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20th: Torquay United 0 - 0 Birmingham City - 2005/06

17 points, 4 votes (2+6+1+8)

FA Cup 3rd Round
Saturday 7th January 2006
Plainmoor
Attendance: 5974

Torquay: Andy Marriott, Alex Lawless, Steve Woods, Adam Lockwood, James Sharp, Anthony Lloyd, Matt Hewlett, Kevin Hill, Tony Bedeau, Martin Phillips, Jo Kuffour. Subs: Alan Connell, Matt Hockley, James Bittner, Matt Villis, Liam Coleman.

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This match was the first time I saw Torquay against Premiership opposition. A near sell out at Plainmoor witnessed Leroy Rosenior's side dominate against Steve Bruce's Birmingham, and were incredibly unlucky not to win the match. Birmingham, with players such as Jermaine Pennant, Emile Heskey and Nicky Butt, started off the stronger, but the game generally belonged to United. Tony Bedeau had an early goal disallowed, Steve Woods hit the crossbar from 25 yards, Alex Lawless, Bedeau and sub Alan Connell forced good saves, while Kevin Hill had a penalty shout turned down.

All in all, it was a great 0-0, we were very unfortunate not to cause a huge upset. Back at St Andrews, Birmingham ran out 2-0 winners.

:~D Woods did indeed hit the bar.

An even more incredible feat when he wasn't even in your team line up :~D

Well spotted!

19th: Torquay United 3 - 3 Swansea City - 1987/88

22 points, 4 votes (8+5+8+1)

Division 4 Playoff Final Second Leg
28th May 1988
Plainmoor
Attendance: 5000

Torquay: Allen, McNichol, Kelly, Dawkins, Cole, Impey (Sharpe), Caldwell, Lloyd, Loram, Dobson, Gibbins.

Torquay scorers: Jim McNichol (2), Dave Caldwell
Swansea scorers: Paul Rayner, Sean McCarthy, Alan Davies

This is the next match to appear on the list. United finished in the Division 4 playoffs in 1987/88, having lost against Scunthorpe United on the final day, meaning we missed out on automatic promotion. That defeat meant that we would meet Scunthorpe in the playoffs. We edged them out over two legs, winning 3-2 on aggregate. Swansea, who finished 7 points behind both us and Scunthorpe, managed to beat Rotherham over two legs. The first leg, in Wales, finished 2-1 to the Swans. The match back at Plainmoor looks like it was a classic. It ended 3-3, meaning that Swansea had won promotion to the 3rd tier.

18th: Cheltenham Town 1 - 3 Torquay United - 2003/04

25 points, 3 votes (9+9+7)

Division 3
Saturday 24th April 2004
Whaddon Road
Attendance: 4900

Torquay: Arjan van Heusden, Matt Hockley, Reuben Hazell, Steve Woods, Craig Taylor, Brian McGlinchey, Liam Rosenior, Alex Russell, Kevin Hill, David Graham, Jo Kuffour. Subs: Jason Fowler, Martin Gritton, Dave Woozley, Tony Bedeau, Kevin Wills.

Cheltenham scorer: Damian Spencer
Torquay scorers: Jo Kuffour (2), Steve Woods

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This match should be higher, in my opinion. This remains the BEST footballing performance I have ever seen from a United XI. We didn't just outplay Cheltenham, we obliterated them. It was relentless. Wonderful passing football all day long. Over 1000 Gulls were there to see United continue their push for automatic promotion. Jo Kuffour got the first inside 20 minutes. Steve Woods headed home a second, before Jo added a third with a quarter of an hour to go. Damian Spencer then pulled back a consolation - the only blip on what was a fantastic day.

The fact this match got so many points off 3 votes says something, I think. I use this match as a benchmark of free-flowing, passing football, and in all the time since, it hasn't been beaten. A truly wonderful match to watch.

Plymouth Gull wrote:Well spotted!

