For the majority of Torquay United’s history Plainmoor has been the club’s home and over the years it has seen many a change. But Plainmoor hasn’t always been the home of Torquay United, and Torquay United haven’t always been at home at Plainmoor.

Torquay United Association Football Club was founded in 1899 by school leavers under the guidance of Sergeant-Major Edward Tomney. At that time Plainmoor was the home of Torquay Athletic Rugby Football Club. United played their very first friendly against an Upton Cricket Club XI on one of Farmer John Wright’s fields, which was situated at the top of Penny’s Hill, on Teignmouth Road.

After a season of friendlies the club joined the East Devon League and moved to the Recreation Ground, which was to be their home for the following four years.

Plainmoor Football Stadium

Torquay were by no means the biggest side in the area in these formative years and so, when in 1904, Torquay Athletic RFC secured the lease of the Recreation Ground, it was TUFC’s Torquay and District League rivals Ellacombe, who moved into the vacated site at Plainmoor, leaving United homeless.

The club moved back to the Teignmouth Road site but again was forced to move when the field was sold to developers to build Parkhurst Road. At the time Torquay Cricket Club were located nearby in Cricketfield Road, and so this site was United’s next home.

The club remained in Cricketfield Road for four years and during that time won their first honour, the Torquay and District League title in 1909.

In 1910 United merged with Ellacombe to become Torquay Town. Ellacombe’s Plainmoor ground became the home of the new club, and the shared home of local rivals Babbacombe.

Torquay Town and Babbacome finally merged and became Torquay United (again) in 1921. In 1927 United were elected into Division Three (South) of the Football League.

A new wooden grandstand costing £150 was erected for United’s inaugural season in the Football League; it had previously stood at Buckfastleigh Racecourse, where its twin can still be seen today. The roof of the stand was blown off during a gale in 1930!

Very little changed for the next fifty years as the ground saw generations of supporters move through its turnstiles. During the 1954/55 season over 21,000 fans watched Torquay’s 0-1 defeat at the hands of Huddersfield Town. The same season also saw United become one of the first lower division clubs to introduce floodlights to their ground.

David Webb came to Plainmoor in 1984 and prompted a few cosmetic changes to the terracing. Then in May 1985, just six days after the Bradford Stadium fire, a third of the old grandstand was destroyed during an early morning blaze.

View From Family Stand At Plainmoor Football Stadium

Nobody was hurt, but as a result, the ground’s capacity fell to below 5,000. In the few years after the fire the ground saw little change. At one point the manager’s office and changing rooms were situated in a couple of Portacabins behind the old Mini Stand.

During the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s, Plainmoor has finally seen some major changes. The old Mini Stand made way for the all-seating Family Stand, which also houses offices, the boardroom and the club shop, as well as the pub and restaurant Boots and Laces, and the 200 Club bar.

The old Cowshed has made way for the new Popside, and, in time for the beginning of the 2000/01 season, the new Sparkworld Stand was opened to accommodate away fans.

So, what about the future of Plainmoor?

The land is still owned by the local council and, although talks about the club purchasing the ground have taken place on several occasions in the past, no deal is on the horizon.

Any further changes to the ground will not be happening in the near future. Although the old Buckfastleigh Racecourse stand still survives opposite Westlands school, chairman and owner Mike Bateson is adamant that the money being spent this season will be directed at gaining promotion, rather than on the ground.

In the not too distant past there was some talk of re-location, and although this is not completely out of the question, Mike Bateson believes this will now only happen if:

• Torquay see a multi-million pound sale or two.

• The authorities pay the club to make way for further development of Westlands school.

• The club become Division One regulars.

Record Attendance

• 21,908 v Huddersfield Town, FA Cup 4th Rd. 29th January 1955