See Also

Torquay United F.C.

Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English England

England is the largest and most populous constituent country [i] of the United Kingdom [i]. ... 

 association football Football

Football is the name given to a number of different, but related, team sport [i]s. ... 

 club based in the seaside resort town of Torquay Torquay

Torquay is a town on the south coast of England [i] in the county of Devon [i] which has extended along ... 

, Devon Devon

Devon is a large county [i] in South West [i] England [i], border ... 

. They currently play in Football League Two, after having been relegated from Football League One at the end of the 2004-5 season. The club plays in a distinctive yellow Yellow

Yellow is any color [i] of light that stimulates both the red [i] and green [i] cone cells [i] of the retina [i] ... 

 and navy strip. Its local rivals are the other two professional Devon Devon

Devon is a large county [i] in South West [i] England [i], border ... 

 clubs, Exeter City Exeter City F.C.

Exeter City F.C. are an English football [i] club, based in Exeter [i], who have played in the Football League [i] ... 

 and Plymouth Argyle Plymouth Argyle F.C.

Plymouth Argyle by season: ... 

, and Somerset's Yeovil Town Yeovil Town F.C.

Yeovil Town F.C. are an English [i] football [i] team based in Yeovil [i], Somerset [i] ... 

. However, local derbies are currently rare because Plymouth, Exeter and Yeovil are all in different divisions from Torquay United.

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Encyclopedia

Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English England

England is the largest and most populous constituent country [i] of the United Kingdom [i]. ... 

 association football Football

Football is the name given to a number of different, but related, team sport [i]s. ... 

 club based in the seaside resort town of Torquay Torquay

Torquay is a town on the south coast of England [i] in the county of Devon [i] which has extended along ... 

, Devon Devon

Devon is a large county [i] in South West [i] England [i], border... 

. They currently play in Football League Two, after having been relegated from Football League One at the end of the 2004-5 season. The club plays in a distinctive yellow Yellow

Yellow is any color [i] of light that stimulates both the red [i] and green [i] cone cells [i] of the retina [i] ... 

 and navy strip. Its local rivals are the other two professional Devon Devon

Devon is a large county [i] in South West [i] England [i], border... 

 clubs, Exeter City Exeter City F.C.

Exeter City F.C. are an English football [i] club, based in Exeter [i], who have played in the Football League [i] ... 

 and Plymouth Argyle Plymouth Argyle F.C.

Plymouth Argyle by season:
... 

, and Somerset's Yeovil Town Yeovil Town F.C.

Yeovil Town F.C. are an English [i] football [i] team based in Yeovil [i], Somerset [i] ... 

. However, local derbies are currently rare because Plymouth, Exeter and Yeovil are all in different divisions from Torquay United.

Torquay United pride themselves on being one of the few clubs in the lower English football leagues to remain debt free despite the debacle of the ITV Digital ITV Digital

ITV Digital was a British terrestrial digital television [i] broadcaster [i]. ... 

 collapse. Some consider that this financial security is created through careful financial management while others believe it to be via a lack of ambition that has seen countless cheap and poor players play for the club. 'Penny-wise and pound-foolish' is an oft repeated observation of things at Plainmoor.

A Football League One team for the 2004-2005 season, they were relegated that very season to Football League Two. In the 2005-2006 season they narrowly avoided dropping again into the Nationwide Conference Football Conference

The Football Conference is a football [i] league at the top of the National League System [i] o... 

 after winning four of their last five games including beating eventual league champions Carlisle Carlisle United F.C.

Carlisle United F.C. are an English [i] football [i] team based in Carlisle [i], Cumbria [i] ... 

.

The club is run by Mike Bateson who many feel should move on. His policies of promoting members of his own family to key positions in the club despite lack of appropriate qualifications, has alienated a lot of fans, as has his views of supporters in general. The clubs official website messageboard was closed down due to supporters posting criticisms of the way the club was run. Too often the club has sailed too close to the wind when its lack of regard for footballing matters nearly resulted in relegation once again.

