TT BLOG

Danny Burnell – @dannyburnell_92

Danny previews the upcoming week, as well as looking at events that happened on this day for the week commencing 22nd August

THE WEEK AHEAD

Saturday – Maidstone v TUFC @ Gallagher Stadium (15.00 KO)

The Gulls’ travel to Kent in their second consecutive away game on Plastic terrain. The Stones were crowned NL South champions last campaign after a two year spell away from the 5th tier. Johnson will no doubt be wishing for a couple of his injured players back, as they look to pick up their 2nd win of the season.

Maidstone enter the game having picked up 4 points from their first 4 games.

PLAYED FOR BOTH

Current Gulls Shaun Donnellan & Ross Marshall had brief spells at the Gallagher Stadium back in 2019, appearing 10 and 21 times respectively for the Stones. Former United defender Michee Efete spent some time on loan at Plainmoor from Norwich, before making a permanent switch to Kent in 2018. Another former Gulls loanee and now on the books at Chesterfield, Joe Quigley, also had spells at both clubs.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT : WES SAUNDERS

Position: Defender

Place of birth: Sunderland

DOB: 23/02/1963

TUFC Stats (all competitions) : 74 appearances, 11 goals

Clubs represented: Newcastle, Bradford, Carlisle, Dundee, Torquay, Spennymoor

Signed by: Dave Smith

Memorable moment: Scored in normal time, and again from the penalty spot as the Gulls beat Blackpool at Wembley to claim promotion to Division Three.

BIRTHDAYS

Chris Todd – The ex Gulls defender was a huge fan favourite in his time at Plainmoor. He will celebrate his 41st birthday on Monday.

Leroy Rosenior – Not many managers have come close to achieving what this man did back in the early 00’s. The ex-gaffer will turn 58 on Wednesday.

Dan Butler – The former Pompey left back missed just one game in his one and only season at Plainmoor. Now at Peterborough, he turns 28 on Friday.

Dan Sparkes – Another left sided player who had just the single season in the Riviera. The Maidenhead winger will celebrate his 31st also on Friday.

ON THIS DAY

24th August 2019 – Jamie Reid scores a belter in front of the BT cameras, as the Gulls claim a 2-0 home win over Aldershot.

24th August 1963 – Robin Stubbs makes his debut in a 1-1 draw against Tranmere.

22nd August 1961 – Reg Jenkins makes history by becoming the first professional player to score for all 3 Devon’s senior clubs. He nets a double as Torquay defeat Grimsby 3-2.

23rd August 1958 – United play their first ever away match in a National division. They win 2-0 at Chester.

27th August 1927 – Torquay host Exeter in their first ever match in the Football League. It ends in a 1-1 draw.

NOSTALGIA STREET

TUFC 5-0 HEREFORD

Date: 25th August 1992

Competition: League Cup

Venue: Plainmoor

Attendance: 2,140

Starting Line-Up: Lowe, Curran, Davis, Saunders, Moore, Joyce, Hall, Foster, Fashanu, Myers, Trollope

Record signing Wes Saunders grabbed himself a hat-trick as Torquay recorded their biggest ever win in the League Cup. The two sides had met a week earlier in the first leg, and played out a 2-2 draw. Fashanu and Foster also on target for the Gulls in a very comfortable evening.