For a club who have specialised in achieving the unlikely and improbable throughout their history, the question of what could be considered as the 'most Torquay United thing ever' predictably creates much debate and conjecture.
Many would point to the Gulls' famous final day 'great escape' at the end of the 1986-87 season against Crewe Alexandra, when Bryn the Police Dog sunk his teeth into Jim McNichol that was swiftly followed by Paul Dobson's equaliser in the subsequent time added on to secure a 2-2 draw which kept United in the Football League.
However, at first glance, it could appear to be a case of 'canine intervention' which saved the Gulls, but if you examine it more closely, there was only one sub in those days and, as Adie Mann had already replaced Chris Myers, McNichol was forced to carry on even though in today's game, where clubs can name five subs, he would surely have been replaced. Therefore, in reality, United were playing the additional injury time with ten men - as McNichol, although he might have been on the pitch, wasn't in a position to make any significant contribution.
My personal choice for the most 'Torquay United thing ever' would be the Gulls' play-off triumph over Blackpool in the 1990-91 season. In the semi-finals, United defeated Burnley and a 2-1 victory over the Clarets ruined any hopes that anyone might have had for a dream all Lancashire between Burnley and the Tangerines before going onto win the final themselves - in the most dramatic of circumstances.
Despite conceding an early goal from Blackpool midfielder Paul Groves before skipper for the night Wes Saunders - regular captain John Uzzell still hadn't recovered from a hamstring injury sustained on the final day of the regular season against York City - headed home a cross from Mark Loram.
A Dean Edwards penalty gave United a 2-1 lead before they were pegged back by an own goal from Chris Curran. The scores remained level at the end of 90 minutes, and also at the end of extra time which sent the final to penalties. The Gulls then triumphed 5-4 on penalties, becoming the first team to do so in a Wembley play-off final, with Gareth Howells scoring the decisive spot-kick - which made him the first goalkeeper to save and score in a penalty shoot-out at Wembley.
All of this was achieved after being 12th in the table at one stage; they were also on 45 points after 28 league games - the same number that the Gulls of 2024 currently have after playing the same number of matches. However, a strong finish saw them, which included five wins in their last eight games saw them into the play-offs.
A similar run of form from Gary Johnson's United would further cement their current place within the play-offs, the Gulls are currently seventh- National League South's sixth and final play-off spot. Nevertheless, while United have been a formidable force at home (they currently boast the second best home record in the division, the form away from home hasn't been as strong and they have the 17th best away record at present. United, of course, need to finish as high as possible to ensure home advantage in the semi-finals and final of the end of season showdown.
Amid the off-field discontent regarding the speculation over the potential move to a new stadium, no one wants the Gulls to become marooned in National League South in the same way that Stockport County (2013-2019) and York City (2017-2022) were in National League North. This group has the potential to ensure that United can return to the National League at the first time of asking, and avoid a similar fate, and it's one they need to grasp.
