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
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Formed | 1899 |
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Turned Professional | 1921 |
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Became a Limited Company | 1921 |
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Previous names | Torquay Town = 1910-1921 |
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Previous grounds | Teignmouth Road = 1899-1900 Torquay Recreation Ground = 1900-1904 Cricket Field Road = 1904-1906 Torquay Cricket Ground = 1906-1910 |
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Nickname | “THE GULLS” |
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Motto | “SALUS ET FELICITAS” = “HEALTH AND HAPPINESS” |
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Club Colours [Images courtesy of the wonderful Colours of Football website] |
HOME :
AWAY : THIRD : |
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Record Football League Win | 9-0 v Swindon Town (Division 3 South) 08.03.1952 |
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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 |
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Record Cup Win | 7-0 v Lymington Town (FA Cup Second Qualifying Round) 22.09.2018 |
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Record Fee Paid | £75,000 to Peterborough United for Leon CONSTANTINE (10 December 2004) |
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Record Fee Received | £600,000 million from Crewe Alexandra for Rodney JACK (17 July 1998) |
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Record Appearances (includes non-league appearances) | 541 – Kevin HILL (1997-2008) |
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Record League Appearances | 475 – Kevin HILL (1997-2008) |
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Record League goal-scorer | 204 – Sammy COLLINS (1948-1958) |
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Record all-time goal-scorer | 219 – Sammy COLLINS (1948-1958) |
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Record goal-scorer in a League season | 40 – Sammy COLLINS Division 3 South (1955-1956) |
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Record goal-scorer in a season | 42 – Sammy COLLINS (1955-1956) |
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Most goals scored in a League match | 5 – Robin STUBBS v Newport County (Division 4) 19.10.1993 |
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Record Home Attendance | 21,908 v Huddersfield Town (FA Cup Fourth Round) 29.01.1955 |
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Record total of goals in a League season | 89 – Division 3 South (1956-1957) |
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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) |
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Most Capped Player while at club | 15 – Rodney JACK (St. Vincent) |
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Youngest Player | David BYNG – 16 years and 36 days v Walsall (Division 3) 14.08.1993 |
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Oldest Player | Frank WOMACK – 41 years and 210 days v Exeter City (Division 3 South) 03.05.1930 |
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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
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Division Three South Runners-up (Third Tier) | 1956-1957 |
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National League South Champions (Sixth Tier) | 2018-2019 |
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Division 3 South Cup Winners | 1938-1939 |
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Division 3 South Cup Finalists | 1933-1934 |
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Football League Trophy Finalists | 1988-1989 |
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FA Trophy Finalists | 2007-2008 |
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Managers
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Crad EVANS | July 1921 – May 1924 |
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Harry RAYMOND | July 1924 – December 1924 |
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F. G. B. MORTIMER | December 1924 – May 1925 |
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Percy MACKRILL | July 1925 – March 1929 |
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Unknown | March 1929 – May 1929 |
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Frank WOMACK | July 1929 – May 1932 |
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Frank BROWN | May 1932 – May 1938 |
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Alf STEWARD | May 1938 – May 1940 |
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Billy BUTLER | August 1940 – May 1946 |
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Jack BUTLER | June 1946 – May 1947 |
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Johnny McNEIL | June 1947 – March 1950 |
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Bob JOHN | March 1950 – November 1950 |
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Alex MASSIE | November 1950 – October 1951 |
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Eric WEBBER | 25 October 1951 – 3 May 1965 |
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Frank O’FARRELL | May 1965 – 14 December 1968 |
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Jack EDWARDS (Caretaker) | 14 December 1968 – 8 January 1969 |
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Allan BROWN | 8 January 1969 – 11 October 1971 |
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Jack EDWARDS | 11 October 1971 – January 1973 |
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Malcolm MUSGROVE | January 1973 – 22 November 1976 |
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Lew CHATTERLEY (Caretaker) | 22 November 1976 – November 1976 |
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Frank O’FARRELL (Caretaker) | November 1976 – March 1977 |
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Mike GREEN | March 1977 – May 1981 |
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Frank O’FARRELL | June 1981 – June 1982 |
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Bruce RIOCH | July 1982 – 14 January 1984 |
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Jimmy HARGREAVES (Caretaker) | 16 January 1984 – 4 February 1984 |
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David WEBB | 4 February 1984 – 21 August 1985 |
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John SIMS | 21 August 1985 – 21 September 1985 |
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Stuart MORGAN | 23 September 1985 – 21 May 1987 |
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Cyril KNOWLES | 22 June 1987 – 30 September 1989 |
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Dave SMITH | 7 October 1989 – 2 April 1991 |
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John IMPEY | 6 April 1991 – 8 October 1991 |
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Wes SAUNDERS (Caretaker) | 9 October 1991 – February 1992 |
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Ivan GOLAC | February 1992 – May 1992 |
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Paul COMPTON | May 1992 – February 1993 |
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Neil WARNOCK | 15 February 1993 – 2 June 1993 |
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Don O’RIORDAN | June 1993 – 29 October 1995 |
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Paul COMPTON/Kevin HODGES (Joint Caretakers) | 29 October 1995 – November 1995 |
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Mick BUXTON (Caretaker) | November 1995 – 17 November 1995 |
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Eddie MAY | 17 November 1995 – May 1996 |
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Kevin HODGES | May 1996 – June 1998 |
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Wes SAUNDERS | June 1998 – 28 March 2001 |
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Colin LEE | 28 March 2001 – 2 July 2001 |
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Roy McFARLAND | 20 July 2001 – 23 April 2002 |
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Leroy ROSENIOR | 9 May 2002 – 25 January 2006 |
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John CORNFORTH | 26 January 2006 – 13 April 2006 |
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Ian ATKINS | 26 January 2006 – 27 November 2006 |
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Lubos KUBIK | 27 November 2006 – 5 February 2007 |
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Keith CURLE | 8 February 2007 – 17 May 2007 |
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Leroy ROSENIOR | 17 May 2007 |
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Paul BUCKLE | 2 June 2007 – 30 May 2011 |
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Martin LING | 13 June 2011 – 15 January 2013 |
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Shaun TAYLOR (Caretaker) | 28 January 2013 – 19 February 2013 |
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Alan KNILL | 20 February 2013 – 2 January 2014 |
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Chris HARGREAVES | 6 January 2014 – 15 June 2015 |
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Paul COX | 17 June 2015 – 18 September 2015 |
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Kevin NICHOLSON | 28 September 2015 – 17 August 2017 |
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Robbie HERRERA (Caretaker) | 17 August 2017 – 12 September 2017 |
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Gary OWERS | 12 September 2017 – 12 September 2018 |
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Gary JOHNSON | 13 September 2018 – |
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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 | ||||
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Elected to Division Three South (Third Tier) | 1928 |
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Division Three South (Third Tier) | 1928-1958 |
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Division Four (Fourth Tier) | 1958-1960 |
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Division Three (Third Tier) | 1960-1962 |
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Division Four (Fourth Tier) | 1962-1966 |
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Division Three (Third Tier) | 1966-1972 |
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Division Four (Fourth Tier) | 1972-1991 |
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Division Three (Third Tier) | 1991-1992 |
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Division Three (Fourth Tier) | 1992-2004 |
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League One (Third Tier) | 2004-2005 |
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League Two (Fourth Tier) | 2005-2007 |
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Conference (Fifth Tier) | 2007-2009 |
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League Two (Fourth Tier) | 2009-2014 |
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Conference (Fifth Tier) | 2014-2018 |
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National League South (Sixth Tier) | 2018-2019 |
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Conference (Fifth Tier) | 2019- |
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