19th: Torquay United 3 - 3 Swansea City - 1987/88

22 points, 4 votes (8+5+8+1)

Division 4 Playoff Final Second Leg
28th May 1988
Plainmoor
Attendance: 5000

Torquay: Allen, McNichol, Kelly, Dawkins, Cole, Impey (Sharpe), Caldwell, Lloyd, Loram, Dobson, Gibbins.

Torquay scorers: Jim McNichol (2), Dave Caldwell
Swansea scorers: Paul Rayner, Sean McCarthy, Alan Davies

This is the next match to appear on the list. United finished in the Division 4 playoffs in 1987/88, having lost against scunthorpe United on the final day, meaning we missed out on automatic promotion. That defeat meant that we would meet scunthorpe in the playoffs. We edged them out over two legs, winning 3-2 on aggregate. Swansea, who finished 7 points behind both us and scunthorpe, managed to beat Rotherham over two legs. The first leg, in Wales, finished 2-1 to the Swans. The match back at Plainmoor looks like it was a classic. It ended 3-3, meaning that Swansea had won promotion to the 3rd tier.

I was one of the four who voted for this one and I am pleased it is placed so high as it was an absolute cracker. Although we had lost the first leg at Vetch Field 2-1 confidence was high with Dave Caldwell leading the front line and a young Lee Sharpe on the bench. We had shaken off the disappointment of missing out on automatic promotion on the last day, and most of us expected that we would turn Swansea, who had finished well behind us in the league, over.

Within about 15 minutes we were 2-0 down (with a good friend of mine getting their second - he also scored against us in the 1st leg and just about every time he played against us no matter which club!). So 4-1 down on aggregate and our high hopes had plummeted. Enter Lee Sharpe into the fray, and two goals from full back Jim McNichol hauled us back to 2-2. Surely we would go in level at half time and finish them off in the second half. But no, just before the break Swansea scored again. Half time in the 2nd leg and 5-3 down on aggregate. A mountain to climb, but not impossible.

The second half we battered them. Dave Caldwell forced in an equaliser on the day from a corner, and as we charged forwards the bar, post, and the keepers legs all conspired to deny us an aggregate equaliser. It ended 3-3 and 4-5 on aggregate so Swansea were promoted.

Although disappointing, I can remember feeling worse about Torquay United set backs. It had been a cracking game, and having finished 24th, 24th, and 23rd in the previous 3 seasons, I can remember reflecting as I left the ground on what a great season we had had and what a genius Cyril Knowles was as a manager.

Re. the Swansea match, weren't they still Swansea Town? I'd been to the away leg and remember that we were caught cold with a free kick routine for their second. We then got a life line from big Jim for the second leg. Their fans were not at all friendly and the coaches had to have a police escort in and out of town.

We played our hearts out in the second leg but it was marred for me by some dreadful refereeing which turned the result against us.

Re. the Cheltenham match, yes it was a complete performance and a great atmosphere in the away end. I think I got quite sun burnt that afternoon as we were not under any sort of cover. The only disappointment that day was that Huddersfield won as well but, of course, Cheltenham were to do us a great favour a few days later by equalising with only ten men against Huddersfield while we ran out winners at Southend (I await the entry for this match with keen interest!).

gateman49 wrote:Re. the Swansea match, weren't they still Swansea Town?

No .... Swansea City by then. Changed on granting of city status to Swansea in 1969.

17th: Shrewsbury Town 0 - 0 Torquay United - 2010/11

25 points, 4 votes (2+10+7+6)

League 2 Playoff Semi Final Second Leg
Friday 20th May 2011
Greenhous Meadow
Attendance: 8452

Torquay: Scott Bevan, Kevin Nicholson, Chris Robertson, Lee Mansell, Guy Branston, Billy Kee, Jake Robinson, Eunan O'Kane, Damon Lathrope, Gavin Tomlin, Chris Zebroski. Subs: Joe Oastler, Lathanial Rowe-Turner, Lloyd Macklin, Mark Ellis, Saul Halpin, Danny Stevens, Danny Potter.

