously. However, Torquay did not disgrace themselves in front of the huge crowd and came away from the Cottage with a fairly respectable 2–1 defeat, United's goal coming from the Welsh inside forward Alwyn Thomas.

Playing in the heart of defence that day in front of ex-England goalkeeper Harold Gough was Willie Brown (who had earlier in the season lost his place to teenage sensation Sid Cann) and the so-called 'Rock of Gibraltar' Jack Fowler, who played in all but four matches for Torquay during the season. Reliable marksman Cyril Hemingway did not make the scoresheet that day, while goalscorer Alwyn Thomas was playing only his third game of the season after coming in for Dan Kelly. Bill Gardner, meanwhile, had only recently returned to the side due to Bill Henderson's unfortunate injury in November.[2]

The two teams met again at Plainmoor the following day for the Boxing Day fixture (with Jim Carrick replacing Arthur Smeaton at left half). Jim Mackey scored Torquay's goal in a game which ended in a 1–1 draw.[2]

Results

Third Division South
Main article: 1928–29 Football League
25 Aug 1928 Torquay United 3 – 4 Queens Park Rangers Plainmoor
Hemingway
Henderson
Kelly 		Attendance: 7,357
29 Aug 1928 Gillingham 1 – 1 Torquay United Priestfield
Henderson Attendance: 4,501
1 Sep 1928 Bristol Rovers 2 – 1 Torquay United Eastville Stadium
E. Price Attendance: 9,965
5 Sep 1928 Torquay United 2 – 1 Gillingham Plainmoor
Henderson
Gardner 		Attendance: 5,006
8 Sep 1928 Torquay United 1 – 0 Watford Plainmoor
Henderson Attendance: 6,047
15 Sep 1928 Walsall 1 – 0 Torquay United Fellows Park
Attendance: 5,706
22 Sep 1928 Torquay United 4 – 1 Newport County Plainmoor
Gardner
Henderson
Richardson (o.g.) 		Wardell Attendance: 5,908
29 Sep 1928 Crystal Palace 2 – 0 Torquay United Selhurst Park
Attendance: 14,901
6 Oct 1928 Torquay United 2 – 4 Swindon Town Plainmoor
Gardner
Waller 		Attendance: 5,823
13 Oct 1928 Exeter City 1 – 3 Torquay United St James Park
Henderson
Waller
Kelly 		Attendance: 10,553
20 Oct 1928 Torquay United 5 – 1 Brighton & Hove Albion Plainmoor
Henderson
Hemingway
Waller 		Attendance: 5,137
27 Oct 1928 Norwich City 3 – 0 Torquay United The Nest
Attendance: 6,975
3 Nov 1928 Torquay United 3 – 1 Charlton Athletic Plainmoor
Henderson
Smith 		Attendance: 4,639
10 Nov 1928 Northampton Town 6 – 1 Torquay United County Ground
Henderson Attendance: 8,384
17 Nov 1928 Torquay United 0 – 2 Coventry City Plainmoor
Attendance: 5,057
1 Dec 1928 Torquay United 4 – 1 Brentford Plainmoor
Carrick
Mackey
Waller
Hemingway 		Attendance: 4,614
15 Dec 1928 Torquay United 6 – 2 Merthyr Town Plainmoor
Gardner
Hemingway
Thomas 		Attendance: 2,969
22 Dec 1928 Southend United 3 – 0 Torquay United The Kursaal
Attendance: 4,096
25 Dec 1928 Fulham 2 – 1 Torquay United Craven Cottage
Thomas Attendance: 20,327
26 Dec 1928 Torquay United 1 – 1 Fulham Plainmoor
Mackey Attendance: 6,028
29 Dec 1928 Queens Park Rangers 5 – 1 Torquay United Loftus Road
Waller Attendance: 11,471
5 Jan 1929 Torquay United 0 – 1 Bristol Rovers Plainmoor
Attendance: 2,928
19 Jan 1929 Watford 0 – 2 Torquay United Vicarage Road
Hill Attendance: 7,974
26 Jan 1929 Torquay United 3 – 2 Walsall Plainmoor
Hill
Humphrey
Kelly 		Referee: 4,288
2 Feb 1929 Newport County 4 – 1 Torquay United Somerton Park
Maidment
Pugh
G. Richardson
Wardell 		Hemingway Attendance: 1,835
6 Feb 1929 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 4 – 3 Torquay United Dean Court
Mackey
Kelly 		Attendance: 2,903
9 Feb 1929 Torquay United 1 – 2 Crystal Palace Plainmoor
Gardner Attendance: 4,178
23 Feb 1929 Torquay United 1 – 3 Exeter City Plainmoor
Hemingway (pen.) Attendance: 5,262
2 Mar 1929 Brighton & Hove Albion 1 – 2 Torquay United Goldstone Ground
Hill
Waller 		Attendance: 5,589
9 Mar 1929 Torquay United 0 – 3 Norwich City Plainmoor
Attendance: 4,324
16 Mar 1929 Charlton Athletic 2 – 0 Torquay United The Valley
Attendance: 10,430
23 Mar 1929 Torquay United 0 – 1 Northampton Town Plainmoor
Attendance: 3,655
29 Mar 1929 Plymouth Argyle 4 – 0 Torquay United Home Park
Richards
Mackay 		Attendance: 13,040
30 Mar 1929 Coventry City 2 – 1 Torquay United Highfield Road
Kelly Attendance: 12,788
1 Apr 1929 Torquay United 2 – 2 Plymouth Argyle Plainmoor
Smeaton (pen.) (pen.) Forbes
Pullen 		Attendance: 7,053
6 Apr 1929 Torquay United 2 – 2 Luton Town Plainmoor
Waller
Smeaton 		Attendance: 3,909
13 Apr 1929 Brentford 0 – 0 Torquay United Griffin Park
Attendance: 4,507
20 Apr 1929 Torquay United 4 – 1 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Plainmoor
Hill
Hemingway
Kelly 		Attendance: 4,170
24 Apr 1929 Swindon Town 1 – 1 Torquay United County Ground
Smeaton Attendance: 1,757
27 Apr 1929 Merthyr Town 3 – 0 Torquay United Penydarren Park
Attendance: 2,574
29 Apr 1929 Luton Town 1 – 2 Torquay United Kenilworth Road
Kelly
Humphrey 		Attendance: 3,155
4 May 1929 Torquay United 2 – 1 Southend United Plainmoor
Waller
Hill 		Attendance: 4,937

