THE REAL GREAT ESCAPE, BRYN THE POLICE DOG ETC, 30 YEARS ON. (Has much really changed.)

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chunkygull
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Post by chunkygull »

Good God almighty, sweet baby Jesus, it was 30 years ago today. Today is my 30th anniversary of supporting The Gulls.

Where on earth has those 30 years gone. Gone inthe blink of an eye. I had just turned 12 and now just turned 42. In another ludicrously fast 30 years I will be 72 :'( :'( That would hopefully mean I have been a TUFC fan for 60 years. :)

As the title asks, has much really changed? Well quite a bit really, a lot has happened, our club has been on many adventures and rollercoaster rides. The ground sure as hell has improved, but has the infrastructure. At least we used to produce our own talent then, at least we did have a good look around for talent, some were even local lads, imagine that, somebody south of Bristol could actually kick a football, who would have thought it.

We are still struggling at the tail end of the season and surviving on the last day, albeit in a lower division. Who knows, back then we had a good few years of struggle and after that 86/87 season just a year later on the last day we came within a whisker of promotion. All it took was bringing in an actual decent manager and without spending much a few tweaks to more or less the same squad. :whistle:

Found this video from our esteemed poster westyorkshiregull. The beginning is a bit surreal watching Tom Kelly get his player of the year award all those years ago, and last Saturday watching him roll back the years in the charity match at Plainmoor. Derek Dawkins also in that clip was also at the game last weekend, great to see those guys again, The Dude being a cult hero and Tom Kelly one of my all time favorite players. Note the players running out from behind the mini stand. (portacabin style dressing rooms)

Anyway, the last 15 minutes is where its all happening, "that goal", watching it now I swear there is a foul in the build up, but mainly the pitch invasion at the end. Incredible. You call that a pitch invasion the other week, pah. This was one for the ages, never seen anything like it since, not even a few months later vs Tottenham. Ahhh memories. :scarf
You are my torquay, my only torquay, you make me happy when skies are grey, you'll never know, just, how much i love you, so don't take my torquay away.
(laa, laa, - laaaa, - la, la, - laa, laa, - laaaa, - la, la. - la,la,la,la,la, - la,la,la,la....).
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Post by westyorkshiregull »

chunkygull wrote: 09 May 2017, 15:12 Good God almighty, sweet baby Jesus, it was 30 years ago today. Today is my 30th anniversary of supporting The Gulls.

Where on earth has those 30 years gone. Gone inthe blink of an eye. I had just turned 12 and now just turned 42. In another ludicrously fast 30 years I will be 72 :'( :'( That would hopefully mean I have been a TUFC fan for 60 years. :)

As the title asks, has much really changed? Well quite a bit really, a lot has happened, our club has been on many adventures and rollercoaster rides. The ground sure as hell has improved, but has the infrastructure. At least we used to produce our own talent then, at least we did have a good look around for talent, some were even local lads, imagine that, somebody south of Bristol could actually kick a football, who would have thought it.

We are still struggling at the tail end of the season and surviving on the last day, albeit in a lower division. Who knows, back then we had a good few years of struggle and after that 86/87 season just a year later on the last day we came within a whisker of promotion. All it took was bringing in an actual decent manager and without spending much a few tweaks to more or less the same squad. :whistle:

Found this video from our esteemed poster westyorkshiregull. The beginning is a bit surreal watching Tom Kelly get his player of the year award all those years ago, and last Saturday watching him roll back the years in the charity match at Plainmoor. Derek Dawkins also in that clip was also at the game last weekend, great to see those guys again, The Dude being a cult hero and Tom Kelly one of my all time favorite players. Note the players running out from behind the mini stand. (portacabin style dressing rooms)

Anyway, the last 15 minutes is where its all happening, "that goal", watching it now I swear there is a foul in the build up, but mainly the pitch invasion at the end. Incredible. You call that a pitch invasion the other week, pah. This was one for the ages, never seen anything like it since, not even a few months later vs Tottenham. Ahhh memories. :scarf

Yes chunky...30 years ago incredible. I was there as a 8 year old and never realised at time just how special it was.

Remember my dad telling me the players and fans were doing the conga down the seafront in the evening??

Tom Kelly rock solid and has never seemed to age
Loram being loram ...great skill
Walsh ...never seen such a stick insect player
Mann and Myers...kids in a man's world...
Dobson just a goal machine

Dust and screaming....

