Torquay United Fans Forum

Spurs 2-2 Chelsea (k/o 12:45)
Liverpool 3-0 Reading
West Ham 2-0 Southampton
Derby 2-1 Blackburn
Huddersfield 1-1 Wolves
Burnley 1-3 Blackpool
Hartlepool 1-2 Crawley
Preston 2-2 Sheffield Utd
Morecambe 0-1 Southend
York 2-1 Dag and Red

Bristol Rovers 1-0 Torquay (Half time)
Bristol Rovers 1-1 Torquay (Full time)
First Torquay scorer: Bodin

Out of interest Dubgull, what hotel did you stay in

We stayed in the Imperial. Nice hotel and handy for a quick stagger home.

Hello, I did put this in the Accrington match thread but really should have created a new thread so, here goes.

Well, the Irish Gulls made it to the game and I have to say we had a blinding day/weekend. We arrived on Friday afternoon and discovered we were staying in the same hotel as the Accies. Plans were concocted straight away to keep them awake that night but we never followed through on it. Too busy out and about, laughing at Ireland's attempts to match Germany and generally getting p*ssed. A good night.

Had a bit of banter at the hotel with Paul Cook just before leaving for the ground, had photos taken with him etc. He then asked how many of us were going to the ground. 10 came the reply. "Ah, sorry lads. I haven't got room for all of you, otherwise we'd give you a lift." What a gent. Lovely bloke. His day didn't turn out all bad as his old charges in Sligo clinched the league on Saturday.

We got to the ground for 2 and after buying our tickets we popped into Boots & Laces and had a couple before kick off. We got a mention from Simon Baker in the programme, which one or two of the lads spotted, offering to meet us before the game. I thought they were taking the piss and didn't really bother to read it til after the game. When I read it properly (back in B&L after the game) a few of us ran around to the players and officials bar upstairs. Unfortunately he'd already left but we were greeted by another director (Brian Palk) and he introduced us to Martin Ling. Nice fella, cue more photos. Brian's a fine photographer!

We really enjoyed the game. It was great to watch a game of football without players diving all over the shop. It was good honest stuff, a breath of fresh air. How we didn't get 6 I don't know. The ground itself has changed a fair bit since I was last there but it looked great. We also got our flag up behind the goal at the away end, just in time for Rene's penalty. We gave it a good cheer when the goals were played back on Sky in the bar afterwards!

After a bit of dinner we gave it a good lash again and some of us ended up in Back to the 80s down by the harbour. And who should be next to us having a few pints with his mates only Mr Ling! More hand shaking.

All in all, we really had a great weekend. Really enjoyed being in Torquay again and the whole match experience was the icing on the cake. We'll be doing our best to get back sooner rather than later.

Well, the Irish Gulls made it to the game and I have to say we had a blinding day/weekend. We arrived on Friday afternoon and discovered we were staying in the same hotel as the Accies. Plans were concocted straight away to keep them awake that night but we never followed through on it. Too busy out and about, laughing at Ireland's attempts to match Germany and generally getting p*ssed. A good night.

Had a bit of banter at the hotel with Paul Cook just before leaving for the ground, had photos taken with him etc. He then asked how many of us were going to the ground. 10 came the reply. "Ah, sorry lads. I haven't got room for all of you, otherwise we'd give you a lift." What a gent. Lovely bloke. His day didn't turn out all bad as his old charges in Sligo clinched the league on Saturday.

We got to the ground for 2 and after buying our tickets we popped into Boots & Laces and had a couple before kick off. We got a mention from Simon Baker in the programme, which one or two of the lads spotted, offering to meet us before the game. I thought they were taking the piss and didn't really bother to read it til after the game. When I read it properly (back in B&L after the game) a few of us ran around to the players and officials bar upstairs. Unfortunately he'd already left but we were greeted by another director (Brian Palk) and he introduced us to Martin Ling. Nice fella, cue more photos. Brian's a fine photographer!

We really enjoyed the game. It was great to watch a game of football without players diving all over the shop. It was good honest stuff, a breath of fresh air. The ground itself has changed a fair bit since I was last there but it looked great. We also got our flag up behind the goal at the away end, just in time for Rene's penalty. We gave it a good cheer when the goals were played back on Sky in the bar afterwards!

After a bit of dinner we gave it a good lash again and some of us ended up in Back to the 80s down by the harbour. And who should be next to us having a few pints with his mates only Mr Ling! More hand shaking.

All in all, we really had a great weekend. Really enjoyed being in Torquay again and the whole match experience was the icing on the cake. We'll be doing our best to get back sooner rather than later.

To give Paul Cook his due, he's managed Sligo Rovers over here for the last 5 years and they've won the cup twice and played some good football along the way. Ian Barrowclough took over from him at the start of this season and they pretty much have the league sown up (the League of Ireland season runs from March to November). He himself was a good ball player in his day so I'd expect Accrington to play decent football. Not this week with any luck though.

