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.
