TT BLOG

Thomas Kelly – @tommyktufc

TT Blog

Many supporters talk about starting the season on the back of a playoff final defeat and subsequent playoff hangovers affecting the starts of the season. Us Gulls’ fans have plenty of experience overcoming a summer of promotion disappointment. Here’s a look back at United’s record over the years of playoff disappointment and how our following seasons unfolded…

1997/98: COLCHESTER 1-0 TORQUAY UTD

1998/99 – 20TH PLACE

After falling to defeat to Colchester at Wembley, Torquay were set for a turbulent summer in 1998. Manager Kevin Hodges left the club via the A38 to join local Division 3 rivals Plymouth Argyle.

In stepped former player Wes Saunders with the challenge to bounce back from the play-off final defeat and set United up for another promotion push to the 2nd Division. Unfortunately for Wes and much to the disappointment of the Yellow Army, on July 17th 1998, beloved striker Rodney Jack was sold to Division 1 side Crewe Alexandra for a club record £650,000, leaving United without their top goalscorer from last season.

Torquay started the season with a 1-0 home defeat to Cambridge United, but did record victories away at Rochdale and victory in the Devon Derby at home to Exeter City.

Then United toiled. Just one league win in seventeen followed, a 3-1 win at home to Brentford and a 1-0 win in the FA Cup away at Worcester City our only blessing.

Our fortunes changed in December when the Gulls went unbeaten in six, breaking the rot with victory over Hull City in front of 2,033 at Plainmoor & victory over Fulham in the Auto Windscreens Shield.

It was also at this time that United signed former Premiership goalkeeper Neville Southall to TQ1. His experience in between the sticks proving invaluable to the Gulls quest to stay in the Football League.

For the second half of the season, United were consistently inconsistent and despite ending the season with consecutive defeats to Hull & Shrewsbury, Torquay finished the season in 20th place, just 5 points above Scarborough, who succumbed to relegation to a legendary last minute Jimmy Glass winner for Carlisle United at home to Plymouth Argyle, which saved them from relegation.

2010/11 – STEVENAGE BOROUGH 1-0 TORQUAY UNITED

2011/12 – 5th (Play Off Semi-Final Defeat)

Similar to 1998, United were quickly on the hunt for a new manager as after defeat to Stevenage Borough in front of a sparse Old Trafford crowd of only 11,000, Paul Buckle, who had led the Gulls back into the Football League after only two seasons and our 3rd play off finish in four years, was heading up the M5 to recently relegated Bristol Rovers, taking Scott Bevan & Chris Zebroski with him.

In came former Leyton Orient manager Martin Ling, who took the reins in the dugout on June 13th 2011. As the old Grandstand was about to be torn down, Martin got to work, bringing in players such as Bobby Olejnik, Brian Saah, Rene Howe, Joe Oastler & Ian Morris to the club.

Torquay began the season with a 2-2 home draw to Burton Albion, before the small matter of a trip to the Mem (ft Clem) as the Yellow Army reacquainted themselves with Paul Buckle. It would prove to be one of the great away day memories as Torquay deservedly beat Rovers 2-1 with goals from Taiwo Atieno & a Rene Howe penalty sending the Yellow Army home in delight.

United did experience a difficult spell from the middle of September, failing to win in a run of eight games, including a 5-2 home defeat to Gillingham, however, things were about to change.

Torquay went on a monster run of form. In the League, Untied would lose just once in a run of sixteen league games, winning thirteen, drawing twice and a sole defeat away to Accrington Stanley the only blemish.

Included in this run was the double over Argyle, a 3-1 home win (including Eunan O’ Kanes wonder goal) and a famous 2-1 away win at Home Park in front of over 2,000 of the Yellow Army as well as ending Swindon Towns 15 game unbeaten run on Boxing Day, managed under Pablo Di Canio. United bowed out of the FA Cup in a spirited away performance at Sheffield United, losing 3-2 in the Second Round Proper.

United were looking set for promotion to League 1, things were looking so good. Martin Ling won Manager of the Month for the second time in March. Surely it wouldn’t be typical Torquay again?

Typical Torquay United…..

A 1-0 victory against Accrington Stanley at Plainmoor would prove to be our last. Subsequent draws to Oxford United & Southend United were followed up with a 2-0 defeat at Kingsmeadow to AFC Wimbledon.