History


Founding to World War Two


The history of Torquay United is the history of three separate clubs. Torquay United were formed in 1899 by a group of school-leavers under the guidance of Sergeant-Major Edward Tomney. 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.


Having won their first ever honour in 1909, the Torquay and District League title, the club merged with local rivals Ellacombe in 1910 and adopted the name Torquay Town.

In 1910, Torquay Town moved into a new base at Plainmoor Plainmoor

Plainmoor is a suburb of Torquay [i], Devon [i], but is best known as the name of the stadium in which Torquay United Football Club [i] ... 

 a ground they shared with Babbacombe. Both sides were playing in the same league, the Plymouth and District League, which Torquay Town won in 1911-12.

The two Torquay clubs didn't get on at all until matters finally came to a head in 1921. Torquay Town FC was desperate to join Exeter City Exeter City F.C.

Exeter City F.C. are an English football [i] club, based in Exeter [i], who have played in the Football League [i] ... 

 and Plymouth Argyle Plymouth Argyle F.C.

Plymouth Argyle by season:
... 

 as professional clubs after many discussions Babbacombe at last agreed to a merger in 1921, enabling the new club to become professional and so Torquay United was born.

Their first year as a pro outfit in 1921-22 was in the Western League, where United finished 5th. They then entered the Southern League, where they finished a creditable 6th in 1922-23.

One of the best years in United's history was 1926-27 when they won the Southern League Southern Football League

The Southern League is an English [i] football [i] league for semi-professional and ama ... 

 and gained entry to the Football League. United had the same number of points as Bristol City Bristol City F.C.

Bristol City Football Club is one of two football [i] clubs in Bristol, England [i], ... 

 Reserves, but their 3-1 win on the final day of the season helped them to win the league on goal difference. They gained entry into the Football League at the expense of Aberdare Athletic F.C., who dropped out after failing to be re-elected to the league.

Back in those days, United wore black and white stripe shirts and were known as The Magpies just like Newcastle United Newcastle United F.C.

Newcastle United Football Club is an English [i] professional football [i] team [i] ba ... 

. United played in the Third Division South, and their first match on 27th August 1927 was against Exeter City Exeter City F.C.

Exeter City F.C. are an English football [i] club, based in Exeter [i], who have played in the Football League [i] ... 

 at Plainmoor Plainmoor

Plainmoor is a suburb of Torquay [i], Devon [i], but is best known as the name of the stadium in which Torquay United Football Club [i] ... 

. The side for that first game was Millsom; Cook, Smith; Wellock, Wragge, Conner, Mackie, Turner, Jones, McGovern, Thomson. A crowd of 11,625 watched a 1-1 draw, Torquay's goal coming from Bert Turner, but at the end of the season they finished bottom of the league in their first season and had to win re-election.

Throughout the 1930s Torquay struggled against financial problems, such as having to replace the stadium roof when it was blown off in 1930. They also failed to finish higher than 10th in twelve seasons. In the last few seasons before league football was suspended during the Second World War, Torquay struggled in Division Three South, finishing 20th, 20th and 19th out of 22 teams.

After War Period


When league football was resumed in 1946, Torquay United continued to struggle and finished 19th. However, thanks partly to the goals of their new striker record goalscorer Sammy Collins , the club broke the top ten barrier in 1949 by finishing 9th. The following season they finished 5th.

In 1955 Torquay United changed their strip colours. Their old black and white strip was changed to the current colours of gold and blue to reflect the resort's sun, sand and sea image.

With the change of strip came a change in fortunes. In the 1956/57 season Torquay missed out on promotion due to goal difference and ended up second in Third Division South. Sadly the change in fortune didn't last and after the next season Torquay were placed in the newly formed Division Four

After a season in Division Four Torquay United claimed promotion for their very first time, finishing third. However their winning form didn't last and after only two seasons in the Third Division they were relegated on the last day of the campaign, with a 4-2 away defeat at Barnsley Barnsley F.C.

