Tonight’s football

That's it then. We need to win our remaining three games and hope that Barrow take only one point from their last three, one of which is at home to already relegated Chester. It doesn't really matter what Woking do.

It's not so long ago, fourteen years in fact, that we all sat back in amazement when we won at Southend and then learned that Huddersfield (now in the Premier League) had only drawn, so that we were on our way to what was then briefly known as Division 2. Before that, in 1998, I was at Leyton Orient when a last minute header (I think by Alex Watson) hit the bar when a goal would have secured promotion to what was then also known as Division 2. Four of the bottom five places in that division were occupied by Swansea City, Cardiff City, Hull City and Brighton and Hove Albion.

It really does make you wonder what the hell has happened to our once proud club in such a short space of time, when compared with the progress of other clubs which are currently, or have recently been, at the highest level. Having left the area in 1968 and not returned until my retirement from work in 2011, I have very little idea of the reasons behind this eclipse. Some people say that it is due to an appalling series of financial decisions, led by two owners who had no other interest in the club than to line their own pockets. Others say that the geographical location of the club is the problem in terms of attracting good players.

The club I knew long ago appears to be finished, and I say that with a very heavy heart. The thought that we will now be playing against the likes of Weston Super Mare fills me with not only incredulity, but also a sickening sadness.

My only consolation is that I had the privilege of seeing the best three players in the history of the club, namely Sam Collins, Colin Bettany and Robin Stubbs, and their ghosts will be around Plainmoor long after the club has suffered what now appears to be its death knell. I apologise to younger members of this site if they feel left out by my reference to players of whom they have only heard stories, nevertheless they were the "gods" of the Golden Age of Torquay United Football Club, and it is very difficult for me, whose first match as a supporter was in October 1954, to accept that the club has sunk so far in so little time.

The last minute penalty against Sutton (1 point gained), not beating Solihull (despite their excellent home record)(2 points gained), the list goes on.