Tribute to Torquay United’s original webmaster from the club historian

Torquay United was saddened to hear of the passing of the club’s original webmaster Mervyn Scoble at the age of 77.

Mervo’s father ran the Exmouth branch of the Exeter City Supporters’ Club and young Mervo served as the club’s mascot. There followed a falling out which led to Mervo and his father switching allegiance to Torquay United.

Mervo would later go on to be a highly respected artist, with one of his works depicting his young self in City’s red before a game against United.

Mervo was an early internet adopter and, now based in Canada, set up a Torquay United forum in 1997 which brought together United fans from around the world. It came to be the official club forum until the club, against Mervo’s advice, tied itself into a deal with a generic website provider – whilst all the traffic went to Mervo’s now-unofficial site!

Mervo’s qualities are best summed up in a wonderful tribute penned by his daughter Sarah :

“Merv lived with curiosity and conviction. He possessed a healthy scepticism of arbitrary rules and an even healthier disregard for authority. He taught and expressed himself not just in classrooms, but through charismatic conversation, art, music, and a deliberate willingness to unsettle complacency.

“He asked hard questions, challenged easy answers, and never missed a chance to stir things up if it meant making people think, laugh, or fight back. Life with Merv was rarely quiet, never dull, and always interesting. He will be missed by his family, friends, former students, and the people whose lives he influenced.”

Rest in Peace Mervo.