For Torquay United fans, all road and rail links will be leading to Hemel Hempstead, as the Gulls head into the final day of the 2024-25 National League South campaign knowing that a win could see them clinch the league title.
United are second in the table and are one of six teams who could finish top of the division, but the Gulls , who are level on points on 86 points with Truro City with a slightly worse goal difference, could still win and finish second. This would ensure that they would have home advantage in the play-off semi-finals, and potentially the final.
However, it isn't the first time that the Gulls have faced a final day decider in the South East of England, and there's a look at the selection of them.
1. Crystal Palace 1 Torquay United 1, 1st May 1957 - Division Three South
United went into the final day of the 1956-57 season needing a win over Crystal Palace to secure the Division Three South title at the expense of a Ipswich Town side managed by Alf Ramsey.
After being goalless at half-time, Barry Pierce gave Palace the lead before John 'Jimmy' James equalised for United. James was then denied a late winner by an off the line clearance by future Torquay manager Jack Edwards, as they were forced to settle for second place, as Ipswich beat Southampton 2-0.
2. Leyton Orient 2 Torquay United 1, 2nd May 1998, Division Three
A club record run of eight wins between January and March 1998 lifted the Gulls into the automatic promotion contention, but a loss of form saw them stutter before they won 3-1 against Peterborough United in their final home game of the campaign.
They needed a point in the final game of the season at Leyton Orient and they got off to a bad start as Craig Maskell gave Orient the lead after four minutes. The hosts then doubled their lead from the penalty spot through former Aston Villa and Leicester City manager Dean Smith.
United fought back, despite seeing goalkeeper Kenny Veysey sent off, as Andy McFarlane pulled one back, but they couldn't find an equaliser, so Lincoln City clinched the third automatic promotion. The Gulls ended up finishing fifth and faced Scarborough, who they beat 7-2 on aggregate before losing 1-0 to Colchester United in the final at Wembley.
3. Barnet 2 Torquay United 3, 5th May 2001, Division Three
It was billed as 'loser loses all' contest as Torquay United headed to Underhill to face Barnet with relegation from the Football League awaiting the loser.
The Gulls started the game attacking down the slope at Underhill and took the lead on ten minutes with a 25 yard strike from Jason Rees. In the 25th minute, Kevin Hill connected with a Paul Holmes corner to head home his tenth goal of the season to give United a two-goal cushion.
On 40 minutes, the Bees were awarded a penalty when Jimmy Aggrey was adjudged to have handled the ball. Darren Currie stepped to take it, but Gulls' keeper Stuart Jones guessed its direction correctly and saved it - it was his third spot-kick save of the campaign.
Once Jones had saved the penalty, United got the ball forward to David Graham who slotted home the Gulls' third after being teed up by strike partner Eifion Williams.
In the second half, an own goal from Ryan Green and a second from Wayne Purser reduced Barnet's arrears, but United dug deep to hang onto their lead and thus retained their Football League status.
4. Southend United 1 Torquay United 2, 8th May 2004, Division Three
In their second season under Leroy Rosenior, the Gulls headed to Southend United's Roots Hall on 78 points needing a win to stand a chance of claiming the division's third and final automatic promotion spot ahead of Huddersfield Town, who were on 80 points and were travelling to Cheltenham Town. Victory for the Gulls and a draw for the Terriers would see United promoted at their expense on goal difference.
United got off to a flying start as Steve Woods volleyed home a corner from Alex Russell in the third minute. Eight minutes later, David Graham nodded home a Jo Kuffour cross to score his 23rd goal of the season to double the Gulls' lead.
Lawrie Dudfield pulled one back for the Shrimpers in the 17th minute and news was also coming through from Cheltenham's Whaddon Road home that Huddersfield were winning 1-0.
The Gulls managed to maintain their 2-1 lead and with 15 minutes to go, the Robins equalised through Shane Duff, which was how it stayed as United won automatic promotion for the first time in 38 years on goal difference.
5. Colchester United 2 Torquay United 1, 7th May 2005, League One
Nearly a year to the day since their promotion success, the Gulls headed to Essex in very different circumstances as they needed a point to retain their League One status that they had won 12 months earlier.
A run of four straight wins over MK Dons, Port Vale, Oldham Athletic and Blackpool had given United a chance of beating the drop, potentially at the expense of either MK Dons or Oldham (United were on 51 points, the Dons on 48 and Oldham on 49).
The Gulls fell a goal down just before the break as Neil Danns gave the U's the lead and a minute before the end of normal time, Marino Keith doubled Colchester's advantage.
Left back Craig Woodman pulled one back for Torquay in injury time, but it proved to be in vain as MK Dons beat Tranmere Rovers 2-1 and Oldham beat Bradford City 1-0, which saw the Gulls relegated on goal difference.
