So 2019 has thus far proved to be a good year for followers of Torquay United and the England Cricket team in the wake of the Gulls' National League South triumph and England's glorious 'champagne super over' victory over New Zealand in the final of 2019 Cricket World Cup.
However, it is not the first time that a highly successful campaign for United and a great English sporting triumph have occurred in a similar timescale.
In 1966 Alf Ramsey's 'wingless wonders' 4-2 defeat of West Germany at Wembley to lift the Jules Rimet Trophy happened several months after Frank O'Farrell had led Torquay United to promotion from Division Four.
There was a particularly strong connection between the two achievements, as former West Ham United defender John Bond was key to United's success and three of his former Hammers' team-mates Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters starred for England. Moore captained the side while Hurst famously scored the only World Cup final hat-trick and Peters was also on the score sheet. Two years earlier, Bond had appeared alongside Moore and Hurst for West Ham in the 1964 FA Cup final against Preston North End before O'Farrell, himself a former teammate of Bond from his own playing days at Upton Park, persuaded him to make the move to Plainmoor midway through the 1965-66 season.
On 22nd November 2003, Jonny Wilkinson's last gasp drop goal secured a first Rugby World Cup triumph for England by securing a 20-17 victory over Australia in their own backyard in the early hours of the morning UK time. Later on that day, the Gulls took another step closer to winning promotion from Division Three under Leroy Rosenior with a 2-1 win away to Kidderminster Harriers thanks to a brace from Kevin Wills. On the final day of the campaign, another 2-1 away win - this time over Southend United with goals from David Graham and Steve Woods - saw United pip Huddersfield Town to the third and final automatic promotion spot.
In 2019, the Gulls celebrated winning the National League South title under Gary Johnson, which was followed later in the summer by the super over drama against New Zealand. Both sides were tied on 241 runs each after 50 overs, which sent the match to a super over.
Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler made 15 off their allocated six balls, which left the Black Caps needing 16 from their super over. With one ball remaining they needed two runs, but Jason Roy's throw to wicketkeeper Buttler helped to run out New Zealand's Martin Guptill to clinch a first Cricket World Cup for England in the most dramatic of circumstances as they won by virtue of scoring more boundaries - 26 to New Zealand's 17.
Although they were 14th in the table at the time of Johnson's arrival, United's National League South success proved to be more straight forward. They finished the campaign ten points clear of second placed Woking and won the title with three matches out of their 42-match league campaign to spare.
