football golf club
Torquay United Football Club is a professional association football clubhouse based in Torquay, Devon, England. The team presently compete in the National League, the one-fifth tier of the English football league arrangement. They have played their home matches at Plainmoor since 1921 and are nicknamed “ The Gulls ”.
Reading: Torquay United F.C.
Founded in 1899, the club first entered the East Devon League. They went on to win the Torquay & District League in 1908–09, the Plymouth & West Devon League 1911–12, and were admitted into the Football League in 1927 after claiming the Southern League deed and second-place in the Western League in 1926–27. They remained in the Third Division South for the following 31 years and were promoted out of the Fourth Division at the end of the 1959–60 season, though were relegated after two seasons in the Third Division. Torquay were again promoted in 1965–66, merely to suffer another relegation six years late. They survived re-election votes after concluding target finishes in the Fourth Division in 1985 and 1986. Torquay gained forwarding after winning the Fourth Division play-offs in 1991, having been losing finalists in 1988. Relegated in 1992, they lost another play-off final in 1998, before securing automatic rifle promotion in 2003–04. They lasted just one season in League One and were relegated out of the Football League after finishing bottom of League Two in 2007. Torquay lost the 2008 FA Trophy final examination, but won the 2009 Conference play-off concluding. They spent five seasons in League Two, missing out in the play-offs in 2011 and 2012, before losing their Football League condition for a second gear time with a final place finish in 2014. Torquay were relegated from the National League in 2018, but secured immediate promotion after winning the National League South in 2018–19 .
history [edit ]
constitution and early years [edit ]
The master Torquay United was formed in 1899 by a group of school-leavers under the steering of Sergeant-Major Edward Tomney. [ 3 ] [ 4 ] The newly founded clubhouse played its inaugural peer against an Upton Cricket Club XI on one of local farmer, John Wright ‘s fields, situated at the clear of Penny ‘s Hill, on Teignmouth Road. After a season of friendlies the club joined the East Devon League and moved into the Recreation Ground, their home for the next four years. Plainmoor at the time was occupied by Torquay Athletic Rugby Club in what is a reversal of the mod day situation. In 1904 Athletic secured the lease on the Recreation Ground from United, with League rivals Ellacombe taking over the rent of Plainmoor, leaving United homeless for the first time in their being – facilitating a return to the farmer ‘s fields on Teignmouth Road. however the cabaret was on the move once more when the fields were sold to be developed into what would late be known as Parkhurst Road. United soon found another home plate, sharing with Torquay Cricket Club in nearby Cricketfield Road ( a site placid used for football in the advanced day by South Devon League side Upton Athletic F.C. ) for four years. It was during this prison term that they won their first respect ; the 1909 Torquay and District League title. [ 5 ] Following this breakthrough for the baseball club, United merged with local rivals Ellacombe Football Club in 1910 and adopted the identify Torquay Town. [ 6 ] It was then that United finally moved into Plainmoor where they would remain to this day. During this period the footing was shared with the team ‘s remaining local rival Babbacombe. Both sides were playing in the same league, the Plymouth and District League alongside the modesty teams of Exeter City and Plymouth Argyle, Torquay Town would late win the league in the 1911–12 season. [ 5 ]
In 1920 after the resumption of the Football League following the first base World War, United ‘s local rivals Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City were both elected to the Football League as founder members of the Football League Third Division, this prompted a drift in the town to merge the two remaining teams and create a modern entity capable of competing at this level and being elected into the new league. Relations between the two Torquay clubs were poor, but in 1921 matters finally came to a question. Torquay Town was desperate to join its local rivals in the league and after many discussions Babbacombe at last agreed to a amalgamation, enabling the new club to become the sole spokesperson of the town and turn professional to further its sheath for league election, the modern team was to be called Torquay United again, reverting to the township ‘s name anterior to 1910. The fresh golf club entered the Southern Football League, celebrated for being the league that Tottenham Hotspur played in when becoming the only non-league team to win the FA Cup, once again playing alongside Plymouth and Exeter ‘s reserve sides and besides Boscombe F.C. ( by and by to become AFC Bournemouth ). Torquay went on to finish in sixth place that season and during the summer break had the audacity to apply for Football League status, but failed to gain a unmarried vote, seeing Boscombe elected to the league rather. [ 6 ] From 1923 onwards the league was split into Eastern and Western halves and Torquay United found themselves playing in the western section. In 1925, the club battled through five qualifying rounds to reach the first round proper of the FA Cup for the beginning clock in the club ‘s history. Captain Percy Mackrill led the team through two 1–1 draws before a potent Reading side won the second base replay 2–0 at Plainmoor. [ 6 ] In 1927, Torquay finally won their first league title since the Torquay and District League of 1912, [ 5 ] winning the western division of the Southern League. United had the same number of points as Bristol City Reserves, but their 3–1 winnings on the final day of the season helped them to win the league on goal difference. The club then went on to lose the Southern League Championship final to the easterly Champions Brighton & Hove Albion Reserves 4–0 but it was the start of an upturn in the club ‘s fortunes. Capitalising on this momentum, the club once again applied for league membership and were successful this time, joining the Football League Third Division at the expense of Aberdare Athletic, who dropped out after failing to be re-elected to the league. last the township of Torquay had a professional league team and had joined Plymouth and Exeter in the football league at last. United ‘s first gear couple in the league took place on 27 August 1927, and was competently against Exeter City at Plainmoor. The side for that first game was : Millsom, Cook, Smith, Wellock, Wragge, Conner, Mackey, Turner, Jones, McGovern, Thomson. A crowd of 11,625 watched a 1–1 trace with Torquay ‘s finish coming from Bert Turner. The team ‘s first gear season in the league, however, was not a success – they followed up the draw with Exeter with a 9–1 thrashing away at Millwall. Of the 48 games played that first gear season, Torquay won equitable 8, drawing 14 and losing 20. This think of that they finished their beginning season in the football league bottom of the postpone on 30 points and with a goals against score of 103. [ 6 ] Back then there was no automatic rifle promotion and they were successfully re-elected to the league for the next season .
