Torquay United

Torquay United FC

Ground: Plainmoor

Capacity: 6,200

Club Founded: 1899

League: National League South (current level)

Founded in 1899, Torquay United are one of the South West's best-supported clubs, known for their loyal fanbase and picturesque seaside setting. The Gulls, the club has enjoyed memorable spells in the Football League and continues to strive to reclaim their status.

Club History

Early Years

In 1899, the club was initiated by a group of school leavers under the guidance of Sergeant Major Edward Tomney, playing friendlies at a pitch located at the top of Penny's Hill on Teignmouth Road. After a season, the club joined the East Devon League and moved into a new home at the Recreation Ground for the following four years. 

For a time, they shared grounds with Torquay Cricket Club in Cricketfield Road. In 1910, the club merged with Ellacombe to form Torquay Town FC and moved into Plainmoor, with rivals Babbacombe FC.

Election to the Football League

After rivals Exeter City and Plymouth Argyle were elected into the newly formed Football League Third Division in 1920, a successful campaign saw Babbacombe and Town merge and revert to the old name of Torquay United. The Western Division title was won in 1926-27, leading to promotion to the Football League in place of Aberdare Athletic. 

A new grandstand was erected to celebrate the achievement, which was purchased from Buckfastleigh Racecourse. Up to World War II, United struggled on and off the pitch with financial worries, poor results, and having to stand for re-election. In 1954, the club colours were changed to yellow and blue to reflect the town's image of sun, sand, and sea. 

My drawing of Painmoor, former Gulls team kits, and club crests.
Click on the images to enlarge them.

New Club Colours Bring Success

The change brought luck as the next season, the Gulls reached the fourth round of the FA Cup at home to Huddersfield Town. A gate of 21,908 crammed into Plainmoor as the visitors ended the dream with a 1-0 win. The 1959-60 season saw Torquay's first League promotion from Division Four under long-serving manager Eric Webber. 

Sadly, they were relegated a couple of seasons later. In the summer of 1965, Webber was dismissed and replaced by the Weymouth boss Frank O'Farrell. In his first season, he led the side to promotion and then used his contacts at his previous club, West Ham United, to sign John Bond and Ken Brown. 

In 1967-68, Torquay fans were voted 'The Best Behaved Supporters in the League'. O'Farrell left to become manager of Leicester City before Torquay were relegated back to the League's basement at the end of the 1971-72 campaign. Allan Brown, Jack Edwards, and then Malcolm Musgrove held the managerial reins before a returning O'Farrell, and Mike Green had spells. 

Colin Lee made an impact up front and was sold to Tottenham Hotspur for £60,000. For several seasons, the 'Gulls' ended around mid-table. Bruce Rioch and then David Webb, who bought the club, managed the team. The team struggled, while a 'suspicious' fire also badly damaged the Main Stand. 

Saved from Relegation by a Police Dog

The locals were not amused by the actions at the club, even though United were not voted out of the league in a period when United would play several home games on a Saturday night. 1986-97 was the first season of automatic relegation to the Conference. 

In their final game, United were losing at home to Crewe with seconds remaining when they needed a draw to survive. Police lined the pitch to keep supporters off. One of their dogs bit centre back Jim McNicol, and in the time added on for the injury, Paul Dobson snatched the invaluable goal to keep the club in the League. 

Visiting supporters regularly caused havoc, leading to United trying a season of allowing only home supporters into games at Plainmoor and creating a members-only system. Cyril Knowles was appointed as manager as the side missed out on promotion in the playoffs to Swansea City, but beat Tottenham in the first leg of a League Cup tie. 

Wembley and the Ventriloquist Owner

Sixteen-year-old Lee Sharpe was introduced to the team before being sold to Manchester United for £180,000. In May 1989, United played at Wembley for the first time, where they went down 4-1 to Bolton Wanderers in the Football League Trophy. Mike Bateson bought the club in May 1990. 

He had made his fortune selling double glazing in Devon and enjoyed playing the ventriloquist to his dummy Algernon. By now, Knowles had moved on, and Bateson soon sacked his replacement. Former player John Impey took over and led the team to promotion following a playoff final victory on penalties over Blackpool at Wembley.

However, Impey didn't last long, and other managers came and went with regularity as United found themselves back in the bottom tier before missing out in the playoffs under Don O'Riordan. Unfortunately, the form didn't last as United survived on a tight budget. 

