The Club was deeply saddened to learn last week of the passing of former United midfielder Cliff Myers, aged 72.
TUFC Life President and former director, Ian Hayman, shared with us this tribute to his friend:
‘Former Gulls midfielder Cliff Myers [pictured right] passed away on Friday 8th February, just a day before the club remembered another former Plainmoor stalwart, Ian Twitchin. Ian and Cliff had played together for three years between 1973-1976, and although Twitchin did not score many goals for the club, I remember April 19th 1975 in particular, as both combined to score in 2-1 home win over Hartlepool!
Like Gary Johnson, Cliff was a proud South Londoner, and as a Charlton youngster he made 18 appearances before following manager Ron Saunders to Brentford. Myers soon travelled south to sign for Southern League side Yeovil Town. Under manager Mike Hughes he amassed 328 games and scored 81 goals, before being prised away by Torquay for a fee of £6,500.
The catalyst for the move was Hughes, who had then moved to Plainmoor to become Malcolm Musgrove’s assistant. Sadly, Mike himself also passed away last December.
Cliff went on to make 93 appearances for the Gulls, scoring 12 goals as a silky midfielder with an eye for goal, before retiring from professional football and setting up his own cleaning business locally.
His connections with the club continued in 1986, with his son Chris [pictured left] making his debut aged 17. Chris would go on to play in two famous games for the club – the ‘Great Escape’ draw against Crewe on the last day of the 1986/87 season, as well as scoring in the penalty shoot-out win over Blackpool to secure promotion at Wembley in 1991.
That year, Cliff emigrated to Rhodes with wife Rene and daughter Natalie, where they opened a bar in the resort of Lindos. I remember Cliff as a keen golfer, and he would only be seen on a beach between rounds of golf!
With the club due to pay it’s respects at the next home match against Dulwich Hamlet on February 23rd, it is a further irony that our opponents are based just three miles from Cliff’s birthplace of Southwark.
The thoughts of myself, and everyone at Torquay United go out to Rene, Chris and Natalie at this very sad time’.