Unlucky for some

[Glostergull]

I wouls suspect that if you went much further back you will find that we have had several similar depressing starts to seasons. Witness the season with Wes Saunders in charge. or the season with Web in charge. I have lived through them all. and somehow have come through without being consigned to a padded cell.

[Chris B]

I acknowledge judging results over the calendar year is somewhat arbitrary, given what happens between August and May of each season is what counts. That said, I was genuinely intrigued to see if we Torquay fans were the worst off so far in 2013. I'll be keeping tabs on Middlesbrough's results more than normal during the next couple of months!

You're absolutely right bad starts (and seasons) are common in the history of our club, Gloster, but I've decided to continue my look at calendar years. Below is a table showing what I think are the worst nine years we have had in our history, purely in terms of results. Once again, cup games are awarded points as if they were league games, and all years have been calculated according to the current 3pts for a win system.

1991 P58 W17 D16 L25 Pts67 Pts/G 1.155
1971 P53 W15 D14 L24 Pts59 Pts/G 1.113
2005 P51 W12 D18 L21 Pts54 Pts/G 1.059
2006 P54 W14 D15 L25 Pts57 Pts/G 1.056
1996 P53 W13 D11 L29 Pts50 Pts/G 0.943
1995 P50 W9 D17 L24 Pts44 Pts/G 0.88
1986 P47 W8 D16 L23 Pts40 Pts/G 0.851
2013 P38 W7 D10 L21 Pts31 Pts/G 0.816
1985 P53 W9 D15 L29 Pts42 Pts/G 0.792

We're scheduled to have at least eleven more matches before the turn of the year. Whilst I think our form will improve when Knill has more key players available for selection, there is a chance 2013 could have the dubious honour of being our worst yet results-wise.

As I mentioned in the OP, there have been extenuating circumstances for our dismal run. However, unlike others listed above (1971, 1991, 2005), this year has been spent entirely in the fourth tier. For many of us, the surrender of our proud 80 year spell in the Football League was a real low. The revival under Paul Buckle at the start of 2007/08, though, means our points per game rose from 0.681 in May to 1.5 by the end of 2007.

There are no doubt fans hoping we can consolidate and secure safety with minimal stress before building for bigger things in 2014/15. If that's the case, try not to read anything into the habit we've developed since the mid 80s of being awful in the middle of decades!

* results sourced from Soccerbase.

[Chris B]

SInce the OP we've gained four points from two games, so it's only right to update the tables. Coincidentally, all of the other sides who have struggled in 2013 have picked up wins. We now find ourselves level with Sunderland in terms of points gained per game played, with Middlesbrough still the only club who have fared worse.

Accrington P39 W10 D11 L18 Pts41 Pts/G 1.05
Bury P39 W9 D9 L21 Pts36 Pts/G 0.923
Bristol City P42 W9 D11 L22 Pts38 Pts/G 0.905
Tranmere P40 W10 D6 L24 Pts36 Pts/G 0.9
Sunderland P32 W7 D7 L18 Pts28 Pts/G 0.875
Torquay P40 W8 D11 L21 Pts35 Pts/G 0.875
Middlesbrough P39 W8 D9 L22 Pts33 Pts/G 0.846

Meanwhile, compared to the worst years in the club's history based on results, 2013 has leap-frogged 1986. Only a dreadful run of form would see us 'challenge' 1985 now. With players returning from injury and a goalscoring loanee on board, I'd be suprised if we end the calendar year averaging worse than 1pt per game.

1991 P58 W17 D16 L25 Pts67 Pts/G 1.155
1971 P53 W15 D14 L24 Pts59 Pts/G 1.113
2005 P51 W12 D18 L21 Pts54 Pts/G 1.059
2006 P54 W14 D15 L25 Pts57 Pts/G 1.056
1996 P53 W13 D11 L29 Pts50 Pts/G 0.943
1995 P50 W9 D17 L24 Pts44 Pts/G 0.88
2013 P40 W8 D11 L21 Pts35 Pts/G 0.875
1986 P47 W8 D16 L23 Pts40 Pts/G 0.851
1985 P53 W9 D15 L29 Pts42 Pts/G 0.792

[cambgull]

Interesting how many of our worst years came in pairs, with similar results too.

