List of Torquay United F.C. seasons

Torquay United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Torquay, Devon. This is a chronological list of all Torquay United seasons from 1899 up until the end of the 2022–23 season.

History

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Torquay United Football Club was originally formed in 1899. After first joining the East Devon League in 1900, the club then went on to join the Torquay & District League, becoming champions of that league in 1909. Encouraged by Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City turning professional, the people of Torquay were eager for United to join forces with the town's two other prominent football teams, Babbacombe and Ellacombe, with a view to creating a third professional club within Devon. Although Babbacombe rejected the idea of a merger, Torquay United and Ellacombe agreed to pool their resources and formed Torquay Town in 1910. Town won the Devon Senior Cup in their first season and became champions of the Plymouth & District League the following year. Despite a fierce rivalry existing between Torquay Town and Babbacombe, the two clubs were finally amalgamated in 1921 and the newly combined team reverted to the name of Torquay United and were admitted into the Western League. After one season in the Western League, United joined the Southern League and, after becoming champions of the Western Section, were elected into the Football League at the expense of Aberdare Athletic in 1927.

Despite having to seek re-election to the Football League after their debut season, Torquay soon managed to establish a place in the Third Division South, although without ever finishing higher than 10th position in all the seasons leading up to World War II. By the 1950s however, United had become a much more competitive side and narrowly missed out on promotion to the Second Division in 1957. When the Football League underwent restructuring in 1958, a poor season for United saw them placed in the newly created Division Four. Nevertheless, the 1960s proved fruitful for Torquay United and they spent the majority of the decade in Division Three, again coming close to promotion to Division Two in 1968.

However, when Torquay were again relegated from Division Three in 1972, it heralded a period of mediocrity which culminated in the club requiring re-election to the Football League in both 1985 and 1986. When automatic relegation into the Conference was introduced the following year, only a last minute equaliser against Crewe Alexandra on the final day of the season saved United from the drop. Torquay finally lifted themselves out of the basement division in 1991 after beating Blackpool in the Division Four play-off final, only to be relegated again the following season. After narrowly escaping relegation to the Conference in 1996, they were again contesting a play-off final in 1998, although this time they were beaten by Colchester United. Just three years later, in 2001, Torquay once again escaped expulsion into non-League football by beating Barnet on the final day of the season. By 2004, the club had bounced back again by achieving automatic promotion to the third tier of English football (now renamed League One) for the first time since 1966. Again relegated after just one season, worse was to come when, after two seasons in League Two, Torquay were finally relegated to the Conference in 2007. However, after just two years in the Conference, United secured a return to the Football League by beating Cambridge United in the 2009 Conference play-off final. Torquay again came close to returning to League One in 2011 but were narrowly beaten by Stevenage in the League Two play-off final.

Since their election to the Football League in 1927, Torquay United have completed 34 seasons in the third tier of English football, 42 seasons in the fourth, ten seasons in the fifth (below the professional League) and one season in the sixth (Conference/National League South). This list details all of the seasons played by Torquay United in English football from 1899 up until the last completed season. The list details the club's achievements in all major competitions, and the top scorers for each season in all competitions.

