Torquay United AFC today wishes Plainmoor legend, Robin Stubbs, a very Happy Birthday!
Having scored scored a remarkable 133 goals in 263 appearances during two separate spells at the Club, Stubbs s, to rightly known by many Gulls fans as ‘The Prince of Plainmoor’.
Having established himself as a promising youngster in a number of sports, including Athletics and Cricket, a particularly notable bowling performance at Warwickshire’s Edgbaston ground nearly paved the way for an alternative sporting career. Thankfully for The Gulls, football was eventually selected as his sport of choice.
In circumstances that is unlikely to be replicated in today’s game, it’s worth noting that even before his time with Eric Webber’s United in 1963, the player had already earned a reputation as one of First Division Birmingham City’s, and England’s, most exciting young prospects.
With that in mind, Birmingham boss Gil Merrick was eagerly aware that one of his young starlets could yet come back to haunt him, so it wasn’t until Webber made his move, that the City supremo felt sufficiently comfortable to grant Robin his wish for first-team football away from St Andrews. Far from despondent at dropping down the League ladder, Stubbs looked upon the move to Devon with excitement.
Robin wasted little time making an impact on the field, and clearly relished the opportunity to play – and score – on a regular basis. After netting in his second game for The Gulls – a 4-1 win at Hartlepools United – he went on to establish himself as one of the most feared strikers in the division, as his 24 league strikes helped Torquay to secure a 6th-place finish.
The following campaign saw the prolific foward’s form scale even greater heights, as he notched 39 league and cup goals.
One of the proudest moments in the club’s history in January 1965 saw Stubbs take centre-stage once again, as Torquay went toe-to-toe with one of the country’s finest sides of the 1960s – Tottenham Hotspur.
The historic cup-tie at Plainmoor, as well as the subsequent replay at White Hart Lane has since gone down in Club folklore, yet had it not been for their in-form striker’s actions, things could have been very different indeed.
With a scarcely-believable ‘official’ attendance of 20,000 shoe-horned into Plainmoor to watch Bill Nicholson’s Tottenham side look set for a place in the FA Cup 4th Round, it was the top-flight side who were leading 3-1 with only minutes remaining.
Then Robin stepped in.
Bagged a brace in the dying stages to secure his side a second shot at White Hart Lane, many observers still recount how if the game gone on any longer, Spurs’ all-star XI including Jimmy Greaves, Alan Gilzean, Cyril Knowles et al may not have had their replay reprieve.
Nicholson’s men, who just three years earlier had become the first 20th century side to achieve the league & cup ‘double’, may have won the replay 5-1, however Stubbs again looked right at home on the big stage, netting the goal of the game to temporarily draw Torquay level.
That cup run apart, Torquay’s league form was largely disappointing, and after a finish of 11th, it eventually cost Webber his job.
Success would soon follow for player and Club, under the guidance of a new manager, Frank O’Farrell.
Aided by a number of new arrivals, O’Farrell’s side strode towards the top of the division, and as they headed towards their final fixture at Darlington, they knew one more victory would secure them a place in the third tier.
Once again it looked like Robin would provide the finishing touch, however this time a linesman’s flag put the party on hold, with a brilliant 25-yard controversially volley ruled out. That left United’s fans sweating on results elsewhere in the days to come. Thankfully though, other teams’ inability to match United’s results meant promotion was secured the following week.
Having already played at the higher echelons on the game, Stubbs unsurprisingly proved just as lethal in the higher division.
The team adjusted well too, and after battling it out at the top end of Division 3 in successive seasons, boss O’Farrell duly left for Leicester City in 1968.
Following his departure, new manager Allan Brown understandably brought new ideas with him, but there was still immense disappointment amongst supporters when at the end of the 1968/69 season, he allowed Stubbs to join Bristol Rovers.
32 goals in 93 league games represented good value for his new club, however by early 1972, injuries were beginning to take their toll, and although no longer at the peak of his powers, the lure of a return to Plainmoor proved too much for Robin to refuse, prior to his eventual retirement the following season.
Stubbs always made it clear that a career in management wasn’t for him, although a spell in coaching locally did at least provide youngsters with opportunity to benefit from the great man’s experience.
Remaining a hugely popular – and familiar – face on home matchdays at Plainmoor, ‘The Prince’ will always be adored by those who were privileged enough to see him play, and it was therefore only fitting that in January 2020, Torquay United AFC provided him with the ultimate recognition of his contribution to the Club, as he was appointed as an Honorary Life President.
Happy Birthday, Robin, from everyone at TUAFC!