2008–09 Torquay United F.C. season


The 2008–09 Torquay United F.C. season was Torquay United's second consecutive season in the Conference National. The season runs from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009.

Overview

Despite gaining just five points from their first seven games, which saw the Gulls languishing in 18th place in the Conference, manager Paul Buckle soon set Torquay on a run of form which saw the team achieve a club record of seventeen games unbeaten.
Torquay also enjoyed their most successful FA Cup run since 1990. After easing through a qualifying round against Chipstead, the Gulls then had to see off Evesham and Oxford to set up a Third Round clash with Championship side Blackpool. In one of the major upsets of the Third Round, the Gulls won the match 1-0 against a side placed three leagues above them. However, they were to narrowly lose their Fourth Round tie to Coventry, also of the Championship, thanks to an 87th-minute header from Elliott Ward.
The 2008-09 season was also notable for the departure of two of Torquay's longest serving players. After a brief appearance in the 2008 FA Trophy Final defeat, Torquay's all-time leading appearance maker Kevin Hill made his official departure in July. Later in the season the Gulls also said farewell to another stalwart as defender Steve Woods left the club in April after an eight-year spell encompassing 281 appearances.
The season ultimately finished in thrilling style when, after beating Conference Champions Burton Albion on the final day of the season, Torquay qualified for the Play-off Semi-finals in which they beat Histon 2-1 on aggregate over two legs. The result meant the Gulls would make their second visit to Wembley in two seasons. However, unlike the previous season, the Torquay fans were treated to a 2-0 victory over Cambridge United thanks to goals from Chris Hargreaves and leading scorer Tim Sills. The win secured Torquay United's return to the Football League after a two-year absence.

League statistics

Conference National

Results summary

Results by round

Season diary

CAMBRIDGE UNITED 0–2 TORQUAY UNITED
Conference National Play-off Final
Wembley Stadium, 17 May 2009
Torquay United's second trip to Wembley in two seasons was only made possible by the slenderest of margins. After having sneaked into the play-offs by beating Conference champions Burton Albion on the final day of the season, the Gulls only just managed to beat third placed Histon 2-1 on aggregate in the play-off semi-finals. They now faced the final hurdle preventing them from returning to the Football League after a two-year absence: a play-off final with the team who had finished second in the Conference, Cambridge United.
Cambridge had been defeated in the previous year's play-off final by Torquay's arch-rivals Exeter City. As such, they were eager to make it second time lucky, although, having experienced defeat themselves in the previous year's FA Trophy Final at Wembley, the Gulls were also keen not to repeat the disappointment of the previous season. Although Cambridge began the brighter of the two sides, it was Torquay who took the lead through captain Chris Hargreaves after 35 minutes. Cambridge had more chances in the second half, but their cause was hindered when defender Phil Bolland was sent off after a second yellow card for a tackle on Elliot Benyon in the 70th minute. Striker Tim Sills effectively sealed the victory five minutes later after he headed home a pin-point cross from winger Wayne Carlisle.
The score remained 2-0 until the final whistle, and Torquay United could finally celebrate their return to the Football League after two years in the Conference.

Results

Conference National

Conference National play-offs

FA Cup

FA Trophy

Conference League Cup

Friendlies

South West Challenge Cup

Devon St Luke's Bowl

Club statistics

First team appearances

Source: ,
Substitute appearances in brackets.
Total excludes FA Cup Qualifying Round and Conference League Cup.

Transfers

In

Out

Loans In

Loans out