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Torquay United FC was founded in 1899 by a group of young men under the direction of Sergeant-Major Edward Tomney.

A year later they joined the East Devon League and played their home games at the Recreation Ground until 1904, when Torquay Athletic RFC took over the lease of that ground.

United were effectively homeless until 1910 when they merged with Ellacombe to become Torquay Town.

Move to Plainmoor

They moved to Plainmoor, a ground they shared with Babbacombe FC until a merger of the two clubs in 1921.

The new club reverted to the name Torquay United and joined the Western League. At the same time they applied to join the Football League but their initial application received no votes.

Elected to the Football League

Three years later they were elected at the expense of Aberdare Athletic.

Torquay United's first season as a football League club proved disastrous and they had to apply for re-election.

They continued in similar vein, never finishing higher than tenth, throughout the inter war years.

Change to Blue and Gold Strip

In 1950 the team adopted its current blue and gold colours, changing from its traditional black and white stripped shirts. The change saw an upturn in Torquay's fortunes.

They finished fifth in 1950 and were runners up in 1957.

However, in 1958 they finished third from bottom and were relegated to the new Fourth Division.

In 1960 they won promotion but lasted just two seasons at the higher level before being relegated again.

Promoted again in 1966 they dropped back into Division Four in 1972.

Applying for Re-election

They spent the next 19 years in the lower reaches of the Fourth Division and had to apply for re-election in 1985 and 1986.

In 1991 they reached the play-off final and beat Blackpool on penalties to win promotion to Division Three.

However, the success was short-lived and they were relegated the following season to the new Barclays Division Three (the old Fourth Division).

In 1996 Torquay finished bottom, surviving only because Conference champions Stevenage Borough's ground did not meet League standards.

Promotion was again achieved in 2004 to taking the club into League One (previously the Third Division), but the Gulls could not compete at this level and soon returned to League Two.

Relegated to the Conference

In 2007, Torquay finished bottom and were relegated to the Conference.

They returned to the League two seasons later, after beating Cambridge United in the Conference play-off final.

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