Seasons

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Season League FA Cup League
Cup
Other competitions Top scorer(s) Average attendance Refs.
Division P W D L F A Pts Pos
1899–1900 [A] ~ [1]
1900–01 EDL [B] 4th ~ [1]
1901–02 EDL 2nd ~ [1]
1902–03 EDL 2nd ~ Devon Senior Cup R1 [2]
1903–04 EDL 3rd ~ East Devon Cup R1 [2]
1904–05 [C] ~ East Devon Cup R1 [3]
1905–06 EDL 3rd ~ East Devon Cup R1 [3]
1906–07 EDL 3rd ~ Devon Senior Cup R1 [3]
East Devon Cup R2
1907–08 T&DL [D] 12 5 0 7 24 43 10 4th ~ Devon Senior Cup R2 [3]
East Devon Cup R1
1908–09 T&DL 14 11 2 1 86 14 24 1st ~ East Devon Cup R1 [4]
1909–10 T&DL 16 7 3 6 24 23 17 4th ~ Devon Senior Cup R1 [4]
East Devon Cup R1
1910–11 [E] P&DL 24 13 3 8 54 33 29 5th QR5 Devon Senior Cup W [5]
1911–12 P&DL 30 23 4 3 85 29 50 1st QR1 Devon Senior Cup RU [5]
1912–13 P&DL 26 11 6 9 42 43 28 6th ~ [F] [6]
1913–14 P&DL 26 10 4 12 55 52 24 10th EPR Devon Senior Cup R1 [6]
Competitive football suspended for the duration of World War I
1919–20 P&DL 24 7 1 16 41 46 15 10th ~ Devon Senior Cup R1 [7]
1920–21 P&DL 22 10 5 7 35 39 29 6th EPR [G] [7]
1921–22 [H] WL 14 6 2 6 25 17 14 5th QR4 Devon Senior Cup W [8]
1922–23 SLE 38 18 8 12 63 38 44 6th QR1 Devon Professional Cup RU [8]
1923–24 SLW [I] 34 19 7 8 59 25 45 4th QR4 Devon Professional Cup SF Billy Kellock 23 [9]
1924–25 SLW 38 9 11 18 41 73 29 15th QR1 Devon Professional Cup SF Billy Kellock 13 [9]
1925–26 SLW 26 12 5 9 59 46 26 6th R1 Devon Professional Cup SF George Appleyard 29 [10]
WL [J] 18 9 4 5 28 22 22 3rd
1926–27 SLW 26 17 4 5 63 30 38 1st [K] R1 Devon Professional Trophy SF Lew Griffiths
Len Marlow
25 [10]
WL 22 14 4 4 47 27 32 2nd
1927–28 Div 3S [L] 42 8 14 20 53 103 30 22nd [M] ~ Bert Turner 11 [11]
1928–29 Div 3S 42 14 6 22 66 84 34 18th R2 Cyril Hemingway 12 [12]
1929–30 Div 3S 42 10 11 21 64 94 31 19th R1 Joe Pointon 18 [13]
1930–31 Div 3S 42 17 9 16 80 84 43 11th R3 Jimmy Trotter 28 [14]
1931–32 Div 3S 42 12 9 21 72 106 33 19th R1 Billy Clayson 14 [15]
1932–33 Div 3S 42 16 12 14 72 67 44 10th R2 George Stabb 26 [16]
1933–34 Div 3S 42 13 7 22 53 93 33 20th R2 Third Division South Cup RU George Stabb 15 [17]
1934–35 Div 3S 42 18 6 18 81 75 42 10th R2 Third Division South Cup R2 Albert Hutchinson 18 [18]
1935–36 Div 3S 42 16 9 17 62 62 41 10th R2 Third Division South Cup R1 Albert Hutchinson 10 [19]