I'm told the flag has been purchased and so will be making an appearance this Saturday
Weather permitting of course

Just rang the club and they reckon the game will go ahead and the pitch is no worse than on Tuesday. They said to ring again tomorrow afternoon.
Fingers, toes and nadgers crossed

While i'm on here, any recommendations for decent pubs in Torquay itself? We're arriving at around 4pm tomorrow and staying til Sunday. I've marked out a few places to visit but any thoughts from anyone on here welcome!

Oh please let this be on. We've been organising this trip with military precision for weeks!

Rain, I command thee - STOP!!

I know what you're saying MidDevon. Some people will object to a tricolour in a ground and that's the reason for bringing it up here before we did. I wouldn't normally wear any colours to a match in the UK simply for my own safety (we're talking Prem League here) but from what I've read and heard about going to Plainmoor it's not something I'd have to worry about. In our case we're bringing it to show the Gulls have some Irish supporters, nothing more nothing less. The whole Celtic/Hibs thing, well, that's a whole different ball game. Religious connotations etc. No thanks.

Waterlogged pitch? Any danger of Saturdays game being called off?

Heard about the whistle incident We'll steer clear of any of that craic don't worry.

I've opened a thread in the Ice Breaker section of the forum to explain how myself and my brother started following Torquay. This weekend is to celebrate his 50th birthday and we've roped in some mates to help us on our way so really the Dublin branch consists of just the 2 of us, although it'll be my best mates second time to watch the Gulls as we went to the Ebbsfleet game at Wembley a few years back and he keeps his eye on the results now too. We're heading over on Friday afternoon to get ourselves warmed up Can't wait!

Hi, there a group of us travelling to the Accrington game this weekend from Dublin and we were wondering if bringing an Irish flag into the ground with us would be frowned upon? We'll be on the Popside but we'll leave it behind if anyone thinks its a bad idea. Opinions and comments welcome

Hi, been a regular visitor to the forum without actually registering. Finally done it

First things first, I am a lifelong Chelsea supporter (I'm 42), and have been through lots of ups and downs over the years. In lots of ways the last 15 years or so made following CFC through relegations, promotions, selling our best players etc in previous years worth all the pain and misery. My problem with it all now is top level football has been ruined by money and greed. SKY started it all as far as I'm concerned and the Premier League really has become a circus, full of clowns, a fair few animals and a fair number of one trick ponies. Chelsea, while I still love them and always will, are not the club I started supporting and I feel a little bit removed from them in some way. Too many badge kissers earning far too much wonga. Ridiculous though it may sound, I sometimes long for the days of Nevin, Speedie and Dixon and the unpredictability of it all but that's me. I'm more interested in the entertainment and the feeling that the club is still mine. It's not. It's Russian. It's not the same.

So where do Torquay fit into all this? I was on holidays there in around 76 with my brother and the folks and there was a pre-season friendly on in Plainmoor while we were there so off we went. I could look it up somewhere but from memory it was a 1-1 draw against Norwich. I think Colin Lee played in that game (later to join CFC). And that was the start of it. We were back there on hols in 85 (ish) and got to see another friendly. Again memory tells me it was a 3-0 win against Bristol City but someone may tell me otherwise. I've always kept on eye on the teams results down the years but myself and my brother really picked up our interest again when they were relegated in 03/04 back to League 2 and thereafter out of the league altogether. I thought the team would really struggle to get back in but happily I was proved wrong. Myself and my mate went to the Trophy final at Wembley against Ebbsfleet a few years ago. Fantastic experience despite the result. The game didn't go our way but I can honestly say we were hoarse from the singing by the end of it. That doesn't happen at Chelsea anymore. It gets too quiet at times. The fans have had it so good over the last while that they've become complacent and I can guarantee you that if it all went pear shaped tomorrow, most of those fans won't be seen for dust.

So I can safely say that Torquay are close to my heart. It's real football with real supporters and it reminds me of what top flight football has ceased to be. A game for the people, played by fellas the man on the terrace can identify with. It might sound a bit patronising but that's how it is to me.

I'm coming to the Accrington game on Saturday for my third visit, 27 years after the last, and I can't wait. There'll be 10 of us travelling from Dublin and I'll have my old away shirt on. The brother will have his 70s TU shirt on. We plan to be on the Popside (and in the pub beforehand) so please say hello if you see us. We're a friendly bunch!

COYY!

Gary

Well it's good to see you all so upbeat about the game on Saturday
I'll be coming along to Plainmoor for the first time in over 25 years to see the lads play and I'm hoping that there's a big reaction to last week's defeat. There'll be 10 of us travelling from Dublin and we plan to be on the Popside, singing voices at the ready. A pint or two in Boots and Laces for the warm up will help. I've been counting down the weeks for this trip so no more negative talk please, we're going to WIN! COYY!!