Torquay United v Scunthorpe United - 5/4/14

[stefano]

And what a cracking game at home to Swansea in the play-off final second leg, with Lee Sharpe coming off the bench to inspire a great fight back. That man Caldwell headed a goal in the 66th minute that will be remembered by all that were there; maybe the greatest feeling of elation to hit Plainmoor in years (discounting a certain McNichol strike a year previously). But the lovely mild-mannered Paul Raynor once again haunted us as he managed to rouse his Swansea troops and the game finally passed us by. What might've been if we'd managed to get promoted that season...?

Great season though; beating Bristol City in the cup, getting robbed at Coventry. Reaching the semi-final of the Sherpa Van Trophy. Games against Spurs in the League Cup.

And for those who feel that all is gloom at the moment; remember this season came straight after the last gasp escape the previous year...

Yes Swansea was a cracking tie, and I think it was the last year that the play-off final was played over 2 legs before being switched to Wembley. 2-1 down from first leg, we quickly went 2-0 down at home to be 4-1 down on aggregate. Enter Lee Sharpe from the subs bench who dragged us back to 2-2 only for Swansea to nick another before half-time. Then Caldwell header to make it 3-3 and after that he hit the post with another header. Great memories.

A bloke who is now a good friend living in the same town as me scored in both legs for Swansea. He never mentions it!

He is now a first team coach at Argyle. Several years ago I gave him, Paul Wotton, and Mick Heathcote a lift back home after Argyle had beaten us at Plainmoor. They never mentioned it either!

[tomogull]

Yes Swansea was a cracking tie, and I think it was the last year that the play-off final was played over 2 legs before being switched to Wembley. 2-1 down from first leg, we quickly went 2-0 down at home to be 4-1 down on aggregate. Enter Lee Sharpe from the subs bench who dragged us back to 2-2 only for Swansea to nick another before half-time. Then Caldwell header to make it 3-3 and after that he hit the post with another header. Great memories.

A bloke who is now a good friend living in the same town as me scored in both legs for Swansea. He never mentions it!

He is now a first team coach at Argyle. Several years ago I gave him, Paul Wotton, and Mick Heathcote a lift back home after Argyle had beaten us at Plainmoor. They never mentioned it either!

Ha - one of my memories of that Swansea game was Dave Caldwell taking out a Swansea player (was it Richard Money?) very early in the game, certainly within the first five minutes. The player was stretchered off - it was definitely a red card offence but because it happened so early in the game, I think the ref was reluctant to show a red card. Do you remember the incident as I do Stefano ?

[stefano]

Ha - one of my memories of that Swansea game was Dave Caldwell taking out a Swansea player (was it Richard Money?) very early in the game, certainly within the first five minutes. The player was stretchered off - it was definitely a red card offence but because it happened so early in the game, I think the ref was reluctant to show a red card. Do you remember the incident as I do Stefano ?

I can remember something happening but didn't get a good look at it as it was some distance away, me sitting in the Family Stand with 3 of my 4 children (all married with children now but not old enough to drink alcohol then!). Doesn't time fly?!!! :-|

[chunkygull]

Oh guys, stop it, im welling up, good old days, wonderful memories! My first full season watching Torquay, I was 12. That year under Cyril and the 03/04 season are my all time favourites supporting the Gulls.

I remember being gutted at the last day home loss to Scunthorpe, raining heavily, what an atmosphere and what a complete turn around in circumstances from exactly a year earlier (Bryn the police dog/Dobbo). We didnt quite throw everything at them that day as we usually did. It was another one of those end of seasons that prompted a few long term supporters to proclaim that we had thrown it away on purpose because the club didnt want promotion.

It did make it a little more bitter 8 days later when we beat them 2-1 in the play off game, a lovely hot, sunny day and I remember it well, things like Caldwell getting chopped in the throat and Cyril getting sent off for going on the pitch and having a go.

The Play Off Final 1st leg vs Swansea was my first ever away game, I bunked off school and went with my mates and their Dad. He was on some sort of supporters and club volunteers commitee at the time and we went on the coach with commitee members, players wags and TUFC apprentices. A great adventure!

