The Bees will take on Torquay United in the Vanarama National League tomorrow afternoon (15:00 KO) and we’ve created this Away Guide if you’re making the trip to Plainmoor.
Stadium
Plainmoor, Torquay, Devon, TQ1 3PS
Nickname
The Gulls
Colours
Yellow & Blue
Key Personnel
Gary Johnson is the current Manager at Torquay United after being appointed in September 2018.
The 66-year-old was a Watford apprentice as a player but spent most of his senior career in the Swedish leagues.
As a Manager, Johnson has been at the helm of Newmarket Town, Cambridge United, Kettering Town, Latvia (national team), Yeovil Town, Bristol City, Peterborough United, Northampton Town and Cheltenham Town.
BRIEF DIRECTIONS BY ROAD
Take the M4 and M5 (or from the A30 join the M5 at junction 29 and follow signs for Exmouth, Teignmouth and Torquay).
At the end of the M5 follow the A38 Newton Abbott and then turn left onto the A380.
Turn onto the A3022 which is signposted Torquay. Follow signs for Torquay United/Plainmoor through three roundabouts. At top of hill traffic lights go straight on into Warbro Road.
These details are courtesy of TUFC and there is plenty of car parking close to the ground.
BRIEF DIRECTIONS BY TRAIN
A train from Paddington will take approximately three-and-a-half hours and will involve a change at Exeter or Newton Abbot. Torquay is served by two stations which are Torre and Torquay.
Torre is the nearest but still a good half-hour walk to the ground. Torquay station is near the seafront and a taxi (around £6.00 made for sharing) from here is really your only option.
EAT AND DRINK
The supporters club ‘Boots & Laces’ behind the main stand allows away supporters in and has always been pleasant and friendly.
The George Inn on Babbacombe Road is a nice quiet environment and is 10 minutes from the ground.
On the corner of Princes Street is the Hanburys Fish & Chip shop which has won national awards on occasions.
If you are able to arrive during the early afternoon I recommend that you try and get to Oggies home made Pasties Shop in the pedestrian shopping area near the Marina.
Ground Description
Plainmoor always appeals to me from an aesthetic point of view as it still retained some character and was a happy medium between the new and the old.
The old main stand from the early 1920’s was built entirely from wood until it was damaged by fire in 1985. This has now been replaced by a modern 1,700 seater stand (Bristow’s Bench).
To the left is the Family Stand which has room for about 1,200 and opposite is the new Popular Side, which is an efficient bank of covered terracing favoured by the more vocal of Torquay fans.
Our home for the afternoon is the Riviera Away Stand which is a medium sized covered bank of terracing. There is also a small area of the Main Stand available for visiting fans too.
Previous Meetings and Memories
The last game of the 2000/01 season was a must win as relegation to the Conference awaited the loser. Nearly 6,000 fans squeezed into Underhill and despite a second-half comeback, it finished 2-3. The Bees goals came from Greg Heald and an own goal.
I can remember in the early 70’s when a Colin Flatt goal was not enough in a 1-4 defeat at home in the FA Cup Second Round.
The Bees beat Torquay 5-4 in December 1992 – the goalscorers that day are a Hall Of Fame in their own right, Brian Stein, Gary Bull,(2), Mark Carter and Nicky Evans.
CELEBRITY WATCH
Dame Agatha Christie was born in 1890 in Torquay and Sky TV’s Helen Chamberlain is a well-known regular face at Plainmoor.
CONNECTIONS
A selection of players that have represented both clubs – Ben Embery, Phil Sandercock, Kevin Dearden, Stevland Angus, Simon Clist, Colin Barnes, Kevin Blackwell, John Fairbrother, Lee Hodges, Pat Kruse and Charlie MacDonald.
Enjoy the match, Reckless
