WOTTON'S SUMMER RECRUITMENT GOING TO PLAN SO FAR

 Whether it was contacts, contacts and contacts as former chairman Tony Boyce described it, or recruitment, recruitment, recruitment as outlined by ex player, manager and chief executive Colin Lee, signing the right players has always been important to Torquay United. 

After enjoying a promising first season under current manager Paul Wotton which saw the Gulls miss out on the National League South title on goal difference before losing in the play-offs at the semi-final stage to Boreham Wood, Wotton is busy preparing his squad to go one better in 2025-26. 

Parallels can be drawn with the scenario facing Paul Buckle when, after losing out to Exeter City in the Conference play-off semis in the 2007-08 campaign, set about rebuilding a side that would go one better a year with a 2-0 win over Cambridge United at Wembley. 

The summer of 2008 had seen Buckle add the likes of Nicky Wroe (York City), Wayne Carlisle (Exeter City), Mark Ellis (Bolton Wanderers) and Lee Hodges (Plymouth Argyle) et al to his squad. Wroe and Carlisle also played key roles in setting up Tim Sills' crucial second goal - cue Steve Bower's now immortal line Carlisle, he checks instead, he's looking for Benyon, SILLLLS!' 

Fast forward to 2025, and Wotton has added Zimbabwean central midfielder Monashe Sundaire from National League side Tamworth, experienced winger Louis Dennis from Bromley and former loanee Callum Dolan has returned to Plainmoor following his release by Fleetwood Town. 

Sundaire has experience of winning promotion from National League North with Tamworth and is making the transition from part-time to full-time on joining United. Dennis brings the experience of winning two promotions across his two spells with Bromley (from the NLS in 2014-15 and the NL in 2023-24) as well as stints in the EFL with Portsmouth and Leyton Orient. 

Dolan meanwhile is a familiar face to the Plainmoor faithful from his loan spell from Fleetwood under Gary Johnson in October 2023. Over the course of six games in all competitions, he scored twice - once in the FA Trophy against Yeovil Town and once in the league against Eastbourne Borough. 

With three teams coming down from the National League into National League South (Dagenham & Redbridge, Maidenhead United and Ebbsfleet United), plus a number of well financed clubs who either missed out in the play-offs or fell short. Therefore the Gulls are set to be battling out with several sides with equivalent budgets or greater. 

United finished second in the division last season without having one of the biggest budgets in the league. How you spent a budget has always been more important than its size, and it's an adage that Wotton will be looking to prove true come next May. 

CLEVERLEY LOOKING TO REBUILD HIS REPUTATION WITH THE PILGRIMS

 When choosing a successor for the Schalke bound Miron Muslic, Plymouth Argyle turned to a former England international who can count Manchester United and Everton amongst his former clubs. 

However, whilst Tom Cleverley doesn't quite have the same profile as his immediate predecessor bar one Wayne Rooney, he arrives at Home Park looking to rebuild his managerial reputation. 

Whereas as Rooney took charge of the Pilgrims with spells at Derby County, DC United and Birmingham City on his CV, Cleverley only has a one-year spell in charge of Watford to his name. Nevertheless, given how the Hornets have gone through managers since the Pozzo family took over the club in 2010, a stint of over 12 months is relatively long compared to some of his predecessors. 

In some ways Cleverley's appointment bears some similarities with the appointment of Ian Holloway in 2006. Like Cleverley today, Holloway joined the Pilgrims following a reasonable spell at Queens Park Rangers, who he had led to promotion to the Championship before guiding them to a respectable 11th place finish and looking to prove that he was still a good manager. 

Holloway then steered the Pilgrims to an 11th place finish in the 2006-07 season and they were fourth in the Championship at the time of his departure to Leicester City. 

Although the challenge facing Cleverley is slightly different, as promotion from League One is his target after Argyle were relegated from the Championship in 2024-25. However, if the Pilgrims do bounce back at the first attempt, it will go down as a fine achievement nonetheless, and one which will see him prove a few of his doubters wrong. 

RUSSELL WINS ANOTHER SENIORS WORLD CUP WITH ENGLAND VETERANS

 Former Torquay United and Exeter City midfielder Alex Russell has helped England Veterans win a seventh Seniors World Cup in Thailand. 

Russell, 52, who was still playing in Australia for Cairns-based side Leicchardt Lions in the Football in Queensland Far North and Gulf Premier Division until December 2024, was near ever present for the Senior Three Lions in a squad packed with Football League experience. 

After progressing through a group that contained hosts Thailand, Vietnam, Uruguay and Iran, England then went on to beat New Zealand in the semi-finals before defeating Australia in the final. 