In 1995-96, the team was reprieved from relegation as the champions of the Conference, Stevenage Borough, failed with their ground grading. Eddie May, who had overseen the poor finish, was dismissed to be replaced by Kevin Hodges. A couple of seasons later, Torquay lost their Wembley playoff final to Colchester United.

Hodges took the Plymouth Argyle manager's job, with former player Wes Saunders arriving in his place. Colin Lee was appointed manager in March 2001, with Torquay sitting at the bottom of the table. They won the final game of the season 3-2 at Underhill to send their hosts Barnet into the Conference.

Roy McFarland had a spell in charge before Leroy Rosenior took over and led the team to automatic promotion at the end of the 2003-04 season. The team's spell in their higher grade lasted just one season. John Cornforth and then Ian Atkins had spells in charge of the following season as United narrowly avoided relegation once more.

The 2006-07 season was a disaster on and off the pitch. Three managers were employed throughout the campaign as Torquay were relegated to the Conference. Meanwhile, off the pitch, Bateson sold the club before later regaining control. The pairing of manager Keith Curle and Director of Football Colin Lee departed. 

A new consortium bought the club, with United player Paul Buckle appointed as the new manager. The 2007-08 season saw Torquay go out in the Conference playoff semifinals to fierce rivals Exeter City, before losing in the FA Trophy Final at Wembley to Ebbsfleet United. 

However, the team returned to Wembley twelve months later, this time going home victorious after defeating Cambridge United in the playoff final to regain their place in the Football League thanks to goals from Chris Hargreaves and Tim Stills. A couple of seasons later, they reached the playoff semi-finals.

Buckle resigned to be replaced by Martin Ling during the following season, which once again ended in a semi-final playoff defeat. All this went on while a brand new Main Stand was erected to replace the old wooden structure. Alan Knill replaced Ling as the side secured its status once more.

However, Knill’s side was relegated to the Conference in 2013-14, before Chris Hargreaves was appointed as team boss. His side reached the semifinal of the FA Trophy. A new consortium consisting of ten local businesspeople acquired the club shortly after. Paul Cox had a short spell in charge of the team before fans' favourite Kevin Nicholson took over. 

Finishing mid-table in the retitled National League, the club was sold again, this time to Swindon-based Gaming International. Gary Owers could not arrest the slide as the side went down to the National League South in 2017-18. Experienced Football League manager Gary Johnson was soon appointed, taking the Gulls back up as champions twelve months later.

Torquay finished National League runners-up in 2020-21, defeating Notts County, to set up a playoff final against Hartlepool United at Ashton Gate. The game will be remembered for years to come as keeper Lucas Covolan equalised in the ninety-fifth minute before penalty defeat meant that the Gulls faced another season of non-league football.

Worse was to follow in 2022-23 as the team was relegated once again to National League South. In February 2024, it looked like the club’s future was in doubt as the club's severely disliked chairman, Clarke Osbourne, announced he intended to put the club into administration. 

Johnson departed, and United were deducted points but managed to avoid relegation before a group of local businessmen, the Bryn Consortium, purchased the club. They installed Paul Wootton as manager, with Neil Warnock as football advisor. The side reached the playoffs in 2024-25, losing their home semi-final tie with Boreham Wood.

February 2026 marked the arrival of new manager Jimmy Ball. His side defeated Dorking Wanderers in the playoffs to set up a final away to Hornchurch, which ended in an extra-time defeat.

My visits

Torquay United v Scarborough - Postponed 

Division Four - Friday 22nd February 1991

For some reason, the Football League decided that Scarborough should travel to its furthest away game in the middle of winter. United decided that Friday night football worked better for them, rather than the traditional Saturday afternoon. They had tried Saturday nights in the past. I had the week off work and got talked into making the journey south.

The idea was to stay over and enjoy some nightlife over the weekend. I assembled at the Trafalgar Cafe with fellow passengers Kev, Dave, Gary, and our driver Andy. The weather was poor, and the forecasts were not very promising in Devon, but a phone call down to Torquay told us that the game was definitely on.

We set off in the days before mobile phones and the Internet, having to stop every hundred miles or so to make sure that the weather hadn't put pay to the fixture. On we continued. It was still on when we left Gordano services near Bristol. We found our hotel for the night and were just getting ready to go out when the local news announced that the game was off!