Chart of annual table positions of Torquay United in the Football League Throughout the 1930s Torquay struggled against fiscal problems, made all the worse by having to replace the stadium roof when it was blown off in 1930. They besides failed to finish higher than 10th in twelve seasons. In the final few seasons before league football was suspended during the second base World War, Torquay struggled in Division Three South, finishing 20th, 20th and 19th out of 22 teams. celebrated Torquay players from the pre-war earned run average include Paignton -born George Stabb, who scored 24 goals during the 1932–33 season, loyalist Albert Hutchinson ( 84 goals in 338 games from 1930–38 ) and Dartmouth -born winger Ralph Birkett, who late went on to play with distinction for Arsenal and Middlesbrough and win one full England cap. Don Welsh was another player who, after playing for Torquay in the 1930s, went on to play for Charlton Athletic for 12 years, earning 3 England caps. [ 6 ] In 1939, Torquay qualified for the final of the Third Division South Cup, a competition in which the club had previously lost 1–0 to Exeter City in the 1934 final. however, the 1939 final ( which would have been against either Queens Park Rangers or Port Vale ) was never played due to the outbreak of the Second World War. When league football was resumed in 1946, United continued to struggle and finished that season 19th. however, thanks partially to the goals of their newfangled striker Sammy Collins, the club broke the acme ten-spot barrier in 1949 for the identical first clock, finishing 9th and then 5th in 1950 off the back of Collin ‘s goalscoring delicacy .
The aura days : Webber and O’Farrell [edit ]
In 1954 United changed their club color again, the black and ashen stripes being changed to gold and blue to reflect the repair ‘s ‘sun, sandpaper and sea image ‘, colours which the club has maintained to this day. [ 7 ] [ 8 ] With the change of colours came a switch in fortunes starting with the club ‘s greatest ever FA Cup moment that identical temper. After defeating Cambridge United 4–0 at home and Blyth Spartans 1–3 aside, Torquay were drawn against Leeds United, aside, in the third base round of the Cup. Torquay were not expected to go to Elland Road and get any kind of favorable result, yet they managed to hold the Yorkshire club to a 2–2 drawing card ; the view was therefore set for over 11,000 fans to crowd into Plainmoor on the afternoon of Wednesday, 12 January. fabulously, with goals from Collins, Harold Dobbie, Ronnie Shaw and captain Don Mills, playing against his old club, Torquay ran out 4–0 winners, to set up a fourth round off brush with Huddersfield Town. The Torquay United versus Huddersfield Town fourth beat FA Cup game at Plainmoor will always live on in the memory of those who attended the match on 29 January 1955. Torquay lost 1–0 to the higher-placed Division One club, but the official attendance of 21,908 remains a clubhouse record. Following their FA Cup heroics, in the 1956–57 season Torquay just missed out on promotion to Division Two on goal modal. The season had begun well – and by April, the possibility of a inaugural promotion to Division Two was the talk of the town. After dwelling wins against Northampton Town, Southampton, Newport County and Queens Park Rangers, United found themselves sitting at the top of the table, with future World Cup winning coach Alf Ramsey ‘s Ipswich Town barely one point behind. A travel to Crystal Palace for the team and over 1,500 Torquay fans travelling on the last day of the season beckoned. Torquay only needed to win the game to be certain of going up, but they managed alone a 1–1 draw at Selhurst Park and Ipswich, who won their final match aside to Southampton, took the title on goal-average. United failed to repeat this mannequin the follow season and after finishing 22nd in the league and were placed in the new Division Four, created by the de-regionalisation of the two third flush divisions. With Eric Webber hush in charge, United ended their first season in the League ‘s raw basement class in twelfth place ; but the adjacent season, the clubhouse returned to form, and on 27 April 1960, 8,749 fans saw Torquay United beat Gillingham 2–0 at Plainmoor to return to the Third Division with two games of the season remaining. however, after entirely two seasons in the Third Division they were again relegated on the last day of the campaign, with a 4–2 away kill at Barnsley, in May 1962. Torquay came very close to regaining their Division Three status when they finished sixth in both the 1962–63 and 1963–64 campaigns. In 1963, Webber signed striker Robin Stubbs for a golf club record tip of £6,000 from Birmingham City ; he went on to be the club ‘s top goalscorer at the end of the 1963–64 scoring 24 goals in 34 games in his debut season. Torquay ‘s FA Cup run of 1964–65 was the highlight of a disappointing mid-table season as United again failed to return to the Third Division. After travelling to Canterbury City in the first circle and beating them 6–0, United disposed of Colchester United in the second gear round of golf 2–0 at Plainmoor. In the third base turn, Torquay were drawn at base to English football giants ; Tottenham Hotspur. In front of Plainmoor ‘s second always largest attendance – the official attendance was slightly above 20,000 – the team performed well : Billy Atkinson put United 1–0 up from the punishment spot after Robin Stubbs had been felled ; Spurs responded turning on the stylus to give themselves a 3–1 lead with two goals from Alan Gilzean and one from Maurice Norman ; and then, in the last few minutes, it was the turning of record sign Robin Stubbs to net two goals and make it 3–3. The first base attack at a replay in London was cancelled, with the majority of United ‘s travel fans having already arrived in the capital. A workweek late though, in front of 55,000-strong push at White Hart Lane, the peer went ahead. Jimmy Greaves scored a hat magic trick as Tottenham showed their classify to win 5–1, Stubbs hitting Torquay ‘s alone consolation goal. After finishing in 12th at the end of the season, Eric Webber was ultimately sacked after 15 years as director by United ‘s new president Tony Boyce, who felt the club needed review ; both Boyce and Webber ‘s successor were soon to write their own part of United ‘s history. Webber ‘s refilling was Frank O’Farrell who arrived bracing from winning the Southern League championship with Weymouth. In his first season in charge, O’Farrell oversaw Torquay ‘s moment promotion when they finished third in Division Four, while England won the World Cup on home land. During the surveil couple of seasons O’Farrell used his connections at West Ham United to bring many ex-Hammers to Plainmoor, John Bond and ex-international Ken Brown being two celebrated Upton Park names to appear in gold and gloomy. At the end of their 1966–67 campaign United finished in seventh, and at the end of their 1967–68 temper, United came very close to promotion to Division Two, once again. With Torquay leading the table during Easter 1968, United got their first ever coverage on Match of the Day, beating promotion rivals Bury 3–0 in battlefront of more than 10,000 fans at Plainmoor ; however a poor quarrel attend United finish fourth, two points behind the promote couple, Oxford United and Bury, with Shrewsbury Town in third position. This period besides coincided with the golf club ‘s fans being voted the ‘Best act Supporters in the League ‘. The O’Farrell era ended in 1968–69, when he left to manage First Division Leicester City and by and by Manchester United .
