On May 9, 1987, Torquay United drew 2-2 with Crewe Alexandra to retain their Football League status.
However, this was no ordinary game as the Gulls equalised late on through Paul Dobson, in extra time which was added on after defender Jim McNichol required treatment for being bitten by a police dog named Bryn. Dobson’s late effort stopped United becoming the first ever club to be automatically relegated from the Football League, as Lincoln City went down instead.
Far from being a stay of execution for United, it provided them with a shot at redemption as the subsequent seasons saw them enjoy one of the most successful spells in the club’s history.
In the following 1987/88 season, they narrowly missed out on promotion under the late Cyril Knowles. This was followed up with their first Wembley appearance in 1989 against Bolton Wanderers in the Sherpa Van Trophy final, after beating Wolverhampton Wanderers against the odds in the Southern Area final. In the 1989/90 season, they claimed one of the greatest FA Cup scalps in their history when they beat West Ham United in the third round. Over a year later, the Gulls won promotion through the Play-offs against Blackpool in 1991 – becoming the first side to win a Football League Play-off final on penalties.
These events were followed by numerous highs and lows in the 1990s and the 2000s, including a return to Wembley in 1998 in the Play-offs, their final day relegation decider against Barnet in 2001, their first automatic promotion in 38 years under Leroy Rosenior in 2004, as well as their first ever relegation from the Football League and subsequent return under Paul Buckle in 2009.
After the Jaws of Victory carries on from where the 2019 Netflix documentary on the club’s ‘great escape’ left off, as Steve Harris interviews 12 players who all made their mark for the club between 1986 and 2010.
The players featured include McNichol, Chris Myers, Dave Caldwell, John Uzzell, Darren Moore, Don O’Riordan, Alex Watson, Paul Gibbs, Kevin Hill, Alex Russell, Martin Gritton and Chris Hargreaves. Together they share not only the stories of their respectively stints at Plainmoor, but also tales of encounters with World Cup winners, meetings with legendary managers and he crossing of paths with a number of the game’s contemporary figures.
Copies are available from the author at steveharris84@btinternet.comand the book is on sale at www.torquayunitedahistoryin50.bigcartel.com/product/after-the-jaws-of-victory