In addition to Russell, who appeared for the Gulls between 2001 and 2005 and the Grecians between 2008 and 2010, former Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper Luke McCormick also featured for the senior Three Lions along with former Exeter City duo Lee Elam and Jon Challinor and one-time Torquay loanee Jody Banim. 

It was Russell's fifth Veterans World Cup success after having won the competition with the senior Three Lions in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2023. 

LIFE AFTER MANAGING ARGYLE ISN'T ALWAYS PLAIN SAILING

With his move to Schalke complete, Miron Muslic has joined a long list of managers who have left Plymouth Argyle in recent years for a bigger challenge. 

The prospect of attempting of reviving the Gelsenkirchen based club, who have fallen into Bundesliga 2 in recent years, proved to be too good an offer to turn down for the Bosnian-born Austrian Muslic, who can count SV Ried in Austria and Belgian side Cercle Brugge amongst the previous clubs he has managed. 

Despite not being able to keep the Pilgrims in the Championship, Muslic can claim to have written his own chapter in Argyle history with the club's FA Cup third round win over Liverpool. 

Nevertheless, life after Plymouth Argyle has not always been plain sailing for all managers who have left Home Park for employment at higher profile clubs. 

Towards the end of the 2003-04 season, after leading the Pilgrims to the brink of the Division Two title, Paul Sturrock left to join Southampton, who were then in the Premier League. Unfortunately, Sturrock was sacked early on in the 2004-05 campaign, and later had spells with Sheffield Wednesday, Swindon Town before returning to Argyle in 2007-08. 

It was during his second stint with the Pilgrims that it was revealed that Sturrock was suffering from Parkinson's Disease. After briefly being promoted to an upstairs role following the arrival of Paul Mariner as head coach, Sturrock left Home Park in 2010 and later took charge of Southend United before finishing his managerial career at Yeovil Town in 2015. 

Tony Pulis completed an admirable job in keeping Argyle in the Championship during the 2005-06 campaign before he left to return to his former club Stoke City in the summer of 2006, who he guided to the Premier League in the 2007-08 season. Three years later, he led the Potters to the FA Cup final where they were beaten by Manchester City. 

Since leaving the Brittannia Stadium in 2013, Pulis carved out a career as a 'red adair fire fighter' figure with teams battling relegation such as Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion. 

Pulis' successor Ian Holloway was able to build on the foundations that he left behind in 2006, and after leading Argyle to a 11th place finish in 2006-07, there was genuine optimism that the Pilgrims could finally make it to the promised land of the Premier League. 

However, following Holloway's move to Leicester City during the 2007-08 season, Argyle finished 10th, after being fourth at the time of his departure. For Holloway, the grass didn't turn to be greener with the Foxes, as they were relegated to League One at the end of the campaign. Nevertheless, he bounced back with Blackpool in 2009-10 and led them to promotion to the Premier League with a play-off final victory over Cardiff City - leaving the Green Army wondering what might have had he stayed at Home Park. Holloway later repeated the trick with Crystal Palace in 2012-13, and later managed Millwall, returned to QPR for a second spell before managing Grimsby Town. He is currently in charge of Swindon Town in League Two. 

After leading Argyle to promotion from League Two in the Covid-19 hit 2019-20 season, Ryan Lowe helped to re-establish the Pilgrims in League One before he left for Preston North End in December 2021. Following league finishes of 13th, 12th and 10th, Lowe was dismissed after one game in the 2024-25 campaign. Lowe will be returning to Home Park next season in his current role as Wigan Athletic manager. 

Lowe's assistant Steven Schumacher was chosen to replace Lowe and he would lead the Pilgrims to the League One title in 2022-23 with a record points haul of 101. Then, after a strong start in the Championship in 2023-24, Schumacher also left Home Park to head north - this time to Stoke City. However, he wasn't able to revive their fortunes and he was sacked after five games in the 2024-25 season. Like Lowe, he will also be returning to Home Park as an opposition manager - when he brings his Bolton Wanderers side to the Theatre of Greens. 

Whether Miron Muslic proves to be a success with Schalke, but it is worth remembering that life after Plymouth Argyle hasn't always been plain sailing for many of predecessors.  

ALTERNATIVE TORQUAY UNITED END OF SEASON AWARDS

 Player of the year - Sam Dreyer

The son of the former Oxford United Luton Town central defender and one-time Gulls loanee John Dreyer, Sam Dreyer has emerged as the stand-out performer in one of the National League South's strongest defences. 

Strong in the air and composed on the ball, Dreyer has formed a great partnership with Jordan Dyer and has a great future in the game ahead of him; he also earned the highest number of star man ratings from your correspondent in the Non League Paper with three.

Most improved player - Finley Craske

Injury prevented right-back Finley Craske from appearing for the Gulls on a regular basis in the 2023-24 season, but he has featured more regularly in 2024-25. 

