Torquay United AFC is saddened to learn of the passing of former Gulls favourite Andy Donnelly.
Lanark-born Andy began his goalkeeping career in his native Scotland with Clyde, before moving south of the border to sign for Millwall in 1963.
Unable to break into the first-team, it was a successful three-year spell with non-League Weymouth that eventually gave Andy his much-deserved chance in the Football League, and after following his former Terras boss Frank O’Farrell to Plainmoor in 1967, the Scotsman went on to become a huge hit with the Torquay fans, making 160 appearances over the next five years, as United held their own in the third tier of English football.
When Torquay’s stint in Division Three finally ended in 1972, the prospect of playing football abroad with South African side Cape Town City was an opportunity Andy couldn’t turn down, and the move paid off almost immediately, as City secured a NFL League Championship and UTC Bowl ‘double’ at the end of his first season.
Arguably it was for his spell at Plainmoor that Andy was best remembered though, and he remained a welcome visitor to the Club in retirement, with his appearance as a pre-match guest speaker in 2017 proving particularly popular with those that had seen him represent United with such distinction during his playing days.
The thoughts and condolences of everyone at TUAFC go out to all of Andy’s family and friends at this very sad and difficult time.
Thanks for the memories, Andy.