List of Torquay United F.C. seasons

Torquay United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Torquay, Devon. This is a chronological list of all Torquay United seasons from 1899 up until the end of the 2011–12 season.

History

Torquay United Football Club was originally formed in 1899. After first joining the East Devon League in 1900, the club then went on to join the Torquay & District League, becoming champions of that league in 1909. Encouraged by Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City turning professional, the people of Torquay were eager for United to join forces with the town's two other prominent football teams, Babbacombe and Ellacombe, with a view to creating a third professional club within Devon. Although Babbacombe rejected the idea of a merger, Torquay United and Ellacombe agreed to pool their resources and formed Torquay Town in 1910. Town won the Devon Senior Cup in their first season and became champions of the Plymouth & District League the following year. Despite a fierce rivalry existing between Torquay Town and Babbacombe, the two clubs were finally amalgamated in 1921 and the newly combined team reverted to the name of Torquay United and were admitted into the Western League. After one season in the Western League, United joined the Southern League and, after becoming champions of the Western Section, were elected into the Football League at the expense of Aberdare Athletic in 1927.

Despite having to seek re-election to the Football League after their debut season, Torquay soon managed to establish a place in the Third Division South, although without ever finishing higher than 10th position in all the seasons leading up to World War II. By the 1950s however, United had become a much more competitive side and narrowly missed out on promotion to the Second Division in 1957. When the Football League underwent restructuring in 1958, a poor season for United saw them placed in the newly created Division Four. Nevertheless, the 1960s proved fruitful for Torquay United and they spent the majority of the decade in Division Three, again coming close to promotion to Division Two in 1968.

However, when Torquay were again relegated from Division Three in 1972, it heralded a period of mediocrity which culminated in the club requiring re-election to the Football League in both 1985 and 1986. When automatic relegation into the Conference was introduced the following year, only a last minute equaliser against Crewe Alexandra on the final day of the season saved United from the drop. Torquay finally lifted themselves out of the basement division in 1991 after beating Blackpool in the Division Four play-off final, only to be relegated again the following season. After narrowly escaping relegation to the Conference in 1996, they were again contesting a play-off final in 1998, although this time they were beaten by Colchester United. Just three years later, in 2001, Torquay once again escaped expulsion into non-League football by beating Barnet on the final day of the season. By 2004, the club had bounced back again by achieving automatic promotion to the third tier of English football (now renamed League One) for the first time since 1966. Again relegated after just one season, worse was to come when, after two seasons in League Two, Torquay were finally relegated to the Conference in 2007. However, after just two years in the Conference, United secured a return to the Football League by beating Cambridge United in the 2009 Conference play-off final. Torquay again came close to returning to League One in 2011 but were narrowly beaten by Stevenage in the League Two play-off Final.

Since their election to the Football League in 1927, Torquay United have completed 34 seasons in the third tier of English football, 42 seasons in the fourth and two seasons in non-League football. This list details all of the seasons played by Torquay United in English football from 1899 up until the last completed season. The list details the club's achievements in all major competitions, and the top scorers for each season in all competitions.

