May 31, 1991 saw Torquay United end their 19-year stay in the 'old' Fourth Division, with a Play-off final win over Blackpool which marked the next chapter of their recovery following the Bryn the Police Dog inspired 'great escape' four years earlier.
A header from Wes Saunders and a Dean Edwards helped the Gulls secure a 2-2 draw after normal time and extra time. However, the match would be decided on sudden death in a penalty shoot-out as Gareth Howells became the first goalkeeper to save and score a penalty at Wembley as United 5-4 triumphed 5-4.
The story of United's promotion success goes back to the summer of 1990 and in the wake of England's semi-final appearance at Italia 90, the English public were falling in love with its national game again.
It was a mood reflected at Plainmoor as following the takeover by local self-made millionaire Mike Bateson, who made serious funds available to United manager Dave Smith to sign Wes Saunders from Dundee for a fee of £60,000. This was also followed the signing of the legendary striker Tommy Tynan following his release by Plymouth Argyle.
After a pre-season which included a friendly against the future European Cup winners Red Star Belgrade, the Gulls hit the ground running as they set a club record for unbeaten league matches of 15 league matches which ended in with a defeat at Scarborough in November 9, 1990; This record would later be beaten Gary Johnson's National League South title winners in January 2019.
Sadly a mid-season slump saw United slid down the table, which resulted in Smith resigning as manager and the appointment of youth team coach John Impey as manager led the revitalisation of the Gulls' fortunes.A 5-0 win over York City on the final day of the regular 1990-91 campaign secured a place in the Play-offs where they would face Burnley over two legs.United overcame the Clarets 2-1 on aggregate, winning 2-0 in the first leg at Plainmoor and lost the second leg at Turf Moor by a single goal, to set up a final meeting with Blackpool - extingushing any hopes of an all-Lancashire final.
For the Gulls the occasion marked their second visit to Wembley in the space of three years; but for Blackpool their appearance in the final had a greater significance, as it would be the first time they had played at the home of football since the famous ‘Matthews Final’ in 1953.
Before kick-off a minute's silence was held in the memory of Stan Mortensen – who scored a hat-trick for the Tangerines in the
‘Matthews Final’ – after he passed away on the eve of their semi-final victory over
Scunthorpe United.
The Gulls fielded four players who had appeared in the Sherpa Van Trophy final two years earlier against Bolton namely Dean Edwards, Mark Loram, Matt Elliott and Sean Joyce.
Skipper John Uzzell failed to recover from the hamstring injury that had kept him out both legs of the semi-final against Burnley, so Wes Saunders continued to captain the side in his absence.
Blackpool, who were wearing black armbands to mark the passing of Mortensen, settled more quickly than United and it was them who made the early breakthrough after seven minutes.
Mark Taylor cut in from the right hand side and picked out Paul Groves, who rolled the ball past Gareth Howells from seven yards out to score his 15th goal of the season.
The Gulls then rallied as Saunders received a cut just above his left eye – following an aerial collision with Groves – that required close attention from United physio Norman Medhurst.
Loram and Edwards both went close to finding an equaliser for Torquay, as they gradually gained a foothold in the match.
Their persistence paid off as they struck back to equalise in the 28th minute when Loram picked out Saunders with an in-swinging cross and United’s stand-in skipper headed home from eight yards out.
On 37 minutes, the Gulls were awarded a penalty after Tangerines striker David Bamber was adjudged by referee George Courtney to have handled a cross from the left by Paul Holmes.
Edwards then stepped up to take the spot-kick for United, and sent Blackpool keeper Steve McIlhargey the wrong way to put the Gulls 2-1 up. In the process he also became the first Torquay player to score twice at Wembley, after scoring against Bolton in the Sherpa Van Trophy final two years earlier.
Six minutes later, United almost added a third as Mickey Holmes blasted over from 20-yards after the Tangerines defence had failed to clear their lines following a corner from Chris Myers so United went into the half-time break with a 2-1 lead.
In the second half, Stewart Evans had a close range effort turned behind by McIlhargey on 55 minutes after which the Gulls won a succession of corners as they continued to pressurise their opponents.
Shortly afterwards, Paul Holmes denied Tangerines’ winger Tony Rodwell with a goal-line clearance as Blackpool stepped up their search for an equaliser.
The Tangerines’ leveller came in the 69th minute when David Eyres attempted an overhead kick which cannoned back off the cross bar and into the path of Chris Curran, who inadvertently turned the ball into the back of the net with an attempted clearance.
However, the scores remained level on 90 minutes and the game entered extra time.
In the first half of extra time, Bamber found the back of the net for the Tangerines – but he was ruled to have been offside by linesman Gareth Davis.
Arguably the Gulls’ best chance of the opening period of extra time was a shot from the edge of the penalty area by Loram, which sailed narrowly wide.
United came agonisingly close to securing that all important third goal in the 112th minute when a free-kick from Chris Myers was flicked into the path of Elliott, who forced a fine reflex save from McIlhargey. The rebound then fell into the path of Evans, whose headed effort was cleared behind for a corner by Groves.
Two minutes later, Loram produced a low centre, which substitute Paul Hall was unable to fully connect with and the ball fell comfortably into the arms of McIlhargey.
However, neither side was able to find a decisive third goal so the final went to penalties.
Loram, the Gulls’ regular penalty taker, stepped up to take their first spot-kick, but McIlhargey guessed the direction of it correctly and saved it.
Stepping up first for Blackpool was Rodwell, who forced a save from Howells.
Torquay’s second penalty taker was Mickey Holmes, who slotted his spot-kick home to give United the lead. Taylor then levelled matters with Blackpool’s second penalty.
Gulls’ skipper Saunders, who equalised for United in the first half, restored Torquay’s lead.
Then Ian Gore stepped up to bring the Tangerines level once again.
United’s advantage was restored by Paul Holmes before Groves joined Saunders in scoring in normal time as well as in the shoot-out.
Myers then put the Gulls 4-3 up with the Gulls’ fifth spot-kick before Andy Garner struck for Blackpool to ensure the penalty contest went to sudden death.
Next up for the Gulls was goalkeeper Howells who calmly slotted home to become the first keeper to save and score a penalty at Wembley, but – more importantly – he put United 5-4 ahead.
It was then all down to Bamber to keep Blackpool in the
final. Crucially he missed the target thus ensuring Torquay clinched promotion
to the Third Division and ended their 19-year stint in the league’s basement
division. Bamber had another claim to immortality as he inspired the name of
the popular Gulls’ fanzine ‘Bamber’s
Right Foot’ as a result.
Torquay United (4-4-2): Gareth Howells; Chris Curran, Matt Elliott, Wes Saunders, Paul Holmes; Mickey Holmes, Chris Myers, Sean Joyce, Mark Loram, Dean Edwards (Paul Hall 86), Stewart Evans (Andy Rowland 115)
You read more about this match and many others in Torquay United's history in Torquay United: A History in 50 Matches - which is available from https://torquayunitedahistoryin50.bigcartel.com/product/torquay-united-a-history-in-50-matches
