 After narrowly escaping relegation to the Conference in 1996, they were again contesting a play-off final in 1998, although this time they were beaten by Colchester United.Just three years later, in 2001, Torquay once again escaped expulsion into non-League football by beating Barnet on the final day of the season.By 2004, the club had bounced back again by achieving automatic promotion to the third tier of English football (now renamed League One) for the first time since 1966.