1923–24 Torquay United F.C. season

Torquay United
1923–24 season
Chairman	George Perry
Manager	Crad Evans
Southern League; Western Section	4th
FA Cup	Fourth round qualifying
Devon Professional Cup	Semi-final
Top goalscorer	League: ; Billy Kellock (13); All: ; Billy Kellock (23)
	Home colours
	Home colours
	← 1922–23 1924–25 →

The 1923–24 Torquay United F.C. season was Torquay United's third season in competitive football and their second season in the Southern League. The season runs from 1 July 1923 to 30 June 1924.

Overview

Torquay's second season in the Southern League saw them transferred to the newly created Western Section. Although consisting of the same mix of professional and reserve sides as the old English Section, the new league now entailed several trips into Wales. United improved upon a satisfying first season in the Southern League by ending the season in 4th place, with the most notable performance of the campaign being an 8–0 thrashing of the Swindon Town Reserves on Boxing Day. The Magpies also had a busy FA Cup schedule, playing eight fixtures in all before finally being knocked out in a fourth qualifying round replay with Third Division South side Aberdare Athletic.^[1]

Much of United's success this season was due to some exciting new attacking players. Helping himself to 23 goals in all competitions was former Plymouth Argyle inside forward Billy Kellock, while Cornish centre forward Percy Varco scored six goals before being signed by First Division club Aston Villa for a £200 fee.^[2]

Despite an impressive season, Torquay did not attempt to seek election to the Football League this year, deciding instead to focus their efforts on another successful season in the Southern League.^[1]

Competitions

Southern League Western Section

Standings

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GR	Pts
2	Plymouth Argyle II	34	21	5	8	74	37	2.000	47
3	Pontypridd	34	19	8	7	81	44	1.841	46
4	Torquay United	34	19	7	8	59	25	2.360	45
5	Bristol City II	34	17	9	8	63	39	1.615	43
6	Swansea Town II	34	19	5	10	62	38	1.632	43

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
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.
Notes:

^ Number of goals for and/or against is inaccurate.

Matches

25 Aug 1923	Torquay United	1–1	Cardiff City Reserves	Plainmoor
	Rodgerson

1 Sep 1923	Swansea Town Reserves	1–0	Torquay United	Vetch Field

15 Sep 1923	Torquay United	3–1	Pontypridd	Plainmoor
	Kellock Pearson Burton

29 Sep 1923	Weymouth	1–0	Torquay United	Recreation Ground
	Bell			Attendance: 1,852

13 Oct 1923	Torquay United	5–0	Barry	Plainmoor
	Jackson Kellock Rodgerson

27 Oct 1923	Barry	0–1	Torquay United	Jenner Park
			Pearson

10 Nov 1923	Newport County Reserves	3–3	Torquay United	Somerton Park
			Varco Burton

24 Nov 1923	Torquay United	3–1	Newport County Reserves	Plainmoor
	Rodgerson Kellock

1 Dec 1923	Bridgend Town	2–2	Torquay United	Brewery Field
			(o.g.) Varco

8 Dec 1923	Torquay United	4–0	Bridgend Town	Plainmoor
	(o.g.) Pearson Kellock Burton

15 Dec 1923	Torquay United	3–2	Bristol Rovers Reserves	Plainmoor
	Varco

26 Dec 1923	Torquay United	8–0	Swindon Town Reserves	Plainmoor
	Miller Burton Babbage Kellock

29 Dec 1923	Torquay United	3–0	Plymouth Argyle Reserves	Plainmoor
	Miller Burton Kellock

5 Jan 1924	Torquay United	2–0	Bath City	Plainmoor
	Fretwell-Hall Kellock

19 Jan 1924	Cardiff City Reserves	0–1	Torquay United	Ninian Park
			Pearson

2 Feb 1924	Llanelly	2–0	Torquay United	Stebonheath Park

4 Feb 1924	Pontypridd	2–0	Torquay United	Pontypridd

9 Feb 1924	Torquay United	5–0	Aberaman Athletic	Plainmoor
	Kellock Rodgerson Scott

16 Feb 1924	Torquay United	1–0	Swansea Town Reserves	Plainmoor
	Scott

20 Feb 1924	Torquay United	1–0	Llanelly	Plainmoor
	Scott

23 Feb 1924	Yeovil & Petters United	3–2	Torquay United	Pen Mill Athletic Ground
			Miller Scott

1 Mar 1924

Torquay United

0–0

Bristol City Reserves

Plainmoor

15 Mar 1924	Bristol City Reserves	1–0	Torquay United	Ashton Gate

22 Mar 1924	Bristol Rovers Reserves	2–0	Torquay United	Eastville Stadium

28 Mar 1924	Aberaman Athletic	0–2	Torquay United	Aberaman
			Miller Rodgerson

29 Mar 1924	Ebbw Vale	0–1	Torquay United	Welfare Ground
			Babbage

5 Apr 1924	Torquay United	2–0	Ebbw Vale	Plainmoor
	Kellock Pearson

12 Apr 1924	Torquay United	1–0	Weymouth	Plainmoor
	Kellock

18 Apr 1924	Swindon Town Reserves	0–2	Torquay United	County Ground
			Burton Scott

19 Apr 1924	Exeter City Reserves	1–2	Torquay United	St James Park
			Scott

21 Apr 1924	Torquay United	1–1	Exeter City Reserves	Plainmoor
	Scott

26 Apr 1924	Plymouth Argyle Reserves	1–0	Torquay United	Home Park

29 Apr 1924

Torquay United

0–0

Yeovil & Petters United

Plainmoor

3 May 1924

Bath City

0–0

Torquay United

Belvoir

FA Cup

8 Sep 1923 Extra preliminary round	Newtons & Taunton	0–3	Torquay United	Taunton
			Rodgerson Kellock Fretwell-Hall

22 Sep 1923 Preliminary round	Green Waves	0–3	Torquay United	Plymouth
			Miller Pearson Kellock

6 Oct 1923 First round qualifying	Torquay United	6–0	Coleford Athletic	Plainmoor
	Kellock Townsend

20 Oct 1923 Second round qualifying	Torquay United	3–0	Trowbridge Town	Plainmoor
	Kellock

3 Nov 1923 Third round qualifying	Yeovil & Petters United	1–1	Torquay United	Pen Mill Athletic Ground
			Pearson

7 Nov 1923 Third round q. replay	Torquay United	2–1	Yeovil & Petters United	Plainmoor
	Kellock Miller (pen.)

17 Nov 1923 Fourth round qualifying

Torquay United

0–0

Aberdare Athletic

Plainmoor

22 Nov 1923 Fourth round q. replay	Aberdare Athletic	4–0	Torquay United	Aberdare Athletic Ground

Devon Professional Cup

26 Sep 1923 Semi Final	Torquay United	0–1	Exeter City XI	Plainmoor

References

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

External links

"Torquayunited.com". Archived from the original on 27 December 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
"TFF History Room". Archived from the original on 26 February 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
"TUFC History". Archived from the original on 12 May 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
"Historical Football Kits". Retrieved 30 June 2011.