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Another playoff semi final is next to appear. United lost on the final day of the regular season, but still managed to make the League 2 playoffs, finishing in 7th place. We met Shrewsbury over two legs. The Shrews had come close to automatic promotion and were the favourites for the playoffs. Torquay won 2-0 at Plainmoor in the opening leg, meaning that they had a comfortable lead to take to Shropshire. Paul Buckle's side held out relatively comfortably in this tie too, stopping the hosts from scoring. Infact, United probably could have won it here too, with Gavin Tomlin having the best chance of the match.

I remember this game for the great atmosphere from the 750 Gulls that made the journey, truly superb backing.

16th: Torquay United 2 - 0 Histon FC - 2008/09

26 points, 5 votes (3+3+6+7+7)

Blue Square Premier Playoff Semi Final First Leg
Friday 1st May 2009
Plainmoor
Attendance: 3737

Torquay: Michael Poke, Lee Mansell, Chris Todd, Chris Robertson, Kevin Nicholson, Wayne Carlisle, Nicky Wroe, Chris Hargreaves, Danny Stevens, Tim Sills, Blair Sturrock. Subs: Martin Rice, Iyseden Christie, Lee Hodges, Matt Green, Mustapha Carayol.

Torquay scorers: Nicky Wroe, Tim Sills

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Playoff semifinals seem to be a familiar theme in the run in of this list, as yet another comes up. This one was part of our promotion from the Conference in 2009. We finished 4th in the table, and met Histon in the playoffs. Both sides had finished on 83 points, but Histon had better goal difference, so had home advantage in the second leg (which has already featured in the list). This game though belonged to Torquay. First Nicky Wroe powered home from just inside the box, before Tim Sills drilled a header home infront of home fans in the away end. It was quite a comfortable win for United - who held on in the second leg to progress to the Playoff Final.

Plymouth Gull wrote:17th: Shrewsbury Town 0 - 0 Torquay United - 2010/11

25 points, 4 votes (2+10+7+6)

League 2 Playoff Semi Final Second Leg
Friday 20th May 2011
Greenhous Meadow
Attendance: 8452

Torquay: Scott Bevan, Kevin Nicholson, Chris Robertson, Lee Mansell, Guy Branston, Billy Kee, Jake Robinson, Eunan O'Kane, Damon Lathrope, Gavin Tomlin, Chris Zebroski. Subs: Joe Oastler, Lathanial Rowe-Turner, Lloyd Macklin, Mark Ellis, Saul Halpin, Danny Stevens, Danny Potter.

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Another playoff semi final is next to appear. United lost on the final day of the regular season, but still managed to make the League 2 playoffs, finishing in 7th place. We met Shrewsbury over two legs. The Shrews had come close to automatic promotion and were the favourites for the playoffs. Torquay won 2-0 at Plainmoor in the opening leg, meaning that they had a comfortable lead to take to Shropshire. Paul Buckle's side held out relatively comfortably in this tie too, stopping the hosts from scoring. Infact, United probably could have won it here too, with Gavin Tomlin having the best chance of the match.

I remember this game for the great atmosphere from the 750 Gulls that made the journey, truly superb backing.

Easily the best away atmosphere for me, we had that stand rocking all night.

Plymouth Gull wrote:17th: Shrewsbury Town 0 - 0 Torquay United - 2010/11

25 points, 4 votes (2+10+7+6)

League 2 Playoff Semi Final Second Leg
Friday 20th May 2011
Greenhous Meadow
Attendance: 8452

Torquay: Scott Bevan, Kevin Nicholson, Chris Robertson, Lee Mansell, Guy Branston, Billy Kee, Jake Robinson, Eunan O'Kane, Damon Lathrope, Gavin Tomlin, Chris Zebroski. Subs: Joe Oastler, Lathanial Rowe-Turner, Lloyd Macklin, Mark Ellis, Saul Halpin, Danny Stevens, Danny Potter.

