Easter Monday beckons with the visit of TUFC’s bogey team. Another must-win for the Gulls if they are to have any chance of extending their season beyond the 15th May. The weekend throws up a tasty clash, as well as two cup finals to look forward too, one for the Ladies, and a chance for further silverware for Chris Todd’s lads! I take a look at the upcoming week.
What’s happening this week……..
Easter Monday – TUFC v Eastleigh @ Plainmoor (15.00 KO)
There’s nothing that hasn’t already been said about these final few games. They are simply must wins. Strugglers Eastleigh are the visitors, who often have the upper hand in these fixtures. A very soft penalty in the game post Christmas saw the Spitfires snatch all three points, but points since then, victories have been hard to come by for the Hampshire side, in fact that have managed just 3 more wins, most recently away at Aldershot.
Friday – Exeter City Women v TUFC Women (19.15 KO) @ Devon FA HQ, Coach Road, Newton Abbot
Friday night see’s United take on a strong Exeter side in the Final of the Devon Women’s Premier Cup. After a respectable 4th place finish in the league, the Ladies can cap the season off with Silverware in front of what is likely to be a healthy crowd at Coach Road.
Wins over Ottery St Mary & Liverton have seen them reach this stage with a huge prize up for grabs. If you can, go support the Ladies. Good luck!
Saturday – Grimsby v TUFC (15.00 KO) @ Blundell Park
United make the long trip east in search of another vital 3 points. The hosts currently occupy the last play-off spot and look to be the ones to catch for the final run in. After a strong start, the Mariners tailed off, but results recently have kept them in the play-off hunt. Grimsby comprehensively beat an out of sorts Torquay early on in the season by 3 goals to 1.
Saturday – TUFC Youth U18’s v Bridgwater United U18’s (11.00 KO) @ Fairfax Park, TA6 4TZ
The team can once again claim silverware with a win over Bridgwater in the Gary Else Memorial League Cup. Their opponents finished third in the league, so will prove no walkovers in this match up, to be played at Bridgwater’s Fairfax Park. Good luck!
Birthdays
Dennis Lewis – 97
A week in which marks the 97th birthday of the 2nd top TUFC appearance maker of all time, Dennis Lewis. The Welshman played an incredible 443 times for Torquay in the league, making him the all time top league appearance maker, before his retirement in 1959.
Darren Moore – 48
The former centre back with celebrate his 48th birthday on Friday. Moore, who started his career at Plainmoor, played over 100 times for the Gulls.
Robin Stubbs – 81
Torquay United legends don’t come much bigger than this, as Stubbs turns 81 on Friday. An incredible 133 goals in 263 matches for the Gulls puts him 3rd on the all time TUFC scorer list.
Reuben Hazell – 43
The former full back will turn 43 on Sunday. Reuben played a big part in Leroy’s promotion year.
On this day……
24th April 2021 – Ben Wynter strikes late into injury time to give the 10-man Gulls a 2-2 draw at home to Notts County.
22nd April 2019 – One year and one day after relegation to the NLS was confirmed, Torquay United lift the title in front of the Plainmoor crowd.
21st April 2018 – A 1-1 away draw with Hartlepool seals United’s fate as they are relegated to the National League South, to play regional football for the first time in the club’s history.
21st April 2014 – Goals from Courtney Cameron & Ashley Yeoman give the Yellows a 2-1 win away at Exeter, managing to prolong their relegation back to the Conference for another week.
22nd April 2006 – A 9th minute Martin Phillips goal is enough for the 1-0 win over Wrexham, to keep the hopes of the great escape alive.
23rd April 2002 – After 50 games in charge, Roy McFarland leaves his post as manager.
20th April 1996 – A 1-1 draw is the last point the Gulls gain that season, and thus securing their record low points tally, 29. They are survived from relegation by Stevenage’s inadequate facilities.
18th April 1989 – Torquay beat Wolves 2-0 at Molineux. See ‘A trip down memory lane’.
19th April 1957 – Dennis Lewis’ plays in the last of his 221 consecutive game streak.
18th April 1933 – Outside-Right and Torquay born Ralph Birkett makes his final appearance, before a stellar £1,588 move to Arsenal.
As it stood…….(24th April)
2014: With just two games left of the campaign, United’s grip on League Two was hanging on by a thread. With 6 points to play for, they had to overhaul Bristol Rovers, Wycombe and Northampton, who were all five points better off.
2004: Leroy and his Yellow Brazil team had two games to go, whilst sitting 3 points behind Huddersfield who occupied the last automatic promotion spot.
1994: A strong season for the Gulls who sat in 6th place, and a play off spot, with a couple of games to go.
‘A trip down memory lane’
Wolves 0-2 Torquay
Tuesday 18th April 1989 – Sherpa Van Trophy Semi Final (2nd leg)
Venue: Molineux
Attendance : 22,532
United line up: Allen, Holmes, McNichol, Elliott, Lloyd, Kelly, Morrison, Weston, Loram, Edwards, J. Smith
Cyril Knowles’ Torquay made history by reaching the first cup final at Wembley in the club’s history. The run-away leaders at the top of Division Three recorded a 2-1 victory in the first leg at Plainmoor, and boasted a front line including club legend Steve Bull.
A crowd of over 22,000 expectant Wanderers’ fan were in shock as little ol’ Torquay United from the Fourth Division recorded a fantastic comeback to secure a 3-2 aggregate win. Dean Edwards was first to strike, before Mark Loram completed the turnaround , much to the jubilation of the 400 Gulls fans in attendance.
TORQUAYTALK 
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