Plainmoor

Torquay United 0-1 Plymouth Argyle

17th July 2018

In a perfect world (i.e one in which I was in charge), this pre-season friendly would have taken place a few miles round the Devon coast in Plymouth; Argyle's Home Park being one of grounds missing from my 92 collection.  And the most remote from Caledonia to boot.

But dropping in to Plainmoor was no chore, for Torquay United were for the first half-century or so of my life a Football League club, their name a regular part of James Alexander Gordon's Saturday liturgy.  And they still sort of feel like one - even if season 2018/19 will see the club competing at their lowest level since the 1920s, following their recent relegation to the National League South.  At least they can look forward to league derbies with Truro City.

This evening's visitors Plymouth Argyle presently reside in League One, but there barely looked to be three levels between the pair, even if The Pilgrims certainly looked the more accomplished side throughout.

The match was settled in the 63rd minute, with a rather odd goal.  A shot from Plymouth's Jamie Ness was deflected onto the cross-bar and bounced high up into the air.  With the Home defence ('keeper Alex Bass included) still thinking “Phew. That was lucky”,  Argyle's Graham CAREY nipped in to poke the ball into the net.

Traditional floodlight stanchions are such a boon to 
easily befuddled strangers-in-town like myself.

The approach to Plainmoor along Marnham Road.

Behind the Family Stand at one end of the ground is a large grassy area ripe for development.

Plainmoor is presently known as The Launa Windows Stadium.  (Although not by me !)

Not sure what the heck is going on here !!

Entrance to both the Main Stand (Bristow's Bench) and the Yelverton Properties Family Stand

Panaorama of Plainmoor - Torquay United FC.

Panaorama of Plainmoor - Torquay United FC.

I think Plymouth's No25 Scott Wooton received a sly little shove from
Gulls' George Essuman, as he went for this header.

Big screen in the corner.

Gary Sawyer Plymouth Argyle

A fine chance for Plymouth's Conor Grant...but he succeeded only
in smacking his shot off teammate Freddie Ladapo's legs.

Bristow's Bench

Argyle celebrate Graham Carey's second-half winner.

Liam Davis - Torquay United.

Freddie Ladapo somehow hit this opportunity wide.

Torquay United v Plymouth Argyle - July 2018

As the match drew into its final quarter, the gulls congregated and circled clearly anticipating the smorgasbord
 of detritus invariably left behind by the funny bipeds who congregate to eat in this building every so often.

Panorama of Plainmoor - Torquay United.

The ever-so-slightly genteel town of Torquay does not have a pleasure pier, but it's rather blowsier Torbay neighbour Paignton does.  And it was there I gravitated earlier in the day, to press on with my goal of having an ice cream on each of the UK's remaining pleasure piers.