Seasons

Season League FA Cup League
Cup		 Other competitions Top scorer(s) Refs.
Division P W D L F A Pts Pos
1899–1900 [A] ~ [1]
1900–01 EDL [B] 4th ~ [1]
1901–02 EDL 2nd ~ [1]
1902–03 EDL 2nd ~Devon Senior CupR1 [2]
1903–04 EDL 3rd ~East Devon CupR1 [2]
1904–05 [C] ~East Devon CupR1 [3]
1905–06 EDL 3rd ~East Devon CupR1 [3]
1906–07 EDL 3rd ~ Devon Senior Cup R1 [3]
East Devon CupR2
1907–08 T&DL [D]125072443104th ~ Devon Senior Cup R2 [3]
East Devon CupR1
1908–09 T&DL1411218614241st ~East Devon CupR1 [4]
1909–10 T&DL167362423174th ~ Devon Senior Cup R1 [4]
East Devon CupR1
1910–11 [E] P&DL2413385433295th QR5Devon Senior Cup W [5]
1911–12 P&DL3023438529501st QR1Devon Senior Cup RU [5]
1912–13 P&DL2611694243286th ~[F] [6]
1913–14 P&DL261041255522410th EPRDevon Senior Cup R1 [6]
Competitive football suspended for the duration of World War I
1919–20 P&DL24711641461510th ~Devon Senior Cup R1 [7]
1920–21 P&DL2210573539296th EPR[G] [7]
1921–22 [H] WL146262517145th QR4Devon Senior Cup W [8]
1922–23 SLE38188126338446th QR1Devon Professional CupRU [8]
1923–24 SLW [I]3419785925454th QR4Devon Professional CupSF Billy Kellock23 [9]
1924–25 SLW389111841732915th QR1Devon Professional CupSF Billy Kellock13 [9]
1925–26 SLW2612595946266th R1 Devon Professional Cup SF George Appleyard29 [10]
WL [J] 189452822223rd
1926–27 SLW2617456330381st [K] R1 Devon Professional Trophy SF Lew Griffiths
Len Marlow		25 [10]
WL 2214444727322nd
1927–28 Div 3S [L]4281420531033022nd [M] ~ Bert Turner11 [11]
1928–29 Div 3S421462266843418th R2 Cyril Hemingway12 [12]
1929–30 Div 3S4210112164943119th R1 Joe Pointon18 [13]
1930–31 Div 3S421791680844311th R3 Jimmy Trotter28 [14]
1931–32 Div 3S4212921721063319th R1 Billy Clayson14 [15]
1932–33 Div 3S4216121472674410th R2 George Stabb26 [16]
1933–34 Div 3S421372253933320th R2Third Division South CupRU George Stabb15 [17]
1934–35 Div 3S421861881754210th R2Third Division South CupR2 Albert Hutchinson18 [18]
1935–36 Div 3S421691762624110th R2Third Division South CupR1 Albert Hutchinson10 [19]
1936–37 Div 3S4211102157803220th R1Third Division South CupSF Ben Morton27 [20]
1937–38 Div 3S429122138733020th R1Third Division South CupR1 Ben Morton
Albert Shelley		10 [21]
1938–39 Div 3S421491954703719th R2Third Division South CupF [N] Ralph Allen17 [22]
1939–40 Div 3S [O]303044314th Jack Conley2 [23][24]
Competitive football suspended for the duration of World War II [P]
1945–46 [Q] R1 Bill Coley1 [25]
1946–47 Div 3S4215121552614211th R1 Jack Conley23 [26]
1947–48 Div 3S4211131863623518th R3 Ron Shaw18 [27]
1948–49 Div 3S421711146570459th R4 Jack Conley19 [28]
1949–50 Div 3S421910136663485th R2 Jack Conley15 [29]
1950–51 Div 3S461492364813720th R1 Sammy Collins12 [30]
1951–52 Div 3S4617101986984411th R2 Sammy Collins
Ernie Edds		24 [31]
1952–53 Div 3S461891987884512th R1 Sammy Collins27 [32]
1953–54 Div 3S4617121781884613th R1 Sammy Collins18 [33]
1954–55 Div 3S461812168282488th R4 Sammy Collins28 [34]
1955–56 Div 3S462012148663525th R3 Sammy Collins42 [R] [35]
1956–57 Div 3S462411118964592nd R3 Sammy Collins35 [36]
1957–58 Div 3S4611132249743521st [S] R2 Tommy Northcott14 [37]
1958–59 Div 44616121878774412th R3 Tommy Northcott21 [38]
1959–60 Div 446268128458603rd ↑ R2 Graham Bond25 [39]
1960–61 Div 34614171575834512th R2R2 Tommy Northcott28 [40]
1961–62 Div 34615625761003621st ↓ R2R1 Ernie Pym21 [41]
1962–63 Div 4462016107556566th R2R2 Brian Handley24 [42]
1963–64 Div 4462011158054516th R2R1 Robin Stubbs25 [43]
1964–65 Div 4462171870704911th R3R2 Robin Stubbs39 [44]
1965–66 Div 4462410127249583rd ↑ R1R1 Tommy Spratt18 [45]
