Torquay United
2006–07 season
ChairmanEngland Mike Bateson
(until 12 October 2006)
England Chris Roberts
(from 12 October 2006)
England Keith Richardson
(from 22 February 2007)
England Mike Bateson
(from 7 March 2007)
England Mervyn Benney
(from 14 May 2007)
England Alex Rowe
(from 24 May 2007)
ManagerEngland Ian Atkins
(until 27 November 2006)
Czech Republic Luboš Kubík
(from 27 November 2006)
England Keith Curle
(from 8 February 2007)
Sierra Leone Leroy Rosenior
(from 17 May 2007)
England Paul Buckle
(from 2 June 2007)
League Two24th
Relegated to
Conference National
FA CupThird Round
League CupFirst Round
League TrophyFirst Round
Top goalscorerLeague:
Jamie Ward (9)

All:
Jamie Ward (11)
Highest home attendance5,396 v Southampton, 6 January 2007
(FA Cup)
Lowest home attendance1,588 v Wrexham, 5 December 2006
(League Two)
Average home league attendance2,633

The 2006–07 Torquay United F.C. season was Torquay United's 73rd season in the Football League and their second consecutive season in League Two. The season runs from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007.

Overview

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The 2005–06 season had been a poor one for Torquay. Only a remarkable run of four wins and a draw at the end of the season had saved the club from relegation from the Football League. After achieving last season's 'great escape', manager Ian Atkins brought in a number of new signings, including Lee Mansell and Jamie Ward, and the new season got off to a reasonably solid start.[1][2] However, despite finding themselves in the League Two play-off positions by mid-September, the 1–0 win at home to Mansfield Town that month was destined to be Torquay's last League win until the end of January, by which point they had become firmly rooted to the bottom of the table.

It was during this period that Mike Bateson stood down as chairman of Torquay United after sixteen years in charge. In October, London-based businessman Chris Roberts was announced as the new chairman after his consortium completed their takeover of the club.[3] Roberts was soon announcing fresh ideas for the club including the building of a new stadium on Torquay's seafront.[4] More controversially, Roberts then announced an initiative whereby players found guilty of deliberate diving during a match could potentially face the sack.[5] The new chairman then decided to replace Ian Atkins with the former-Czech international Luboš Kubík as manager.[6] A friend of Roberts, Kubík had had an impressive playing career but was relatively inexperienced in management. Meanwhile, after refusing the offer of becoming Torquay's director of football, Ian Atkins left the club in early December.[7]

League statistics

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League Two

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
20 Accrington Stanley 46 13 11 22 70 81 −11 50
21 Bury 46 13 11 22 46 61 −15 50
22 Macclesfield Town 46 12 12 22 55 77 −22 48
23 Boston United (R) 46 12 10 24 51 80 −29 36[a] Relegation to Conference North
24 Torquay United (R) 46 7 14 25 36 63 −27 35 Relegation to Football Conference
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).
(R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Boston United had 10 points deducted for entering a Company Voluntary Arrangement. They were relegated directly to the Conference North for not paying their footballing creditors.

Results summary

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Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
46 7 14 25 36 63  −27 35 5 8 10 19 22  −3 2 6 15 17 41  −24

Source: Torquay United

Results by round

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Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHHAHAAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAAH
ResultWWLDDDWDWDLLLLLDLLLDDLLLLLDLWLDLLLLDWLLWLLDLDD
Position75991110887771010161918192022222323232424242424242424242424242424242424242424242424
Source: Torquay United
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Season diary

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  • 21 November: Roberts introduces an anti-diving initiative whereby Torquay players will be cautioned or fined for diving or feigning injury and if a third offence occurs will be transfer-listed or sacked[5]
  • 27 November: Ian Atkins replaced as manager by former Czech international Luboš Kubík[6][7]
  • 10 January: Former manager Colin Lee brought in to assist Kubik[9]
  • 5 February: Manager Luboš Kubík resigns[10]
  • 5 February: Midfielder Matthew Hewlett forced to retire due to a back injury[11]
  • 6 February: Midfielder Darren Baxter and defender Nathan Simpson are released[12]
  • 7 February: Colin Lee appointed as Director of Football[10]
  • 8 February: Keith Curle appointed as Head Coach until the end of the season[13]
  • 16 February: Sheffield United midfielder Lloyd Kerry joins on a month's loan[14]
  • 21 February: Chris Roberts resigns as chairman after a protest by three long-serving directors who resigned over Roberts' handling of the club[15][16][17]
  • 23 February: Local hotel owner Keith Richardson is appointed as the club's new chairman[18]
  • 26 February: Loanees Kevin Miller, Rossi Jarvis and Matthew Halliday return to their parent clubs[19]
  • 27 February: Chairman Keith Richardson distances himself and the club from plans to build a new stadium[20]
  • 5 May: Torquay play their final game in the Football League, a goalless draw at home to Hereford United[29]
  • 14 May: Chairman Mike Bateson stands down as chairman and is replaced by Mervyn Benney, although Bateson remains as majority shareholder[30]
  • 14 May: Director of Football Colin Lee is made redundant[30]
  • 17 May: Former manager Leroy Rosenior takes over as manager from Keith Curle, but is effectively out of a job again ten minutes later when Bateson informs him that the club has been sold[31][32]
  • 24 May: Alex Rowe appointed chairman after new consortium buys club from Mike Bateson[33]
  • 25 May: Colin Lee appointed as club's new Chief Executive[33]

