torquay united v exeter city v plymouth argyle

[bixieupnorth]

when I was growing up and before I was born I heard of stories of a fluid band of football fans who would watch the three Devon teams whoever was at home on a certain weekend, indeed my dad told that he once saw Exeter at 1130, Plymouth at 3pm and Torquay at 1930 on the same day! I've always expected that to be a lie, but when yr dad says something you normally believe it!

[bixieupnorth]

my best weekend was Fulham on a Friday, Orient v Torquay on the Saturday and arsenal v Leeds on the Sunday
however my point is, it was always seen as a good thing if we avoided either argyle or Exeter for our home games, as it was assumed that we'd pick up a few floating Devonian fans on the off week?
This season we're opposite the pair of them, do we still get floaters from home park and sid James, or is that a thing of the past, those halcyon days when it was tuppence hapenny to get in?

[Neal]

Gee, how did people afford that "in those days", it would be a very expensive option these days. Mmmmm.... have we got poorer over the years then, I though we had supposedly got better off. But in Football terms that cant be true.

[stefano]

when I was growing up and before I was born I heard of stories of a fluid band of football fans who would watch the three Devon teams whoever was at home on a certain weekend, indeed my dad told that he once saw Exeter at 1130, Plymouth at 3pm and Torquay at 1930 on the same day! I've always expected that to be a lie, but when yr dad says something you normally believe it!

I'm sure your father did watch all three on the same day Bixie as it definitely happened. It was on a Bank Holiday or Bank Holiday weekend in the 1960's and supporters of all three Devon clubs took in all three games. Torquay supporters organised a couple of coaches for those who didn't want to make their own way. I still know a few people who watch both Torquay and Plymouth although I can't think of anyone I know who also watches Exeter. They may be missing out this season as the way it has started Exeter seem to be entertaining and winning convincingly.

[hector]

My Grandad grew up in Birmingham and would watch Birmingham one week and Aston Villa the next. Whilst he supported the Blues, he probably would have said Aston Villa was his 2nd club, which just wouldn't happen today. He could never understand my dislike of Exeter & Plymouth and would think that because they were both Devon clubs I should want them all to do well.

I however, could never bring myself to go to St James Park or Home Park, unless it was in the away end supporting the opposition. The last time I went to Exeter was to watch them play Norwich, and I went with a Norwich supporting mate in the away end.

I just do not like the thought I giving Ex or Plym my money.

[cambgull]

I used to watch all 3 as a kid and I'm very glad I did. Argyle was always the first choice, we used to have a box and I was once a mascot in a game versus Scunthorpe. Exeter was the 3rd choice and we'd only see those games when both Torquay and Argyle were away. Without seeing all 3 teams, I'd be an Argyle fan today so I'm very much glad that I went to all the Devon teams and got to choose which team I wanted to support.

EDIT: I can't even say Scun...thorpe without it blanking it out!

[MidDevon]

This is only from memory so I cannot guarantee this posting is accurate but I seem to remember Torquay increasing stand prices to £1.75 in 1980. I remember the year distictly as I spent the whole summer in the US and missed the start of that season, but do not remmeber the actual ticket price for definate.

Using "measuringworth" an on line calculator would indicate that £1.75 would be worth £5.85 today (retail price index) or £9.06 (average earnings)

Having said all of that it was around that time that gates around the 1300 mark, and even lower than 1000 on a few occassions for league matches would indicate that people were seeing footy as even poorer value in those days

[oxgull]

I remember watch Exeter City, with a neighbour who was a grecian, in the afternoon and then going to Plainmoor on a Saturday night back in the early 70's. Thought nothing of supporting both back then although my first love was always Torquay United. I think travel costs and admission prices would make anybody think twice these days. on that subject I knew an old army colleague who supported Sheffield Wednesday and United. He was our Regimental Sergeant Major at 3 Armoured Field Ambulance (MASH) in Sennelager, Germany back around 1995. Couldn't work out why he had all the memorabilia in his office until he told me his parents supported one or the other and they used to argue a lot! Great guy and a beer monster to boot. Used to get the call on a Friday lunchtime to get my arse down to his office and get on the bus. He used to take all the senior ranks to the Sergeants Mess for a sesh which always lasted well into Saturday morning. I used to be the butt of a lot of jokes as a Torquay United fan but got a lot of kudos as well. Wonder what happended to him?

Happy daze