The festive feast of football is well under way, and COVID depending, we have 2 more games this week.
What’s happening this week……
Tuesday – Eastleigh v TUFC @ Silverlake Stadium (15.00 KO)
The Gulls travel to Eastleigh off the back of the Boxing Day victory over Yeovil. A run of form to kick start any form of play-off ambitions is key during this period as the Gulls aim high. Their opponents sit in 15th place.
Sunday – Yeovil v TUFC @ Huish Park (15.00 KO)
Our first game of 2022 starts the same way 2021 did with a a trip to Somerset. The Gulls will want to exact revenge from the last 2 visits to Huish Park were a late goal denied the Gulls a point last time.
Birthdays
Jordan Lee – 25
The former Bournemouth loanee will turn 25 on New Years’ Eve. We enjoyed 2 loan spells back in 2017.
Ron Shaw – 97
The late Ron Shaw would have celebrated his 97th birthday on NYD. The former Gull racked up an impressive 412 appearances over a 12 year spell at Plainmoor.
Ben Gerring – 31
The former defender will celebrate his 31st on NYD. He his currently with Lee Mansell’s Gloucester City in the NL North.
On this day……
28th December 2020 – Torquay score 10 in two days, as a late CLE goal clinches the 3 points for the Gulls as they win a 4-3 thriller at Weymouth.
28th December 2019 – The Gulls end a run of 7 straight league defeats as they beat Woking 4-1 at home.
1st January 2019 – Torquay United record the highest ever ‘away’ attendance as they ‘take’ 2760 to Truro . Albeit the game was played at Plainmoor due to their opponents ground sharing for that season.
1st January 2017 – A 10 goal thriller at the New Lawn as Torquay draw 5-5 with Forest Green, after leading several times.
2nd January 2014 – Alan Knill is sacked after a 2-0 loss away at Plymouth left the Gulls sitting second from bottom of League Two.
2nd January 2012 – Plymouth 1-2 Gulls. See ‘A trip down memory lane’.
1st January 2008 – Tim Sills exacts revenge for the Boxing Day defeat to Exeter, by scoring the winner in a 1-0 victory.
1st January 2005 – Kevin Hill does this………
1st January 1992 – Justin Fashanu scores his first of 17 Torquay goals, as they beat Exeter 1-0 at Plainmoor.
27th December 1990 – For the first time since August 1987, Phil Lloyd misses a match due to injury. He had previously been involved with the last 204 consecutive games.
28th December 1989 – Town crier and bell ringer John Bartlett misses Torquay beating Maidstone 2-1 at Plainmoor, as he is ejected from the stadium.
2nd January 1971 – Over 8,000 are in attendance as Torquay come from 3-0 down to beat Lincoln 4-3 in the FA Cup 3rd round.
31st December 1960 – Tommy Northcott hits a hat trick against Walsall in a 3-0 home win.
31st December 1955 – Sammy Collins nets a hat trick as United beat Exeter 3-1 at Plainmoor.
27th December 1931 – Torquay defeat Newport 3-0 in their third match in as many days over the festive period.
A trip down memory lane..
Plymouth Argyle 1-2 Torquay
Monday 2nd January 2012 – League Two
Venue: Home Park
Attendance: 12,836
United line up: Olejnik, Oastler, Ellis, Robertson, Nicholson, Stevens, Lathrope, Mansell, O’Kane, Bodin, Atieno
Subs: Rowe-Turner, McPhee, Rice, Aldred, Halpin
Torquay recorded a first league double over Argyle in 41 years as they beat them 2-1 at Home Park. United had enjoyed success over their Devon neighbours in November when a delightful double from Eunan O’Kane secured a 3-1 victory for the Gulls.
The Gulls headed to Plymouth in 10th place, eyeing a place in the play-offs. In contrast, their hosts sat 2nd bottom of League Two and in serious danger of being relegated from the Football League.
Billy Bodin scored the opener 13 minutes into the second half when he bundled home a O’Kane free-kick. Mansell made it two with a low sweeping shot moments later. Luke Young pulled one back for the hosts, but Torquay held on to record a Devon double, much to the delight of the travelling Yellow Army!
TORQUAYTALK 