Post by Jon on Sept 11, 2021 12:16:36 GMT
Feels like a big match today with a "proper football club" coming to town, but the first time Grimsby visited Torquay was more of a novelty.
They were only the second Northern soccer team to visit Plainmoor - after Bury won an FA Cup replay here three years before.
Grimsby were big fish in those days. They had been relegated from the top flight two years before, but were storming their way back to the top. They would end the season seven points clear at the top and would finish fifth in the top flight the following season.
The directors arranged for Grimsby to stop off at Torquay on their way back from a league game at Home Park to play a benefit match for full-back Jack Fowler.
After a goalless first half, local boy George Stabb grabbed a very quick hat-trick as we went 4-0 up. Grimsby pulled two back but Torquay held out as Don Welsh did a masterly job on Grimsby star Pat Glover - the Welsh international centre-forward who struck an incredible 43 goals that season.
Welsh would move on to top flight Charlton within a year and would go on to play for England. Stabb and team-mate Ernie Steele also moved within a year to Notts County. Fancy Notts County pinching our best players. Wouldn't happen nowadays.
They were only the second Northern soccer team to visit Plainmoor - after Bury won an FA Cup replay here three years before.
Grimsby were big fish in those days. They had been relegated from the top flight two years before, but were storming their way back to the top. They would end the season seven points clear at the top and would finish fifth in the top flight the following season.
The directors arranged for Grimsby to stop off at Torquay on their way back from a league game at Home Park to play a benefit match for full-back Jack Fowler.
After a goalless first half, local boy George Stabb grabbed a very quick hat-trick as we went 4-0 up. Grimsby pulled two back but Torquay held out as Don Welsh did a masterly job on Grimsby star Pat Glover - the Welsh international centre-forward who struck an incredible 43 goals that season.
Welsh would move on to top flight Charlton within a year and would go on to play for England. Stabb and team-mate Ernie Steele also moved within a year to Notts County. Fancy Notts County pinching our best players. Wouldn't happen nowadays.