Lower league disappointment [edit ]
During the follow end-of-season clear-out, asterisk striker Robin Stubbs was sold to Bristol Rovers for £12,000. Another two seasons of apathy in Division Three saw the club stopping point in mid-table positions, then at the end of the 1971–72 campaign, United found themselves in the delegating partition, and back in the basement division. This led to a relatively uneventful decade with the club systematically scratching out mid-table finishes. Although in January 1977 Pat Kruse, a centre-half for Torquay, did create a universe phonograph record by scoring an own goal after just six seconds in a league match against Cambridge United at Plainmoor. O’Farrell made a return to Plainmoor in 1976 when Malcolm Musgrove lost his occupation after a disappointing FA Cup kill against non-league equip Hillingdon Borough. He soon moved upstairs into the position of adviser director, and ex-Plymouth Argyle promotion-winning captain Mike Green was brought in to control first team matters. The end of the 1977–78 season saw the Gulls finish in one-ninth rate, with Willie Brown finishing up as clear goalscorer with 12 goals. Halfway through the campaign, good before Green ‘s arrival, O’Farrell bought local Devon-born striker Colin Lee from Bristol City, who punctually scored on his Torquay debut, and went on to score 10 goals in 23 games. His clock at Plainmoor was brusque, for in October of the watch season United accepted a £60,000 offer from Tottenham Hotspur for his services. Lee would excellently go on to score four goals on his debut for the London club during their 9–0 demolition of Bristol Rovers and would return to United in diverse capacities in later years ranging from caretaker director, to director of football and by and by, headman administrator. green then left the baseball club, to be replaced at the helm, for the one-third time, by Frank O’Farrell. O’Farrell did n’t stay in charge of team matters for long, bringing in ex-Scotland international Bruce Rioch to become player-coach. After a great begin to the 1981–82 season, the Gulls soon started to flag, and ended up finishing in fifteenth place. During the pursue summer Rioch was named coach, and the watch 1982–83 political campaign saw United again off to a flying start. They finished 12th, but reached the fourthly round of golf of the FA Cup for the third gear clock time, going out of the competition at Plainmoor after a thrilling 2–3 kill at the hands of Sheffield Wednesday. money was tight at the club and the club ‘s board was putting coerce on Rioch to sell Colin Anderson the cabaret ‘s star player at the time to balance the books, following Rioch claiming “ a good few for Anderson could well save the clubhouse ”. Anderson ‘s shape nosedived, infuriating Rioch – this culminated in Rioch punching the player in the chew after Anderson nutmegged him during a five-a-side match in train. Faced with the prospect of Anderson going to the PFA over the matter, the cabaret suggested Rioch release, which he promptly did. Twenty years by and by, he said, “ What I did was inexcusable. It was a period of my career which I deeply sorrow, but I learned from the have ”. [ 9 ] During this period, United – as all english clubs were at the clock time – were struggling with falling attendances and a negative percept of football in the country as a whole, and by the end of the season on 2 May 1984 only 967 spectators watched the 1–0 victory over Chester City at Plainmoor. During this time Lew Pope had taken over as Chairman from Tony Boyce, and in February 1984 former Chelsea front-runner Dave Webb took charge of the baseball club. Webb brought in ex-Bournemouth players Derek Dawkins and goalkeeper Kenny Allen to strengthen the police squad, and besides attracted the early internationals Eddie Kelly and Tony Currie to the club, United would go on to finish the temper in a impregnable 9th invest. however, in Webb ‘s beginning full temper at the healm, the 1984–85 season United finished bottom of Division Four and had to apply for re-election to stay in the Football League for the foremost clock time since their inauguration season in the Football League. To worsen the problems the clubhouse was enduring, a ‘suspicious ‘ displace destroyed half of the grandstand on 17 May 1985 barely six days after the Bradford City stadium fire, destroying a third of the previous grandstand. cipher was hurt, but as a result, the ground ‘s capacity fell to below 5,000. For the 1985–86 season David Webb became managing director and appointed Stuart Morgan as coach. however, for the second consecutive year United finished bottom of Division Four, and again had to apply for re-election. The last side to finish bottom of the league two seasons in a row, Workington lost their league seat, but Torquay ‘s bid was successful. The 1986–87 season saw automatic delegating to the GM Vauxhall Conference introduced into Division Four for the first time. With the concluding crippled of the season to go, Torquay were one-third from bottom on 47 points ; below them were Burnley on 46 points and Tranmere Rovers, besides on 47 points but with an inferior goal dispute. Lincoln City had 48 points and seemed in least danger. The final game of the season was against Crewe Alexandra, featuring a young David Platt, at Plainmoor. At half-time Crewe were leading 2–0 and things looked bad for Torquay, two minutes into the second-half Torquay ‘s centre-half, Jim McNichol, scored from a free kick but despite an all-out attack, Torquay seem unable to get the equalizer evening hitting the crossbar. Tranmere secured safety by winning their final game on the Friday nox. Burnley were winning their game, and while Lincoln were being beaten by Swansea, they would still finish above Torquay by a single steer as things stood. seven-spot minutes from time a piece of football folklore was created. A patrol dog by the list of Bryn appeared to think that Jim McNichol was running to attack his animal trainer, and sank his dentition into the centre-half ‘s thigh. It was during the attendant four minutes of injury time that Paul Dobson scored possibly the most authoritative goal in the club ‘s history, and kept them in the Football League, with Lincoln dropping into the GM Vauxhall Conference. This was dubbed by many as “ The Great Escape ” [ 6 ] – something United fans have had to become very familiar with in subsequent years .
