The year 1990 marked the start of a new era for Torquay United, as local self-made millionaire Mike Bateson, who had made his fortune from selling double glazing, became Chairman of the club.
Upon the completion of his takeover, he made substantial transfer funds available to Dave Smith to spend, which Smith promptly invested. First of all, he signed former Newcastle United central defender Wes Saunders from his former club Dundee for a fee of £60,000, which then stood as a club record fee. Next up, Smith made another marquee signing, as he persuaded the legendary goal scorer that was Tommy Tynan to sign for the Gulls following his release by Plymouth Argyle.
Widely recognised as one of the most prolific marksman outside the top-flight, Tynan had found the back of the net on a regular basis during his career with Sheffield Wednesday, Newport County and Rotherham United as well as two spells with the Pilgrims.
However, it was during his solitary season at Plainmoor that he would reach the landmark of scoring his 300th career goal against Carlisle United on October 27, 1990. The win over the Cumbrians was also the Gulls 13th game of what would later become a then club record of 15 unbeaten league games.
Afterwards their form then began to dip as Smith left the club to be replaced by youth team coach John Impey. The installation of Impey as manager in April 1991 helped to galvanise a Gulls’ side that had slipped into the bottom half of the table. However, a 2-1 win over York City on the final day of the regular 1990-91 campaign saw them secure a Play-off spot.
Once in the Play-offs, United overcame Burnley 2-1 on aggregate to set up a final meeting with Blackpool, thus destroying 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.
In the build-up to the match, Stan Mortensen – who scored a hat-trick for the Tangerines on that occasion – passed away on the eve of their semi-final victory over Scunthorpe United and a minute’s silence was held beforehand in his memory.
The Gulls fielded four players who had appeared in the Sherpa Van Trophy final two years earlier against Bolton in the form of 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 break through 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 scoring 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 inswinging cross and the United 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; he also ensured that he became the first Torquay player to score twice at Wembley, after finding the back of the net 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.
In the second half, the Gulls won a succession of corners after Stewart Evans had a close range effort turned behind by McIlhargey on 55 minutes - 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 over-head kick which cannoned back off the cross bar and into the path of Chris Curran, who inadvertently turned the bar 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 ruled to be 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 as 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 – then restored Torquay’s lead, then Ian Gore stepped up to bring the Tangerines level once again.
United’s advantage was then restored by Paul Holmes before Groves joined Saunders in scoring in both normal time and 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, but he missed the target – thus ensuring Torquay clinched promotion to the Third Division, and ending their 19-year stint in the league’s basement division.
Bamber's miss would later inspire the name of the United fanzine: 'Bamber's Right Foot.'
Torquay (4-4-2): Gareth Howells; Chris Curran, Matt Elliott, Wes Saunders, Paul Holmes; Mickey Holmes, Sean Joyce, Chris Myers, Mark Loram, Dean Edwards (Paul Hall 86), Stewart Evans (Andy Rowland 115)
Footnote: One of United's potential Play-off opponents Notts County also featured at Wembley that weekend in the 'old' Second Division final against Brighton and Hove Albion, who they defeated 3-1. The Magpies were managed by future Gulls' boss Neil Warnock and their side featured another future Torquay manager in the form of Don O'Riordan.
A full account of this match and many other of United's Play-off campaigns feature in Torquay United: A History in 50 Matches which is available from: https://torquayunitedahistoryin50.bigcartel.com/product/torquay-united-a-history-in-50-matches
