Jon
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Post by Jon on Feb 29, 2020 13:08:52 GMT
Today will be our sixth ever first team game on February 29th. Only our second ever home game on that date (the first in my life time), yet our third ever at Plainmoor. Fans of Crad will understand why. Sat 29/02/08 A v Ellacombe L 2 - 7 n/k Saunders o.g., Gedye Our first ever February 29th game saw us soundly thrashed by Ellacombe. At least we did not have a long journey home after! This was the season when United's world fell apart somewhat as we had to pull out of the East Devon League due to problems finding eleven men who could get away early enough to catch the train in time for league games in Exeter. The senior team now had to mix with the juniors and it soon became clear we were now the third best team in Torquay. Not surprising to see a hat trick for Evans, but this was not Crad. Crad actually played in goal (not sure if he was nursing an injury or just giving us a chance!). It was Frank who ripped us to shreds. Papers of the day sometimes claimed Crad and Frank (who went on to play together for Torquay Town) were brothers, but never believe what you read! Crad was a North Walian whereas Frank was a man of St Marychurch through and through. He went on to run The Union pub in Plainmoor for many years and has been mentioned in these two threads: torquayfansforum.co.uk/thread/5876/albert-hutchinsontorquayfansforum.co.uk/thread/9698/reggie-wills-fall-tufcI think I have read that Frank was the grandfather of John Evans - famous for both football and Bowls, but please do not take that as fact as I cannot remember if it came from a reliable source. If anyone bumps into John, please ask him! United went 5-0 down but pulled back to 5-2. The Saunders own goal was a cracker apparently - I wonder if Crad did a Kenny Allen at him. Our second goal came from the Reverend Gedye - who was working his way back to fitness after suffering from malaria. |
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Feb 29, 2020 13:17:25 GMT
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Post by plainmoorpete on Mar 1, 2020 21:24:00 GMT
I know the original Torquay United were founded in 1899 and I believe that Ellacombe were the original tenants of Plainmoor in 1904. But does anyone know when Ellacombe and Babacombe were founded?
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Mar 2, 2020 23:58:05 GMT
I know the original Torquay United were founded in 1899 and I believe that Ellacombe were the original tenants of Plainmoor in 1904. But does anyone know when Ellacombe and Babacombe were founded? Percy Baker - the man who raised £500 to save Plainmoor from the builders - was appointed Vicar of Ellacombe in 1901 and set up a football club related to the Church Lads' Brigade. Ellacombe CLB were active through 1901/02 and 1902/03 - at their new ground at Plainmoor from 1902/03. In the close season of 1903, both the East Devon FA and the Torquay and District League (now South Devon League) were set up. Ellacombe were founder members of both - now dropping CLB from their name. As far as I can tell, from 1902 to 1910 they played at the lower Vicarage end of the football field - the area behind where the Family Stand now sits. Babbacombe did not exist when the East Devon FA and the Torquay and District League were formed but a bunch of Babbacombeites started playing regularly during 1903/04 under a variety of names (Babbacombe Caddies / United / Rovers or just Babbacombe) at Walls Hill. In the close season of 1904, they formed into a club with Charles Dear as Honorary Secretary and joined the Torquay and District League. For the 1907/08 season, they moved to Petitor Road - near to where the Golf clubhouse now sits. For 1908/09 they moved down the hill to the Palk Arms ground - roughly where the Teignmouth Road / St Marychurch Road roundabout now sits. After two seasons, they moved to Plainmoor where they ground-shared with Torquay Town 1910-14 and 1919-21, and Plainmoor lower pitch only ( ground-share with Torquay Town who became Torquay United 3rds) 1921-22. Ellacombe : Friendlies only 1901-03, Torquay & District League 1903-08 (champions 1903/04 and 1905/06), Devon League 1908-10. Babbacombe: Friendlies only 1903-04, Torquay & District League 1904-08 (champions 1906/07 and 1907/08), East Devon League 1908-09, Plymouth & District League 1909-14 and 1919-21, South Devon League 1921-22. |
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