Torquay United

Torquay United are another side that United have faced in recent dire non-league times, although not as often as others. Torquay's relegation came after Oxford's and their subsequent promotion was before United's. Torquay's location on the south Devon coast gives a visit to Plainmoor an added bonus, although the English Riviera in mid-winter isn't as appealing as, say, a trip to Marbella.

Torquay United were formed in 1899, playing initially in the East Devon League at the Recreation Ground. After four years they moved to Penny's Hill, on Teignmouth Road, before joining the cricket club on the aptly named Cricketfield Road, where they remained a further four years. In 1910 Torquay merged with Ellacombe and changed their name to Torquay Town, moving to Ellacombe's home at Plainmoor, which they shared with local rivals Babbacombe. At this stage they played in the Plymouth & District League. In 1921 Town and Babbacombe merged and the club reverted to Torquay United and played in the Western League.

In 1927 Torquay won the Western League and were elected to the Third Division South of the Football League, taking the place vacated by Aberdare. Torquay needed to apply for re-election at the end of their first season, and the following years weren't much kinder either and it wasn't until 1949 that the club finished in the top ten for the first time. In 1954 Torquay changed from their traditional black and white stripes to gold and blue. In 1957 Torquay missed out on the divisional title on goal average to Alf Ramsay's Ipswich Town, but the following season they reverted to type and finished third from bottom, therefore switching to the new Fourth Division in 1959.

In 1960 Torquay won their first promotion, finishing third in the Fourth, but their stay in the Third lasted just two seasons before they were back in the basement in time to join the League's new boys, Oxford United. In 1966 Torquay again finished third to secure promotion, this time lasting six seasons before crashing back into Division Four, where they remained for the next 19 years. The club had to seek re-election in 1985 and 1986, the last two seasons before automatic relegation to the Conference was introduced. In that first automatic season Torquay were bottom of the League and 2-0 down to Crewe Alexandra in the final game of the season, but pulled back with a goal deep into stoppage time, added for a dog bite to Jim McNichol, to make the score 2-2 and survive at Lincoln City's expense. The next season Torquay reached the Fourth Division play-off final, losing over two legs to Swansea City. The following season Torquay made it to Wembley for the final of the Sherpa Van Trophy, which they lost 4-1 to Bolton Wanderers.

In 1991 Torquay again made the play-off final, now held at Wembley, where they beat Blackpool on penalties after a 2-2 draw to win promotion. They lasted just one season in the Third Division before being relegated. They reached the play-offs again in 1995, but were knocked out in the semi-final by Preston North End, and the following season they finished rock bottom of the 92, saved from relegation only because Stevenage Borough's ground was a hole. In 1998 they were in the play-offs again, this time losing 1-0 to Colchester United at Wembley in the final. They were eventually promoted again in 2005, but by 2006 they were back with Oxford in the basement and looking likely to go down until the appointment of Ian Atkins somehow revived their fortunes and a blistering run took them above Oxford to safety. Bastards. Still, their joy lasted only one season before they joined United in the Conference wasteland.

In their first season in purgatory, Torquay reached the play-offs but were knocked out by their neighbours Exeter City in the semi-final. They made up for this the following season when they won the play-offs, beating Cambridge United 2-0 at Wembley with goals from Tim Sills and Chris Hargreaves. Last season, after struggling initially, Torquay pulled themselves up the Fourth Division to finish in 17th place.

Plainmoor has a capacity of 6,104, of which about 1,100 spaces are available for visitors in the Sparkworld Away Stand, with a further 200 seats potentially available in the Main Stand. Admission prices are