FA Cup
Main article: 1928–29 FA Cup
24 Nov 1928 First Round Gillingham 0 – 0 Torquay United Priestfield
Attendance: 5,869
28 Nov 1928 First Round Replay Torquay United 5 – 1 Gillingham Plainmoor
Gardner
Waller
Kelly
Hemingway 		Attendance: 7,000
8 Dec 1928 Second Round Torquay United 0 – 1 Exeter City Plainmoor
Attendance: 11,114

Club statistics

First team appearances
Nat Pos Player Total Third Division South FA Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Harold Gough 42 0 39 0 3 0
GK Laurie Millsom 3 0 3 0 0 0
DF Jack Fowler 41 0 38 0 3 0
DF Willie Brown 19 0 16 0 3 0
DF Sid Cann 17 0 17 0 0 0
DF James Mellon 10 0 10 0 0 0
DF Jack Price 5 0 5 0 0 0
DF Eric Price 3 1 3 1 0 0
MF Jim Carrick 32 2 29 2 3 0
MF Bob Smith 32 1 29 1 3 0
MF Arthur Smeaton 30 4 27 4 3 0
MF Bob Preston 15 0 15 0 0 0
MF Arthur Chamberlain 11 0 11 0 0 0
MF Charlie Davis 10 0 10 0 0 0
MF Bill Clitheroe 5 0 5 0 0 0
FW Cyril Hemingway 41 12 38 11 3 1
FW Dan Kelly 37 9 34 8 3 1
FW Jim Mackey 30 3 27 3 3 0
FW Harry Waller 30 8 27 7 3 1
FW Bill Gardner 26 10 23 8 3 2
FW Joe Hill 17 6 17 6 0 0
FW Bill Henderson 15 10 15 10 0 0
FW Alwyn Thomas 10 2 10 2 0 0
FW Alec Edmunds 6 0 6 0 0 0
FW Eric Humphrey 6 2 6 2 0 0
FW Herbert Budd 2 0 2 0 0 0

