Torquay United

Kit History

1901-1902 a

1910-1911 a

1904-1910 a

1910-1911 a

1921-1929 a

1931-1933 a

1933-1934 a

1934-1935 a

1938-1939 a

1947-1948 a

1949-1950 a

1950-1954 a

1954-1955 a

1956-1959 a

1959-1962 a

1964-1965 a

1965-1966 a

1966-1967 b

1967-1968 a

1968-1969 a

1969-1970 a

1970-1971 a m

1971-1972 c n

1972-1973 a

1973-1974 i n

Umbro

1974-1977 i n o

Pilgrim

1977-1978 i n

Bukta

1978-1980 a i n

Umbro

1980-1981 a i n

Umbro

1981-1982 i

Umbro

1982-1983 i j

Umbro

1983-1984 i

1984-1986 a h i

Henson

1986-1987 a f h i j

1988-1989 i

1989-1990 a h i

Ribero

1990-1991 i k

Matchwinner

1991-1993 a k

Matchwinner

1993-1995 b i k

Le Coq Sportif

1995-1997 b k

Super League

1997-1999 b

Super League

1999-2000 b k

Super League

2000-2001 b k

TFG Sports

2001-2002 b g i

TFG Sports

2002-2003 b i

Vandanel

2003-2005 e

Vandanel

2005-2007 e

Vandanel

2007-2008 l

Background

Torquay United was formed by a group of young men under the guidance of Sergeant-Major Edward Tomney. A year later the club joined the East Devon League playing their home games at the Recreation Ground. In 1904, Torquay Athletic RFC took over the lease of this ground after leaving their previous home at Plainmoor, which was taken over by Ellacombe FC. United were effectively homeless and for several years led a nomadic existence before United and Ellacombe merged in 1910 to become Torquay Town. The club shared Plainmoor with Babbacombe FC: these two clubs finally merged in 1921 when the club became known once more as Torquay United.

The new club joined the Western League and rather audaciously applied to join the Football League. United received no votes at all but neighbours Boscombe did gain entry in 1924. Fortune favoured Torquay three years later when they were elected at the expense of Aberdare Athletic. Their first season proved disastrous and Torquay had to apply for re-election, surviving the vote comfortably. The "Magpies" as they were then known because of their black and white striped shirts, had an uninspired record and never finished higher than tenth in the period between the wars. Things did not improve until after the Second World War when they managed to finish fifth in 1950. In 1954 the club adopted a new gold and blue strip, supposedly evocative of the golden sands and blue skies of the resort. The Magpies became The Gulls. The shirts and shorts were manufactured from a new synthetic material that resembled silk and they must have cut quite a dash in this dour period.

Runners up in 1957 (only the champions were promoted at that time), in 1958 they finished third from bottom and went into the new Fourth Division. In 1960 they won promotion and even though they lasted only two season at the higher level it was the first taste of success for this modest club. In 1966 they went up again only to fall back into Division Four in 1972. The next 19 years were spent firmly anchored in the lower reaches of the Fourth Division. Former Chelsea player Dave Webb, appointed as manager, introduced an all-blue kit with white stockings and a new logo featuring a palm tree. Forced to apply for re-election in 1985 and 1986, United were perhaps fortunate to retain the League place and parted company with Webb and ditched the Chelsea clone kit.

It was then announced that from the following season the bottom club would be automatically relegated and the champions of the Conference promoted in their place. After a disastrous campaign, Torquay needed at least a point from their final game at home to Crewe to stand a chance of staying up. Trailing 0-2 with seven minutes left, the Gulls' captain, Jim McNicholl was bitten by a police dog who thought he was about to attack his handler as he attempted to clear the ball. As McNicholl was being treated news came through that Lincoln City were losing, which meant a draw would keep Torquay in the League. In the third minute of injury time, with all other results confirmed, Torquay equalised and it was Lincoln City who went down.

The following season brought a marked improvement and the club reached the play-offs. In 1991 they went one better by beating Blackpool at Wembley in a penalty shoot-out to win the play offs and return to Division Three. Success was shortlived - they were relegated the following season to the new Barclays Division Three (the old Fourth Division). In 1996 Torquay finished bottom of the League but were reprieved because the ground of Conference champions Stevenage Borough did not meet League standards. During the Nineties the club wore a variety of exotic variations on their gold and blue theme but it was with a relatively plain strip that promotion was again achieved in 2004 to take the club into what would become League One (the old Third Division).

The Gulls could not sustain themselves at this level and soon returned to League Two (fourth tier). Worse was to follow and, having finished in last place in 2007, Torquay lost their Football League place after 80 years.

Historical Football Kits

Kit History

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