Unreliable History

The club were formed when the College boys from the academic seats of learning at Torquay and Torbay got together to see a band in Princess Gardens (she was a big girl !).  In front of them, the 1899 equivalent of A Flock of Seagulls strutted their stuff, while the lads agreed to put their resources together to play football on a regular basis.

From 1910 to 1921, they played under the name of Torquay Town, before becoming United in their name and approach.  

It was in 1927 that the club were elected to the League and that took a second ballot, when they beat Aberdare Athletic to a place in the League.  The lure of the club is obviously a strong one as managers have flocked form all over the world to take charge at Plainmoor.  Percy Mackrill was born in East Africa and Jack Butler in Colombo before ending up in the Torquay hot seat.

The club has never won a major title, but the heyday for the side was in the late 1960’s when they got promoted from the old Fourth Division twice. This 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.

A few strange things have happened at the Devon club since Mike Bateson took over as Chairman.  He went through a period of carrying out media interviews with a ventriloquist’s dummy and also banned players shooting at goal in the pre-match kick about.  This was because a fan was hit by a wayward shot that knocked a hot drink out of her hand and there were fears that their poor aim could leave them open to regular insurance claims.  There was no truth that he banned them from the same activity during the match though.

The club’s players have been quick on the score though.  Pat Kruse was playing against Cambridge in January 1977, when he scored in six seconds. Unfortunately, it was at the wrong end !!  However, more to their advantage, Sammy Collins scored a penalty in 10 seconds after kick off against Walsall in August 1956. That was hardly time for an offence to be committed !!

The 80’s were a lean time and the only high point was when Maurice Cox became the first professional player to take part in the Oxford v Cambridge Universities match.

The Devon club had a couple of lucky escapes to avoid relegation.  Firstly, in 1987, a police dog called Bryn bit Torquay player John McNichol and the time while he was receiving treatment was added onto the end of the second half. This was just enough time for the home side to get an equaliser against Crewe Alexandra that kept them up and sent Lincoln City into the Conference on goal difference.  The dog was feted among the local fans and was given a free season ticket for life and when he died, the club had him stuffed and he takes pride of place in the boardroom.  Nine years later Torquay retained their League place because Stevenage Borough were not considered to have a ground suitable for League purposes and were denied promotion.  This enraged the Stevenage chairman so much that he offered to buy Torquay’s place in the League from them !!

Having got through to a play-off final at Wembley in 1991, the match went to a penalty shoot-out against Blackpool, where it was their goalkeeper – Gareth Howells (brother of Spurs midfielder David) – who converted the winning penalty to take them to the old Division 3.

The move to the Plainmoor ground was on condition that it was always open to the general public for recreational purposes.  Literally, this means that you can have access to the pitch at any time of day or night !!

Following a last day escape in season 2000-2001 at Barnet, who went into the Conference instead, new manager Roy McFarland will be hoping to avoid the same fate, but lack of funds makes it difficult for him to recruit quality players and he tried to make the best of the players available to him, but it even proved too much for him.  A succession of managers has tried to take the Gulls out of the Third Division, but their main fame these days is for being the club that Helen Chamberlain supports.  Unfortunately, they did get out of the fourth tier of football in 2006-07, but it was in the wrong direction, as they dropped out of the league and into the Conference, failing in the play-off semi-finals to get back into League Two, just a week before failing to beat Ebbsfleet United at Wembley in the FA Trophy.

It has been a long struggle to escape the National League, although they achieved this in 2018, but only be dropping into the National League South for a season.

Famous Players : – Colin Lee, Neville Southall, Chris Waddle, Ed Blackhead, Dennis Lewis, Colin Gull.

