Newton Abbot photographer captures the story of Torquay United

Black and white photographs have always carried a feeling of time, place and even emotion that colour pictures often fail to match, and it’s a medium which Torquay United fan Marcus Davies has loved for as long as he’s been pointing his camera in that direction.

Now Newton Abbot-based Davies’ work has earned a new showcase in an evocative ‘zine’ of his best images from the 20 years between 1985 and 2005.

Gulls’ fans will immediately recognise those eventful two decades, bookended by the desperate days of re-election under Dave Webb and promotion with Leroy Rosenior.

The pictures aren’t necessarily the sort that you’d have seen on the sports pages at the time, but they inspire just as strong memories.

None more so than Davies’ pictures from Roots Hall, Southend, in May 2004 when, of course, the Gulls clinched the club’s first automatic promotion for 38 years in such style.

The booklet may eventually be available at more outlets, but at the moment it’s on sale via https://lowerblock.com/product/the-gulls-1985-05-marcus-davies/ at £8.50 plus £3.50 postage