Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2013 9:46:03 GMT
It's fascinating looking back to that 1957/58 season when Tommy Northcott returned to Plainmoor. This, as you'll know, was the season that determined the constitution of the forthcoming national third and fourth divisions: top half of Div 3(S) and Div 3(N) into the new third; bottom half of each into the fourth. Torquay United had a phenomenal campaign in 1956/57 - the Mother of All Seasons you could say - and would have been confident of making the cut.
The centenary history is instructive on the matter. It talks first of the Football League clubs making the decision after kicking it about for four years. There's a suggestion too that, in the race to finish above the line, most of the football played in the division that season was "safety first, dull and basically negative".
That may have been part of Torquay United's problem for we're told that the "bold attacking style of the previous few seasons did not help them against the dour defensive tactics of the opposition". Whether this is entirely true is difficult to ascertain but I imagine this was a widespread perception at the time.
It also sounds as if Eric Webber had problems replacing key players. No "orthodox centre-forward" for the first few weeks of the season. Hence the use of Colin Bettany, a defender, in that position and the dogged pursuit of Northcott. We're informed Northcott eventually signed after "lengthy negotiations" when United were already struggling badly. Injuries too: Ron Shaw, Griff Norman and Don Mills. A dreadful away record - just three points (old money) from the first thirteen away matches - and an unfortunate Christmas at the hands of Exeter City. The implication is that we knew our fate at the turn of the year.
Ultimately Torquay United finished in 21st place with 35 points (46 under the current system). Colchester were 12th with 47(64); Northampton 13th on 44(63). It wasn't even close. It wasn't relegation but must have felt like it. At least we didn't need to apply for re-election.
At a distance of fifty-five years, you can imagine both club and supporters bring implacably opposed to the concept of the new national leagues (unless, of course, we were going to end up handily-placed in the new third division). The fourth division may have offered a similar prospect to the Conference in 2007: a diminishment of status but a damned difficult place from which to escape. Goodbye to the Southamptons, Norwichs and QPRs and hello to, well, exactly the type of club that even people of my age now regard as "typical Torquay opponents". But I wonder if opposition and fearfulness was really the order of the day at Plainmoor? Nothing stands out from Timbo's programmes but I'm sure they must contain something or the other even if it's only "between the lines".
Checking Simon Inglis's brilliant history of the first hundred years of the Football League, there was a vote on restructuring at the league's 1956 AGM. The northern clubs were generally against; those from the south more favourable. The vote - with the first and second division clubs having a greater share of the league's democracy - went in favour of change but without a large enough majority. Rather than having a direct vote Torquay United would only have had a "vote within a vote" amongst the clubs in their league. I wonder which way we jumped? Or indeed in 1957 when the proposal to establish divisions three and four gained sufficient support. The northern section clubs had apparently been won over even if their votes alone would have made little difference. There was, in fact, still some dissent as illustrated by a counter-proposal to add a dozen clubs and switch to three regional divisions.
Due acknowledgement, as ever, to the admirable centenary history by Messrs Gibbes and Lovis.
The centenary history is instructive on the matter. It talks first of the Football League clubs making the decision after kicking it about for four years. There's a suggestion too that, in the race to finish above the line, most of the football played in the division that season was "safety first, dull and basically negative".
That may have been part of Torquay United's problem for we're told that the "bold attacking style of the previous few seasons did not help them against the dour defensive tactics of the opposition". Whether this is entirely true is difficult to ascertain but I imagine this was a widespread perception at the time.
It also sounds as if Eric Webber had problems replacing key players. No "orthodox centre-forward" for the first few weeks of the season. Hence the use of Colin Bettany, a defender, in that position and the dogged pursuit of Northcott. We're informed Northcott eventually signed after "lengthy negotiations" when United were already struggling badly. Injuries too: Ron Shaw, Griff Norman and Don Mills. A dreadful away record - just three points (old money) from the first thirteen away matches - and an unfortunate Christmas at the hands of Exeter City. The implication is that we knew our fate at the turn of the year.
Ultimately Torquay United finished in 21st place with 35 points (46 under the current system). Colchester were 12th with 47(64); Northampton 13th on 44(63). It wasn't even close. It wasn't relegation but must have felt like it. At least we didn't need to apply for re-election.
At a distance of fifty-five years, you can imagine both club and supporters bring implacably opposed to the concept of the new national leagues (unless, of course, we were going to end up handily-placed in the new third division). The fourth division may have offered a similar prospect to the Conference in 2007: a diminishment of status but a damned difficult place from which to escape. Goodbye to the Southamptons, Norwichs and QPRs and hello to, well, exactly the type of club that even people of my age now regard as "typical Torquay opponents". But I wonder if opposition and fearfulness was really the order of the day at Plainmoor? Nothing stands out from Timbo's programmes but I'm sure they must contain something or the other even if it's only "between the lines".
Checking Simon Inglis's brilliant history of the first hundred years of the Football League, there was a vote on restructuring at the league's 1956 AGM. The northern clubs were generally against; those from the south more favourable. The vote - with the first and second division clubs having a greater share of the league's democracy - went in favour of change but without a large enough majority. Rather than having a direct vote Torquay United would only have had a "vote within a vote" amongst the clubs in their league. I wonder which way we jumped? Or indeed in 1957 when the proposal to establish divisions three and four gained sufficient support. The northern section clubs had apparently been won over even if their votes alone would have made little difference. There was, in fact, still some dissent as illustrated by a counter-proposal to add a dozen clubs and switch to three regional divisions.
Due acknowledgement, as ever, to the admirable centenary history by Messrs Gibbes and Lovis.