Torquay United F.C.

Formation and early years (1899–1912)

The original Torquay United was formed in 1899 by a group of school-leavers under the guidance of Sergeant-Major Edward Tomney. The newly founded club played its inaugural match against an Upton Cricket Club XI on one of local farmer, John Wright's fields, 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 into the Recreation Ground, their home for the next four years. Plainmoor at the time was occupied by Torquay Athletic Rugby Club in what is a reversal of the modern day situation. In 1904 Athletic secured the lease on the Recreation Ground from United, with League rivals Ellacombe taking over the lease of Plainmoor, leaving United homeless for the first time in their existence – facilitating a return to the farmer's fields on Teignmouth Road. However the club was on the move once more when the fields were sold to be developed into what would later be known as Parkhurst Road. United soon found another home, sharing with Torquay Cricket Club in nearby Cricketfield Road (a site still used for football in the modern day by South Devon League side Upton Athletic F.C.) for four years. It was during this time that they won their first honour; the 1909 Torquay and District League title. Following this breakthrough for the club, United merged with local rivals Ellacombe Football Club in 1910 and adopted the name Torquay Town. It was then that United…

Source: League

Fourth Division / Third Division (level 4) Promoted: 1959–60, 1965–66, 2003–04 Play-off winners: 1991 Conference (level 5) Play-off winners: 2009 National League South (level 6) Champions: 2018–19 Southern League (Western Division) Champions: 1926–27 Cup

Associate Members' Cup Runners-up: 1988–89 FA Trophy Runners-up: 2007–08 Devon Senior Cup Winners: 1910–11, 1921–22