TORQUAY UNITED'S WORLD CUP LINKS

With the 2014 World Cup due to kick off in Brazil in less than a week's time, we will now look at the former Torquay United personnel who have been involved in World Cups past.

One former Gull who has been involved in the competition in recent times is former Gulls' boss Lubos Kubik, who worked as assistant manager of the USA national side in the last World Cup in South Africa four years ago.

Lubos has also featured at a World Cup as a player when he represented Czechoslovakia in Italia 90. His efforts helped the Czech’s to reach the Quarter Finals, and he was on target in their 4-1 second round victory over Costa Rica.

Another former Torquay manager who has appeared for his country in a World Cup is Bruce Rioch. Ex Aston Villa, Derby and Everton midfielder Rioch captained Scotland during their ill-fated 1978 campaign in Argentina under Ally McLeod.

He was an ever present in a side, which lost to Peru and drew with Iran before pulling off a surprise 3-2 win over eventual finalists Holland in their final group game. Bruce first arrived at Plainmoor during the 1980-81 season and took charge of the Gulls between 1982 and 1984, and later managed Middlesbrough, Millwall, Bolton Wanderers and Arsenal amongst others.  

Paul Hall and Matt Elliott both featured in Torquay’s 1990-91 Play-Off winning side and were also involved in the 1998 World Cup Finals in France. Hall appeared in all three of Jamaica’s matches in the competition. His performances for the Reggae Boyz helped to earn him a move to Coventry City who were then in the Premiership. Meanwhile Elliott, who was plying his trade under Martin O’Neill at Leicester City at the time, was named in Scotland’s squad without being selected.

Full back Len Graham found his way to Plainmoor after being a non-playing member of Northern Ireland’s squad for the 1958 tournament in Sweden. Graham made just 20 appearances for the Gulls before returning home to the province to manage Ards.

Former Gulls physio Norman Medhurst served as physiotherapist to the England side in the 1982, 1986 and 1990 World Cups. Norman was first persuaded to take on the role at Plainmoor by the late Cyril Knowles in 1988 and, after discussions with the then England boss Bobby Robson, made the move to south Devon. He left Plainmoor for a brief spell with Plymouth Argyle in 1995 before returning to the Gulls fold in 1998 where he remained until his retirement during the 2004-05 season.

 

Also involved in two of those tournaments with England, 1986 & 1990, was Chris Waddle, who had a brief at Plainmoor during the 1998-99 when he was persuaded to sign for the Gulls by his former Newcastle teammate Wes Saunders. Waddle played a key role in helping England reach the semi-finals of Italia 90, but was one of two players- along with Stuart Pearce- who missed crucial penalties against West Germany that denied the Three Lions their first appearance in a World Cup final since 1966.

Lastly, and by no means least, ex Plainmoor apprentice Paul Balsom worked as assistant coach to the Swedish national side during the 2002 and 2006 competitions. He is currently Head of Sports Science at Leicester City.