A quarter of a century ago, Torquay United retained their Football League status by the skin of their teeth as they drew with Crewe Alexandra to avoid relegation from Division Four.
Whilst trailing 2-1 and with time running out, Bryn the Police Dog sunk his teeth into defender Jim McNichol and the time added on, following the incident, allowed Paul Dobson to score the crucial equaliser the Gulls needed to stay in the Football League.
25 years on, we now look at that side who featured for Torquay that day.
Kenny Allen:
Goalkeeper Kenny Allen remained at Plainmoor for a further season before he was released by Cyril Knowles, but he would later make a brief return in 1989 to play in the Sherpa Van Trophy Southern Area Final 2nd leg against Wolves and in the final itself against Bolton Wanderers. Currently living in South Devon after working for the Ambulance service.
Jim McNichol:
Despite being constantly referred to as the player who was bitten by Bryn, it is worth noting that Jim had scored Torquay's first goal that afternoon against Crewe.
He would also remain at Plainmoor for another two years, during which time the Gulls almost won promotion from Division Four in 1988 and lost in the Sherpa Van final in 1989.
After leaving Plainmoor, Jim joined Exeter City before making a brief return to Torquay in the 1991-92 season. He is currently the Landlord of the Exeter Inn in Ashburton.
Dave Cole:
Dave remained with Torquay until the end of the 1988-89 season, when he joined Rochdale, but didn't feature in the Sherpa Van Trophy final at Wembley. He would later return to Devon for a brief spell with Exeter City.
Derek Dawkins:
One of the most popular Gulls players of the 1980's, Derek 'the Dude' Dawkins also combined playing with coaching the club's youth team, which included a certain Lee Sharpe.
Derek would go down in Torquay United folklore when he scored the winning goal in a Littlewoods Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur in the 1987-88 season.
In 2005, Derek was voted as the Gulls' all-time cult hero in a poll held by the BBC's Football Focus. He is currently working for the Sheffield United Soccer Academy in Torreveija, Southern Spain.
Tom Kelly:
One of a number of players who left Plainmoor at the end of the 1988-89 season, Tom would later return to Torquay in the 1992-93 season following spells with York City and Exeter City. He was part of the Gulls' side that reached the Play-Offs in the 1993-94 where they were beaten by Preston North End.
After leaving Plainmoor in 1996, Tom dropped down into South West non-league football and appeared for Weymouth Town, Ilfracombe Town, Taunton Town where he won an FA Vase winners' medal in 2001, Bideford, Bridgwater Town and in more recent years Bovey Tracey and Buckland Athletic along with his son, Cameron.
Chris Myers:
The son of former Gulls' midfielder, Cliff Myers, Chris would drop into non-league football with Dawlish Town and Barnstaple Town before he was brought back to Plainmoor by Dave Smith in 1990.
Chris appeared for Torquay in their 1991 Division Four Play-Off final victory over Blackpool and was one of the Gulls successful spot-kick takers in their 5-4 shoot-out win.
He stayed at Plainmoor until 1993 when he signed for Dundee United but brieftly returned to Plainmoor on loan during the 1993-94 season. Spells with Exeter City and Dorchester Town followed before Chris entered management at non-league level with Dawlish Town and laterly with Burscough in the North West after relocating to the area.
Alan McLoughlin:
Appearing as a loan player from Swindon Town, Alan McLoughlin would later find fame as the man who scored the goal that secured the Republic of Ireland's passage to the 1994 World Cup when he netted for the Republic against Northern Ireland in a qualifer between the two nations.
He also appeared for Southampton, Portsmouth and Wigan Athletic and returned to Plainmoor for a second loan spell in the 1987-88 season.
Mark Gardiner:
Young winger Mark remained with the Gulls for a further season and ironically joined Crewe Alexandra on his release from Plainmoor.
He would spent much of his career in the North West, apart from a brief spell in Norway, and was part of the Macclesfield Town side that faced Torquay in the Silkmen's first ever league fixture on the opening day of the 1997-98 season.
Mario Walsh:
The Crewe fixture proved to be Mario's final appearance for the Gulls in his three-year stint at Plainmoor.
He was the club's leading scorer in the 1984-85 season and joined Colchester United after leaving South Devon.
Paul Dobson:
After scoring the crucial goal that kept the Gulls in the league, Paul Dobson followed this up in the 1987-88 campaign by becoming the first Torquay United player to score 20 goals or more in a season since Robin Stubbs achieved the feat in the 1966-67 season.
He found the target 22 times as Torquay reached the Division Four Play-Off final against Swansea City where they were beaten 5-4 over two legs.
In 1988, Paul headed north to join Doncaster Rovers in a deal that saw Paul Holmes and Sean Joyce sign for the Gulls. He later appeared for Scarborough before winding up his career in his native North East with Darlington, Gateshead and Spennymoor United.
Mark Loram:
A mercurial talent, Brixham-born Mark Loram had returned to Torquay on loan from Queens Park Rangers after failing to settle in West London.
Such was his talent that the then Rangers boss Jim Smith was on the brink of handing him his debut against Liverpool before he went AWOL and the then Gulls boss Stuart Morgan negotiated a loan move back to South Devon for him.
After the Crewe game, Mark returned to Plainmoor and became a regular fixture in the Gulls' side until the 1991-92 season, during which time he helped Torquay to reach the Sherpa Van Trophy final in 1989 and clinch promotion from Division Four for the first time in 25 years in the 1990-91 season.
His final appearance for Torquay came as a substitute in the 1993-94 season against Colchester United.
Adie Mann:
Signed on loan from Northampton Town, Adie Mann became the Cobblers' youngest ever player when he made his debut in the 1983-84 season. As well as his spell at Plainmoor, Adie also had spells with several other clubs, including Barnet and Newport County and a fledging Rushden & Diamonds where he scored their first ever FA Cup goal in August 1992.
Stuart Morgan (Manager):
Following the game with Crewe, Stuart Morgan resigned as manager of Torquay United and was later replaced by Cyril Knowles.
A month after leaving the Plainmoor hotseat, Stuart embarked on a second spell as manager of Weymouth Town, a position which he held until 1989 when he linked up with Harry Redknapp at Bournemouth where he became Chief Scout.
He returned to management with Dorchester Town in August 1993 and remained at the Avenue Stadium until his dismissal in September 1999. He later performed scouting again for Redknapp at West Ham, Portsmouth and more recently at Tottenham.