A newfangled earned run average and the Bateson years [edit ]
The start of the 1987–88 season marked the dawn of a new era in Torquay United ‘s history. Cyril Knowles became coach marking a turn for the better in the club ‘s fortunes. The season started with a 6–1 victory over Wrexham at Plainmoor, and ended with Torquay fair missing out on automatic promotion, but earning a play-off position, losing in the play-off final to Swansea City after losing 1–2 in Wales, and battling to a 3–3 draw at a rain-soaked Plainmoor, the Swans being promoted on a 5–4 aggregate. besides during this season, Torquay United beat Tottenham Hotspur 1–0 at Plainmoor reviving memories of the great cup tie of 1965, Derek ‘The Dude ‘ Dawkins scoring the significant goal in the first leg of a League Cup game. The team besides reached the southern semi-final of the Football League Trophy. During the season Knowles besides introduced a 16-year-old leave winger called Lee Sharpe to the team. In May 1988 Lee Sharpe transferred to Manchester United for £180,000 in one of the biggest transfers of Torquay United ‘s history at that clock, he would late go on to represent England on the international stage a good. closely a year later in May 1989, United made their first appearance at Wembley in the final examination of the Sherpa Van Trophy ( the successor to the Freight Rover Trophy ). Torquay had disposed of Swansea City and Cardiff City in the group stages before beating Gillingham, Bristol Rovers, Hereford United and ultimately Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Southern final to reach the final examination. A herd of 46,513 examine Dean Edwards put Torquay 1–0 up against Bolton Wanderers but Bolton won 4–1. Mike Bateson took over as Torquay president in May 1990, taking over from Lew Pope. The beginning of the 1990–91 season saw Torquay off to a fantastic begin – they were unbeaten for 14 games and were acquit leaders in November but they faded dramatically, Bateson sacked Smith in April and appointed former United captain and then youth coach John Impey as coach. Impey proceeded to breathe new life into the team, guiding them to 7th space and the play-offs for a second meter. Torquay won forwarding again on 31 May 1991, winning a play-off final on the club ‘s second visit to Wembley against higher-placed Blackpool. Goals from Wes Saunders and Dean Edwards earned Torquay a 2–2 reap in convention clock time. No far goals in extra time resulted in a penalty shoot-out. successful penalties by Micky Holmes, Wes Saunders, Paul Holmes, Chris Myers and goalkeeper Gareth Howells, combined with Dave Bamber ‘s miss for the opposition, made Torquay winners 5–4 on penalties. The Gulls were promoted to Division Three due to this victory. however, despite the high-profile sign of Justin Fashanu, football ‘s first base openly gay football player, the date of Ivan Golac as director and well publicized visits of Julie Goodyear to the dress room, United were relegated again after merely one season. Golac ‘s time at United was brief and Paul Compton was appointed to replace him in 1992. The introduction of the FA Premier League at the conclusion of the season meant they were relegated from Division Three to Division Three. Paul Compton invited Neil Warnock to help him as adviser in January 1993, but concisely after this he resigned leaving Warnock in charge. The early Scarborough and Notts County coach guided the club through another close plane with delegating and then left. His major summation to United ‘s play staff, player-coach Don O’Riordan, took the senior problem. O’Riordan continued to play an crucial midfield role and he managed, on a close budget, to guide United to the play-offs again during the 1993–94 season, finishing sixth and once again qualifying for the play-offs. however, the team missed out on a third gear tripper to Wembley after an crabbed play-off semi-final against Preston North End, 2–0 up after the First Leg, Torquay United lost 4–1 at Deepdale in the concluding match played on their artificial flip.
