Top 100 Torquay United Players

samuel · Post by **samuel** » 18 Mar 2015, 16:37

Yep Kernow, I was there at Rushden as well. Can't believe that he sort of 'passed the ball' into the arms of the keeper. Anyhow, we will have to disagree, 372 appearances, must have been doing something right over a long period.

Kernowgull · Post by **Kernowgull** » 18 Mar 2015, 16:47

Ha ha, I've had many an argument about Mr Bedeau, and I think my irrational dislike of him comes mainly from that day at Rushden. I can't explain it, but it annoys me more than any other past Torquay moment (luckily I've barely been this season!!) and I won't change my mind!!

wivelgull · Post by **wivelgull** » 18 Mar 2015, 17:15

Tony 'call me Anthony' Bedeau is remembered with laughter (like Deano) rather than with affection. Every seventy games or so he would have a cocaine moment and play brilliantly, the rest of the time he was either average or awful. How he has got into the Top 20 is a mystery. It seems his cocaine games must have been seen by scouts as the Oxford offer (silly United for turning them down) and the Sunderland trial rather mysteriously appeared shortly afterwards. Think Bedeau - no, think Ronnie Barnes!

chunkygull · Post by **chunkygull** » 18 Mar 2015, 22:24

Well, even though he played nearly 30 years before I started watching TUFC I am very surprised the great Sammy Collins has not ranked higher but as others have said it can only be because there are many who voted who never saw him play. I remember at the turn of the millenium when the Herald had a poll Collins featured very high. As a young lad when he first started watching Torquay my Dad saw him play and along with other elder generation supporters he always told me tales of how great Sammy Collins was, right from when I first starting going to Plainmoor back in 87. I have also read about him in a few of our history books. Should be in the top 10 if not 5 and a definte Hall Of Famer. Many regard this guy as a true Torquay United legend if not "THE LEGEND". A word that is bandied about and bestowed on too many. far, far too easily and far, far too often these days. Really that title should only be bestowed upon a very exclusive few. Sammy Collins for his record definitely is a legend.

Gregory Goodridge - remember him well, very good and tricky player, was a bit greedy at times but was not surprised he went to a higher level. Was a different player in his second spell, had a few more strings to his bow such as a few defence splitting through balls but his trickery and pace had curbed a bit.

Matthew Elliott - What can I say, AWESOME, really rated big Matt. A young lad when he first joined us, seemed older and fitted in quickly. I remember early on Cyril Knowles putting Matt up front as an emergency striker in quite a few games and he made quite an impact. Part of the team for 2 wembley games in 3 seasons, promotion winner in 91. Formed very good centre back parterships in this time. Just pipped Phil Lloyd as one of my top ten picks, when you look at the improvement , progression and career Matt had after leaving us, a decent top 10 choice I think. Only black mark on his Gulls career is that, supposedly, according to stories he was sold on by us because he had been a very naughty boy. But thats another story.

Tony Bedeau - I liked him at times, very pacy, but bloody infuriating. The amount of chances he missed, the amount of times we got a good breakaway and Beds carried the ball forward quickly but cocked it up was unbelievable. Very fast but no trickery, constantly no matter where he received the ball he always seemed to go on a run but only diaganally and ended up running the ball into the corner and we lost momentum. A poor mans Paul Smith, certainly no Rodney Jack.

Paul Dobson - Bloody loved "Dobbo". Was the main man, our top striker when I first started watching, I was only 12/13 so he was an idol to me and my mates who watched Torquay. Indeed when we were having a kickabout we all used to try and do the Dobbo walk as a laugh. He had a really strange gait, he looked bow-legged and like he had disjointed hips , but could really move when required and had a real positional knack. A proper out and out striker and I havent seen many as good for us since (possibly only one). I cant believe a few of you have called him alright or average, look at his record, I wont have it I say, I wont bloody have it. Its not just because of "that goal". A strike rate of 1 in 2, who has had that since, and I dont think anyone has beaten his season total since either. One of the 87/88 team that really should have gone up, how did they blow it, anyone would think they fluffed it on purpose (one for the cranks, again). Another that left me heartbroken when he left, I remember him playing against us twice in 3 weeks for 2 different teams as a moneybags Scarborough signed him from Lincoln and my heart was in my mouth as in trademark quick as a flash fashion he latched onto a loose ball but luckily smashed it against the bar. He didnt make my top 10 but would be very close. I picked him for the TUFC hall of fame though (another good thread) for "that goal".

