Torquay United stage moving tribute to Tony Bedeau

Torquay United fans and ex-teammates have paid a moving tribute to Tony Bedeau, one of the Gulls’ longest-serving and most popular players, who has tragically passed away at the age of 45.

The former Chelsea schoolboy forward joined United’s hugely productive Youth Training Scheme and made his debut at 16 years old in a 0-0 draw at Cardiff City in September 1995.

He went on to make 374 appearances over the next 13 years.

That total places him eighth on United’s all-time appearance list, and his 65 goals included 16 in the 1999-2000 season.

He also won four caps for Grenada, where his father had been born.

Bedeau played as a winger or centre-forward, his pace and eye for goal marking him out as a wanted man several times during his long career at United.

He was close to big-money moves to Sheffield Wednesday, Sunderland, Oxford United and Rochdale, Torquay turning down at least two six-figure offers for him.

‘Beds’, as he was known at Plainmoor, played in the 1998 Play-Off Final at Wembley and he was also a substitute when United clinched automatic promotion at Southend six years later.

He played for Barnsley on loan and Walsall, but he returned to TQ1 towards the end of his career before moving back to London for a brief spell with Dulwich Hamlet.

He was most recently at Plainmoor when he attended the funeral of former teammate Paul Holmes last summer.

Ahead of the National League South game with Hornchurch on Saturday, friends and family joined former teammates in paying tribute to Beds. On a day of huge emotion, Plainmoor rose in unison to applaud a legend of Torquay United.

The Yellow Army sang it perfectly: “There’s only one Tony Bedeau.”

The love and prayers of everyone to his family and friends. Rest in Peace Beds.