Plainmoor
The Moor | |
 | |
| Full name | Plainmoor Stadium |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 6,104 |
| Field size | 112 x 74 yards |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1921 |
| Opened | 1921 |
| Tenants | |
| Torquay United F.C. | |
Plainmoor is a suburb of Torquay, Devon, but is best known as the name of the stadium in which Torquay United Football Club currently play.
History
At the time of Torquay United's formation in 1899, Plainmoor was the home of Torquay Athletic Rugby Football Club. In 1904, the rugby club secured the lease of the Recreation Ground, where United had been playing, and United's Torquay and District League rivals Ellacombe moved into the vacated site at Plainmoor, leaving United homeless.
In 1910 United merged with Ellacombe to become Torquay Town. Ellacombe’s Plainmoor ground became the home of the new club, and the shared home of local rivals Babbacombe.
Torquay Town and Babbacome finally merged and became Torquay United (again) in 1921. In 1927 United were elected into Division Three South of the Football League.
A new wooden grandstand costing £150 was erected for United’s inaugural season in the Football League; it had previously stood at Buckfastleigh Racecourse, where its twin can still be seen today. The roof of the stand was blown off during a gale in 1930.
Very little changed for the next fifty years as the ground saw generations of supporters move through its turnstiles. During the 1954/55 season over 21,000 fans watched Torquay’s 0-1 defeat at the hands of Huddersfield Town. The same season also saw United become one of the first lower division clubs to introduce floodlights to their ground.
David Webb came to Plainmoor in 1984 and prompted a few cosmetic changes to the terracing. Then in May 1985, just six days after the Bradford Stadium fire, a third of the old grandstand was destroyed during an early morning blaze. Nobody was hurt, but as a result, the ground’s capacity fell to below 5,000. In the few years after the fire the ground saw little change. At one point the manager’s office and changing rooms were situated in a couple of portable cabins behind the old Mini Stand.
During the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s, Plainmoor has finally seen some major changes. The old Mini Stand made way for the all-seating Family Stand, which also houses offices, the boardroom and the club shop, as well as the pub and restaurant Boots and Laces, and the 200 Club bar.
The old Cowshed has made way for the new Popside, and, in time for the beginning of the 2000/01 season, the new Sparkworld Stand was opened to accommodate away fans.
Future
The land is still owned by the local council and, although talks about the club purchasing the ground have taken place on several occasions in the past, no deal is on the horizon.
Any further changes to the ground will not be happening in the near future. Although the old Buckfastleigh Racecourse stand still survives opposite Westlands school, chairman and owner Mike Bateson is adamant that the money being spent this season will be directed at gaining promotion, rather than on the ground.
In the not too distant past there was some talk of re-location, and although this is not completely out of the question, Mike Bateson believes this will now only happen if:
- Torquay see a multi-million pound sale or two.
- The authorities pay the club to make way for further development of Westlands school.
- The club become Division One regulars.
Record Attendance
- 21,908 v Huddersfield Town, FA Cup 4th Rd. January 29 1955