From Plainmoor to the Olympics

THE TORBAY company which installed Torquay United's new floodlights this year is in line for a plum job lighting up the 2012 London Olympic Games.

It would be the biggest contract in the career of lifelong Gulls fan Kim Prestwood and his Paignton-based Sports Lighting firm.

During the summer United spent around £30,000 on upgrading the old Plainmoor lights to Championship standard.

Kim, whose son Jim makes Sports Lighting a family affair, used the same lights at Plainmoor as the ones which will go into many of the Olympic venues.

He explained: "I do a lot of work for a big company called GE Lighting, which has got a lot of contracts for the London Olympics.

"To do that work, they need about 20 'commissioners', people like me who can fit, adjust and angle the lights.

"Because I do a lot of regular work for them, they have asked me to be one of their commissioners.

"They're an American company which has just opened a big new factory in Spain, and I went out to Madrid six weeks ago for the opening and to have a look at all their new gear.

"It would be something special to get the Olympic job.

"To actually be considered as one of the main lighting engineers for the London Games is quite an achievement really.

"Even though I've been a 100 per cent Torquay United supporter all my life, it would even beat doing the lights for Plainmoor!"

Prestwood has been installing lights for 20 years, starting with equestrian centres under the name of Jumpin' Jack Flash!

He changed that name when he began to get school contracts, but he has now been lighting up sports facilities and football grounds in the UK and Ireland for more than seven years under the Sports Lighting banner.

He recently installed new lights at Dartmouth FC and Buckland FC and has just quoted for jobs at two of United's Blue Square Premier rivals, Barrow and Lewes.

Meanwhile, Shrewsbury Town have insisted on a 24-hour recall clause in agreeing to extend goalkeeper Scott Bevan's loan to Torquay for a second month.

Shrews boss Paul Simpson, who has an injury worry over his current No.1 goalie Luke Daniels, said: "I'm happy with our goalkeeping situation at the moment, if Luke stays fit, but if we do need to recall Scotty, we can after Saturday."

Earlier this week Simpson cleared the way for Bevan, who has yet to taste defeat in five games for United, to play in today's FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round tie at home to Chipstead.