At the end of the 1995–96 temper Torquay finished bottom of Division Three after a black campaign and were threatened with delegating to the Football Conference. however, they were saved from relegation when Stevenage Borough ‘s grind was deemed disqualify for League football. [ 10 ] Eddie May, who had replaced O’Riordan early in the campaign, was dismissed at the end of the season and replaced by Kevin Hodges. In the 1997–98 season after finishing fifth at the end of the league season, Torquay United were once again in the promotion play-offs. Had the team won a point in their concluding game of the season at Leyton Orient, they would have gone up automatically, but they lost the game 2–1. An emphatic 7–2 ( on aggregate ) victory over Scarborough in the semi-final, including 4 goals from star striker Rodney Jack, resulted in Torquay United ‘s third base appearance at Wembley. however, United lost 1–0 to Colchester United in the Wembley final ( played on a Friday night due an England game the following day meaning that thousands of fans were unable to get to the bet on ). Kevin Hodges left the baseball club to return to his erstwhile club Plymouth Argyle after the season ended, and Wes Saunders ( who had previously been caretaker coach for much of the 1991–92 temper ) returned as coach. The come season proved to be a massive disappointment, and Torquay only narrowly keep off relegation to the Football Conference. Matters improved in the 1999–00 season, with a ending of 9th, fair three points off the play-offs. however, 2000–01 proved to be a awful season, and Saunders was sacked with the golf club adrift at the bottom of the table. He was replaced by Colin Lee, who improved results and gave the club a luck of survival. On 5 May 2001, the final crippled of the 2000–01 season saw United away to Barnet. Before the depart of the game Barnet were penetrate of the Third Division, one point behind Torquay. The Gulls needed to avoid defeat to keep their League condition, Barnet needed to win. Thousands of fans were locked outside the bantam Underhill grate as United stormed to a 3–0 lead, with goals from Kevin Hill, Jason Rees, and David Graham. Barnet fought back to 3–2, but United held on for the winnings to condemn Barnet to the Football Conference. [ 11 ] Lee left at the end of the season and was replaced by Roy McFarland, who entirely managed to deliver a average 19th-place finish up the follow temper ; McFarland subsequently quit at the end of the season, in protest of Mike Bateson ‘s decision to sack adjunct coach David Preece without consulting McFarland, who was replaced by Leroy Rosenior. 2002–03 would see a major improvement over the former two campaigns and a end of 9th place, with only a belated scat of bad results keeping Torquay out of the play-offs. The end of the 2003–04 season understand United win automatic rifle forwarding for the third time in their history, against all odds in a cliff-hanging stopping point at Southend. however their stay in the one-third tier of the football pyramid was only to last for one temper, as a final day frustration against Colchester United condemned the Gulls to a come back to the 4th division of the leagues after narrowly being edged out by Milton Keynes Dons for safety in Football League One. The fact that it was the MK Dons that had stayed up at Torquay ‘s expense saw messages of sympathy from fans of other clubs, chiefly out of a dislike for the franchise of football. In the 2005–06 FA Cup 3rd round off Torquay managed to pull off a 0–0 draw with Premiership strugglers Birmingham City. however they lost the replay at St Andrew ‘s 2–0. Despite this accomplishment ( and the boom generated by the replay ) the club fell into the delegating places of League Two. former Exeter City director John Cornforth took over as caretaker director from Leroy Rosenior and soon after was appointed as director until the end of the season. The side ‘s shape worsened however, and Ian Atkins replaced Cornforth in April. Torquay United ‘s form immediately turned around going on a four-match unbeaten run, Atkins managed to rescue the side and lift them a comfortable three points from delegating. Torquay made a decent beginning to the following season and were in the play-off spots for the first base few months of the season, but a run of good 1 point from 9 games saw them crash into another relegation conflict. In October 2006, Bateson stepped down adenine chair to be replaced by Chris Roberts, who soon afterwards sacked Atkins, [ 12 ] replacing him with former Czech international Luboš Kubík. [ 13 ] Despite his credentials as a player, there was some concern raised that Kubik had no real history as a bus, and he did short to endear himself to fans by bringing in Richard Hancox as coach. Torquay ‘s desperate form continued, and the club crashed to the bed of the table on Boxing Day ; they would ultimately never leave the foot of the table after that. After the worst run of form in the club ‘s history, Kubik finally quit on 5 February, having won precisely one of his matches in charge, and Colin Lee was soon after appointed as the new director of football [ 14 ] and Keith Curle was appointed as Head Coach on 7 February 2007. Roberts resigned amid growing pressure from supporters and the board of directors, all of whom were unhappy with his demeanor as president, on 21 February 2007. [ 15 ] Local hotel owner Keith Richardson was announced as the new chair the come day. [ 16 ] however, on 7 March 2007, former president Mike Bateson was reappointed as chair, the move coming about ascribable to Chris Roberts ‘ caller, Torquay United Holdings, being unable to meet the next payment to purchase the cabaret from Bateson. [ 17 ] Curle was ineffective to importantly improve matters, and Torquay United lost their 80-year Football League condition on 14 April 2007, following a 1–1 draw at home to Peterborough United. Illustrating just how disastrously wrong the temper had gone, 4 of the club ‘s 7 wins and 18 of their 35 points had been earned while Atkins was in charge, and before Roberts took over the golf club. The english ‘s post-season soon descended into chaos, as Mike Bateson stepped down as chair and was replaced by Mervyn Benney, after which Colin Lee was sacked, and Keith Curle was not invited back to coach Torquay United and soon took a coaching job at Crystal Palace alternatively. Former director Leroy Rosenior was reappointed, alone to be sacked on the same sidereal day. last, a new consortium headed by Alex Rowe and Cris Boyce, fiscally backed by £15M National Lottery winner and United winnow Paul Bristow, bought the cabaret from Bateson. Rowe was installed as the new chair, and erstwhile actor Paul Buckle appointed the golf club ‘s newly director, who set about rebuilding the team for its inaugural season in the Conference Premier. [ 19 ]
