# 1931–32 Torquay United F.C. season

The 1931–32 Torquay United F.C. season was Torquay United's fifth season in the Football League and their fifth consecutive season in Third Division South. The season runs from 1 July 1931 to 30 June 1932.

## Overview

Having just enjoyed their most successful season so far in the Football League, Torquay United were keen to build upon last season's achievements. Unfortunately, the season got off to a terrible start with an opening day 7–0 defeat at Crystal Palace. After conceding six goals to Watford in their second home game of the season, Torquay then had to endure a mortifying 10–2 defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage. Results did slowly begin to improve after that humiliation but Torquay would never find themselves any higher than 15th in the League table all season. The team were also to make an early exit from the FA Cup, losing 3–1 at home to Southend United in the First Round.
Torquay also had to make do without last season's top goalscorer Jimmy Trotter for the second half of the season after he was sold to Watford in December. Billy Clayson did his best to fill Trotter's boots, eventually becoming this season's top scorer. However, Cyril Hemingway, returning for his second spell at the club, could not recreate the form which saw him top Torquay's goalscoring charts for the 1928–29 season. Nevertheless, Paignton born striker George Stabb showed much potential after signing from Dartmouth United, while another local lad, Lew Tapp, was also a promising new addition to the defence.
Torquay did at least have one memorable victory with an 8–1 defeat of Bristol Rovers on Easter Monday, but it was ultimately a hugely disappointing season for Frank Womack and the team. Finishing in 19th place and narrowly avoiding the need for re-election, it was clear that Torquay United were in desperate need of improvement.

## League statistics
### Third Division South

| Pos | Team v t e | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 17 | Swindon Town | 42 | 14 | 6 | 22 | 70 | 84 | 0.833 | 34 | |
| 18 | Bristol Rovers | 42 | 13 | 8 | 21 | 65 | 92 | 0.707 | 34 | |
| 19 | Torquay United | 42 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 72 | 106 | 0.679 | 33 | |
| 20 | Mansfield Town | 42 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 75 | 108 | 0.694 | 32 | Transferred to the Third Division North |
| 21 | Gillingham | 42 | 10 | 8 | 24 | 40 | 82 | 0.488 | 28 | Re-elected |
* ↑ New club in the league; elected from Midland League

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
| 42 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 72 | 106 | 0.679 | 33 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 49 | 39 | 24 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 23 | 67 | 9 |
Source: rsssf.com

#### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 |
| Ground | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | A |
| Result | L | D | L | L | W | L | D | L | W | W | D | D | L | D | D | L | W | L | W | L | L | W | L | L | D | W | L | L | W | W | L | W | L | D | W | W | L | D | L | L | L | L |
| Position | 19 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 19 |

## Club statistics
### First team appearances

Source:

### Top scorers

| Place | Position | Name | Third Division South | FA Cup | Total |
| 1 | FW | Billy Clayson | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 2 | FW | Jimmy Trotter | 10 | 1 | 11 |
| 3 | FW | Albert Hutchinson | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 4 | FW | Ralph Birkett | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| = | DF | Jack Fowler | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 6 | FW | Jack Cooper | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 7 | FW | Cyril Hemingway | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| = | FW | Harry Waller | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 9 | FW | George Stabb | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 10 | MF | Ted Anderson | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| = | MF | Wilf Freer | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| = | FW | Arthur Griffiths | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| = | FW | Willie Miller | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| | | TOTAL | 72 | 1 | 73 |
Source:

### Transfers
#### In

| First appearance | Pos. | Name | From |
| 29 August 1931 | MF | George Parkin | West Ham United |
| 2 September 1931 | MF | Bob Meacock | Blackpool |
| 5 September 1931 | DF | Wally Webster | Sheffield United |
| 7 September 1931 | FW | Jack Cooper | Walsall |
| 7 September 1931 | FW | George Stabb | Dartmouth United |
| 12 September 1931 | DF | Lew Tapp | Newton Abbot F.C. |
| 16 September 1931 | FW | Cyril Hemingway | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
| 26 December 1931 | MF | Ted Anderson | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
| 30 January 1932 | FW | Willie Miller | St Johnstone |
| 28 March 1932 | FW | Arthur Griffiths | Unattached |

#### Out

| Last appearance | Pos. | Name | To |
| 2 September 1931 | DF | Jim Wright | Grimsby Town |
| 26 September 1931 | MF | Bob Meacock | Tranmere Rovers |
| 12 December 1931 | MF | George Parkin | Halifax Town |
| 12 December 1931 | FW | Jimmy Trotter | Watford |
| 13 February 1932 | GK | Joe Wright | Brighton & Hove Albion |
| 20 February 1932 | FW | Cyril Hemingway | Dartmouth United |
| 19 March 1932 | FW | Willie Miller | Released |
| 9 Apr 1932 | MF | Bob Smith | Released |
| 23 Apr 1932 | FW | Jack Cooper | Released |
| 30 Apr 1932 | MF | Wilf Freer | Released |
| 7 May 1932 | MF | Jack Butler | Daring Club |
| 7 May 1932 | FW | Billy Clayson | Scarborough |
| 7 May 1932 | FW | Arthur Griffiths | Newport County |
| 7 May 1932 | GK | Laurie Millsom | Released |
| 7 May 1932 | FW | Harry Waller | Wrexham |