Post by Jon on Apr 26, 2012 22:27:45 GMT
One of the queries forwarded to me by the club recently was from a Leyton Orient historian following up a story about Frank Neary knocking out our goalkeeper Archie McFeat in 1948.
I knew next to nothing about McFeat who managed only nine appearances in his one season at Torquay, but the query has unearthed a fascinating tale of a brilliant but incredibly unlucky goalkeeper.
The game at Leyton Orient was Unlucky Archie's last first team game for TUFC, but Neary's rocket did not end his career - although it didn't help!
Archie McFeat signed for Torquay from Morton in May 1948 to take over as first team keeper from local boy Phil Joslin who had just been sold to Cardiff City.
Unfortunately, he missed the start of the season after injuring his wrist in the first pre-season practice game at Plainmoor on August 7.
"Spectacular work" in a reserve game against Hereford paved the way for his elevation to first team on September 4. In a dream debut, Archie "showed his brilliance and pulled off some spectacular saves" in a 2-1 win over Devon rivals Exeter City before a crowd of nearly 14,000 - the largest attendance seen up to that time at Plainmoor.
Archie's luck did not last long. Before the midweek game at Watford, it was announced that Torquay "will be without first team goalkeeper Archie McFeat who twisted an ankle training at Plainmoor".
It was October 2 before Archie returned to first team action at Reading. True to form, he injured an arm and had to leave the field. "After receiving attention, he came out and played on the right wing" as United went down 4-0.
Archie's injury did not keep him out this time as he went on to play eight consecutive league games. He "kept goal brilliantly" as United won 3-1 at Millwall on November 6, but another trip to London two weeks later to play Leyton Orient did not go quite so well.
Neary's "terrific shot struck McFeat in the throat and completely knocked him out. The Torquay goalkeeper was carried off on a stretcher, but returned after fifteen minutes".
The following Tuesday brought the news that "Although Archie McFeat, Torquay United goalkeeper, was knocked senseless by a powerful shot from Neary which caught him on the chin in the match against Leyton Orient on Saturday, he reported for training at Plainmoor yesterday. He is said to be quite fit."
There was less good news for Archie on the Saturday under the headline "Surprises in F.A.Cup team".
"Archie McFeat, Torquay United goalkeeper, who with his daring methods has created such a sensation at Plainmoor this season, has been dropped from the Cup team travelling to Peterborough today in favour of Davis.
Manager John McNeil told The Western Morning News that, probably as a result of the numerous injuries McFeat has received this season, he had been thought to show a lack of confidence in his last two matches".
So what did Archie get up to as Torquay scraped a 1-0 win at Midland League Peterborough? The inevitable answer was reported under the headline "McFeat Injured Again".
"Goalkeeper Archie McFeat, who might well be labelled one of United's most unfortunate players, was injured yet again in the Reserves' friendly match with a Plymouth and District League side at Plainmoor.
He had to be helped off the field with an injured ankle in the first half and Casley took his place in goal for the remainder of the game".
Casley was the reserves' right half whose bizarre claim to fame is that, despite being an outfield player, his only first team game for Torquay was as a goalkeeper in April 1948.
McFeat recovered to play regularly for the reserves but never again displaced Derek Davis from the first team and was released at the end of the season.
What might have been had he been less injury prone?
I knew next to nothing about McFeat who managed only nine appearances in his one season at Torquay, but the query has unearthed a fascinating tale of a brilliant but incredibly unlucky goalkeeper.
The game at Leyton Orient was Unlucky Archie's last first team game for TUFC, but Neary's rocket did not end his career - although it didn't help!
Archie McFeat signed for Torquay from Morton in May 1948 to take over as first team keeper from local boy Phil Joslin who had just been sold to Cardiff City.
Unfortunately, he missed the start of the season after injuring his wrist in the first pre-season practice game at Plainmoor on August 7.
"Spectacular work" in a reserve game against Hereford paved the way for his elevation to first team on September 4. In a dream debut, Archie "showed his brilliance and pulled off some spectacular saves" in a 2-1 win over Devon rivals Exeter City before a crowd of nearly 14,000 - the largest attendance seen up to that time at Plainmoor.
Archie's luck did not last long. Before the midweek game at Watford, it was announced that Torquay "will be without first team goalkeeper Archie McFeat who twisted an ankle training at Plainmoor".
It was October 2 before Archie returned to first team action at Reading. True to form, he injured an arm and had to leave the field. "After receiving attention, he came out and played on the right wing" as United went down 4-0.
Archie's injury did not keep him out this time as he went on to play eight consecutive league games. He "kept goal brilliantly" as United won 3-1 at Millwall on November 6, but another trip to London two weeks later to play Leyton Orient did not go quite so well.
Neary's "terrific shot struck McFeat in the throat and completely knocked him out. The Torquay goalkeeper was carried off on a stretcher, but returned after fifteen minutes".
The following Tuesday brought the news that "Although Archie McFeat, Torquay United goalkeeper, was knocked senseless by a powerful shot from Neary which caught him on the chin in the match against Leyton Orient on Saturday, he reported for training at Plainmoor yesterday. He is said to be quite fit."
There was less good news for Archie on the Saturday under the headline "Surprises in F.A.Cup team".
"Archie McFeat, Torquay United goalkeeper, who with his daring methods has created such a sensation at Plainmoor this season, has been dropped from the Cup team travelling to Peterborough today in favour of Davis.
Manager John McNeil told The Western Morning News that, probably as a result of the numerous injuries McFeat has received this season, he had been thought to show a lack of confidence in his last two matches".
So what did Archie get up to as Torquay scraped a 1-0 win at Midland League Peterborough? The inevitable answer was reported under the headline "McFeat Injured Again".
"Goalkeeper Archie McFeat, who might well be labelled one of United's most unfortunate players, was injured yet again in the Reserves' friendly match with a Plymouth and District League side at Plainmoor.
He had to be helped off the field with an injured ankle in the first half and Casley took his place in goal for the remainder of the game".
Casley was the reserves' right half whose bizarre claim to fame is that, despite being an outfield player, his only first team game for Torquay was as a goalkeeper in April 1948.
McFeat recovered to play regularly for the reserves but never again displaced Derek Davis from the first team and was released at the end of the season.
What might have been had he been less injury prone?
