THE GULLS WEEK
Danny Burnell – @danny_burnell92
The Gulls Week – w/c 13th December
With the hectic festive period behind us, the Men’s, Ladies’ and Youth teams gear up for the second half of the seasons.
What’s happening this week……
Saturday – TUFC V Dagenham & Redbridge @ Plainmoor (15.00 KO)
Plainmoor hosts football for the first time in 2022 as Dagenham head to the Bay. 6 points over the Christmas period means the Gulls head into the clash in 13th place, with their opponents in a similar rich vein of form, including a double festive win over lowly Dover. The Daggers were the only side to record a league double over United last season as a 1-0 win at Plainmoor was enough for the win back in December 2020.
Torquay will be looking to get the year off to a flyer as they look to threaten those play-off places.
Saturday – Wimborne Town U18’s v TUFC Youth U18’s @ The Blandford School (11.00 KO)
The young Gulls are back in action in the Gary Else Memorial League Cup with a trip to Wimborne. The two sides have a 100% record in this cup with 3 wins from 3 heading into this crucial Group B encounter.
Sunday – TUFC Women v Middlezoy Women @ Speedwell Stadium, Stoke Gabriel FC (14.00 KO)
Grant’s ladies first test of the year starts with a home clash over Somerset side Middlezoy. Torquay sit middle of the pile in 5th place with a 4-4-1 record, and will look to apply pressure to the top teams.
Sunday – TUFC Women v Activate Ladies @ GJ Churchward Memorial Ground (14.00 KO)
It’s a big top of the table clash to start of 2022 as 100% United face an Activate side with an equal 100% record. 6 wins from 6 has put both teams in great stead for the latter half of the season as they try to achieve promotion.
Birthdays
Aman Verma – 35
The ex Gull will celebrate his 35th birthday on Monday. The Leicester born midfielder was a crucial part of Nicholson’s great escape, scoring the second goal of the 2-0 win over North Ferriby to keep us up.
Krystian Pearce – 32
Barbados international Pearce will turn 32 on Wednesday. Spells with Mansfield, Solihull, Boreham Wood and now Hereford succeeded his time at Plainmoor.
Paul Cox – 50
It’s the big 5-0 for former United gaffer Paul Cox on Thursday. He is currently managing National League North side Kettering Town.
Guy Branston – 43
The loveable ‘Branno’ will celebrate his 43rd on Sunday. In a glittering career which saw him turn out for numerous clubs, the big centre back played his way into TUFC legendary status with his string of fine performances under Buckle. He was announced in the ‘League Two Team of the Year’ in 2011 before moving onto Bradford. Happy Birthday Guy!
On this day……
5th January 2018 – Gary Johnson’s men record their 10th straight league win with a 4-0 demolition of Slough. Second half goals from Wynter, Andrews, Keating and Hall.
6th January 2014 – The legendary Chris Hargreaves returns to Plainmoor, as he is appointed manager following the sacking of Alan Knill.
7th January 2006 – Torquay host Premier League Birmingham City in the FA Cup 3rd round. With United struggling in League Two, the FA Cup provided rest-bite as wins over Harrogate & Notts County set up the glamorous tie. City were struggling themselves sitting 2nd bottom in the top tier, but fielded a very strong side, including former England internationals, Jermaine Pennant, Nicky Butt and Emile Heskey. United held them to a well-deserved 0-0, and it could have been better for United, had Steve Woods effort hit the net, instead of the bar.
9th January 1988 – Torquay travel to FA Cup holders, Coventry City in the FA Cup third round. We lose out 2-0 with goals from Brian Kilcline & Cyrille Regis.
3rd January 1977 – After just 8 seconds into a match against Cambridge, United defender scores an own goal, and with it gets himself into the world record books with the Fastest own goal ever scored. A record that stands to this day.
8th January 1969 – Allan Brown is appointed manager of Torquay.
9th January 1965 – Torquay 3-3 Spurs. See ‘A trip down memory lane’.
7th January 1956 – Torquay are knocked out the FA Cup after a 7-1 thrashing by Birmingham. This remains the Gulls biggest defeat in the competition.
4th January 1930 – A bumper crowd of 12,782 fill Plainmoor to witness United kick off the decade. They are defeated 4-1 by Coventry.
6th January 1900 – The first match of the century is a friendly with Paignton. The match is abandoned after 30 minutes. Weather? Crowd trouble?
A trip down memory lane..
Torquay 3-3 Tottenham Hotspur
Saturday 9th January 1965 – FA Cup Third Round
Venue: Plainmoor
Attendance: 20,000+
22 years before that famous 1-0 win over Spurs, United produced a fantastic display to hold the Division 1 heavyweights to a 3-3 draw. This was a star-studded Spurs side including Alan Gilzean, Alan Mullery, future Gulls manager Cyril Knowles, and of course, the late great Jimmy Greaves.
I’d love to be able to talk you through the match, but I wouldn’t do it justice. Instead, below are some fantastically written articles about that special day…..
http://www.theprsd.co.uk/2012/09/16/torquays-other-history-up-at-plainmoor/
https://torquayfansforum.co.uk/thread/11563/torquay-utd-spurs-cup-1965
TORQUAYTALK 
come on Danny give us the magic blue line re the Yeovil away game so that we can all access your match report regards Steve
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