Club statistics

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First team appearances

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No. Pos Nat Player Total League Two FA Cup League Cup League Trophy
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK   ENG Nathan Abbey 29 0 24+0 0 3+0 0 1+0 0 1+0 0
1 GK   ENG Kevin Miller 7 0 7+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
1 GK   CAN Simon Rayner 10 0 10+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
2 DF   ENG Lee Andrews 52 0 46+0 0 3+1 0 1+0 0 1+0 0
3 DF   ENG Stephen Reed 19 0 10+5 0 3+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0
3 MF   ENG Alistair John 7 0 6+1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
4 MF   ENG Matthew Hockley 41 0 25+12 0 2+0 0 0+1 0 0+1 0
5 DF   ENG Craig Taylor 13 1 11+2 1 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
6 DF   ENG Matt Villis 8 0 3+3 0 2+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
7 FW   NIR Jamie Ward 29 11 21+4 9 2+0 2 1+0 0 0+1 0
7 MF   ENG Lloyd Kerry 7 1 6+1 1 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
8 FW   IRL Mickey Evans 17 1 14+0 1 1+0 0 1+0 0 1+0 0
8 FW   WAL Jamal Easter 11 0 8+2 0 0+1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
8 FW   ENG Marvin Williams 2 1 2+0 1 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
9 FW   ENG Lee Thorpe 47 8 39+2 8 3+1 0 1+0 0 1+0 0
10 MF   ENG Lee Mansell 51 4 43+2 4 4+0 0 1+0 0 1+0 0
11 MF   ENG Kevin Hill 42 1 24+12 1 4+0 0 1+0 0 1+0 0
12 MF   ENG Matthew Hewlett 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
12 DF   ENG Dean Gordon 8 0 8+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
14 MF   ENG Martin Phillips 14 1 10+4 1 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
15 MF   ENG Darren Garner 10 1 8+0 1 0+0 0 1+0 0 1+0 0
15 FW   ENG Jordan Robertson 11 4 5+4 2 1+1 2 0+0 0 0+0 0
15 MF   ENG Stephen Cooke 13 1 9+4 1 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
16 MF   ENG Carl Motteram 11 0 1+6 0 0+3 0 0+1 0 0+0 0
16 MF   ENG Paul Smith 8 0 5+3 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
17 DF   ENG Stevland Angus 39 1 33+3 1 2+0 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
18 DF   ENG Steve Woods 38 0 32+0 0 4+0 0 1+0 0 1+0 0
19 FW   ENG Chris McPhee 43 1 11+26 0 3+1 1 1+0 0 1+0 0
20 GK   ENG Martin Horsell 7 0 5+1 0 1+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
21 MF   ENG Adam Murray 25 0 21+0 0 3+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0
21 DF   ENG Nathan Simpson 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
21 FW   ENG Dean Oliver 1 0 0+1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
22 FW   ENG Leo Fortune-West 6 0 2+3 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+1 0
22 MF   ENG Michael Leary 3 0 0+2 0 1+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
23 DF   WAL Kyle Critchell 10 0 6+1 0 1+2 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
23 MF   ENG Darren Baxter 1 0 0+1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
23 DF   SCO Chris Robertson 9 1 9+0 1 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
24 MF   ENG Nick McKoy 5 0 1+3 0 1+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
25 DF   ENG John Wheeldon 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
26 MF   ENG Leon Hapgood 1 0 0+1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
26 FW   SCO David Graham 7 0 7+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
27 DF   ENG Ryan Dickson 9 1 7+2 1 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
28 MF   ENG Rossi Jarvis 4 0 2+2 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
28 FW   ENG Reuben Reid 7 2 4+3 2 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
29 DF   ENG Matthew Halliday 3 0 3+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
30 DF   ENG Mark Robinson 18 0 18+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0