1936–37 Div 3S 42 11 10 21 57 80 32 20th R1 Third Division South Cup SF Ben Morton 27 4,048 [20]
1937–38 Div 3S 42 9 12 21 38 73 30 20th R1 Third Division South Cup R1 Ben Morton
Albert Shelley
10 3,754 [21]
1938–39 Div 3S 42 14 9 19 54 70 37 19th R2 Third Division South Cup F [N] Ralph Allen 17 3,877 [22]
1939–40 Div 3S [O] 3 0 3 0 4 4 3 14th Jack Conley 2 3,926 [23][24]
Competitive football suspended for the duration of World War II [P]
1945–46 [Q] R1 Bill Coley 1 [25]
1946–47 Div 3S 42 15 12 15 52 61 42 11th R1 Jack Conley 23 6,286 [26]
1947–48 Div 3S 42 11 13 18 63 62 35 18th R3 Ron Shaw 18 7,186 [27]
1948–49 Div 3S 42 17 11 14 65 70 45 9th R4 Jack Conley 19 7,939 [28]
1949–50 Div 3S 42 19 10 13 66 63 48 5th R2 Jack Conley 15 8,779 [29]
1950–51 Div 3S 46 14 9 23 64 81 37 20th R1 Sammy Collins 12 7,805 [30]
1951–52 Div 3S 46 17 10 19 86 98 44 11th R2 Sammy Collins
Ernie Edds
24 7,565 [31]
1952–53 Div 3S 46 18 9 19 87 88 45 12th R1 Sammy Collins 27 6,980 [32]
1953–54 Div 3S 46 17 12 17 81 88 46 13th R1 Sammy Collins 18 7,111 [33]
1954–55 Div 3S 46 18 12 16 82 82 48 8th R4 Sammy Collins 28 6,604 [34]
1955–56 Div 3S 46 20 12 14 86 63 52 5th R3 Sammy Collins 42 [R] 6,989 [35]
1956–57 Div 3S 46 24 11 11 89 64 59 2nd R3 Sammy Collins 35 8,014 [36]
1957–58 Div 3S 46 11 13 22 49 74 35 21st [S] R2 Tommy Northcott 14 7,112 [37]
1958–59 Div 4 46 16 12 18 78 77 44 12th R3 Tommy Northcott 21 5,393 [38]
1959–60 Div 4 46 26 8 12 84 58 60 3rd ↑ R2 Graham Bond 25 6,812 [39]
1960–61 Div 3 46 14 17 15 75 83 45 12th R2 R2 Tommy Northcott 28 6,153 [40]
1961–62 Div 3 46 15 6 25 76 100 36 21st ↓ R2 R1 Ernie Pym 21 4,985 [41]
1962–63 Div 4 46 20 16 10 75 56 56 6th R2 R2 Brian Handley 24 4,887 [42]
1963–64 Div 4 46 20 11 15 80 54 51 6th R2 R1 Robin Stubbs 25 5,199 [43]
1964–65 Div 4 46 21 7 18 70 70 49 11th R3 R2 Robin Stubbs 39 4,385 [44]
1965–66 Div 4 46 24 10 12 72 49 58 3rd ↑ R1 R1 Tommy Spratt 18 6,208 [45]
1966–67 Div 3 46 21 9 16 73 54 51 7th R1 R1 Robin Stubbs 21 7,040 [46]
1967–68 Div 3 46 21 11 14 60 56 53 4th R1 R3 Robin Stubbs 10 9,096 [47]
1968–69 Div 3 46 18 12 16 54 46 48 6th R2 R1 Robin Stubbs 19 8,285 [48]
1969–70 Div 3 46 14 17 15 62 59 45 13th R1 R2 John Rudge 16 6,884 [49]
1970–71 Div 3 46 19 11 16 54 57 49 10th R4 R2 John Rudge 20 5,726 [50]
1971–72 Div 3 46 10 12 24 41 69 32 23rd ↓ R3 R3 Alan Welsh 14 5,677 [51]
1972–73 Div 4 46 12 17 17 44 47 41 18th R2 R1 Mike Trebilcock 11 3,300 [52]