Famous Fans : – Helen Chamberlain (Sky TV presenter – “Soccer AM”); Andy Parsons (comedian – “Mock The Week” [BBC TV])

 

Club Records


Formed 1899

Turned Professional 1921

Became a Limited Company 1921

Previous names Torquay Town = 1910-1921

Previous grounds Teignmouth Road = 1899-1900
Torquay Recreation Ground = 1900-1904
Cricket Field Road = 1904-1906
Torquay Cricket Ground = 1906-1910

Nickname “THE GULLS”

Motto “SALUS ET FELICITAS” = “HEALTH AND HAPPINESS”

Club Colours
[Images courtesy of the wonderful Colours of Football website]
HOME :

AWAY :

THIRD :


Record Football League Win 9-0  v  Swindon Town  (Division 3 South)  08.03.1952

Record Football League Defeat 2-10  v  Fulham  (Division 3 South)     07.09.1931
2-10  v  Luton Town  (Division 3 South)     02.09.1933

Record Cup Win 7-0  v  Lymington Town  (FA Cup Second Qualifying Round)    22.09.2018

Record Fee Paid £75,000 to Peterborough United for Leon CONSTANTINE (10 December 2004)

Record Fee Received £600,000 million from Crewe Alexandra for Rodney JACK (17 July 1998)

Record Appearances (includes non-league appearances) 541  – Kevin HILL  (1997-2008)

Record League Appearances 475  –  Kevin HILL  (1997-2008)

Record League goal-scorer 204  –  Sammy COLLINS  (1948-1958)

Record all-time goal-scorer 219  –  Sammy COLLINS  (1948-1958)

Record goal-scorer in a League season 40  –  Sammy COLLINS  Division 3 South   (1955-1956)

Record goal-scorer in a season 42  –  Sammy COLLINS  (1955-1956)

Most goals scored in a League match 5  –  Robin STUBBS  v  Newport County  (Division 4)    19.10.1993

Record Home Attendance 21,908  v  Huddersfield Town   (FA Cup Fourth Round)     29.01.1955

Record total of goals in a League season 89  –  Division 3 South  (1956-1957)

Record League points total 2 points for a win  :  60  –  (1959-1960)  Division 4  (?? games)
3 points for a win  :  81  –  (2003-2004)  Division 3  (?? games)

Most Capped Player while at club 15  –  Rodney JACK  (St. Vincent)

Youngest Player David BYNG  –  16 years and 36 days  v  Walsall   (Division 3)  14.08.1993

Oldest Player Frank WOMACK  –  41 years and 210 days  v  Exeter City   (Division 3 South)  03.05.1930

 

Stadium details 

Address :  Plainmoor, Torquay, Devem TQ1 3PS

Telephone :  01803 328666
Ticket Office :  01803 328666

Capacity :   6,500
Away Allocation :   1,100
Pitch size :  101m x 68m  (110 yards  x 74 yards)
Official website :   torquayunited.com

Directions

There are good directions to Plainmoor on the Torquay United website and more information on the Football Ground Guide website.

Honours


Division Three South Runners-up  (Third Tier) 1956-1957

National League South Champions  (Sixth Tier) 2018-2019

Division 3 South Cup Winners 1938-1939

Division 3 South Cup Finalists 1933-1934

Football League Trophy Finalists 1988-1989

FA Trophy Finalists 2007-2008

 