I was sat with Swansea supporters up at the Vetch in a brand new stand behind the goal which seemed way too high and very steep, it felt like if you leaned forward you could easily take a flyer off it.You could see the Torquay lot up the other end behind the goal and it seemed like miles away. The fans we sat with were good as gold I must admit.

Calwell was sub and got no end of abuse when he came on. We were 2-0 down and their veteran Tommy Hutchinson was running the show, we were well optimistic for the 2nd leg after pulling a goal back, overhauling 2-1 was do-able. The 2nd leg as mentioned earlier was a cracker, but a real choker. I cant remember why Lee Sharpe was only a sub that day though in what was his last game for us before moving to Man Utd.

How that team didnt get promoted I will never know! Any conspiracy theorists?

Anyway, great days, I havent known many atmospheres like that era at Plainmoor since really, apart from maybe with the Leroy teams from 02-05.

I've always had a twang of bitterness towards Scunthorpe because of the last day 2-1 defeat in 88 and a little bit because of the 8-1. How I would love us to beat them this week and go on a roll this Saturday!

Always be optimistic!


Last game 87/88 -
[youtube]WR0576zlJSE[/youtube]


8 days later -
[youtube]csHwQZBsQl8[/youtube]

Check out caldwell hassling the defence after
his goal, how we could do with a forward like that!
[youtube]UXjK0b4TOIw[/youtube]

Cyril kickin' ass and takin' names!
[youtube]18rt-LVM5cU[/youtube]

Even Fergie didnt mess with him! :~D

[sam_]

2-1 us, always do alright against the big teams, Rochdale for instance...

[arcadia]

yes we can always dream!

[portugull]

Back from Portugal and bought my tickets online for last 3 home games. This is Torquay United so we will finish the season in a blaze of glory but go down on goal difference!!

Seriously I believe if CH can motivate the players AND pick the right team we can win this match against Scunny.

First game since Morecambe when Geoff Harrop was in charge. Seems a long time ago.

[arcadia]

Back from Portugal and bought my tickets online for last 3 home games. This is Torquay United so we will finish the season in a blaze of glory but go down on goal difference!!

Seriously I believe if CH can motivate the players AND pick the right team we can win this match against Scunny.

First game since Morecambe when Geoff Harrop was in charge. Seems a long time ago.

Geof picked Bodin up front off the striker.

[hector]

Oh guys, stop it, im welling up, good old days, wonderful memories! My first full season watching Torquay, I was 12. That year under Cyril and the 03/04 season are my all time favourites supporting the Gulls.

I remember being gutted at the last day home loss to scunthorpe, raining heavily, what an atmosphere and what a complete turn around in circumstances from exactly a year earlier (Bryn the police dog/Dobbo). We didnt quite throw everything at them that day as we usually did. It was another one of those end of seasons that prompted a few long term supporters to proclaim that we had thrown it away on purpose because the club didnt want promotion.

It did make it a little more bitter 8 days later when we beat them 2-1 in the play off game, a lovely hot, sunny day and I remember it well, things like Caldwell getting chopped in the throat and Cyril getting sent off for going on the pitch and having a go.

The Play Off Final 1st leg vs Swansea was my first ever away game, I bunked off school and went with my mates and their Dad. He was on some sort of supporters and club volunteers commitee at the time and we went on the coach with commitee members, players wags and TUFC apprentices. A great adventure!

I was sat with Swansea supporters up at the Vetch in a brand new stand behind the goal which seemed way too high and very steep, it felt like if you leaned forward you could easily take a flyer off it.You could see the Torquay lot up the other end behind the goal and it seemed like miles away. The fans we sat with were good as gold I must admit.

Calwell was sub and got no end of abuse when he came on. We were 2-0 down and their veteran Tommy Hutchinson was running the show, we were well optimistic for the 2nd leg after pulling a goal back, overhauling 2-1 was do-able. The 2nd leg as mentioned earlier was a cracker, but a real choker. I cant remember why Lee Sharpe was only a sub that day though in what was his last game for us before moving to Man Utd.

How that team didnt get promoted I will never know! Any conspiracy theorists?

Anyway, great days, I havent known many atmospheres like that era at Plainmoor since really, apart from maybe with the Leroy teams from 02-05.

