by hector » 01 Jan 2014, 02:29
Happy New Year!
34 years ago, a Steve Cooper inspired Torquay won at Deans Court, 2-1 against AFC Bournemouth to move into 5th place in Division 4 (pre-play-offs).
We were in good form, with a team based around John Turner in goal, full-backs in Steve Ritchie and Freddie Pethard, flanking a central defence of Albert Larmour and Richard Bourne.
In midfield were the likes of Donal Murphy, Peter Coffil, Ian Twitchen & one or two others I have forgotten and Les Lawrence & Steve Cooper up front - widely considered, at the time, although perhaps a little biased, as the best partnership in the division. We were certainly looking good at the time, under the management of Mike Green, no hint of re-election concerns because there never had been in 53 years of league membership - that was for teams like Crewe, Rochdale & Hartlepool to worry about. No noises ever came out of Plainmoor that we were punching above our weight to simply be a league club, despite our geographical location.
As it happened, that NY Day success was our last win for 15 games, by which time we fell away to mid-table. Mid-table - how wonderful that idea sounds now....and it was considered to be disappointing back then.
Happy New Year!
34 years ago, a Steve Cooper inspired Torquay won at Deans Court, 2-1 against AFC Bournemouth to move into 5th place in Division 4 (pre-play-offs).
We were in good form, with a team based around John Turner in goal, full-backs in Steve Ritchie and Freddie Pethard, flanking a central defence of Albert Larmour and Richard Bourne.
In midfield were the likes of Donal Murphy, Peter Coffil, Ian Twitchen & one or two others I have forgotten and Les Lawrence & Steve Cooper up front - widely considered, at the time, although perhaps a little biased, as the best partnership in the division. We were certainly looking good at the time, under the management of Mike Green, no hint of re-election concerns because there never had been in 53 years of league membership - that was for teams like Crewe, Rochdale & Hartlepool to worry about. No noises ever came out of Plainmoor that we were punching above our weight to simply be a league club, despite our geographical location.
As it happened, that NY Day success was our last win for 15 games, by which time we fell away to mid-table. Mid-table - how wonderful that idea sounds now....and it was considered to be disappointing back then.