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Another playoff semi final is next to appear. United lost on the final day of the regular season, but still managed to make the League 2 playoffs, finishing in 7th place. We met Shrewsbury over two legs. The Shrews had come close to automatic promotion and were the favourites for the playoffs. Torquay won 2-0 at Plainmoor in the opening leg, meaning that they had a comfortable lead to take to Shropshire. Paul Buckle's side held out relatively comfortably in this tie too, stopping the hosts from scoring. Infact, United probably could have won it here too, with Gavin Tomlin having the best chance of the match.

I remember this game for the great atmosphere from the 750 Gulls that made the journey, truly superb backing.

Think this was my number one choice, despite remembering little of the actual game. Having watched the highlights we should have won this by a couple of goals, we wasted some guilt edged chances. You're right right though PG, the atmosphere created by us was unreal, by far the best I've ever experienced at a Torquay game, we out sang the home fans all game. I thought we would go on and beat Stevenage at Old Trafford the next week, however, that was a game we just never turned up to.

15th: Plymouth Argyle 1 - 2 Torquay United - 2011/12

27 points, 5 votes

League 2
Saturday 2nd January 2012
Home Park
Attendance: 12836 (1938 Gulls)

Torquay: Bobby Olejnik, Kevin Nicholson, Mark Ellis, Chris Robertson, Joe Oastler, Damon Lathrope, Lee Mansell, Eunan O'Kane, Danny Stevens, Billy Bodin, Taiwo Atieno. Subs: Martin Rice, Tom Aldred, Chris McPhee, Lathanial Rowe-Turner, Saul Halpin.

Plymouth scorer: Luke Young
Torquay scorers: Billy Bodin, Lee Mansell

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This was one of my favourite days watching TUFC. Prior to this season, I hadn't seen us play Argyle in a league game, so the 3-1 win at Plainmoor was excellent. However, this game was just as good. We went to Home Park without our main striker, Rene Howe, who was serving the last of a ban. The Torquay fans kept on coming in prior to kick off, and the Argyle stewards had to keep extending the away end. The official number was 1938, but there were more in the home ends, I believe, and some were turned away.

On the pitch, it was a cagey first 45 minutes. But then we turned the screw. Billy Bodin found the net first, volleying in. Lee Mansell added a second soon after. Future Gull Luke Young pulled one back for the Greens, but it was not enough. United had done the double over Argyle for the first time in around 40 years - so no surprise to see this feature highly.

Plymouth Gull wrote:15th: Plymouth Argyle 1 - 2 Torquay United - 2011/12

Certainly memorable and a great atmosphere, and I was watching from the Lyndhurst and was one of many Torquay fans in the home sections. It is never the 15th best game Torquay have played mind. This was an Argyle with no money full of inexperienced youngsters and in great danger of relegation. A far better achievement was a 2-1 win at Home Park against newly relegated Argyle in the old Third Division (League 1) in front of 20,810 in October 1968, but that game will not feature in this list.

14th: Torquay United 3 - 3 Tottenham Hotspur - 1964/65

30 points, 5 votes (8+10+3+5+4)

FA Cup 3rd Round
9th January 1965
Plainmoor
Attendance: 20000

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One of the games etched into the clubs history, and it would appear much higher than it's current position if it wasn't 50+ years ago, I'm sure! Robin Stubbs got 2 as United pulled back from 1-3 down against Spurs. I can't actually give much more than that - but I imagine others will be able to add a lot!

Plymouth Gull wrote:14th: Torquay United 3 - 3 Tottenham Hotspur - 1964/65

30 points, 5 votes (8+10+3+5+4)

FA Cup 3rd Round
9th January 1965
Plainmoor
Attendance: 20000

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One of the games etched into the clubs history, and it would appear much higher than it's current position if it wasn't 50+ years ago, I'm sure! Robin Stubbs got 2 as United pulled back from 1-3 down against Spurs. I can't actually give much more than that - but I imagine others will be able to add a lot!

This thread: http://www.torquayfans.com/forum/viewto ... ilit=Spurs will help. It's got a video, a write up by none other than Wivel himself, and lots of nostalgia.

Enjoy.