| Full name | Torquay Town Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1910 | |
| Dissolved | 1921 | |
| Ground | Plainmoor, Torquay | |
| League | Plymouth & District League | |
| 1920–21 | 6th | |
Torquay Town Football Club was an English football club based in Torquay, Devon. The club existed from 1910 until 1921 before merging with Babbacombe to form Torquay United.
By 1910, the Devon town of Torquay had three established amateur football teams in Babbacombe (competing in the Plymouth & District League), Ellacombe ( in the Devon League) and Torquay United in the Torquay & District League. With Devon's two leading football clubs, Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City having already turned professional, there were calls for Torquay's three main teams to amalgamate in order to create a single professional football club. Although Babbacombe preferred to maintain their independence, Ellacombe and United merged to become Torquay Town. With United having led a somewhat nomadic existence since their foundation in 1899, the newly formed Torquay Town chose Ellacombe's Plainmoor ground as their home where, ironically, they would soon be joined in a ground share with Babbacombe. [1]
Both Torquay Town and Babbacombe joined the Plymouth & District League for the 1910–11 season and Town enjoyed a respectable first season finishing 5th out of 13 teams. They also enjoyed a good run in the FA Cup, reaching the fifth qualifying round before being knocked out by Accrington Stanley. Torquay Town's second season was even better, becoming champions of the Plymouth & District League. However, the following two seasons saw a decline in Town's fortunes finishing in 6th and then 10th place before the outbreak of World War I resulted in the closure of the club in August 1914. [1]
When competitive football resumed in 1919, Torquay Town were unable to recreate the achievements of their earlier seasons and, with Babbacombe now conceding to the inevitability of a merger between the two rival sides, both teams ceased to exist at the end of the 1920–21 season and subsequently joined together to form a new professional club. Installing Torquay Town's star striker Crad Evans as player-manager, the new team revived the name of Torquay United and were eventually elected into the Football League in 1927. [2]
| Season | Division | Position | Pl. | W | D | L | F | A | P | FA Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910–11 | Plymouth & District League | 5th | 24 | 13 | 3 | 8 | 54 | 33 | 29 | Fifth round qualifying |
| 1911–12 | Plymouth & District League | 1st | 30 | 23 | 4 | 3 | 85 | 29 | 50 | First round qualifying |
| 1912–13 | Plymouth & District League | 6th | 26 | 11 | 6 | 9 | 42 | 43 | 28 | did not enter |
| 1913–14 | Plymouth & District League | 10th | 26 | 10 | 4 | 12 | 55 | 52 | 24 | Extra preliminary round |
| No competitive football played for the duration of World War I | ||||||||||
| 1919–20 | Plymouth & District League | 10th | 24 | 7 | 1 | 16 | 41 | 46 | 15 | did not enter |
| 1920–21 | Plymouth & District League | 6th | 22 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 35 | 39 | 25 | Extra preliminary round |
Torquay United Football Club is a professional football club based in Torquay, Devon, England. The team currently compete in the National League, the fifth tier of English football. They have played their home matches at Plainmoor since 1921 and are nicknamed "The Gulls".
Plainmoor is an association football stadium located in the Plainmoor suburb of Torquay, Devon, England. Since 1921, the stadium has been the home of Torquay United Football Club, who currently compete in the National League, the fifth tier of English football. During the first half of the 2018-19 National League South season, the stadium also hosted Truro City games.
Dawlish Town A.F.C. was a football club based in Dawlish, Devon, England. The club played in the Western League Premier Division. In March 2008, the club entered into a partnership with Newton Abbot to share administrative resources, although the playing staff remained separate.
Stuart Edward Morgan is a Welsh former professional footballer and football manager. A central defender, he made 222 appearances in the Football League playing for Torquay United, Reading, Colchester United and AFC Bournemouth. As manager, he took charge of Torquay United in the Football League and Weymouth (twice) and Dorchester Town in non-League football.
Sydney Thomas Cann was an English professional football defender and football manager. He was capped twice by England at Schools level.
The South Devon Football League, known under a sponsorship arrangement as the TCSSDFL, is a football competition based in England. Its top division, the Premier Division, sits at level 12 of the English football league system. This league is a feeder to the Devon Football League. There are five divisions in the league. The SDFL's primary cup competition is the Herald Cup. It is a simple knockout competition featuring all SDFL clubs.
William Kellock was an English football player and manager. Capable of playing as an inside and outside forward, he spent the majority of his career with Plymouth Argyle, appearing for the club in the Southern League and the Football League. He also played for Aberdare Athletic and Barrow in the Football League. Kellock later played in the Southern League for Torquay United.
Ernest Frederick Edds was an English footballer who played as a forward. He made 190 appearances in the Football League for Plymouth Argyle, Blackburn Rovers, Torquay United and Swindon Town.
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.
The 1929–30 Torquay United F.C. season was Torquay United's third season in the Football League and their third consecutive season in Third Division South. The season runs from 1 July 1929 to 30 June 1930.
The 1921–22 Torquay United F.C. season was Torquay United's first season in competitive football and their first season in the Western League. The season runs from 1 July 1921 to 30 June 1922.
The 1922–23 Torquay United F.C. season was Torquay United's second season in competitive football and their first season in the Southern League. The season runs from 1 July 1922 to 30 June 1923.
The 1925–26 Torquay United F.C. season was Torquay United's fifth season in competitive football and their fourth season in the Southern League. The season runs from 1 July 1925 to 30 June 1926.
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.
Ellacombe Football Club was an English football club based in Torquay, Devon. The club existed until 1910, before merging with the original Torquay United to form Torquay Town. A further merger between Torquay Town and Babbacombe resulted in the formation of the current Torquay United.
Babbacombe Football Club was an English football club based in Torquay, Devon. The club existed from 1903 until 1921 before merging with Torquay Town to form Torquay United.
Robert Smith was an English professional footballer. Born in Walkden, he is notable for becoming the first Torquay United player to make 100 Football League appearances.
