George Torrance (footballer)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 17 September 1957 | ||
| Place of birth | Rothesay, Scotland | ||
| Playing position | Left midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1980–1981 | Camberley Town | (4) | |
| Farnborough Town | |||
| 1982–1984 | Wokingham Town | ||
| 1984–1986 | Brentford | 34 | (1) |
| 1986–1987 | Maidstone United | 40 | (6) |
| 1987–1994 | Falmouth Town | 252 | |
| Porthleven | |||
| Teams managed | |||
| Porthleven (player-assistant) | |||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
George Torrance is a retired Scottish professional footballer, who played as a left midfielder. He is best remembered for his time in the Football League with Brentford.
Club career
Non-league football
A left-sided midfielder, Torrance began his career with Isthmian League Division One side Camberley Town,[1] when he was stationed with the army in nearby Blackwater.[2] He moved on to join fellow Isthmian League side Farnborough Town, before being posted to Germany for two years.[2] While still in Germany, Torrance joined Isthmian League Premier Division side Wokingham Town.[2] He achieved notoriety in the 1982/83 FA Cup, scoring the equaliser in a 1-1 first round draw with Division Three high-flyers Cardiff City.[3]
Brentford
Torrance and Wokingham Town teammate (and fellow soldier) Steve Butler joined Division Three side Brentford in 1984, with the Griffin Park club paying £400 to buy the pair out of the army.[2] Torrance found himself used as a utility player in his early time with the Bees, playing six different positions in his first eight games.[2] He became an integral part of the side, making 21 appearances during the 1984/85 season, though an ankle injury saw him lose his place towards the end of the campaign.[2] Torrance was an unused substitute for the 3-1 1985 Football League Trophy Final defeat to Wigan Athletic and later recalled that failing to get onto the pitch at Wembley was his "greatest disappointment".[2] He played on into the 1985/86 season and departed the club during the campaign, having made 34 league appearances.[4]
Return to non-league football
Torrance joined Alliance Premier League side Maidstone United during the 1985/86 season, helping the club stave off relegation on goal difference.[2] He moved to Cornwall in 1987 and joined South Western League side Falmouth Town, winning three titles and making over 250 appearances for the club.[5] Torrance later joined Porthleven, playing well into his 40s and serving as player-assistant manager at the club.[2]
Representative career
In December 1986, Torrance was called upon to represent the FA XI in a match versus an Isthmian League representative side.[6] He scored in a 4-1 victory.[7] Despite being Scottish, Torrance appeared for England Police in a match versus Scotland in 1994, with England winning 3-0.[2] Also playing for England was Torrance's Welsh former Brentford teammate, Gary Roberts.[2]
Personal life
Torrance served in the Royal Engineers and later ran a residential home with his parents-in-law in St Keverne. He joined the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary in 1994, after moving to Falmouth.[2][8] He was later stationed in Truro and in 2010 was based at Royal Cornwall Hospital in the town.[8] Torrance has two children and lives in Helston.[8]
Honours
- South Western League (3): 1988/89, 1989/90, 1991/92
References
- ↑ http://www.camberleytownfc.co.uk/archive/s198081.htm
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11 Brentford Official Matchday Magazine versus Camberley Town 14/11/98. London: Morganprint Blackheath Ltd. p. 19.
- ↑ Bob Thomas. "Football FA Cup First Round 20th November 1982 Wokingham Town 1 v... News Photo 79019346". Getty Images. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
- ↑ http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/brentford/brentford.html
- ↑ "Players with over 250 appearances". falmouthtown.net. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
- ↑ Brentford F.C. Griffin Gazette versus Huddersfield Town 21/02/95. Quay Design of Poole. 1995. p. 33.
- ↑ "Representative Matches - History - The Ryman Isthmian Football League". isthmian.co.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 http://www.rcht.nhs.uk/RoyalCornwallHospitalsTrust/News/NewsArticles/NewpoliceofficerwelcomedtoRCHT.aspx