Torquay supporters at Wembley Stadium, May 2009 Torquay United started their first gear season in the Conference Premier well, beating Aldershot Town 3–0 and remained unbeaten until a 3–1 loss aside to Burton Albion in September. This frustration appeared to spur them on and they won 5 directly games, leading the board by the end of October. Their shape in the league dipped through November and December but a 4–1 victory over rivals Yeovil Town in the FA Cup, live on the BBC, gave the club a massive boost. They could n’t take advantage of this and dropped numerous points over the Christmas time period including a 4–3 defeat to arch rivals Exeter City. Torquay got their retaliation, beating Exeter City 1–0 a week late. however, by the end of January, Torquay were second, three points behind Aldershot Town. An unbeaten February followed but Torquay were immediately 5 points off Aldershot Town. away from the league, Torquay were progressing well in the FA Trophy and had reached the semi-finals by the end of the month. March started dreadfully with Torquay losing their first three league games of the month including a 2–1 frustration at home to leaders Aldershot Town, this caused Torquay to fall 14 points off the top and dangle to fourth. On Saturday, 15 March 2008, Torquay reached Wembley for the first time in ten years with a 2–1 sum acquire over York City in the semifinal finals of the FA Trophy. After finishing 3rd in the Conference Premier, Torquay had to play their fiercest rivals Exeter City to determine who would reach the play-off concluding to play either Cambridge United or Burton Albion. Torquay had to play Exeter City away inaugural with the return leg at Plainmoor. Torquay started the first leg ill and were fortunate when Tim Sills scored just before half-time but Exeter City levelled when Wayne Carlisle equalised. just when the game looked like a draw Chris Zebroski pounced on a inadequate clearance by Paul Jones to make the final score 2–1 to United. Torquay knew going into the irregular leg that if they scored one goal Exeter City would need two goals to force extra time, and when Kevin Hill scored in the second half in his record-equalling appearance, the catch seemed all over. however, Exeter City scored four goals in the space of 18 minutes, dumping Torquay out of the play-offs and ensuring they would have to spend another season in non-league football. On 10 May 2008, Torquay lost 1–0 in the FA Trophy final to Ebbsfleet United at Wembley, with former Gulls striker Chris McPhee scoring the achiever just before half-time. [ 20 ]
Celebratory receptive top busbar tour following forwarding back to the Football League Torquay started their second season in the Conference Premier vitamin a ill as the first one had finished, picking up only 5 points from their opening 7 games. however, the following three months were to be the best in years, as Torquay remained unbeaten from 7 September 2008 to 2 December 2008, setting a 17-game unbeaten commemorate. They reached the FA Cup 3rd orotund with a 2–0 succeed over Oxford United at the end of November. The depart of 2009 was shaky but on 3 January 2009 Torquay beat Blackpool 1–0 at home in the FA Cup 3rd orotund to reach the 4th round of the competition for the first gear time in 19 years where they faced Coventry City. They struggled for goals throughout January and, against Coventry City with a deal out crowd of 6,018, they lost a game which they should have won, losing dramatically to an 87th-minute finish by Elliot Ward. At the end of the calendar month they lost to Southport 3–0 in the FA Trophy 3rd round. Torquay United were promoted back to the Football League on 17 May 2009 after a 2–0 victory over Cambridge United in the Conference Premier play-off final at Wembley. With goals from club master Chris Hargreaves and leading scorer Tim Sills Torquay triumphed 2–0 over Cambridge in an entertain match watched by over 35,000 fans. Lee Phillips played for Cambridge that day, and set a record ( for a non-league player ) of losing at Wembley three times in three years with three clubs .
In their first season bet on in League Two, Torquay finished the season in 17th place with 57 points ; following victories over Cheltenham Town and Stockport County, the club progressed to the third gear round of the 2009–10 FA Cup, where they lost 1–0 to Brighton & Hove Albion. [ 21 ] The following season, Torquay United reached the one-fourth turn, equalling the club criminal record. On 29 January 2011, they had the possibility of progressing to the one-fifth cycle of the FA Cup, but lost 0–1 to Conference Premier leaders Crawley Town. There was added misery for Torquay United fans the future day when the draw for the FA Cup fifth round saw Crawley Town being scheduled to play away to Manchester United. Had Torquay been drawn against Manchester United, they would have benefited from the money that such a marry generates. That same temper, Torquay came 7th, guaranteeing a play-off station on the concluding day of the season on finish dispute, despite losing 1–3 to Rotherham United. They met Shrewsbury Town in the play-off semi-final, progressing to the final examination thanks to a 2–0 aggregate win, with both goals coming in the home leg. On Saturday, 28 May 2011, they lost 1–0 in the final to Stevenage and remained in League Two for the 2011–12 season. Paul Buckle resigned the sidereal day after the get the better of, and moved to Bristol Rovers, taking assistant coach Shaun North and several Torquay players with him to the Memorial Stadium. United enjoyed an even more successful season in 2011–12 under new coach Martin Ling, achieving a record high of second station in League Two. however towards the conclusion of the temper their form dim and, after finishing in sixth identify, they had to settle for a play-off tie against Cheltenham Town. They lost the away leg 2–0 then lost the base leg 2–1 ( agg. 4–1 ), ensuring another temper in the one-fourth grade. Despite Ling announcing that the team were looking for another promotion temper, they were stuck in mid-table during the first half of the 2012–13 political campaign, before Ling was taken ill in mid-january. A black run of losses under assistant coach Shaun Taylor followed, with the baseball club dropping to precisely above the relegation partition. That led to Alan Knill being appointed as interim director for the remainder of the season. Results picked up after that, and a run of three games unbeaten at the end of the season ultimately secured their Football League status with a 19th-place finish. Ling was dismissed at the end of the season, the control panel noting that results had been impossible even before his illness, and Knill ‘s function was made permanent. The 2013–14 season was, once again, a torrid one and delegating beckoned. On 27 April 2014, after only winning 12 games throughout the season, and with a top goal scorekeeper only able to reach 5 goals, Torquay were once again relegated to the Conference Premier. That was despite beat Mansfield Town 3–1 on the penult weekend, after both Bristol Rovers and Northampton Town won their games. [ 22 ]
