Torquay Athletic RFC

There is some debate over when Torquay Athletic formed. The club has for many years used 1875 as the official date based on the recollections of founder Harry Gray whose memories formed the basis of a publication in 1925. Gray actually said that he attended regatta sports in Brixham in 1875[2] which “eventually” led to the formation of the club. The actual formation of the Torquay Athletic and Football Club was announced in the Torquay Times of 19 August 1876, the announcement signed by H.J. Gray 15 August 1876.[3] Ray Batten's book "A History of Torquay Athletic R.F.C." implies that the club not formed until 1886 because the earlier incarnation was a different organisation. He is correct in the strictest interpretation. The old club became defunct in 1885,[4] with the Excelsior and Ellacombe clubs coming together to form a “phoenix club” in 1886.[5] The club was commonly known by the same name, played at the same ground - Plainmoor - and had the same club president Dr Hamilton Ramsey. Reports of annual dinners make it clear that Hamilton Ramsey regarded the two clubs as one entity.[6][7][8] in 1890 the club reached the final of the Devon Senior Cup losing 6-10 to Exeter at the County Ground.[9] Seven years later the club were back in a final, this time in the Devon Junior Cup, with the Athletic reserve side winning the cup.[10] In 1904 Torquay Athletic moved to the Recreation Ground, replacing Torquay United, who had been tenants there for the previous four years.[11] The rugby club have occupied the ground ever since, renting it from Torquay Town Council, and sharing it with the local cricket club since 1926, with occasional Devon CCC cricket games also played there. The Recreation Ground itself remains relatively unchanged since it first opened back in the 1888 and remains a great example of the grounds of the period.[12]

With a permanent home in place Torquay Athletic would establish itself as one of the better sides in the county and in 1907 the club won the Devon Senior Cup for the first time in the club's history.[10] Winning the cup, would not however prove to be a catalyst for success, as Athletic would fall behind the dominant sides of the time, Devonport Albion and Plymouth RFC (parent clubs of Plymouth Albion). The club had to wait 63 years for their next senior cup win, eventually reclaiming it for the second time in 1979.[10]

The advent of the national leagues in 1987 saw Torquay Athletic placed in South West Division 1 - division 5 of the English rugby union league system. League rugby was not initially successful for the club as after only two seasons they were relegated to South West 2.[13] They bounced back the following year as they were promoted from South West 2 after claiming the runners up spot.[14] The rest of the nineties was a period of stability for the club as they kept afloat in South West Division 1 and they also reached the final of the Devon Senior Cup in 1998 losing against Tiverton despite having home advantage.[15]

The start of the 21st century proved to be an interesting one for Athletic as they yo-yoed up and down the league system. They suffered two relegation's in three years, first from South West Division 1 at the end of 2001 and then South West 2 West in 2003, to fall to the lowest league position in their history.[16][17] After a bad start to the decade Athletic bounced back, just missing out on promotion by losing the playoff 7-18 away to Gloucester-based side, Spartans in 2004 before winning Western Counties West in 2005-06.[18][19] They also won the Devon Senior Cup for the third time in 2007, defeating Paignton in the final.[20] Success in the cup was not replicated in the league and in 2010 Torquay Athletic were once more relegated.[21] Two years later they came close to promotion after finishing second in Tribute Western Counties West, but were comfortably beaten 7-39 away to another Gloucester based side, Old Centralians.[22]

The 2017-18 season would see Torquay once again suffer the agony of relegation, going down on the last day of the season to drop to level 8 (Tribute Cornwall/Devon) - the lowest level that they have played at since the leagues began.[23]