THE BUILDBASE FA TROPHY

The Magpies in 1927.
Hoping to take in Torquay United's game tomorrow in an FA Trophy tie at Plainmoor. I have written about The Gulls before and here's an old blog for you to enjoy! I wrote it on our last annual visit to the South-west in January 2018.
https://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.com/2018/01/gulls-united.html

Three local clubs founded Torquay United from early roots in 1899 and eventually turned the club into a decent Southern League side. The formation of the new Football League's Division Three South and North in 1920, after the First World War concluded, encouraged Exeter City and Plymouth Argyle to be voted in to the Southern section. Seeing this, Torquay managed to persuade Babbacombe FC to merge with them and the new "United" joined the Southern League in 1921. Another local club Boscombe FC was applied to the same league and eventually became the present AFC Bournemouth.

The number of managers employed over the years may hint at an instability in the club, although there are some well known names in the list (how many do you know), who should have done rather well for the Gulls.
Eric Webber, 14 years worth of relative stability, appears to be the longest serving leader! SEE BELOW.

In 1954 the club changed kit colours from the black and white shown in the team photo when the team was known as the Magpies. When the kit colour change came it was based on the "seaside nature" of the town and so the "sandy beach yellow" and "sparkling ocean and sky blue" was employed. The nickname changed from  Magpies to Gulls.

Years	Manager
1921–1924	Crad Evans
1924	Harry Raymond
1924–1925	F.G.B. Mortimer
1925–1929	Percy Mackrill
1929–1932	Frank Womack
1932–1938	Frank Brown
1938–1940	Alf Steward
1945–1946	Billy Butler
1946–1947	Jack Butler
1947–1950	Johnny McNeil
1950	Bob John
1950–1951	Alex Massie
1951–1965	Eric Webber
1965–1968	Frank O'Farrell
1969–1971	Allan Brown
1971–1973	Jack Edwards
1973–1976	Malcolm Musgrove

Years	Manager
1976–1977	Frank O'Farrell
1977–1981	Mike Green
1981–1982	Frank O'Farrell
1982–1984	Bruce Rioch
1984–1985	David Webb
1985	John Sims
1985–1987	Stuart Morgan
1987–1989	Cyril Knowles
1989–1991	Dave Smith
1991	John Impey
1991–1992	Wes Saunders
1992	Ivan Golac
1992–1993	Paul Compton
1993	Neil Warnock
1993–1995	Don O'Riordan
1995–1996	Eddie May

Years	Manager
1996–1998	Kevin Hodges
1998–2001	Wes Saunders
2001	Colin Lee
2001–2002	Roy McFarland
2002–2006	Leroy Rosenior
2006	John Cornforth
2006	Ian Atkins
2006–2007	Luboš Kubík
2007	Keith Curle
2007–2011	Paul Buckle
2011–2013	Martin Ling
2013–2014	Alan Knill
2014–2015	Chris Hargreaves
2015	Paul Cox
2015–2017	Kevin Nicholson
2017–2018	Gary Owers
2018–	Gary Johnson

Eric Webber was a Shoreham lad who played Youth football locally and was associated with Southampton from 1938-51 as a player, appearing 182 times for the Saints. 

Between 1951-56 he made 149 apps for Torquay became their manager till 1965, went to Poole Town, managing for 5 years and then as old pros usually do, he ran a local pub. the Manor House, in Woolston from 1970 till 1984. 

He looks like a centre-half, don't he? When he called "last orders", he meant it.

The game tomorrow is an FA Trophy (2nd Round Proper) clash between Torquay United, 15th in the National League and FC Halifax Town who are 10th. I saw Halifax play at The Shay a few weeks ago, very nice.

Note the Gull's wings on the modern badge....really!