Barnsley Football Club is an English [i] football [i] league team, based in the town of ... 

. Torquay didn't flounder in Division Four and came 6th in each of their first two seasons.

In 1963, manager Eric Webber signed striker Robin Stubbs for a club record fee of £6,000 from Birmingham City. Stubbs was recently voted by Torquay fans as the club's best ever player. It was Stubbs who starred in United's amazing 3-3 draw against Tottenham in the third round of the FA Cup in 1964-5. The game at Plainmoor was watched by over 20,000 - and what a game it was. United took the lead through a Bill Atkinson penalty, before Spurs went into a 3-1 lead. But two late strikes by Stubbs set up a replay in front of 55,000 people at White Hart Lane - Spurs won 5-1.

When Torquay finished 12th in the 1964/5 season Eric Webber, Torquay manager for 15 years was sacked. Webber had taken Torquay to their first promotion and to the FA Cup FA Cup

The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is the main knockout [i] ... 

 4th round whilst assembling arguably the best ever Torquay squad.


Replacing Eric Webber was Frank O'Farrell Frank O'Farrell

Francis O'Farrell is an Irish [i] former football [i] player and manager.
... 

 who, in his first season in charge, oversaw Torquay's second promotion when they finished third in Division Four. With Torquay leading the table at Easter in 1968 Torquay United got their first ever coverage on Match of the Day Match of the Day

Match of the Day is the BBC [i]'s principal football [i] television [i] programme.... 

. This was United's best ever season just missing out on promotion to Division Two, they finished fourth, but in those days only the top three went up.

This period coincided with the club's fans being voted the "Best Behaved Supporters In The League". They always liked to get behind the Gulls and that is why they changed ends at half time.

The O'Farrell era ended in 1968/69, when he left to manage First Division Leicester City Leicester City F.C.

Leicester City Football Club, nicknamed the "Foxes", are an English [i] football [i] te ... 

. He later went on to manage the mighty Manchester United Manchester United F.C.

Manchester United Football Club is a world famous English [i] football [i] club. ... 

.

Torquay once again got relegated to Division Four in the 1971/72 season after three mid table finishes in the Third Division. This led to a relatively uneventful decade with consistently mid-table finishes.

And there they stayed for a very long time. Eventually, after several disappointing seasons, Frank O'Farrell was brought back in 1976 on a caretaker basis.

In January 1977 Pat Kruse, a centre-half for Torquay, created a world record by scoring an own goal after just six seconds in a league match against Cambridge United Cambridge United F.C.

Cambridge United Football Club are a professional football [i] club from Cambridge [i], England [i] ... 

 at Plainmoor. However during the 1977/78 season a Devon born striker, Colin Lee was bought from Bristol City Bristol City F.C.

Bristol City Football Club is one of two football [i] clubs in Bristol, England [i], ... 

.

In the 1978-79 season, local boy Colin Lee was sold to Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham Hotspur F.C.

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club are an English [i] football [i] club who play in the FA Premier League [i] ... 

 for £60,000, a club record at that time.

1980's to 2000


Frank O'Farrell had a third spell at Plainmoor in the early 80s, before former Scotland international Bruce Rioch took over.

During the 1982/83 season Torquay United beat Hartlepool United Hartlepool United F.C.

Hartlepool United F.C. is an English [i] football [i] team currently playing in League Two [i] ... 

 3-2 in Plainmoor in a match remembered because Hartlepool finished the match with just 8 players. Two Hartlepool players were sent-off for throwing lumps of mud at each other in a most strange match.

In February 1984, Rioch left the club following claims of an altercation between him and one of the players, Colin Anderson. The man brought in to replace him was former Chelsea star, Dave Webb.

Some of the darkest years in Torquay United's history began in the 1983/84 season, by the end of the season on 2nd May 1984 only 967 spectators watch the 1-0 victory over Chester City Chester City F.C.

