First match under floodlights at Plainmoor

I don't know about the first ever floodlit game at Plainmoor, but I'm pretty certain I was at the first game played under the four corner pylons that replaced those hopelss lights along the side of the pitch.

That would have been a game against Watford in Division Four around 1962 if I am remembering correctly (and do I recall Cliff Holton playing up front for the Hornets?)and it was possibly on a Friday night. As is usual in these circumstances, folk used to "blame the lights" because we didn't win just like they blamed Setanta in the BSP

Those first Plainmoor lights weren't really fit for purpose and so were only used for friendly games and the friendly with Blackburn Rovers (with Stanley Matthews guesting for us) might well have been their debut.

I know the club commisioned a special kit made of reflective satin to play floodlit games in, and without a thought of replica kits as they just didn't exist in those days!

Hmmmm. I wonder what kind of a curve ball Sam is going to throw at us here. I'll have a guess at Floodlit Marrow Growing c.1878.

The history busters will be happy to investigate any anecdotal evidence.

It is commonly believed that the first floodlit soccer match at Plainmoor was on 22 November 1954, when we lost 2-3 to Birmingham City in front of a crowd of 7,000. Brown scored twice to put the Blues 2-0 up, we pulled back to 2-2 through Collins (penalty) and Fewings only for Kinsey to grab the winner in the 89th minute.

The second game was the famous Stanley Matthews / Blackburn Rovers game that drew 9,000. The third game that season saw Leeds gain a little revenge for their FA Cup drubbing with a 3-1 win - the crowd down to 3,879. There were another three games the following season (Birmingham, Bury and Middlesbrough) but then the craze seemed to disappear.

As Merse says, the first lights were not good enough for competitive football and all midweek league and cup games throughout the 50s had to have afternoon kick-offs - losing the club revenue. This prompted the Board to lash out £9,000 on proper floodlights.

They were indeed christened on a Friday night against Watford - on 23 December 1960. The game ended 2-2 with Court and Bettany getting our goals.

As Barton says, TUFC'S first ever floodlit game (unless of course Sam knows different) was at Gloucester on 11 November 1952. Our second was at Weymouth on 4 February 1953 and our third against a South Western League XI at Pennycross Stadium on 23 February 1953. This was the first ever floodlit game in Plymouth - nice to think that the good folk of Plymouth had the chance to see a decent team in action under lights.

I have been told on good authority that the first game played under floodlights was Torquay United 'A' v. Halwell and Moreleigh in the Herald Cup. Torquay United 'A' won 9-0. The Halwell goalkeeper for that match lives next door but one to me at Halwell. He said that they tested the lights out for this game. There were no programmes issued. It was in the Mid-50's. People who have any old issues of the South devon League handbooks may be able to help. However, have found some gems in the comments. I don't have the programmes for the Gloucester game on 11/11/52 and Weymouth 4/2/53, do they exist. Merse weighs in with a gem, how great that the club wore reflective satin shirts to compensate for the crap floodlighting, class. Will do some more digging, not for marrows though Jon.

Well, Sam, if your mid 50s date is correct we could float the theory it was an early round of the 1954/55 Herald Cup before that November 1954 friendly against Birmingham. As you say, an old SDL handbook might help. One issue would be as to when Torquay United "A" was established. All I can discover is that they didn't win the Herald Cup until 1957/58.

The possibility remains that, even if this game wasn't the first floodlit game at Plainmoor, it may have been the first competitive game under lights.

I'd have loved that honour to have fallen to Penzance v Taunton in the FA Cup but I suspect that was a Wednesday afternoon job. Indeed, here's a question: what was the first floodlit FA Cup match anywhere?

Really interesting read and and a great programme as well, I still wish I could have gone to games in the 50's, it just seems to me it was a more magical period.

The A team's first season in the South Devon League, with home games at Cricketfield Road, was 1952-53.

Sam's story does seem to stack up nicely, doesn't it? It would be a huge risk putting on a game before 7,000 fans without a dry run. An A team game would be an ideal opportunity to try the lights out in a match stuation.

It shows the value of talking to people whilst you can - so much history is in people's heads. How many Torquay fans have interesting stories to tell that have never been written down for posterity?

I wonder if the Herald mentioned this? One rainy Saturday morning, I may just have a skip through the microfilms for October / November 1954 and see if there is any mention.