As well as their improved showings on the pitch, one of the hallmarks of Torquay United's 2024-25 campaign has been the crowds that have poured into Plainmoor to witness the Gulls in action.
For the first time since the 2004-05 season, when United plied their trade in League One under Leroy Rosenior, Torquay United have attracted attendance above 3,000 for their opening four home games of the campaign.
After attracting a crowd of 3,827 on the opening day of the season against Enfield Town, United followed this up with attendances of 3,566 against Dorking Wanderers, 3,263 against Aveley and then 3,087 against Chippenham Town.
In 2004-05, United drew a crowd of 3,973 for their first home game against Hull City, which was followed by 5,005 against Sheffield Wednesday in their second home fixture and 3,791 saw them face Walsall and 3,456 witnessed them draw 2-2 with Brentford. The season would ultimately end in relegation for the Gulls following their 2-1 defeat to Colchester United at Layer Road on the final day of the campaign, but their average attendance of 3,511 - this remains their highest seasonal average since United were relegated from the 'old' Third Division in the 1971-72 season under Jack Edwards.
Since then the Gulls have only recorded seasonal average attendances above 3,000 on nine occasions, with the most recent being in the 2007-08 season, which stood at 3,125. A parrallel with that season can be found with the present day, as the Alex Rowe-led local consortium took over the club in the summer of 2007, just as the Bryn Consortium completed their takeover of the club in the close season.
Like in 2007-08, the Bryn Consortium, headed by co-chairman Michael Westcott and Mark Bowes-Cavanagh, have shown what can be achieved if you can create an enthusiasm amongst the United faithful for the club and make people want to come to Plainmoor. And if they can better the figure of 3,125, then it will be another tick on the list of things that they have got right since taking charge.
