ON THIS DAY

Bristow’s Bench is formally opened by Tony Pulis and Helen Chamberlain

Since it was first opened 13 years ago, Bristow’s Bench remains as a permanent reminder of the commitment to the club shown by former director Paul Bristow.

An ardent supporter of the club since childhood, Lottery winner Paul Bristow joined the Alex Rowe led consortium who bought out former chairman Mike Bateson in the summer of 2007, in the wake of their relegation from the Football League for the first time ever.

Two years later, the Gulls secured promotion from the Blue Square Premier with a 2-0 win over Cambridge United at Wembley, with Paul proudly watching on alongside his fellow boardroom colleagues.

In the summer of 2009, Paul was appointed as vice-chairman, but unfortunately it was a role he would only hold for a year as he sadly passed away in 2010. However, it was far from being the end of the Bristow’s involvement with the club, as his widow, Thea, joined the board.

To commemorate Paul’s contribution to the club, the United board, now led by chairman Simon Baker, decided to replace the club’s old grandstand, which had stood since 1927, with a new structure which would be named ‘Bristow’s Bench’ in his memory.

Constructed was completed in time for the start of the 2012-13 campaign, and it was officially opened before a pre-season friendly with Stoke City, then of the Premier League, by Thea, celebrity United fan Helen Chamberlain and Potters’ manager Tony Pulis.

The match in question finished 1-1 with Matt Etherington opening the scoring with an effort that was later accredited as an Aaron Downes own goal before Billy Bodin replied for the Gulls.

During his reign as chairman, Bateson had replaced each of the three other sides of the ground, but the construction of ‘The Bench’ gave Plainmoor a more complete look.

As well as housing the ability to accommodate nearly 2,000 Gulls fans, a press bench and a PA Box, ‘The Bench’ offers a unique eye-catching view of the Torbay skyline with Dartmoor in the distant background.

From ‘The Bench’ you can also see a flag at the back of the Pop Side which reads ‘One Paul Bristow’. There certainly was and his name will be known to generations of Gulls fans to come.

Here’s a few of the highs and lows that ‘The Bench’ has witnessed since it was opened.

• ‘The Bench’ opens with a 1-1 draw with Premier League side Stoke City on August 6, 2012.

• The Gulls clinched survival mathematically certain on the final day of the 2012-13 season with a 3-3 draw against Bristol Rovers.

• United complete a second ‘great escape’ under Kevin Nicholson with a 2-0 win over North Ferriby United on the last day of the 2016-17 campaign.

• A 2-0 win over Eastbourne Borough in April 2019 sees the Gulls sealed the 2018-19 National League South title, their first since 1927, under Gary Johnson.

• United fight back to draw 2-2 with League One side Derby County in the FA Cup first round in November 2022.

• Despite drawing 1-1 with National League champions Wrexham, United are relegated from the National League for a second time on the final day of the 2022-23 season.

• A sell out crowd see Torquay United face Plymouth in a July 2024 pre-season friendly, with the Bryn Consortium addressing the Yellow Army after their takeover.

• The 2024-25 campaign ends in play-off heartache for the Gulls, as they lose 1-0 to Boreham Wood in their National League South play off semi-final.