[hector]

Fascinating data. I missed this thread. Incredible to think we are challenging the Webb teams as the worst ever for calendar years, because they (85 & 86) were teams comprised of players from the reserves of Bournemouth, non-league clubs like Thanet United and the South devon league.

[Chris B]

Another week, another game, another defeat. It will hardly come as a surprise Torquay have the worst points to games played ratio of the 92 Premier and Football League clubs.

Our current manager and crop of players are also on course to secure 2013 as the worst in the club's history based on results. Weather-permitting, we have four more fixtures before the turn of the year. We need a minimum of three points to avoid ‘beating’ 1985 if all of those matches do take place.

Tranmere P46 W14 D7 L25 Pts49 Pts/G 1.065
Accrington P45 W14 D11 L20 Pts47 Pts/G 1.044
Bury P46 W10 D15 L21 Pts45 Pts/G 0.978
Sunderland P37 W9 D8 L20 Pts35 Pts/G 0.946
Bristol City P49 W11 D13 L25 Pts46 Pts/G 0.939
Middlesbrough P43 W9 D10 L24 Pts37 Pts/G 0.860
Torquay P45 W8 D12 L25 Pts36 Pts/G 0.800

1991 P58 W17 D16 L25 Pts67 Pts/G 1.155
1971 P53 W15 D14 L24 Pts59 Pts/G 1.113
2005 P51 W12 D18 L21 Pts54 Pts/G 1.059
2006 P54 W14 D15 L25 Pts57 Pts/G 1.056
1996 P53 W13 D11 L29 Pts50 Pts/G 0.943
1995 P50 W9 D17 L24 Pts44 Pts/G 0.88
1986 P47 W8 D16 L23 Pts40 Pts/G 0.851
2013 P45 W8 D12 L25 Pts36 Pts/G 0.800
1985 P53 W9 D15 L29 Pts42 Pts/G 0.792

[AustrianAndyGull]

Thanks for that!

I need a drink!

Drink! Feck! Arse!

Didn't realise it was THAT bad, maybe the fact that this year has felt like a win has disguised the fact.

[jonnyfive]

Another week, another game, another defeat. It will hardly come as a surprise Torquay have the worst points to games played ratio of the 92 Premier and Football League clubs.

Our current manager and crop of players are also on course to secure 2013 as the worst in the club's history based on results. Weather-permitting, we have four more fixtures before the turn of the year. We need a minimum of three points to avoid ‘beating’ 1985 if all of those matches do take place.

Tranmere P46 W14 D7 L25 Pts49 Pts/G 1.065
Accrington P45 W14 D11 L20 Pts47 Pts/G 1.044
Bury P46 W10 D15 L21 Pts45 Pts/G 0.978
Sunderland P37 W9 D8 L20 Pts35 Pts/G 0.946
Bristol City P49 W11 D13 L25 Pts46 Pts/G 0.939
Middlesbrough P43 W9 D10 L24 Pts37 Pts/G 0.860
Torquay P45 W8 D12 L25 Pts36 Pts/G 0.800

1991 P58 W17 D16 L25 Pts67 Pts/G 1.155
1971 P53 W15 D14 L24 Pts59 Pts/G 1.113
2005 P51 W12 D18 L21 Pts54 Pts/G 1.059
2006 P54 W14 D15 L25 Pts57 Pts/G 1.056
1996 P53 W13 D11 L29 Pts50 Pts/G 0.943
1995 P50 W9 D17 L24 Pts44 Pts/G 0.88
1986 P47 W8 D16 L23 Pts40 Pts/G 0.851
2013 P45 W8 D12 L25 Pts36 Pts/G 0.800
1985 P53 W9 D15 L29 Pts42 Pts/G 0.792

Yes, thanks for that Chris. Interesting piece of research. At least Knill is creating history.

