TORQUAY UNITED AFC LTD... INCORPORATED ON 26TH JULY 1921

Thanks Jon for sharing that fascinating read from 100 years ago.     Incredible detail of just how things unfolded now on line forever hopefully.

Some more details:

1 Bernard Gartrell 26 Torquay Town

Ellacombe boy, came through the juniors and reserves to become a professional at Town. United's regular keeper in first two seasons, staying for five seasons in total.

2 Henry Ebdon 23 Exeter City ?

East Devonian claimed to have come from Exeter City but no record of him playing for their first team or reserves. Left in November to play for Otterton in the Ottery District League.

3 Sam Davis 31 Newport County

Played for Argyle reserves and made six first team appearances either side of the War before joining Newport County where he played fifteen Football League and FA Cup games in 1920/21. Rose to rank of Army Captain in the War and fittingly was United's captain in his only season at the club.

4 Fred Mortimer 31 Yeovil

Born in Bath. Joined the Army as a teenager and served in India and Egypt before the War. Shot in the arm in France during the War. Player-manager at Welsh club Porth Athletic in the Southern League at start of 1919/20 season but sensationally sacked when accused of embezzlement. Case not proven, he became player-coach at Western League Yeovil for 1920/21, pretending to be a different Fred Mortimer who had played for Leicester and Swansea. Played for Yeovil against combined Town / Babbacombe XI at Plainmoor – the match played as a prelude to United’s formation. Answered advert in Athletic News to become United's first player-coach (still claiming to be the other Fred Mortimer). After three months in charge, the club bowed to pressure to appoint Crad Evans as players' manager. Mortimer moved on to manage Newton Town at end of the season, but returned as United's player-manager at Christmas 1924 in the middle of a severe financial crisis after Harry Raymond resigned. Stayed on as a player under Percy Mackrill in 1925/26 before retiring from the game.

5 Charlie Pratt 35 Exeter City

Played two first division games for Everton before signing for Exeter in 1910. Managed the team on the famous tour of Argentina and Brazil in 1914. After the War, his main role was trainer rather than player. Played regularly for UnIted in 1921/22 before again focusing on his work as trainer. Played two Southern League games on the wing in 1924/25 as late replacement for injured players. Left the club at the end of the following season to become trainer at Torquay Athletic RFC where he stayed for about forty years.

6 Percy Hilton 23 Exeter City

Played for Everton third team before joining Exeter in 1920. Captained their reserves in the Western League and made one Football League appearance before joining United. Badly injured in the FA Cup game with Boscombe (the current day Bournemouth) – an injury which cost United the game and ended his United career.

7 Robert “Dapper” Frayn 33 Babbacombe

One of the teenagers who played as Babbacombe Caddies on Walls Hill before the Babbacombe club was officially founded. A Babbacombe stalwart who could play anywhere across the front line, he went on to play many times for Devon. Scored the winner in the Devon Senior Cup Final in his one and only season with United.

8 William Sanders 24 St Andrews (Exwick)

Scored regularly for Exeter City reserves in the Plymouth & District League on 1919/20, but then returned to his local team at Exwick. Netted the winner in United’s first game – his only ever game for the club due to injury.

9 Fred Burch 35 Aberaman

Scored 95 goals in 248 first team games in two spells (either side of one season at Reading) at Argyle before the War, being the Southern League’s top scorer in 1912/13 with 30 goals as Argyle won the league ahead of clubs such as West Ham. Released after the War, he had a season at Swansea and a season at Aberaman before signing for United. Stayed two seasons before moving to Green Waves.

10 Tommy Townsend 26 Babbacombe

Born in Penge, his family moved to Torquay when he was young and he became a Babbacombe regular before the War and after. Signed amateur forms for Exeter for 1921/22, but played regularly for United until Exeter called him up for first team duty – making seven Football League appearances. Returned to United for a further two seasons before moving on to Dartmouth United in 1924. His brother Arthur (also known as Micky) also played for both Babbacombe and United.

11 Charles Lincoln 22 Exeter City

Played regularly for Exeter’s reserves in the two seasons after the War and also made two first team Southern League appearances for City before joining United where he stayed just one season.

I cannot comprehend how Tommy Townsed wasn't a variety star of the music halls between the wars with a name like that. He should have trodden the boards on the same bill as Max Miller and the like.