1973–74 Div 4 46 13 17 16 52 57 43 16th R1 R1 Eddie Rowles 10 3,392 [53]
1974–75 Div 4 46 14 14 18 46 61 42 14th R1 R1 Cliff Myers 8 2,868 [54]
1975–76 Div 4 46 18 14 14 55 63 50 9th R1 R3 Willie Brown 17 2,640 [55]
1976–77 Div 4 46 17 9 20 59 67 43 16th R1 R3 Willie Brown 22 2,958 [56]
1977–78 Div 4 46 16 15 15 57 56 47 9th R1 R1 Willie Brown 14 2,878 [57]
1978–79 Div 4 46 19 8 19 58 65 46 11th R3 R1 Les Lawrence 19 2,669 [58]
1979–80 Div 4 46 15 17 14 70 69 47 9th R2 R2 Steve Cooper 19 3,184 [59]
1980–81 Div 4 46 18 5 23 55 63 41 17th R3 R1 Gerry Fell 17 2,050 [60]
1981–82 Div 4 46 14 13 19 47 59 55 15th R1 R1 Football League Group Cup R1 Tony Brown 11 2,248 [61]
1982–83 Div 4 46 17 7 22 56 65 58 12th R4 R1 Football League Trophy R1 Steve Cooper 21 2,336 [62]
1983–84 Div 4 46 18 13 15 59 64 67 9th R1 R1 Associate Members' Cup R1 John Sims 9 1,922 [63]
1984–85 Div 4 46 9 14 23 38 63 41 24th [T] R2 R1 Associate Members' Cup R2 Derek Hall
Mario Walsh
5 1,386 [64]
1985–86 Div 4 46 9 10 27 43 88 37 24th [U] R2 R1 Associate Members' Cup QFS Mario Walsh 12 1,240 [65]
1986–87 Div 4 46 10 18 18 56 72 48 23rd R1 R1 Associate Members' Cup R1 Paul Dobson 17 1,777 [66]
1987–88 Div 4 46 21 14 11 66 41 77 5th [V] R3 R2 Associate Members' Cup SFS Paul Dobson 25 3,005 [67]
1988–89 Div 4 46 17 8 21 45 60 59 14th R3 R1 Associate Members' Cup RU Dean Edwards 12 2,350 [68]
1989–90 Div 4 46 15 12 19 53 66 57 15th R4 R1 Associate Members' Cup R1 Mark Loram 14 2,147 [69]
1990–91 Div 4 46 18 18 10 64 47 72 7th ↑ [W] R1 R2 Associate Members' Cup QFS Tommy Tynan 19 2,986 [70]
1991–92 Div 3 46 13 8 25 42 68 47 23rd ↓ R2 R2 Associate Members' Cup R1 Justin Fashanu 10 2,734 [71]
1992–93 Div 3 [X] 42 12 7 23 45 67 43 19th R1 R2 Football League Trophy R2 Duane Darby 13 3,695 [72]
1993–94 Div 3 42 17 16 9 64 56 67 6th [Y] R2 R1 Football League Trophy R1 Adrian Foster 16 3,437 [73]
1994–95 Div 3 42 14 13 15 54 57 55 13th R2 R2 Football League Trophy R1 Richard Hancox 13 2,968 [74]
1995–96 Div 3 46 5 14 27 30 84 29 24th [Z] R2 R2 Football League Trophy R1 Paul Baker
Paul Buckle
Ian Hathaway
4 2,454 [75]
1996–97 Div 3 46 13 11 22 46 62 50 21st R1 R1 Football League Trophy R2 Rodney Jack 10 2,380 [76]
1997–98 Div 3 46 21 11 14 68 59 74 5th [AA] R2 R2 Football League Trophy R2 Rodney Jack 16 2,679 [77]
1998–99 Div 3 46 12 17 17 47 58 53 20th R2 R1 Football League Trophy QFS Scott Partridge 14 2,600 [78]
