Paul Dobson, the former Torquay United striker whose goal kept the club in the Football League in 1987, has died, aged 63.
The Hartlepool-born forward scored an injury-time equaliser in a 2-2 draw at home to Crewe Alexandra, ensuring the Gulls avoided becoming the first side automatically relegated from what was then Division Four.
The game became famous because the added time in which Dobson scored came about after a police dog named Bryn bit Torquay player Jim McNichol.
When the Gulls were taken over two years ago, the businessmen who led it named their group the Bryn Consortium after that game – a match that was also featured in a Netflix documentary.
“Paul Dobson’s name will forever be written into Torquay United folklore,” Gulls co-chairman Michael Westcott told the club website.
“I was there that day in 1987 as a young reporter at the Herald Express, covering what became the ‘Great Escape’ – the extraordinary afternoon when Bryn the police dog’s famous intervention gave Torquay the added time in which Paul scored the goal that saved the club’s Football League status.
“It was one of those moments that went beyond football; it became part of the town’s story and part of the club’s identity.
“The fact our consortium was later named after Bryn says everything about how deeply that day still resonates with all of us.
“Paul’s goal earned Torquay United another 20 years as a Football League club, and that is a legacy which will never be forgotten at Plainmoor.
“He will always be remembered with huge affection and gratitude by everyone connected with the club.”
Dobson joined Torquay in the summer of 1986 and netted 17 goals in his first season, ending it as the club’s top scorer.
He found the net 25 times the following year as Torquay reached the Division Four play-offs where they lost 5-4 on aggregate to Swansea City in the final.
Dobson signed for Doncaster Rovers for £20,000 that summer before going on to have spells at Scarborough, Halifax, Hereford, Lincoln City and Darlington in the lower divisions of the Football League.
He finished his career in non-league football with the likes of Gateshead, Bishop Auckland and Spennymoor United.
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