Farewell to a Torquay United hero from the 1960s and a local football coach

Bobby Baxter, one of Torquay United’s oldest surviving players, has died at the age of 88.

Defender Baxter, who scored six goals in 69 appearances from 1967-69, was a regular member of a fine United team at the top of the old Third Division (League One) under Frank O’Farrell.

He scored in one of the Gulls’ most famous victories, when they rewarded a slot on Match of the Day with a 3-0 win over promotion rivals Bury in March 1968.

Baxter was born in Redcar and played for Darlington, starting as a forward, in two spells.

By the time he joined Brighton & Hove Albion in 1961 he had converted to left-half and then left-back when he moved to Plainmoor after more than 200 games for the Seagulls.

After a second spell back at Darlington, Baxter returned to Torbay and lived here for the rest of his life.

He coached young players locally for many years and also paid regular return visits to Brighton, where his seven years had made him a popular figure.