Rjc70 · Post by **Rjc70** » 19 Mar 2015, 00:00

Dobson just sneaked into my 10, as well. Think a more fiery contemporary of his is due on this thread soon.

Sammy Collins had to make way for Ron Shaw for me via family nostalgia. But everyone is right who's mentioned he should be a shoe in with that record. Let's be honest, it simply will never be beaten.

Plymouth Gull · Post by **Plymouth Gull** » 19 Mar 2015, 15:20

Ha, that "chip" at Rushden is my overriding memory of Bedeau aswell. Although was it him that had a disallowed goal in the FA Cup tie against Birmingham in 2006? Against the likes of Jermaine Pennant + Emile Heskey? Can't quite remember. Anyway, moving on, and it isn't a surprise to see this man feature at all. It'sâ€¦

Lee Sharpe - 20 points

Time spent at club: 1988
Gulls Appearances: 19
Gulls Goals: 3

Looking at the remaining players on the list, I'm sure this man is the last to feature to have played so few times, but in all truth, Lee Sharpe's career went on to be one of the most successful and as he came from our youth system it's not really a surprise to see him feature here. Lee was only at Plainmoor for a few months before moving to Manchester United for £200,000. It was at Old Trafford he made his name - quite a contrast from Plainmoor. Around 200 appearances later, Sharpe moved to Leeds for close to £5m. Unfortunately injuries affected his career and Sharpe's move didn't really kick on. He was loaned to Sampdoria and Bradford, before making the move to Valley Parade a permanent one. His career dwindled, including a spell in Iceland and in the lower leagues, before retiring after playing for Garforth in 2004.

samuel · Post by **samuel** » 19 Mar 2015, 17:15

Funnily enough Kernow and Plymouth have highlighted something about 'that chip'. So much was riding on the game and yes it is etched in my mind for ever. Like Kernow, I was gutted, swore, shouted in absolute frustration and unfortunately it still is the one outstanding memory of Tony Bedeau. I can understand Kernow never forgiving him. As for Sharpe, great player and we can be justifiably proud he started at Torquay (John James - come back) but no one should get in the top 20 with 19 appearances.

Plymouth Gull · Post by **Plymouth Gull** » 19 Mar 2015, 18:20

Again, I have to agree - it is clear he was a hugely talented player but for so few appearances it was surprising to see him get so high. Anyway, moving on - sharing the spot with Lee Sharpe is another well-known Gull, but this one stayed at the club much longer than Sharpe did. It'sâ€¦

16. Mark Loram - 20 points

Time spent at club: 1985-1993
Gulls Appearances: 332
Gulls Goals: 63

Ok, before I start with this one, I am struggling to find much about Mark's career, but as he played around 30 years ago I'm hoping a few of you saw him play and can add some detail and discussion to his piece for me! From google, I can guess that he begun his career at QPR, despite being born in Brixham. He moved back to Devon to join Torquay initially on loan in 1985, before joining permanently. He was part of the 'Bryn great escape' side, along with the likes of the recently-listed Paul Dobson. Loram's goal record of 63 puts him 12th in the clubs all time top scorers.

Unfortunately I don't know much else about his career, so hopefully you people can help out with this one!

samuel · Post by **samuel** » 19 Mar 2015, 18:37

Yep, Mark Loram, he is on my list. Only 4 to go. This man must be one of the most talented locally born players ever. Absolute class. If he could have kept the socialising down a bit he would have been Premier League. Loved him though, a local lad who was a great servant to the club and when he was up for it, a joy to watch.

Kit_robin · Post by **Kit_robin** » 19 Mar 2015, 20:40

Loram started with us before moving to QPR, then coming back when the call of the local was too much to bear.

Think he left us again in favour of a fishing boat at one point too, if I remember correctly.

Post by **Gulliball** » 19 Mar 2015, 21:17

I think Lee Sharpe being in the top 20 is fair enough, he played for Man Utd and England. He's not a Club Legend like Kevin Hill, but only because he was too good to stay playing 4th tier football. He's probably one of the best players to ever pull on a TUFC shirt, which is his claim to be in the top 20. The £180k in 1988 was a huge amount of money too, which helped the Club. So whilst on the pitch he didn't offer as much as others, he allowed players like Wes Saunders to be signed for a transfer fee.

chunkygull · Post by **chunkygull** » 19 Mar 2015, 22:11

Lee Sharpe was one of my top 10 picks. It says it all about the calibre of player we have had that someone with 19 appearances 27 (blimey, 27) years ago is high on the list. He deserves his place on the list because he was that good, you could see it in no time. It was a joy to watch this young almost gangly boy slalom down the left leaving players in his wake. He was special.

