Torquay United v Hampton & Richmond: How to Listen Live on BBC Radio Devon and BBC Sport Online

Match date: 10 January 2026

Torquay United v Hampton & Richmond: How to Listen Live on BBC Radio Devon and BBC Sport Online

The English FA Trophy tie between Torquay United and Hampton & Richmond Borough at Plainmoor is being covered in classic British fashion – not by television cameras, but by in-depth local and national audio coverage. For supporters who cannot make it to the English Riviera, the match is available via BBC Radio Devon (online) and the BBC Sport website’s online audio service, with experienced local commentator Paul Mulhern and long-time Gulls reporter Dave Thomas behind the microphones.

While there is no live TV broadcast in the mould of ITV, BBC One, Sky Sports or TNT Sports, the BBC’s audio operation steps in to ensure Torquay and Hampton & Richmond fans still have a way to follow every kick. At this level of the game, BBC local radio is often the primary lifeline for match coverage, and this FA Trophy tie is no exception.

How to listen: BBC Radio Devon and BBC Sport Online

This FA Trophy clash at Plainmoor kicks off at 15:00 UK time and is being broadcast in full as an online-only commentary on both BBC Radio Devon’s digital streams and the BBC Sport Online audio service.

Listeners can access the match in two main ways:

• BBC Radio Devon (Online) – The station’s digital sports service is carrying a full commentary of Torquay United v Hampton & Richmond as part of its commitment to covering the Gulls’ cup and league campaigns. There is no traditional analogue FM commentary for this game; instead, the focus is on online streaming, which allows the BBC to offer complete coverage without interrupting its main radio schedule.
• BBC Sport Online (Audio) – Through the BBC Sport website and app, listeners can select the dedicated audio commentary feed for the match. This mirrors the BBC Radio Devon online output, ensuring that supporters across the UK – and indeed abroad – can tune in with a stable digital connection.

In both cases, the same commentary team is used, meaning fans get continuity wherever they choose to listen. For many lower-league and non-league followers, this type of online-only coverage has become the standard way to follow their sides in national cup competitions.

The commentary team: Paul Mulhern and Dave Thomas

The BBC has assigned a familiar and well-respected pairing to this fixture, with Paul Mulhern as main commentator and Dave Thomas as co-commentator.

Paul Mulhern has built a reputation across the West Country as a clear, enthusiastic play-by-play voice, often entrusted with big Torquay United matches and key non-league fixtures in Devon. A regular presence on BBC Radio Devon’s sports output, he is known for detailed preparation, strong knowledge of the National League and lower-league football, and the ability to bring atmosphere from Plainmoor and other grounds into listeners’ living rooms. Over several seasons, Mulhern has covered league campaigns, relegation battles and promotion pushes, making him a trusted guide to Torquay’s fortunes.

Dave Thomas, meanwhile, is synonymous with Torquay United coverage in the region. A veteran local journalist and long-standing Gulls correspondent, Thomas has spent decades reporting on the club’s ups and downs, from Football League days to life in the National League system. Having covered Torquay for regional newspapers and then transitioned into broadcast work, he offers deep historical context, tactical insight and an encyclopaedic recall of players, managers and key moments from Plainmoor’s modern history. His presence on co-commentary ensures that the broadcast is not just descriptive but also analytical, with regular references to past FA Trophy and league campaigns.

Together, Mulhern and Thomas provide a classic British commentary partnership: the lead commentator describing the action, and the co-commentator adding colour, context and tactical detail. For Torquay supporters, their voices are intimately associated with big matches at Plainmoor, and for Hampton & Richmond followers tuning in, they offer balanced coverage and informed perspective on both teams.

The match: Torquay United v Hampton & Richmond in the FA Trophy

Although billed here as an English FA Trophy tie, this fixture also sits within a broader context of National League South rivalry between Torquay United and Hampton & Richmond. The two sides are competing in the sixth tier of English football, and their meetings in recent seasons have often been tight, attritional affairs. Neutral statistical services highlight the significance of this clash, with live coverage listings and form guides marking it out as one of the afternoon’s key non-league matches.[2][3][4][5]

Torquay United, one of the best-supported clubs at this level, have been aiming to climb back up the English football pyramid after recent relegation. Historically a Football League outfit, the Gulls have used the FA Trophy as both a morale booster and a realistic chance of silverware. Recent analysis notes that Torquay have been pushing in the upper reaches of the National League South table, with their home form at Plainmoor a central part of their promotion hopes.[2][3][9]

Hampton & Richmond Borough, often simply called Hampton & Richmond or Hampton FC in some statistical databases, have been battling at the opposite end of the table. Pre-match data indicates that they have spent extended periods in the lower reaches of National League South, with recent form mixed but showing occasional impressive victories against higher-ranked opposition.[1][3][9] Their FA Trophy run offers a break from the pressure of league survival and a chance to test themselves against one of the division’s bigger names.

