Torquay’s friendly at Bath City called off

TORQUAY United’s final planned pre-season friendly at Bath City tomorrow has been called off.

The match would have been the last in Gary Johnson’s pre-season programme for his squad, and would almost certainly have seen the Gulls starting with the line-up pencilled in to face Stockport County at Plainmoor on October 3 in the first scheduled fixture of the National league season.

Uncertainty surrounds that, too, after the government announced a fresh tightening of the coronavirus restrictions. The league was meeting yesterday afternoon to discuss the likelihood - or otherwise - of the season-opening games going ahead.

In a statement on the club website, Torquay United said: “In order to avoid further injuries and ensure players can be fit for the season start date on October 3, Bath have therefore taken the decision to cancel the fixture.”

Meanwhile, United unveiled a new kit for the 2020/21 season - with prominent palm tree logos on it.

For the second season in succession the Gulls’ three kits do not have main sponsors on the front, favouring the 1899 logo which marks the year of the club’s formation.

The distinctive kit has been produced by sportswear giants, Nike, in collaboration with the club’s official kit partners, Pro:Direct. A statement on the club’s official website read: “Paying homage to Torquay’s status as the heart of the English Riviera, all three shirts feature an eye-catching central stripe with a repeating palm tree pattern.

“Not just any palm tree, either - it’s the famously hayrdy Torquay Palm, known for its resilience and durability, characteristics that have served United’s players well since the club’s formation in 1899.

The kit is available in yellow, for the home kit, and in dark blue and white, for away variations.