It wasn’t so long ago we were anticipating our first night game of the season under the Plainmoor floodlights. Fast forward a couple of months, United play their final home night fixture, and finish the week off with another of the season’s strugglers. Let’s take a look at the week ahead, one which could result in title winning status for the U18’s!
What’s happening this week……..
Tuesday – TUFC v Aldershot @ Plainmoor (19.45 KO)
Plainmoor hosts its final night game of the season as the Shots come to town. The Gulls have drawn their last three at home, and are unbeaten since their first home night game against Solihull back in January.
Mark Molesley’s men have had another disappointing campaign this season sitting just one place outside the drop zone. Although they have a relatively comfortable 9 point gap to Weymouth, nerves will be twitching in the Shot’s camp to ensure they don’t drop down into regional football. A 3-0 home loss to King’s Lynn certainly won’t do them any favours.
Saturday – TUFC v Weymouth @ Plainmoor (15.00 KO)
Take 2 at Plainmoor as another struggler visits TQ1. The afore mentioned Weymouth need a minor miracle if they are to avoid the drop this season. Armstrong & Lewis goals gave the Gulls a crucial 2-1 win pre Christmas which looked very much like a relegation 6 pointer at the time.
Anything less than 6 points from these two games will prove under-achieving for Gary Johnson and his men.
Saturday – TUFC Youth U18’s v New College Swindon U18’s @ South Devon College Sports Centre (10.30 KO)
After securing a victory on Saturday to set up a League Cup final clash with Bridgwater, Todd’s men can make it another weekend to remember by winning the title. The Gulls need one point from their remaining two league games, starting with a home clash against the bottom club. Bring it home lads!
Birthdays
Vincent Dorel – 30
Former goalkeeper Dorel will celebrate his 30th on Monday. The French stopper spent a single season at Plainmoor back in 2017/18 making 36 appearances in all competitions.
Ernie Pym – 87
It would have been Ernie’s 87th birthday on Wednesday. The United legend sits 5th in the all time TUFC goal scoring list, with an incredible 94 goals in all competitions during an 8 year spell. RIP Ernie.
Billy Bodin – 30
It’s another 30th celebration, this time for the former trickster and Welshman Billy Bodin. The winger currently plays for Oxford in League One. He turns 30 on Thursday.
Tony Bedeau – 43
From one winger to another as United great Tony Bedeau turns 43 on Thursday. The former Grenadian international is in great company as he sits 8th in the all time TUFC appearance list. He had two spells at Plainmoor playing a total of 374 times.
On this day……
23rd March 2021 – Johnson’s men record back-to-back wins for the first time in 2021 with a 2-0 home win over Solihull. Andrews & Randell with the goals.
25th March 2018 – Gibraltar international Jake Gosling starts as his country beat Latvia 1-0 in a friendly. He becomes just the sixth player to be capped whilst contracted to Torquay.
21st March 2015 – A Ryan Bowman braces helps Torquay break a 6 game winless run. Kidderminster are defeated 2-1 at Plainmoor.
22nd March 2008 – The Gulls are back to winning wins after beating Stafford Rangers away 2-0. They had lost their previous 3 games, and had no win in 4, severely denting their title hopes.
21th March 2007 – David Graham re-joins the Gulls on loan from Sheffield Wednesday, 3 years after he left Plainmoor for Wigan. The signing was intended to be a last ditch attempt at surviving relegation, however, the fairy-tale would not transpire.
26th March 2005 – Relegation threatened Torquay battle for a very creditable 2-2 draw at Hillsborough. It could have been even better for the Gulls who led 2-0 thanks to strikes from Akinfenwa & Woods.
27th March 1999 – An Eiffon Williams inspired win as the Welshman scores a hat-trick on his debut to beat Hartlepool 3-0 at Plainmoor.
23rd March 1996 – A 16 year old Wayne Thomas makes his first Torquay start after coming through the youth ranks. The Yellows are beaten 3-1 at Colchester.
21th March 1992 – Matt Elliott plays his 158th and final Torquay United game before he is sold to Scunthorpe for £50,000. The Gulls are beaten 2-0 at Orient. 3 days later, a 17 year old Darren Moore makes his debut in a 2-1 home defeat by Birmingham.
As it stood…….(27th March)
2017: The Gulls topsy turvy form was there for all to see as inconsistent results saw them occupy the last relegation spot. Kevin Nicholson’s men were just one point behind old foes Woking, and did have a game in hand. United had 7 games to save being relegated to the National League South for the first time in the club’s history.
2007: It was extremely bleak for the hapless Gulls who sat 10 points from Boston United & ultimate safety. Relegation to the Conference was a matter of when, not if. The club’s 80 year stay in the Football League was coming to a dismal end.
1997: An unassuming 17th place for the Gulls with 7 games left to play. United were in little danger of the drop.
‘A trip down memory lane’
Halifax Town 2-4 Torquay
Saturday 21st March 1987 – Division Four
Venue: The Shay
Attendance : 1,246
Torquay secured a huge win at the Shay in a relegation six pointer. With just 2 points separating the Gulls and bottom side Rochdale, all the pressure was on Stuart Morgan’s men to come away with the three points. Halifax found themselves in a rather un-nerving 17th position.
They ran out comfortable winners that afternoon and never looked like getting beat. This result was vital in the Gulls bid for survival, one which from the help of Bryn, lives in TUFC folklore.
TORQUAYTALK 
Ernie Pym…..a diminutive winger who was a crowd favourite. Ended up as a milkman. No cash flying around for retired soccer players in those days.
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