Team form and Cup storylines

Form guides and prediction models describe Torquay as favourites for this encounter, noting their higher league position and stronger overall results.[2][3][9] Cup competitions can, however, defy expectation, and Hampton & Richmond have already shown resilience and an ability to frustrate opponents, particularly if they can keep things tight defensively in the early stages.[1][3]

Torquay’s home advantage at Plainmoor remains a major factor. The ground has long been a challenging venue for visiting sides, with the home crowd and familiar surroundings typically lifting the Gulls’ performance. Neutral data services list the fixture at Plainmoor as a standout of the National League South schedule, highlighting its importance both in the league calendar and for cup momentum.[2][4][5]

Hampton & Richmond’s recent managerial changes and squad reshaping have added an element of unpredictability. The club has recruited experienced non-league performers in an attempt to stabilise results, with some success in FA competitions.[1] That sense of a team in transition, combining new signings with established figures, makes them dangerous opponents if Torquay are even slightly off their game.

BBC audio coverage and the role of local radio

This match is a good example of the ongoing importance of BBC local radio and online audio coverage for non-league and lower-league football. While top-flight fixtures in the Premier League or major FA Cup ties are often broadcast live on television through national partners, National League South and FA Trophy matches typically rely on radio and digital services. BBC Radio Devon’s decision to carry full online commentary underlines its commitment to Torquay United’s fanbase, many of whom rely on radio-style coverage when they cannot travel.

The BBC Sport Online audio feed plays a complementary role, making the commentary accessible nationwide and internationally, rather than limiting it to a traditional FM broadcast radius. This digital-first approach has become standard practice in recent seasons, especially for Saturday afternoon fixtures where broadcast rights and scheduling restrictions limit what can be shown live on television.

For supporters planning their matchday, the practical outcome is straightforward: instead of hunting for a TV channel on Sky or Freeview, they head to BBC Radio Devon’s online stream or the BBC Sport website and listen to Mulhern and Thomas call the game in full.

Torquay United and Hampton & Richmond: clubs in focus

Torquay United are one of the best-known names in non-league football, with a long history in the English Football League before their relegation into the National League system. Their fanbase extends across Devon and beyond, and they have been determined to return to the higher tiers of the pyramid. Recent coverage and prediction tools place them firmly in the promotion conversation, particularly when they capitalise on home fixtures such as this one.[2][3][9]

Hampton & Richmond Borough have carved out a respected niche in London-area non-league football. While they may not have the same national profile as Torquay, they have enjoyed notable success in cup runs and playoff pushes since joining the upper levels of the non-league structure. Data-driven previews acknowledge that, despite their lower league position, Hampton have the capacity to frustrate favoured hosts and nick results against the run of play.[1][3][9]

The clash between a historically bigger club with promotion ambitions and a lower-ranked side seeking to upset the odds is exactly the sort of storyline that makes the FA Trophy compelling. For the commentary team, it provides ample narrative material: Torquay’s need to avoid an upset, Hampton’s chance to change the shape of their season, and the broader question of which club will progress and build momentum in the latter stages of the competition.

Why this commentary matters to supporters

With no television cameras showing the game live, audio commentary becomes the primary match experience for many fans. Torquay supporters unable to get to Plainmoor – whether living elsewhere in Devon, elsewhere in the UK or overseas – can still follow every passage of play, while Hampton & Richmond followers gain an accessible way to keep up with a long away trip.

The pairing of Paul Mulhern and Dave Thomas is particularly important in this context. Their combined knowledge ensures that listeners do not just hear “who has the ball” but also why managers are making certain decisions, how tactical adjustments are influencing the flow of the game, and what this result could mean for both clubs’ seasons in league and cup.

In an era dominated by television coverage of the elite, fixtures like Torquay United v Hampton & Richmond in the FA Trophy rely on services such as BBC Radio Devon and BBC Sport Online to reach their audience. For supporters, that means putting on headphones or speakers, loading the BBC’s digital platforms, and letting experienced voices bring Plainmoor to life.

To explore more about the clubs and competition featured in this match, you can read further about Torquay United, Hampton & Richmond Borough, and the FA Trophy.