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Post by geddingtongull on Oct 10, 2012 15:13:01 GMT
A great thread. Well done Dave.
Have spent most of the afternoon digging my vegetable plot and giving this some thought.
I never went to many away games during the 60's and 70's although one I will never forget.
Boxing Day 1969. My good friend Bill Bartlett and myself went off on the coach to Home Park for the match against Plymouth.
Torquay were playing well and Plymouth were well below us and on a bad run. We were full of optimism!
How wrong could we be. We ended up on the wrong end of a 6-1 thrashing. I remember Bill Kitchener being sent off and the milkman Mike Bickle scoring a hat trick.
There was no segregation so you can imagine the stick we came in for from the Argyle supporters. Although I cannot remember any violence.
Ironically my second forgetful moment was at Underhill. We queued for ages and had just reached the turnstile when they shut the gate!!!! What a disaster. Thank God we got the right result , but the disappointment of not getting in.... and I had my two daughters and son with me.
Funnily enough one of the more memorable games we lost.
I am referring to the Semi Final 2nd leg play off at Histon.
When we arrived I could not believe the state of the pitch. I wouldn't have allowed my grandchildren on it let alone a football team.
Of course it was all part of their hoof the ball to there seven feet tall forwards.
How we held out I shall never know. And that Michael Poke save at the end!!
The celebrations went on for ages.
There were a number of Cambridge supporters cheering us on from the road that over looks the ground. If they did but know.
Because they were local to me the beating of Rushden and Diamonds gave me particular pleasure, especially as they went down shortly afterwards.
Loving other fans memories.
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Post by stefano on Oct 10, 2012 15:53:45 GMT
A great thread. Well done Dave. Have spent most of the afternoon digging my vegetable plot and giving this some thought. I never went to many away games during the 60's and 70's although one I will never forget. Boxing Day 1969. My good friend Bill Bartlett and myself went off on the coach to Home Park for the match against Plymouth. Torquay were playing well and Plymouth were well below us and on a bad run. We were full of optimism! How wrong could we be. We ended up on the wrong end of a 6-1 thrashing. I remember Bill Kitchener being sent off and the milkman Mike Bickle scoring a hat trick. There was no segregation so you can imagine the stick we came in for from the Argyle supporters. Although I cannot remember any violence. Hi Geddington just a quick adjustment to your memory! We weren't even good enough that day to get 1 so our hammering was actually 6-0. Bickle got 4 for Argyle and Norman Piper got the other 2. For me one of the worst bits was having to watch one of the Norman Piper goals for about 5 years afterwards every weekend on Westward TV as the introduction to their sports review!! As it was against our local rivals I think that was my worst away fixture as well. Best two were in the same season 1965/66. Just edging it was a 2-0 win at Layer Road against Colchester United with Doug Clarke scoring both goals. There were only a few games to go and that win over our promotion rivals revived our chances of going up. As it was we went up in 3rd and Colchester in 4th. The same season 0-0 at Feethams against Darlington with over 1000 Torquay supporters in a crowd of 16,000 for a 4th Division game!! With no motorways we had to leave Devon about 8pm on the Friday evening for the Saturday3pm kick off. Absolutely robbed as Robin Stubbs had a perfectly good goal ruled out. Darlington secured their promotion that day in 2nd place while we had to wait over a week before our 3rd place finish was confirmed (there was no final game fixed date and kick off time in those days). Both memorable games with our promotion rivals and a brilliant atmosphere at both. |
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Post by lambethgull on Oct 10, 2012 22:59:35 GMT
Not an away game, but the first Torquay game I can remember was the Swansea playoff defeat at home. The familiar feeling of raised expectations leading to crushing, inevitable defeat was experienced early on. I don't remember much about the Sherpa Van final, but I do remember the silly little seats, which must've been hopeless for a seven year old to sit on for 90 minutes. A framed picture of Dean Edwards turning away in celebration after his goal had pride of place in my parents house for years afterwards. I missed out on Barnet and Southend (though I did witness our stylish win at Cheltenham prior to the latter game). A game that sticks out for me was the last day game at Orient under Kevin Hodges. I seem to remember hundreds of us crammed into that small terrace section. The game had everything: a good crowd, the pantomime villain in the form of Paul Raynor, a blooper by Gittens and all the near misses. The only thing missing was the equaliser. I can't remember feeling more gutted than I did after we were relegated at Layer Road. It must’ve been because I'd convinced myself that we'd stay up. There was a feeling that things were not going to great for a while after that. Seeing us play in front large crowds at Wembley was good, but I would have loved to have been around when Plainmoor had gates of 10,000+ (and double that on one or two occasions  ). |
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Post by gullone on Oct 11, 2012 16:44:54 GMT
Yes great thread this, really enjoy reading about other fans memories over many years.
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Post by milber on Oct 12, 2012 18:52:13 GMT
Dave
Apologies for taking a liberty, but have previously posted about my all time fav days at the likes of Wembley & Southend.
So instead I`ve just recalled a few memories from being a fan.