Here is a edited video with news paper cuttings...the YouTube copyrighte people have banned it because of the music.. .if you have a vpn for outer Mongolia it may work else I'll edit the video with other music Thursday and send a link mate ....

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Post by chunkygull »

Awesome. I didnt know the story about the conga. All I know is what I put in the first post about grown men getting tearful, players and manager getting chaired and round the back of the mini stand players chatting with us and supping a few cans. I think it was so emotional because all were resigned to us being out of the league and out of nowhere it all changed. Like I said it was my first game and I still havent seen anything like it at Plainmoor since. We had a few fans on the pitch celebrations which were great atmospheres, such as vs Spurs 87, West Ham 90, a last day game vs Gillingham in 93 I think(Neil Warnock had kept us up, TUFC and Gills fans mingled and sang football songs together, it was tremendous). The night vs Scarborough in 98 was a great atmosphere in the stands that came damn close to being the best I have seen, but nothing comes close to at the end of the 87 game vs Crewe.

Could any of the very nice and extremely brilliant admin chaps remind me how to directly post a working video from youtube instead of just a link please. Its either not working or I have forgotten how to do it correctly. Thanks
You are my torquay, my only torquay, you make me happy when skies are grey, you'll never know, just, how much i love you, so don't take my torquay away.
(laa, laa, - laaaa, - la, la, - laa, laa, - laaaa, - la, la. - la,la,la,la,la, - la,la,la,la....).
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Post by westyorkshiregull »

[BBvideo=560,315][/BBvideo]Ditto all that chunky

The next game at plainmoor was against Wrexham where we battered them 6 -1 I thimk. This was first game next season , captain Cyril with a few hard men added to squad most definitely gave us a hard edge to our game. It was a tough squad we had 87 / 88. Stuart Morgan must have some credit as for sure he did start to assemble a good basis year before. It was indeed Stuart Morgan who signed a certain Lee Sharpe before he left also.

1985 to 1990 was my era as a young lad attending every game.

For me the Crewe match fits the bill as the mother of all games, close followed by Barnet 2001

I do remember I'm sure the players outside the redcliffe hotel on seafront before the Crewe match. I assume a pre match meal ?
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Post by chunkygull »

Those first few years as a young fan I was totally spoilt. 87/88 was my first season and at that game vs Wrexham when they went - 1-0 up in no time all around were sighing and exclaiming here we go again. Nobody could believe it when we scored 3, let alone 6. Chants of nice one Cyril and my fave song YOU ARE MY TORQUAY. Where we used to stand in the grandstand enclosure just near where the guy used to film the videos just behind up in the seating was where the directors and guests were sat. There that day was an actor called Paul Shane who starred in the comedy He De Hi, which was a big BBC comedy at the time. Even he was out of his seat cheering a few of the goals. Dont know if its just because I was a kid and it was early days and nostalgia clouds your judgement but rarely has it seemed as great as it did during those first few seasons I went to Plainmoor. Once we got promoted in 91, then relegated in 92 it all seemed to go downhill from there.
You are my torquay, my only torquay, you make me happy when skies are grey, you'll never know, just, how much i love you, so don't take my torquay away.
(laa, laa, - laaaa, - la, la, - laa, laa, - laaaa, - la, la. - la,la,la,la,la, - la,la,la,la....).
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Post by westyorkshiregull »

Guys these people are down next week on the 12th December. I have been in contact with the 2 producers for last year with footage from game and the original match day programme. I'm not sure if I can make game even though I've been offered travel and hotel for interviews ect. I know chunkygull would be a good contributer. They ate asking for any help next Tuesday at plainmoor for interviews ECT.
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Post by spurs65 »

I was at that Crewe game.Sat next to Upton Athletic legend ,Ivor Bastow.I took into the Mini Stand the biggest VHS Video camera that was on the market in those days and it was sat on my shoulder all afternoon.I have the whole game,player of the year presentation,the popside slowly filling up,Dobbo sticking it into the net just yards away,and the crazy celebration at the end.Any United fan watching the near 2 hours will need fresh underpants because it is still gripping stuff.I have watched it a few times and recently moved all the tapes onto DVD.It holds up well,sound ,colour and swearing,and ends with me being escorted from the ground when the then chairman noticed that I was not with the BBC or ITV.I'll watch the site and see what interest there is in the film,maybe good to be able to travel back in time and see it again all these years on.
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Post by PaulBreen »

Remember my dad telling me the players and fans were doing the conga down the seafront in the evening??

