that they have played at since the leagues began. Grounds In the club’s first season, they only played in-house games at Daddyhole Plain. From 1877-81, they practised at Daddyhole but played home games on Paignton Green. For 1881-82, they played at a field in Plainmoor between Cary Park, Manor Road and Warberry Lane (now called Warbro Road). In 1882, they crossed Warberry Lane to play for the first time at the Plainmoor ground which is now home to Torquay United. The club was extinct 1885-86. The new club returned to Plainmoor for a season and a half before spending half a season at Hengrave, Shiphay. In 1888, they moved in to the brand new Recreation Ground. A financial dispute between Athletic and the Recreation Ground Company meant that 1890-91 was played at Paignton Cycle track behind the Esplanade Hotel (now the Inn on the Green). Athletic returned to the Rec in 1891 but stayed just one season before moving back to Plainmoor. A wooden grandstand was built and Athletic stayed for twelve seasons 1892-1904. In 1903, the club was served with twelve months’ notice by the Cary Estate. A battle ensued with the relatively young Torquay United club who had used the Rec since 1900. Rugby was the more established game at the time, although association was growing fast, and so Athletic prevailed. They moved back to the Rec in September 1904 and have stayed there ever since. The Recreation Ground is located on Rathmore Road in Torquay, near to the sea front and next to the train station. It consists of a rugby/cricket pitch alongside a Victorian-era grandstand underneath which is the club-house and changing facilities, while a stand-alone cricket pavilion and scoreboard is situated at the opposite end of the ground. Parking is available at the ground. The ground capacity for both rugby and cricket is around 3,000, most of which is standing, including 300 seats in the grandstand. The grandstand originally had seating for 600 but at present only half of it is used as the other half has fallen into ruin and is unsafe for spectators. Season summary Honours First Team Devon RFU Senior Cup winners (3): 1907, 1979, 2007 Tribute Western Counties West champions: 2005-06 Devon Intermediate Plate winners: 2011 Second Team Devon Junior Cup winners: 1897 Notable former players Chris Bell - Plymouth born Centre who played youth rugby at Athletic before going to