Home;
good times
My dad started taking me towards the end of the 60`s. I recall walking along proudly next to him clutching a little wooden stool, as I couldn`t look over the advertising boards without it. Was lucky enough to be crammed into Plainmoor in Oct 71 and from our usual spot on the pop side watched as Brucie broke away and scored against Spurs. 20100 how did we all get in?
The lows
Walking home after yet another dire performance.
Oct 95 Utd 1 Scunnie 8 springs to mind.
Away days:
Blackpool Oct 81
Had been staying with a friends family and her brother took me along. Stood on the side of the pitch at the opp end to the open away terracing. Mid way through the game I jumped up in shock, to the sound of my ears ringing and the Pool fans around me laughing. It turned out a banger had gone off between my feet. not sure if it was my bad luck or a well aimed throw. I kept my mouth shut after that.
Colchester Aug 87
We had just stuffed Wrexham 6-1 on the opening day.
The old layer rd away end was a little intimidating. You walked down the tunnel and it opened out with fencing on your left and Colchester fans making smart remarks as you walked by. Seem to recall having to stand on old wooden sleepers. Anyway Dobbo got the winner and I walked to the train station amongst the Essex faithful listening to the moaning with a smug feeling that seems so much more magnified when you are on their turf.
Not linked to Utd
Went to see Ajax play NAC at their old stadium round about 81. Really friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Jesper Olsen and the rest stuffed Nac. Was on a tram heading into A`dam when the sounds of a Python sketch could be heard, complete with Yorkshire accents. I listened as they recalled how tough their life had been. I looked around expecting to find a bunch of Brits only to see a group of Dutch school kids.
milber
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Oct 12, 2012 19:29:46 GMT
Dave Apologies for taking a liberty, but have previously posted about my all time fav days at the likes of Wembley & Southend. So instead I`ve just recalled a few memories from being a fan. Hi Milber, I'm so glad you did, its great see a post on the TFF from you again and I really enjoyed reading your post. I think we all enjoy reading about other members memories and experiences, so I hope a few more will take the time to add theirs to this thread. Take care and don't leave it so long next time ;D |
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Post by gullone on Oct 14, 2012 12:02:32 GMT
I notice a few posters list the last day at Colchester in 2005 as one of the most forgettable games. Certainly a last day relegation should make anyones top ten most gutting ! We had seemingly got ourselves out of trouble with a terrific set of results in the previous five matches and just required a point to be safe. We had sold our allocation very quickly and i only just managed to get a ticket in the home end via a friend of a friend. That late Craig Woodman goal was too little too late and the score from Milton Keynes confirmed our worst fears. My last memory of that day was seeing Helen Chamberlain driving away fom the ground with a face like thunder..........not a good day!!
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Post by jonnyfive on Oct 14, 2012 20:34:43 GMT
I notice a few posters list the last day at Colchester in 2005 as one of the most forgettable games. Certainly a last day relegation should make anyones top ten most gutting ! We had seemingly got ourselves out of trouble with a terrific set of results in the previous five matches and just required a point to be safe. We had sold our allocation very quickly and i only just managed to get a ticket in the home end via a friend of a friend. That late Craig Woodman goal was too little too late and the score from Milton Keynes confirmed our worst fears. My last memory of that day was seeing Helen Chamberlain driving away fom the ground with a face like thunder..........not a good day!! A horrible performance and result, in a grim, antiquated stadium. The pens in which we were held were horrendous and, for those with a touch of claustrophobia, slightly panic-inducing! Do I remember rightly that another team that we needed to win fielded a weakened side? Was it Milton Keynes? |
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Post by loyalgull on Oct 14, 2012 20:53:32 GMT
tranmere fielded a weakened side against mk cons that day having secured a play off place,unfair tactics by brian little,the game also finished ten minutes after ours.Littles side fluffed the play offs and then he got the sack,at least a bit of justice in there
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Post by lambethgull on Oct 14, 2012 20:54:32 GMT
Do I remember rightly that another team that we needed to win fielded a weakened side? Was it Milton Keynes? No, MK Dons survived I think. Wasn't it Barry Fry's Peterborough? |
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JamesB
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Post by JamesB on Oct 15, 2012 17:59:09 GMT
It was Tranmere, as Loyalgull said. They were secure in 3rd place and so put out a completely weakened side in preparation for the play-offs. MK Dons beat them in the last minute with a goal from Gareth Edds
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Post by gullone on May 31, 2021 10:22:37 GMT
There has been some tremendous away days over the years following Torquay and of course some tremendous let downs ! For me, that Friday night at Wembley in 91 in the play off final against Blackpool is still just about my best away memory . The drama of those penalties at the Torquay end at god knows what time at night, the celebrations and not caring how you got home that night ! I can remember the following morning the sun was shining and getting the Herald Express to double check what i had actually witnessed the previous evening. One of the worst let downs for me was the last game at Leyton Orient in 98. Needing a point for automatic promotion, there were a hell of a lot of Torquay fans that day to witness us lose the game 2 1 and having to finish the season on another Friday at Wembley but this time losing 1 0 to Colchester in a total let down and what a miserable journey home that was ! Well i watched Blackpool beat Lincoln yesterday to complete a record sixth play off final win. It is thirty years to the day since we beat them on that memorable Friday evening ! |
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