Tom Kelly rock solid and has never seemed to age
Loram being loram ...great skill
Walsh ...never seen such a stick insect player
Mann and Myers...kids in a man's world...
Dobson just a goal machine

Whatever happened to Mario Walsh? His career just faded out into nothingness. And does Jim McNicholl still own a pub or is he long gone back to Scotland?
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Post by PaulBreen »

Didn't quite get that cutting & pasting the quote bit right.
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Post by chunkygull »

Westyorkshiregull, thats a shame as I cant be at Tuesdays game as I work Tuesday nights, would have helped if asked otherwise.
spurs65, would love to see that footage, we were stood right near the official cameraman who stood in the little terrace enclosure in front the grandstand, would be interesting to see it from a different view, especially from behind the goal.
That day is still one of the best, even after 30 years, my first game and still not much has got near it.
You are my torquay, my only torquay, you make me happy when skies are grey, you'll never know, just, how much i love you, so don't take my torquay away.
(laa, laa, - laaaa, - la, la, - laa, laa, - laaaa, - la, la. - la,la,la,la,la, - la,la,la,la....).
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Post by westyorkshiregull »

PaulBreen wrote: 06 Dec 2017, 20:56 Remember my dad telling me the players and fans were doing the conga down the seafront in the evening??

Tom Kelly rock solid and has never seemed to age
Loram being loram ...great skill
Walsh ...never seen such a stick insect player
Mann and Myers...kids in a man's world...
Dobson just a goal machine

Whatever happened to Mario Walsh? His career just faded out into nothingness. And does Jim McNicholl still own a pub or is he long gone back to Scotland?
They were doing the conga down near the clock tower. I know Mario Walsh is now a PE teacher as a few years ago I sent him some torquay united stuff from the 1987 season.
Yep tom Kelly never did seem to age , not seen him for a long time but last time looked 21 still.
Loram was the class in that squad is 1987. Ive so many stories about him as my dad's mate was manager of brixham villa in 1983/84. True class. For me best player in my era, above Russell, graham ect. What if he tried a bit harder??
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Post by westyorkshiregull »

chunkygull wrote: 06 Dec 2017, 21:14 Westyorkshiregull, thats a shame as I cant be at Tuesdays game as I work Tuesday nights, would have helped if asked otherwise.
spurs65, would love to see that footage, we were stood right near the official cameraman who stood in the little terrace enclosure in front the grandstand, would be interesting to see it from a different view, especially from behind the goal.
That day is still one of the best, even after 30 years, my first game and still not much has got near it.
Cool chunky....well I would bite anyone's hand off for any footage from that game above what I've already have.
I was in mini stand and remember the dust , shouting and the last min fun. I can ever remember chewing gum from the cabbage pack kidz....remember that anyone....if I'm saying it right.

I understand Dobson is at game on Tuesday 12th Dec
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Post by wivelgull »

In 54 years of supporting United (and, for the most part except for the last four years being a regular at Plainmoor) I have to say that this match (Crewe) was the greatest of all; yes, even beating the great 3-3 Spurs match, the 3-0 win over Bury on MoTD and, of course, 'The Prince of Plainmoor's' five goals against Newport County that afternoon in the autumn of 1963.
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Post by PaulBreen »

westyorkshiregull wrote: 06 Dec 2017, 21:28 They were doing the conga down near the clock tower. I know Mario Walsh is now a PE teacher as a few years ago I sent him some torquay united stuff from the 1987 season.
Yep tom Kelly never did seem to age , not seen him for a long time but last time looked 21 still.
Loram was the class in that squad is 1987. Ive so many stories about him as my dad's mate was manager of brixham villa in 1983/84. True class. For me best player in my era, above Russell, graham ect. What if he tried a bit harder??
I have heard from ex players that Mark Loram is the best player they ever shared a pitch with. Would love to have seen him play at his peak. All I have ever seen of Torquay live in the flesh is 2006 to now sadly. But there have been some good points along the way - just nothing to match Loram, Dobson, Caldwell, Sharpe etc.
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