1966–67 Div 346219167354517th R1R1 Robin Stubbs21 [46]
1967–68 Div 3462111146056534th R1R3 Robin Stubbs10 [47]
1968–69 Div 3461812165446486th R2R1 Robin Stubbs19 [48]
1969–70 Div 34614171562594513th R1R2 John Rudge16 [49]
1970–71 Div 34619111654574910th R4R2 John Rudge20 [50]
1971–72 Div 34610122441693223rd ↓ R3R3 Alan Welsh14 [51]
1972–73 Div 44612171744474118th R2R1 Mike Trebilcock11 [52]
1973–74 Div 44613171652574316th R1R1 Eddie Rowles10 [53]
1974–75 Div 44614141846614214th R1R1 Cliff Myers8 [54]
1975–76 Div 4461814145563509th R1R3 Willie Brown17 [55]
1976–77 Div 4461792059674316th R1R3 Willie Brown22 [56]
1977–78 Div 4461615155756479th R1R1 Willie Brown14 [57]
1978–79 Div 4461981958654611th R3R1 Les Lawrence19 [58]
1979–80 Div 4461517147069479th R2R2 Steve Cooper19 [59]
1980–81 Div 4461852355634117th R3R1 Gerry Fell17 [60]
1981–82 Div 44614131947595515th R1R1Football League Group CupR1 Tony Brown11 [61]
1982–83 Div 4461772256655812th R4R1Football League TrophyR1 Steve Cooper21 [62]
1983–84 Div 4461813155964679th R1R1Associate Members' CupR1 John Sims9 [63]
1984–85 Div 4469142338634124th [T] R2R1Associate Members' CupR2 Derek Hall
Mario Walsh		5 [64]
1985–86 Div 4469102743883724th [U] R2R1Associate Members' CupQFS Mario Walsh12 [65]
1986–87 Div 44610181856724823rd R1R1Associate Members' CupR1 Paul Dobson17 [66]
1987–88 Div 4462114116641775th [V] R3R2Associate Members' CupSFS Paul Dobson25 [67]
1988–89 Div 4461782145605914th R3R1Associate Members' CupRU Dean Edwards12 [68]
1989–90 Div 44615121953665715th R4R1Associate Members' CupR1 Mark Loram14 [69]
1990–91 Div 4461818106447727th ↑ [W] R1R2Associate Members' CupQFS Tommy Tynan19 [70]
1991–92 Div 3461382542684723rd ↓ R2R2Associate Members' CupR1 Justin Fashanu10 [71]
1992–93 Div 3 [X]421272345674319th R1R2Football League TrophyR2 Duane Darby13 [72]
1993–94 Div 342171696456676th [Y] R2R1Football League TrophyR1 Adrian Foster16 [73]
1994–95 Div 34214131554575513th R2R2Football League TrophyR1 Richard Hancox13 [74]
1995–96 Div 3465142730842924th [Z] R2R2Football League TrophyR1 Paul Baker
Paul Buckle
Ian Hathaway		4 [75]
1996–97 Div 34613112246625021st R1R1Football League TrophyR2 Rodney Jack10 [76]
1997–98 Div 3462111146859745th [AA] R2R2Football League TrophyR2 Rodney Jack16 [77]
1998–99 Div 34612171747585320th R2R1Football League TrophyQFS Scott Partridge14 [78]
1999–2000 Div 3461912156252699th R3R1Football League TrophyQFS Tony Bedeau17 [79]
2000–01 Div 34612132152774921st R1R1Football League TrophyR1 Kevin Hill10 [79]
2001–02 Div 34612151946635119th R1R2Football League TrophyR1 David Graham9 [79]
2002–03 Div 3461618127171669th R2R1Football League TrophyR1 Martin Gritton16 [79]
2003–04 Div 3462312116844813rd ↑ R1R1Football League TrophyR1 David Graham23 [79]
2004–05 Lge 1 [AB]4612151955795121st ↓ R1R1Football League TrophyR2 Adebayo Akinfenwa16 [79]
2005–06 Lge 24613132053665220th R3R1Football League TrophyR1 Tony Bedeau11 [79]
2006–07 Lge 2467142536633524th ↓ R3R1Football League TrophyR1 Jamie Ward11 [79]
2007–08 Conf46268128357863rd [AC] R2FA TrophyRU Tim Sills22 [79]
2008–09 Conf46231497247834th ↑ [AD] R4FA TrophyR3 Tim Sills17 [79]
2009–10 Lge 24614151764555717th R3R1Football League TrophyR2 Elliot Benyon15 [79]
2010–11 Lge 246171811745368 [AE]7th [AF] R4R1Football League TrophyR2 Chris Zebroski15 [79]
2011–12 Lge 246231211635081 5th [AG] R2R1Football League TrophyR1 Rene Howe14 [79]
2012–13 Lge 246131419556253 19th R1R1Football League TrophyR1 Rene Howe16 [79]
2013–14 Lge 2461292542664524th ↓ R1R1Football League TrophyR1 Jordan Chapell5 [79]
2014–15 Conf46161317646061 13th QR4FA TrophySF Ryan Bowman19 [79]

