The 2017-18 campaign delivered ultimate heartbreak for Torquay United as The Gulls struggled relentlessly, finishing a crushing 22nd in the National League. This devastating result led to their automatic relegation to the National League South, the sixth tier of English football. In a turbulent year defined by a frantic battle for survival, the fight for goals was led by the joint top-scorers, Jamie Reid and Rhys Healey, who each netted 6 league goals. It was a dark and painful season, marking a significant drop down the leagues that remains a defining, if unforgettable, chapter in the club's modern history.