While we weren't impressed, there was an inevitability about the situation. We still went up to the ground and had a beer in the clubhouse, with sympathetic locals. We even asked if there was any chance of playing it the next afternoon at 3pm, as the weather was forecast to improve, but it was not possible. 

Instead, we headed downtown and had a big night out, even bumping into some of the United players and having a drink with them. The next morning, we decided that we would head home via the First Division clash between Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa and then head to Shepshed, our old favourite of the time, for a few pints.

Plainmoor in the Early 70s
Image from the Football League Review

On the way, we went back up the hill to Plainmoor to have a look around and buy a programme from the postponed game. I wrote to United's Chairman, Mike Bateson, after the game, thanking him for their hospitality and our dismay at the postponement. 

In a lovely touch, he told me to let him know the names of any fans who had made the journey and who would be returning when the match was rescheduled. He promised them free admission to the game.

Torquay United 2 Scarborough 0 

Division Three - Saturday 7th May 1994

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 3,470 

Boro were enjoying a big resurgence under new manager Steve Wicks, who had led the team away from the threat of relegation to an outside chance of the playoffs for a short while. Chairman John Russell was also extremely popular at the time, especially after Geoffrey Richmond's reign and a short spell of Dave Simpson. Things were looking up.

The Supporters Club decided to run two coaches down to Devon for the final game of the season, with a couple of nights in a hotel thrown in. As a treat, I took my mum and dad. The weather was glorious as we set off on our mini holiday south. The fans were split among three hotels on arrival. 

Most of my regular travelling companions were with me at our digs on Avenue Road, and I shared with my mate Carl. After a lively Friday night out, while watching out for the concern of Burnley fans visiting before their game at Exeter, we went for a walk early on match day. The plan was to find something to do so that we wouldn't be drinking all day. 

However, the best-laid plans often go wrong, especially when there are plenty of lads away for the weekend. We entered the Bull & Bush mob-handed, much to the surprise of the young barman, and didn't leave until the coach arrived to take us to Plainmoor. There was time for a drink in Boots & Laces bar at the home end, not that we needed any more before we entered the ground at the far end turnstiles.

Plainmoor had changed since my previous call with new stands, and the Popular Stand was being demolished, so it was out of bounds. This meant that Boro fans were given a couple of blocks of the Main Stand and the terracing around it. An impressive turnout of around 200 had made the journey.

Torquay were preparing for the playoffs, the following week against Preston, whereas the Seadogs looked like they were already on their holidays. They put in a limp performance with the woeful on-loan goalkeeper Simon Sheppard not helping matters. There was only going to be one winner.

At full-time, the visiting players hung around to applaud us, and they threw their shirts into our section. I ended up with Simon Thompson's number three shirt. We returned to the hotel for a rest for an hour or so before heading out once more. It was another top night out, even if some Seadogs were showing the signs of the day. 

We went back to our hotel, where the kind landlord allowed one or two lads in from another place as their accommodation didn't have a bar, and Torquay had a policy of all-night clubs closing at 1am. I was not in top form the next day and seemed somewhat dehydrated. We all went for a walk around the harbour and found a pub for lunch. 

The landlord had put his last barrel on at half price, and some of the boys helped him out. He had earned his money, keeping the bar open and then getting up to cook breakfast. He deserved all the money he made. We set off back home at 2pm, having had a brilliant time, which everyone enjoyed. 

It was so good for me to see my mum and dad have so much fun and see my travelling pals in such good form. We got back in time for a few last drinks in the Trafalgar in Scarborough to round off a fantastic weekend.

A Narrow Escape

A few seasons later, I arranged the minibus to revisit for the away match. It was around late February or early March, but I was really suffering from the flu and had to take time off work. In the end, I handed over responsibility to Crusher and Bunner, and I stayed at home. I got up and went downstairs to watch Football Focus, only for the news to break that the match was off. 

I felt terrible for the lads, as did my mum, who was sitting with me. How little I knew. The boys had also heard the news when near Exeter. They turned around and were considering another game to visit when someone spotted something in the paper and asked how far they were from Minehead. 

To cut a long story short, which I've heard snippets on many happy occasions later, when the beer has flowed, they ended up at a 70's weekend at Butlins and ended up having the best time away all season in a trip that has become Boro folklore. They even thanked the team a week later and sent them a postcard from Minehead, which had lifted morale at training that week.


The images on this page have been taken from the Internet, as I didn't have a camera on either of my visits.