SEASON PREVIEW 2020-21: TORQUAY UNITED

In spite of the coronavirus pandemic which has caused as much disruption to football as it has to daily life, the National League remains the hardest league to win promotion from with only two promotion spots available. 

Which is why, in these especially challenging times, having a manager who has previously won two promotions from this league in his career should be a major advantage. Torquay United manager Gary Johnson led Yeovil Town and Cheltenham Town to the National League title in 2002-03 and 2015-16 respectively, and he will be looking to add a third promotion with the Gulls to that list. 

If Johnson is able to complete a hat-trick of promotions from the top tier of the non-league game with United, it will put him level with John Still, who holds the division’s record for promotions won after completing the feat with Maidstone United, Dagenham and Redbridge and Luton Town.

Johnson has strengthened his squad over the summer by making seven new signings. The septet include Gary Warren and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans who both return to United on a permanent basis following their respective loan spells with the club from Exeter City and Bristol City last season. Dean Moxey and Danny Wright add a wealth of experience and know how to Johnson’s side, having both previously won promotion from the National League before in their careers; Wright will also be looking to form a prolific strike partnership with fellow newcomers Andrew Nelson and Josh Umerah as United look to replace the 21 goals scored by the Mansfield Town bound Jamie Reid. Former Motherwell, Gateshead and Hartlepool United defender Fraser Kerr completes the seven. 

United's next highest scorer after Reid was player of the year Ben Whitfield with seven goals, who was followed by Jake Andrews with six. So if the Gulls could unearth a strike partnership in which both strikers hit double figures, as well as replacing the goals scored by Reid, then a second promotion in three years could be a real possibility for Johnson's men.

Brazilian Lucas Covolan will be competing with Shaun MacDonald for the position of Johnson's first choice goalkeeper.

In defence, Ben Wynter is expected to continue as right-back, while on the opposite side of defence Liam Davis, who is still recovering from an ankle injury sustained last season, is now United's longest serving player following the departure of Reid. The capture of Moxey will provide cover for Davis until he returns. Meanwhile in the centre of defence, the summer arrivals of Kerr and Warren will provide two potential defensive partners for vice-captain Kyle Cameron and young hopeful Louis Slough, grandson of former United assistant manager Alan Slough, could also feature at some point. Former South Devon college student Owen Price, who can play at left-back, will also be looking to make the most of any opportunities

At many of his previous clubs Johnson has been blessed with having a number of talented midfielders at his disposal and currently at Plainmoor, Johnson has a roster of midfielders which contains bags of talent and potential. They include last season's player of the year Ben Whitfield, Aaron Nemane, Armani Little, Jake Andrews as well as the recently returned Lemonheigh-Evans. In addition to this, he also has the commanding influence of skipper Asa Hall and Matt Buse, who will be looking to build on a promising first season in full time football following his summer 2019 move from Taunton Town, to call upon.

Last season, United's current midfield chipped in with 24 goals in all competitions between them (Whitfield 7, Andrews 6, Hall 4, Little 3, Buse and Lemonheigh-Evans 2 each). If they can repeat that feat, or even better it, in the 2020-21 campaign then United can be amongst the division’s front runners. And then there is JJ Evans, the former South Devon College student who has also represented England Colleges, who Johnson has spoken of as a player with great potential.

Arguably the biggest challenge facing Johnson during the Covid-19 enforced break from football was how to fill a Reid-shaped space in his forward line, following his decision to join Mansfield Town.

It's a void that Andrew Nelson and Josh Umerah will be looking to fill after arriving at Plainmoor from Dundee and Ebbsfleet United respectively in the summer. Appearing alongside either of those two will most likely be the experienced figure of Danny Wright, a 36 year-old ‘been there, done it and bought the T-shirt’ centre forward. He was part of Johnson’s Cheltenham side who won the National League title in the 2015-16 season and he was also an FA Trophy winner with Wrexham in 2013. He will be looking to enjoy further success with the Gulls this season.

Last, but by no means least, Olaf Koszela will be hoping to stake a claim for a first team spot. Koszela has been in and around the first team for the last few seasons and he scored his first goal for the club shortly United clinched the National League South title in April 2019. He also holds the title of being the first player to have appeared for United who was born after the infamous final day decider against Barnet in 2001.

Player to Watch: Connor Lemonheigh-Evans

After enjoying four seperate loan spells with the Gulls from Bristol City, Lemonheigh-Evans has now joined United on a permanent basis. The former Wales-Under 21 international now has the opportunity to grow as a player under the watchful eyes of Johnson and establish himself as one of the most talented central midfielders outside the EFL.