Great escapes and far relegation [edit ]
Torquay started the 2014–15 season ill, losing their first game 3–1 to Gateshead. [ 23 ] however, the Gulls subsequently went on a ten match unbeaten run. After the unbeaten carry, Torquay ‘s mannequin was inert, leading to a thirteenth place position in their first season back in non-league. [ 24 ] early in 2015, president Thea Bristow announced that the club was up for sale. After Bristow resigned in March 2015, she agreed to transfer her estimate 80 %, one million cypriot pound, stake in the club for £1, submit to sale of to new locally based owners. In June 2015, ownership of the club was taken up by a new consortium made up of 10 local business people. The new dining table, operating on a substantially smaller budget, took critical action, first putting Chris Hargreaves ( coach ), Lee Hodges ( assistant director ) and Kenny Veysey ( goalkeeping bus ) on gardening farewell, disbanding the youth department, and appointing Paul Cox as coach. [ 25 ] The date of Cox, however, was ephemeral, with him leaving Torquay barely three months late. He later claimed that the club had been unable to pay him. [ 26 ] shortly after this, on 19 September 2015, United suffered their biggest loss in 20 years, when they lost 7–3 at home to Bromley. On 28 September 2015, it was announced by the club that Kevin Nicholson, former Torquay United actor and club caption, would be the new player-manager. [ 27 ] Following a dramatic upturn in results, during which the team overturned a 12-point deficit, Torquay confirmed their place in the National League for 2016–17 with a 2–0 victory over Bromley on 16 April. [ 28 ] The 2016–17 season started amid a lot uncertainty, with the cabaret struggling financially whilst looking for new ownership and economic security. [ 29 ] Uncertainty off the field and fiscal constraints once again meant that the club languished near the buttocks of the National League, and in March they found themselves slipping into the relegation zone. [ 30 ] Off the battlefield, a consortium, led by Dave Phillips, was looking to complete a cope with Swindon-based bet on and leisure company, Gaming international. A conduct was ultimately agreed in December 2016, and ratified by the National League in March 2017. [ 31 ] Mimicking the former season, a strong run of mannequin towards the end of the campaign meant that Torquay narrowly avoided relegation on the concluding day of the season. Nine points in the last three games, culminating in a 2–0 win at base to already demote North Ferriby United, intend that another temper in the National League was guaranteed. [ 32 ] Torquay began the 2017–18 season ailing and consequently, after two seasons in charge of the club, player-manager Nicholson departed on 17 August 2017. [ 33 ] After a calendar month under the interim management of assistant director Robbie Herrera it was announced that fresh head coach Gary Owers and adjunct head coach Martin Kuhl would take over management of the club. [ 34 ] Despite the change in management at United there was little change in fortunes, with the club outgo most of the season in the league ‘s bottom four. A flimsy improvement in human body throughout March gave United some hope of a third “ capital escape ” in a rowing. however, on 21 April 2018, delegating to the National League South was confirmed following a 1–1 away pull at Hartlepool United, [ 35 ] mean United would play in the sixth tier of the English Football League system in 2018–19. United kept religion with Owers over the summer and started the new campaign in the National League South under his management. however Torquay ‘s lackluster start to the campaign, with only 12 points and 5 goals in 9 games meant that Owers stepped down from his role one day shy of a year in load. [ 36 ] A day late on 13 September 2018, Gary Johnson was appointed coach. [ 37 ]
The Gary Johnson era and promotion [edit ]
The club saw a revival in fortunes under Johnson, remaining unbeaten for four months and finally rising to top the table by mid-january. [ 38 ] They lost their first plot since Johnson ‘s appointee 3–2 to Bath City on 19 January 2019. [ 39 ] however a test of 10 wins from 13 matches after the Bath loss, in which United picked up 32 point from 39 available saw them crowned champions of the National League South on 13 April 2019. [ 40 ] A 2–0 win over Eastbourne Borough, with forwarding rivals Woking losing 2–0 at Chelmsford was adequate to see United clinch their beginning promotion since 2009, and their first base league championship championship since 1927. In 2019–20, Torquay finished 14th in their first season back in the fifth tier after the season was cancelled in March 2020 due to disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. [ 41 ] [ 42 ] In 2020–21, the Gulls were top of the National League between October and March before a poor people hunt of form witness Torquay miss out on automatic pistol forwarding by finishing 2nd. [ 43 ] In the play-off semi-final, Torquay managed to beat Notts County 4–2 after extra prison term to set up a play-off final examination against Hartlepool United at Ashton Gate, Bristol. [ 44 ] Hartlepool took the lead in the first half before Torquay ‘s goalkeeper Lucas Covolan equalised in the 95th minute. The game finished 1–1 after extra time, however, Torquay lost out 5–4 on penalties. The game picked up a fortune of attention on social media platforms by many football fans due to some dubious umpirage decisions. [ 45 ]
Crest and colours [edit ]
crown [edit ]
Torquay United ‘s first crest, based on the town ‘s coating of arms
The gull ‘s wings crest design of 1986–2017 Torquay ‘s initial cap was based heavy on the township ‘s coat of arms, featuring a three-masted ship, to represent the region ‘s longstanding association with transport, it besides displayed a castle gateway and the golden wings were to represent wings of the local seagulls. The crown remained in use until the mid eighties, with one change in the 1970s to incorporate the ‘gulls wings ‘ emblem which is familiar nowadays. That mean, however, that the three-masted ship was removed from the design. During an unsuccessful spell on the gear during the 1980s, during which time the club finished buttocks of the Football League system doubly, the emblem was switched to a round design incorporating two palm trees. In 1986, the club chose to go back to the gull emblem, encircled by the club identify. [ 46 ] In the years that followed multiple versions of this cap were produced, therefore in 2017 the badge was refreshed to ‘unify ‘ these multiple versions and produce a cleaner, more advanced design. [ 47 ]