Defensively sound, he has improved the attacking side of his game and has chipped with two goals (Eastbourne away and Hornchurch at home).

Best match - Torquay United 4     Weston Super Mare 2

Not for the first time this season bouncebackability was the name of the game for Torquay United, as they came from behind to defeat Weston Super Mare - despite being reduced to ten men. 

Luke Coulson gave the Seagulls the lead in the 17th minute before United replied with a stunning 20 yard strike from Lirak Hasani, which was the former Gateshead midfielder's third of the campaign. Five minutes later, Plymouth Argyle loanee Will Jenkins-Davies capitalised on a sloppy back pass from former Pilgrims striker Reuben Reid and raced towards goal before firing into the bottom corner. 

Three minutes before the break, Sam Avery bundled home a corner from Coulson to level matters, but the Gulls were then handed the chance to restore their lead from the penalty spot after Hasani was upended in the area. United's leading scorer Cody Cooke stepped up to take it, only to be denied by a save from Weston keeper Max Harris. 

Early in the second half, the Gulls were reduced to ten men when Hasani was dismissed following a challenge on Reid. However, manager Paul Wotton shuffled his pack and introduced club captain Oscar Threlkeld from the bench in place of Omar Mussa. 

Instead of clinging onto their share of the spoils, United edged ahead in the 69th minute when Jenkins-Davies burst down the right and found Cooke who backheeled home the Gulls' third of the evening.

Then on 78 minutes, Dan Hayfield intercepted the ball inside his own half and made a lung busting run before teeing up Cooke for his brace, and his eighth of the campaign. 

Goal of the season (h) - Lirak Hasani vs Dorking Wanderers

United midfielder Lirak Hasani opened his account for the Gulls in arguably the best possible way when he struck from 20 yards in the 55th minute against Dorking Wanderers after being teed up by Dan Hayfield. 

Hasani then went onto score a further three goals for the Gulls over the course of the campaign.

Goal of the season (a) - Matt Jay vs Chelmsford City

Another player to score his first goal for the club in a spectacular fashion, Matt Jay netted his first for the Gulls against Chelmsford City with a strike from inside his own half. 

It was the first of seven goals that former Exeter City starlet Jay, who hails from Ipplepen, scored for the Gulls following his return to Devon after he was released from Colchester United. For what it's worth, his goal against Truro City on Good Friday from 20 yards is a worthy challenger to his effort against the Clarets.

Best non-football moment of the season: Success of the Supporter's Trust's Community Share Issue 

The response to TUST's (Torquay United Supporter's Trust) Community Share Issue was nothing short of astonishing.  

TUST had taken a seat on the board using funds raised through their Forever Yellow fund and they were hoping to raise a minimum figure of £100,000 to secure a second seat, but they ended up raising £222,201. 

In addition to the two seats on the board, TUST now hold a 28.6% stake in the club and are now working in partnership with the majority shareholder's the Bryn Consortium.

 

FAREWELL TO MOX

Whilst John Uzzell and Luke Young stand alone as the only two players to have made over a century of appearances for both Torquay United and Plymouth Argyle, there are twice as many players who've featured over a hundred times for the Gulls and Exeter City - a number that includes Dean Moxey. 

Moxey is part of a select group of four players that includes Jim McNichol, Chris Curran and Steve Tully. He is also one of the few player to make over 700 games in his career, having made his 700th career appearance for United away to Welling United earlier this season, 

After making his debut for the Grecians, his hometown club, as a teenager, Moxey, went onto appear at Championship level for Derby County, Crystal Palace (who he would also feature for 20 times in the Premier League) and Bolton Wanderers over a number of years. 

He returned to St James Park for a second spell with Exeter before Gary Johnson signed him for the Gulls in the summer of 2020.

The journey started for Moxey in the 2003-04 season, when he made his debut on October 18, 2003 against Accrington Stanley. He was one of a number of youngsters who were thrown into the Grecians’ first team by then manager Eamon Dolan due to the financial situation at the club which had arisen following their relegation from the Football League in 2003.

In the following 2004-05 campaign, he started to make a name for himself as he scored with a 45-yard strike against Doncaster Rovers in the second round of the FA Cup, which helped to set up City’s memorable tie with Manchester United in round three. The Grecians famously held the Red Devils to a goalless draw at Old Trafford before losing the replay 2-0 at St James Park, and Moxey would feature in both matches. 

Over the next few years, Moxey would remain an integral part of the Grecians under Alex Inglethorpe, and then under his successor Paul Tisdale and was part of the City side who would win back-to-back promotions between the Conference and League One between 2007 and 2009 before joining Derby County in the summer of 2009. 