1999–2000 Div 3 46 19 12 15 62 52 69 9th R3 R1 Football League Trophy QFS Tony Bedeau 17 2,555 [79]
2000–01 Div 3 46 12 13 21 52 77 49 21st R1 R1 Football League Trophy R1 Kevin Hill 10 2,556 [79]
2001–02 Div 3 46 12 15 19 46 63 51 19th R1 R2 Football League Trophy R1 David Graham 9 2,563 [79]
2002–03 Div 3 46 16 18 12 71 71 66 9th R2 R1 Football League Trophy R1 Martin Gritton 16 3,132 [79]
2003–04 Div 3 46 23 12 11 68 44 81 3rd ↑ R1 R1 Football League Trophy R1 David Graham 23 3,460 [79]
2004–05 Lge 1 [AB] 46 12 15 19 55 79 51 21st ↓ R1 R1 Football League Trophy R2 Adebayo Akinfenwa 16 3,511 [79]
2005–06 Lge 2 46 13 13 20 53 66 52 20th R3 R1 Football League Trophy R1 Tony Bedeau 11 2,851 [79]
2006–07 Lge 2 46 7 14 25 36 63 35 24th ↓ R3 R1 Football League Trophy R1 Jamie Ward 11 2,633 [79]
2007–08 Conf 46 26 8 12 83 57 86 3rd [AC] R2 FA Trophy RU Tim Sills 22 3,125 [79]
2008–09 Conf 46 23 14 9 72 47 83 4th ↑ [AD] R4 FA Trophy R3 Tim Sills 17 2,243 [79]
2009–10 Lge 2 46 14 15 17 64 55 57 17th R3 R1 Football League Trophy R2 Elliot Benyon 15 2,856 [79]
2010–11 Lge 2 46 17 18 11 74 53 68 [AE] 7th [AF] R4 R1 Football League Trophy R2 Chris Zebroski 15 2,631 [79]
2011–12 Lge 2 46 23 12 11 63 50 81 5th [AG] R2 R1 Football League Trophy R1 Rene Howe 14 2,869 [79]
2012–13 Lge 2 46 13 14 19 55 62 53 19th R1 R1 Football League Trophy R1 Rene Howe 16 2,709 [79]
2013–14 Lge 2 46 12 9 25 42 66 45 24th ↓ R1 R1 Football League Trophy R1 Jordan Chapell 5 2,642 [79]
2014–15 Conf 46 16 13 17 64 60 61 13th QR4 FA Trophy SF Ryan Bowman 19 1,949 [79]
2015–16 NLTD 46 13 12 21 54 76 51 18th QR4 FA Trophy QF Nathan Blissett 8 1,803 [79]
2016–17 NLTD 46 14 11 21 54 61 53 17th QR4 FA Trophy R1 Brett Williams 10 1,888 [79]
2017–18 NLTD 46 10 12 24 45 73 42 22nd ↓ QR4 FA Trophy R1 Rhys Healey
Jamie Reid
6 1,731 [79]
2018–19 NLS 42 27 7 8 93 41 88 1st ↑ R1 FA Trophy R1 Jamie Reid 29 2,597 [79]
2019–20 NLTD 36 14 6 16 56 61 48 14th R1 FA Trophy R2 Jamie Reid 18 2,596 [79]
2020–21 NLTD 42 23 11 8 68 39 80 2nd R1 FA Trophy QF Asa Hall
Connor Lemonheigh-Evans
10 n/a [79]
2021–22 NLTD 42 18 12 14 66 54 66 11th QR4 FA Trophy R3 Armani Little 15 2,576 [80]
2022–23 NLTD 46 12 12 22 58 80 48 21st ↓ R1 FA Trophy R5 Aaron Jarvis 15 2,422 [81]
1st 2nd 3rd and Play-offs
Champions Runners-up Third Place and Play-offs Promoted Relegated