Colours [edit ]
Torquay United went through versatile team tinge before settling on the familiar yellow and blue of today. In the golf club ‘s formative days they played in a light and blue blue kit, before switching to a black and egg white striped kit evocative of a contemporary Newcastle United kit. This identity change led to the club being dubbed ‘the magpies ‘. The magpies played in this discolor schema until the club opted for a fresh identity In 1954. United based their new image around the town ‘s traditional seaside character and they chose a more distinctive yellow, or gold and blasphemous kit. The new colours were chosen to represented the area ‘s golden sands and amobarbital sodium flip and sea. [ 46 ] For the majority of the years since this change the club has worn these colours in varying styles, presently favouring a predominantly yellow shirt with amobarbital sodium trim. [ 48 ] The switch from black and white besides heralded the parentage of a new dub ‘The Gulls ‘. [ 46 ]
stadium [edit ]
early years and Plainmoor [edit ]
United played their very first gear game, a friendly, against an Upton Cricket Club XI on one of farmer John Wright ‘s fields, which was situated at the top of Penny ‘s Hill, on Teignmouth Road. After a season of friendlies the club joined the East Devon League and moved to the Recreation Ground, which was to be their base for the take after four years. In 1904 Torquay Athletic Rugby Football Club secured the lease of the Recreation Ground ( it remains their home today ) and United moved back to the Teignmouth Road site, but again was forced to move when the field was sold to developers to build Parkhurst Road. At the time Torquay Cricket Club were located nearby in Cricketfield Road, and then this locate was United ‘s following home. The club remained in Cricketfield Road for four years. In 1910 United merged with Ellacombe to become Torquay Town. Ellacombe ‘s Plainmoor ground became the home plate of the newfangled clubhouse, and the shared home of local rivals Babbacombe. Torquay Town and Babbacome finally merged and became Torquay United ( again ) in 1921. The club has remained at Plainmoor always since. On 17 May 1985, a fire swept through the then fifty-year-old main digest ‘The Grandstand ‘, barely six days after a fire at Valley Parade Stadium in Bradford, in which over fifty people lost their lives. [ 49 ] This incident occurred in the early on hours of the dawn, and cipher was injured. After initially suspecting that this could have been a copycat arson of the Bradford City stadium arouse, eventual cause was attributed to an electrical fault. [ 6 ]
view of The Popular Side from Bristow ‘s workbench Throughout the late eighties and early nineties the infrastructure at the ground was given a major overhaul, with the mini stand at the base end of the grate being redeveloped. In its target is nowadays the family stand – a cover, all seater stand with board rooms, a cabaret shop, restaurant and clubhouse bar. After this was completed attention turned to renovation of the ‘popular side ‘, which was fully covered and updated to contemporary standards. In 2000–01 the away end was besides redeveloped with a newly cover standing area. The honest-to-god wooden grandstand, initially costing £150 and erected at Plainmoor for United ‘s inaugural season in the Football League stood until 2011. Prior to its time at Plainmoor the stand had previously stood at Buckfastleigh Racecourse. It was demolished to create a new bandstand built in 2012 named Bristow ‘s Bench in memory of the late Paul Bristow .
possible move [edit ]
Following his coup d’etat of the cabaret in October 2006, president Chris Roberts went on record stating his hope to move the club to a raw multipurpose stadium provide for football, rugby and athletics. speculation placed the site of the new complex at the Torquay Recreation Ground, presently occupied by Torquay Athletic Rugby Club. Since Roberts ‘ resignation this move has become improbable, with succeeding chair Alex Rowe distancing himself from the plans saying that the club and the fans wish to remain at Plainmoor and will build upon the current background to increase capacity. The club are looking to buy the houses behind the away goal and build an extension to the away end and besides to acquire the nearby school ( Westlands ) and build a bigger grandstand to increase the capacity to around 9,000. [ 50 ] Plans for an cover grandstand were submitted to the council for planning license, in co-operation with Westlands school in 2010. [ 51 ] This was approved on 9 June 2011 with the increased price believed to be approximately £2 million with the new structure to be named “ Bristow ‘s terrace ” in memory of the late Paul Bristow, who basically underwrote the Gulls ‘ render to the football league. With the demolition of the old Grandstand and the newly stand not being ready for the 2011–12 season Plainmoor capability stood at 4,500 for the 2011–12 season. It was however quick in prison term for the get down of the 2012–13 temper where it witnessed its first sell out herd with the travel to of Devon neighbours Plymouth Argyle in early September. Rumours of a electric potential move away from Plainmoor have resurfaced since the coup d’etat of the cabaret by Gaming International. The clubhouse ‘s new owners have made it known that they would be keen to relocate the stadium facilities and incorporate football into a fresh multi-use complex in Torbay, developing the existing Plainmoor site for housing. however plans have proved controversial with United fans, and further certainty has been called for. This has led to a decision to postpone talks between Torbay Council and GI over the leverage of the freehold. [ 53 ]
Players [edit ]
stream squad [edit ]
- As of 29th October 2021[54]
bill : Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality .
Out on loan [edit ]
note : Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality .
noteworthy former players [edit ]
staff [edit ]
current coaching staff [edit ]
Position
Name
Manager:
Gary Johnson
Assistant Manager:
Aaron Downes
Head of Youth:
Chris Todd
Head of Recruitment:
Peter Johnson
Goalkeeper Coach:
Kenny Griffiths
Sports Therapist & Kitman:
Russell Cleave
Head of Medical:
Kai Hepworth
Video Analyst:
Louie Birkenshaw
Club Doctor:
Dr. Vivek Kulkarni
managerial history [edit ]
Honours [edit ]
league [edit ]
- Plymouth and District League
- Winners: 1911–12
- Torquay and District League
- Winners: 1908–09
Cups [edit ]
Records and statistics [edit ]
Notable purchases
Notable sales
Notes [edit ]
- ^ Prior to league re-structuring
References [edit ]
Read more: Scunthorpe United F.C.