The 2008–09 Torquay United F.C. season was Torquay United's second consecutive season in the Conference National. The season runs from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009.
Overview Despite gaining just five points from their first seven games, which saw the Gulls languishing in 18th place in the Conference, manager Paul Buckle soon set Torquay on a run of form which saw the team achieve a club record of seventeen games unbeaten.
Torquay also enjoyed their most successful FA Cup run since 1990. After easing through a qualifying round against Chipstead, the Gulls then had to see off Evesham and Oxford to set up a Third round clash with Championship side Blackpool. In one of the major upsets of the third round, the Gulls won the match 1–0 against a side placed three leagues above them. However, they were to narrowly lose their Fourth round tie to Coventry, also of the Championship, thanks to an 87th-minute header from Elliott Ward.
The 2008–09 season was also notable for the departure of two of Torquay's longest serving players. After a brief appearance in the 2008 FA Trophy Final defeat, Torquay's all-time leading appearance maker Kevin Hill made his official departure in July. Later in the season the Gulls also said farewell to another stalwart as defender Steve Woods left the club in April after an eight-year spell encompassing 281 appearances.
The season ultimately finished in thrilling style when, after beating Conference Champions Burton Albion on the final day of the season, Torquay qualified for the Play-off Semi-finals in which they beat Histon 2–1 on aggregate over two legs. The result meant the Gulls would make their second visit to Wembley in two seasons. However, unlike the previous season, the Torquay fans were treated to a 2–0 victory over Cambridge United thanks to goals from Chris Hargreaves and leading scorer Tim Sills. The win secured Torquay United's return to the Football League after a two-year absence.
League statistics
Conference National
Results summary
Results by round
Season diary 1 July: Club record appearance holder Kevin Hill leaves to join Dorchester Town on a free transfer 14 July: Mustapha Carayol joins from Milton Keynes Dons on a two-year contract 18 July: Michael Poke re-joins on loan from Southampton 13 August: Martin Rice joins Truro City on loan until the end of the season 9 September: Roscoe Dsane and Michael Brough are made available for loan 25 September: Goalkeeper Scott Bevan joins on loan from Shrewsbury Town as cover for the injured Michael Poke (himself a loanee). 19 November: Torquay defender Chris Todd announces that he has been diagnosed with leukaemia 19 November: Torquay set a new club record number of games without defeat 3 December: Torquay's club record unbeaten run of 17 games ends with defeat away to Forest Green Rovers in the Conference League Cup 1 January: Scott Bevan joins on an 18-month contract from Shrewsbury Town 2 January: Tristan Plummer joins on loan from Bristol City until the end of the season 3 January: Torquay defeat Championship side Blackpool in the FA Cup 3rd round 14 January: Striker Tim Sills signs a new contract until the end of the 2009–10 season 20 January: Former striker Jamie Ward moves from Chesterfield to Sheffield United for an initial fee of £330,000, triggering a 25% sell-on clause 24 January: Torquay exit FA Cup after 1–0 defeat at home to Coventry City 31 January: Tristan Plummer ends his loan spell early and returns to Bristol City 31 January: Torquay exit FA Trophy after 3–0 defeat Away to Southport 2 February: Striker Iyseden Christie joins on a free transfer from Stevenage Borough, signing a contract until the end of the season 2 February: Defenders Chris Todd and Michael Brough join Salisbury City on a month's loan 4 March: Trainee Jordan Charran leaves the club 20 March: Chris Todd returns to the club after his loan spell at Salisbury City 27 March: Swindon Town Striker Blair Sturrock joins the club on loan until the end of the season 2 April: Defender Steve Woods leaves Torquay United after eight years and 281 appearances 9 April: Michael Brough returns after his loan deal with Salisbury City ends 26 April: In a tense final game of the season, Torquay beat Burton Albion 2–1 to finish fourth and secure a place in the Conference National play-offs. Despite Burton losing, the result is enough to crown them the Conference champions 27 April: Striker Roscoe Dsane leaves the club 4 May: Despite a 1–0 second leg defeat to Histon, Torquay win the Conference Play-offs 2–1 on aggregate to book a place in the Conference National play-off final at Wembley against Cambridge United. 17 May: Torquay Utd are promoted back to the Football League after beating Cambridge United 2–0 in front of a crowd of over 35,000 at Wembley 21 May: United celebrate their return to the Football League with a victory parade through the streets of Torquay. 22 May: Defender Kevin Nicholson signs a new one-year deal with the club. 1 Jun: Striker Iyseden Christie is released by the club. 2 Jun: Goalkeeper Martin Rice signs a new one-year contract after having spent the majority of the season on loan to Truro City. 16 Jun: Skipper Chris Hargreaves agrees a new one-year deal in a role involving both playing and coaching. 23 Jun: Striker Matt Green agrees a season long loan to Oxford Utd.
