It is with great sadness that Torquay United has been informed of the passing of former player Tommy Northcott after a long illness.

Born and raised in Torquay, Tommy played locally for Hele and had featured for England at junior level before turning professional and making his Torquay United debut, as a 17 year old, in April 1949, against Northampton Town. After a successful spell at Plainmoor, Tommy was transferred to Cardiff City in 1952 and then, after 2 ½ years, Lincoln City secured his services. In November 1957 Torquay paid £5000 to bring him back to Plainmoor. The only ever present in the '58/'59 season, he also finished top scorer with 20 goals that year. Tommy also played his part in the classic F.A. Cup tie with Tottenham Hotspur at Plainmoor on 9^th January 1965.

182 career goals doesn't tell the whole story, there were many, many more goals scored by team mates that owed some major part of their setting up to Tommy. Playing centre forward back in the day was a very different proposition than it is to the pampered stars of the modern game. Supporters of a certain age will testify that the ball itself was likely to cause injury without the help of opposition defenders who were skilled in the art of legal assault. Many of Tommy's games in the colours of United were played in the same team as his younger brother George and it's safe to say that both on the terraces and in the changing room Tommy was held in the highest regard. His last match for Torquay was a 0-0 draw on the 21^st May 1966 in front of 16,469 spectators at Darlington.

Legend is a word used far too often to describe players that are not worthy of the status, but where Tommy Northcott and Torquay United are concerned it is a fitting description.

Tommy Northcott - League Games & Goals for Torquay United:

1948/49 App: 1 Goals: 0

1949/50 App: 8 Goals: 1

1950/51 App: 7 Goals: 1

1951/52 App: 34 Goals: 6

1952/53 App: 10 Goals: 2

1957/58 App: 25 Goals: 13

1958/59 App: 46 Goals: 20

1959/60 App: 45 Goals: 15

1960/61 App: 40 Goals: 26

1961/62 App: 39 Goals: 13

1962/63 App: 39 Goals: 11

1963/64 App: 38 Goals: 10

1964/65 App: 40 Goals: 11

1965/66 App: 38 Goals: 7

These statistics speak for themselves.