Key

1st 2nd 3rd ↑ ↓
Champions Runners-up Play-offs Promoted Relegated

Key to league record:

  • P – Played
  • W – Games won
  • D – Games drawn
  • L – Games lost
  • F – Goals for
  • A – Goals against
  • Pts – Points
  • Pos – Final position
  • ↑ – Promoted
  • ↓ – Relegated

Key to divisions:

Key to rounds:

  • F – Final
  • RU – Runners-up
  • SF – Semi-final
  • SFS – Southern semi-final
  • QFS – Southern quarter-final
  • R- – Round
  • QR- – Qualifying Round
  • EPR – Extra Preliminary Round
  • ~ – Did not enter

Division changes shown in bold.
Abandoned league competitions shown in italics.
Goalscorers shown in bold were division top scorers for that season.


Notes

A. ^ Torquay United played no competitive matches during their first season.[1]
B. ^ East Devon League tables currently not traced.[1]
C. ^ Withdrew from East Devon League due to lack of a suitable home ground.[80]
D. ^ Torquay began the 1907–08 season in the East Devon League but later replaced the reserve side in the Torquay & District League after the EDL folded.[80]
E. ^ Before the beginning of the 1910–11 season, Torquay United merged with Ellacombe to become Torquay Town.[81]
F. ^ Withdrew from Devon Senior Cup after failing to agree First Round match terms with Babbacombe.[82]
G. ^ Torquay Town refused entry to Devon Senior Cup after late application to Devon County Football Association.[82]
H. ^ Before the beginning of the 1921–22 season, Torquay Town merged with Babbacombe to become Torquay United once more.[82]
I. ^ From the beginning of the 1923–24, the Southern League English and Welsh sections were restructured into the Western and Eastern sections.[83]
J. ^ Rejoined the Western League due to depleted Southern League fixture list.[84]
K. ^ Beaten in the Southern League championship play-off final by Eastern Section champions Brighton & Hove Albion Reserves.[85]
L. ^ Torquay United elected to the Football League at the expense of Aberdare Athletic.[84][85]
M. ^ Despite finishing bottom of the Third Division South, Torquay were successfully re-elected to the Football League.[86]
N. ^ Although Torquay had qualified for the Third Division South Cup Final, their opponents (either Queens Park Rangers or Port Vale) had yet to be decided. The final, which was scheduled for September 1939, was not played due to the outbreak of World War II and the tournament would never be contested again.[87][88]
O. ^ Due to the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, the Football League was abandoned after Torquay had played just three matches. This season's statistics are for reference only and do not count towards the official records.[89]
P. ^ Despite the Football League and FA Cup being abandoned for the duration of World War II, several regional Wartime Leagues were organised, in which Torquay took part during the 1939–40 and 1945–46 seasons. These matches do not count towards official records.[89]
Q. ^ Although the FA Cup resumed in 1945, the Football League did not restart until 1946.[90]
R. ^ As well as being the 1955–56 Third Division South's top goalscorer with 40 goals, Sammy Collins' 42 goals in all competitions remains a club record.[91][92]
S. ^ At the end of the 1957–58 season, the Third Divisions North and South were amalgamated with teams in the top half of each division being placed in Division Three and those in the bottom going into Division Four. Torquay's 21st position resulted in them taking their place in Division Four.[93][90]
T. ^ For the first time since their debut Football League season, Torquay required re-election to remain in the League.[94][95]
U. ^ For the second season in succession, Torquay had to rely upon re-election to remain in the Football League.[96][95]
V. ^ Beaten in the Division Four play-off final by Swansea City.[97]
W. ^ Defeated Blackpool in the Division Four play-off final.[98][99]
X. ^ Due to the creation of the Premier League, the old Division Four was renamed Division Three from the beginning of the 1992–93 season.[90]
Y. ^ Beaten in the Division Three play-off semi-finals by Preston North End.[100]
Z. ^ Torquay were spared relegation from the Football League due to the unsuitability of Conference winner Stevenage Borough's ground.[101]
AA. ^ Beaten in the Division Three play-off final by Colchester United.[102]
AB. ^ As from the beginning of the 2004–05 season, Division Three and Four were renamed League One and Two.[90]
AC. ^ Beaten in the Conference play-off semi-finals by Exeter City.[103]
AD. ^ Defeated Cambridge United in the Conference play-off final.[104]
AE. ^ Deducted 1 point for fielding an ineligible player.[105]
AF. ^ Beaten in the League Two play-off final by Stevenage.[106]
AG. ^ Beaten in the League Two play-off semi-final by Cheltenham Town.[107]