United’s automatic promotion hopes were on the brink.

In the penultimate game of the season, promotion rivals Crawley Town fell to a shock defeat to relegation threatened Hereford United. All United need to do was ensure victory over Crewe which would have put United in control of their own destiny.

Instead, a Nick Powell 90th minute equaliser saw Torquay fall out of the automatic promotion spots on goal difference and defat on the final day to Hereford United, who fell out of the Football League despite victory sealed our fate.

Crawley beat Accrington 1-0 to secure promotion to League One, whilst Torquay ended the season in 5th place.

The Gulls faced Cheltenham Town, where we ran out of steam. A 2-0 defeat at Whaddon Road and a 2-1 defeat at Plainmoor left United pondering what could have been. It would be our final foray in the play-offs as a Football League Club and the following season saw the beginning of our clubs decline back into non-league football.

2020/21 – HARTLEPOOL UNITED 1-1 TORQUAY UNITED (LOST ON PENALTIES)

2021/22 – 11th

Ashton Gate still hurts and continues to haunt many of the Yellow Army, you don’t need me to remind you of what happened on that faithful day.

United were left with limited time to recover and prepare for the new National League season, thanks to the Covid Pandemic causing the delay to the start of the 2020/21 season.

Gary Johnson saw many of his key players depart in the summer, with Aaron Nemane, Ben Whitfield, Kyle Cameron, and Lucas Covolan all moving on. We also saw “Manic Monday”, with the club making a raft of new acquisitions, including Tom Lapslie, Mark Halstead, Klaidi Lolos & Ali Omar to name a few.

How would the defeated play off finalists start the season? Well…poorly.

Torquay looked off the pace in a 3-1 opening day defeat at home to Altrincham before picking up a valiant point away to Kyle Cameron’s Notts County, where despite an early Ali Omar red card, Danny Wright headed the opener before United were pegged back and were able to leave Nottingham with our first point of the season.

Two days later, United were thrashed 4-0 by Woking at Plainmoor with concerns growing United might not be challenging for top honours this season. Gary Johnson’s men did take home 3 points from Maidenhead, however nearly bottled a 4-0 half time lead in the process.

It wasn’t until December until Torquay began to found their form, in a spell of fifteen league games, United would lose only twice and pick up impressive victories over Stockport County, Yeovil Town & Wrexham in that run. The Gulls were slowly climbing up the table with the play-offs still looking an outside chance if the form could be maintained.

A run of four draws in a row in mid-February was followed up with five wins from six, most notably a 5-1 home thrashing of Notts County with Armani Little stealing the show at Plainmoor. A 1-0 away win against Woking had many United fans believing the Play-Offs was a possibility.

Then came the last seven games.

United would experience victory just once more for the rest of the season, a 2-0 home victory over Chesterfield who were doing their very best to bottle a top 7 finish in front of the BT Sport cameras but by then, the damage had been done. Defeat to Grimsby weeks earlier realistically ended our hopes of another play-off campaign weeks, included in that run four draws which summed up the Gulls campaign of frustration.

Torquay seemed to turn up for the better teams in the division, but seemingly struggled to do so against the lesser sides in the National League. Torquay ended the season midtable in 11th place, not something that us Gulls fans are used to experiencing.

It would prove to be Gary Johnson’s final “good season” as the following year, United experienced one of their worst seasons in history with relegation to the National League South, where we look set to begin our fourth consecutive year playing in.

2025/26 – HORNCHURCH 3-2 TORQUAY UNITED (AET)

2026/27: ?

History doesn’t make for good viewing when it comes to bouncing back from play-off final heartbreak, however under Jimmy Ball and the signings he has made, I’m cautiously optimistic that United will put the defeat in Essex swiftly behind them and make another good go at winning the league this season.

Jimmy worked wonders to even get us within minutes of promotion to the National League and with a full summer under his belt and his opportunity to build the squad he wants, my disappointment of only a few months ago has me believing that this could be our season. No doubt it will be another tightly contested division with the likes of Dagenham & Dorking looking to improve.

Is it coming home this season Yellow Army?

Let’s hope so!

Enjoy the pre-season & COYY