Things really are hotting up as we enter the final stretch. Faint play-off hopes are still alive for the Men, as the Youth and Ladies team’s battle for their respective titles. I take a look at the upcoming weeks events.
What’s happening this week……..
Saturday – FC Halifax v TUFC @ The Shay (15.00 KO)
One defeat in 2022 so far tells its own story, as United are forging a reputation for being ‘hard to beat’. Next up is another long away trip, this time to Yorkshire to take on title chasing Halifax. Top scorer Billy Waters will be eager to net past his old team, just like he did back in November. With United 8 points from 7th spot, they can ill-afford to drop too many more points.
The Gulls have a decent record at the Shay, notably winning 2-1 thanks to a late Lemonheigh-Evans strike back in November 2020.
Saturday – TUFC Youth U18’s v New College Swindon (Academy) U18’s @ South Devon College Sports Centre (10.30 KO)
A single point will clinch the title for the young Gulls, after last weeks fantastic top of the table win over Bridgwater. Todd’s men host bottom of the league New College who have won just once all season. But as we all know, football is a funny old game. Keep doing what you have been doing and the crown will be yours. Good luck lads!
Sunday – TUFC Women v AFC St Austell Ladies @ Stoke Gabriel FC, Speedwell Stadium (14.00 KO)
The ladies will be looking to put the Sherborne defeat firmly behind them as they face an equally tough opponent in St Austell. The Cornish side sit in 4th place, just 5 points behind Grant Fisher’s team, with 5 games in hand.
Sunday – Activate Ladies v TUFC Women Development @ Devonport High School for Boys 3G (14.00 KO)
Another huge top of the table clash as first hosts second. The development team’s one and only defeat this season has been at the hands of the Plymouth-based side.
Birthdays
Lee Canoville – 41
41 is up for Lee on Monday. Famed for his trademark right flank runs, the former full back made a big impact at Plainmoor during the Rosenior glory days. The ex-Arsenal youngster went onto to play for Boston, Shrewsbury & Notts County before hanging up his boots in 2013.
Alex Russell – 49
Another one of Leroy’s key men will turn 49 on Thursday. Russell remains a Torquay legend and is rightly listed up their with the midfield greats. In what he lacked in pace, he made up for in intelligence and passing precision. He furthered his career after leaving Plainmoor by playing for a string of south west clubs, including Bristol City, Yeovil & Cheltenham.
Chris McPhee – 39
The former striker will turn 39 on Sunday. McPhee spent two seasons at Plainmoor, albeit 4 years apart, signed by Ian Atkins & Martin Ling respectively.
On this day……
20th March 2021 – A solitary Scott Boden goal gives the Gulls a much needed 1-0 home win over Kings Lynn to end a 4 game (all competitions) winless run.
19th March 2016 – Nathan Blissett’s 80th minute winner over Southport stops it from being a 4th consecutive 0-0. In achieving victory, the Gulls go six unbeaten as they valiantly attempt to escape relegation.
18th March 2014 – Ashley Yeoman strikes in injury time to give the Gulls a priceless 2-1 victory over Bury.
20th March 1993 – Wes Saunders makes his final appearance as a professional footballer, as a knee ligament injury ends his career.
15th March 1988 – Torquay host KB Copenhagen of Denmark in a mid season Tuesday night friendly.
17th March 1984 – Goalkeeper Kenny Allen makes his Gulls debut after signing from Swedish outfit Halmstads BK.
17th March 1971 – The match against Shrewsbury is called off 63 minutes in due to waterlogging. This is the first instance of a match to be abandoned at Plainmoor. 3 days later, Aston Villa travel to the Bay, in their inaugural third division spell. The game ends 1-1.
16th March 1968 – United make their debut appearance on ‘Match of the Day’ as they beat Bury 3-0. Over 10,000 pack inside Plainmoor for this top of the table clash.
17th March 1965 – Robin Stubbs scores a hat trick away at Aldershot, making it 7 goals against the Shots that season. He had previously netted four in the 5-2 Boxing day win at Plainmoor.
19th March 1949 – On loan from QPR, a young Don Mills makes his debut in a 1-1 home draw with Brighton. He would sign permanently for the Gulls 3 years later and go on to make 367 appearances in all competitions, making him 9th in the all time TUFC appearances list.
As it stood…….(20th March)
2018: It was looking perilous for the Gulls as they sat 8 points adrift of safety. Only Chester & Guiseley were worse, as regional football was looming for Gary Ower’s men.
2008: Three straight defeats against Grays, Aldershot & Halifax meant the Gulls slipped down to third in their pursuit of the Blue Square Premier title.
1998: It was looking very rosy for Torquay as they sat in second place in the Division Three table. Any hopes of catching Notts County at the top were fruitless, as they opened up an unassailable 18 point gap, but automatic promotion looked a real possibility.
‘A trip down memory lane’
Torquay 3-0 Cambridge
Saturday 20th March 2004 – Division Three
Venue: Plainmoor
Attendance : 2,975
United line up: Dearden, Canoville, Woods, Taylor, McGlinchey, Rosenior, Hockley, Hill, Kuffour, Graham, Gritton
Subs: Fowler, Wills, Hazzell, Woozley, Van Heusden
One that many might not remember, but one I certainly do, as a young ‘me’ runs out as mascot for our home win over Cambridge.
Proudly taking to the pitch with United legend Craig Taylor, the Gulls made light work of their opponents in pursuit of the Division Three automatic promotion places. Matt Hockley opened the scoring half way through the first half, before Graham made it 2 before the break.
Any hopes of a comeback were thwarted as the potent Scotsman grabbed his second of the game to give the Gulls a very comfortable 3-0 win.
That win advanced the Yellows from 5th to 3rd, level on points with 4th placed Huddersfield with only 9 games to play.
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