Diehard footie fans feel the pain

8:37am Friday 16th May 2008

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I'VE had a soft spot for Torquay United ever since they brought just 34 fans to Gigg Lane on a wet and windy Tuesday night about 15 years ago.

Thirty of those hardy loyal souls were given complimentary tickets into the ground, leaving just four who actually paid for the privilege of seeing their side perform badly and lose 2-0 in a nothing match in the bottom division.

It was the smallest following I ever saw at Bury during the 10 years I covered the club, not surprising considering the 530-mile round trip involved and Torquay's modest league position at the time.

I've always felt particularly sorry for the four who paid for their tickets, whom I thought of again this week when Torquay suffered just about as much hurt as football is capable of throwing at those who follow it.

Their painful double whammy started in a play-off match against Devon rivals Exeter.

With both clubs looking to get back into the league, it was Torquay who held the upper hand with a 2-1 away-leg victory and a 1-0 second-leg lead with 20 minutes to go.

Two Exeter goals levelled the aggregate score before a winner in the 89th minute and a fourth in extra time.

At least Torquay had Wembley and an FA Carlsberg Trophy Final date with Ebbsfleet five days later to look forward to. No such luck. They lost that one, too, in front of 40,000 fans.

And something tells me those four fans who paid at Gigg Lane 15 years ago were there to see it.