Torquay United have never been a huge club. Not once in their 119-year history have they been into the top two flights of English football, but they have until very recently remained a staple of the Football League.

Those unaware of the desperate situation at Plainmoor would be forgiven for thinking the club were still plodding along in League Two. For 79 consecutive years since their election to the Football League in 1927 they maintained their status in the third and fourth tiers, and as recently as 2004-05 were in League One alongside Bournemouth and Huddersfield Town.

But Torquay’s path has since diverged dramatically. While their erstwile rivals are enjoying life in club football's most lucrative league, Torquay are now seven points adrift in the National League with three games remaining, and confronting relegation to the regionalised sixth tier of English football.

One of Torquay's most famous supporters, the former Sky Sports presenter, Helen Chamberlain, fears the end is inevitable.

"This is like preparing for the family dog to be put down", she told Telegraph Sport. "You know you're going to be heartbroken, and I will weep a stupidly large amount of adult tears, but you know it's coming and you can't stop it."