Managers


Crad EVANS July 1921 – May 1924

Harry RAYMOND July 1924 – December 1924

F. G. B. MORTIMER December 1924 – May 1925

Percy MACKRILL July 1925 – March 1929

Unknown March 1929 – May 1929

Frank WOMACK July 1929 – May 1932

Frank BROWN May 1932 – May 1938

Alf STEWARD May 1938 – May 1940

Billy BUTLER August 1940 – May 1946

Jack BUTLER June 1946 – May 1947

Johnny McNEIL June 1947 – March 1950

Bob JOHN March 1950 – November 1950

Alex MASSIE November 1950 – October 1951

Eric WEBBER 25 October 1951 – 3 May 1965

Frank O’FARRELL May 1965 – 14 December 1968

Jack EDWARDS (Caretaker) 14 December 1968 – 8 January 1969

Allan BROWN 8 January 1969 – 11 October 1971

Jack EDWARDS 11 October 1971 – January 1973

Malcolm MUSGROVE January 1973 – 22 November 1976

Lew CHATTERLEY (Caretaker) 22 November 1976 – November 1976

Frank O’FARRELL (Caretaker) November 1976 – March 1977

Mike GREEN March 1977 – May 1981

Frank O’FARRELL June 1981 – June 1982

Bruce RIOCH July 1982 – 14 January 1984

Jimmy HARGREAVES (Caretaker) 16 January 1984 – 4 February 1984

David WEBB 4 February 1984 – 21 August 1985

John SIMS 21 August 1985 – 21 September 1985

Stuart MORGAN 23 September 1985 – 21 May 1987

Cyril KNOWLES 22 June 1987 – 30 September 1989

Dave SMITH 7 October 1989 – 2 April 1991

John IMPEY 6 April 1991 – 8 October 1991

Wes SAUNDERS (Caretaker) 9 October 1991 – February 1992

Ivan GOLAC February 1992 – May 1992

Paul COMPTON May 1992 – February 1993

Neil WARNOCK 15 February 1993 – 2 June 1993

Don O’RIORDAN June 1993 – 29 October 1995

Paul COMPTON/Kevin HODGES (Joint Caretakers) 29 October 1995 – November 1995

Mick BUXTON (Caretaker) November 1995 – 17 November 1995

Eddie MAY 17 November 1995 – May 1996

Kevin HODGES May 1996 – June 1998

Wes SAUNDERS June 1998 – 28 March 2001

Colin LEE 28 March 2001 – 2 July 2001

Roy McFARLAND 20 July 2001 – 23 April 2002

Leroy ROSENIOR 9 May 2002 – 25 January 2006

John CORNFORTH 26 January 2006 – 13 April 2006

Ian ATKINS 26 January 2006 – 27 November 2006

Lubos KUBIK 27 November 2006 – 5 February 2007

Keith CURLE 8 February 2007 – 17 May 2007

Leroy ROSENIOR 17 May 2007

Paul BUCKLE 2 June 2007 – 30 May 2011

Martin LING 13 June 2011 – 15 January 2013

Shaun TAYLOR (Caretaker) 28 January 2013 – 19 February 2013

Alan KNILL 20 February 2013 – 2 January 2014

Chris HARGREAVES 6 January 2014 – 15 June 2015

Paul COX 17 June 2015 – 18 September 2015

Kevin NICHOLSON 28 September 2015 – 17 August 2017

Robbie HERRERA (Caretaker) 17 August 2017 – 12 September 2017

Gary OWERS 12 September 2017 – 12 September 2018

Gary JOHNSON 13 September 2018 – 

 

League Record

The Football League structure has historically been as follows …

1888-1892 1892-1920 1920-1921 1921-1958 1958-1992 1992-2004 2004 to date
First tier Football League Division One Division One Division One Division One Premiership Premier League
Second tier Division Two Division Two Division Two Division Two Division One Championship
Third tier Division Three Division Three
(North) and (South)
Division Three Division Two  League One
Fourth tier Division Four Division Three League Two

Elected to Division Three South  (Third Tier) 1928

Division Three South  (Third Tier) 1928-1958

Division Four  (Fourth Tier) 1958-1960

Division Three  (Third Tier) 1960-1962

Division Four  (Fourth Tier) 1962-1966

Division Three  (Third Tier) 1966-1972

Division Four  (Fourth Tier) 1972-1991

Division Three  (Third Tier) 1991-1992

Division Three  (Fourth Tier) 1992-2004

League One  (Third Tier) 2004-2005

League Two  (Fourth Tier) 2005-2007

Conference  (Fifth Tier) 2007-2009

League Two  (Fourth Tier) 2009-2014

Conference  (Fifth Tier) 2014-2018

National League South  (Sixth Tier) 2018-2019

Conference  (Fifth Tier) 2019-