I was not shocked he got a big move but was shocked he went to Man Utd so quick. I didnt expect him to play much but was really chuffed to see him play for their first team in what seemed only a matter of months. He started off in what was a left wing back type of position. He defended well and then tore teams apart. Every time I saw him play for United I always got that little buzz just knowing he came from us. Proud as hell when he pulled on an England shirt also.

In some ways, maybe not for his time with us but for the career he went on to have before injuries you might have to say he was the greatest ever TUFC player as I cant think of any other that commanded £5 million transfer fees, won FA cups, Premier leagues, UEFA Cup Winners cup, or played for England.

Mark Loram, another of my top 10 picks. I just cant believe Loram is ranked so low, I probably feel how some of our older supporters felt at seeing Sammy Collins in a position where he deserved better. :no:

Loram was pure class and one of the few real talents I have seen in the last 28 years. Not blessed with pace but didnt really need it. Some fancy Dans we have had have to try all sorts of daft stepovers or tricks but Loram didnt need these. Even when he moved to left back for a while I would rate him higher than a lot of left backs we have had. Was my absolute favourite player for quite some time and a lot of my mates worshipped him also.The fact he was a local lad helped but he was so good. A left foot so exquisite.

He really should have played properly at a higher level. He did start with us and got a move to QPR, homesickness was the reason many said he couldnt settle up there, apparently he kept going AWOL and coming back to Brixham (christ knows why) but that was our gain. We took him back on loan I think, had the great escape of 87 and signed him up. Part of that 87/88 team (quite a few on the list, funny that), scored and set up goals in the Sherpa Van semi, played and set up the goal at Sherpa Van final at wembley in 89 and play off final 91( I think he missed the first penalty though).I remember a story about Graham Taylor who was Villa manager at the time praising Loram, watching a game and checking out a player, Loram was mentioned and Taylor said "yes loram, now you're talking".

Lorams time with us could have ended better, as it seemed he went on a bit of a sour note and I remember him going to Stockport on loan (a bit far away) and I was a bit upset to see him he playing against us at Plainmoor for Stockport in those circumstances, rumour was he fell out with Mr Bateson but who knows.

I cant believe he is so low in the ranking, I nearly threw my laptop across the room when I saw this. Especially when I check the list and realise some of the players I think are yet to come and they are ahead of Loram, its a travesty I tell ya, I probably will throw my laptop.

Loram was GOD! Simple as that.

Burnhamgull · Post by **Burnhamgull** » 19 Mar 2015, 22:32

Mark Loram was a legend!

Every time we got a free kick, people would clamour for Loram to take it especially after the free kick at Molineux that took us to Wembley the first time around against Steve Bull's Wolves.

Loved a drink, loved to frequent Claire's nightclub on a Saturday night and was a top bloke. Loved watching him and Sean Joyce in the midfield together as a kid.

chunkygull · Post by **chunkygull** » 19 Mar 2015, 22:46

Burnhamgull wrote:Mark Loram was a legend!

Every time we got a free kick, people would clamour for Loram to take it especially after the free kick at Molineux that took us to Wembley the first time around against Steve Bull's Wolves.

Loved a drink, loved to frequent Claire's nightclub on a Saturday night and was a top bloke. Loved watching him and Sean Joyce in the midfield together as a kid.

I absolutely hate the over-use of that word but b0ll0ck$ to it Im going to agree with you on that one.

Loram was indeed a "LEGEND"!

There I said it, number 16 my arse. For all of you that didnt vote for him :slap:

wivelgull · Post by **wivelgull** » 20 Mar 2015, 09:01

Once again, Mr. Chunkygull is right. Even today, among the senile delinquents, whenever there's a free kick in a scorable position, the cry goes up 'Lors! Lors!' Mark Loram is in the Top 3 outstanding players for TUFC I have seen since first going to Plainmoor in April 1963 (when Brian Handley was centre-forward!) - the other two being Robin and John Smith. We have had good players, very good players and even exceptionally good players, but only Stubbs, Smith,J., and Loram can be described as 'great'.
Once again, I regret not voting until it was too late; I only hope that Stubbs is No. 1 and John Smith No.2.

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