Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police F.C.
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| Full name | Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Bees | ||
| Founded | 1905 (Stoke Gabriel) 2010 (Torbay Police) 2021 (Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police) | ||
| Ground | Kia Speedwell Stadium, Stoke Gabriel | ||
| Chairman | Lee Langley | ||
| Manager | Sam Biscoe | ||
| League | Devon League South West Division | ||
| 2021–22 | South West Peninsula League Premier Division East, 20th of 20 (relegated) | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
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Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police Football Club is a football club based in Stoke Gabriel, Devon, established in the early 1900s as Stoke Gabriel AFC.[1] In June 2021, the club merged with South Devon Premier League club, Torbay Police FC, administrated by police officers and staff of Devon & Cornwall Police. The club, nicknamed "The Bees", competes in the Devon League South West Division and currently plays at the G.J. Churchward Memorial Ground.
History
Stoke Gabriel
Formed in the early 1900s, Stoke Gabriel Football Club had relied on the generosity of local farmers to provide a ground during which the changing rooms remained in the village where both the school room and an old army hut were utilised. In 1981 the club purchased land in Broadley Lane and developed a sloping field into their current home, the G.J. Churchward Memorial Ground, named in honour of the Great Western Railway Chief Engineer who was born in Stoke Gabriel. The ground was officially opened in 1984 with a visit from Torquay United. The opening of the new ground coincided with the most successful era of the club during which the South Devon League Premier Division, The Herald Cup and the George Belli Cup were won.[citation needed]
Stoke Gabriel were founder members of the Devon County League in 1992, and were champions in 1994–95 and 1996–97. After struggling in the league during the early 2000s, they were founder members of the South West Peninsula League in 2007, playing in Division One East. Runners-up three times in four years, they won the championship in 2013–14.[2] They were demoted to Division One East at the end of the 2017–18 season after failing to install floodlights by the required deadline.
The club installed floodlights prior to the 2019–20 season, in order to comply with the conditions imposed upon them to enable their promotion back to Step 6.[3]
During the 2020–21 season, Stoke Gabriel received national media attention after losing their opening ten games of the season, scoring twice and conceding 122 goals.[4] The season was eventually curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with Stoke Gabriel having conceded 207 goals, scoring seven times, in 18 matches.[5]
Torbay Police
Torbay Police Football Club were originally founded in 1969 before eventually folding in 1989. During this period the original club competed in the Police Divisional Cup, Wednesday League, East Devon League & South Devon Football League.
The club, in its new guise, was formed on 15 October 2010 by two local police officers; Dave Thomas and Lee Langley. It was set up at this time to play in exhibition matches in aid of local charities and children with life limiting or changing conditions. The club hosted and played in a number of high profile events, taking on the likes of Tottenham Hotspurs Legends, Arsenal FC XI, Aston Villa XI, Torquay United XI, Plymouth Argyle XI and Exeter City XI to name a few.
The club rose through the divisions until gaining promotion to the Devon Football League (step 7) in 2021. The club were nicknamed 'The Bees' mainly due to the club home colours, and also established a thriving youth set-up.
On 2 June 2021, Stoke Gabriel had announced they had merged with Torbay Police to create Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police. The first team continue at step 6 in the South West Peninsula League, alongside a reserve team playing in the South Devon League; and a range of youth sides.[6]
Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Former players
1. Players that have played/managed in the Football League or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league).
2. Players with full international caps.
3. Players that hold a club record or have captained the club.
Honours
League honours
- South West Peninsula League Division One East:[2]
- Devon County League:[2]
- Winners (2): 1994–95, 1996–97
- Runners-up (3): 1993–94, 1995–96, 1999–2000
References
- ^ "Stoke Gabriel AFC history". Stoke Gabriel AFC. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
- ^ a b c "Stoke Gabriel at the Football Club History Database". FCHD. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
- ^ "New Floodlights Ready for Action". Stoke Gabriel F.C. 17 July 2019. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
- ^ "Stoke Gabriel FC: Non-league side concede 122 goals in 10 games". BBC Sport. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ "South West Peninsula League". The Football Association. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ "Stoke Gabriel woes arrested with Police merger". Non League Paper. 13 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
External links
Coordinates: 50°24′50.9″N 3°37′02.8″W / 50.414139°N 3.617444°W
- Articles with short description
- Use dmy dates from April 2022
- Pages using football kit with incorrect pattern parameters
- Pages using infobox football club with unknown parameters
- All articles with unsourced statements
- Articles with unsourced statements from June 2021
- Coordinates not on Wikidata
- Football clubs in Devon
- South West Peninsula League
- Football clubs in England
- Devon County League
- South Devon Football League
- Association football clubs established in 1905
- 1905 establishments in England
- Police association football clubs in England