Chester City Football Club is an English [i] football [i] club from Chester [i], curren ... 

 at Plainmoor Plainmoor

Plainmoor is a suburb of Torquay [i], Devon [i], but is best known as the name of the stadium in which Torquay United Football Club [i] ... 

.

At the end of the 1984/85 season Torquay United finished bottom of Division Four and had to apply for re-election to stay in the Football League The Football League

The Football League is a league competition for English [i] football [i] clubs containi ... 

 for the first time since their inaugural year in the league, 1927-28, luckily they were re-elected. To further emphasise the problems the team was going through a "suspicious" fire destroyed half of the grandstand on May 17, [[1985]]. This together with the away end being turned into a used car lot slashed the capacity of Plainmoor to just 4,999.

Webb decided to concentrate all his efforts on being the club's first ever managing director in 1985, so he appointed a new manager Stuart Morgan but little changed. For the second successive year Torquay United finish bottom of Division Four and had to apply for re-election during the 1985/86 season.

During November 1986 riot police were assigned for the first time in Torquay following the visit of Wolverhampton Wanderers Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.

Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. are a Wolverhampton [i]-based football [i] club playing at Molineux [i] ... 

 and disturbances around the stadium and town.

The 1986/87 season introduced automatic relegation into the Nationwide Conference Football Conference

The Football Conference is a football [i] league at the top of the National League System [i] o... 

 for the first time. With the final game of the season to go, Torquay were second from bottom on 47 points, below them was Burnley Burnley F.C.

Burnley Football Club is a professional football [i] club based in Burnley [i], in north-east Lancashire [i]... 

 on 46 points. Lincoln City Lincoln City F.C.

Lincoln City F.C. are an English [i] football [i] team currently playing in Football League Two [i] ... 

 had 48 points and seemed in least danger.

The final game of the season was against Crewe Alexandra 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 equaliser even hitting the crossbar.

Seven minutes from time a piece of football folklore was created. A Police dog by the name of Bryn appeared to think that Jim McNichol was running to attack his handler, and sank his teeth into the centre-half's thigh. It was from the resultant four minutes of injury time that Paul Dobson Paul Dobson

Paul Dobson, of the brothers Dobson, is an accomplished Canadian voice actor, one of the many who work w... 

 scored possibly the most important goal in the clubs history, and kept them in the Football League, with Lincoln City Lincoln City F.C.

Lincoln City F.C. are an English [i] football [i] team currently playing in Football League Two [i] ... 

 dropping into the Nationwide Conference.

The start of the 1987/88 season marked the dawn of a new era in Torquay United's history. Cyril Knowles  became manager, and began one of the most successful periods in the Club's history. The season started with a 6-1 victory over Wrexham Wrexham A.F.C.

Wrexham Association Football Club are a football [i] team based in Wrexham [i] in north-east Wales [i]... 

 at Plainmoor, and ended with Torquay just missing out on automatic promotion but earning a Play-Off place, losing in the Play-Off Final to Swansea City Swansea City A.F.C.

Swansea City AFC is a Welsh [i] football [i] team currently playing in the Football League [i] ... 

 . In between, Torquay United beat Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham Hotspur F.C.

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club are an English [i] football [i] club who play in the FA Premier League [i] ... 

 1-0 at Plainmoor, Derek 'The Dude' Dawkins scoring the important goal in the first leg of a League Cup game. The team also reached the southern semi-final of the Freight Rover Trophy.

In May 1988 Lee Sharpe Lee Sharpe

Lee Stuart Sharpe,, is an English [i] football [i] player currently playing for Garforth Town [i] ... 

  transferred to Manchester United Manchester United F.C.

Manchester United Football Club is a world famous English [i] football [i] club. ... 

 for £180,000 in one of the biggest transfers of Torquay United's history at that time. Sharpe would later play for Leeds United Leeds United AFC

Leeds United Association Football Club is the only professional association football [i] club i ... 