[Chris B]

So there we have it, we have played our final fixture in 2013. We have been officially the worst club to support based on results alone. I thought I'd check a few more teams who had previously gone unnoticed, but I think we're quite clearly bottom of the pile.

Barnsley P50 W15 D15 L20 Pts60 Pts/G1.2
Accrington P49 W14 D13 L21 Pts58 Pts/G 1.18
West Ham P44 W13 D12 L19 Pts51 Pts/G1.159
Sheff Wed P46 W12 D17 L17 Pts53 Pts/G1.152
Millwall P52 W15 D13 L24 Pts58 Pts/G1.115
Notts County P53 W14 D13 L26 Pts55 Pts/G1.038
Bristol City P54 W14 D14 L26 Pts56 Pts/G 1.037
Fulham P43 W12 D8 L23 Pts44 Pts/G1.023
Tranmere P51 W15 D7 L29 Pts52 Pts/G 1.02
Stevenage P53 W15 D8 L30 Pts53 Pts/G1.00
Bury P51 W11 D17 L23 Pts50 Pts/G 0.980
Middlesbrough P49 W12 D11 L26 Pts47 Pts/G 0.959
Sunderland P44 W10 D12 L22 Pts42 Pts/G 0.955
West Brom P41 W8 D15 L18 Pts39 Pts/G0.951
Torquay P49 W10 D13 L26 Pts43 Pts/G 0.878

In comparison with TUFC years gone by, 2013 sits third worst. The wins against Southend and Dagenham thankfully spared us unwanted history. Having endured this wretched twelve months, allow me to commend those who survived and continued supporting the club after our mid-80s nightmare!

1991 P58 W17 D16 L25 Pts67 Pts/G 1.155
1971 P53 W15 D14 L24 Pts59 Pts/G 1.113
2005 P51 W12 D18 L21 Pts54 Pts/G 1.059
2006 P54 W14 D15 L25 Pts57 Pts/G 1.056
1996 P53 W13 D11 L29 Pts50 Pts/G 0.943
1995 P50 W9 D17 L24 Pts44 Pts/G 0.88
2013 P49 W10 D13 L26 Pts43 Pts/G 0.878
1986 P47 W8 D16 L23 Pts40 Pts/G 0.851
1985 P53 W9 D15 L29 Pts42 Pts/G 0.792

Happy New Year to all, here's hoping for better things to come in 2014!

[nickfrench82]

A pretty damning report really. Very interesting to read, so thanks for putting the work in.

[SuperNickyWroe]

good to see Barnsley top of the league!

[AustrianAndyGull]

good to see Barnsley top of the league!

Yeah, the league of failures. Jedward could beat Barnsley.

Thanks also to Chris for doing the math.

[SuperNickyWroe]

Yeah, the league of failures. Jedward could beat Barnsley.

Thanks also to Chris for doing the math.

or anybody living in derbyshire.

[AustrianAndyGull]

Wannafeight?!!!

Seven :na:

[Jerry]

1991 P58 W17 D16 L25 Pts67 Pts/G 1.155
1971 P53 W15 D14 L24 Pts59 Pts/G 1.113
2005 P51 W12 D18 L21 Pts54 Pts/G 1.059
2006 P54 W14 D15 L25 Pts57 Pts/G 1.056
1996 P53 W13 D11 L29 Pts50 Pts/G 0.943
1995 P50 W9 D17 L24 Pts44 Pts/G 0.88
2013 P49 W10 D13 L26 Pts43 Pts/G 0.878
1986 P47 W8 D16 L23 Pts40 Pts/G 0.851
1985 P53 W9 D15 L29 Pts42 Pts/G 0.792

I'm not looking forward to 2015 and 2016!