Plainmoor is an association football stadium located in the Plainmoor suburb of Torquay, Devon, England. Since 1921, the stadium has been the home of Torquay United Football Club, who currently compete in the National League South, the sixth tier of English football. During the first half of the 2018-19 National League South season, the stadium also hosted Truro City games.
At the time of Torquay United's formation in 1899, Plainmoor was the home of Torquay Athletic Rugby Football Club. In 1904, the rugby club secured the lease of the Recreation Ground, where United had been playing, and United's Torquay and District League rivals Ellacombe moved into the vacated site at Plainmoor, leaving United homeless.
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.
Main Stand at Plainmoor in 1981
Torquay Town and Babbacombe 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 (around £8,958.33 today[2]) 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 on 16 May 1985,[3] just six days after the Bradford City stadium fire, a third of the old grandstand was destroyed during an early morning blaze.[4] 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 portable cabins 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 Cowshed, made out of corrugated iron and wood, was replaced at the Ellacombe end of the ground by the old mini-stand, while a TV gantry sits on top of the popular side stand. Also, in time for the beginning of the 2000–01 season, the new Sparkworld Stand was opened to accommodate away fans.
The main stand that was originally from Buckfastleigh Racecourse was demolished in the autumn of 2011 and accordingly the ground capacity was reduced. A new stand filling the complete length of the pitch, unlike the previous stand, was erected during the 2011–2012 season and opened in August 2012, in time for the start of the following season. It was named Bristow's Bench after the late former director, Paul Bristow who supported the club financially after a lottery win. In December 2012 a big screen was installed between the popular side and the away end.[5]
On 15 September 2014, Torquay United announced a four-year deal with local company Launa Windows to rename Plainmoor to 'The Launa Windows Stadium', presumably in an effort to increase revenue.[6]
Future
The land is still owned by the local council, talks about the club purchasing the ground have taken place on several occasions in the past.
In the not too distant past there was some talk of re-location, Mike Bateson believed that would only happen if:
Torquay saw a multimillion-pound sale or two.
The authorities pay the club to make way for further development of Westlands school.
The club become League One regulars (at present in the National League South).
After ownership of Torquay United was transferred to Gaming International under the company name Riviera Stadium Limited, talks with Torbay Council have re-opened about the purchase of Plainmoor and developing the ground into housing. [7]
Record attendance
21,908 v Huddersfield Town, FA Cup 4th Rd, 29 January 1955.
Record away attendance - Truro City v Torquay United (2,760), National League South, 1 January 2019.
Torquay United Football Club is a professional association football club based in Torquay, Devon, England. The team currently compete in the National League South, the sixth level of the English football league system. They have played their home matches at Plainmoor since 1921 and are nicknamed "The Gulls". The club's primary colours are yellow and blue.
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Truro City Football Club is an English football club based in Truro, Cornwall. They compete in the National League South, at the sixth tier of the English football league system. They are the highest ranked club from Cornwall. The club had previously played in what was known as the Conference South in 2011, following five promotions in six seasons. They were relegated at the end of the 2012–13 season after going into administration, but returned to that level, now known as the National League South, in 2015, before being relegated back to the Southern League in 2019.
Martin Ling is an English football manager and former player currently director of football for Leyton Orient. He played in over 100 Football League matches for each of Exeter City, Southend United, Swindon Town and Leyton Orient, before moving into management. He led Orient for more than five years from 2003 until 2009, and went on to manage Cambridge United, Torquay United and Swindon Town.
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The 1928–29 Torquay United F.C. season was Torquay United's second season in the Football League and their second consecutive season in Third Division South. The season runs from 1 July 1928 to 30 June 1929.
The 1929–30 Torquay United F.C. season was Torquay United's third season in the Football League and their third consecutive season in Third Division South. The season runs from 1 July 1929 to 30 June 1930.
The 2010–11 Torquay United F.C. season was Torquay United's 75th season in the Football League and their second consecutive season in League Two. The season runs from 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011.
The Football League play-offs for the 2010–11 season were held in May 2011. The Championship final took place at Wembley Stadium in London, but the League One and Two finals were held at Old Trafford in Manchester, due to a clash with the UEFA Champions League Final.
The 2011–12 Torquay United F.C. season was Torquay United's 76th season in the Football League and their third consecutive season in League Two. The season runs from 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012.
The 1921–22 Torquay United F.C. season was Torquay United's first season in competitive football and their first season in the Western League. The season runs from 1 July 1921 to 30 June 1922.
Ellacombe Football Club was an English football club based in Torquay, Devon. The club existed until 1910, before merging with the original Torquay United to form Torquay Town. A further merger between Torquay Town and Babbacombe resulted in the formation of the current Torquay United.
Babbacombe Football Club was an English football club based in Torquay, Devon. The club existed from 1903 until 1921 before merging with Torquay Town to form Torquay United.
Torquay Town Football Club was an English football club based in Torquay, Devon. The club existed from 1910 until 1921 before merging with Babbacombe to form Torquay United.
The Football League play-offs for the 2011–12 season were held in May 2012. All finals took place at Wembley Stadium in London.
Buckfastleigh Racecourse was a British horse racing venue.
Torquay Athletic RFC is an English rugby union team formed in 1876 that is based in Torquay, Devon. The club operates 4 senior men's teams as well as youth and mini teams, with the men's first team currently playing in Tribute Cornwall/Devon following their relegation from Tribute Western Counties West at the end of the 2017–18 season. Nicknamed the "Tics", the first team's kit is black and white hoops and they play home games at the Recreation Ground. They have a local rivalry with Paignton RFC.
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