, Sampdoria U.C. Sampdoria

U.C. Sampdoria is a football [i] club based in Genoa [i], Italy [i]. ... 

, Bradford City Bradford City A.F.C.

Bradford City Association Football Club are an English [i] football [i] team based at Valley Parade [i] ... 

 and had a short period at Torquay's local rivals Exeter City Exeter City F.C.

Exeter City F.C. are an English football [i] club, based in Exeter [i], who have played in the Football League [i] ... 

 towards the end of his career.

Nearly a year later in May 1989 Torquay United made their first appearance at Wembley in the final of the Sherpa Van Trophy . Torquay had disposed of Swansea Swansea City A.F.C.

Swansea City AFC is a Welsh [i] football [i] team currently playing in the Football League [i] ... 

 and Cardiff Cardiff City F.C.

Cardiff City Association Football Club is a football [i] team based in Cardiff [i]. ... 

 in the group stages before beating Gillingham Gillingham F.C.

For the team based in Dorset, see Gillingham Town F.C. [i]
... 

, Bristol Rovers Bristol Rovers F.C.

Bristol Rovers are a professional football team based in Bristol [i], England [i]. ... 

, Hereford United Hereford United F.C.

Hereford United Football Club is a football [i] club based in Hereford [i], England.... 

 and finally Wolverhampton Wanderers Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.

Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. are a Wolverhampton [i]-based football [i] club playing at Molineux [i] ... 

 in the Southern final to reach the final. A crowd of 46,513 saw Dean Edwards Dean Edwards

Dean Edwards is a stand-up comedian and actor.... 

 put Torquay 1-0 up against Bolton Wanderers Bolton Wanderers F.C.

[i] professional [[football|football]... 

 but Bolton won 4-1.

Torquay won promotion once more on May 31st 1991, winning a play-off final during the club's secod visit to Wembley Wembley Stadium

Wembley Stadium is a football [i] stadium [i] located in Wembley [i], London [i]. ... 

 against higher placed Blackpool Blackpool F.C.

Blackpool Football Club are an English [i] football [i] club currently in Football League One [i] ... 

. Goals from Wes Saunders and Dean Edwards Dean Edwards

Dean Edwards is a stand-up comedian and actor.... 

 earned Torquay a 2-2 draw in normal time. No further goals in extra time resulted in a penalty shoot-out. Successful penalties by Mick Holmes, Wes Saunders, Paul Holmes, Chris Myers and Gareth Howells  made Torquay winners 5-4 on penalties. The Gulls were promoted to Division Three due to this victory.

Their trip to the then Division Three did not last long despite the signing of Justin Fashanu enlisting the coaching assistance of Ivan Golac, after finishing 23rd and being relegated however the introduction of the FA Premier League FA Premier League

The FA Premier League ', founded in 1992, is a league competition for football [i] clubs lo ... 

 at the end of the season meant they were relegated from division three, to division three.

In the 1993/94 season Torquay finish sixth and once again qualified for the Play-Offs. Unfortunately the team missed out on a third trip to Wembley after an ill-tempered Play-Off semi-final against Preston North End Preston North End F.C.

Preston North End Football Club is a professional English [i] football [i] team. ... 

. 2-0 up after the First Leg, Torquay United lost 4-1 at Deepdale in the final match played on their artificial pitch and tumble out of the play-offs to remain in the Third division for at least another year.

At the end of the 1995/96 season Torquay fished bottom of Division Three after a disastrous campaign and were threatened with relegation to the Nationwide Conference Football Conference

The Football Conference is a football [i] league at the top of the National League System [i] o... 

 and out of the football league for the first time since they joined in 1927. They are saved from relegation when Stevenage Borough's Stevenage Borough F.C.

Stevenage Borough F.C. are an English [i] football [i] team based in Stevenage [i], Hertfordshire [i]... 

 ground was deemed unfit for League football.