Match of the season CAMBRIDGE UNITED 0–2 TORQUAY UNITEDConference National Play-off FinalWembley Stadium, 17 May 2009
Torquay United's second trip to Wembley in two seasons was only made possible by the slenderest of margins. After having sneaked into the play-offs by beating Conference champions Burton Albion on the final day of the season, the Gulls only just managed to beat third placed Histon 2–1 on aggregate in the play-off semi-finals. They now faced the final hurdle preventing them from returning to the Football League after a two-year absence: a play-off final with the team who had finished second in the Conference, Cambridge United.
Cambridge had been defeated in the previous year's play-off final by Torquay's arch-rivals Exeter City (who had also knocked the Gulls out in the same year's semi final). As such, they were eager to make it second time lucky, although, having experienced defeat themselves in the previous year's FA Trophy Final at Wembley, the Gulls were also keen not to repeat the disappointment of the previous season. Although Cambridge began the brighter of the two sides, it was Torquay (wearing their white and blue away strip) who took the lead through captain Chris Hargreaves after 35 minutes. Cambridge had more chances in the second half, but their cause was hindered when defender Phil Bolland was sent off after a second yellow card for a tackle on Elliot Benyon in the 70th minute. Striker Tim Sills effectively sealed the victory five minutes later after he headed home a pin-point cross from winger Wayne Carlisle.
The score remained 2–0 until the final whistle, and Torquay United could finally celebrate their return to the Football League after two years in the Conference.
No. Pos. Name1GK Michael Poke7DF Lee Mansell6DF Chris Todd5DF Chris Robertson3DF Kevin Nicholson15MF Wayne Carlisle 11MF Nicky Wroe14MF Chris Hargreaves 19MF Danny Stevens 9FW Elliot Benyon 8FW Tim Sills Substitutes12MF Tyrone Thompson 16DF Lee Hodges 17FW Matt Green18MF Mustapha Carayol 23GK Martin Rice
Results
Conference National
Conference National play-offs
FA Cup
FA Trophy
Conference League Cup
Friendlies
South West Challenge Cup
Devon St Luke's Bowl
Club statistics
First team appearances No. Pos. Name Conference National Conference National play-offs FA Cup FA Trophy Conference League Cup Total Discipline Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals1GK Michael Poke12 (1)03000001015 (1)0002DF Michael Brough2 (1)0000000102 (1)0213DF Kevin Nicholson38 (2)33050302048 (2)3004DF Steve Woods27100503010341205DF Chris Robertson27 (3)33000001030 (3)3206DF Chris Todd16130000010201007MF Lee Mansell41 (1)03050312051 (1)1418FW Tim Sills43 (2)133254201252 (2)17809FW Elliot Benyon17 (17)101 (1)00 (5)20 (2)01 (1)118 (24)123010FW Roscoe D'Sane22 (5)90050311029 (5)102211MF Nicky Wroe4063150301 (1)05076012MF Tyrone Thompson17 (6)10 (1)03 (1)21 (1)01 (1)020 (9)14014MF Chris Hargreaves4443150311054610015MF Wayne Carlisle34 (3)83050200044 (3)82016DF Lee Hodges31 (4)00 (2)050301038 (6)01017FW Matt Green15 (14)4002 (1)12 (1)01 (1)020 (17)52118MF Mustapha Carayol14 (16)00 (1)03 (1)00 (1)02016 (19)01019MF Danny Stevens15 (14)5300 (2)00 (2)01 (1)018 (18)51020GK Scott Bevan340005030104100021FW Iyseden Christie2 (4)1000000002 (4)10022FW Ashley Yeoman0 (1)0000000000 (1)00023GK Martin Rice0000000000000024MF Steve Adams1 (2)0000010102 (2)00025DF Mark Ellis8 (1)1000000108 (1)12028FW Jordan Charran0 (1)0000 (1)0000 (1)00 (1)00032FW Tristan Plummer0000001000100033FW Blair Sturrock6 (1)2200000008 (1)210
Source: Torquay United, soccerbase Substitute appearances in brackets. Total excludes FA Cup qualifying round and Conference League Cup.
Transfers
In Date Pos. Name From Fee14 July 2008MFMustapha CarayolMilton Keynes DonsUndisclosed1 January 2009GKScott BevanShrewsbury TownFree2 February 2009FWIyseden ChristieStevenage BoroughFree
Out Date Pos. Name To Fee1 July 2009MFKevin HillDorchester TownFree4 March 2009FWJordan CharranReleasedFree2 April 2009DFSteve WoodsStalybridge CelticFree27 April 2009FWRoscoe D'SaneReleasedFree1 June 2009FWIyseden ChristieTamworthFree
Loans in Date Pos. Name From Expiry date18 July 2008GKMichael PokeSouthamptonMay 200925 September 2008GKScott BevanShrewsbury Town1 January 20092 January 2009FWTristan PlummerBristol City31 January 200927 March 2009FWBlair SturrockSwindon TownMay 2009
Loans out Date Pos. Name To Expiry date13 August 2008GKMartin RiceTruro CityMay 20092 February 2009DFChris ToddSalisbury City20 March 20092 February 2009DFMichael BroughSalisbury City9 April 200923 June 2009FWMatt GreenOxford UnitedMay 2010
References