Breaking: Plymouth Argylehas agreed that rivals keep all the gate reciepts from the sold-out pre-season match against…..Read more

Plymouth Argyle has agreed to let Torquay United keep all of the proceeds from ticket sales for Saturday’s sold-out match at Plainmoor.Torquay co-chair Michael Westcott, a member of the Bryn Consortium that rescued the Gulls from administration earlier this summer, described it as ‘an exceptionally wonderful gesture’.

Torquay were on the verge of bankruptcy, but they are now embarking on a new chapter under their new owners, who have chosen Argyle icon Paul Wotton as manager on a three-year contract, with Neil Warnock serving as a football advisor to the board of directors. Pre-season meetings between Argyle and Torquay at Plainmoor have become a yearly occurrence in recent years, with the two teams drawing 1-1 in front of 3,585 fans last July.

This time, there will be a sell-out crowd in excess of 5,250, such is the optimism among Gulls supporters about the new regime at Torquay, while the Green Army has picked up all available tickets to see Wayne Rooney’s squad in action. Many Argyle fans showed their support for Torquay during their administration last season by attending home games when the Pilgrims were away.

Torquay will also play another home Devon derby on Tuesday, 30 July, when League One side Exeter City visits Plainmoor. Both Plymouth and Exeter have agreed to allow Torquay United F.C. to keep all gate receipts from the PSFs (pre-season friendlies). They made an exceedingly generous gesture! We will acknowledge this in both Plainmoor games.

Torquay’s squad under Wotton contains three former Argyle players: Oscar Threlkeld, Finley Craske, and Ollie Tomlinson. The Gulls played twice in preseason, drawing 0-0 away at Buckland Athletic and winning 4-0 at Tavistock.