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 final game of the season at Leyton Orient Leyton Orient F.C.

Leyton Orient F.C. are an English [i] football [i] team recently promoted to League One [i] ... 

, they would have gone up automatically, but they lost the game 2-1. An emphatic 7-2 victory over Scarborough Scarborough F.C.

Scarborough Football Club are an English [i] football [i] team based in the seaside res ... 

 in the semi-final, inculding 4 goals from star striker Rodney Jack, resulted in Torquay United's third appearance at Wembley. However, United lost 1-0 to Colchester United Colchester United F.C.

Colchester United Football Club is an English [i] football [i] team who, after finishin ... 

 in the Wembley final .

Shortly after the play-off final defeat, Rodney Jack was transferred to Crewe Alexandra Crewe Alexandra F.C.

[i] team based at Gresty Road in [[Crewe]... 

 for £500,000 a club record which stands to this day.

World famous footballer Chris Waddle arrived from Burnley Burnley F.C.

Burnley Football Club is a professional football [i] club based in Burnley [i], in north-east Lancashire [i]... 

 at the beginning of the 1998/99 season, hoping to finish his career at the club, but eventually the stress of travelling from his Yorkshire residence to the south coast regularly became too much and he left in early November 1998.

In March 1999 Eifion Williams was bought from Barry Town for a then club record fee of £70,000, however the club suffered another disappointing season and didn't even qualify for the play-offs.

2000 to Present Day


During an Third Division League game against Blackpool, on the 28 August 2000 there was the recorded sighting of a streaker at Plainmoor, an away supporter anticipating a victory over Torquay United, streaked across the Plainmor pitch. During the 4 minutes of extra time added on as a result of the disturbance, the Gulls scored twice to beat Blackpool 3-2.

During March 2001, Following an unsuccessful season, Colin Lee  is brought in as a consultant for Wes Saunders. Weeks later, Saunders was sacked and Colin Lee became caretaker manager.

On the 5 May 2001, the final game of the 2000/2001 season was Torquay United away at Barnet Barnet F.C.

Barnet Football Club are an English [i] football [i] team from Barnet [i], a town on th ... 

. Before the start of the game Barnet were bottom of the Third Division, and one point ahead of them was Torquay United. The Gulls needed to avoid defeat to keep their League status, Barnet needed to win.

Thousands of fans were locked outside the tiny Underhill ground as amazingly, United stormed to a 3-0 lead, with goals from Kevin Hill Kevin Hill

Kevin Hill is the title of an American [i] law drama [i] television series ... 

, Jason Rees, and David Graham. Barnet Barnet F.C.

Barnet Football Club are an English [i] football [i] team from Barnet [i], a town on th ... 

 fought back to 3-2, but United held on for the win to condemn Barnet to the Nationwide Conference Football Conference

The Football Conference is a football [i] league at the top of the National League System [i] o... 

 while the Gulls lived to fight another day.

Roy McFarland Roy McFarland

Roy McFarland is an football [i] manager [i] and previously a player for Tranmere Rovers [i] ... 

 came and went as manager and new coach Leroy Rosenior was appointed.

The end of the 2003/2004 season saw them winning automatic promotion for the third time in their history, against all odds in a nail-biting finale at Southend Southend United F.C.

... 

. However their stay in the upper echelon of the football pyramid was again only to last for one season, as a final day defeat against Colchester United Colchester United F.C.

Colchester United Football Club is an English [i] football [i] team who, after finishin ... 

 condemned the Gulls to a return to the basement division of the leagues after narrowly being edged out by Milton Keynes Dons Milton Keynes Dons F.C.

Milton Keynes Dons F.C. is a football [i] club in Milton Keynes [i], England [i]. ... 

 for safety in Football League One.

In the 2005/2006 FA Cup 3rd round Torquay managed to pull off a 0 - 0 draw with Premiership strugglers Birmingham City Birmingham City F.C.

