Lifelong supporter takes up new role at Plainmoor
Torquay United FC is delighted to announce that Jon Gibbes has taken up a new role at the Club, after being appointed as TUFC’s Official Club Historian.
Jon, who previously served as United’s interim Head of Finance and Club Secretary following the Bryn Consortium’s takeover last summer, has always had a passion for maintaining and embracing the Club’s 126-year history, and therefore his new position is clearly one that excites him.
“It’s a great honour, the Club is dear to my heart,” began Jon.
“I like recording the history accurately and properly, and it’s nice to be acknowledged as the official holder of the records.
“A good friend of mine, John Lovis, wrote a history of the Club from the Football League days, which I read as a young boy in the programmes in the 1970s, and that really spiked my interest.
“I’ve always been particularly interested in the early years, put together with the work John had already done.
“I see John, myself and Chris Morrish – who runs the Torquay Fan Stats site – as the three generations and holders of the Torquay United records.”
As many Gulls fans may already know, it was Jon who dispelled a widely circulated error regarding the year of the Club’s formation.
“I dug much more into the early years, and it was me that discovered that the foundation date was wrong, because everywhere said it was 1898.
“I found the original of the Torquay Times newspaper for that date and there was no record in 1898, and I found it was actually in 1899.”
After assisting the Club in the early days following the Bryn Consortium’s takeover last year, Jon reflected on the pride he feels at seeing the Club flourish under the consortium’s leadership.
“There’s a huge amount of positivity around, and great work being done by so many people.
“I was involved with the Supporters Trust when we ‘found’ Michael Westcott, and it couldn’t have fallen better really.”
Any supporters wishing to contact Jon can do so by emailing historian@torquayunited.com