I've always had a twang of bitterness towards scunthorpe because of the last day 2-1 defeat in 88 and a little bit because of the 8-1. How I would love us to beat them this week and go on a roll this Saturday!

Always be optimistic!


Last game 87/88 -
[youtube]WR0576zlJSE[/youtube]


8 days later -
[youtube]csHwQZBsQl8[/youtube]

Check out caldwell hassling the defence after
his goal, how we could do with a forward like that!
[youtube]UXjK0b4TOIw[/youtube]

Cyril kickin' ass and takin' names!
[youtube]18rt-LVM5cU[/youtube]

Even Fergie didnt mess with him! :~D

What wonderful memories and if only our current bunch of wet lettuces only had a fraction of the spirit of that Cyril team, we wouldn't be where we are. And atmosphere at Plainmoor, something lacking for a while to be honest, even during Martin Ling's first successful season, the atmosphere at Plainmoor has been pretty poor.

87/88 is my favourite season, even though we didn't end up going up. I remember it more fondly than even the 03/04 team that did go up, as no team in our history deserved promotion more than that team that season.

We beat Spurs in the League Cup, did the double over Bolton, hammered cup holders Coventry in a 2-0 defeat, got the the semi's of the Sherpa Van or Freight Rover as it may have been, all after 3 seasons as depressing as what we have witnessed the last two years.

That team gave us back a bit of pride that had been missing for so long - stopped us being a laughing stock and I will be forever grateful to Cyril Knowles and also the likes of McNichol, Caldwell, Loram and Dobson among others who characterise that season. Funnily enough, we struggled at home that year, getting more wins away than at home.

[Ian01]

Team for tomorrow should be:-

Rice

O'Connor Peace Downes

Chappell Harding Lathrope Bodin

Stockley Coulhirst Benyon

Scunthorpe certainly won't be expecting that team/formation and I would much rather seeing an attacking formation and let us go hell for leather at them.

[chunkygull]

Would like to see -



----------------- Rice -----------------

---- O'Connor - Pearce - Downes ----

--------------- Lathrope --------------
Chappell - Harding - Craig - Cameron

------------ Bodin ----------------
-------------- Coulhirst ----------------



But it will probably be -

----------------- Rice ---------------

Tonge - Pearce - Downes -Nicholson

Stevens - Harding - Mansell - Bodin

---------- Hawley - Benyon -------------

:no:

If you do the second one and not something like the first one Chris - :slap:

[Robiberto22]

Hopefully Coop will get some game time tomorrow - not that he can make much of a difference to us staying up now but he'd surely be an asset in the conference - don't know much about this Coulthirst but can't be worse than what we got at the moment

best guess for me

...............Rice.....................
o'connor....pearce....downes.....coop or nico/that one from bournmouth/cruise
.......lathrope...manse..............
chappell......bodin.......cameron...
............coulthirst.................

wow i really don't know!

Hopefully we see an attacking team - lets go down kicking and screaming!

[PlainmoorRoar]

Id be stunned if we went 3 at the back, I don't think we should!

Poke/rice
Oconnor Pearce downes young lad or Cooper
Cameron Harding Lathrope Bodin
Coulthirst Stockley

You know there will be long ball, don't see the point of Benyon up there!

[DJ Gull]

-----------------Rice---------------
O'conner Pearce Downs cooper(if fit)

---------Lathrope Manse--------
Cameron ---------------- Boding (If he can be bothered)

----------Stockley Coulthirst.

An attacting 442 With an option of the flanks or attack through the middle, Occasional overlap from the fullbacks with a midfeilder covering. ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK!!! -But be prepared for the Counter

[arcadia]

Hopefully Coop will get some game time tomorrow - not that he can make much of a difference to us staying up now but he'd surely be an asset in the conference - don't know much about this Coulthirst but can't be worse than what we got at the moment

best guess for me

...............Rice.....................
o'connor....pearce....downes.....coop or nico/that one from bournmouth/cruise
.......lathrope...manse..............
chappell......bodin.......cameron...
............coulthirst.................

wow i really don't know!

Hopefully we see an attacking team - lets go down kicking and screaming!

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