Several strong seasons with the Rams earned him a move to Crystal Palace, who he helped to win promotion to the Premier League in the 2012-13 campaign under the guidance of Ian Holloway. His solitary season in the top-flight saw him make 20 appearances for the Eagles before he was on the move again, this time to Bolton Wanderers. 

While with the Trotters, he helped them to win promotion from League One in the 2016-17 season before he re-joined the Grecians. On returning to where it all began, he featured in two League Two play-off finals – against Coventry City in 2018 and Northampton Town in 2020 (which proved to be his ladt for the Grecians) – before he joined Torquay United in the summer of 2020. 

In his first season at Plainmoor, he helped the Gulls to reach the 2021 National League Play-off final, and he was on target in their 4-2 play-off semi-final win over Notts County.

Whether he played as a left back or as a left-sided centre back, Moxey has been one of United’s most reliable performers during his time at Plainmoor, which was reflected with him being voted as Player of the Year in the 2023-24 campaign.

He then spent the 2024-25 season working alongside manager Paul Wotton and assistant manager Mike Edwards as a player-coach. Nevertheless, he still managed to come up with a goal in a 2-2 draw with Slough Town in January 2025, and he appeared as a substitute in the Gulls in their final day clash with Hemel Hempstead Town and in their play-off semi-final loss to Boreham Wood. 

Whatever the future has in store for Moxey - whether it be playing or coaching -  his contribution to football in the South West will be remembered for a very long time to come. Hopefully, he'll remain involved in some shape or form.

TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS BOREHAM WOOD PLAY-OFF SEMI FINAL

 1. Another one to be filed under the play-off near miss category. 

The Gulls' National League South play-off semi-final defeat to Boreham Wood joins a list of play-off near-misses over the years.   

It's a list that includes the 1987-88 season under Cyril Knowles, where United were beaten by Swansea City over two legs; Don O'Riordan's 1993-94 campaigners who were denied by the antics of Paul Raynor; Kevin Hodges' beaten Play-off finalists of 1997-98; Paul Buckle's 2007-08 team who lost out to Exeter City in the semi-finals and also his side who were beaten by Stevenage at Old Trafford in the 2010-11 League Two final. They were then swiftly followed by Martin Ling's side, who missed out against Cheltenham Town a year later in 2011-12 in the semi-finals. 

Then, of course, there is the penalty heartache and Kyle Cameron's two disallowed goals against Hartlepool United at Ashton Gate in 2021.  

2. Is momentum everything in the play-offs? 

In addition to the fifth placed Boreham Wood defeating the second placed Gulls in the National League South play-off semi-final, the following Sunday saw Maidstone United defeat Eastbourne Borough to join the Wood in the final. The Stones had finished seventh in the regular season, but overcame Eastbourne to inflict their only National League South home defeat on them  (The Sports managed by former Gulls midfielder Adam Murray were unbeaten at home over the course of the regular league season). 

Is this prove that momentum everything in this format of the play-offs, or perhaps a case of both sides hitting form at the right time? 

3. Sam Dreyer was a colossus in defence. 

As he has shown time and time again this season, Sam Dreyer was a colossus in the heart of the Gulls' defence. He was dominant in the air and showed great composure with the ball at his feet, and also donned the captain's armband in the absence of Oscar Threlkeld. 

The Plainmoor faithful will be hoping that he will still be with the Gulls when the 2025-26 season gets underway; if he is, then there is every chance it will be as the club's permanent skipper. 

4. The Yellow Army. 

After recording an average attendance of 3,856, the club's highest since the 1971-72 season, the Gulls semi-final with Boreham Wood attracted a crowd of 5,721 - United's highest ever in National League South. 

If the Gulls' can maintain this level of interest, and the majority of the club's season ticket holders - believed to be the region of 1,600 - decide to renew theirs, then the subsequent boost to Paul Wotton's playing budget will surely enable to bring in the players he needs to see United go one better in 2025-26. 

5. Paul Wotton's summer rebuild. 

When Paul Wotton first took charge of the Gulls in the summer of 2024, he only had one player under Austen Booth. However, he set about building a squad of players that only missed out on the title on goal difference and achieved the club's highest ever points haul in a season of 89. 

Whether it's the 'contacts, contacts and contacts' as former chairman Tony Boyce described it as, or the 'recruitment, recruitment, recruitment' mantra of ex player, manager and CEO Colin Lee, signing the right players has always been of paramount importance for Torquay United. 

Wotton can now tackle the process of rebuilding his squad earlier than he did went about assembling it, and with the addition of pace and leadership, and an extra touch of flair, United will be a force to be reckoned with in a National League South that promises to be just as tough in 2025-26. 

With the Gulls' debts now cleared following their exit from their CVA (creditor's voluntary agreement) after their spell in Administration, the Bryn Consortium will be fully behind the plans of Wotton and football adviser Neil Warnock.