Birmingham City Football Club are an English football club based in Birmingham [i], and currently play ... 

. However they lost the replay at St Andrews St Andrews

Named after Saint Andrew [i] the Apostle [i], the Royal Burgh [i] of St Andrews is a town on the east co ... 

 2-0. Despite this achievement Rosenior left the club after a mutual contractual termination, after the club fell into the relegation places of League Two. Former Exeter City manager John Cornforth took over as caretaker manager and soon after was appointed as manager until the end of the season. The decision was greeted with horror by many of the clubs fans even though such an appointment was typical of chairman, Mike Bateson's casual approach to the football side of the club. The side's form worsened however, and Ian Atkins replaced Cornforth in April. Against all odds, Atkins managed to rescue the side and lift them a comfortable three points from relegation.

Stadia



United played their very first 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 home for the following four years. In 1904 Torquay Athletic Rugby Football Club secured the lease of the Recreation Ground 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 Cricket

Cricket is a team sport [i] played between two teams of eleven players each.... 

 Club were located nearby in Cricketfield Road, and so this site was United’s next home.

The club remained in Cricketfield Road for four years. In 1910 United merged with Ellacombe to become Torquay Town. Ellacombe’s Plainmoor Plainmoor

Plainmoor is a suburb of Torquay [i], Devon [i], but is best known as the name of the stadium in which Torquay United Football Club [i] ... 

 ground became the home of the new club, and the shared home of local rivals Babbacombe.

Torquay Town and Babbacome finally merged and became Torquay United in 1921. The club will remain at Plainmoor for the forseeable future.

Current squad


Managerial History


NumberYears in chargeNationalityManager name
11927-1929 Percy Mackrill
21929-1932Frank Womack
31932-1938Frank Brown Frank Brown

Frank Brown, a member of the United States Democratic Party [i], was the 42nd Governor of Maryland [i] i ... 

41938-1940Alf Steward
51945-1946Billy Butler
61946-1947Jack Butler
71947-1950John McNeil John McNeil

John McNeil was a general in the Union Army [i] during the American Civil War [i].... 

81950Bob John
91950-1951Alex Massie
101951-1965Eric Webber
111965-1968Frank O'Farrell Frank O'Farrell

Francis O'Farrell is an Irish [i] former football [i] player and manager.
... 

121969-1971Allan Brown
131971-1973Jack Edwards
141973-1976Malcolm Musgrove
151977-1981Mike Green
161981-1982Frank O'Farrell
171982-1984Bruce Rioch
181984-1985Dave Webb
191985John Sims
201985-1987Stuart Morgan
211987-1989Cyril Knowles
221989-1991Dave Smith
231991-1992John Impey
241992Ivan Golac
251992-1993Paul Compton
261993Neil Warnock Neil Warnock

Neil Warnock is the current football [i] manager [i] of Sheffield United [i] ... 

271993-1995Don O'Riordan
281995-1996Eddie May
291996-1998Kevin Hodges Kevin Hodges

Kevin Hodges is a former English [i] footballer [i]. ... 

301998-2001Wes Saunders
312001Colin Lee
322001-2002Roy McFarland Roy McFarland

Roy McFarland is an football [i] manager [i] and previously a player for Tranmere Rovers [i] ... 

332002-2006Leroy Rosenior
342006John Cornforth
352006-presentIan Atkins

Achievements


  • League Two 
    • Third Place: 1959/60, 1965/66, 2003/04


  • Third Division South 
    • Runners Up: 1956/1957


  • Southern League Southern Football League

    The Southern League is an English [i] football [i] league for semi-professional and ama ... 


    • Winners: 1926/27


  • Plymouth and District League
    • Winners: 1911/12


  • Torquay and District League
    • Winners: 1908/09


  • Sherpa Van Trophy
    • Runners up 1988/89


  • Devon Senior Cup
    • Winners: 1910/11 and 1921/22


  • Devon Bowl
    • Winners: Many Times

Club Records

Victory
  • 9-0 v Swindon Town Swindon Town F.C.

