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FC United aiming to cause FA Trophy upset at Torquay for place in semi-finals

FC United of Manchester are aiming to cause one of the biggest cup upsets in our near 10-year history on Saturday afternoon as we travel more than 200 miles to take on Conference Premier side Torquay United for a place in the FA Trophy semi-finals.

The Reds, unbeaten in 11 games, have already caused three upsets in this season’s competition by beating Conference North outfits Harrogate Town, Chorley and Fylde. But getting a result against The Gulls would represent our greatest on-field achievement since the club’s magnificent FA Cup run in 2010.



That winter, FC United overturned Conference Premier side Barrow 1-0 at Gigg Lane before an incredible, last minute 3-2 victory at League One Rochdale (pictured above) and an against all odds 1-1 draw at soon to be League One champions Brighton & Hove Albion.

A victory for Karl Marginson’s side at Plainmoor on Saturday would be our biggest scalp of the season and would definitely rank up there with the amazing results of 2010. Even a draw to force a replay at the Tameside Stadium would be a great achievement against a team that currently lies 39 places above the Reds in the football pyramid and was playing in the Football League last season.

In April, Torquay were relegated from the League for only the second time in their 116-year history after finishing five points adrift at the bottom. Since then, the Devonshire club have struggled to adapt to life back in the Conference Premier, a division they escaped at the second attempt just five years ago. One win in their last 10 league games has seen The Gulls slide to 14th in the table with their hopes of securing an instant return to the fourth tier of English football fading fast. As such, a run in the FA Trophy has been a welcome distraction.

Whilst FC United have overcome six teams - Padiham, Buxton and Barwell being the others - to make it to the quarter-final stage, Torquay have just had to negotiate three rounds due to their Conference Premier status. Nevertheless, The Gulls have recorded three convincing wins over three Conference South clubs – 5-0 at Bishop’s Stortford, 4-0 at home to Bromley and 2-0 away at Hemel Hempstead Town. Eleven goals without reply.

The winners of this tie will be just two matches away from the final on Sunday 29th March at Wembley - a venue Torquay are very familiar with, having competed in no fewer than five finals at ’The home of football’ in the last 26 years. In 1989 they lost the Football League Trophy 4-1 to Bolton Wanderers but two years later they made amends by beating Blackpool on penalties in the Division Four play-off final. In 1998 they competed in the same final again, this time losing to Colchester United 1-0.

In 2008 there was more Wembley heartache. After being beaten in the Conference Premier play-off semi-finals by local rivals Exeter City, The Gulls were desperate to end their season on a high in the FA Trophy final but were beaten 1-0 by Ebbsfleet United. They did return a year later though to win the play-offs back into the Football League with a 2–0 victory over Cambridge United.

FC United won’t be too concerned with Torquay’s past appearances at Wembley though. The Reds are riding high at the moment and they know that although we are underdogs, the current winning mentality and momentum may be enough to upset the erratic Gulls.

The players and coaching staff will travel to Torquay on Friday to give themselves the best possible pre-match preparation on Saturday. Manager Karl Marginson, who won the competition in 1996 as a Macclesfield Town player, expects to have all of his squad available bar three long term injuries and recent signings Rory Fallon and Shelton Payne, who are both of course cup-tied.

Torquay will have midfielder and captain Luke Young back from a two match suspension, whilst they will be hoping that nine goal leading scorer Ryan Bowman and centre back Angus MacDonald will be available after injury.

Torquay United versus FC United of Manchester is this Saturday at Plainmoor with a supporter-friendly kick-off time of three o’clock. It’s pay on the gate with plenty of room for everyone in the 6,500 capacity ground and Torquay have very generously lowered their adult ticket prices to £10-£12 for FC’s visit.

Grab your scarlet ribbons and get yourself to that football ground to cheer on the Reds as they try to cause another major cup upset.


First Posted ~ 00:40 Thu 5 Feb 2015
News ID ~ 5996
Last Updated ~ 00:47 Tue 16 Feb 2021