Source:[2]

Top scorers
Place Position Nation Name Third Division South FA Cup Total
1FWCyril Hemingway11112
2FWBill Henderson10010
=FWBill Gardner8210
4FWDan Kelly819
5FWHarry Waller718
6FWJoe Hill606
7MFArthur Smeaton404
8MFJim Mackey303
9MFJim Carrick202
=FWEric Humphrey202
=FWAlwyn Thomas202
12DFEric Price101
=MFBob Smith101
Own goals101
TOTAL 66571

Source:[2]

In
First appearance Nat. Pos. Name From
25 August 1928 DF Willie Brown Rochdale
25 August 1928 MF Jim Carrick Accrington Stanley
25 August 1928 FW Alec Edmunds Plymouth Argyle
25 August 1928 DF Jack Fowler Bradford City
25 August 1928 FW Bill Gardner Darlington
25 August 1928 GK Harold Gough Bolton Wanderers
25 August 1928 FW Cyril Hemingway Rotherham United
25 August 1928 FW Bill Henderson Morton
25 August 1928 FW Dan Kelly Derby County
25 August 1928 MF Bob Preston Plymouth Argyle
25 August 1928 MF Arthur Smeaton Halifax Town
1 September 1928 FW Eric Price Northampton Town
8 September 1928 DF James Mellon Darlington
22 September 1928 MF Bob Smith Plymouth Argyle
29 September 1928 DF Sid Cann Unattached
29 September 1928 MF Arthur Chamberlain Notts County
29 September 1928 FW Harry Waller Bury
19 January 1929 MF Bill Clitheroe Leeds United
19 January 1929 FW Joe Hill Leeds United
19 January 1929 FW Eric Humphrey Leeds United

Out
Last appearance Nat. Pos. Name To
17 November 1929 FW Bill Henderson Exeter City
17 November 1929 MF Bob Preston Released
5 January 1929 FW Eric Price Released
23 February 1929 FW Herbert Budd Kettering Town
23 February 1929 MF Arthur Chamberlain Worksop Town
9 March 1929 MF Charlie Davis York City
9 March 1929 DF Jack Price Released
29 March 1929 DF Willie Brown Dundalk
13 April 1929 FW Bill Gardner York City
27 April 1929 FW Cyril Hemingway Exeter City
27 April 1929 FW Jim Mackey Dartford
27 April 1929 DF James Mellon Jarrow
27 April 1929 FW Alwyn Thomas Exeter City
4 May 1929 MF Jim Carrick Accrington Stanley
4 May 1929 FW Alec Edmunds Released
4 May 1929 FW Eric Humphrey Released
4 May 1929 MF Arthur Smeaton Luton Town

Source:[2]

References
  1. Edwards, Leigh; Gibbes, Jon; Lovis, John (1999). Torquay United, The Official Centenary History, 1899-1999. Yore Publications. ISBN 1-874427-38-0
  2. Edwards, Leigh (1997). The Definitive Torquay United F.C.. The Association of Football Statisticians. ISBN 1-899468-09-9.
  3. Holgate, Mike (1999). Torquay United Football Club 1899-1999. Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-1814-9
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