    Swindon Town Football Club are an English [i] football [i] team.

... 

, Third Division South, 8th March 1952

Defeat
  • 2-10 v Fulham Fulham F.C.

    Fulham Football Club are a football [i] team based in Fulham [i], London [i]. ... 

    , Third Division South, 7th September 1931


Attendance
  • 21,908 v Huddersfield Town Huddersfield Town F.C.

    Huddersfield Town Football Club are an English [i] football [i] club based in Huddersfield [i] ... 

    , FA Cup 4th Rd. 29th January 1955


Best Ever League Finish
  • Fourth in the Third Division 1967/68

Best League Points Total
  • 60 pts, Division Four, 1959/1960 season
  • 81 pts, Division Three, 2003/04 season

Player Records

Record League Appearances
  • Dennis Lewis 443 appearances

Record Goal Scorer

  • Sammy Collins 219 goals

Record Goal Scorer in a Season
  • Sammy Collins 40 goals, Division Three ,1955/1956 season

Record Goal Scorer in a Single Match
  • Robin Stubbs, 5 goals against Newport County, Division Four, 19th October 1963

Most Internationally Capped Player
  • Rodney Jack for St. Vincent and the Grenadines


Youngest League Player

  • David Byng, aged 16 years and 36 days old

Transfer Records

Record Purchase

  • Leon Constantine from Southend United Southend United F.C.

    ... 

     for £75,000 December 2004

Record Sale
  • Rodney Jack to Crewe Alexandra Crewe Alexandra F.C.

    [i] team based at Gresty Road in [[Crewe]... 

     for £500,000 May 1998


Other Notable Purchases
  • Eifion Williams from Barry Town Barry Town F.C.

    Barry Town F.C. is a football [i] team based in Barry [i]. ... 

     for £70,000 March 1999
  • Robin Stubbs from Birmingham City Birmingham City F.C.

    Birmingham City Football Club are an English football club based in Birmingham [i], and currently play ... 

     for £6,000 1963



Other Notable Sales
  • David Graham to Wigan Athletic Wigan Athletic F.C.

    Wigan Athletic Football Club are a professional football [i] team based in Wigan [i], Greater Manchester [i] ... 

     for £215,000 August 2004
  • Colin Lee to Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham Hotspur F.C.

    Tottenham Hotspur Football Club are an English [i] football [i] club who play in the FA Premier League [i] ... 

     for £60,000 1978/79 season
  • Lee Sharpe Lee Sharpe

    Lee Stuart Sharpe,, is an English [i] football [i] player currently playing for Garforth Town [i] ... 

     to Manchester United Manchester United F.C.

    Manchester United Football Club is a world famous English [i] football [i] club. ... 

     for £180,000 May 1988
  • Matthew Gregg to Crystal Palace Crystal Palace F.C.

    Crystal Palace Football Club is a professional football team based in South Norwood [i] in south-east London [i] ... 

      for £400,000 October 1998

Notable Players and Fans


Notable Players
  • Robin Stubbs
  • John Bond
  • Colin Lee
  • Justin Fashanu
  • Lee Sharpe Lee Sharpe

    Lee Stuart Sharpe,, is an English [i] football [i] player currently playing for Garforth Town [i] ... 

  • Neville Southall
  • Chris Waddle
  • Garry Nelson
  • David Graham
  • Jo Kuffour


Notable Fans
  • Helen Chamberlain Helen Chamberlain

    Helen Marie Chamberlain is a presenter of the popular British [i] Saturday morning sports... 

  • Peter Cook Peter Cook

    Peter Edward Cook was an English [i] satirist [i], writer [i] and comedian [i] who is wi ... 

     Comedian

Club Information

Club address: Plainmoor Stadium, Plainmoor, Torquay, Devon, TQ1 3PS

Telephone Number: 01803 328 666

Fax Number: 01803 323 976

External links