After winning promotion at Wembley against Blackpool, the Gulls' stay in the third tier of English football lasted just one season as they returned to whence they came from after one season.
The following campaign, the 1992-93 season, saw them flirt with a second successive relegation before the timely intervention of Neil Warnock steered Torquay to safety.
Warnock's successor, Irishman Don O'Riordan, who had previously served under the current Leeds United manager at Notts County, built on the foundations which he had laid as he guided the Gulls to a sixth-place finish in the newly created Division Three (following the inception of the Premier League in 1992).
A 2-0 win in the first leg through goals from Duane Darby and Darren Moore looked to have given Torquay a comfortable advantage going into the second leg at Deepdale, which was to be the last ever competitive fixture in English football to be played on an artificial pitch.
However, the Gulls looked to be heading for a third trip to Wembley before a theatricial turn from Paul Raynor in the presence of Moore, which helped to get the young defender dismissed, and the balance of power soon swung back in the Lilywhite's favour.
With a numerical advantage, Preston led 3-1 after 90 minutes and clinched victory in extra time through a strike from Raynor, which booked them a place in the final against Wycombe Wanderers, then managed by Martin O'Neill, at the Gulls' expense.
Also amongst the goalscorer's for Preston that night was current Everton manager David Moyes.
1997-98
Fast forward four years and to Torquay's next tilt at the Play-Offs, a lot of changes had happened during this time at Plainmoor.
Only two years earlier, the Gulls had only stayed in the league by virtue of Stevenage's ground not meeting Football League requirements in the 1995-96 season.
Following this reprieve, Kevin Hodges was handed the task of overhauling the Torquay squad and by the time of the 1997-98 Play-Offs, only captain, Alex Watson, Rodney Jack and young hopefuls Matthew Gregg, Wayne Thomas and Tony Bedeau remained from the class of '96.
The new arrivals at Plainmoor included Andy Gurney, Paul Gibbs and Jamie Robinson and they were later joined by former Plymouth Dorchester Town
One of the finds of the season turned out to be a young midfielder by the name of Kevin Hill whom Hodges signed from Torrington Town on the recommendation of former Plymouth
However, perhaps the most inspired of Hodges' acquisitions was the loan of signing of future Premiership striker Jason Roberts from Wolverhampton Wanderers who played a key role in helping the Gulls put together a club record eight-match winning run between January and March and lifted them into second place.
Unfortunately for the Gulls, they couldn't sustain that form once Roberts returned to Molineux and they ended up needing to clinch a point against Leyton Orient, whose side included a certain Martin Ling, to seal promotion.
However, as in 1988 and 1991, Torquay were forced to settle for the Play-Offs as they went down 2-1 to Orient.
This left the Gulls needing to overcome Scarborough over two legs to stand a chance of reaching Wembley for a second shot at promotion.
They overcame Scarborough in emphatic fashion after winning the the first leg at the McCain Stadium 3-1 with goals from Rodney Jack, Jon Gittens and Andy McFarlane, which gave them a comfortable advantage ahead of the the return fixture at Plainmoor.
A brace from Jack set the Gulls on their way before a wonder strike from Steve McCall and a fourth from Paul Gibbs helped to give Torquay a comprehensive 7-2 aggregate victory to set up a final clash at Wembley with Colchester United.
Sadly, there was to be no Wembley celebrations for the Gulls who travelled to the game as the Essex side came out on top courtesy of a first half penalty from David Gregory.
