Torquay United - 2011/12

It has been a busy close season at Plainmoor. Martin Ling has taken over as manager of the Gulls.

A former player at Swindon, Southend, Mansfield Town, Orient and Brighton, Martin Ling has been manager at both Orient and Cambridge United. He has brought Shaun Taylor to be his No. 2 and together they have assembled a full squad for the start of the 2011/12 season.

1 Bobby Olejnik
2 Lathaniel Rowe-Turner
3 Kevin Nicholson
4 Mark Ellis
5 Chris Robertson
6 Brian Saah
7 Lee Mansell
8 Billy Kee
9 Rene Howe
10 Eunan O'Kane
11 Ian Morris
13 Martin Rice
14 Lloyd Macklin
16 Chris McPhee
17 Saul Halpin
18 Joe Oastler
19 Danny Stevens
22 Damon Lathrope
23 Taiwo Atieno
24 Ashley Yeoman
25 Ed Palmer
27 Ray Spear

Good luck to Martin Ling, the management, directors and players of Torquay United for the new season.

Thank you Paul Buckle

Two days after leading his team out in the League 2 Play-off Final at Old Trafford, Manchester, Paul Buckle has left Torquay United to manage another League 2 side - Bristol Rovers.

During his fours years in charge at Plainmoor, Paul Buckle became one of the most successful managers of Torquay United of all time.

Paul Buckle, a former player with Torquay United, was appointed manager in the summer of 2007 when the club was in turmoil. They had just been relegated from the Football League after a disasterous season and a new consortium of local businessmen had just taken control of the club. At the time Buckle took over as manager there were just four players signed to the club - Lee Mansell, Kevin Hill, Steve Woods and Matt Hockley.

Paul Buckle had no previous managerial experience (he had been a coach at Exeter City), but at the end of his first season in charge he had guided the Gulls into the promotion play-off places, and a Wembley appearance in the final of the FA Trophy. In his second seasonm he successful lead the Gulls back into the Football League via the play-offs and a 2-0 victory over Cambridge United at Wembley.

Despite being one of the most successful managers at Plainmoor, Paul Buckle was a bit like Marmite and Gulls fans either loved him or hated him. He was not afraid to make difficult decisions and was prepared to release fan-favourite players - releasing the spine of the Conference winning team (Chris Todd, Chris Hargreaves and Tim Sills) during the first season back in League 2.

There were however many memorable moments during his time in charge - 2 Wembley appearances; 1 appearance at Old Trafford; fantastic cup runs (including victories over Yeovil Town and Blackpool) and of course successfully leading the Gulls back into the Football League.

It is for this achievement, if nothing else, that we say "Thank you Paul Buckle".

Torquay United in Promotion Play-off Final

In only their second season back in the Football League, Torquay United have made it through to the Play-off Final - against Stevenage on Saturday 28 May 2011 at Old Trafford, Manchester.

Finishing seventh at the end of the regular league season, Torquay United faced a two-legged semi-final against Shrewsbury Town - the team that had finished fourth in the league, 11 points ahead of the Gulls.

In the home leg, Torquay United dominated the match, with goals from Chris Zebroski and Eunan O'Kane giving them a 2-0 lead. In the away leg, the Gulls were held to a goalless draw which meant they won 2-0 on aggregate.


Congratulations to Paul Buckle, the players and staff at Plainmoor on this excellent achievement.

New away kit 2010/11

Torquay United have launched their new away kit for the 2010/11 season.
The kit is available now from the club shop.

Torquay United Playing Squad - 2010/11 season

Torquay United finished the 2009/10 season with a fine run of form. Unbeaten in the last eight games of season, the Gulls have not conceded a goal in 691 minutes.

The players looking to build on this form and launch a successful 2010/11 season are:

1. Scott BEVAN
2. Lathaniel ROWE-TURNER
3. Kevin NICHOLSON
4. Mark ELLIS
5. Chris ROBERTSON
6. Kieran CHARNOCK
7. Lee MANSELL
8. Billy KEE
9. Elliot BENYON
10. Eunan O'KANE
11. Nicky WROE
12.
13.
14. Lloyd MACKLIN
15.
16. Danny POTTER
17. Saul HALPIN
18.
19. Danny STEVENS
20. Martin GRITTON
21.
22. Damon LATHROPE
23. Guy BRANSTON
24. Ashley YEOMAN
25. Ed PALMER
26.Chris ZEBROSKI

Good luck to everyone associated with Torquay United, and a successful 2010/11 season.

Start of the 2009/10 season

After a two year abscence, Torquay United return to Football League.

Paul Buckle has kept faith with the majority of players that saw the club promoted from the Blue Square Premier League through the Play-off Final at Wembley.

OUT: Roscoe DSane and Iyseden Christie. In addition Matt Green is currently on a season long loan at Oxford United.

IN: Ben Joyce (Swindon) and Kieran Charnock (Peterborough United). In addition Scott Rendell is on a season long loan from Peterborough United)

The squad of players for the 2009/10 season is as follows:

1 - Scott BEVAN
2 - Michael BROUGH
3 - Kevin NICHOLSON
4 - Mark ELLIS
5 - Chris ROBERTSON
6 - Chris TODD
7 - Lee MANSELL
8 - Tim SILLS
9 - Elliott BENYON
10 - Scott RENDELL
11 - Nicky WROE
12 - Tyrone THOMPSON
13 - Martin RICE (gk)
14 - Chris HARGREAVES
15 - Wayne CARLISLE
16 - Lee HODGES
17 -
18 - Mustapha CARAYOL
19 - Danny STEVENS
20 - Ben JOYCE
21 -
22 - Kieron CHARNOCK
23 -
24 - Steve ADAMS

Torquay United are back in the Football League

On Sunday 17 May 2009 Torquay United won 2-0 against Cambridge United in the Blue Square Premier League Play-off Final at Wembley. The result meant that they were promoted back into the Football League.

Two seasons ago, at the end of the 2006/07, Torquay United was a club in disarray. They had been relegated from the Football League after finishing bottom of the division after a season that had seen no less than four managers; five changes of Chairman; 19 consecutive games without a win; 44 different players appearing in first team matches; and yet the club was unable to field a full complement of substitutes for a number of matches.

However, a consortium of local businessmen bought the club and were determined to restore both pride and League football to the club. Paul Buckle was brought in as manager and his first task was to recruit a squad of players. When he joined the club there were just five players contracted to play. At the end of that first season, Torquay United were defeated in the semi-final of the play-offs, and also lost in the final of the FA Trophy. However, the club was now operating on a professional basis and pride in the club had been restored.

This season, 2008/09, Torquay United have been able to go one better and have now won the play-off final. Formerly, Torquay United had been in the Football league for 80 years, but it has taken just two years in the Blue Square Premier League to the club to be totally transformed.

The success of this season should now be a springboard for the club to consolidate and establish itself as a Football League Club. Congratulations and many thanks to the directors, staff, managers, coaches and players at Torquay United on this brilliant achievement.