Division changes shown in bold.
Abandoned league competitions shown in italics.
Goalscorers shown in bold were division top scorers for that season.

Notes

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References

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General
  • Edwards, Leigh; Jon Gibbes; John Lovis (1999). Torquay United, The Official Centenary History, 1899–1999. Yore Publications. ISBN 1-874427-38-0.
  • Edwards, Leigh (1997). The Definitive Torquay United F.C. The Association of Football Statisticians. ISBN 1-899468-08-0.
  • Holgate, Mike (1999). Torquay United Football Club 1899–1999. Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-1814-9.
Specific
  1. ^ a b c d e Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.152
  2. ^ a b Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.153
  3. ^ a b c d Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.154
  4. ^ a b Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.155
  5. ^ a b Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.156
  6. ^ a b Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.157
  7. ^ a b Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.158
  8. ^ a b Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.159
  9. ^ a b Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.161
  10. ^ a b Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.162
  11. ^ Edwards, p.13
  12. ^ Edwards, p.14
  13. ^ Edwards, p.15
  14. ^ Edwards, p.16
  15. ^ Edwards, p.17
  16. ^ Edwards, p.18
  17. ^ Edwards, p.19
  18. ^ Edwards, p.20
  19. ^ Edwards, p.21
  20. ^ Edwards, p.22
  21. ^ Edwards, p.23
  22. ^ Edwards, p.24
  23. ^ RSSSF.com - 1939–40
  24. ^ TUFC History - Results 1939–40 Archived 12 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  25. ^ Edwards, p.80
  26. ^ Edwards, p.25
  27. ^ Edwards, p.26
  28. ^ Edwards, p.27
  29. ^ Edwards, p.28
  30. ^ Edwards, p.29
  31. ^ Edwards, p.30
  32. ^ Edwards, p.31
  33. ^ Edwards, p.32
  34. ^ Edwards, p.33
  35. ^ Edwards, p.34
  36. ^ Edwards, p.35
  37. ^ Edwards, p.36
  38. ^ Edwards, p.37
  39. ^ Edwards, p.38
  40. ^ Edwards, p.39
  41. ^ Edwards, p.40
  42. ^ Edwards, p.41
  43. ^ Edwards, p.42
  44. ^ Edwards, p.43
  45. ^ Edwards, p.44
  46. ^ Edwards, p.45
  47. ^ Edwards, p.46
  48. ^ Edwards, p.47
  49. ^ Edwards, p.48
  50. ^ Edwards, p.49
  51. ^ Edwards, p.50
  52. ^ Edwards, p.51
  53. ^ Edwards, p.52
  54. ^ Edwards, p.53
  55. ^ Edwards, p.54
  56. ^ Edwards, p.55
  57. ^ Edwards, p.56
  58. ^ Edwards, p.57
  59. ^ Edwards, p.58
  60. ^ Edwards, p.59
  61. ^ Edwards, p.60
  62. ^ Edwards, p.61
  63. ^ Edwards, p.62
  64. ^ Edwards, p.63
  65. ^ Edwards, p.64
  66. ^ Edwards, p.65
  67. ^ Edwards, p.66
  68. ^ Edwards, p.67
  69. ^ Edwards, p.68
  70. ^ Edwards, p.69
  71. ^ Edwards, p.70
  72. ^ Edwards, p.71
  73. ^ Edwards, p.72
  74. ^ Edwards, p.73
  75. ^ Edwards, p.74
  76. ^ Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.250
  77. ^ Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.252
  78. ^ Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.253
  79. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Statto - Torquay United: History 1975 to date Archived 26 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  80. ^ "2021-2022 Torquay Stats, National League".
  81. ^ "2022-2023 Torquay Stats, National League".
  82. ^ a b Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.7
  83. ^ Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.8
  84. ^ a b c Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.9
  85. ^ Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.10
  86. ^ a b Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.11
  87. ^ a b Holgate, p.23
  88. ^ Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.13
  89. ^ Statto.com - English Division Three South Cup 1938-1939: Semi-Final Archived 18 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  90. ^ Statto.com - English Division Three South Cup: Honours Archived 4 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  91. ^ a b Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.24
  92. ^ a b c d History Of The Football League Archived 2 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  93. ^ Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.38
  94. ^ Holgate, p.56
  95. ^ Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.41
  96. ^ Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.84
  97. ^ a b Holgate, p.95
  98. ^ Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.86
  99. ^ Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.90
  100. ^ Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.97
  101. ^ Holgate, p.104
  102. ^ Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.100
  103. ^ Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.102
  104. ^ Edwards, Gibbes & Lovis, p.104
  105. ^ "Gulls heartbroken by loss - Todd". BBC Sport. 17 May 2009. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  106. ^ "Cambridge Utd 0-2 Torquay". BBC Sport. 17 May 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  107. ^ "Torquay and Hereford docked points by Football League". BBC Sport. 6 April 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  108. ^ "Stevenage promoted to League One by beating Torquay". BBC Sport. 28 May 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  109. ^ "Torquay 1-2 Cheltenham". BBC Sport. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
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