References

General
Specific
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.152
  2. 1 2 Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.153
  3. 1 2 3 4 Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.154
  4. 1 2 Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.155
  5. 1 2 Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.156
  6. 1 2 Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.157
  7. 1 2 Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.158
  8. 1 2 Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.159
  9. 1 2 Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.161
  10. 1 2 Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.162
  11. ↑ Edwards, p.13
  12. ↑ Edwards, p.14
  13. ↑ Edwards, p.15
  14. ↑ Edwards, p.16
  15. ↑ Edwards, p.17
  16. ↑ Edwards, p.18
  17. ↑ Edwards, p.19
  18. ↑ Edwards, p.20
  19. ↑ Edwards, p.21
  20. ↑ Edwards, p.22
  21. ↑ Edwards, p.23
  22. ↑ Edwards, p.24
  23. ↑ RSSSF.com - 1939–40
  24. ↑ TUFC History - Results 1939–40
  25. ↑ Edwards, p.80
  26. ↑ Edwards, p.25
  27. ↑ Edwards, p.26
  28. ↑ Edwards, p.27
  29. ↑ Edwards, p.28
  30. ↑ Edwards, p.29
  31. ↑ Edwards, p.30
  32. ↑ Edwards, p.31
  33. ↑ Edwards, p.32
  34. ↑ Edwards, p.33
  35. ↑ Edwards, p.34
  36. ↑ Edwards, p.35
  37. ↑ Edwards, p.36
  38. ↑ Edwards, p.37
  39. ↑ Edwards, p.38
  40. ↑ Edwards, p.39
  41. ↑ Edwards, p.40
  42. ↑ Edwards, p.41
  43. ↑ Edwards, p.42
  44. ↑ Edwards, p.43
  45. ↑ Edwards, p.44
  46. ↑ Edwards, p.45
  47. ↑ Edwards, p.46
  48. ↑ Edwards, p.47
  49. ↑ Edwards, p.48
  50. ↑ Edwards, p.49
  51. ↑ Edwards, p.50
  52. ↑ Edwards, p.51
  53. ↑ Edwards, p.52
  54. ↑ Edwards, p.53
  55. ↑ Edwards, p.54
  56. ↑ Edwards, p.55
  57. ↑ Edwards, p.56
  58. ↑ Edwards, p.57
  59. ↑ Edwards, p.58
  60. ↑ Edwards, p.59
  61. ↑ Edwards, p.60
  62. ↑ Edwards, p.61
  63. ↑ Edwards, p.62
  64. ↑ Edwards, p.63
  65. ↑ Edwards, p.64
  66. ↑ Edwards, p.65
  67. ↑ Edwards, p.66
  68. ↑ Edwards, p.67
  69. ↑ Edwards, p.68
  70. ↑ Edwards, p.69
  71. ↑ Edwards, p.70
  72. ↑ Edwards, p.71
  73. ↑ Edwards, p.72
  74. ↑ Edwards, p.73
  75. ↑ Edwards, p.74
  76. ↑ Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.250
  77. ↑ Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.252
  78. ↑ Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.253
  79. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Statto - Torquay United: History 1975 to date
  80. 1 2 Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.7
  81. ↑ Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.8
  82. 1 2 3 Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.9
  83. ↑ Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.10
  84. 1 2 Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.11
  85. 1 2 Holgate, p.23
  86. ↑ Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.13
  87. ↑ Statto.com - English Division Three South Cup 1938-1939: Semi-Final
  88. ↑ Statto.com - English Division Three South Cup: Honours
  89. 1 2 Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.24
  90. 1 2 3 4 History Of The Football League
  91. ↑ Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.38
  92. ↑ Holgate, p.56
  93. ↑ Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.41
  94. ↑ Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.84
  95. 1 2 Holgate, p.95
  96. ↑ Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.86
  97. ↑ Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.90
  98. ↑ Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.97
  99. ↑ Holgate, p.104
  100. ↑ Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.100
  101. ↑ Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.102
  102. ↑ Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.104
  103. ↑ "Gulls heartbroken by loss - Todd". BBC Sport. 2009-05-17. Retrieved 2011-08-30.
  104. ↑ "Cambridge Utd 0-2 Torquay". BBC Sport. 2009-05-17. Retrieved 2011-07-02.
  105. ↑ "Torquay and Hereford docked points by Football League". BBC Sport. 2011-04-06. Retrieved 2011-05-03.
  106. ↑ "Stevenage promoted to League One by beating Torquay". BBC Sport. 2011-05-28. Retrieved 2011-07-02.
  107. ↑ "Torquay 1-2 Cheltenham". BBC Sport. 2012-05-17. Retrieved 2012-05-22.

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