Source: Torquay United

References

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  1. ^ "Torquay sign Mansell from Oxford". BBC Sport. 2006-07-05. Retrieved 2012-03-14.
  2. ^ "Gulls win race to sign midfielder". BBC Sport. 2006-07-06. Retrieved 2012-03-14.
  3. ^ "Roberts takes over Torquay reins". BBC Sport. 2006-10-13. Retrieved 2012-03-14.
  4. ^ "Gulls announce new stadium plans". BBC Sport. 2006-11-09. Retrieved 2012-03-14.
  5. ^ a b "Torquay to dismiss diving players". BBC Sport. 2006-11-21. Retrieved 2012-03-14.
  6. ^ a b "Czech star Kubik named Gulls boss". BBC Sport. 2006-11-27. Retrieved 2012-03-14.
  7. ^ a b "Atkins rejects new Torquay role". BBC Sport. 2006-12-03. Retrieved 2012-03-14.
  8. ^ "The end of an era". BBC Devon. Retrieved 2009-01-12.
  9. ^ "Lee will assist Kubik at Torquay". BBC Sport. 2007-01-10. Retrieved 2009-01-12.
  10. ^ a b "Lee given Torquay caretaker role". BBC Sport. 2007-02-07. Retrieved 2009-01-12.
  11. ^ "Gulls' Hewlett forced to retire". BBC Sport. 2007-02-05. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  12. ^ "Gulls will not extend duo's deals". BBC Sport. 2007-02-06. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  13. ^ "Lee comes home to Torquay". BBC Devon. Retrieved 2009-01-12.
  14. ^ "Torquay capture Blades teenager". BBC Sport. 2007-02-23. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  15. ^ a b "Bateson's back!". BBC Devon. 2007-03-08. Retrieved 2009-01-12.
  16. ^ "Torquay chairman Roberts resigns". BBC Sport. 2007-02-21. Retrieved 2009-01-12.
  17. ^ "Boardroom battle for Torquay club". BBC Sport. 2007-02-15. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  18. ^ "Richardson named Torquay chairman". BBC Sport. 2007-02-23. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  19. ^ "Loan trio in departure from Gulls". BBC Sport. 2007-02-26. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  20. ^ "Gulls chief cool on new stadium". BBC Sport. 2007-02-27. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  21. ^ "Ailing Torquay seal treble swoop". BBC Sport. 2007-03-02. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  22. ^ "Williams leaves Lions for Torquay". BBC Sport. 2007-03-06. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  23. ^ "Wheeldon not given Torquay deal". BBC Sport. 2007-03-20. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  24. ^ "Striker Graham makes Gulls return". BBC Sport. 2007-03-21. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  25. ^ "Torquay capture Plymouth striker". BBC Sport. 2007-03-22. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  26. ^ "Torquay trio extend loan deals". BBC Sport. 2007-04-02. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  27. ^ "Gulls pair return to parent clubs". BBC Sport. 2007-04-12. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  28. ^ Nisbet, John (2007-04-16). "Torquay drop out of League and go up for sale". London: The Independent. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  29. ^ "Torquay 0-0 Hereford". Soccerbase. 2007-05-05. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  30. ^ a b "Bateson replaced as Torquay chief". BBC Sport. 2007-05-14. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  31. ^ "Rosenior makes return to Torquay". BBC Sport. 2007-05-17. Retrieved 2009-01-12.
  32. ^ "Gulls set to reveal Rosenior exit". BBC Sport. 2007-05-21. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
  33. ^ a b "Lee back in new role at Torquay". BBC Sport. 2007-05-25. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
  34. ^ "Buckle named as new Torquay boss". BBC Sport. 2007-06-02. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  35. ^ "Torquay sign ex-Imps goalkeeper". BBC Sport. 2007-06-04. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  36. ^ "Buckle raids Exeter for Phillips". BBC Sport. 2007-06-22. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  37. ^ a b "Torquay swoop for Exeter keeper". BBC Sport. 2007-06-06. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  38. ^ "Gulls boss Buckle brings in duo". BBC Sport. 2007-06-20. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  39. ^ "Nicholson quits Rovers for Gulls". BBC Sport. 2007-06-21. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  40. ^ "Buckle raids Exeter for Phillips". BBC Sport. 2007-06-22. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  41. ^ a b "Torquay capture Hereford's Sills". BBC Sport. 2007-06-28. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  42. ^ "Thorpe swaps Gulls for Brentford". BBC Sport. 2007-07-03. Retrieved 2009-01-13.